Transition

Hey everyone! This will be the last blog that I will write before we return. We leave tomorrow after lunch for Abuja to catch our flight which will be leaving on Saturday morning. We will be staying in London with a friend that we have met here, then returning to Minneapolis via Chicago. We have some plans that have emerged. So far, this is what we know. I got a job in St. Paul at the University of Minnesota as a Registered Dietitian working with some students on a research project. It is a one year contract position. So we are currently looking for a place to live in that area. My job starts November 3rd, which is very soon after we return, so it will be quite the whirlwind. Nonetheless, we would love to catch up with family and friends as the transition progresses. Jon Paul will be looking for jobs in the area as well. We will live there for the year, than Jon hopes to attend seminary the following year. It will all be quite the adventure and we are trusting that God will continue to show us His plan for us. He has been so faithful to us in revealing His plans for us, but in His timing, not our own. We were so anxious about our future, and God has again supplied for us, it has been a testament in humility and trust. We are very excited and know that God will continue to provide for us.

We are leaving tomorrow, and we are experiencing many thoughts and feelings. There have been a few tears. We have been so surrounded and been greatly encouraged by everyone here. We have received many prayers, well wishes, Nigerian gifts, and blessings. We have left rejuvinated, refreshed, loved, encouraged, assured, and more excited about God than when we came. Our family has grown to include the Nigerian brothers and sisters that we have met here. They are forever a part of our lives, even if we are far apart. Everything has been great for us, including the trials and tribulations that have occurred, we have seen it all as part of a great experience. We are very sad to leave. But, we are also trying to look ahead and are very excited about our futures and being present in our present. We are excited to go home and talk and see many of you and share and perpetuate the story. We are excited to move on with this adventure, and letting this experience become part of who we are and part of our story. We will be taking back much of Nigeria to our lives back home and hope to live our lives differently because of our experience here. So, we have varying and many conflicting emotions that will probably take awhile to process. We can't wait to get to share our lives with you all again! We love you and thank you all so much for the prayers and encouragement you have given to us from abroad! We are grateful!

Love,
The Draskovic's (Team D) (or Simi and Neerat, as the Nigerians call us, it means Love and Handsome, Jon gave himself the name Handsome...)