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Facebook Helps Missionaries In Africa Get Home For The Holidays

EVANS, Colo. (CBS4) - Most people know someone who had to travel for the holidays, but one Colorado couple had quite a journey getting back from Africa.

It wouldn't have been possible without a remarkable outpouring of support from their friends and family. It all started with a simple post on Facebook.

"'We want you guys home for Christmas, when are we going to see you next?' And I said, 'It's just not going to happen this year. It's not in our plans and it's not possible.' " Jenn DeAtley said.

The reason it was impossible is because Jenn and her husband Shawn live almost 6,000 miles away in Senegal, Africa, where they are missionaries.

"We are working in a small kind of like Bible study-sized church that's growing and we're developing lessons," Jenn said.

But one night she posted on her Facebook page that if people pitched in, they could get home for the holidays, to Shawn's dismay.

"Maybe a couple people might say, 'I'm in,' then I said, 'We've got to worry about what we're going to do with $200 that somebody gives us and then we can't come home still,' " Shawn said.

But he was wrong.

"Within minutes people were saying, "I'm in, I'll give $100.' Someone said, 'Count me in for twice,' " Jenn said. "From Sunday night to Wednesday morning $3,000 was promised for our trip home."

That only covered the cost of the flight to the U.S., not the hour-long taxi ride on the only paved road out of town, onto a ferry to get to the nearest airport, and then numerous flights home.

The villagers they work with, who are known for helping each other out, were excited the same culture existed in America.

"We threw out this idea and all these people jumped on board and gave us the money to come home. They were excited because that fit right in with their culture," Shawn said.

Now the DeAtleys are soaking up every minute of family time this Christmas weekend, and American traditions, because they likely won't be back for 18 more months.

"Just having them here and doing stuff with them is great," Jenn's father said.

"My highlight so far has been seeing the Rocky Mountains again, for sure, snow, and spending a night at a pizza restaurant with my family just hanging out, talking, and having an early Christmas party," Jenn said.

Jenn and Shawn say they're not taking the trip for granted. They haven't been home in a year and know they couldn't have made it without the help of so many others.

"There's no real way to say, 'Thank you,' than to simply say, 'Thank you.' It's a very generous act on everyone's behalf," Jenn said.

Jenn and Shawn will be in Colorado for a few more days, and then it will take them a week to get back to their small village, which has limited electricity and no running water.

Links: New Tribes Mission | www.shawnandjenn.com

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