(Looking down at Tucson, where we live now.)
We’re Here!!!
Yeah, we’ve been “home” for about a month now. It’s been filled with joyful reunions, unpacking (again!), busyness, heat, and many others.
We are so thankful to the Lord for providing all we needed. I know we shouldn’t worry but it was hard not to as we looked at what moving back to the States would be like. We had no house, car, furniture, school for the kids, etc. We are so happy to say that all of that has been taken care of and we are feeling more and more settled everyday!! Praise God.
What’s the plan?
Many of you have been asking about our plans while we are here and how long that will be. I’ll try to outline a little for you without going into great detail. Yes, we are planning on going back to the Philippines with SEND. Yes, they are closing their base there but we will go back with the Filipino part of SEND called Philippine Sending Council (PSC). The difference is they are not run by missionaries but rather Filipino’s that want to help send their fellow countrymen out as missionaries. Our job will be to help train, equip, and encourage those who have a heart to serve God. After formerly working for years with Teen Missions International- training youth, we are excited to get back into leading, organizing missions trip, and training the youth of the Philippines. (More details to follow!)
We are planning on being here in Tucson until we can make it back to the Philippines, Lord willing, by June of 2010.
What are you going to do until then?
Well, we are officially on “Home Service.” Which means we are still supported missionaries, we are just serving right now here in the States. Some of the jobs we will be working on while we are here are obtaining Gilmer’s America citizenship, sharing with our supporting churches and individuals about the last 3 years, getting involved with our sending church, spending time with family and friends, allowing our children to be part of American culture, raising the rest of the support needed to go back, and sharing about SEND and their work.
Along those lines, please let us know if you would like us to come and visit with you. We would love to share about what we have been doing and what is to come when we go back!
As always we want to thank you for your partnership through support, prayers, and encouragement!
Praises and Prayer Requests are listed below, after the pictures:
These are some of the wonderful ladies that came and helped us pack our house in the Philippines. We're getting ready for a yard sale in this picture. We had to sell many of our things just because there was not enough space to save everything until we came back.
Gilmer saying goodbye to the youth at their last meeting with him. He's the one laying down in the front!
It was hard to say goodbye to some close friends knowing that we wont be going back there to live. When we do go back to the Philippines we will be living in Manila (8 hours from here).
Before we flew out of Manila we had some time to visit with Gilmer's parents and family. This is Gilmer's Dad playing with Josiah.
And this is Gilmer's Mom. Grandpa and Grandma in the Philippines are Lolo and Lola.
Airports!! This is just one of the many we visited on our way home. We are in Japan here.
The day after we arrived in Tucson we drove to the Lake for a fun family reunion and vacation time. Here's some of us as we enjoy the lake.
In front of our new house. We moved in the week before school started. We are so excited to tell you that everything we needed while we are here in Tucson the Lord provided. Most through family, friends, and supporters like you!!! Thanks so much;)
Nhaya and Caleb in front of their new school on the first day. Nhaya is in 2nd Grade now and Caleb just started Kindergarten. They love it and are adjusting really well.
Praises:
-For finding a house close to our church, a van we can use for the family, furniture and everything we needed to set up house here! We have been so blessed!
-That the kids are adjusting well to their new country and school. They love their teachers and we live right down the street, so we can walk.
-That we were able to see our family and spend some time with them on vacation right when we arrived.
Prayer Requests:
-For Gilmer’s citizenship paperwork and interview to be processed quickly. We filed it last week.
-That God will provide others that want to be a part of the work in the Philippines through prayer and financial support (we can’t go back until we are 100% supported).
-For continued adjustments and meaningful time with family and friends during the next 9 months.
Thanks for reading and being a part of our lives!!!!
May God bless you and yours,
The Paden Family
(Gilmer, Julie, Nhaya, Caleb, and Josiah)
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