Pablo & Judi Kauffman

It's almost time! After six months of waiting, we're finally about to leave for Spain! Saying good-by is never easy. I tend to hide behind looking ahead. Judi tends to feel things more at the moment. Whatever the case, in the past 1 1/2 weeks we have had some highlights to remember. On Good Friday we met Judi's brother Gerry, wife Marjo and sons Aaron & Jordan for lunch at a restaurant halfway between their home in Aurora, OH, and ours.

That evening we also had our last Cracker Barrel meal with Bob & Linda Reed (not pictured).

Easter Sunday was a special day, not only because Christ arose, but because Wayne & Heather Williams were baptized.

Judi had helped care for their son, Dakota, for 7 yrs. For her, it will be hard to leave him

...and them,

...as well as Heather's parents, Ron & Debbie, whom we have grown to know and love, being in our small group.

Speaking of our small group, here is our "last supper" with them. Dave & Dorothy Yutzy have been leading the group since last Sept.

Debbie even made a delicious going-away cake for us. There's a reason we call her "Little Debbie!"

Myron & Rhelda Sommers, who are renting our house, invited us, along with Bethany Geib out to dinner at Olive Garden.

On Saturday night we did Pizza Hut with Marti Miller and Ximena Lozada (not pictured).

On our final Sunday at Shiloh, Mar, 30, they had a commissioning prayer for us.

Then the afternoon was spent with family. Here are the newest additions.

Our "family" often includes Derrek and Carla Wanty (their little Noelia was the one on the right above) and Carla's sister, Ximena Lozada, friends from Ecuador.

We had a little communion service, then hung out the rest of the evening.

We also celebrated Kevin's finishing his undergraduate studies. He likes his lemon meriangue pie!

So, we're about to leave "this."

But what is "this," after all? "This" will all be burned up someday. Only the soul will last forever, clothed with a fresh, new, transformed body, fit for eternity. We're asking God that many Spaniards would be able to someday enjoy eternity, as well.

We're both excited about moving on. What will the next phase of our lives be like? Stay tuned...