March 1st we sent out our last newsletter from
Paraguay. About 9 months ago we felt a
transition was coming, although we couldn’t quite articulate what exactly. We thought maybe a change of ministry
focus. Our family was preparing to
launch Ryan, our first born, to college in the US and we wondered if that had
anything to do with our unsettled feelings.
As September approached, Jeff and I both felt God again tugging at our
hearts, and – to our surprise – calling us to move back to the US. We instantly felt an incredible peace.
We told team mates and family in October. In January (all within 36 hours), we bought a
house in Troy, Texas and Jeff signed a job contract in the neighboring town of
Belton (where Ryan goes to school, his parents live, and where we have
furloughed twice). In February we told
people in our town and our supporters that we were leaving. We bought plane tickets for April 16th.
The reality of this move didn’t hit me until we told the
Paraguayans. There have been tears and
hugs, kind words, and few people even sounded a bit angry that we would
leave. But most understand when we say
it is the best for our family. They
understand that education here is hard for us and that we want to be on the
same continent with our college aged kids.
We are facing maybe the biggest transition of our life. It’s been emotional. It’s been a roller coaster ride – fast and
with ups and downs. We praise God that
he was already preparing the hearts of Ginny and Joshua for this big transition. They were beginning to realize that with
Ryan’s leaving and other MK teens either going to college or leaving for home
assignment, that their life in Paraguay would look very different even if we
stayed. When Jeff and I carefully told
them our thoughts to move to the US, they understood and were even about new
opportunities. My jr high boys – Tyler and Micah - were taken aback by the news
and have needed all these months to get warm up to the idea. It has only been in the last couple of weeks
that they have shown some excitement in the adventure of going to Texas.
So, prayers are much needed and appreciated.
No comments:
Post a Comment