A Season of Waiting Expectantly

Here in the Crystal Valley of Northern Indiana, the ground is covered with snow and the temperature has descended into the single digits.  Thanksgiving has passed and we are now in the season of Advent, the season of waiting expectantly for our Lord's coming.  

More than usual this year, it seems like that waiting is truly tinged with the dark uncertainties of life here on earth set up against the certainties that we hold onto by faith.  Our world needs to see again the light of the starry angelic choir with the good news that a Savior is born!  We need to hear again and take to heart the message of God's response to us when we were the enemies. God sent the Prince of Peace as a tiny helpless baby!  Let us pray that his will is done on earth as it is in heaven!

Our family of four continues to experience adventures as individuals and as a family.  Our highlight of togetherness this year was having both of our children at home here at Goldenrod this year from May to mid-August and taking a week of family vacation together into Michigan, mostly centered around Mackinac City.

It is far from certain whether we will be able to do that again as our youngest will soon strike out into the work world. Renita is a senior this year at DePauw University, anticipating graduation in May.  She has had an eventful year starting with a 15-week internship in New York City where she worked for a magazine and a design agency.  Her parents enjoyed having a personal tour guide for a day in Manhattan before heading home in late April.  Over last Christmas break, Renita started working for Riegsecker Marketplace, one of the hottest tourist spots in the heart of Amish country, Shipshewana. That proved to be an interesting summer job although quite a contrast from the Big Apple. Returning to DePauw in the fall, Renita has been living with three friends in a newly built duplex apartment.  She spent her fall break with some of these friends in the Ozarks.

Meanwhile, back at Goldenrod, Nathan has had his ups and downs with employment and other activities. After losing a good hospital kitchen job at the end of 2001 due to cutbacks, he eventually started working at light maintenance at a Goshen Burger King.  Despite our skepticism about his ability to cope with a fast food environment, it seemed good at first.  However, it gradually became evident that he was not getting the support that he needed there, and he left that job in July. Toward the end of the year, he has received a new funding source that will now give him more supports for both getting a job and working at other related skills. We are hopeful that he will soon have a more regular routine. Nathan continues to enjoy his music, TV games shows and news, and is getting more accustomed to the farm environment at Goldenrod.  

We have now been at Goldenrod almost three years. There are plenty of challenges. We are still caregivers for Nathan and one other resident who came at the beginning.  Across the hall there is only one woman resident and the caregivers are leaving at the end of the year.  A new building with two more household units has been built right beside us and is ready for occupancy.  We are encouraged by the fact that it appears that we will be getting two young couples willing to move in and become caregivers as we are able to work new residents into the program.

In addition to caregiving, I, Paul, have been working independently this past year.  My major projects have been maintaining a website for MennoLink, coordinating the annual Goldenrod Benefit Auction for our parent organization, MDC, and more recently, advocacy for persons with disabilities and their families. Next year's projects are uncertain, so I continue to look for other work as well as selling a few computers and related products on the side.

Nancy has moved into even more administrative work this year, managing not only the homes at Goldenrod, but MDC's homes in Goshen as well.  It has been stressful at points, but she receives affirmation from residents, families, and staff for her patience and understanding.  In October, Nancy had some dental work done which turned out to be painful and seemingly triggered further pain involving her sciatic nerve.  As she was receiving treatment for that, an X-ray revealed an unrelated health issue involving a cyst on her spleen.  After being told by our family doctor that surgery was probably unavoidable, an appointment with the surgeon gave us the wonderful news that no treatment is needed.  

As we approach 2003, there seem to be plenty of changes on the horizon.  We wait expectantly, praying that God´s will would be done in our lives and in our world so that more people will clearly hear the Christmas message of peace on earth!

Paul & Nancy Leichty, Nathan & Renita

Paul's Web Site

Paul's Home Page

Leichty Family

Nathan's Graduation, 1997

Renita's Graduation, 1999

Companion Resources Site