Tuesday night we made an announcement to the director of the mission. This announcement has been a heavy weight on our shoulders for a few months. It wasn't until about a week ago that I started realizing the direction that I will take my family.
I got together with Pastor Rob to tell him that after the adoption is complete we will be moving back to the States. The reason for this is primarily because we want to focus on our Biblical priorities of God first, spouse second, and family/children third. And the season that God has given us right now is a season of "family" with our kids - including the adoption of Lou. Whatever vocation we have (in our case it is missionary work) comes fourth. The amount of time and mental energy that is required on the mission field does not allow for quantity of time with family (my experience has shown that you can only get enough quality time with quantity time).
The added necessary effort that Lou will require because of his Down syndrome will take more time. Being in Haiti complicates things greatly. Other people may be able to handle all of these things, but I have made the decision to err on the side of having more time and energy available for family than not enough - I don't want to wait until it's too late. When I die and God asks me what I have done with what he has made me responsible for, I want to be able to answer that I have put almost everything into my top priorities - at least have them managed well and prioritized.
I always have some sort of disclosure because I am not perfect in my decision making. In this case, I am making plans to go to the State and will willingly allow God to direct my steps.
"The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." Proverbs 16:9
If God doesn't want us to go, he'll do what he knows is best and I trust in that. I pray that whatever direction God points us in, that we willingly accept his steps.
We have no place to go back to in Minnesota, so we'll be looking to buy a place (we have three offers of places to stay if we need them - and we'll most likely take one of them up on their offer). I have no job to go back to, so I've been looking for something that fits my skills. If anyone has any leads for me, drop me a line.
The adoption process could take another 2-4 months (if the Lord wants us here longer...it will be longer and so be it). When we know we are close, we'll schedule flights and make our way back.
We will be leaving significant parts of ourselves here in Haiti at the Baptist Haiti Mission. It will not be easy on the day we leave.
Showing posts with label Plan Update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Plan Update. Show all posts
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Plan Update
I wanted to provide what I believe will be the last plan update that we will have until we find out that the adoption of Lou is complete.
Our intent is to travel to the States when the adoption is complete, so we can visit friends and family. When we find out that we are near the end, we will plan our travel dates. After we arrive, we will speak with our church mission leader about possibly supporting us here in Haiti. We hope to get Lou checked out by a pediatrician (one that specialized in Down Syndrome we hope) and take care of whatever his needs are. I would anticipate being in the States for a couple to few months, then it will be back to Haiti. All of these steps are Lord willing.
Our intent is to travel to the States when the adoption is complete, so we can visit friends and family. When we find out that we are near the end, we will plan our travel dates. After we arrive, we will speak with our church mission leader about possibly supporting us here in Haiti. We hope to get Lou checked out by a pediatrician (one that specialized in Down Syndrome we hope) and take care of whatever his needs are. I would anticipate being in the States for a couple to few months, then it will be back to Haiti. All of these steps are Lord willing.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Clarification - Plan Update
I had dinner last night with a good, long-time friend of mine, Dave, who laid some things out striaght for me (Dave has a blog that focuses on remembering "that we are mortal and like all before us and after us, each of us will someday die.")
One of the topics of our conversation was when he asked me how honest he should be in his answer to my question of "Tell me what you think of what I am doing." On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being brutally honest, I did not hesitate to ask for the 10. After a lengthy discussion, one of the things that I learned from that part of our conversation was that what I was planning to do at the Baptist Haiti Mission was not all that clear. So the point of this post will be to clarify what I expect to be doing while serving as a missionary in Haiti...
Tina and I have known for quite some time that we have servant hearts - we like to help people and be behind the scenes (i.e., not on the front lines). Tina and I have both taken a couple of those personality/spiritual gifts tests that confirm that this is the way the Lord made us.
That being said, it is my expectation that Tina and I will be servants to the Lord through the Baptist Haiti Mission. At the mission, I plan to do whatever they need done. This includes things like fixing cars/trucks/doors/windows/locks/hospital equipment/generator/water systems/gardening/deliveries/construction... the list is virtually endless. We will take the opportunities to share our stories to those we are with by developing relationships with them first. By helping the mission do the work that they need done, we will be helping them to help the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus. These expectations of mine may not be exactly straight, but they will be very close.
Dave, thank you for your word fitly spoken.
I plan to write in the near future something more about how we were drawn to Haiti. Things like this are really hard for me to get in writing, but I'll do my best (with the help of my wife).
One of the topics of our conversation was when he asked me how honest he should be in his answer to my question of "Tell me what you think of what I am doing." On a scale of 1 - 10 with 10 being brutally honest, I did not hesitate to ask for the 10. After a lengthy discussion, one of the things that I learned from that part of our conversation was that what I was planning to do at the Baptist Haiti Mission was not all that clear. So the point of this post will be to clarify what I expect to be doing while serving as a missionary in Haiti...
Tina and I have known for quite some time that we have servant hearts - we like to help people and be behind the scenes (i.e., not on the front lines). Tina and I have both taken a couple of those personality/spiritual gifts tests that confirm that this is the way the Lord made us.
That being said, it is my expectation that Tina and I will be servants to the Lord through the Baptist Haiti Mission. At the mission, I plan to do whatever they need done. This includes things like fixing cars/trucks/doors/windows/locks/hospital equipment/generator/water systems/gardening/deliveries/construction... the list is virtually endless. We will take the opportunities to share our stories to those we are with by developing relationships with them first. By helping the mission do the work that they need done, we will be helping them to help the people of Haiti in the name of Jesus. These expectations of mine may not be exactly straight, but they will be very close.
Dave, thank you for your word fitly spoken.
I plan to write in the near future something more about how we were drawn to Haiti. Things like this are really hard for me to get in writing, but I'll do my best (with the help of my wife).
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Plan Update - 05/31/2008
One month left in the States.
The current plan is to work on packing the Rubbermaid-suitcases - leaving a couple to live out of. As soon as that happens, we'll be moving to my parent's house a couple miles away and then working to cleanup our house so everything is ready for closing on the 20th of June.
We'll leave on the 30th real early in the morning. From Minneapolis, we'll go to Miami and have about an hour before we catch the flight to Port-au-Price. We hope to go from the airport to the orpahange to pick Lou up and then off to the Baptist Haiti Mission from there. It will be a long day! I assume we'll have to do a little food shopping once we get there unless we bring enough in the carry-ons to last a day or two.
Packing the carry-ons will be interesting. Food (no liquids) and reading/entertainment for the trip there will be part of what is packed. The other part will be whatever we can fit that wouldn't fit in the Rubbermaid-suitcases. We'll be really loaded down in MPLS and then again in Port-au-Prince with all the luggage.
There is a trial period for people new to the mission during which time both parties (us and the folks at BHM) determine if we are a good fit. If things work out, we'll be there indefinitely and we'll bring Lou back to the States to see friends and family during a couple week trip. Some of this feels so far out that I don't like to make predictions about it; and, as always, it is all Lord willing.
By the way - starting in this blog, starting May 24, 2008 you should be able to click the photo to have it enlarge.
The current plan is to work on packing the Rubbermaid-suitcases - leaving a couple to live out of. As soon as that happens, we'll be moving to my parent's house a couple miles away and then working to cleanup our house so everything is ready for closing on the 20th of June.
We'll leave on the 30th real early in the morning. From Minneapolis, we'll go to Miami and have about an hour before we catch the flight to Port-au-Price. We hope to go from the airport to the orpahange to pick Lou up and then off to the Baptist Haiti Mission from there. It will be a long day! I assume we'll have to do a little food shopping once we get there unless we bring enough in the carry-ons to last a day or two.
Packing the carry-ons will be interesting. Food (no liquids) and reading/entertainment for the trip there will be part of what is packed. The other part will be whatever we can fit that wouldn't fit in the Rubbermaid-suitcases. We'll be really loaded down in MPLS and then again in Port-au-Prince with all the luggage.
There is a trial period for people new to the mission during which time both parties (us and the folks at BHM) determine if we are a good fit. If things work out, we'll be there indefinitely and we'll bring Lou back to the States to see friends and family during a couple week trip. Some of this feels so far out that I don't like to make predictions about it; and, as always, it is all Lord willing.
By the way - starting in this blog, starting May 24, 2008 you should be able to click the photo to have it enlarge.
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