Happy six months!

Jess and I have now lived in PA for 6 months. I let out a deep sigh as I typed that last sentence up.
Half a year in a different world. Half a year away from friends and family. Half a year away from the life I once knew and found oh so comfortable and familiar. To be honest, a big part of me still misses my old life; I don't really know why. I just do.

But believe me when I say that these last six months have been blessed. Here are some things to show you what has happened in the last six months.

We found a place to live (and made it our home).

We adopted Atticus (our wonderful bundle of joy, who's not so much a kitten any more).

We became official Pennsylvanians (& have drivers licenses to prove it!)

We got renters insurance (which was on the "do to" list for a while).

We learned to cook (me more than Jess, and I'm still significantly improving).

We became better friends with each other.

We met people who we think we'll be best friends with (both Jess and I).

We planted our first garden (we'll see what happens).

We learned to endure the weather changing (believe it or not, seasons are difficult to get use to).

We learned to appreciate different types of people (diversity is huge out here, just not in a racial way).

We learned who the Amish are.

We learned who the Mennonite are.

We learned who the Brethren are.

We've met generational locals (people who have lived here for 4+ generations).

We've met people who are just as new (and just as foreign) as us.

We discovered Tomato Pie Café, Chestnut Hill Café, Splits & Giggles, On Orange, and Central Market.


We've learned some of the local lingo. For example...

Shore = Beach

Tunes = Songs

Putzin Around = Messing Around

Out'n the lights = Turn off the lights


We've seen endless forests, electrical storms, thunder storms, snow, leaves changing color, hills, and big rivers.

Jess and I have learned to be the "new people". And I believe that's an incredibly great lesson to learn. Now I know how a new person feels (and how to love them) when they get immersed into a new location (and new culture).

We both have changed; in some cases changed a lot. But they're good changes. Hopefully we'll be able to share more of them here as time goes on.

--René

The reality of our new reality

Hello friends and family!

This is René by the way,

Just wanted to give you all an update as to what life is like up here in the northeast, and where my thoughts have been lately.

I really can't believe it, but today marks exactly two months that Jess and I have been in Pennsylvania. Exactly two months ago we said goodbye to our families, our friends, & our home. We said goodbye to our old hangout spots, the places we would go on dates together, our memory lanes & our Monterey county culture. Everything that I knew, my whole reality, was in California. And If I may be honest, I was deathly afraid I wasn't going to be able to get on that plane and leave it all behind.

The only real comfort was the thought that I wasn't going alone. I would constantly look over at Jess and see that she was going through all these emotions with me. She's going with me too, I would think. Which moved me to try and comfort her as we dealt with that very difficult day. I'd try my hardest to prevent those tears building up in her eyes from rolling down her face. I'd smile and tell her that we would be okay; but even I caught myself having to work at believing my own words. And when I couldn't keep the tears from falling, I sometimes would join in. But at least we were together. She was the only piece of my California that was going with me. And I was hers. Every other aspect of life would have to change and mold to something else.

Fast forward two months from that day, and you'll find me sitting in an office, learning the ropes of a church called LCBC. Jess is found in our new apartment, either updating this blog, unpacking boxes, editing photos, or cuddling with our new cat Atticus (yes, like the character in to To Kill a Mockingbird).

Although we've gone through these last few months together, I'm certain that we've had completely different experiences and encounters here. I think that just comes with the territory of having one spouse working full time and the other not.

But there are things we've experienced alike. I know for me, and I think Jess too, two months have seemed like two weeks. February seemed to be nothing but a sign along the freeway, and I was going 70 MPH. We made eye contact, then it was gone.

So where am I now? Well, I could make this post very long and go into vast resources of thoughts on many of my experiences so far. But to continue with the theme of this post, I'll simply say moving is hard. I don't think it's possible to fully prepare for a move across the country if one has never done it. I know I thought I was, but I wasn't.

Believe it or not, but the easiest adjustment was the physical move. Although moving an entire house isn't easy, it's probably the easiest to put in place when compared to the mental life, and spiritual life. I've adjusted to the time zone. Yes it's cold, but thankfully there are scarves, teas, coffee, and the concept of layering clothing to keep me warm. A cold house is fixed with heaters and blankets. And the deprivation of authentic Mexican food (which is ridiculously hard to deal with!) can be fixed by making it yourself. The winter here is very dry, but I drink lots of water so my voice is fine.

Mentally however, I'm not nearly as content. Let me explain like this. Imagine your entire life is in the shape of cup. This cup represents the capacity of what your life can hold in the sense of time; relationships, God, work, hobbies, sleeping, friends, etc.. Whatever you devote time to in your life goes in this cup. However, your cup can overfill and spill; this is when you realize there is too much going on. This leads to possible burnout, exhaustion, and fatigue -physically, mentally, & spiritually; so we cut things, or people out in order to stay sane.

In California, my cup and Jess's was almost full. We had plenty of relationships in there, a great church with church activities, family & events, hobbies, and many close friends who go years back. And to be honest, there wasn't much room in our cup, or life, for many other genuine relationships. I could probably squeeze in a few hangouts once a month with people, but most my time was already taken by someone else, or something else.

Well, in Pennsylvania our cup is much much closer to being empty than it is to being half-full. We have a great church, we have a cat, we have a few T.V. shows we watch, and we've met some great people; some of whom we think have the possibility of being friends.

But it's the genuine relationships that we feel we're still missing.

You see, people here are like how we were in California. Their cup, their relational capacity, for most, is already full. They have full-time jobs, and families (which can already be enough to fill a life). They have the best friends that they've had for years. They have family they're with on holidays. They have their hobbies and things they do for fun, and the people go along with them. Their lives are already set. If they were to allow Jess and I to take space in their lives, for most, their cup would overfill. Simply because they don't have room (or time) in their lives without having to cut out something else.

I don't hold it against them. I know when I was in their place in California I was the same way. When I was at FPC, there would be people who would pursue a genuine relationship with me. But for most, I couldn't fit them into my life. I already had the relationships that revolved around music. The friends who I'd call for game nights. The people who I would catch up with over lunch. And those who I would call every other day to come over. If someone new tried to squeeze in, most of the time they wouldn't fit, or would have to take the slot of time & space that someone else previously had. Oh how complicated relationships are!

So here we are. Searching to fill the voids in our relational life. Trying to find not just people who have time, but people who should have relationships with us and us with them. People don't just become great friends because they have time, they need to have things in common, mutual perspectives, and mutual things going on in life. Otherwise it just takes more time and effort in order to relate to the other person. The good news is, I have Jess, and she has me, and that goes a long way. It's forced us to get along better, communicate better, and simply have more fun together, even if we have to compromise with each other for what "fun" is.

I know this is a failed attempt at making a short post, but it's where my heart has been lately. I think for both of us.

But how do you relate to this? Are you also searching for people to do life with? Who go beyond being being an acquaintance? Someone to share things in life with that make you smile, cry, and laugh? If not, do you realize how blessed you are to have those people? I would encourage you to let them know how much you value having them in your life (yes even if it's nothing but a bunch of dudes who do manly things together). Everyone longs to be valued and appreciated. And If you have the time in your life, would you try giving some of it to someone who possibly has too much of it to themselves? who may not have what you have?

As far as the spiritual transition goes, I'll set that aside for another post.

If you wouldn't mind, would you pray for Jess and I? That we would find people here to help make this place our new home. I know we'd appreciate it. 

2 weeks in

Hello friends and family!

I apologize for being so absent and leaving the blogging/updating to my lovely wife (although I do think that anything she writes is far more entertaining than anything that comes from me). But this is where I begin.

This was my first week at work, even though It was our second week here. Our first week here we were blessed to be given the freedom to look for a place to live. Our prayers were answered and we signed the lease for an apartment in Lancaster city. The apartment is actually really neat. It's a detached converted carriage house behind an old victorian mansion. It's a 2 bedroom 1 bath and the entire living space is on what would be a second story. The "basement" is on the first floor and is actually the entry way that leads to the stairs that go up to the living quarters (photos coming soon to make up for my not so clear description). Anyway..
We are able to move in on Monday, the 16th. We're so excited! The only downfall would be that all of our belongings are still in Salinas. Actually, all of our belongings are being packed up the same day we move into our apt, and will take around 10-14 days to get here. Bummer right?
But we'll be alright. There are some amazing, Godly people here and we're going to be loaned a mattress, a cafe table w/ chairs, and some pots and pans. We are humbly overwhelmed by the love and generosity that radiates through the community of God's people here.

So how was my first week of work? Well, to be honest it kind of went by in a quick blur. I would be lying if I said It wasn't overwhelming. But that's expected right? I'm in a new location, with new people, in a new church, and new set of ways to learn. To be honest that sums up what I've been trying to do this week; learn. I'm also playing electric guitar this week at Manheim (the main campus), so I've been learning the songs for the weekend. Busy, busy, busy!

Yes.. we have been fighting the feelings of being homesick. Again, it just comes with the territory. Monday night we were feeling it pretty hard. It was our 8th day in PA and the day after our one year anniversary being married. On top of it all, It our first day away from each other since we've been here. We thought a lot of home and our emotions led us to wanting to be there right now, but God saw our need. That night we went to LCBC's newcomers class and boy did we get just what we needed! In the class, David (the Senior Pastor) and Jason Mitchell (the Nextgen Pastor) casted the vision of LCBC and told the 100+ people in the room what LCBC was all about. The perspective of LCBC, the philosophy of how it translates into practical daily life, the priorities and where LCBC's heart is, it was like the "About Me" on a Facebook page for LCBC. It was great. Through all of the people that taught and shared that night, God was reminding us why we are here. My spirit was lifted so much that I found myself wanting to yell out an agreeing "Amen!" by the end of it!

Fast forward to the end of the week, and here is where we are - We're preparing to paint our apartment, we both have gym memberships, we've found some grocery stores that sell "René proof" food (dairy-free & primarily vegan/vegetarian), and we're excited for what God has in store for our lives in this beautiful county. Yes we're scared, yes we're a bit lost, but we're following a God that will never fail us. That is the most comforting thing I've been able to think of. The God I talked to and walked with in Salinas, California is the same God I'm walking with and talking to here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It's starting to make sense why God is referred to as a "Rock". Even though my entire world has changed, He still hasn't moved.

How you can be praying for us:

Health. Travel and adjusting to the new time zone can take a while, and a toll on your body. Jess is just recovering from being sick, and I'm fighting to not get the bug (even though it seems like I'm losing the battle).

Moving. We're moving into our new place this weekend with our loaned furniture. We're also wanting to paint the living room and master bedroom. Also, our belongings will be packed and shipped across the country on Monday. We just ask for an easy and smooth transition (and that nothing gets lost, damaged, or broken!).

Work. As I mentioned before, there are many things I need to learn and get into the groove with. I'm asking for guidance, wisdom, patience (for me and for my employers!), and just the ability to be a quick learner. Also, Jess is still working. She's still booking and emailing clients back in California. We ask for wisdom in how to handle the traveling involved.

Life. We have a completely new life here; a new place, new church, new friends, and new culture. We ask that God would connect us with people that we could grow and do life with. We want/need genuine relationships and are asking God to put people in our lives that can fulfill these roles. There are also a bunch of logistical things like car registration, insurance, bank responsibilities, etc. that need to be taken care of.

P.S.

Please send us a message on Facebook on how we can be praying for you!

We love you all, miss you greatly, and hope to see/talk/skype you all soon.

With love,

René & Jess