Sad News

Hi folks,

Nothing much (overall) has changed in the past week. Kyle is still in Liberia and I am still adjusting to life back in U.S. We can feel your prayers and are so grateful for your encouragement during this time! It hasn't been easy and this morning Kyle called to share with me some sad news. Our friend Victor lost his son to cerebral malaria. His son was only 11 years old. Please keep this family, as well as Kyle, lifted up. I wrote several months ago after another EQUIP Liberia staff member lost his newborn baby to malaria about the way death, even of close family members and children, is so common in Liberia. You can't help but feel helpless when these situations occur, but for so many Liberians this is a fact of life.

Please pray for peace and for Kyle as he is alone and in need of encouragement (hint, hint)

Peace,
Kyle and Jessica

Jet Lagged

Hi folks,

Sorry there has been a gap in the blog. Kyle and finished our amazing trip to Europe and went our separate ways last Sunday. Him, back to Liberia and me home to North Carolina. We both made it back. Kyle is back in Ganta working hard. I was greeted by lots of family at the airport. I will be spending time with different family members for the next five weeks as I await Kyle’s return in mid-July. So that is a brief update. Please keep Kyle lifted up in prayer he has a lot of work to cram into these next few weeks.

I also wanted to share some pictures from our trip. We were so blessed to be able to take this trip. It was such a wonderfully sweet time for Kyle and I. Even baby cooperated and I wasn’t sick really at all the whole trip! We took our time, saw the sights, ate good food and just enjoyed each other! Such a blessing! So enjoy a few pictures from our most recent adventure.

When in London…have tea, right?

Gorgeous flowers with a Union Jack to add a bit of patriotism.

We make that old tower look good.

That crepe was good. Wasn’t it Kyle?

Taking a break at Westminster Abbey.

Beautiful English garden in St. James Park, London

American cemetery in Normandy

My giant hat and I. Kyle LOVES this hat.

My best French philosopher face while standing by Jean Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir’s grave.

Stuck inside of the Louvre pyramid.

There you go folks, a little glimpse into our trip!

Oh Baby, Have We Got Some News For YOU

So my blogging has been less than adequate...forgiveness is free, right? The silence has been with good reason. We've been enjoying the sights and sounds of London and Paris. Today we head up to Normandy to experience a little more history (and a quaint French village).

Most of you that read this blog has probably seen or already know our BIG news, but for those of you that are out of the loop:

December 25th (or round about!) we're adding a new family member to the Hoover clan! Yes, the two will become three and madness will ensue no doubt! AKA: We're having a baby!

We found out around the end of April, but of course that meant a lot of decisions. I was sweltering and enjoying the finer points of morning sickness in rural Liberia. I've worked with many pregnant women in Liberia, but nothing compares to being pregnant yourself in Liberia. It has proven to be an effective weight loss plan- maybe a little to effective considering I didn't need to lose any weight. My health was beginning to suffer (please don't worry, I'm fine and as far as we know so is the baby!) and so as we looked towards our vacation we prayerfully made the decision that I will be returning home at the end of our trip.

Kyle needs to go back to Liberia to complete some things. We don't like the idea of being apart, but we also know this is the best way forward for the sake of my health and of the Gospel work in Liberia. I am flying home this coming Sunday and Kyle will follow the second week of July.

We have learned nothing from this adventure if it is isn't how to step forward into all that God has for us with hearts full of hope and deep trust. Was this our plan? No. Is it possibly better than our plan? Absolutely. God has led us in each step of this teaching us how to open our hands and hearts wide to His grace and purposes in our lives and those we live alongside of.

Please keep us in your prayers during this time of transition. We truly need it more than ever. Thanks for your continued spiritual and financial support. We will be sending out a formal letter to our supporters in the coming weeks.

Love and Thanks,
Kyle and Jessica