Hi all. I realize my updates here and elsewhere have been very hit and miss lately, so I'd like to explain a little of what we've been going through in our current assignment.
As with all of you, I'm sure, Covid-19 has meant massive changes in virtually every aspect of life. We began experiencing city-wide lock downs early this year, and although things are finally starting to open up and life is returning to normal, the political climate has soured considerably. This has meant new challenges.
In particular, it has become nearly impossible to get new visas as foreigners here. We have tried countless options, have called multiple cities and districts, and have followed up on every possible lead we could. Still, it's become undeniably clear that our life here in Asia will be coming to an abrupt end. While we were at first devastated by the thought of leaving behind our congregation, our studies, and so many close friends (some of whom were once our Bible students), we have found peace in knowing that Jehovah's direction for us is clear, and that everyone will be in good hands. The prayers we have made about returning home have all been answered, and many doors have opened up. We cannot help but feel like the Apostle Paul in Acts 16, who was repeatedly prevented by the holy spirit from preaching in one area, only to be clearly directed somewhere else.
So while we are sad, we are optimistic about the future, and we are eager to see how Jehovah will use us in our new lives back home.
That said, life has been understandably hectic lately. We have kept our lives simple these last ten years, and this means that the majority of the things we own are easy to part with (most things we're either giving away, selling, or tossing; we'll be traveling home with little more than the clothes on our backs and our suitcases). However, there are still many matters within the congregation, with students, with travel home, and with work that need to be settled before our July departure.
In spite of all that, I'm happy to announce that The Bloom of Youth 2: 
Time and Unforeseen will be released sometime this Fall. I've been working on it the last couple of months and it's coming along nicely. The tone will be a bit different than the last book (told by a slightly older, slightly more wizened Will) but it'll still be a young adult novel featuring his characteristic humor and anxiety-stricken persona. If you enjoyed the last one, I think you'll like the sequel as well. Here's a sneak peek at the cover.
So that's the latest with us. We're healthy, and still alive and kicking, but life is sort of a whirlwind at the moment.
