Tyler's Reflection

Hopefully you had a great holiday season filled with family, friends, parties, everything that comes this time of the year. I wanted to take a few minutes to share with you some highlights from this past year, both personally as well as from my involvement as a board member for One 17 International.

This year has absolutely flown by. It's crazy how fast time goes by the older I get! In February, I joined Curtis and one other Board Member, along with two volunteers, for a week-long trip to our school campus in Lascahobas, Haiti. Construction on our Prodigy Building was wrapping up and it was our goal to build some cabinets and cubbies for several of its new classrooms. It had been several years since I had been to the school—in fact, it was the first time I had been there since the school opened and class was in session. It was so encouraging to see this school that had only been a dream several years ago off the ground and running. I felt almost an overwhelming sense of joy to watch as these beautiful kids giggled and played and sang and did all the things that kids are supposed to do. I remember being struck at how well behaved they were; at how good our Haitian staff is in teaching them; at how well this organization runs despite how relatively young it is. This trip allowed me to see firsthand the importance of all the work and planning and praying and fundraising and emailing and board meetings that we do stateside, and the fruit that comes from it. It solidified in me the knowledge that God has called us to this work, that He is "in it", and that He will see it through!  

On a personal note, my beautiful wife and I welcomed our first two children into our family on September 3: twin baby girls Virginia Grace and Charlotte Lee Radcliff. I can’t begin to describe how much joy this has brought us. As you can imagine, it is certainly an adjustment for us. They are now old enough that they are starting to express themselves and react to things they see and hear. I'm pretty good at getting a little grin or even an occasional giggle out of them. This, of course, wraps their dad just a little tighter around their little fingers.   

These are just a few things that made 2017 a special year for me; I hope that this year was filled with blessings for you as well! I trust and pray that 2018 will be a fruitful year for One 17 International, and for you too. Thank you so much for your support in our work as we continue to provide hope through education!

Tyler