We’re here. It’s been a little over a week. The suitcases are all put away, and we’re almost on a regular schedule. We still need to visit some family before we can really get into “real” life.
We’ll be living with my parents outside of Philadelphia for the indefinite future. My husband’s work is only part time, but it’s a good flexible job and he needs to continue with it since his students are counting on him to keep teaching his online foreign language classes. He is also able to continue his ministry from here of encouraging pastors and church leaders around the globe through email, messaging, and Skype. Our other income is from EP and especially Genesis Curriculum.
We will be in the States for at least a year and a half, but I think it could be much longer. We do want to get back overseas, but we’re not going to go just for the sake of going. God will have to give us new direction to do so. He obviously arranged things to get us here, so we are being content with that. Starting next year we’ll be moving into a new phase of parenting with a child entering college. It is a relief that it looks like we won’t have to send a child off to another continent for school! But maybe this will be a season in the States while we see kids through this transition to college.
I, of course, would love to have our own home. (I’m turning 40 this year and have never owned a home.) However, we don’t want to live in debt so that we can be free to go if the Lord sends us. We’re first saving up for a car before we can even think about a home!
Thank you to everyone praying for us. It’s a big transition to the States, and it’s a big change of lifestyle and culture. Pray for us to find meaningful ways to minister as a family here. I don’t want my kids to lose their understanding of how others live by being sheltered in suburbia. I don’t want my kids to forget that we’re rich compared to the rest of the world.
Here’s a video walking down the street to visit our friends in Macedonia. We visited them at least once a week. When we lived in Macedonia previously, we lived in this Roma (Gypsy) community. This was normal to my kids. (At the end I’m trying to show how there are several doors. There are four families living behind that one gate we entered through. Each door is a different family’s home. Each home may have one or two rooms. Some homes on the street house multiple families.)
aww, this will be us soon! moving in less than 10 days back to the States. We’ll probably stay there, but we’re not sure exactly where or what yet. And I agree with you, owning a home makes you feel more settled, but it also ties you down. It was hard selling our house when the housing bubble crashed. We will never own a home again. Big adventures await us!
I really enjoy your updates, it makes a tangible connection for my kids when I tell them about your experiences. Obeying God is so critical, we can be so much more effective for the kingdom if we spend our time in prayer instead of just busying ourselves with things that look like ministry, then we are available when we get orders from headquarters. I have never owned a home until now, God led us to move and buy an RV. By American standards it’s a little small, but I love having my own space! We paid $4,000 for a 28 ft travel trailer (we made payments to a private seller). As our family grows, we may outgrow this space, but right now, homeschooling with 5 kids, it is sufficient. We continue to be in prayer for your family. May God continue to bless you richly.
May God give you the desires of your hearts, as you delight yourselves in Him–BE BLESSED, in Jesus’ Name!