VIP Info

What a new year! We have appreciated your continuing prayers. We were glad to say good -bye to 2008. The pressures of the closing weeks pressed hard upon us: the uncertainties of my re-entry visa, our Nigerian work visa applications, reports of violence and security issues in Jos, the captial of the Plateau State, the death of my mother, my 'simple office procedure' turning into a hospitalization for surgery and a two week recovery and our farewell at North Leo on December 28. Then the new year arrived!

We were to be moving today, however, the closing on BJ & Sherah-Leigh's house in Ohio did not happen on January 20th as we had been hoping. We have been pushed to the brink. A dream has died.

What we want you to know is that last Wednesday (January 14) we asked Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) to release us from our commitment to go to Nigeria.

While our bags are packed, and our household goods are all in boxes, we have been overwhelmed with many of the continuing loose ends:

• our house unsold,
• BJ & Sherah-Leigh still own a townhouse in VA,
• uncertainty around their new house closing in OH,
• taking care of our empty Leo house,
• arrangements for paying our bills,
• no forwarding address, etc.

Everyday another unexpected challenge:

• Moving truck rental company canceled our agreement,
• MCC moved the orientation schedule up a day,
• unable to extend my VISA expiry date,
• my TB test result indicates I have been exposed to TB (probably on a Kenya trip) so I have been referred to the Center for Disease Control. I have an appointment next week.

It has been exhausting and we have not even come close to the real challenges of this adventure:

• cross-cultural living,
• language school,
• new jobs,
• rural isolation,
• new community,
• new living conditions,
• Nigerian security or insecurity,
• Muslim-Christian interfaith activity, etc.
  

So, what are we doing? We are not sure. Since we still own a home we will sit tight here in Leo until we see a new direction. In the midst of this journey, while we have many questions, we want you to know that we are not angry with God. We trust God completely and expect that there will be direction out of the present wilderness.

While it is hard to make sense out of it all at this point, the girls have been very supportive.
We have found excellent support from our pastoral counselors (Tim and Andy) and the emergency meeting of our small group from North Leo was very encouraging.

Miriam and I assure you we will keep you posted as things develop.
Your continuing prayers for clarity will be appreciated.

Personal responses can be e-mailed to djzehr@verizon.net

Thanks

Doug & Miriam