The Covid pandemic continues, although some travelling restrictions are loosening and in general, we are seeing a lot more people out and about. School is starting up again for the kids and we are preparing for the beginning of other things as well.
Normally, we have a new group arrive in July, but their arrival ended up getting pushed back to October because new visas have not been available in this pandemic situation. Many things regarding visas and international trips are still uncertain, but we are praying that these new families will be able to really come in October.
The last few weeks have been pretty busy. Alisha and I celebrated our 14th anniversary in July, we did language evaluations for the 3 new families and one other family, had other language orientations/kick-offs and then over the last couple weeks, I had to find a couple new houses to rent for the new families coming in October.
Today is Elroy’s first day in seventh grade. At the kids’ school here, seventh grade is the beginning of secondary, so it’s all new teachers and a lot of things are done differently. Scout is starting sixth grade tomorrow. For now, the school is doing everything online and nothing in person, so the kids will be commandeering our computers every weekday morning. They do have some live zoom-type meetings/sessions with their teachers and classmates, so that will be good.
This whole time has been more difficult for the kids. They have not been able to see their school friends since the push for social distancing started in March and now they can’t see them at school either. As time goes on, they are more and more looking forward to going on home assignment at the end of the year. Sometimes it is a lonely life for them and they didn’t even choose it.
We had the option to put Davis in pre-school, but have chosen not to because he has been getting sick easily and with the concerns about Covid, we don’t want to take that risk with him.
Overall though, I think we all are still enjoying life here as we face different challenges and tasks. Next month, it will four years that we’ve been on the field this term.
Praise:
-We had a national family join our team here last month, and we have another family coming back from home assignment in a couple weeks, so we are almost at full power.
-Having computers that the kids can use for doing their school and homework.
Prayer:
-For visas for the new families and for other families who are in the middle of renewing their visas now.
-That travelling will be safe and not too restricted when the new group comes and also when we go back on home assignment later this year.
Thank you again for all your continued prayers and support!
The McIlroys