Looking at the Immediate Future

Five years happens pretty fast.  You can earn a couple degrees, work a lot of hours and see many places.  If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll even complete your 5 year plan, which definitely included some of these criteria for us.  We certainly have grown together in half a decade of marriage, as we completed our education, gained valuable work experience and managed to stay somewhat cultured along the way.  Now on to the next step...

As part of our early years of marriage, it was always a valuable goal to complete our education as a means to prepare us for the work world of course, but our bigger dream of participating in global missions.  God gave both of us a very clear leading in our educational goals as we met, married and mapped out our future.  A teacher and a nurse are coveted positions in other parts of the world and we’ve really enjoyed working these jobs in Canada during the early stages of our careers. 

Edmonton is where we reside and work, but for the immediate future our home will be elsewhere.  On August 18th, 2011 we will be traveling to Haiti where we will serve for 4 months.  During our time, I (Jeremy) will be teaching English to a range of ages and Stacey will be tracking all medical records for the hundreds of students who attend the 4 schools run by the organization Haiti Outreach Ministries (HOM).  These are our primary objectives but we will also be involved in teacher training, construction, community outreach and evangelism.  

After Christmas we will return home to eat Alberta beef and peanut butter all while enjoying a time of refreshment with friends and family.  Our journey will continue east this time, landing in Australia and making our way north through much of southeast Asia before arriving in Cambodia for another 4 months of intensive ministry at Place of Rescue.  This organization focuses on education and community as it provides relief and a home for destitute grandmothers and children with AIDS.  We will continue to work in educational and medical fields here.

The planning process for this second leg of our journey is still in the works, although Cambodia has been given the green light and will involve preparations even as we are in Haiti.  We desire to have a chunk of time to travel after Christmas but we will also be seeking smaller ministry opportunities in southeast Asia as we trek around.  Ultimately, we know that this down time will restore much of the energy we will expend and we will seek to strengthen our bond as a couple as God leads us during the time away from our longer periods with organizations. 

We have prepared our hearts for this year, knowing full well that this could disclose what is to come in our next 5 years, or even beyond.  To be able to extensively... travel and enjoy so much culture and creation appeals to our adventurous sides but our true passion lies ahead with the relationships we will form and the lasting impact that the words and actions of Jesus Christ will leave along the way.  We are extremely open to the possibility of a longer term somewhere and this series of intermediate-length opportunities to serve will really speak to our capacity to serve with clear minds and open hearts for an extended period of time.

ACOP and it’s Missions Director Jerry (and Brenda) Scheutz have been extremely supportive and encouraging during our seeking process.  We will be sent under the covering of this organization which has embraced our mission as couple and will help us in many tangible ways as we move around.  They will be kept up to date with all our activities and take care of paperwork back home.  They will handle any donations that are contributed to our mission, which can be done by check or credit card. 

The truth is that we are committed to this year no matter what the cost and have made preparations to do so as part our process of mapping this journey out.  Our desire is not to be in this alone and willing people have already asked where they can donate as one of their means of supporting us along the way.  The total cost of the ministry portion of our trip is projected at $9 000 - $11 000.  We will be classified as volunteers during all ministry times this year so thanks for your financial support if you choose to give this way.  

Truly, this mission would never be happening if not for the extreme grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.  So many people have poured into our lives as we’ve ministered and worked in Canada both as individuals and a couple and if not for the invitation to join short-term mission teams, supportive church groups and unite with people in prayer, we could have never dreamed that this would finally take place.  We are excited that this year could mean many more years of serving in global missions and we ask that you pray for open doors, obedience, safety and above all that we can be the hands and feet of Jesus everywhere we walk.  

Much love to you all, Jeremy and Stacey

the unforeseen future

In just over a month, Jeremy and I are planning our departure around the world... unsure of the exact return.  Each announcement of our plans brought very different reactions....some excited, some skeptical....and although different, each reaction had one thing in common:  many questions.

I will attempt to answer a few of the questions best I know at this time.....  We plan to be in Haiti from August until December, and although we are expecting the worst, the worst might just exceed our expectations.  We expect to help change things for the better, but it might just turn out that we are the ones in fact changed for the better.  We both have a heart to help a hurting nation in the best ways we know how, and those ways will incorporate our skill...mine nursing, and Jeremy's teaching..... and although we know what those skill sets looks like in our comfortable country, it can be expected that those skills will look very different in a very different country.
From Haiti we plan to travel Australia and area, then Thailand/Cambodia area.....followed by staying in Cambodia for an extended amount of time (yet to be determined).  In Cambodia we expect to teach some English, and hope to get involved in some other areas.  We also have heard some sad things about this poor country, but have also heard how much it becomes a piece of you.  We then plan on finishing the trip with Europe....  We are very much looking forward to learning about new countries and culture, as well as experiencing things first hand.  We know there will be good days and bad days, great experiences and terrible experiences; but each day will mold us for the better... we won't come back the same.

So to sum it up, Jeremy and I don't have all the answers...there is still many details to figure out..... but one detail we did not fail to miss is that travelling is our dream and helping people is our passion, and the combination of the 2 could not be any better.