Even though there are plenty of funny memes on Facebook showing people with black eyes after making it through 2024, I’ve got to say, we had a pretty great year! Sure, we faced our fair share of challenges, just like everyone else navigating the ups and downs of 2024. But I genuinely believe we came out stronger by the end of it all. Let’s look at some examples that show just how far we’ve come!

We kicked off the year by welcoming our second little bundle of joy, Charlotte Faye to her new home in Tanzania! What a wonderful addition she has been to our family! Charlotte is such a lively spirit who loves meeting new people and keeping herself entertained. It’s hard to believe she turned one in October! She’s already walking and starting to talk. She has her go-to phrases but communicates so well that you always know what she needs, even without words. She’s quick to let us know when her diaper is full! Honestly, she lights up every room and is often the life of the party!

Levi just turned four this year, and he’s absolutely loving his school and all the friends he’s made! It’s like a little United Nations, with kids from almost every continent. His closest pals come from six different nationalities! Levi keeps busy with swimming lessons and piano lessons, and he plays football (soccer) two nights a week. What an exciting (and exhausting) schedule he has!

Sentell continues to steer his Tanzania office, a vibrant team of seven dedicated individuals working collaboratively to strengthen election integrity and build the leadership skills of future leaders. Recently, he has taken on expanded responsibilities, overseeing programs throughout Southern Africa, which includes offices in South Africa and Zimbabwe. In this expanded role, he gets to make a real impact by driving and rolling out exciting strategic initiatives across various areas. This helps encourage growth and spark innovation in all these important spaces!

Sheila is deeply involved in her church community, juggling various responsibilities that keep her schedule packed. Together with a team of ladies, she is actively coordinating multiple women’s events as well as manages the parent volunteer schedule for the Sunday school, ensuring that each class is adequately staffed. On top of that, she is involved in the process of building a couples’ ministry that strengthens relationships and promotes healthy communication among couples in our church community. Simultaneously, she is also managing Levi’s busy playgroup schedule, making sure he has ample opportunities for engaging activities and playdates.

Earlier this year, we had an incredible adventure in Kenya, getting up close and personal with the majestic giraffes and elephants! Sentell also attended a family picnic in Detroit, Michigan, where he reconnected with cousins he hadn’t seen in years. In August, we headed back to the US for some quality home leave. It was such an exciting time as we helped Sheila’s cousin settle into her dorm at Middlebury College in Vermont. We also caught up with friends in the DMV and enjoyed some fun family time in Alabama, where Levi and Charlotte Faye had a blast hanging out with their cousins. To wrap up the year, we traveled to Rwanda and Uganda to celebrate a lovely family wedding in western Uganda.

What a wonderful year filled with memorable moments! We look forward to what 2025 will bring as we settle into our third year in East Africa!