In just a few hours we will be leaving for the Dakar airport and then soon we will be flying home to the US for our three-week Christmas vacation! As you can imagine, we are very excited.

We left Cap Skirring on Sunday afternoon and traveled to Dakar by boat. We sailed for about three hours on a river and then all night on the ocean. The boat trip was pretty bUmPy this time!

We’ve enjoyed these last few days here in the capital, visiting with missionary and Senegalese friends we haven’t seen since we were both in Dakar at the same time — – nine months ago! It’s been great catching up with some people before our trip home.

Here are some pictures of our “GOING home FOR Christmas JOURNEY” thus far:

The journey began in a one hour taxi ride in a 45-year-old taxi. The drive is SUPER pretty.

Bye Roxy! We'll miss you and we KNOW that you'll miss us...

Our great house worker, Mami, holding down the fort and taking care of Roxy while we're gone. It was sweet. She said she was really, really going to miss us. We're thankful for her!

Our chauffeaur from Cap to Zig.

Our cabin on the boat. First time we've had a two person cabin. SO much better.

Everyone hanging out on the boat...

What?! Shawn's talking via Skype from the boat? COOL.

We saw lots and lots of DOLPHINS, and even took some pics!

Lunch, meetings and get together's with friends in Dakar for a few days!

At our African host's house.

A delicious meal (and dessert!) with our friends the Radford's.

Our friends Charles and Heather welcomed their second son into the world this morning! They named him Shawn after Shawn DeAtley! Such an honor.

Time to rest for a bit (ok, that probably won’t happen), eat a bite (leftover salad + a chwarma), and finish packing before heading to the airport in a few hours for the loooong trip home!

Love your friends,
s&j

Ps – Listening to this Christmas song as we pack.