When you work in developing countries a lot, you have to learn quickly to be flexible and to expect last minute changes...
This unpredictability of has transferred itself to our office here in Canada, as our trip to Nigeria was postponed to a future term three weeks before we were scheduled to take off. With security concerns (state elections, oil pirates, etc.) poor road conditions and jet fuel shortages, we agreed with the ministry that attempting to complete the project this term was not a good idea.
What next? Well, we had a team of volunteers and interns all ready to travel, so we began looking into other potential projects. Eventually, it was determined that the best option was to take the team to serve a great ministry in the Dominican Republic.
Unfortunately, this means that I (Braden) won't be able to join the team. The DR is a hot zone for the Zika virus, and with Liz now 24 weeks pregnant we're don't want to take any chances. If I contracted Zika, it could be transferred from me to Liz and could cause birth defects.
This doesn't mean we'll be any less busy this fall. We have the Ride For Refuge coming up on October 1st and a dessert night in early November. With less hands on deck since the Wiens departure, there is a lot of extra work to be done in coordinating these events. Liz has been starting to help more and more with some communications stuff as well.
Liz and I will also get the chance to attend the eMi Network conference in San Diego at the end of October. We're really excited to be a part of it. Please pray for us and Asher - this is the first time we'll be leaving him for more than a few hours!
We thank God that Liz and the baby are still healthy. Please continue to pray for them - Liz has been uncomfortable and in pain, and has had some trouble sleeping. We found out in August that we're having another boy! He is due on Christmas day, but we're hoping he waits a few extra days to come out.
For those who prayed for us as we travelled to our staff conference in Colorado - thank you so much! Asher was a great traveller, playing and napping in the car without much crying, and slept really well in our hotel rooms. Other than a quick bout of norovirus for each of us, the trip and conference went amazingly well.
That's about it for now! Thanks for reading!
Braden
What next? Well, we had a team of volunteers and interns all ready to travel, so we began looking into other potential projects. Eventually, it was determined that the best option was to take the team to serve a great ministry in the Dominican Republic.
Unfortunately, this means that I (Braden) won't be able to join the team. The DR is a hot zone for the Zika virus, and with Liz now 24 weeks pregnant we're don't want to take any chances. If I contracted Zika, it could be transferred from me to Liz and could cause birth defects.
This doesn't mean we'll be any less busy this fall. We have the Ride For Refuge coming up on October 1st and a dessert night in early November. With less hands on deck since the Wiens departure, there is a lot of extra work to be done in coordinating these events. Liz has been starting to help more and more with some communications stuff as well.
Liz and I will also get the chance to attend the eMi Network conference in San Diego at the end of October. We're really excited to be a part of it. Please pray for us and Asher - this is the first time we'll be leaving him for more than a few hours!
We thank God that Liz and the baby are still healthy. Please continue to pray for them - Liz has been uncomfortable and in pain, and has had some trouble sleeping. We found out in August that we're having another boy! He is due on Christmas day, but we're hoping he waits a few extra days to come out.
For those who prayed for us as we travelled to our staff conference in Colorado - thank you so much! Asher was a great traveller, playing and napping in the car without much crying, and slept really well in our hotel rooms. Other than a quick bout of norovirus for each of us, the trip and conference went amazingly well.
That's about it for now! Thanks for reading!
Braden
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