I always knew about the first one and the last one - but that middle one is sneaky! Another ChapterMy kids look so much older. In January of 2017 we took a big step of faith and moved to Thailand. Sara was going to create a program to support marginalized women and we were going to figure out what I was going to do in addition to homeschool. That was approximately one million years ago. Why did we come back?
What are we doing?We're being Americans for the first time since 2004! We found a house, found some jobs, found a school, found some furniture, and we've jumped in with both feet! Sara is starting her PhD. at the University of Connecticut, (the main reason we landed in CT) and also has a graduate assistant role there which so far has been both demanding and exciting. She's studying a lot, but has been amazing at finding time for the kids and myself daily. Sonya and Levi are starting their first official "big" school experience. Sonya had done preschool in China, and they have both been homeschooled up to this year. Both kids seem to like going, and are learning the ropes of society and education here in crazy America. I have 3 part-time jobs that together keep me rather busy! I'm teaching students that are stuck outside of China for ISC (the school system we used to work for in China) and will later be course writing for them. I'm also course writing for NorthStar Academy as well as serving with tech support for them 3 days a week. We had hoped to buy a house, but that hasn't worked out yet, so we are renting in Stafford Springs Connecticut. We had intended to live much farther south - and maybe we will in the future, but for now we are really enjoying a land of woods and trees and SPACE. I love fall, but maybe I love this fall beyond all other falls. There's not really a fall in either China (lack of trees) or Thailand (lack of anything other than summer). THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.Living on support has been growing, humbling, motivating and amazing. I have a hard time getting my mind around the idea that you - our friends - have fed us, housed us, taught us, and prayed for us for THREE YEARS. We never ran out, and when we were afraid we would you guys appeared out of nowhere and took care of us on the spot. Thank you. SUPPORTERS ATTENTION!We actually drew a paycheck this month from our respective workplaces, so supporters, you may officially STOP!! A few of you have asked if you can continue support for us for a little while, and of course you may- but also please consider praying and asking God if there is a new work in his kingdom that he would like to direct you towards.
What's next?We live life just like we have been, we look for ways that God would work in the people around us. We pray for our kids and our neighbors. We begin to look for ways that we can be a candle to the floodlight of generosity that we have recently experienced. We speak English to English speakers EVERY DAY. Ahhh yes. We miss waterfalls and fruit drinks and the clock of the developing world, but those things help us to remember that God has been good all over the world and we are no more or less living with his blessings right now. This Summer in pictures:Prayer Requests:For Thailand and Burma: Here in the first world, the corona virus is a big deal. In the developing world its both bigger and smaller. Bigger because those places do not have the facility or wealth to make things clean. They can social distance, but if you take away all of the sanitation that we have in the first world, then a return to normal means a return of the virus. This is a crushing reality and can easily give a feeling of hopelessness. It is smaller because death is just a closer threat at all times so the fear we experience here at this new threat is no new thing for them. It's just another of so many already existing threats.
For Global Child Advocates: GCA has been continuing to help families with counseling, food, and other support throughout this pandemic without much of a pause. Pray for strength and endurance for them. They have also had some significant changes with some of their placement families and are finding new ways to support those families, as well as the kids who live there. For Us: We have met some amazing believers here in CT, but have yet to find a church in our area. We have a couple of potentials out there that still need some investigation, but its just one of those big decisions. Pray for wisdom for us and for the church that takes us in. Also, pray that God shows us a way for our whole family to serve him together. We each follow God individually, but it's cool when we can serve in community.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
The Harvel FamilyWe're all settled in to our home in Thailand for the foreseeable future. Its a crazy place - so it suits us. |