As most of you know, over the past months, we have experienced transition after transition in our SRI family. Dan and Kari left for their sabbatical. Jeff, Kamanda, and Braegan transitioned into the guesthouse. Nicole and Monchy headed to the states in April for a bit. Our Dominican staff have taken on new responsibilities to help keep things going strong. With each change, new adjusting, new relating, new norms arrive. More changes are coming fast upon us. In three weeks we both will be welcoming Dan and Kari back to the DR and saying goodbye to Jeff, Kamanda, and Braegan as they move to Phoenix. As one who has been a "stayer" throughout these changes, it has been a mix of emotions and experiences. I care deeply about my team- they're my people here, and I celebrate the new experiences that they have been given, and I'm sad to say goodbyes. And I do my best to remember that in the scheme of things, God is moving on a broad scale and also individually in each of our lives. Selfishly, I want to have all my people here with me, happy, healthy, all of us living and working in peace. Yet I also know that while even we don't always understand it, our paths weave in different ways, lead in different ways. With that come new hello's and new good-bye's. As with all things, I am learning to not check out because of changes I may not be a fan of, but rather to give thanks and celebrate the "what has been" and the "what is," to also mourn for some of the pieces in that process, and trust that God keeps being God and will care for all of us no matter where we find ourselves.
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| An oldie but a goodie |
Living and working in the ministry as Northamericans in another country bind us in a way that is not always easy to understand. We are instant family, yet not instant friends, but there is a connection that is not easily broken. Over time, new folks get weaved into our family, and we continue to grow even while now living in different places. (BTW- We spent a super weekend with Philip and Taylor Verberkmoes and can't wait to welcome them full-time to the Guesthouse this fall- can't wait for you to meet them!)
I've realized that with all of these changes, and all of the upcoming ones, plus additional family and health situations that have been happening, that I'm a bit tired too. So I am looking forward to taking a few weeks in Pennsylvania towards the end of June into July, with my people there, to disconnect, reconnect, and reset my start button. I am so looking forward to it. Sadly, I need to leave my favorite fella here while I do that, since we still have not been able to get approval for a visitor's visa for Wellington to travel with me. I am so thankful for his wisdom and encouragement for me to go regardless- a decision that is not so easy for either of us to make.
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| my favorite fella |
Part of the fun of being in Pennsylvania will be getting to share the experience of this pregnancy in person with my family and friends. That's right, we're expecting! and looking forward to meeting our little guy this fall. :) So, yes, another level of change and transition will be upon us soon.
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| baby on board! |
Being pregnant after a pregnancy loss, is a mix of feelings as well. There are those that think that somehow a new pregnancy erases the loss that occurred and makes everything "normal", but that is not nearly the case. There is excitement, and yet also a strange fear of jinxing this one by actually showing too much excitement. It's living with and holding the tension of love, joy, and loss. I love both of my babies- the one I said goodbye to way too soon last summer, and the one that I'm carrying now and hope to meet this side of heaven. They are both in my thoughts every single day. I am increasingly thankful for each new day of this journey, and I wish that I could say that all the fears and nervousness have subsided, but they haven't. Yet God walks with me and carries me in those as well.
In the midst of this, we are wrapping up the school year with all of our partner schools, and continuing to work to bring young children in health in the Nutrition Program. It's a busy time of year and an exciting time of year. I will definitely celebrate meeting my deadlines in a few weeks, and I look forward to returning refreshed to begin again in July.
Continuing to praise and trust in the God who is the same yesterday and today and forever...
