After nearly 14 years at the helm of Eastman Immigrant Services, Richard Harder is stepping down to pursue an opportunity in the mission field.

Harder says sometime in March he and his wife will be moving to Bolivia to work with Low-German speaking Mennonites in a shelter for women and children. He says Eastman Immigrant Services has changed quite a bit since he started in 14 years including a staffing increase from 2 back in 2004 to 7 now. He notes it will be hard to leave.

Eastman Immigrant Services Program Director Richard Harder"I am leaving at the best time. Now you are a group of workers in the settlement office not just a lone ranger and you have the settlement sector being so united with all kinds of resources, with supports, with collaboration, developing best practices and materials. This is a good time."

Harder says when he came aboard in 2004 a total of 146 immigrant families moved to the Eastman region compared to the 263 immigrant families in 2016. He notes another big change is the increase in sponsored refugee families. He adds his time working at Eastman Immigrant Services has helped prepare him for his mission work.

"I worked for 10 years as a settlement worker, working with people and their various needs, I have always found that very meaningful. My wife will be reaching out to people that are troubled, confused and are in crisis and of course, it will be a big challenge but it will be very meaningful and I look forward to doing it in the context of community. You can only be a successful settlement worker if you work community and I am assuming it will be the same way in Bolivia."

Harder says he and his wife both have a strong connection to Low-German speaking Mennonites in South America as they both have quite a bit of family in Paraguay. He notes though it is going to be hard to leave Eastman Immigrant Services and all of his friends and family in southeastern Manitoba, he is excited for these new opportunities.

"In 2002 I graduated with a marriage and family and child therapy degree, masters degree in California and I always wondered why am I not practicing Psychotherapy? 15 years later my wife and I were called to do exactly that. It will be very specifically what I have trained for, what I have always wanted to do so I really look forward to that."