Guess Who’s Coming to… Ethiopia?!?
Quick Recap:
Before we get to the good news, here’s what has happened since our last update
February was a whirlwind that came and went like a hurricane! We spent the first 11 days of the month in Florida at PI headquarters and attended various training sessions—specialized training for Rachel and me and a specific program for the kiddos.
Rachel started a new PRN position in Missouri (where she can ultimately work on an “as-needed” basis), which is great for our busy schedule.
Rachel and I spent the last week of February in London, celebrating one of her longest friends, Varsha, as she married her husband, Paul. We were grateful to witness this moment with dear friends, both old and new.
With all of that said, Rachel was home for four days in February, and I was home for 11 or 12… like I said, it was a whirlwind!
So now we are buckling down, trying to wrap up our pre-field requirements, support raising, and getting our house ready to sell as we now have less than 5 months to go before we are trying to leave!
Now to the good news:
Many of you know that Rachel grew up overseas as an “MK” or a “missionary kid.” Frank and Karren Fosdahl have been in the field since Rachel was 20 months old.
What some of you DON’T know is that they will be joining us on our journey to Ethiopia! We are so excited for them to join us for a multitude of reasons. Their decades of experience living abroad and working cross-culturally are priceless, but their acceptance of the offer to join our little team means much more to our family. We need people who know us and are willing to counsel and guide us during the crazy transitions ahead.
One of the primary concerns for us as parents has been the well-being and adjustment of our kids. Transitioning to a new country, culture, and environment can be challenging, especially for young minds. However, the prospect of having Frank and Karren alongside us brings a sense of comfort and security. Having another set of eyes on our children to help them when they are missing the simple things from home and can tell us when one child might be struggling with something when we may be too busy or stressed to notice ourselves is a fantastic luxury that most other families that undergo this type of work are never afforded.
Lastly, we are excited about the opportunities that could open up by having others see a whole family unit… three generations… willing to move to their country and try to help. In a country and a culture that embraces family unity, their willingness to come with us is a blessing that will hopefully open doors we could never open by ourselves.
Other good news:
We have recently crossed the 50% mark on our support needs for our monthly and departure costs! For those who have started giving (either with your support/prayer or monetarily), thank you for being a part of our story. As we express our gratitude for the journey that brought us to this point, we are both humbled by your willingness to help us and excited for the adventure that awaits us in Ethiopia. Rachel wrote in our August blog post that “support raising is an act of faith and obedience,” and it is so true. It is humbling to ask for support, especially after being self-sufficient for so long. We have no idea how or where these funds will come from, but God is moving in ways that we can’t and is bringing people alongside us who want to join in and help, and we can't wait to share the incredible moments ahead!
Things to Pray For:
The application process for three of our kids (Daniel, Emma, and Isabelle) to get into an international school in Addis
Rachel can get her documents authenticated for her Ethiopian medical license
Visas for Frank and Karren, as well as for our family
We can finish up our pre-field requirements (bible classes, reading some books, etc)
Our sanity as we begin the chaos that is downsizing and selling our house/other possessions
If you want to learn more about how to help us on this journey, please click the link below!
