Plans for the Final Chapter

Hey everyone!

Wow!  It has been so long since I have blogged, this doesn’t even feel like a familiar place to be right now…

I was at dinner with friends last night, and a girl that I hadn't seen in a LONG while said, “I am used to hearing all about you guys on Facebook, where have ya been?”

We have been resting…reacclimating…refocusing…

We have been beginning the final chapter of this part of our Haiti journey—the part where we live in the country and do life with these brothers and sisters, both native and internationals.

We have been transitioning.  Which I stink at, and struggle to do well; especially while I am trying to hold some little hands and heads up while they seek to transition as well.

More than any of that though, we have been ON.OUR.KNEES…

So much has happened since May 4…

Even as I sit here and try to reflect on it, I have a knot in my throat.  There are days that feel so normal here, so fresh and just free.  On those days, I struggle to recount where we have been, the length of time we were away, and the idea that we would ever leave.

But I know better…

A few months back, I eluded to the idea that when the time came for me to do my clinical for midwifery school, we would need to move back to the states.  We would LEAVE Haiti.  I don’t think that any of us really knew what that would mean.  The kids were “fine” with the idea.  Gracie would say things like, “I am staying, mom.  You just go back to the States and do your clinical.  We are staying here with Dad, and you can just come back with us when you are done.”  We would all have the days where the thought would enter our heads, “Can we really leave here?”

We processed this a lot while we were home.  At times we even asked the question, “Should we go back?  What is God trying to show us in all of this?”

But in the end, God was clear regarding our return.  We came back because we knew we needed healing.  We left so quickly—it was almost traumatic in some ways, and we needed to come back and see things whole.  We needed closure.  Haiti has been our life for almost two years.  It is fair to say that Toby has grown up here.  (When we were home, he was so confused by things like the radio and TV; he thought you should be able to watch any show or play and song you wanted, at any given time.  He went crazy watching traffic, and the play grounds seemed to huge to him.)

In the month that we have been back, we have asked many times, “How long should we stay?”  And I think it is clear to both of us that at this point, the end of 2014 will lead us back to the states (mid-December).  There is another nurse, who has committed to serving at COTP for the next year, coming down the end of August; and Rob is continuing to work closely with the Haitian staff who covered his role while he was gone, in order to prepare them for our departure.  We really feel that the time we have from now until December would give us enough time to help our replacements transition and be trained in their new roles, as well as would even provide some time where we can pull back completely, but still be available here on the ground for support and consults.  If more time is indeed needed, we are open to the possibility to staying into January or February.  However, we do see the value in being able to go back and have our kids start going to school to be able to provide some structure during the big transition we will all face.  

All that being said…

We would LOVE to have you partner with us for these next 6 months!!!  And if you are already supporting us month, we pray you would consider hanging on for another 6 months :)

Our support will include:
-money to live, work, eat at COTP
-insurance coverage 
-travel money
-salary
-transition funds
-potentially coverage of some of the medical costs that we incurred this past summer

By raising money for 6 months, we have the flexibility to plan for our transition, or even to stay longer in Haiti, if that is something we need to do.

SO!  Throughout the next week, we are going to be blogging and hopefully sharing notes and videos EVERYDAY!  We want to share with you our hearts.  We want you to glimpse the impact that Haiti has had on us.  We want to share with you our vision for the next few months.  We would LOVE for you to partner with us and pray for us!  

Then…on August 15th, you will have the chance to GIVE!  We are hoping to do a ONE.DAY fundraiser to raise what we need for the next 6 months.  Our goal is $25,000.  We are praying that by the end of the week, God will raise up those whose hearts he has prompted to not only  give, but also to pray and journey with us these next 6 months, and that TOGETHER we can join forces to finish this chapter WELL!

God has made it clear to us that this is the end of this CHAPTER…but it is not the end of our Haiti JOURNEY.  Our hearts are here and so full of love for this country and these people.  We have gained so much more than we could have ever given and we will continue to seek what God has to teach us through our relationships here.  

So stay tuned and stay alert to the updates that will start coming on Monday, August 11…and then be prepared to celebrate with us on August 15th for the fundraiser.  

We have some fun things up our sleeve!  You aren’t going to want to miss this!!