We're Tired of Opportunities for Character Development

So, it looks as though our move has been delayed yet again. Based on what the Commissioned Corps told us a month ago, we thought we'd be on the road two weeks from today. But it's extremely unlikely that's going to happen. Papaya Daddy's orders have been delayed, apparently because of a couple of incorrect words in the official position description that took about a month to correct. Right now, his orders are in Alaska, the regional headquarters for the Commissioned Corps (they headed there after the regional headquarters for the Indian Health Service in Portland finally got the position description ironed out). Once they get processed in Alaska, they head to Rockville, MD (national headquarters for Commissioned Corps), then back to Portland Indian Health Service, where somebody will finally be able to schedule our move.

The most frustrating thing is that nobody can tell us how long this will take, or when we'll be able to expect our orders. They're now telling us that Papaya Daddy will have a clinical start date of April 17. However, they emphasize that even this is iffy, and that they have no idea when the orders would be processed for the purpose of scheduling the movers. For somebody like me who really dislikes ambiguity, this process is mildly tortuous. I want to have a timeline so I can plan things out!

The tribe that will be hiring Papaya Daddy from the Commissioned Corps seems equally dazed over the incredible inefficiency of the whole government process.

Papaya Daddy did request annual leave for the first two weeks in April (and his leave was approved). Our hope is that we'll get the orders very soon, then be able to schedule the movers in the next couple weeks, and spend those vacation weeks moving into our new house in Washington. Or we could be just sitting here, twiddling our thumbs. I really hope not! It does look like we'll be able to keep our house closing date of March 27.

It's now been over four months since the tribe in Washington decided that they wanted Papaya Daddy to work in their clinic, and he told them that he wanted to work there. The government has been trying to process paperwork for that long. We're still in better stead than our current neighbors, however. When they transferred here from Alaska with the Commissioned Corps, their bureaucratic nightmare took six months to resolve. I sincerely hope not to top their record.

We are all very ready to move. Even the Papaya drew a sidewalk chalk mural to welcome the moving truck (see picture above). We feel like we've already mentally and emotionally moved on from this place. Yes, God has been developing our patience and teaching us how to trust Him together throughout every step of this process. We've grown in the areas of contentment and thankfulness for all we have (i.e. a good, secure job, even if it's not yet in the location we'd prefer). We really have been learning a lot. But enough already! Haven't our characters been sufficiently developed? We're tired of being patient!

I guess I still have a few lessons to learn in the area of living joyfully in the present while patiently trusting in God for the future.