Where are we now?

Where are we?

Yes, we are in Orlando. We are here for 11 months by invitation of a special program that Cru runs known as Lake Hart Stint. This is a unique developmental program for a select number of Cru staff designed to foster holistic growth in their relationships with God, self, and others. Lake Hart Stint seeks to help our staff flourish in ministry as they journey with others in giving everyone an opportunity to know Jesus.

50 adults and 53 children make up the Lake Hart Stint program that we are participating in. We all live in the same apartment complex and unique sense of community is being built. It has been a whirlwind of decisions and details since being invited to the program on May 29. We moved into an apartment in Orlando, FL on July 27. Only 3 days before we began our drive to Orlando, we finalized our adoption of Zachary (our foster son who has been in our home since he was 2 days old).

While participating in this program, Mike works in a role in US Staff Care. He serves on a core team that sees to all the initiatives for caring for almost 9,000 missionaries and employees. The main project Mike will work on is developing training specific to other Human Resource workers in Cru to train them in key aspects of their roles. This gives Mike an opportunity to use his HR knowledge, his technical expertise, and teaching background all in one role.

Given the fluid state of the pandemic, Leslie is participating in the program but without a designated role at the headquarters. Both Benjamin and Maddox are in school, 3rd grade and pre-K respectively. Their schools could be shut down on a moment’s notice, so we are thankful for the flexibility for Leslie to be considered for some project specific roles in the coming months which can accommodate the virtual learning that may come for our boys.

We are thankful for God’s guidance and provision in all that has happened in the last several weeks. We have a couple we know who are renting our Ohio house. We got both of our boys enrolled in school prior to their start dates. We would ask prayer for a few specifics.

We are navigating some medical needs and insurance. Maddox has nerve damage on a tooth and our Ohio dentist said we need to get it extracted. It has been difficult to work with insurance and providers here to take the notes from the Ohio dentist and just perform the procedure without repeating the diagnostics already done. Please pray for resolution to this in finding a dentist who will accommodate what insurance is asking.