"Time and Unexpected Events" ~ Ecclesiastes 9:11

It has been 7 long months since our last post. I haven't posted an update thus far partially because we've been just too busy and partially because I found the task daunting and a bit painful.  Our lives have been completely different than we ever could have imagined. Sadly we have experienced a great deal of serious challenges. However, the experience has been equally encouraging and drawn our relationship with one another and our Grand God Jehovah closer.

Naturally covering 7 months in one post would be tough so I will condense it :)

Making the decision: Brandon and I deeply prayed for direction from Jehovah as it became abundantly clear Brandon was very ill and in the end as truly heartbreaking as it was for our entire family, we knew we had to move back home. This was a loaded decision and I found it completely overwhelming. Jehovah did not allow much time to pass before he gave us clear indications it was indeed the correct decision. We needed to sell all of our belongings in Panama, we needed flights home and we needed arrangements in the states to start over.  whew!! 

Jehovah really just took care of it all... 

A family had found our blog and made the decision to move to Puerto right before we had to leave. They determined it would be a good decision for their family to purchase ALL of our belongings to prepare for their arrival as well as offer us much needed assistance in leaving. It was unbelievable!

Another single Needgreating sister contacted us and purchased our car - literally within minutes of our making arrangements with the other family!! In 5 minutes everything we owned was gone!!!

Jehovah had supported us in moving to Panama and now he was supporting us in moving back. It was again SO reassuring of his love and personal concern for us thru such a grueling time.

Returning Home:  We were able to find excellent prices for flights back but they required an 8 hour drive thru Costa Rica.  With the help of other needgreaters we contacted, arrangements were made to   accommodate our family on a tour bus owned by a brother in CR. Saying goodbye to the congregation and our fellow English group members was a level of emotion I had never experienced before. They had become our family and we loved them.  We all  still long to see our special Panamanian friends again!!

Our arrival to the airport was flawless. Everything had fallen into place, thanks to Jehovah.

Getting Settled: Aside from the joy of seeing our family and friends at home, it was a difficult time when we arrived home. Brandon had continued to decline health wise and of course we were now homeless and lacking anything to run a household, any warm clothes (it was snowing there) and our spiritual routine was out of whack. Not to mention jobless in America!

Within a few weeks of staying with family we were able to move into a furnished guesthouse a nearby brother and sister rented to us. It was one bedroom, very small for the 5 of us but it was clean, affordable and exactly what we needed. We were so thankful to Jehovah for that!                                  

The 1 bedroom house had to be temporary as that was the terms and we really didn't fit. But where to go?! Without steady employment no one would rent to us. A bank loan was out of the question for the same reason. We prayed incessantly and left the matter in Jehovahs hands knowing he would provide.

Never in our wildest imaginations could we have dreamed what happened next....

A family we knew distantly, in the truth came to us and offered to help us buy a home. I still feel shock even now, writing this. They were so loving they wanted us to pick just the right one for our needs. In a matter of a month we had picked out, purchased and moved into our new home. 

As far as employment, due to Brandon's health he couldn't get back into construction as he was prior 

to our move. He has been able to do small jobs here and there. I have been housecleaning and we
have been getting by. Getting just what we need and nothing extra. Needgreating gave us the training on being content with just our basic needs. For these things we are so grateful to Jehovah!

Brandon's health continues to be a problem. Although the doctors here know he is very ill they had 

never identified a diagnosis.  It has put a great strain on our family and has been the most trying thing he has ever endured.
With that being said, as I write this we ( Brandon & I) are in Venezuela at a healthcare clinic owned and run by Witnesses. There are two doctors who both are witnesses. Along our travels we have been informed of this clinic from other needgreaters and missionaries who have had success with their health. It's a unique place as the entire staff are witnesses and it's been such a great experience to meet other brothers and sisters in the organization from all over!
We have only been here a few days and are seeing marked improvement of Brandon's condition. I'm sure there will be more positive updates to follow.  

What We've learned: Jehovah never let us go without what we truly needed.  We feel as though we have drowned in "blessings" ~ Malachi 3:10  And that we have experienced Isaiah 41:10 ~ "do not be afraid for I am with you...yes I will help you"

We are very appreciative of the numerous emails we have received from all over the world! They have encouraged us, made us feel so loved and I apologize for not always being able to write back. We have gotten many different families inquiring of how to needgreat with children. We are hardly experts at it, but all things are possible and doable with Jehovah's help.  As time permits I will do my best to get back to all the loving brothers and sisters who have contacted us.

From our hearts we want to thank our dear friends, family, other brothers and sisters serving Jehovah who we may never have met, who have prayed for us and assisted us along the way.

We hope to continue traveling, keeping the worldwide brotherhood and options for serving Jehovah real and attainable to our children.  Proverbs 22:6 ~ Train a boy in the way he should go, even when he grows old he will not depart from it.