Gamble's Newsletter 139 - Return to the USA

Apr 12 - Apr 25, 2009

Picture of the Week

After almost 6 years living and working in Uganda, it is time for us to return to the USA! What has this upcoming transition been like for us? Odd, to say the least. The process of making the decision was something that was in the works for a long time. Seems like every time we talked to someone from the US we would always be asked "So, when are you coming home?" This was always a difficult question to answer, since we had made our home in Uganda. We understood the question, but didn't have an answer to when we would move back to the USA. We kept it as a matter of prayer and tried to be sensitive to the Lord's leading. We had historically made 2 year commitments to be in Uganda and last summer we started thinking about what to do at the end of this current 2 year commitment. After a lot of prayer, wisdom from others and planning, we felt that we were being lead to return to the USA for a time, that this season in Uganda was coming to a close. So, on June 24th, just under 2 months away, we will be leaving Uganda and moving back "home". Our schedule is that we will spend a few days in the UK having a family vacation before flying to Colorado where EMI is located. We will be in Colorado for about 2 weeks debriefing and closing things out there. We will then drive to Sacramento, arriving around the middle of July and begin the process of settling. We will also spend time visiting with as many of you as possible as we want to personally thank you for all that you have done in our lives. We have already scheduled a trip up to Oregon the first week of August and we will be in Southern California in mid July (just before arriving in Sacramento) and in Colorado Springs in early July. We will also be making trips to Ukiah and up and down the Central Valley of California. If you are in any of those places, we will try to contact you in the next couple months to get together.

As far as work goes, Chad has been looking for a job as a civil engineer and has a few leads, but nothing in place yet. Since we will still be traveling a lot for the first couple of months and still getting settled into a new house and city, he is hoping to start working in the middle of September. Shanthi and the kids will start home schooling around that time as well. Hopefully, we will have overcome most of our culture shock and reentry stress by that point and will be ready to start our new life.

For those of you who are supporting us financially we want to thank you so much! You have been an amazing blessing these past years and we have no way that we can repay the generosity that you have shown us. I am sure that you are wondering how our departure from EMI works financially. We would like to ask you to continue your regular contributions through September when we will officially depart from EMI and begin a new job.

For those of you haven't recently been supporting us financially, if you are able to, would you consider a one time gift this month to help us with our move back to the US? We know that many people have felt the effects of the economic slowdown on their personal finances, but if you are able to, please send a check to Engineering Ministries International, 130 E. Kiowa St. Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 with a note that it's for Chad Gamble or click here to donate on-line. Even $5 or $10 would be greatly appreciated!

Family Update

• We don't yet have a court date to finalize the adoption of Miriam and Moses. All of our documents have been with the attorney for about a week and a half, but the judge has been out sick.

EMI & Heritage School Update

• The search for a director to replace Chad is coming to a close. We hope to be able to announce something in the next week or so.
• The search for a principal to replace Shanthi may be coming to a close as well.
• Chad's last design project is now around 90% complete. If you would like to look at the preliminary drawings or report you can download them here and here

Praise Reports

• We have been able to sell a lot of our things. It has been odd living in a partially empty house, but we are grateful that so much has sold!
• Chad's last project is almost done! This is the last big item that he is working on at the office.
• There has been a lot of interest in teaching positions at Heritage. Unfortunately, not many have made commitments yet, but we are trusting that God would provide.

Prayer Requests

• Pray that we would get a court date in the next week and that the judge would have all the information to make a judgment in our favor within a week of our appearing.
• Continue to pray for the right people to replace both Chad and Shanthi in their positions.
• Pray for our transition back to the USA - we are looking for a job, a place to live, a vehicle, etc.

Attached Picture

• The EMI East Africa family gathered for our day of prayer that is held once every semester
• Our kids on Easter Day