"Light tomorrow with today!"  -Elizabeth Barrett Browning

We took some time in between packing and sorting to say goodbye to friends from Marulaon who are living in Honiara.  When this crew finished their Christmas break in Marulaon, sweet Ruthie intentionally tiptoed by our house as the sun was coming up and sang out her goodbyes to Olivia before the motorboat left. 

Ruthie is one of our family's first and best friends.  She has watched our kids grow up and we've watched her daughter, Bethany, grow up.  Ruthie is generous with her resources and looks after our kids like they are her own.

We're so grateful for the years of building relationships that God has given us on this side of the Pacific Ocean.  When we arrived in Marulaon twelve years ago, we didn't realize how precious these faithful, unselfish friendships would grow, nor how they would provide nourishment to our family.