Wow! When I think of God bringing us this far, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. (And, honestly, just a little overwhelmed!)
26 busy days are left until our family relocates to Haiti. Here we go!
The past two weeks we've made a lot of headway in terms of practical tasks. We've started selling our furniture. By the way, not having a table/chairs when you have a one-year-old is not necessarily the best plan. :) But we're looking at it as an "adventure." Even so, it has been hard on the kids to say goodbye to so many things that have always been in their lives-- their toys, their bikes, their furniture... Nia especially has been getting a little weepy. What she doesn't know is that Nana has funded, and Danny Pye has arranged for there to be NEW bikes in Haiti for them. It's a surprise that is going really make them smile. Shhhhhh! Don't tell!
I wanted to let you know where we are in terms of funding, since many of you have asked recently. Honestly, with the tasks of the previous 2 weeks, we haven't had much time to think about it. We are about at the same place-- 90%+ of start-up expenses, and around 87% of on-going. Although with the economic climate we are, that number is not 100% firm, since we know of a few different people in crisis with their employment situation. So, like always, we know this is an on-going job of funding this mission. We "can" move at our current support level, but we'd appreciate prayers that God would provide the additional one-time and monthly amounts we need to be fully funded. We do plan on setting aside one day per week when we are in-country to work on raising finances.
In other news, just yesterday, we received Nico's US Passport! FINALLY. He's been home for over 20 months now-- it's ABOUT TIME! He's had a Haitian passport and greencard since he's been home, but it's always been our desire to make the adoption process final in the US, and make sure he's a US citizen prior to our move. Just in case. And now, finally, he is! It was a LONG, complicated process. (He came in on a residency visa rather than a citizenship visa like many foreign adopted children.) We still do have one more official step in the process to receive his certificate of citizenship. Which is more hoops to jump through, and of course, more cost. But... oh well. He's MORE than worth it! The irony is not lost on us though, that we are collecting documentation and doing paperwork for Nick and I to become Haitian (residents), while we're trying to help Nico become American.
In just over a week I (Gwenn) am traveling with a team of friends and family down to Haiti to work on our house and get things ready. I am excited to see (for the first time) our new home and vehicle. I am excited for our friends and family to see where we're going to live and experience Haiti. I can't wait. During that time, Nick and the kids will begin our stay with his parents so we can get things wrapped up at the apartment! That's where we will be during our next update-- Me in Haiti, Nick in NC.
We've been asked lately if there's "anything we need." We were very fortunate to receive SO many items from the Kidspointe supply drive, that we are actually in pretty good shape in terms of things we are collecting now. But there have been a lot of "last minute" things we've needed to buy so we can always use giftcards to Target, Walmart, etc. Since they don't expire, we can use them now or later (online.) As we think about the transition, we will learn to live with Haitian items in time, but will probably be trying to ship some American stuff to help us while we learn how to do that... ie-- diapers, razors, shampoo... etc. While a lot of these "American items" are available in Port Au Prince, (about 3 hours from where we will live.) We will pay a PREMIUM for American items in Haiti. (Probably about 3-4 times as much.) So we're trying to stock up now so we're prepared.
We're also going to be listing our vehicles for sale very soon. We have a White 2002 Ford Focus Station Wagon with 111,000 miles on it. (We're going to start by asking $2,275.) And we have a Green Kia Sedona EX minvan with about 96,000 miles on it. (We're going to start by asking $3,850.) If you know anyone local looking for used vehicles, let us know! Both vehicles are in pretty decent condition, and we will disclose everything we know about them that is "wrong" with them ahead of time! (And just FYI-- we're starting with around the Kelly Blue Book Trade-In Value for the cars.)
Thanks for sharing this journey with us. We need your prayers and support and remain SO grateful. We know we face many unknowns in the next month. As we walk in this plan God has for us, we ask for your prayers for the following things:
- God's spirit of peace to rest upon us.
- God's provision for our family.
- God's protection for our bodies and our hearts.
- Our hearts to be turned towards God at all times.
With very grateful hearts,
Gwenn + Nick (and all three of our crazy kiddos!)
Nia coloring. And lying on the cool tile floor.
I can't figure out why the Haitians think I am weird. :) Seriously, I was out in the compound keeping an eye on the kids and decided I was WAY overdue to bleach the ole' stache... The kids kept laughing and pointing. (Which I do recognize that they were justified in doing.) I know I will probably give up primping like this sooner or later, but for now, when my mustache glistens in the sun, I want it to be blond. (And by the way, I prefer the term "glistening" to describe my "dewy glow" in this picture... that is as opposed to "sweating like a pig.")
