Thursday, December 11, 2008

The Transition Team Announces: Change.Wetzel

Ducks are in rows. Wheels are in motion. Proposals have been accepted. Tiny adolescent hearts have been broken. And the transition team of Change.Wetzel wishes to announce:

Aaron will be starting studies at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan, in fall 2009.

Your first reaction to this news probably depends greatly on where you live. For our friends and family in Michigan, there is much rejoicing. Here in Oregon, well . . . there is great support, great understanding, and great love, but there is also great sadness at the thought of parting from the place and the people which have very much become home and family. (So no gloating, please, Michigan folk.)


Aaron has been accepted to WTS to study for his M.Div degree and become an ordained pastor. It’s a three-year program. This is something he’s always thought about doing someday, and over the last couple years he’s had more opportunities to preach and lead in different ways and received more encouragement that made him more able to see himself doing it. He’s just ready.


And I’m pleased to be able to fulfill the prophecy laid out by my best friend back in high school, that I will be a pastor’s wife. (I also recall something about the organ and a “pastor’s wife’s butt,” whatever that means, but let’s let that part go.)


I should have declared a moratorium on mascara last week, because it was terribly emotional. A few people—basically the church elders—knew our plans but we wanted to tell a few more in person before the whole congregation found out. But we didn’t want it to get out to the kids; we needed to tell them ourselves, all at once, so they didn’t hear any misinformation or feel slighted that some were told and some weren’t. Sunday morning the church was told (not gonna lie, I cried through church and then avoided talking to people) and Sunday night Aaron told the kids at Frontline. The girls, the grownups, and Aaron bawled.


We’ll be here and Aaron will keep working for the church through the school year. We hope we can help the church and our friend from the Foursquare church who has been partnering with Aaron on Frontline this year be able to keep a ministry to kids going strong into the future. We really hope our church has a pastor by summer too. It’s such a strange and difficult time to be breaking this news and bringing more change upon our church, but we hope the long notice will actually help smooth the transition.


Besides, we couldn't wait any longer to tell—do you know how much stuff we have to figure out before summer? We have to get our house ready to sell, try to sell our house in this lovely market, look for a job in the lovely Michigan job market, find health insurance on the open not-for-sick-people market, figure out finances and financial aid, figure out what to do with our pets (boo hoo), figure out how to move across the country, get rid of everything we don’t want to move . . . and oh yeah, do it all while proceeding through our regularly scheduled life with a toddler underfoot.


Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Help! Will you be my transition team?


I hope to step up my blogging since I have a thousand rampant thoughts clamoring to finally get out of my head. Let me know if you have questions I can answer.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Literally 5 minutes ago I read my other friends blog announcing their move to Israel to study Hebrew...Wow...crazy world. Aaron must really love college. And you must really like being poor. Good thing God really likes to take care of people who are poor and smart. :)

Marc and Gretchen said...

That is quite a loaded plate you've got there. I will be praying for all these transition details to fall in line with the ducks. Love you guys and so glad to hear Aaron is pursuing a dream!

paige said...

So um, 6 moves for us since 1999, all with small fry in tow, or (during the cross-country move in Feb '07, with us and waiting for us across the world). I've bought houses, sold houses, and packed houses. Ask me anything--it's the thing I've gotten good at...

Congratulations, and hey, you'll live closer!

Wendy said...

Kevin: We've been practicing being poor for so long that it's the only thing we're good at, so we decided to stick with it. Will you be in GR around Christmastime?

Gretchen: Hope to see you soon. Ethiopian food this time?

Paige...will you come pack my house?

Jenny said...

Big changes in the house of Wetzel! I've been with our youth as we've all transitioned to a different youth pastor - it's a change, but everyone adapts. I'm a little sad that you won't have cool beach pictures to post once you move! Congratulations for getting into seminary!

Anonymous said...

What exciting news! I am sad though that you won't be in Oregon anymore. It was great to finally meet you this summer.
Will be keeping you in our thoughts as you pack up your house. I think Paige should come pack for you so I can see her again too. Kim P.

Anonymous said...

holy moley! that is big. best of luck on getting all that stuff done - at the very least, you will not be bored. :-)

Anonymous said...

Wow. This is both exciting and terifying at the same time. I am so proud and happy of/for Aaron. Pursuing a dream of being a pastor is a huge thing. Wendy, we haven't spent as much time knowing each other as I have with Aaron. But you are part of him and I will miss you and your daughter just as much. I am so happy for your family to be able to move closer to your families and for Aaron's chosen path. As long as you swear to stay in contact with Waldport (as if it wasn't immposible to do so) then you have my full blessing and congradulations. Not like you need my blessing to leave lol. Anything I an the rest of the Young Life crew can do to help just let us know.

May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your backs. The sunshine warm upon your face. The rains fall softly on your frields. And until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord cause his face to shine upon you and give you peace. Amen.
An Old Irish Blessing. That's one of my favorite prayers. I love you guys

Amy said...

Congrats for being brave enough to pursue a dream even though it means big changes. Not enough of us do!

RMMcDowell said...

:)

Just so Aaron is clear, I am a happy member of the list. That won't change just because you don't have to pay hundreds of dollars to watch the Lions lose every Sunday.

Anonymous said...

I can't even believe it Aaron, we are going to be classmates! So stoked for you.

Anonymous said...

Pastor's wife's butt?? Is this SD's coinage? Great. Now I'm self-conscious. ;)

So...onward. Congrats!

--clk

Ren said...

I am so far behind, I'm just reading this post today! Wow...not to rub it in, but it will be so nice to have you guys back in MI. I am excited for Aaron-he has the passion and drive to become a wonderful Pastor!
Change is hard...but it's exciting too! Let me know if we can help in any way!
-Ren