October Newsletter-Finding our Way

Three months ago we landed.  We arrived “home” supposedly.  It was a familiar place full of faces of people we loved.  Some people had moved on and there were new faces.  We moved into a new home in a new city and had to get used to new things, which although were new, weren’t new at the same time!  (Is that confusing, or what?)  We can speak the language, we know where the stores are, we know things about these people and this place---but yet, we don’t because we do live and work in a new environment.  It has been a time of change and transition. 

Initially we felt pretty torn between the ministry we left in Salatiga and the people we love there and the new ministry and people we are getting to know in Semarang.  Slowly that has feeling has dissipated.  We still keep in touch with our friends in Salatiga, but we are leaving more of that behind emotionally.  We see friends from there now and again, but we are building firmer relationships with the people we work with here and are shifting our focus to that.  We had to go through this, for we had to see our friends in Salatiga.  And although that caused tension in our hearts to start with, that feeling is leaving as we develop things here and fall in love with where God has placed us. 

We are all still in transition, including the kids.  We would ask that you remember them as they walk through this journey.  Chase had a rough initial adjustment, but has surprised us all by coming out of that superbly.  He wants to go play in the street with the neighbor kids and is not shy even though their language is different.  He is working on learning the language bit by bit.  He also loves playing with the 7^th graders I teach.  Ryan and Niko are making slower progress.  The schedule they are juggling (some online classes and some at our school) makes it hard for them to get to know the kids well. But, educationally it is the best option for them.  They have met some nice and helpful kids in their classes, but have not gone further in developing friendships.  This is another point of prayer for us.  Both boys have been able to contact some friends in the States via Skype, and we are so thankful for that.    We are thankful for their friends back in Indiana who are not afraid to keep in touch and “stay friends” despite the gap in distance!

Thanks for your prayers.  We really appreciate them!  They are so encouraging to us. 

We will try to keep in touch more about our journey and we’d love to hear from you,
Blessings,

Casey, Sharon, Ryan and Niko