Interviewer:  Hello Hartley family.  Welcome back to the states!  How are you all doing?

Hartleys:  Thank you!  We are doing pretty well.  We had a bit of a flu bug for a couple weeks and jet lag was rough this time, but we are finally on the mend.

Interviewer:  Are you enjoying being home?  Can you tell us some of the highlights?

Hartleys:  Firstly, we feel like we left “home” in South Africa but yet it also feels familiar here too.  After living in Africa since 2006, our hearts are definitely divided on the issue of home.  We love being reunited with our families and have had some great quality time together.  Being present for birthday parties, being able to see my niece be baptized, andgoing fishing with cousins is so special for us.  Watching the kids reconnect with their cousins has been awesome.  It has also been a joy to begin reconnecting with our USA friends, donors and church partners. 

Interviewer:  What about some challenges or surprises?  What is hard about coming back to the states?

Hartleys:  Since we’ve left Africa, we have been to 5 different churches in 4 weeks.  It is a part of missionary kid life, but it is hard for the kids to bounce to so many places.  They love routine and predictability and furlough challenges that.

Our biggest surprise was inflation.  Sho!  We went to Burger King and Titus ordered the same meal he always gets in SA.  In Joburg, his meal is the equivalent of $5, here it was $13.50!!  I almost fell over.  We needed a bunch of binders for our homeschool curriculum and I went to the Fred Meyer school supplies “sale”.  It would’ve cost me $80, but I rather bought them all at Dollar Tree for $10.  We love bargain hunting and this season stateside has presented us a great challenge!

Interviewer:  Missionaries are always needing and asking for money.  How about you guys?  How are you doing financially?
 
Hartleys:  Honestly, the timing of our transition back and the additional costs of our visa process have made it an expensive season for us.  We have also had some faithful donors drop off or graduate to heaven recently. If you were wondering if we need support, YES we do!  If you have been thinking about sending in a gift or signing up as a new monthly donor, now would be an excellent time!

Interviewer:  I see that you need a bunch of money, but I just saw a bunch of pictures on social media of your family having an awesome vacation in London.  Didn’t you spend a bunch of money on that?

Hartleys:  That was a fantastic week!  It was actually one of the cheapest vacations we’ve ever had.  The longer layover in London didn’t cost anything extra on our tickets home, we stayed with dear friends so accommodation was free, and they covered most of our expenses while we were with them.  All the museums we visited were free.  No Magezi Ministries money was spent on our vacation!

Interviewer:  We all want to know if you’ve heard anything about your visas?

Hartleys:  No, not yet.  Our agent told us that October 30^th someone will evaluate our case and decide whether or not we get Permanent Residency.  If on the 30^th, the decision is no, we will need to begin another visa application process. Please join us in praying for favor and for us to receive the visas.  October 30^th is obviously a very big day for us.  We do not have to be in SA for this date, our agent will represent us and let us know what happens.

Interviewer:  How long are you back for this time?  Do you think God is telling you to move back to the States?

Hartleys:  We have a strong feeling that our time in Africa isn’t over yet and we have a huge desire to return.  We are submitting this to the Lord and trusting that He knows where, when, and if our family should transition. We are considering this time in the states a normal, support raising furlough until we hear otherwise.  We hope to return to Africa in early 2024 if we are granted our next visa and if we can get our support base back up to 100%.

Interviewer:  What are people saying the most to you?

Hartleys:  Everyone is surprised at how tall the kids are. 

Interviewer:  Still homeschooling? 

Hartleys:  Yes, we finished their Freshman year a couple months early so we wouldn’t have to bring so many books back to USA and we started their Sophomore year this week.  We are doing Sonlight curriculum again and it is challenging and awesome!

Interviewers:  Where can people find you all?

Hartleys:  We are mostly in Seattle, but visit Portland a couple times each month.  We are in Central WA soon,  then hopefully Bellingham, and then driving through Idaho to Colorado.  Our exact road trip dates are still evolving.  We would love to see a bunch of you!  Janell’s new phone number is 971-427-4295 and you are welcome to connect with her to invite us to visit you, your group/church, etc.  In our next newsletter, we will communicate more scheduling details.  We would love to see you all!

Interviewer:  So prayer points for your family: we can pray for increased financial support for you and for your visas.  Anything else?

Hartleys:  We’d love prayer for deep connections with people in the states, for our ministries in South Africa to continue to thrive while we are gone, and for refreshment andrest in the middle of all the traveling we will do in the next couple months.  We are so grateful and thankful for this season of being with you all.  

Interviewer:  Is there anything else we can do to help make things easier for you all?  

Hartleys:  If you have moved in the last two years or have a new address, it would help us a ton if you would shoot us a quick email with your new details.  As we are trying to find you all, it helps a lot to have updated addresses and current phone numbers. Thank you!