Richmond Family Updates

(Written by Becky)

I can’t stop thinking about a poem my Gramp taught me called “America for me!” by Henry Van Dyke. Look it up! It’s about living in Europe and coming home.

Keith and I are moving home. As soon as possible. We want our family to be together during this difficult time. We want to support each other while we support Mom.

We need your prayers, especially for Keith’s visa to go through quickly.

But we aren’t worried. We have had so many blessings during this decision-making process and God has opened some very obvious doors, such as the following:

1. My job contract requires a 3 month notice period and they are being so gracious and letting me out with a 5 week notice period. Although it’s hard to think about leaving this job that I really love and a team of ladies that I love even more, they’ve been so incredibly supportive through this.

2. Keith works for an American company and had already begun discussions about getting transferred to the States in the future. When Keith talked to his boss’s, they didn’t hesitate to do anything they could to keep him with the company. They started the transfer right away and their team of lawyers are working on Keith’s work visa. They even gave him a promotion and a raise!

3. Because of Keith’s job security, promotion and raise, I won’t have to work in New York. I can spend my days with Mom.

4. Our landlord is an amazing woman. Like family, actually. She’s so understanding and didn’t hesitate to give her blessing of us leaving our apartment.

5. Keith’s parents were scheduled to visit in August and have graciously moved their trip forward so we can see them before we leave.

6. About a year ago, we started saving much more diligently and now have freedom to move without finances being something that tie us down. I think God started opening this door even before we knew we’d need it. It feels so amazing to be debt-free and have a small nest-egg for emergencies like this.

Our hoped-for timeline:

1. Becky’s job ends on July 1st.

2. We both fly to the States for a two week vacation (previously planned). We are very much looking forward to creating memories with the family while camping.

3. We both fly back here on July 16th. Keith’s parents visit us from July 18th – July 28th. Keith will work some of these days and I’ll show them around a bit while he works and we’ll spend evenings together. We’ll have a big goodbye picnic with all our friends while they are here, too, on July 23rd.

4. We’ll let go of our apartment at the end of July and come back to New York with a one-way ticket on August 1st.! If Keith’s visa isn’t sorted out yet, he may have to stay here with some friends for a few weeks.

Will you please pray for the following? (In order of importance, we think.)

1. That Keith’s visa happens FAST! (I mean miraculously fast!)

2. That the things we need to get rid of sell quickly and easily. Everything from our cars to t.v. to dishes. We only want to ship sentimental stuff.

3. That we have no problems closing things down: phone contracts, bills, cars, taxes, etc.

4. Once in the States, that we can secure a very small apartment, preferably a studio/one-room (so we can keep saving money) and within walking distance to Mom and Dad’s house. Also that we can find hand-me-down / inexpensive furniture and a car so we can keep saving money and not accumulate too much and live simply.