It's true. I did actually pass that licensing test as a Marriage and Family Therapist in Hawaii. And in a gracious gesture, Colorado has also approved my educational background, clearing the way for me to eventually be licensed as an MFT in Colorado also--no, they don't have reciprocity! There are still more hoops to be jumped through for Colorado, though. For Hawaii all that is left is paying the fee. Thanks to everyone who asked about this. The story of my taking a test after so many years and not knowing if I passed seemed to strike a chord with many. I guess I finally found something in my life and work that people can relate to? Anyway, peoples' interest was both encouraging and sometimes almost embarassing. And I'm really glad I passed and don't have to retake the test--hopefully ever :-)
And now we're waiting to hear about another set of results--probably more critical to our family's future path. Robby and Joey have both applied to Rice University "early decision" and of course we're also applying for financial aid for them, if they are accepted. Sarah has already had a friend who works in one of the offices say, "Do you have brothers named Joey and Robby?" Before Christmas, we should know their results. If they're not accepted or don't get good financial aid, they'll need to get busy completing other applications--who knows, maybe Stanford? Wheaton? Case Western? Colorado School of Mines? Harvey Mudd? UPenn? University of Colorado at Colorado Springs? Pikes Peak Community College? You can either send your rcommendation or pray with them for their first choice, as we are. I'm listing their email addresses in case you want to email them directly.
By the end of November Laura had finished coordinating TEAM's retreat at the Oasis Guest House (with overflow housing in the local hotel nearby.) I returned just in time to join in after attending the Missions and Mental Health conference in Indiana, where I led a simulation on "Work/Life Imbalance: the frog in the kettle" together with Bill Bacheller, who works in Brazil. Patti McGeever, recently returned from Papua New Guinea, was there, too, and we all agreed we knew these people, even though we guaranteed participants the actors in our simulation did not exist. In other words, our fictional characters were a lot like us and our friends. We also got to teach a section of a DMin course for Columbia International University on caring for international ministry couples.
As you might guess, we're ready to replenish. That's one of my buzz words these days--if we're going to invest with abandon in ministry, work, or life, we'd better also be ready to replenish for the journey yet to come. Here's to a season of replenishment! And yes, we're expecting Sarah home for Christmas.
With love from the far side, Steve and Laura
PS A year ago we talked about our need for ministry partners. If you want to help as year end approaches, you can send a gift to TEAM at TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189 with a note that your contribution is for our ministry, go to the teamworld.org website, or call 800.343.3144 (US Central Time zone). Also, you can write on any mailer from TEAM "for the Spinellas' ministry in Taiwan" and use the reply envelope. Once again, we invite your partnership with us, and thank the father for the fellowships and partners who have been sustaining our ministry in 2007.
Dr. Steve and Laura Spinella, Sarah, Joey, Robby
Da Yi Street, Lane 29, #18, 2F-1, Taichung 40454, TAIWAN
011.886.4.2236.6145, of 4.2236.1901, fx 4.2236.2109, cell 9.2894.0514
USA: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, 719.528.1702, cell 719.360.6485
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60189, 800.343.3144 <www.teamworld.org>, <www.team.org.tw/spinella>, <www.team.org.tw/ccg>, <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TEAMspinella/>,
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu>, <lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu>
