7 weeks. The time feels like an eternity since we left the airport in Chicago to head to our new home here in Jarabacoa, and at the same time, the days and hours move so fast throughout the weeks. As I reflect over the last several weeks, the words that come to mind are: challenging, frustrating, unpredictable, humorous, exhausting, joyful, lonely, loved, and home just to name a few. Noah, Amanda, and Jacob have jumped right in at school making friends, learning language, and diving into soccer practice. Jayson and I have had a more difficult time adjusting to the pace of life here, learning to practice patience each day, depending solely on the Lord God Almighty and re-learning what it means for God to be in control and not us. An on-going prayer of mine is "Lord, I can't do this on my own..." especially after flunking spanish exams, putting oven mitts on full of ants, and realizing I just ate a mango with maggots in it and that I gave some to my son!!!! But as the book of Psalms says "Weeping may tarry for the night,but joy comes with the morning." And the joy has come. All of our bins from the states arrived, everything intact and smelling like our home in Sycamore! That was a joy day. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Jayson and I head down the mountain to language class and go thru am amazing tunnel of trees.
That is a joy moment. Packages arrived from friends and family last week filled with cards and goodies! That was a joy day. Jayson installed an on-demand hot water heater so that we don't need to wait an hour before taking a hot shower and we purchased some new shower heads that has made such a difference in living here....small things I am forever grateful for now...hot water and water pressure. Joy. I thank the Lord for the new relationship I have found in Him. One where verses are becoming lifelines in the weariness of learning how to live in this new and different culture. As the apostle Paul says, "when I am weak, then You are strong."
God's Blessings,
Lindsay