September. October.

Life.

It seems the moment we get used to life going one way, some situation happens and we are turned another way.  People who we are close to, don't always see eye to eye with us.

Since my last update, a few items have happened.

Edgar got a job. Edgar is now working to promote a small school to teach English! Yahoo. He seems to be enjoying it, and is doing allot of marketing work. [Just look at his Facebook. ;)] This is a great first step in me relocating, and planning a visit.

Life back at work.  I am spending allot of my time on the road, and traveling. I spend two nights a week in Portage, and the other two in La Crosse.( Weekends are with friends and family as time allows )  I am enjoying being back at work, and still being apart of many of the individuals lifes-that changed my life. December will be hard to say good-bye/see you later. Since being back at work, a opportunity has for promotion has been passed up, and the freedom after making that decision has been wonderful.

Date. September 14, 2015.  Two year prior to this we met, and hopefully this date will be a day when we step together as a couple into our future. Yes, we know it is a Monday.  God has plans for us, and I am exicted to see where those plans will lead. We trust that He is leading us, and trust Him to guide our future was well.

Georgette, and Scott continue to work toward planning more of the mission work-which will be based in Edgars community.  Each day we pray about where God wants us, and what He is planning for our mission.

Let go and Let God.

Trust in The Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Sometimes, in the middle of life we forget to take a deep breath. We forget to trust that, with God, everything is going to work out. Faith only works when you trust all parties involved.  

Due to multiple circumstances out of our control, a few different changes have happen. After many nights of praying, and a few hard conversations this is what is changing. Edgar is still in search of a job( Job markets aren't as great a when he left. Plus,who really likes looking for a job?), so we have decided a few things. I will return to work. I am thankful for my connections which has allowed me to return to my old job, with a few perks. The timeline has changed, and I will be in the states until at least Christmas. (BIG THANK YOU goes to Kari for making the transition possible). This will give me the opportunity to save some more money before the move. 

I have been filling my time with family. It has been great to be at birthday parties ( Happy Birthday Sneffy!), and go for road trips (like for Marandas car- Who said she was old enough to drive?), and helping out where is needed.  I have also enjoyed watching my cousins kid a few days a week. 

Edgar is doing well. He has been able to be an active part of his community, and enjoying being apart of his CAP( to expand the school in his community). Edgar has also started a second project to bring fresh water to a few families in his community.  He will be working with his program( SEED/USAID), and few connections to complete this project.  

Until next time, 

Kayla

Slow down

4 weeks! Can you believe that June is gone, and July is almost gone too? Where is summer going? As I sit and write this post, we are at the halfway point of summer.

I must admit, that living in northern Wisconsin is much different than living in the Southern part of the state.  The summers are cooler( at night is has been between 40-60 degrees..BRR!) and this summer has been pretty wet too. I can remember very few days without rain.  I can't complain, because I would rather it be 72 degrees-than 90 degrees like what I am used to.  Not to mention that the people of the Northwoods live at a different pace, and have there own flavor. 

Pre-retirement. As I spend my summer de-stressing and enjoying what summer is all about-Family.  While I was in La Crosse I was never able to attend the little events, only when I was lucky enough to be in town and not working did I attend a family event.  It has been nice to attend family gatherings, cook-outs, and just because get gatherings. I have also spent a good portion of my summer traveling, and taking in the sights of Wisconsin.  It has been nice to not have any responsibilities, and recenter my life.  I have spent allot of time attempting to catch up on my reading, and bible plans. I haven't been as successful as I had hoped. 

Update. Edgar is back in his community, and is continuing to look for a job. Although, there has been a few nibbles, nothing is concrete yet. ( As opportunities become concrete I will let you know).  Edgar seems to be enjoying being back home, and telling his story to his family. Edgar is also glad to be back with his family, and seeing his community.  Edgar's CAP is moving along nicely. Edgar was able to report that the land was purchased in Edgar's final days in the states, and now his community is fundraising for funds to build the school. This includes supplies(desks, shelves , tables, etc) for the school. Edgar also started to make the connections, for our mission work. Edgar met with Jorge, and the pair formed a plan for the future.  Jorge was going to give Edgar a few connections, for people closer to his community. God is so GOOD. 

My loans have all been put into a program that allows have limited payments, which will help me focus on my mission work. This is great news! I have one loan that is a private loan, which I have saved up enough money to make automatic payments for the next year.  My car will soon go online, and be sold. My last remaining items are in my Grandma's back garage, for the time being. I just have a few last items to go through before heading south.  I am waiting to book my plane ticket until Edgar gets a job. So, this could happen this week or it could not happen until September. We have faith that God will provide a time for Edgar to get a job, and for me to travel to join him. These are both exciting times-and we praise God for the time we are apart.  God is using this time to prepare our hearts for the path ahead, and the life that we will lead. Praise God for these opportunities. 

As always, I hope this finds you well. Please feel free to connect at any point. I would love to hear from you!

-Kayla 

(Kayla.pankow@gmail.com)

...and ready GO!

As times change, so does the person who is living the changes also have to change.

In the last 7 days, this transition has brought several different changes.

First, Edgar left last Wednesday. Although, many tears were shared and emotions were high-my heart is happy to know Edgar is with his family.  Edgar has called several times, each time sharing the joys of home. He is in the process of looking for a job, and sounds like he has several great leads.

Second, I left the La Crosse area. This was way hard, and I didn't get to see everyone I wanted to say good-bye to. If I didn't get to say good-bye- please feel free to reach out. I would love to hear from you.  Dad came to help with the truck and trailer. I had confidence that I had gotten rid of enough stuff- to fit on these two things. After one LARGE trip to Goodwill, and a full garbage and recycle bin-Everything FIT! We got everything on the truck, trailer, and my car. We also traveled with four people back to Rhinelander. It was tight, but we did it! Now, is the process of going through things and purging again. Grandma has been great about me keeping my things here as long as they are out of the main garage.

Thrid, and finally was my transition into unemployment, and not having 800 activities, committee meetings, groups, or on-call rotation to work with. My time is now spent, enjoying family and trying to adjust to my new normal.  I will call this a pre-retirement. :)

This has also allowed me to focus on getting ready for me leaving. I have corrected my address on my drivers licenses(to my new permanent address), opened my bank account that I will use while living abroad, and contacted my loan companies for my student loans. In the next few weeks, I have to make sure my passport is ready to go, book flights, go through my luggage one last time( okay this will be an ongoing project as getting rid of things is never easy), sell my car, and transfer all my funds from my La Crosse Bank, to my new Rhinelander account. Plus, I am sure there is something I am forgetting.

Change doesn't happen all at once, thankfully. Change happens one step at a time.


Please continue to pray for Edgar has he transitions back to his family. Pray that Edgar finds a job, and is able to support his community in getting the land for the school. Pray for my transition, here in the US, and once I move to Honduras.

Good-bye. See you Later. Adios.

The time has come when my expected leave date is 100 days away. Crazy? I think so!  Edgar leaves in 10 days. Count downs-Who needs uses a count down anyway?

My to-do list is becoming shorter! (This is a good thing because I only have 14 days left in my apartment and  Coulee Region),
X Finish time at REM. T-minus 4 days! Yahoo!
X Disconnect services(electric, internet, etc) This will be done, expect my cell phone, in two weeks.
X Update landlord on leave date. (God answered prayers here. My landlord let me out of my lease mid-month, and found a couple to rent mid-month. This means two things, I only have to pay half a months rent, and I can put the rest of the month way for the BIG move. Praise God for answered prayers.)
X I was able to make a connection with a couple(another God thing!) at Morningstar Missions, who is currently a missionaries in  San Pedro(Eastern  part of the country), and the couple assisted with two things. First, is they connected Edgar and me with a program that provides schooling for kids(Tree of Life), and scholarships. This will be great to see and experience to help Edgar with his cap( which is to build,and start a high school in his community in the South Western part of the country.) We hope to volunteer, and maybe even partner with this program! Second, he was able to connect me with  a doctor in the capital. This doctor will be a connection for the lawyer-which will help me get residency in the country while I am there.
X Call loan companies and pick best options for while leaving/living in Honduras. ( I completed this, a few days ago. All I can say is I am very grateful for my federal loans, and my private loans are what is going to cause me the greatest stress!)
XPack up apartment. I have my apartment about 75% packed, organized, and turned up-side down. Edgar and my mom came last weekend to help me organize and pack stuff up.  Thank you for your time, and patience as I completed this overwhelming task. I still have a bed, 2 dressers, kitchen cabinet, and tv stand for anyone who would like or knows someone who needs one.
X Dad will be here the second weekend of June, to pack what ever is left and bring it to Rhinelander. This will be my summer home. Prayers needed for summer employment, and time well spend with family.
X Re-home cats. This was a big stressor that I couldn't be happier to have completed. The cats are not living with a man on the south side of La Crosse, that seemed like he was going to take really good care of them.  This was crazy because this gentleman said he had been looking for while for a cat, and said that if he found the right pair-he would take two. He hadn't found just the right cat.  I spend so many nights worrying and praying that the cats wouldn't go together, or to a loving home. I was worried I would have to surrender them to a shelter. Praise God for answered prayers

I am sure there is something I am forgetting along the way.


Thank you for your continued support in this exciting, and large transition in my life.


Please pray: God continues to open doors during this time of transition.  Please pray for Edgar's transition back to his family, and community. Please pray that Edgar is able to find employment, and use his education he gained while in the states.  Please pray for my transition to first Rhinelander, then Honduras.  Please pray for our relationship, as we continue to put God first, and are separated.


I would love to hear from you. Please feel free to "follow" the blog, or add me to your e-mail list. My e-mail is kayla.pankow@gmail.com

Go time!

As of last Monday, I gave my notice at REM. This comes with a lot of emotions. For along time, this was just an idea I had.  An idea that many people laughed at, or became concerned when I told them where I was going.

All things aside, my last day with REM is June 13, 2014. Although, I must admit-I never thought this day would come. This company has given me opportunities to grow, both professionally and personally. REM has given me avenues to meet people, who I can now call my friends. People who have taught me WAY more than how to work with people of different abilities.  Lasting friendships. Lasting lessons.

As I prepare for my last 30 days, I look back at my time. When I first started, I had just graduated college and took the job with REM as transitional job. I wasn't going to stay long, but I was going to be able to pay the bills. After six months, I fell in love with the people. I was hooked. Here I am three years later, preparing to say good-bye.

After I gave my 30 day notice, I realized that leaving my job was the simple part.  I had so many other things I needed/had to accomplish. I need to sell everything in my apartment, cleaning, rehome my cats, and sort through the emotional mess change makes me.  If you know me well, you know I procrastinate. I guess it is time to say, I have procrastinated long enough- and have started to get rid of my things.

As if this isn't enough, Edgar has 30 days before he joins his family back in Honduras.  I am so excited for him to go home, and be with his family.  I will join him, 90 days he leaves, in September.

I told you I loved count downs.

Please continue to pray that the transition to my summer location goes well. Please continue to pray for Edgar's transition to his family. Please pray as we begin to look for jobs in Honduras. We trust that God is at the center of our life's, and he will lead us.

God's peace be with you.

Kayla

Changes.

A lot has changed in 5 months.

In early September (the 14th to be exact) my aunt had a house warming party, and many of her family and friends had been invited. My aunt had experienced a house fire, and had just bought a house- so we were celebrating life, new growth, and new places to live. G, another one of my aunts, brought one of her sons to visit. Edgar, who is from Honduras ( you will find out why this is important later), came with my aunt that day. Edgar and I met that day. Although we didn't think much of it at this time, this would change everything.

From that early weekend in September to current Edgar and I have seen each other very other weekend. Although, I must admit I was WAY slower to come around to the idea of another relationship.  Due to the pain of my last relationship-I didn't want to rush into anything. I prayed a lot.  Edgar prayed a lot.  We have been dating for almost 7 months, and I couldn't imagine my life without him. During my time without a relationship I asked God to lead me to a Godly man, who is sensitive to my feelings, and will be a leader and doer of the word.  I am happy to say that our relationship is centered in Christ, and knowing that Christ is at the center of my relationship has brought me to peace.


We knew from very early on, that Edgar returned home to his family in June 2014. He will finish his two year scholarship program, and will return home to improve his community. He plans to expand the school to include a high school, start a cyber cafe, and continue his education to become a pastor.

As part of his scolarship, Edgar can't return to the US for minimum of two years, but he is encouraged to stay longer in his country.  Edgar and I discussed many of our options, since long distance relationships are hard.  We dicussed me traveling down to Honduars 2 times a year, total of 4 times before he could return. We discussed me using my vacation time, to spend two  weeks at time.  After Edgars visit to La Crosse over his Christmas break, I decided to looking into relocating to Honduras.  I had nothing holding me to La Crosse, REM or the US. I also found the idea of meeting his family, seeing his community, and learning Spanish to be exciting.  So, as of September 2014 I will relocate to Honduras for the minimum of two years-to help Edgar with his program requirements.

As other dates become more final I will let you know. I am exicted for this transition-and look forward to updating you.

So I will be looking to rehome my cat, so I can make my transition. Do you know of someone who could take my cat?

Please join us in praying for a smooth transition,for Edgar and myself to find jobs, for the culture shock we both will experience, and for the next six months of change.