Its been four weeks since we packed two suitcases per person and took a plane to leave Haiti without a return flight. We no longer live as missionaries. Its a strange thing really. When we were missionaries everything we did seemed phenomenal to those in America, even our daily living was different. Now we are back and we are invisible. I don’t really miss the attention we got as missionaries, it was never deserved. But it has been interesting to observe. (I can’t say this so I put a line through it so it’s invisible...works, right?)
Our time has been spent sick, seems every time we come to America we catch the local bug...our immune systems are out of practice fighting American germs. But that isn’t such a bad thing as it makes us slow down and not jump in too fast.
We found a great homeschool co-op for next year. We were able to sit in on the classrooms while they were in session. This is a blessing because my kids can imagine what it will be like next year. They are excited to have the community and the extra teacher help. I’m grateful for this little co-op because they are going to help me with transcripts and class planning and offer a wide range of activities.
Landen has expressed a desire to learn sign-language. We had a couple live in our guesthouse for the last year that work with the Haiti Deaf Academy so we have been exposed to the deaf culture. This is the first time Landen has seen anything that peaked his interest and this co-op has an ASL class! Sierra wants to get into drama and voice lessons which are also available at the co-op. We are working on getting her in a summer camp if time and funds allow. Austin is excited to have a better science teacher, ha! I am seriously lacking in this area. The co-op has a great PSEO program and partners with 4 different colleges. This is a great way for Austin to get started as he gets acclimated back into school communities.
Shane is actively looking for a job. Its really too bad that going to coffee, networking, emailing, applying and job fairs don’t pay...we would be rich. Our life is on hold until Shane finds a job but we truly trust God to bring one at just the right time. We have found that God loves to wait until the last minute so that He gets the glory, we can’t decide what the last minute is so we wait.
In May, I start my internship in the field of Marriage and Family Therapy. I still have a little over a year left to get my Masters but need to start accumulating 500 counseling hours so that I can graduate. I am so excited to be able to begin working! I started this journey in 2011 and its fun to be on this side of things. I go to an online school called Northcentral University where, the more I learn, the more I am grateful for the solid education they are supplying.
We are living with my brother, his wife and two girls in their basement. We sleep in a 20x10’ room and they have mostly given us their downstairs living room and bathroom. Our plan is to move out as soon as Shane gets a job. However, we can tell that God is protecting the relationships and it is going really well. We are so grateful that we have a place to stay while we transition back.
Elevate is still going strong. I have weekly phone meetings with Bob and Daphney. I’m finding that my patience is returning as I start to feel like I have more margins in my life. We hade two micro-loan recipients that have been ill and have been struggling with repayment so Bob and Daphney, respectively, brought them to a hospital with volunteer American doctors. We found out that one of them who has been complaining of stomach problems has no physical ailments. The doctors believe that it is an emotional issue. Please pray for him if you think about it.
At the beginning of April we paid for Bob and Daphney to go to a Train the Trainer weekend conference. They were excited to learn of new ways to help teach business to those that are living in deep poverty. They were given the workbook to take home and begin to utilize. This is perfect timing as we started 10 new loans last month. Their first monthly meeting is today, 4/22 and I can’t wait to hear how the loans recipients are doing and to hear how the new training works with this group. I was most encouraged to see how excited and energized Bob and Daphney were after the weekend. They felt valued, equipped and appreciated. Makes me think I need to get creative so that we can keep encouraging them in ways like this.
We are working on a monthly budget for Elevate. If you are a donor and are interested in this, please email me so we can share. Our financial needs for Elevate to continue are around $2,000 a month, so please consider joining (or staying) on our financial team.
Traveling.
Milo is now an American citizen.
Our ‘home’ for now.
Bob and Daphney on the far right at the training.
It’s been 5 years since Landen had a birthday in America
So much snow.
