New Home

Bunk beds finished!
Boxes Empty
ATM

Ducks and stuff

Just a quick update from a tea shop that has internet. Our new building has no hook up yet for internet. Its in the middle of a very old community. This am when I went out to run, I stopped at the gate to our apt complex to watch a duck being dunked in boiling water (both ends) for the couple that was purchasing it. Our whole street outside is just people selling lotus roots, watermelons, chickens and ducks and much more.

Would love your prayers for me to be content with what God has for me each day. Today included:

-man to fix air conditioners during littles play time (he couldn't fix it again)
-Judson pulling the drapes off the wall(remember this is a new place)
-Lawrences temper tantrums and slamming the door so hard that he broke a screw off the door
-clothes that smell like mildew
-husband who comes home from work early so I could come out here and see whats happening in the outside world
-time to focus on unpacking and settling and playing with the kids (time I would otherwise be tempted to spend on the internet)
-bubble tea and free internet
-Sarah coming over and entering the madness for a few hours

Will be in touch as I can!

random

Pressing on

Wow, where do I begin. Its been fun to be back in my neighborhood after being gone for 3 1/2 years. Kids have grown tall, neighbors have changed jobs, and the same fruit lady sells fruit at the stall I used to stop at. People remember me, they can't stare enough at us with 4 children and say, "are they all yours?" They love kids so they want to touch and play with them all. I've loved remembering what dishes I like and eating them. Caroline and Judson love the food(most of it) and have been adventurous in trying new things. We've had fun riding the extensive subway system. And its been good to see that I can communicate some and understand some!

Its also been challenging. We left our double stroller in the trunk of the cab the first night, and forgot to get a receipt:( Getting all the kids to the street and waiting on a cab and riding in the back of a cab with all 4 kids is out of control. Its constant teaching about what is ok and how to stay safe from bikes, cars and getting lost. Judson is still waking up at 5 and waking up everyone else in the family. I get stuck when communicating because my language needs to improve. Lawrence is having a hard time with the food. When we are out to eat, if it is not something western, he just sits and complains. When we are at home he is out of control. Judson and Emma seem to be doing well, but are whiny and clingy. I'm easily overwhelmed and easily angered.

How can I communicate what I am going through? How can I share with you the struggle to live in another country, to live in the upheaveal of moving and packing and all the stress that this entails while keeping up with the laundry and feeding and training of 4 little ones? And how can I process this without complaining?

Do I think that this is wrong because it is hard? Mark said today, "life would have been easier if we just stayed in the States". Its true. Is that what I want though, easy? Is that what God wants? Nothing valuable in life is ever easy right? Didn't we move here for something greater than an easy life for me and my children? Isn't there a harvest that is ripe that laborers need to go?

Pray for me to think rightly and to go to God for help. Pray for me to abide in Him and receive from Him what He has for me each day. Pray for me to persevere even when I can't see clearly.





We met Jaime a few months ago after a service where we asked for help moving!! She was with us 10 days and was a huge blessing and help.

Caroline likes to ride on the subway
My least favorite part of our new apartment. Yes, that is a bright orange kitchen. We move Monday.
Emma in the cubby holes at our old apartment
Mark in the realtors office.
Groggy kids who were woken up from a nap.

We made it!

Friends,

We are here! It was hard to leave, but we are so glad to get that travel behind us! We had a 5 hour delay from Detroit to our city. I handled that pretty well, but did not handle well the fact that we were on an older plane without individual screens!! Lawrence was disappointed to say the least, and we were all tired!

But, Mark got the boys and Jaime and I got the girls, and we pressed on. The boys slept a while, and then woke up ready to roll. Judson ended up throwing up a few times, but stopped once we got off the plane, so I think it was just airsickness.

We arrived at 11:15 pm. Our van driver was at the airport from 4-midnight! We had no way to call him when we found out the delay. We got back to our apartment at 2am and to bed around 3. All our luggage made it and we were glad to get the air conditioning on, showered and off to bed.

Mark is out looking for apartments in our new neighborhood right now. Seems like it will be a bit longer of a process than we would like. Do pray for a big good apartment near the campus.

And now, I must wake up the jetlagged babies. I leave you with a glimpse into our first few days.




















Jet Lagged kids

Off we go

Well, here we are August 10. Our 12 50 lb. bags are in the truck. The kids backpacks are ready. Am I?

I think so. Honestly, daily life with 4 littles plus the preparation for this move is so full that I haven't had much time to think. Some people have asked how I'm doing with it, and I have to stretch to think beyond getting on the plane. Probably a good thing. And, some of you are praying for me, I can tell, because I'm not dreading and not even feeling overwhelmed as I often do. Keep praying for me to not let these 2 areas of weakness, these 2 ways I frequently sin, to be allowed any room in my life. Especially for after we get on the plane!! Jesus died for me, for these areas that I go to when I fail to trust in Him. Isn't the gospel so freeing? That I can know myself, the ugly and not be depressed? That I can know myself and flee to Him who knew me before I was born? That I can find forgiveness and hope for change and a future apart from these weights that slow me down?

Caroline is sick. Poor girl spent her last day in America on the couch with a fever. She was up a few times in the night, her heart is racing. Do pray for recovery for her and for the others not to get it.

Lawrence is crazy, tired and the upheaval of getting ready and transition always affect him most. Pray for him and for me to have compassion and patience with him.

And as for Judson and Emma, they have no idea whats about to happen. Give them food and their blankets and they should be fine:)

We leave at noon from PA. We arrive in Detroit and meet a friend who is flying over with us and staying to help for 10days. Then we all fly to Asia and arrive at 7:10 am on Thursday.

We'll see you on the other side!!

Caroline rides her bike!

Still here. Sickness and Marks weekend trip has kept me tired and without much energy to do much. I'm battling my second sore throat in 2 weeks(seriously I have never been so sick in the summer). Judson seems to get a bug each week too. Pray for health this last week as we pack and prepare to move across the seas.

We've been trying to get Caroline to ride her bike for sometime. Her cousin Allison(6 months younger) came last week and rode C's bike, and the next day C figured it out!! Woohoo, a little competition never hurt anyone. Enjoy the video.

6 days and counting until we head out.