Beginning again.

It feels a little funny to start up writing on this blog again, as I sit at our kitchen table in Michigan.  A lot has changed since my last post -- most notably, I'm now married!  Now as I look back through posts from my previous time abroad, it makes me smile to read them and re-live the memories, the hard learning curves, the moments of surprising clarity.  God has been faithful to this Iowa girl who somehow got to travel the world.  And He's faithful still.

So.  Jack and I are going back.  We got married in June, and in January of 2013 we're heading back to Romania, back to Lupeni, to work with New Horizons.  It's a dream come true in many ways -- I mean, moving to a beautiful place that makes me feel really alive, with my closest friend alongside?  Such a gift.  We're currently in the throes of support-raising, which is not my favorite task in the world, but this too is a learning experience.  I love sharing the story of FNO, and Romania, and the way God has worked to bring us there together.  I hate asking people for money... but that's just a testament to my pride, I think, and my fierce independence.  So I'm learning.  I really do believe that we as people only thrive when we're connected to each other, so depending on others for our support in a very tangible, material way -- well, I guess we're really putting our money where our mouth is.

I'll write more at another time about some of the details of what we'll be doing upon the return to Lupeni, etc.  Perhaps Jack will write too.  Regardless, it's good to resurrect this thing (even if I'm the only one who knows it's up) -- and I can't wait to see what's on the next blank page.