It's Been A While

It's been a while since I had a chance to make a post.  I have not fallen into a hole or anything but have been busy with a few things since June 30th.  Such as....closing on our house, moving in, painting rooms, building shelves (thanks to my dad), unpacking the container that finally arrived, painting more rooms, emptying moving boxes, organizing stuff from the boxes, and changing out British style plugs for American style plugs on all our lamps.  Oh, and did I mention that Sarah started back into ballet, Sam started gymnastics, and Ben went to football camp and has started football practice.  Oh yeah, and I have been putting in my full work schedule.

Not that I am complaining.  We are delighted with our new house and neighborhood.  God has really blessed us.  The house has a wonderful kitchen and breakfast room that really fits our life.  The yard is small, but has a wonderful natural area in the back - it also backs into woods where there won't be any other houses built.  The birds are easier to see and enjoy thanks to my dad who cleared out a bunch of underbrush. 

We are slowly connecting with folks at our new church.  The kids have really enjoyed their new Sunday School classes, and Ben and Sarah like the Youth Pastor and the kids in the youth group.  We have met some other homeschool families there and so that helps.

I continue to love my job.  I have really learned how important it is to be in the right place with your gift set.  I am much more relaxed.  I enjoy taking care of patients, interacting with staff, and contributing to the department by my hard work and easy demeanor (easy compared to lots of the other docs and staff!!).  Interestingly one full-time doc and one part-time doc in the ER is from Africa (Nigeria to be exact).  And several of the specialists on staff at the hospital are from Pakistan or Indian.  I look forward to seeing how God will use my international experience in building relationships with these guys.

Marti is now 33 weeks pregnant and working as hard as she can getting the house organized and set up.  She is a little worried about how she is going to "do it all" before the baby comes.  And she is worried about how she will do in labor.  And how she will do nursing.  And...and...and.  "Martha, Martha" - she is aptly named.  But bless her heart...she is really doing quite well given ALL THE CHANGE lately.  She is a champ if you ask me.

I have been away from Kenya long enough now to begin missing folks there.  I can't help but miss the students and my colleagues at the hospital.  We invested so much there.  But the occasional email from there is an encouragement.  I am sure God will further reveal even more reasons why now was the right time to come home...I don't doubt it a bit, I just wonder about it.

I do hope to keep posting on the blog.  I am considering reformatting what I post.  I don't know if anyone is really interested in reading from an "ex-missionary" in his transition back into American life.  You can let me know your thoughts.  But for now, I will focus on getting my family resettled into life here and share the progress along the way.

Comments

[Jaime]

I'm still reading! :) Sounds like you have a lot going on. Keep looking up! :)

[Sally]

Please keep writing!! I have enjoyed following you and your work since you left Newberry. You and your family are missionaries no matter where you are.

[wb]

I'm still reading too! I don't know if anyone else from Ed Weston's flock is around, but I'm still here. Glad you're all settling in.

[Donna Jarstfer]

We enjoy hearing about your family since you visited Bible PCA in Concord, NC before you went to Kenya. We have prayed regularly for you in our family and enjoy hearing your updates. Please keep posting!

[Mike Blyth]

Keep writing as long as you can! Re-entry is a very important part of a missionary family's life. And as a doctor, I want to know how other doctors fit back in (though I'll probably never go back to medicine in the US). And, anyway, I like your "currently reading" column. :-)

[Matthew Loftus]

I'd love to keep reading!

p.s. I got into medical school at the University of Maryland and I got a full scholarship to pay for all four years through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. God has been good...

[abby]

Aahh...please keep writing. A new perspective on America is always welcome - and much needed.