First Days

Here I am awake at 4:30 and I feel like it is the only time I have sat down to catch my breath since we got here. (The thermometer reads that it is already 81 degrees!).   We really hit the ground running in terms of jumping right into life.  There was a great reception for us at the airport and then at the MAF base to welcome us back.  We feel very loved and appreciated.  We arrived early Sunday morning, slept a little and then have been going ever since.  There was much to do to get the kids ready for school and to get the dorm up and running.  The kids went to school on Monday, and were able to stay awake the whole time.  Wyatt and Emma had volleyball practice right after school, then we went to a friend's house for dinner, then homework and bed.

Everyone is adjusting very well.  Jet lag hasn't been too bad.  The school load is a bit daunting as they try to catch up, but they keep plugging away without complaining.  Garth and I have been refreshing our Indonesian as we run from store to store trying to find all of the items needed to refill the hostel.  Today we are going in to town to buy a new washing machine since the one here is broken.  The dorm kids will be moving in here tomorrow, Thursday, so we need to have a good washer by then.

It has been beautiful to feel God's strength everyday.  We don't feel overwhelmed, and each thing that comes up has been taken in stride.  The Lord has been helping each one of us to find Him right at the place we need Him most.  The first day of school Cale prayed, "Jesus, help me to be brave to talk to people on my own, and not just with Mom, and help the homework to really work my brain."  (So sweet). 
It is so fun to be here.  Garth and I keep saying to each other, "Can you believe that we are really here?"  It just seems so surreal.  We LOVE seeing our mountain, and the waterfalls (although they are really small right now because we need rain), and the palm trees, and all of the people here that have been missing us so much.

Keep praying for all of us as we adjust to life with the dorm kids.  Pray that we are able to really see and hear all of the kids (ours included).  Pray for unity among the 18 of us.  Pray for Garth and I as we start our Indonesian lessons next week that we will learn quickly and remember what we learned before.  Pray for us all as we miss our family, and friends.