THE PARENTS:

Well, we’ve been silent for a while and I (Megan) do apologize! The end of Winter term and the whole of my Spring term of college fully and completely took all of my brain function and  spare time!  We as a family are doing great. We’ve had good health and we are incredibly grateful for that! Cold and flu season skipped right on by us.

Blessing’s work is going well and he continues to really love his job. We are so  fortunate that a) he has a job he likes and b) he gets the weekends off to be with  Emma and I!  As for me, I am almost done with school! Yea! Winter term I made  the Dean’s honor list due to my excellent grades (4 A’s and 2 B’s). Spring term  just finished and the grades have been posted. I am thrilled to say that for the  first time in my life I have perfect marks! I earned A’s in all 4 of my classes!!  I must say I’m more than a little proud of myself.  Summer term just started  yesterday and I have 2 classes on campus, in addition to the work experience  credits I will be earning.  If all goes well, I will be completely done with my program by August 26, 2010! I can finally start to see the “light at the end of the tunnel”. It has been a long hard road, but I think it will be worth it.

THE CHILD:

As for the little girl Emma…. well, she is transitioning into just that. A little girl! She is no longer an infant by any means. She is a petite little thing but she walks/runs everywhere, climbs any stairs she may see, and talks and talks and talks! She finally has 2 teeth and she is experimenting with those by biting into various things as toddlers do. Emma is a joyful, happy, giggling little person. She brings a smile to the face of all those who see her, including strangers in the grocery store.  She definitely is a precious gift and when we aren’t staring at her in amazement or chasing after her, we make sure we give thanks for her often.

AFRICA:

Africa is never far from our minds. Truly we speak about it on a weekly basis, remembering things from our time there and dreaming about the day we will go back.  For Blessing, it is especially in his thoughts as that is his home. Well, he won’t have to miss it much longer! In August Blessing will be going home for a visit! He will have a short time in Tanzania, but then he will spend about 2 weeks in Zimbabwe visiting his brother and extended family.  He hasn’t been home since August 2008 and we aren’t sure when he’ll next get a chance to go.  Please keep us in your prayers as we are still figuring out some of the details of his trip and the costs involved. His major plane ticket is already bought and paid for, but there is another one he’ll need while in Africa that is almost $800.  He will also need funds for minor travel costs such as bus fare, food, lodging while travelling, phone credits, etc.  His departure date from the USA is August 11th and he will return September 2nd! Also, Blessing will be starting college studies in September! Going to college in the US is something he has wanted to do for a very long time.

That’s all the news for now,

but we love hearing from those of you who actually read this! Send us a note and tell us what’s going on in your lives!  Be blessed!!!!!

Time may be flying by, but we as a family are doing very well. For all of you that prayed and prayed with us for Blessing’s ‘greencard’ process….we got it!  On January 7th we went up to Portland for an interview and Blessing was approved for his permanent residence card (aka greencard) and is now valid in the US for 2 years! He can work, he can drive, he can travel out of the USA and be able to get back in! This is such a relief and a blessing beyond description! According to all of our friends who have gone through this process before us, we were told to be patient…it would take months and months.  Well…not so for us! One more God story to tell over and over, because from the date I mailed the forms to the date he got approved was 3 months and 3 days! hah! LOVE IT! 

Oh…and he can drive now too….!  Blessing got his driver’s permit in late December and practiced driving a bit, but then he wanted to go for his license. Well…I can safely say that after teaching Blessing to drive, teaching Emma in 15 years will be a walk in the park!   All kidding aside, he passed his license test and is a fully licensed Oregon driver now.  He thoroughly enjoys being able to take himself places instead of waiting for me to get home. And I rather enjoy it too!

In additional news, Blessing got his first US job!! After having a 2nd interview last week, Blessing has been hired to work in a home for developmentally disabled adults.  He will be working about 36 hours a week, most of it on Sat/Sun when he works 9am-9pm!! It is very helpful that he can drive himself there (we’ve been loaned an extra car), as I am still in school. Yes…I am still in school! I am proud to say that I made the President’s Honor Roll for my Fall term of school with a 3.75GPA! I never, ever have had that good of grades! Winter term is drawing to a close with finals the week of March 15-19, then I will have a one week break before starting Spring term on March 29th. Whew. It’s a lot of work, but I’m starting to see the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel!?!

As for Miss Emma….she is one year old! We had a small party for her on her birthday February 13th. She is growing so fast, has started walking, and loves to babble and giggle and express her opinions.  That little girl brings so much joy and laughter to everyone she meets. Strangers in the stores stop to say hello to her, even the old grumpy grandpa types! I could write forever about my baby girl, but this is already a long post, so I will sign off for now!

We would love to hear from you! What is new in your life? Do you have a story to share with Blessing about your first job?

We are continuing to do well here in Oregon.  I am back in college and classes start again for me on the 5th, I am taking 17 credits this time around.  I see lots of reading in my near future!  I took 16 credits last term and managed a 3.75 GPA, so heck…why not add another credit hour!? Am I a glutton for punishment? No, not really.  I only have a limited amount of time to get this schooling done and start making money! School for me will be done done done in August 2010.  Not so very far away, but so very very far away!  Click here to for an overview of my studies http://www.umpqua.edu/Programs/MedAsst.htm

Blessing received his Employment Authorization card in December and has been scouring the employment listings looking for work everyday since.  We are hopeful that he will land something soon. We need an income!  In the mean time he is “Mr. Mom” taking care of Emma while I study.  He rocks!  Blessing’s green card application is progressing quite well and quite rapidly! We have our final interview on January 7th in Portland, and then everyone says the green card comes within 2 weeks! The speed with which this application has been processed is nothing short of a miracle.  We only filed the paperwork at the beginning of October…a mere 3 months ago! Our other friends who have gone through this process are amazed at the quick progress. Well…it’s nothing we did. It’s all God!

So that’s our news for now.  Hopefully soon we will be able to post about a job and a green card and other cool things that are in the works! Take care of yourself, stay warm, and don’t forget to laugh!  :-)

Two years ago, Blessing and I were in Zambia after our time in Zimbabwe was cut short. It may not have been optimal at the time, but I look back on that Christmas as one of the best I have ever had. We were up around midnight talking to family back in the States, and when the clock struck 12 there were fireworks! Literally! I was confused. People were shouting and setting off fireworks … just because it was Christmas! Last year I was prego and uncomfortable, but we had such a nice, peaceful, uneventful Christmas.  It was our first Christmas as a married couple and our first Christmas in America. We were wondering what it would be like this year with a baby. Now here we are with  beautiful baby girl who is just so busy crawling and standing up and destroying things…all with a smile on her face.  And we her parents are wondering what this next year will bring…

We hope you have a happy Christmas and a blessed New Year! Happy 2010!!

Anyways, on to other things? It’s definitely edging closer to Winter these days. The cold wet weather that evaded us last year is here in full force this year. Blessing is a bit baffled since last year it didn’t rain as much (which was weird), and the cold didn’t seem to get into our bones. This year tho, we are both freezing!  Emma could care less.  She’s just excited to hear the rain outside the windows, and absolutely loves to watch the millions of leaves fall from the oak trees. She thought it was wonderful when the other day as I put her in the shopping cart, we had to run across the parking lot into the grocery store because it started to rain! She laughed and kicked her legs all excited..oblivious to the paranoid Mommy hoping she didn’t get wet or cold. Ah, such a life she has!

I am doing well in school, and my studies are going fairly easy for me.  I am taking 16 credits this term, which is a bit much I agree, but it’s the only way I can finish my program in 1 year.  Next term I’ll be taking 17 credits!  So far I am not learning much of anything new due to my experience working in offices and in health care, but I am definitely brushing off a few cobwebs in the ol’ brain.  Especially when it comes to math! Sheesh…it’s one of those things I wouldn’t take it if I didn’t have to! All told, I’ve passed the halfway mark of the term and I have a nice combo of A’s and B’s.  Not too shabby for not having been to official college in 12 years!

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving this year and we will be taking our little family up to Portland, OR to celebrate the holiday with my cousin and her fiance. I’m excited and nervous. Excited to have a new Thanksgiving experience (Emma’s first!) and nervous to shop with my cousin on Black Friday. She’s a scary shopper on a normal day, I don’t know what she’ll be like on that Friday!?  What are your plans for Thanksgiving? Do you have any traditions or rituals that you do?

Lots of news to report it seems. We needed to apply for Blessing’s ‘green card’ and it was/is just so darn expensive ($1500) and we were just wondering where exactly we were going to get the money.  Then an amazing donor stepped up and gave us $1350, which is the original amount we thought it was going to cost. Then the rates went up on August 1st! Blessing had to have all kinds of medical stuff done and that took a lot of money too, but God is amazing and provided the perfect amounts of money at the exact right times.  I am happy to say we have submitted all the paper work to the government and now begins the long, long process of waiting!

As we were working on getting the all the medical stuff done for the green card, we were wondering just what is next for us here in America. I have been trying to get a job since May and I’ve had only one interview.  We were both praying and at the end of August we realized God was telling me to go back to school!! So I applied to Umpqua Community College (UCC) and registered for some classes. I also applied for Federal Student Aid, which you normally do much earlier in the year!  On the 28th of September I began my classes for a certificate in Clinical Medical Assisting. It’s kinda complicated to explain, but it’s more than a CNA (Nurse’s Aide) but less than a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse).  It’s a one year program and I’m excited about it! I’m also overwhelmed since I went from being a stay-at-home Mommy to a full-time 16 credit college student!  I have survived week 1, and I’m praying for the strength to keep going!

Emma is just growing more and more beautiful each day. She’s sitting up and crawling and babbling all the time. She is such a precious little girl.  We grow more and more in love with her everyday!  Everyone who sees her loves her and are blessed by her perfect lil’ toothless smiles!

Last week we took lil’ Miss Emma and up to Seattle to attend her first professional soccer game.  Seattle Sounders vs Barcelona (Blessing’s all time favorite team) at Qwest field with 66,848 of our closest friends! It was a pretty cool experience.  We stayed in Tacoma with some new friends and had a great time.  But according to Blessing, the real highlight was when we skipped sight-seeing and drove up to Mt. Vernon before the game to see a brand new baby boy!! My cousin Heather gave birth to Mason Cole on the 5th and we just couldn’t stand being so close (about an hour and half from Tacoma) and not seeing him, so off we went.  Emma was intrigued at the lil’ thing making noises, but seemed okay with it.  As we were leaving the hospital, my cousin Holly was carrying Emma and this older lady (probably a hospital volunteer) stopped us with the usual “oh she is just precious” conversation.  Then she asked us, “is it okay if I give her a stuffed animal? Wait right here…” and she came back with the softest stuffed bear ever! Blessing thinks we should have more kids just to get more free stuff.  I think…uhm, there might have to be more discussion!?

Today (the 13th) is Emma’s official 6 month birthday! We took her for her pictures today, and I think they will turn out pretty cute. Emma wasn’t too fond of the chick takin’ the pictures tho, so the smiles were few and far between?  I think the girl was trying too hard (or not hard enough) to get Emma to smile…

Dear family and friends,

Blessing and I would like to say thank you for your emails, letters, prayers, encouragement and support since going into missions as a couple.  You standing with us, in prayer and finance, has enabled us to reach out and change lives in the name of Jesus — for the expansion of His kingdom — in places many of you will never personally see.

Since coming to the USA late last year to finish the pregnancy, we have been praying and seeking God for direction of our future.  God has blessed us with the precious baby Emma, and we want to make sure we give her the best possible future.   As we have been praying these past months, we feel strongly that we are to stay in the USA for ‘some time’.  We are not sure if that is one year or two years or how long exactly that time is to be.   We feel that it is vital to have a rock-solid foundation under us when we do return overseas – debt paid down and firm financial support.

We are writing to let you know that we will be stepping out of Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and international missions for the time being, but we are not stepping out of missions on a local level.  We will continue to seek out opportunities within the USA for us to minister and use the gifts that God has given us for His work.  Blessing is currently on a mission trip to LA to the Dream Center (www.dreamcenter.org) until the 15^th of July, and we will continue to seek out opportunities for ministry here in the USA.

As we stay in the US, we will need to begin the application process for Blessing’s ‘green card’.  After much prayer and conversation, we think it is the best option for our future.  With a green card, when we go back overseas (and we will!), if for any reason we needed to return to the USA Blessing wouldn’t have to reapply for a visitor’s visa and risk getting denied.  The cost of the application is $1,365.00 and we are trusting God and taking a step of faith that the money will come in.  Also it is imperative that I get a job so we can prove to the government that I am able to support him in the US.  I have been applying for jobs, but it’s a tough economy right now and we are just trying to be patient.  It is scary to step out of missions without any idea where next month’s income is going to come from, please pray with us!

Thank you so much for standing with us during our time as full-time missionaries.  Blessing has been a full-time missionary for the last 9 years and I have been full-time for the last 5 years!!  We appreciate all you have done on our behalf over the past years.  We would not have been able to do our work without you.  If you are a financial supporter, your tax-deductible donation can still be made thru YWAM Montana thru October 28, 2009.  If you have any questions, or would like further clarification, please do not hesitate to call or email us.

May God shower you with His peace, joy and love,

The Chaendera’s

Email: beforetherains@yahoo.com bchaendera@yahoo.co.uk

Phone: 541-530-2616 (Megan)   541-530-1470 (Blessing)

Soccer: Blessing successfully finished coaching his middle school rec team with the Roseburg Soccer Association.  He had a great time doing it, good experience with American teenagers (hahaha). After the final game I had several parents asking me if he was going to coach again in the Fall, their kids told them how good Blessing was and that they actually looked forward to going to practice.  :-)   Out of that coaching experience came an extraordinary opportunity to be the head coach at a soccer camp in Glide (20 miles away) last week.  For 3 days Blessing coordinated a soccer camp for middle-school and high-school boys and girls.  Judging from what they all shouted on the last day (you rock! you’re my hero! etc), they liked Blessing and his style of coaching and drills!   Another great experience for him, and new (fellow Jesus people!) soccer contacts were made.

Work: Well, we are still looking for work. We think we will be here in the US for a bit (a year or so), and I’ve been looking for jobs when possible, but there just isn’t much in our area, or that I’m qualified for.  Please keep praying for us. We are still living on our missionary support for a bit longer until we officially step out of (international) missions. Finances are tight, but somehow God still provides for our needs.  We’re never without food, shelter, or clothing — so we praise God for that!

Have a great summer, don’t get too hot, and please please don’t forget to have fun!