“How to be a missionary… a great one!”
As many of you may know, our little missionary, Kaeli, will be leaving us in October. This has not been an easy choice for Kaeli, but she must go back to finish some college courses that she cannot take “online.” We wanted you to know a little more about Kaeli, what a wonderful missionary she is, and how much we love her; especially, how much we are going to miss her. We first met Kaeli Fletcher when she wanted to go on a Love A Child Mobile Medical Clinic trip. She did a great job and fell in love with Haiti. She decided to come back, and she did, again and again. She did everything she could to raise the money for her trips, while working and keeping up with everything else. Bobby and I could see the “calling” written all over her! It was on her face, in her spirit, and in her heart. She then asked if she could come back and work in Haiti full-time, and we jumped at saying “yes.”
Kaeli has run our orphanage and made great changes. She helps with the teams, with the Mobile Medical Clinics, in the warehouse, and doing anything we ask her to do. She has fluently learned Creole and she knows the Haitian people well. When Kaeli first came, she was sweet, timid, and shy. But as Bobby might say, unfortunately, she picked up “some of Sherry’s DNA!” Ha! She is so sweet, but has also become a “tough missionary” that’s not afraid of anything!! You might say, “she has really ‘kicked some butts’” here!!!
All joking aside, she is a “jewel.” She is what a missionary should be. We cannot tell you how much it hurts us to “let her go.” But she has already completed two years of college online and made “straight A’s!” She has really struggled with this decision, but Bobby and I knew we had to let her go and finish her education. Knowing Kaeli, she will “double-up” on her studies and get herself back here sooner than we expect!
Kaeli is like our own family! We couldn’t love her more. And we will even miss “Charlie,” her “over-sized,” giant, curly, hyper, loveable, and “very needy” golden-doodle dog! We have babysat each other’s dogs so much that we know “what they are thinking!”
So, if any of you are ever thinking of becoming a missionary, be sure of your calling. It is extremely rewarding but be prepared for your heart to be broken as ours is.
We love you, Kaeli! We are proud of you! You’re the best! We will expect you to get those courses done and “get yourself back here!” Love, Bobby and Sherry