Transitions Underway

 When we first came to the islands in 2009, our daughter was only 9 months old.  We knew that decisions about schooling would come but they were far away. When we started homeschooling combined with local island school for pre-school/kindergarten, we knew that we’d eventually have to do something different and consider more serious homeschool or boarding school, but again that decision was far off.  As she started boarding school, some people would ask about thoughts for after high school, but we had a few years before we needed to think about that. Each point has been a hinge, a transition point for both our daughter and us, and we faced and made each decision with a mixture of trepidation and excitement. 

Our graduate!

Our daughter has now finished four years of boarding school and graduated from high school today! 

It has been a full time and the looming transitions both to college and also to life in the US can seem daunting. She has a US passport, but a majority of her life has been spent in Africa. There is a lot about American life to which she hasn’t been exposed. 

As we prepare to take our daughter to the US and then to return to Africa without her, it is with that same mix of trepidation and excitement.  We are excited for her— for the opportunities that she will have at college and the ways that she will continue to grow and learn. We know that times will be tough and if boarding school was far away, the US is even farther and our ability to help will be less. But this is where we get to relearn a lesson we’ve faced many times— God loves our children, they are His. We can trust Him with them. 

We know it isn’t the last time we’ll need to be reminded of that— our older son is going to start thinking about college this summer and our youngest is preparing to start boarding school at the end of August. Lord, help us to remember at each hinge point, each transition, that You go with us wherever we go and You carry our children in Your hands!

So proud of her!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Tom was able to get an emergency passport for our travels to the US and will be able to collect his long-term passport when we return to Africa. Both our son and daughter finished the school year strong. Our daughter graduated from high school— we are very proud of her and it was a wonderful celebration for her class. The brothers had their monthly men’s gathering on Wednesday. Hashiri made a plan to study with others (instead of just studying alone at home) and has been confiding in others besides Megan, including a local sister— these are encouraging changes. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We are traveling back to the US tonight (we’re posting this from the airport). Pray for safe travels and for a smooth transition to the US time zone. Pray also that Grace’s refrigerated meds travel okay and that we are able to keep them in the needed temperature range. One of our colleagues on the islands is heading into a hard week— pray for the peace that passes understanding to surround her and fill her. We will hit the ground running in the US—pray that we would use our time well and have wisdom as we make plans. Megan exchanged some messages with island sisters this week and one asked for strength and perseverance in the midst of persecution— let us pray with her that they could shine brightly even in dark and difficult situations. We pray for more workers on the islands— a group of short termers are just finishing a month, pray that they might be inspired towards long term work!