As we think about how to live with only what we were able to bring in four suitcases for...who knows how long, it's challenging. As we think about the sunshine of home, the stability of home, the beautiful campus to roam, we miss it. As we try to plan, we miss the stability and schedule of home.
We are supposed to be teaching and finishing well in Haiti right now, and then we're supposed to be moving to Mississippi in June. So if we can't teach and finish now, should we be moving to Mississippi now? And then get back to teaching and finishing well in Haiti later, when we were supposed to be moving?
If so, how are we moving into a new house with four suitcases full of mostly schoolbooks? We don't have a spoon. We don't have a dish. We don't have a chair or a mattress or a cookie sheet.
And how do you do all that from Ohio?
For lack of any idea WHAT to do, we're trying to go with the "trade plan"...move now, Haiti later...we've made an offer on a house in Jackson that we have seen the outside of (for about 90 seconds) but have never stepped in. It's either faith or it's insane. Probably both.
If that whole thing happens, we can at least get started on having a place to live and eventually call home, our first ever in America place, with our four suitcases.
I'm pretty sure we've got most of life's most stressful things all happening at once...pandemic, moving internationally with small children, needing to buy a house, needing to buy a car, needing to buy everything a house needs, not knowing when we will be able to get our things, forced to leave your country unexpectedly, some traumatic things we're working through from the past weeks, loss of the normal function of all daily relationships with no warning or closure, the sudden loss of three pets the kids adore, dear friends facing great difficulty and there is nothing we can do to help...the list goes on.
SO many questions I can't answer. SO many needs I can't meet. SO many places for healing that I can't administer.
It gets hard to breathe.
When it does, when nothing feels normal, I'm trying to keep in the normal practice of trading our fears and concerns with counting our blessings, and they are many.
The Edlers have finally and safely arrived to Northern Ireland, just. Pam is safely at home in England. Our friends and family at home are fine. Our last set of close foreign friends are evacuating Monday. There are good and trusted brothers in our home and on Emmaus campus. We've been in continual touch with many friends and staff and all are well. My dad and Cindy have been so gracious and patient and sacrifical, to open their home and fridges and lives to our crumbly lot is no small thing, and they have given us seven a place and space with no pressure, which we most needed. The girls have been very content to play with "grandpa and Ms. Cindy house toys". Dad and I went grocery shopping yesterday and it is, always, wonderful to return to the States and realize that EVEN in the middle of a crisis, every food I could imagine and more, was available. And they have a dishwasher. And a washing machine and dryer. My neices send us happy videos and our little Mayah is healthy and taking her first steps.
A dear friend sent us an Amazon gift card, when diapers and toothbrushes and pants have been needed. Another let us know of a car we could borrow, and even a place to stay for a bit if needed. We've had little emails and words of encouragement from loved ones that are very grounding and remind us that it's all going to be ok somehow.
Because Leme and Jodenel and their families are living in our home, they have internet, so we have far better touch with friends and family at home than we normally do when away. There are blueberries here, and ice cream.
I am counting our blessings and trying, trying, to give each and all of the details pressing in to Him, over and over and over.
He will simply have to take care of us.
He always, always has.
No matter HOW challenging, this is no challenge for Him.
Love you and thank you for your prayers.
Please keep joining me prayer for peace in our hearts to replace the fear we feel for our dear Haiti, for a safe departure and relocation for the Hari's, and for a safe delivery and healthy baby for Gues and Leme, for protection over the precious, fragile people in our lives like Granny and Magloire and JnSius...my heart is on them just constantly.
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