Goodbye USA - Goodbye AIM

This is our last day in the States, and we fly out to South Africa in just a few hours.  It has been such a wonderful time in Georgia, connecting with so many friends, hanging out with family, and enjoying our first WHITE Christmas! Emi had so much fun here – especially with her grandparents and cousins.  She has grown up a lot here. In the last 2 ½ months she has learned to walk, then run, then climb. She is saying lots of new words and making a ton of animal sounds too. We want to thank all of you for showing us so much love and hospitality while we were home. So many of you have graciously continued supporting us, and we say again that we could not do this without you.

This will be our last blog from AIM. Our two-year commitment has ended, and we are now being sent out by our good friends at SERV (www.servintl.org).  We’ll be hitting the ground running, and joining forces with Global Challenge (www.gcex.org) as soon as we get there. We’re very excited about helping to train these young leaders as they serve orphans and other needs around the globe.  Jodi will be working in a local community center with orphans and refugee children, and she’s very excited to be a part of that.

Please pray for our safe flight (and equally important a peaceful flight for little Emi as 15 hours is a long time for a toddler to be still!)  Please pray for us as we will also be finding a rental house and moving in the first 3 days we arrive, right before training starts.

We love you and appreciate your partnership with us in making a huge difference in orphans’ lives!  We hope you have an amazing New Year and that 2011 is Full of love, joy and the awesome peace of God in the midst of whatever you’re going through.

Love,

Marius, Jodi, and Baby Emi

www.jodiandmarius.com

Come See Us on the 14th!

It is so nice to be with family for the last few weeks, and we’ve been able to connect with friends at Trinity, and His House, and at our friend Kelly’s small group. Also, I celebrated my birthday on the 26^th, our anniversary was yesterday, and Emi’s 1^st Birthday is TODAY! There’s so much going on, and so many people we want to see in the short time we are here in the States and not enough time to get everywhere, so........ you can come see us!

YOU ARE OFFICIALLY INVITED to Dessert Night with the Deetlefs on Sunday, November 14^th at 6:30 p.m. at Sharptop Cove in Jasper, GA. For those of you who knew us then, this is the location of the Young Life camp where we got married 5 years ago. We know it is a busy time of year, so we want to give you fair notice that we would REALLY love it if you could come to this evening. It’s free dessert and coffee and a time for us to share pictures and a few stories of our last two years in Swaziland, Africa.  I will also be singing for the first time in a long time, so don’t miss that. :}

Many of you have been partnering with us with your prayers and finances, and we want you to see what YOU have been a part of, and hear what is next for us in South Africa. Feel free to bring a friend along too –the more the merrier.  More details and directions below.  Please RSVP to jodideetlefs@yahoo.com by Nov. 10^th so we know how much dessert to prepare. 

We love you and want to see you, so please come!

Jodi, Marius & 1 year old Emi

What:  Dessert Night with the Deetlefs

When:  Sunday, November 14^th, 6:30pm

Where: Young Life (Sharptop Cove) Jasper, GA

How:  By Car, Bus, or Helicopter

Why:  Because it’s going to be an awesome night and you don’t want to miss it!

Directions coming from I-75 North (Marietta/Atlanta)

I-75 North to I-575 North

I-575 North becomes I-515 North

At 4^th traffic light on 515 North, turn RIGHT onto 53 East in Jasper.

Turn LEFT onto Burnt Mtn. Rd. (at light by Walgreen’s)

Turn RIGHT onto Cove Road at 3-way stop sign (by Citgo Station). Go 2.3 miles

Turn LEFT onto Grandview Road. Go 2 miles

Turn RIGHT onto Windy Ridge Rd. Go 0.5 miles

Stay RIGHT at fork and turn RIGHT onto GA Baptist Rd. Go 2 very curvy miles.