Dearest Family and Friends,
We only felt it fitting to share what is going on in our lives as huge changes are taking place. But let’s first back up and share how we got here!
Four years ago, 2006, we had our third little one on the way and Mike was working at a level 2 trauma ER in Lancaster, PA. He loved it and was amazing at the job (not-so-shocking!) but trying to support a family of almost five on $10 an hour was nearly impossible, even though he was working 60 hours a week! We were encouraged by a friend to pursue education in the medical field. Not only would Mike be able to do more for his patients, but the doors to be able to do short or long-term missions was a huge attraction. We have both had a heart for people in underprivileged areas and want to be able to help in whatever ways we can, even if it is just encouragement and ushering hope. So, we found this school, Penn College, which had a Physician Assistant program as a Bachelor’s. Not only was that amazing because it was only 2 hours away and he already had residency in PA, but he had yet to finish his undergrad, so he was able to get all of the funding in grants and loans that you aren’t typically eligible for for a Master’s. (How cool is that?!) And, it is only one of about fifteen schools in the country that offer it as a Bachelor’s!
Our pastor from Lancaster mentioned to us before we left that there was a pastor who called him from Williamsport and wanted to connect with him. He said, “They’re from Citychurch. I don’t know what the church is like, but it may be something.” On one of our many trips to Williamsport to look for housing, we met Jerry and Lori, the pastor and his wife. After seeing the Citychurch building downtown, and knowing it was just as important for us to find a good church home we stopped in to take a look. They were just about to lock up for the day and ended up giving us a tour of the 44,000 square foot building. God had some plans in this. Jerry called Mike one day about a month and a half later and said, “We were interested in moving, would you like to come look at our house to rent or buy?” Now Jenna and Micaiah had been praying for some very specific things regarding a house and, I kid you not, we must have looked at 30 places. We hoped for a kitchen with a counter where the kids could eat, and a big fenced-in yard. Their beautiful home had both! Not only that, but they moved out within 3 weeks so our family could be together! Mike had started classes 2 weeks before Jenna and the kids moved. As of September of 2006 with 3 kids in tow, we were home in Williamsport!
So, we settled into the Home of the Little League World Series, for those of you who love baseball, with the blessing of a job and a home to live in. Mike was working on all of his pre-requisites as a FT student and working in the ER two blocks from the house! It was a challenge. He went from working at a level two trauma center to a small ER that sent everything out that was remotely challenging. He thrives in chaos and loves a challenge, so he missed the craziness. But he pulled through and got the grades. Two years later, he was accepted into the competitive PA program (65 applicants for 24 unfilled slots)! This past September, he began the three-semester rigorous (18-21 credits per semester) program with the knowledge that after the 2008-2009 school year, he would begin his rotation year! There will be 9 rotations, 4-5 weeks at a time all over the country. He will begin in Ohio, then travel to a few locations in PA (Gettysburg, Scranton, Lebanon...) and we have hopes he will have one in Boston (a level 1 trauma center in the heart of the medical capital of the US!) where he will be able to stay with his Aunt, one in NC where we can stay with his parents and one in AZ where we can stay with Jenna’s family. Some are still up in the air, as you can see, but all in all, we believe that this is where God has us. We fully believe we are called to this education as a means to work with Christ in the caring for his children. Jenna has even considered midwifery or nursing to be able to help in that, but in this season of teaching the kids and training them up in the ways they should go, that would be too great a sacrifice, at least in this time of life.
Now, to the present. We have been living on part time work, between Mike and Jenna, grants and loans and we are not without debt. By the time all is said and done, the amount with be about 100k.
(Deep breath)
We are currently having trouble obtaining more loans for living expenses for this next year because of the drastic change in economy and amount already incurred. We have explored the normal options offered to students. Loans have been denied several times, with and without a co-signer. Mike even spoke with recruiters from the Navy that has an interesting program where they would offer to cover his tuition and pay him a salary while finishing his senior year. This however did not work out either as they filled the nine slots offered to the entire country during the process of Mike submitting his application. And so here we are 6 weeks from that start of his senior year. The tough part is that we have grants that will cover the cost of tuition for school; what we don’t have is the needed money to live throughout the year.
We feel like we’ve knocked on every door, prayerfully asking God what to do, and Mike NOT finishing is NOT an option! We don’t feel at this time we have the permission to walk away from this, nor do we feel it would be wise. He is so close and working will be literally impossible for him as he will change sites every 4-5 weeks, plus he will be working on school and alongside doctors already! We are looking into the option of missions agencies that specialize in helping to get healthcare workers out into the field where they are so desperately needed, also, but know nothing yet.
We are believing God for some huge things right now. We would LOVE for our family to be able to stay together in this time. How, you ask? Well, being that nothing we have ever done is a traditional route, we thought we’d keep with that! We have been considering traveling together as a family with a truck and camper and be able to travel with Mike as he goes on rotations. We have found RVs and campers that have 4 bunk beds (how perfect is that?!?!) and a queen sized bed and trucks that will seat 6! The benefit is that the kid's school will not be hampered, as Jenna is already homeschooling, and the camper and truck can be sold at the end of the year. We do have other options such as staying with family in North Carolina or even some dear friends here in Williamsport. However, we desire to remain together as a family as much as possible. We fully envision our family as a team assembled for our future ministry and would hate to be separated for weeks on end for the entire year.
Our original plan was to join the NHSC, or National Health Service Corps, once Mike is finished as they will pay back loans in exchange for working in underprivileged areas. Our problem is getting to that place; WE need to finish first.
We will be taking the month of August to pack and fix up the house for sale. Please join us in praying for its quick sale for Jerry and Lori, who have since moved to CO. We will temporarily, we believe, be moving into the basement of some friend’s home. Our heart and hope is to, best we can, keep our family close, but are willing to do whatever it takes to get through this next year. There is a good possibility of moving to NC with Mike’s parents, but this will put Jenna and the kids about 10 hours away from where most of Mike’s rotations are in PA making travel expensive. He is required to pay for his own transportation and living expenses.
How can you help? Most importantly, pray. If you feel so lead to join and partner with us in this time please feel free to contact us. We are open to discussing all sorts of creative options. We believe and stand on the fact that God can move mountains and He can certainly make the way for us to finish in what seems to be an impossible situation. A friend was joking about the fact that Moses had to stand next to the Red Sea and put his staff in for it to part. He could have stood on the shore and said, “This is IMPOSSIBLE!” He knew God better than that...and so do we. He has proven faithful far too many times to doubt Him! So, this is our staff in the water...will the way part? We are expecting it to and long to share with all of you the goodness of God in all of this!
God has given Mike an ability to lead and a compassion for those who need it and an ability to give dignity to those whom are often pitied. We cannot wait to see what God does with all of this and are so glad for those of you who are willing to share in it with us.
We do not know where we will be in the next few months or by August 2010 when Mike is set to graduate, but we know we are in God’s hands...and we do not say that tritely.
We love you all and wanted to share our hearts and circumstances so you can be praying with us through this next year! Please call or email with any thoughts you might have or if you feel the Lord is impressing something on you to share with us, please do so. We are waiting upon Him and seeking wisdom. We will be making hard decisions within the next 6 weeks, so to say this is an urgent need is an understatement. So please get on your knees with us to petition boldly before the throne of our great and awesome God who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly beyond what we ask or think.
We will be using this blog to update and will do our best to keep you all informed between naps and playtimes!
Blessings to all of you!
Michael, Jenna, Micaiah, Elias, Toben and Naamiah Michaud
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