Dear friends and coworkers,
I sat down to write this update and I didn’t know where to start. So much of this past month and a half has not gone according to plan. We left the country the beginning of September in order to process our more long term visas to work here. We expected to be gone at the most two weeks while we waited for the visas to be processed. It turned out to be a whole month that we waited and in the end only Joshua and Eric’s visas came out. I ended up having to come back into the country on a temporary visit visa. While we were waiting both Eric and I grew very frustrated with how things were going but I think that by the end we had come to a place where we understood that God allowed the delay for a reason even if just to teach us patience and dependency on his time table instead of our own. Needless to say we were super happy to be able to come home again and begin to attempt resuming our language sessions. Right now we are still trying to set up consistent language helper times in order that both Eric and i can get at least three to four language sessions a week. Eric is required to put in forty hours and I am required at least twenty hours a week. Right now we feel very behind and are a little discouraged in that because we were hoping to be more advanced in the language by now. But the Lord is faithful and we know that He cares more about our focus and relationship with him being our priority than accomplishing tasks and achievements in a language. Please pray for us as we do struggle to make time to spend with the Lord and we both know that without an abiding relationship with him we won’t be able to minister well here.
We have been missing all of you lately and i can’t tell you how much we are grateful for your partnering with us in this task. Sometimes it seems so huge and overwhelming and knowing that there are people praying for us and loving us is so encouraging.
Joshua is doing very well here and is growing so fast. The trip out of country was hard on him but he also had a blast being able to go swimming a lot and visiting fun parks and play places. Please pray for wisdom for us with learning how to parent him well. Also please pray for us as we figure out what is the best plan for him in regards to his teeth. When his first teeth came in they were very brittle and have continued to deteriorate rapidly. Both of his front teeth have already broken off and we don’t know how to get him help seeing as he is so young and is very afraid of doctors and dentists.
I am now 36 weeks pregnant and feeling pretty tired. This pregnancy has been more rough than with Joshua but i am very thankful for a wonderful husband who has been a huge help and has taken most of the work load off of me. To be honest i am a little anxious to have this baby not in the US, but it is a good opportunity for me to learn to trust the Lord each day with my fears and anxieties.
Thank you again so much for supporting us and praying for us. We could not be here without you! We would love to hear from you and if any of you have the app Whatsapp we could even call and talk 🙂
Hello to the Daum family. Your faithfulness is an inspiration to all of us back here at Calhoun Baptist. Through you we see all the places you go and the people you meet It is an adventure for all of us! You are talked about frequently in our church classes and your concerns are ours. Good to see all of you healthy as your family grows.
Try not to let these trials get you down. God has a plan for you and you see it unfold every day….
And yes, the pictures are wonderful!
In Christ,
Hey Mr. Clarence. So good to hear from you! We sure miss seeing you all. Can’t wait to visit when we are back in the US.
Thanks so much for your encouraging words!
It was really good to get your update. I always enjoy reading your letters and hearing about your adventures and see your pictures. Joshua is such a cutie and is growing up so fast. I know it can be frustrating for things not to go well and not in our time table, but God always knows best. You guys are always in my prayers. Take care and let us know when the baby is here.
Cherie, we are all praying for you here at Calhoun Baptist – for you, Eric, Joshua, and the new little one who will be here soon. I pray all your paperwork will work out for what you need. It is frustrating sometime when things don’t go our way, but we must trust in the Lord to take care of us and our needs. I catch up on you and Rachelle through your grandparents. They are such a blessing to me, and so, so sweet. Such a blessing of sunshine. Let us know when the little one arrives. It won’t be long, but probably not soon enough for you and Eric. Thank you for your updates. Take care.