I'll make this quick!
We're back in Colorado, catching up and debriefing as a family, and preparing to start a new year in a new ministry role. We left Taiwan after 15 years. My new title is Global Ministry Care Consultant for TEAM, based in Colorado. Laura and I both expect to travel to ministry areas around the world and also receive people from around the world here in Colorado. While our focus will be on TEAM, we hope to care for people beyond TEAM as well.
"How are we?" We're doing pretty well, I think, but we came back to some family challenges as well as the biggest transition we've made for a long time. We're probably still in the shock and/or honeymoon phase of the adjustment. We spent three nights in Breckenridge, CO, right after we got back to have some time just as a family of 5, and easily saw more snow stacked up and falling than we've seen in the last 15 years in Taiwan and Houston combined. (Well, not a very good comparison, but we did see a lot of snow.) Joey and Robby both skied a bit while the other three of us stayed warm.
"How did we leave?" It was difficult to say so many goodbyes, but Laura and I savored the chances to remember and celebrate the good things, the changed lives, and the unique lifestyle we enjoyed in Taiwan. We know we are missed and we are definitely missing people there.
"What do we need?" We continue to depend on our ministry partners for our ministry finances. As from the beginning, this allows us to serve people who are serving others in that same way. We enjoy doing that, but we know we can't do it without our ministry partners. We still need your support in every way. While living costs are somewhat lower in the US than Taiwan (yes, believe it!), there will be increased travel costs and a less compelling story to tell, making funding harder. Somehow the Taiwan rap has not yet been replaced!
We will also need to build community here in Colorado. We have lived here before, but we're realizing this is going to take some work and some time. Keep us in mind over these next months especially.
"How about the kids?" Well, the emerging adults are wonderful to us, but they do have their challenges, too. Sarah has completed her first semester of the Counseling Psych PhD at Texas A&M and she has felt this to be a more challenging transition than her going to Rice four years ago. She is beginning to feel more adjusted and has threatened to buy me Aggie gear for Christmas. Joey is enjoying his Mechanical Engineering major and Agape leadership role at Rice, and looking forward to a summer internship in Austin, TX, with NI. Robby is challenged by his history major at Rice and also involved in Agape.
Merry Christmas! Thanks for caring enough even to read this! The care we have received encourages us to also care for others.
With love from Colorado, Steve and Laura
PS Yes, I'm dropping Sarah, Joey, and Robby from the tag line, though we still love them! And yes, when we said we hope to receive people from around the world here in Colorado, we meant to invite you! Talk to you more in the new year!
9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, 719.528.1702, Steve 719.355.4809, Laura 832.755.4261
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187, 800 343-3144
spinella@alumni.rice.edu lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187, 800 343-3144
spinella@alumni.rice.edu lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu
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