Back in May, Matt interviewed for an overseas position with a Salt Lake City based company. They said it would be about the end of June before they decided or had second interviews because they were traveling down to Peru and had some customs stuff to still work out. Near the end of June, Matt sent off an email in sort of a "hey, hope things are going well; don't forget about me; I'm still interested" way. We never got a response back. The company had used a recruiter at UVU for the position, and he hadn't been able to get in touch with them, either.
Finally, mid-July, Matt got an email saying something to the tune of, "After we went down, we've decided we're still 6 to 8 weeks out from placing anybody there." So we thought, okay, well, it could still happen, but it probably be end of the year or beginning of next before we'd move. Mid-August, Matt got an email saying they wanted a second interview with him.
Wednesday, August 27th, was our annual end of summer ward party (officially, the Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer, Part 3). I had requested it off of work so I could go, although I did end up helping out before and after remotely because we were busy. Matt called to ask if I wanted to skip the ward party and go to the temple instead. Umm, random? Yeah, we should go to the temple, but we had food assignments. I kind of wanted to go, hence I asked for it off of work.... So then he tells me, "I got an offer, and we need to make a decision, like yesterday." Oh! Why he doesn't lead with that, I don't know. Also, terrible timing on his part because I'd really only been working for maybe 30 minutes and I was only working for a couple of hours and now my mind was racing!
Anyway, I finish working, we chat, we arrive to the party late and drop off our food assignments, chat with people, and then drive to Provo (thanks, Carrie, for watching Henlie!). It had been a great while since we last went to the temple. We chatted on the drive over about stuff. Turns out Matt and I are opposites. He needs to make a decision and then figure out logistics. I need to figure out logistics and then make a decision lol Anyway, on the drive over, I got the impression that where we live would sort itself out (Matt had sent me a copy of the proposed contract, and they were allotting $800/month for housing. I wasn't finding much at that rate.)
On the way over, I was also praying hard and fast to know what we should do. Answers to prayers are a tricky thing for me to figure out sometimes. I finally decided instead of focusing on everything in Peru, I should picture us not going and see how I felt. Matt had just accepted a second work-at-home position that would allow me to quit my job at the end of the election cycle. He was studying for his CPA test, and things were just finally getting started with his consulting group, Big Hawk Consulting. Could we really walk away from all of that?!? Try as I did to imagine turning down the offer and continuing on with Plan A, I couldn't see it. Moving to Peru was terrifying and there are a lot of unknowns, but I saw us there. When we got into the endowment session, God finally gave me that sort of definite peace with the decision. It was good because then I could pay attention to the endowment and not have my mind racing through it all. When we got into the celestial room together, I told Matt, "So, we're moving, eh?"
So yeah, we're moving to Lima, Peru.
Matt accepted the offer with some tweaks to the contract. He put in notice at UVU and sort of worked both jobs for like 1 1/2 weeks. I've literally been going crazy with everything we need to do. (The closer it gets, I think the worse it is getting. I want my normal life back!) Matt goes down Oct. 16th to Oct. 26th with the company on their usual scheduled trip (they do humanitarian work there once per quarter), and then he'll come home and help us finish things up, and we fly out Nov. 1st.
Since it has now been nearly 4 weeks, we've done quite a lot, but there is still so much more to do. I've cleaned out a lot of things. Had a yard sale, taken stuff to Kid to Kid (wasn't worth it :p) and the D.I., sold stuff online, bought another luggage set for $25 from the D.I., gotten some of our vaccinations, found a foster for the cats, made lists, looked online at housing, chatted with other expats. It's insane. But at least in the midst of this serious life stressor, I can remember that God said yes. lol And it's true.
It must be right because a lot of things are working out easily. For example, we were going to rent out our condo anyway, but Matt's brother Devan and his wife want to rent it. No management company. They've agreed to take care of the bird. They'll use some of our stuff (TV, Xbox One, piano, grill, etc.) so that is less stuff to store. They've agreed to let us use one of the bedrooms still as storage. They get cheaper rent, we don't have to rent a storage unit, and we don't have to move everything very far :)
I have just over a month left and so much still to do, but every day I do a little more. This week in particular I've had to really try to take breaks because the constant underlying stress has been getting to me and really taking its toll on me physically. It has also taken its toll on our family relationships. I swear I haven't been this randomly emotional since I was pregnant! However, I feel like, while I may not be getting quite as much stuff done, I've recovered a little bit of myself and am not constantly snapping at Henlie. So that's good.
And don't worry, I'll keep posting and let y'all know how moving to Peru goes :)
