Never Say She Can't

Emily getting ready to start kindergarten

She did it!  This is the child who couldn’t make heads or tails out of phonics.  She was almost nine years old and going into 3^rd grade.  Reading had just not happened even though we worked daily at it one on one for the past three years and more.  She was a hard determined worker so I couldn’t claim laziness in any of it either.  I asked my professional teacher friends, “What do I do?  I think she might be dyslexic.”  They responded, “Work with her one on one”.  She was headed into third grade and still could barely read a beginning reader with help. 

Just before starting college

I had ordered the full 3^rd grade literature based curriculum hoping for some miracle that summer and she was supposed to be reading chapter books.  Well school was starting and there was still no miracle.  So I committed myself to continue the basic phonics with basic readers and then I would read aloud the books.  We began school and during that first week something clicked.  Phonics went out the window and sight reading and context clues became the way to read.  I had received my miracle.  Emily was reading. This wasn't the beginning, this was part of the journey, part of the adventure, and part of what has built an amazing character. 

Her first summer of college was spent being a nanny.

My Emily, with her determination and hard work graduated with honors from High School 3 ½ years ago and has now finished her Bachelor of Arts in Family Consumer Science, Fashion Track this week.  She will not be there to receive her degree from Mount Vernon Nazarene University because she already is headed to Thailand.  First she will spend two months raising support since she is going as a missionary under a small mission called Remember Nhu.  Then she and her friend Janel will be committed for one year to work with young girls who have been at risk of child trafficking.  This will include living in a dorm with them at least for a while. 

Her Birthday gift of a fashion manican.

“And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary.” Galatians 6:9

Hochstetler Prayer Update January 2012

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

Enjoying a Congolese Meal on New Year's Eve!

We had a wonderful Christmas break with Austin and Emily both here with us.  We were able to get out of town for three days and enjoy some quiet fresh air with three other families.  It was a great time.  The kids (ranging from 9 to 25 years old) had an experience with a snake that joined them in the river for a while.  When they scramble out to get away from it the snake came out with them.  The oldest chose to behead it since it was showing aggressive behavior.  We don’t usually have run in with snakes so we now have an adventure to tell.   We also were able to enjoy some games together both while camping and at home.  We had several Christmas events at our house and Emily said that it wouldn’t be Christmas without having lots of visits with people.  We all missed Mitchell in a great way but continue to be thankful that he has a job.  We are praying for his future and what God has planned for him.

Now that they have left we are all feeling rather gloomy.  Rod was also gone all last week to visit Lubumbashi which is in the southeastern part of Congo.  As chief pilot he went to fly along with the other pilots to be sure they were still performing well in their work.  Both pilots did a great job.  Rod brought cheddar and mozzarella cheese back for us too.  One of the flights Rod was on in Lubumbashi was in support of medical or people displaced by fighting on the eastern boarder of Congo.

While Rod was gone I had a few stressful days and nights and slept VERY little.  I am amazed at how well I have slept the last two nights since he got back.   I am hoping I can learn to put things aside and sleep at night.  The problem is that I don’t even realize I am hanging on to something in my mind.  Please pray for peace for me.

Lydia is working diligently at raising money so she can travel back to America this next summer for a reunion with her many MK friends that have left here.  She is baking cookies and crackers to sell to raise the money and is about a third of the way there right now.  She is also in a musical at school, “The Suessical”.  She is having a lot of fun with that and will be involved in practices 2 to 5 days a week until the play  is performed the weekend of March 22^nd to the 24^th.

Facing the stress of my children leaving on a jet plane. :P

Austin’s appointment was very informative but as Austin says, “The problem with [this doctor] is that as a world renown authority on corrective jaw surgery he can charge whatever he wants.  That means $53,000...all of which must be payed before the surgery.”  That is only for the surgery, not the orthodontist and hospital too.  So Austin has chosen to find another surgeon and to possibly wait a couple of years. 

Emily is finishing up the last of her classes to get her Bachelor of Arts Degree.  Because her partner needs a little more time to raise support they are not planning to leave until March now. Please pray for full support and that God would prepare relationships and work for them ahead of time.

If you want to see photos of our activities please befriend me on Facebook.  I love posting photos and we have been having a great time with the youth group, other families, and just life around here.  We rarely can take pictures in public because the culture considers it a form of espionage.

 

Thank you so much for your prayers,

Love in Christ,

Valerie Hochstetler

Summary of praise and prayer:

Praise:

1)    Safety in flights both in travels for our family and in our MAF team’s flying

2)    We had a great time as a family over Christmas break

3) Once again we praise the Lord for our faithful supporters who provide for us financially and/or pray for us regularly.  We are overwhelmed at God's provision.

 

Prayer:

1)    Rod’s trip to America, for great learning experiences for him and peace for Valerie and Lydia here in Congo while he is away.

2)    Austin: for wisdom about his teeth and jaw, finding the right surgeon and knowing the right timing.

3)    Mitchell:  Guidance for his future.

4)    Emily and Janel:  They would receive full support quickly and that God would provide work and relationships ahead of time for them.  Ephesians 2:10

5)    Lydia: for time management and organizational skills as she works diligently with her business, the musical and school.

6)    Wisdom in our work here in Congo, dealing with government officials and passengers for Rod and students and parents for Valerie.

Letting Go and Letting God

We just thoroughly enjoyed visits from our numbers two and three adult children, Emily and Austin. Our oldest, Mitchell, had to stay in America and work. From what I hear this is common after graduating from college, the freedom to travel becomes less than before.   It doesn’t seem to get any easier letting them go each time.

Emily is finishing school this month and then will head on to Thailand with the mission, Remember Nhu.  This is my daughter who easily slips in to being my right hand woman when she is home.  We accomplish amazing things together because she is such a hard worker and so willing to help me with my brain scheming ideas.  Over and over I kept reflecting on some parents’ comments as I was getting ready to go overseas with my husband 22 years ago.  So often we would hear the words, “My child could never go overseas to serve God because I can’t handle it.”  Oh, the temptation to tell my daughter that she needed to come and serve near me was on the tip of my tongue over and over.  We have similar needs as Thailand right here and we could use more workers.  But a still quiet voice kept saying, “You will bind your daughter from a great blessing if you hinder her from going.”  I would then remember a sermon I heard several years ago when a pastor compared parents who are unwilling to let their children go as missionaries to the Israelites who refused to go into the promised land when God had sent the 12 spies in to check out the land. They cried out, “Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword?  Our wives and our little ones will become plunder; would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”  Numbers 14:2.  As a result of their rebellion, the Israelites ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years while their children watched them die off.   And so, with my blessings I took her to the airport to fly away on Wednesday Evening. 

My heart is grieving for all three of my adult children today. Lydia, Rod and I are having trouble keeping back the tears.   I believe I will see the boys, or should I call them men, in a year when I go back for Christmas next year for Austin’s surgery but I don’t know when I will see Emily again.  It is an unknown factor which only brings a need to increase my faith in my great big God.  I am not afraid of never seeing her again but I just would like a date of some kind and looking at scriptures, God doesn't give dates.