the Nikki story

Today our Nikki turns 25. And Friday, she heads to her DE home...starting a new summer job June 1st. 

WAAAAAA.

Someone asked me to please explain how Nikki became and Ayars, and as I've been thinking about her lots these days preparing for another major transition, I'm realizing how active God's hand has been in the Nikki story.

The most common question we get is, "Nikki fits in here... HOW exactly? She's your sister/cousin/daughter what?"

The best answer is that she may not be our family exactly, but she is one of our people...and always will be.

church on Sunday, our last Sabbath with Kiki :(

Teaching and working so many hours each day at Emmaus Monday-Friday...and adding a new baby every few years...I've needed HELP in Haiti the last many years keeping on top of the girls' schooling.  We were always behind, I was always behind, and we didn't just need someone to watch over them-- as Gertha always has done so well--but someone educated and able to teach them WELL. 

For years I shared with ones close to us that we needed help (or they observed that we needed help :), but I just knew that we would never find a certified teacher who was ready and willing to move to Haiti, basically living and eating and teaching with our family 24/7. 

I also really needed help with all our English students, having long desired to add a conversational practice element to all our classes, but not having an extra 4-5 hours a week to do so! 

Finally, someone (I don't even remember who, probably Sharon when we became pregnant with Ben!) convinced me to just ASK on our blog, just to make the needs known, though I continued to be confident that we would never find someone. 

I shared on the blog out of that doubt, didn't hear anything, as expected, and after a good little time passed, I got an email from a friend in DE, saying that there was a young woman in her church who had recently graduated with an education degree and was looking for a unique, well-suited placement, and might be interested... (Thank you, Marlene, ALWAYS!)

It wasn't until the week Nikki came to Haiti, Ben just a few days old, that it really hit us that the Lord had answered our prayer...and here we are, two years that have been PLAGUED with political instability and huge, unexpected transitions...and I'm STILL realizing how many prayers, spoken and unspoken, the Lord has answered in and through Nikki.

Above and beyond prayers...a dearly loved tutor for our students, dearly. A friend for many on our Haiti missionfield. Ben's best buddy.  The little sister Matt never had.  The big sister Lily always wanted. Patient, consistent, steady, reliable schooling through just a tumultuous year. Another set of hands when another set of hands has been badly needed through moving countries in a time when few could help us due to coronavirus. An added sense of stability when there has been little. A good friend for all of us. 

One time I mentioned to Emily how challenging it must always be to have someone outside her family living with them, and she shrugged, "It's kind of something we've always done. There are always people out there who NEED the Jesus and the love that our family has to offer, and what better discipleship is there than life-on-life?"

I love how our family has grown because of Nikki...how Nikki has grown because of our family, and how the Lord has provided for the seven of us through each other.

I love how He answered prayers we weren't even bold enough to articulate, and how He had EXACTLY Nikki EXACTLY these two years for our family, and for so many others. 

We will all be bawling on Friday.  We've already had our late night tears, Nikki and I. But I will be THANKFUL on Friday, too...because He knew us all better and knew what we all needed and knew what all was coming and what we all would need...and He has been GOOD to give us Himself through one another.  He's got good gifts, friends. Pray boldly!