Ok, with that out of the way I wanted to fill you in a bit about what is going on in our preparations for our move to Haiti this summer.
Things we are currently working on are:
- Selling Our House
- We have put in some long days the past couple weeks in getting our house ready to show! This process has been a big one but we are pleased with how much has been accomplished and grateful to those who have helped in big and small ways in this process. We have had generous friends and family who have given of their time to be with our girls while we worked on house things, been willing to store items for us in their homes, and rented equipment to move large items. Despite the amount of work, it has been a pretty good feeling to have been able to go through all we own and really question if we need it or not. Given where we are moving to, it has put a whole new spin on how we view the things we have and causes us to question their value.
- Health Insurance
- Right now we are still evaluating a few different options for our insurance for our family while we are living in Haiti. This is a sort of interesting area to research given all the recent changes to healthcare for all Americans.
- Homeschool Curriculum
- We have been wonderfully blessed in this area of preparations, yet another big way we have experienced affirmation in this process due to the community of people I work with at Sioux Falls Christian Schools. We have had multiple teachers and parents of home-schooled children approach us in wanting to help figure this all out both financially, as well as in deciding which curriculum to use.
- Medical Preparations
- When moving into Sioux Falls 7 years ago we called a Sanford clinic because we needed to find a family practice doctor, mainly because we were expecting another child. We were very randomly given the name of our doctor and we have been very pleased ever since. She has been supportive in talking with us about our move, and willing to do whatever she can when it comes to any possible situation that might come up in Haiti that she might be able to educate us about, or supply prescriptions for ahead of time.
- Mission Haiti Team Building
- A few weeks ago all the Mission Haiti employees in the U. S. along with the other 3 Americans who will be moving with us met (1 couple via SKYPE) so we all could get on the same page about many different topics. We were very encouraged at this meeting on many different levels about a variety of topics. That was a very broad statement... but we realized after that meeting that we need to continue to be intentional about not just crossing off our moving to-do lists and ignore the relational and human side of all of this. It is very easy to get caught up in the details and logistics of this all and neglect the relationship & spiritual development that is integral.
- Learning French
- We have been told our girls will learn this much quicker than Tim or I, maybe they can eventually become our translators : ) This element excites me but is also a bit overwhelming among the rest of details right now.
- Researching Business Opportunities
- Tim has had a number of meetings over the past few weeks with business owners, chicken farmers, and board members in gathering information he needs. All very interesting stuff that I will save for him to post someday... I am afraid I would get the terms all wrong.
Way back in February we sat down for supper with a couple from our church family who moved their 3 girls to Africa for a year when their youngest was 5. That evening the wife made the comment that once she actually got on the plane to leave the U.S. she breathed a sigh of relief. She described the time leading up to their move as [simply crazy]... I believe the husband may have even referred to her at that time as 'nuts' (I am sure it was in the most loving way).
Tim commented to me the other day that we are in that time that couple spoke of, right now. There have been days I have felt 'nuts!' I have commented to many that I am frustrated with myself in how I am completing usually normal tasks throughout my days and weeks. A certain standard has had to be accepted that usually would not be alright with me, a daily reminder that only by God's great mercy and grace being heaped on us through those He has put in our lives, has all this been possible.
Colossians 1:11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you have all the endurance and patience you need. (NLT)
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