Our Mission Right Now

The last time we posted was all the way back in November of 2017 when we were leaving Costa Rica and coming back to Kansas! So much time has passed and so much has happened. We are so thankful for our time there in Costa Rica and miss our mission and our friends dearly! It was such a beautiful place with so many wonderful people! Costa Rica forever holds a special place in our hearts.

Here is a quick re-cap of the last year and a half:

2017
November - We traveled back from Costa Rica and left our beautiful home in the midst of a threatening hurricane. Thankfully it did not cause many problems for Coopevega (our little town) but did provide some heavy rainfall. With the storm looming we had hours to pack and leave instead of the week we had planned for. This provided an unexpected blessing of staying with Pablo and his family for several days before leaving the country.
December - We arrived at Big Woods (FMC homebase) to join other missionaries from all over the world in our annual Year-in-Review. We were so blessed to see old friends and make new ones.

2018
January - We traveled to California to visit with Blair's family. We attempted to find a job and house in Kansas from California (this proved unsuccessful).
February - We traveled back to Kansas and stayed with Donovan's parents while looking for work and a place to live. Donovan was hired at the YMCA and we moved into a rental house.
March - The girls started school at the local Valley Center public schools. While cleaning and preparing for the baby (Joseph Paul) Blair fell and broke her ankle on the bottom step of the stairs in our rental house. It was a long and painful process as Blair was 8 months pregnant and could not put any weight on her foot at all for 7 weeks. Thanks to the blessing of family and friends we were blessed by babysitting (for Gabriel, then 2) and meals for our family.
April - Joseph Paul was born April 22! Blair had her ankle boot removed and started physical therapy for 6 weeks.
May - July - In July we moved into another home closer to Donovan's brother and his family. We spent many hours preparing, painting, fixing and moving in.
August - Hannah started Freshman year at Bishop Carroll (local Catholic High School) and the rest of the girls joined Maize Virtual Prep School at home.
September - October - Everyone got used to our new home, new schools and new schedules.
November - Our wonderful friend Catherine came to visit and helped us with a project giving Dominic a Star Wars room makeover which included an Alexa so he could use voice commands for his tv, lights, etc.
December - March - This was the hardest winter our family has had so far! We experienced illness upon illness on a weekly basis for months! Donovan's brother and his family also had the same hardships and thankfully Dominic made it through this season of illness fairly well considering. We began a Parenting Toolbox class (more like a support group!) for parents and adults at our parish in Wichita. It is an opportunity to share practical, real life examples about parenting our children by creating Catholic Culture in our homes and communities. Donovan also joined got involved with the Catholic Youth Ministry at our Parish.
April - May - Hannah was confirmed! We celebrated Joseph's 1st Birthday! School finished up for all the children.

May 25th: As I write this today we are celebrating our 16th year of marriage! God is so good and we are so blessed!

A picture from our dating years!

Time flies by so quickly!

Enjoying his swing in the backyard.

Happy 1st Birthday Joseph!

Playing at the park.

Catherine got her braces off!

Gabriel likes to play Mass!

Catherine made them vestments, hosts and
the precious Blood.

During our illnesses, Gabriel had RSV and coughed so hard
he got an eye hemorrhage.

Hannah joined choir and swimming this year!

From our first day of school in our home school classroom.

We continue to try to be present here in our ministry state side. Looking over this year and a half it reminds me how long it sometimes seems to take to start over again. Thank you to all of those who are continuing to donate to our mission fund. This allows us to continue to give donations back to Costa Rica and the Philippines through our other missionaries. We are praying for all of you and ask that you continue to pray for our family, Dominic's family and the mission God has for us.

Our family is hoping to attend a Healing Prayer Retreat this July. This opportunity was opened up to us through FMC and is put on by Elijah House. Some of our missionaries have experienced this training and healing and have highly recommended it to others. In all of life's gifts, blessings, trials and hardships we have realized the importance of inner healing through Christ and our need for it. We hope this will be a blessed and healing time for us and help us to bring back this healing prayer ministry to our mission here at home.