In the beginning…

It was 1989. Jenny and I were 24 years old, engaged to be married, and had just returned from our time together in Brazil. I had a scheduled interview with Ford Tractor in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Our plan was to get married and then either (A) move to Pennsylvania for the job with Ford or (B) join the Peace Corps.

Ford wisely chose not to hire me, and in July 1990 we found ourselves on a plane headed for a two-year commitment on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. On the island, Jenny worked as a tutor and counselor at a center for teenage girls, and I worked in the government’s Department of Youth and Sports as a physical education teacher. It was a time of adventure, challenge, learning, and growth — and we loved it.

When we returned to the States, we knew our focus would be on returning to school, finding jobs, and starting a family — all good things. But every now and then we would talk about the future. Would we — could we — do the Peace Corps again?

Well, four kids and 36 years later, the answer is yes.

On May 31, 2026, we leave for Ecuador, a small country on the western coast of South America, for another two years of challenge, fun, learning, loving, helping, and growing.

Stay tuned…