March 15, 2009 Update
March 15, 2009
Hello friends,
Thank you for your partnership with us in this amazing journey. We are seeing God more and more as we walk in His plan. Here's an update on our family... I will warn you-- it's pretty long! (photos at the end!)
We're back! We left MTI in Colorado on Friday at noon and got home in North Carolina after 2AM on Saturday morning. Suffice to say, it was a long day of travel with three little kids. I was thankful that our kids all slept on the last leg of the trip from Dallas back to Raleigh. Yesterday we all slept in until almost 10AM and tried to just take it easy and have a day of Sabbath as we (the kids especially) adjusted to being back in North Carolina.
I don't know how much to say about our 3 weeks at MTI. There's a large part of me that feels like I should keep a bit more tight-lipped with details to preserve the experience for others who I know will go after us as missionaries. So forgive me if it seems I am being vague as I describe what we did. The main thrust of the program was self-awareness; understanding who WE are so we can know how to adjust in the culture we will enter soon. There was a large focus on community-building and we covered topics like team building, moral purity, values, Sabbath, and the paradox of feelings we often live with in the mission field. We had very little idea as to how the program would impact us ahead of time. One of the things that was said was, "We're not trying to discourage you, we're trying to disillusion you." That happened. It was a challenge at times (most times) requiring us to do hard work. But we both feel the training was INVALUABLE. I simply cannot imagine us going to the field NOT having had that training.
One of the best parts of MTI was the program for our children. Our kids (even down to Josiah) were learning many of the same concepts that we were learning in their classes. It was a JOY to hear the same truths we were learning coming from their mouths at the end of the day. The staff does an amazing job of teaching the kids in fun ways that are age-appropriate. All five of us made great friends with the 20 adults and 21 children at the program-- 11 families in all going to 10 different countries all around the world.
We had weekends "off" of official training and we got to see more of the beautiful state of Colorado. The first weekend visited New Life church and then hit the Garden of the Gods. The second weekend we went up past Denver to visit our dear friend Andrew Brown. He hosted us very well and played the part of tour guide... taking us to visit the Flatirons as well as Rocky Mountain National Park. We also visited his church, Flatirons Community Church. Our whole family LOVES Andrew and it was a JOY to see him again. We made our first "real" goodbye when we left him, and it wasn't easy.
Now that we're back we have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it! In 43 days, we move to Haiti. Danny and Leann Pye (HCH Directors) have been doing a lot of leg work in Haiti getting ready for our move. They've secured housing in both Port Au Prince for our language training, and in Jacmel, where we will live until we are able to get housing built on the HCH land in Raymond. They've shopped around for vehicles, and this week are picking up our new truck! We're so thankful to them for their continued work on our behalf.
There's a lot to do here on the North Carolina side. Most notably, we have to pack, sell/give away all our stuff. And we need some help. Would you consider any of the following? If so, email nick at nick@haitianchildrenshome.orgHello friends,
Thank you for your partnership with us in this amazing journey. We are seeing God more and more as we walk in His plan. Here's an update on our family... I will warn you-- it's pretty long! (photos at the end!)
We're back! We left MTI in Colorado on Friday at noon and got home in North Carolina after 2AM on Saturday morning. Suffice to say, it was a long day of travel with three little kids. I was thankful that our kids all slept on the last leg of the trip from Dallas back to Raleigh. Yesterday we all slept in until almost 10AM and tried to just take it easy and have a day of Sabbath as we (the kids especially) adjusted to being back in North Carolina.
I don't know how much to say about our 3 weeks at MTI. There's a large part of me that feels like I should keep a bit more tight-lipped with details to preserve the experience for others who I know will go after us as missionaries. So forgive me if it seems I am being vague as I describe what we did. The main thrust of the program was self-awareness; understanding who WE are so we can know how to adjust in the culture we will enter soon. There was a large focus on community-building and we covered topics like team building, moral purity, values, Sabbath, and the paradox of feelings we often live with in the mission field. We had very little idea as to how the program would impact us ahead of time. One of the things that was said was, "We're not trying to discourage you, we're trying to disillusion you." That happened. It was a challenge at times (most times) requiring us to do hard work. But we both feel the training was INVALUABLE. I simply cannot imagine us going to the field NOT having had that training.
One of the best parts of MTI was the program for our children. Our kids (even down to Josiah) were learning many of the same concepts that we were learning in their classes. It was a JOY to hear the same truths we were learning coming from their mouths at the end of the day. The staff does an amazing job of teaching the kids in fun ways that are age-appropriate. All five of us made great friends with the 20 adults and 21 children at the program-- 11 families in all going to 10 different countries all around the world.
We had weekends "off" of official training and we got to see more of the beautiful state of Colorado. The first weekend visited New Life church and then hit the Garden of the Gods. The second weekend we went up past Denver to visit our dear friend Andrew Brown. He hosted us very well and played the part of tour guide... taking us to visit the Flatirons as well as Rocky Mountain National Park. We also visited his church, Flatirons Community Church. Our whole family LOVES Andrew and it was a JOY to see him again. We made our first "real" goodbye when we left him, and it wasn't easy.
Now that we're back we have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it! In 43 days, we move to Haiti. Danny and Leann Pye (HCH Directors) have been doing a lot of leg work in Haiti getting ready for our move. They've secured housing in both Port Au Prince for our language training, and in Jacmel, where we will live until we are able to get housing built on the HCH land in Raymond. They've shopped around for vehicles, and this week are picking up our new truck! We're so thankful to them for their continued work on our behalf.
- We're having a large yard sale on April 11th, (at the flea market in Raleigh-- WE THINK!) We need help that day (help lugging everything out there and getting it set up, during the sale, and afterward taking everything left over to the Durham Rescue Mission) and in the days preceding it to get everything ready.
- We will have an ongoing need for childcare on and off until we leave so we can pack. And more than just childcare, we need people to LOVE our children-- people who will play with them, and engage at their level. This move is hard on them, especially Nico, and we want them to KNOW that they are loved and cared for.
- We need someone to help us organize/prioritize/inventory/weigh the stuff we're packing so we can have stuff sent with mission teams after we leave.
- We still need to work on securing funding. We're over 90% of start-up funds and are over 80% of ongoing expenses. We're getting close, but still have some ground to cover! Haitian Children's Home is a non-profit, 501(c)3. More info here.
Please be in prayer for our family. Rather than give you a bullet list (that would be pages and pages long), I just ask that you pray as you feel lead.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
As we work towards our goodbyes here in the US, we anticipate with joy our hellos in Haiti. And we know we cannot do this without you.
Much love,
Nick, Gwenn, Nia, Nico and Josiah
Nico on the playground... MUCH time was spent here!
Nia and her new friend, Hannah
Nick and Gwenn up at Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park (Longs Peak in the Background.)
Our friend and host- Andrew Brown. (About to pelt one of us with a snowball.)
A big herd of elk we saw heading up the mountain...
Worshiping together on the last night.
The Mangine 5... Flatirons in the background.
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