FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING PART 1
CHAOS AND UNCERTAINTIES
Albert and Flora served as educational professionals in CN for sixteen years before returning to the US for Al to get his Ph.D. in education and for their three boys to build relationships with their grandparents. But Flora’s mother passed away after one year. When Al was halfway through his dissertation writing after two years, he received an offer to serve as the high school principal of a private international K-12 school that he had a part in building on his first assignment in CN.
Al had always wanted to finish building up the high school that he felt was the least developed part of the school. Also, Flora could work as a teacher in the elementary school, putting to good use the new math certification that she had acquired while in the US. And their three boys in high school and junior high could attend the same school, too.
Their plan looked great, except for the timing. It was Spring 2020 and the beginning of the Covid pandemic with travel bans and uncertainties. Thus, getting their work permits, visas and plane tickets at reasonable prices were no small feats. But even after clearing those hurdles, their flight dates changed three times from August to their final departure in November.
Imagine the packing and unpacking as the departure date changed each time; their house was a chaotic mess! Meanwhile, school had started online for the entire family. With the time zone difference, their school days went from 5 pm to 2 am. While they were still grieving goodbyes to friends, the three boys had to adjust to learning in the night shift. Flora as a first-year math teacher spent a lot of time preparing lessons and communicating with worried parents. Al worked the best he could remotely with his staff and faculty, with some on-site and others not yet there.
How did they get through that time? Prayer was key as the challenges persisted upon their arrival. Quarantined in an assigned hotel for two weeks and paying for everything out-of-pocket, they were nonetheless thankful for adequate internet even when all five of them were often online simultaneously for school.
Their youngest son asked, “Why does everyone who’d been in quarantine say they’ve had bad internet, except us?” Flora replied, “Our Father in heaven knew we had to have internet these weeks.” It’s an anomaly. Well, a miracle. And this family needed it.
Apartment hunting online, getting necessary repairs, setting up home and daily routines were all accomplished through many answered prayers, not to mention the challenging transitions from online school to in-person classes! Their youngest boy, who was an “A” student in the US, had a hard time adjusting to the school’s Singapore curriculum. Flora also had to learn the new math on the run to stay a step ahead of her class while juggling extracurricular and administrative duties, including preparations for the big International Day celebration. With the daily whirlwind of work and activities, the family didn’t have their first home-cooked meal until Christmas Day!
Reflection Questions:
· At first, when Flora had to prep lessons day and night, Al shouldered the lion’s share of the homemaking. Later, when Al lost the support of his mentor and faced staffing shortage, work politics, and Covid management on his own, Flora was in a better place at work to support him. Their partnership underscores the significance of a robust marriage and shared prayer life when the going is tough. How is your relationship and prayer life as a couple?
· Though busy with their work, Al and Flora prioritized family on the weekends. They made a point to get out to bike and hike even during Covid, and saved up for trips to visit friends in other cities when travel bans were lifted. When parents are united to make things work, the kids feel safe and can become more resilient too. How are you training your children to be more resilient and able to roll with the punches?
· What aspects of Al and Flora’s story have encouraged you? What can you learn about faith in God and God’s faithfulness?