Friday

A new day and it's a Friday. That is good news. I started my day with awesome praise and worship. Emma and some friends led the singing for High School chapel. After that we broke up into groups and worked out the details for Beach Trip. I am so excited about that!! I get to go again this year. In case you don't know what I am talking about I will tell you. Next Wed. all the Seniors will go out to this amazing beach (It is an hour drive and then a 40 minute boat ride). The Seniors will set up all the tarps and dig the bathroom holes (Haha. I bet I just lost a few of you there, huh?) and set up the lanterns etc. Then on Thursday the rest of the High School, teachers, leaders and a nurse will join them. We will all be there until Saturday. It is such a fantastic way to start the school year. Such a great time of bonding and togetherness, playing guitar and singing around a bonfire while we watch the sun set over the water.... want to come?

After chapel Garth and I went over to see the house Wyatt is staying in. I took a few pictures so you could picture it in your mind. It is really nice and has a beautiful view.

Then we got a phone call from the school that Sophie was in the office sick. We brought her home and now she is sleeping. Pray that she gets over it quickly and that it is nothing contagious.

Thank you for all of you that prayed for Sarah. (Laurie M. you made me cry. Thank you for caring so much! I can't wait to show her your email). I can't tell how she is doing. She did get up and go to school today, so that is good. Keep praying.

Love you

Rachel

Thursday

Today is Thursday and we just picked up the last of the dorm kids from the airport this morning. One of the new girls, her name is Sarah, wouldn't get out of the van. She was just sitting in there crying. She is very young and only in Grade 7. Her Mom and Dad are here as well. She told her Mom not to unpack her stuff because she wasn't going to stay. Pray for her as she adjusts and for us that we would be sensitive to what she is going through and how we can help. The other kids are healthy and adjusting well. 

Life is starting to get into a routine again. It takes awhile to get over that feeling of always being behind.  The kitchen is probably my greatest frustration right now. I have been having such trouble with my stove and oven over the last year. Tuesday they decided to take it all apart to "fix it." However, after a day of working, they did not fix it and they broke the oven door. I do have a small oven that I have been using instead but it is so small that most of my pans don't fit. Haha. Life overseas. Oh well. We will survive.

I am including some pictures of some of the kids so you can get to know them.

Hannah

Seun

Daniel S

Daniel D

Morgan

Some crazy kids

Sarah

Yohan

We Made It!

We are in Indonesia! The trip went fairly smoothly, just long. Most of our barang (stuff) got through fine. All except for our iphones. The man at Customs took some and said we were only allowed to have two. Crazy! Hahaha. Always something. All I wanted was to see Wyatt's face and squeeze him tight. He did well here by himself but was quite lonely. When we all got back to the house he exclaimed, "The house is so vibrant now." He has been playing a lot of soccer, in tournaments winning and losing. He is being a reflective light of God's love to the kids he is playing with. It is amazing to see.

We hit the ground running. I was immediately overwhelmed with the burden of tasks: SO MUCH TO DO. But, God really calmed my heart. Instead of scurrying around like a chicken with its' head cut off, I sat. I sat with  Wyatt and listened to his stories. I enjoyed the last day of us as a family before everything changed. I wanted to just soak this in instead of missing it with my busyness. And it was sweet.

We had a nice welcome for the dorm kids as they came and a dinner with their families. Today is the second day of school. The dorm was in a bit of disarray when we got here- dead lizards in the shower, termite damage in multiple places, a cockroach or two, lights out, faucets broken, a faulty stove... ARG! I keep telling myself, deep breath. Just take a deep breath. Today workers are supposed to come and take my stove all apart and try to fix it, again. So I decided that I will "celebrate" the possibility of finally having a working stove. SO,today I am going to spend time with a dear friend of mine and get caught up on life. That will be fun.

Well, we are off to take one of the Moms to the airport. Thanks for all of your prayers. You know we need it. keep them coming.

Love

Rachel