Winding Down

Yesterday I walked down from the hospital after my last clinical shift at Tenwek.  It’s hard to believe that our time in Kenya is quickly coming to an end.  We moved here in January 2013 and have experienced some of life’s biggest highs and lows.  I don’t think I can accurately portray the mix of emotions we are feeling now and will be feeling soon.  In our 2 1/2 years here, we have made deep friendships with other missionaries as well as with many Kenyans.  I have had the privilege of working along side amazing clinicians from Kenya, from the U.S., and from around the world.  This past week has been filled with goodbye speeches, well wishes, and even a going away party with my outpatient and casualty staff.  It has been such a blessing to work with this group of people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have been asked by many about our plans as we leave Kenya.  Today I will be leaving with a group of guys to hike Kilimanjaro for a week.  Most of us have never done anything like this before so prayers would definitely be appreciated.  We are looking forward to seeing Africa from it’s highest point.  (I’ll be sure to post plenty of pictures on our return.)

Upon returning to Tenwek we will have one week to completely pack down and clear out of our apartment.  We’ve already been busy trying to sort what will we store here and what we will bring back with us.  As we pass through Europe we will stay for a couple days in Windsor at Legoland (the boys have been looking forward to this for months).

Our initial plans to return to Pennsylvania for the year have not come to fruition.  We will be spending most of June in the PA area before relocating to Lynchburg, VA where I will be working.  God has opened doors for me to work at Liberty’s new osteopathic medical school.  I will be working in their newly opened clinic and will also help part time as adjunct faculty.  I am also hoping to work part time in a local emergency department.  Being away from our PA home, sending church, family, and friends will be hard, but we feel like this is where we have been called to serve while in the U.S.

 

While we aren’t sure what our year will look like, we know that it will be filled with lots of travel and speaking engagements as we build our support team for returning to Tenwek (hopefully in summer 2016).  As we progress with transitioning to WGM, we will update you on how you can join our team.  Asante sana (thank you very much) for the prayers, support, and love you have shown us over the past couple years.

 

 

 

Prayer requests:

-Pray for the group of guys hiking Kilimanjaro.  Pray that it will be a healthy time of fellowship with one another and with God.  And be praying for our families at Tenwek as they are finishing out the school year and packing down houses in addition to regular responsibilities.  (Hiking the mountain may be the easier job!)

-Pray for the many transitions in front of us.  Time changes, new environments, new jobs, and reconnecting with friends, family, and supporters….it is going to be a lot to take in.

-Pray for a pending malpractice lawsuit against me.  It isn’t exactly the welcome home I would ask for.  Pray for peace in the midst of everything and pray that truth will prevail.

-Pray for us to be able to quickly sell our townhouse in Allentown.  Obviously it will be a huge financial burden if we cannot sell it once our current renters relocate.  (And please let me know if you are aware of anyone in the housing market!!)

-Pray for rest and renewal for us as a family.  We have been blessed with two retreats in recent months but we are still tired.  Pray that our time in Colorado Springs in July for debriefing and renewal would be healing and beneficial.

-Pray for Tenwek Hospital.  There are many families leaving for furlough and at this point, there are not enough volunteers filling the gaps.  Pray for the remaining staff and pray that those who are being called to the field (long and short term) would answer the call.

-Pray for the logistics of relocating.  We have temporary housing in Allentown and Lynchburg but we will still have to find a long term rental.  We also still need to figure out a family vehicle.