Six Week Recap

We've actually been here six weeks already. In some ways time has flown, in other ways it feels like time is standing still. I will do my best to recap these past few life changing weeks. 

Life in VA was amazing. They say they are preparing you for transition into a new culture and way of life, but in some ways it made it harder. Waking up in the morning to the beautiful peaceful scenery that surrounded us. The perfect place to spend time with Dad and prepare for the task we have been called to. The many like-minded frineds we spent two months getting to know. And of course the three meals a day provided for you, no cooking, no cleanup.....  :)

Then reality hits. After a whirlwind three days of shopping for last minute necessities, packing and the painful goodbyes to family and friends, we landed in our new home of 23 million people. Buildings, lights, pollution, noise, traffic. Gone was the peaceful tranquility of two months in the beautiful hills of VA, instead trying to survive the chaotic city life in a new country. 

After a 19 hour flight, we arrived, dropped off our bags at a hotel and began apartment hunting. We looked at three total, and decided on the first one we saw. Evidently the idea that the apartment should be cleaned after the last tennant to be ready for the new one is one that only the US holds. Instead of being excited about what we had accomplished in our few short hours

of  arrival, I was overwhelmed to say the least with the task of making the apartment clean enough to live in.

That night we collapsed from exhaustion, only to wake a few hours later in the middle of the night from jet lag. That morning it was off to register at language school as we would be starting class the next day. Then setting up bank accounts, cell phones, negotiating for the apartment, moving in, setting up our new home, all while trying to learn our way around and of course we don't yet speak the language. 

Needless to say, it's easy to loose sight of why we came. It didn't take long to start seeing the people as obstacles in my way to keep me from getting the daily life things done that I needed to do, instead of seeing them as the whole reason I'm here.

So, here we are, living in the grace of the One we are here for, Who allows us to see and accomplish way more than we ever deserve. And we daily try to balance between learning to live in a completely new place with the main thing we are here to do.