As We Go

Hey ya'll! Many of you reading will know a little bit about who we are and what's going on with us but I'll give a quick background and then a current update!

My name is Staci and my husband Luke and I have been married almost two years. We live in the Collierville/Germantown area near Memphis, Tennessee. I am from Oxford, Mississippi and when people ask me where Luke is from I just say he is "American" because he grew up in a military family in lots of places! So when you see the "ya'll" you'll know it's me writing. Luke plans to update the blog some too! Luke and I met at church in Oxford. He was active duty Navy for many years which brought him to Oxford, specifically the University of MS for his position as Navy ROTC instructor. He also received his Master's degree in business from Ole Miss at the time. I am a speech pathologist with experience mostly in the school setting and early intervention. I am also an artist part time, selling my paintings wholesale and commission. Follow me on Facebook at Staci Kellum Art! After Luke's graduation and our wedding, we moved to the Memphis area where Luke opened a gym franchise, The Exercise Coach in Germantown, while also serving with the US Navy Reserves at a nearby base in Millington, TN. I have been busy doing Early Intervention and my artwork. We have found a church home that we love, Harvest Memphis, and are really enjoying being in this area!

We have been very blessed with an awesome first year of business, thankfully because of many of you who are probably reading this. We have amazing clients and new friends! If you aren't sure and want to know more about what The Exercise Coach is and how unique we are please visit our website https://exercisecoach.com/germantown/.

Luke knew that with his position in the Navy, it was only a matter of time when he would be called up to active duty for a short time somewhere. However if he volunteered, he may get more of a say so on when and where. As one year in business approached we started considering the possible options of him volunteering now. We started looking at available jobs (there's a fancy Navy name I don't know for that...I'm still learning...a lot), and not too long into looking, an available position for Crete, Greece opened up! We prayed about it and decided we would pursue it and see what happened. Luke was accepted for the position! So we started taking steps to prepare the business for our leaving as Luke had lots of involvement in the gym on a day to day basis. We were blessed with a great manager we hired as well as a great team of coaches. The plan was for me to set up shop in Crete, Greece. Luke's ship would be in Crete some and also travel to varying ports around the Mediterranean. When he would be in a port longer than 2-3 days I would try to fly to visit some fancy places like Spain and Italy, etc.! We found a great airbnb for me in Greece and I was booked with flights for leaving on March 29th.

Then, Corona...

Luke left at the end of February before the virus was spreading too bad. It picked up its speed pretty quick and Luke was blessed to get out of Italy in time. This was his first stop before boarding the ship in Croatia. Him and his team made it to Croatia and stayed there for a while. They then set out to Crete, dodging an earthquake that happened in Croatia shortly after they departed! He is now in Crete, Greece for a little while quarantined on the ship. His team is healthy and safe! We have been able to communicate via video chat almost every day so that's been a huge blessing! During this time we obviously had to close the gym temporarily. We were very sad to have to do that but also knew it was the best and right thing to do for the time being! We have been blessed because of each of you clients with such a great year of business and know that will help carry us through this uncertain time.

I have gotten refunds or vouchers on my flights. We are just taking it day by day and praying for wisdom and discernment in regards to when and if I will join him as planned. We hope the gym will be up and running again soon and that it will become more safe to travel eventually so I can spend most of the rest of the year in the Mediterranean with Luke!

Luke is in the process of becoming a lay leader, Lord willing, which is similar to a chaplain on the ship. We are both enrolled in Downline online, a discipleship training program many of you in the Memphis area are familiar with, and have enjoyed all we are learning through that together! I am back and forth between Memphis and Oxford, currently in Oxford with my parents. I am the grocery shopper so may the odds be ever in my favor!

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support during this time! I have been so blessed to hear about the relationships Luke has built with you (his clients) and he has been so encouraged by you too. We hope this finds our friends and family well. We are praying for you! Let us know any specific ways we can be praying and let's all keep motivating each other to press on during this tough time! We will do our best to keep you updated and will post pics here and on our personal Facebook pages.

We are taking it as we go, this life we have been blessed with and are thankful for those the good Lord puts in our path to learn from and be encouraged by. And we hope to be a light to others as well! "And proclaim as you go, saying The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand" Matthew 10:7 Our prayer is that wherever He leads us, that as we go we will keep our eyes on God and His purposes! We pray He would by His great grace use us to accomplish the most important thing, expanding His kingdom. And that by His mercy He would use us to be a part of sharing Him with the world! We are so thankful for His provisions during this time and hope you all have seen His hand at work too! He is so good and sovereign at all times!

Love you all,

Luke and Staci Eickmeier

Our church small group made us the BEST going away cake!!!

He was on his way on Feb. 23rd!

Luke has had lots of local eats...

He has seen a few sights in Italy, Croatia and Greece

He said this is Uber Eats...ship style

For you Memphis folks...look!! La Perla!

Delta bug and I are missing this man but we have been blessed by some screen time! I think that's still my husband but that stache though...ya'll decide which country he belongs in

Thank you all so much for the prayers and support! We didn't anticipate being apart this long and hope and pray COVID-19 will dissolve quickly so we can meet again soon. Our love goes out and prayers go up for all affected by this virus.