The Eagle has landed...

So sorry for the delay in this first post.

We have limited internet access for the coming days. But, we're here and we're only moderately freaking out!

The crossing over the border was easy enough to catch our plane. The flight itself was really good given that the flight was well undersold and so we had numerous seats to stretch out it for maximum comfort over our 12 hour flight. By the way...12 hours is a long single flight. We've traveled much longer in the past on multiple legs...but something about that 12 hours...I felt like we'd lived a thousand lifetimes before we got off!

Since I've been an adult...I've always had a very clear head in emergencies. I can always think of what needs to be done next and have the ability to freeze my emotions until such time as the danger has passed...then I fall apart. Once the ambulance arrives...then I bust up into tears.

Well folks...for me...the ambulance has left!

I spent the plane ride intermittently weeping...then feeling hopeful..then feeling crazy...it was a real roller coaster. Dad seems to keep it well under control...at least there are no visible signs of anything else. I kept reaching back and clasping his hand everytime my heart was in my throat.

Magpie was sitting with me for a time while I was crying and she admonished me to remember why we've come, who sent us and that we have nothing to FEAR! What a gift her precious words were to me at that moment...she spoke the truth in love...and I was better for it!

Once we arrived in our temporary port of entry...the craziness began. Never mind that we were a spectacle clearing immigration (we always are.) We were delighted to count all 16 of our checked bags and load them onto luggage carriers to then make our way through customs.

Then the bottom fell out...

We had to put the luggage first through an xray machine...and it took numerous attendants to help us get the luggage out of the immediate vicinity as it was piling up at the end of the conveyor belt.

Then, once we found our "pick-up lady" we had to move all the luggage out of the airport.

We first came to an elevator and Busy Bee in her happy gait, ran headlong inside the elevator. We could not get any of the massive bag carts maneuvered fast enough to get on with her and the doors suddenly shut! She screamed like I've never heard her "MOMMMMMEEEEEEEE" over and over as Dad ran like a gazelle down one flight of stairs in an attempt to intercept her. She stayed on the elevator and finally came back up to our floor...but she was terrified.

Some life lessons are priceless...

Then, while the Potato and Bud were piled atop some suitcases on the luggage cart I was pushing, we hit a bump and they went FLYING in a tumble with several suitcases!

Potato screamed like she had lost a leg...

Thankfully...she was only afraid but uninjured.

Then came the comic relief.

We made it out into the blast furnace heat ... I am not exaggerating in anyway that it was hard to breathe at 4 PM...it was 38 Celsius (I have no idea how hot that is in F...but it is HOT!)...

We made it to the bus which was clearly TOO SMALL for all the bags we had. But we loaded the kids into the back ...thank divine mercies that it was air-conditioned and then we began to load the luggage in the front 3/4's of the bus.

Now, some of you may not know that we're traveling with a married couple from our home community, we'll call them "The Engineer" and "The Tender Heart."

The Engineer was assisting Dad in loading the baggage. Somewhere into the superhuman effort of loading multiple 70 LBS bags up in to the narrow doorway of the bus and hoisting them over seats...the Engineer depresses a fire extinguisher that was just at the door of the bus and sprays Dad ALL OVER with fire suppressant...

Dad...ever with his quick responses, and DRIPPING with sweat says...

"I was aflame...but thanks... the fire's OUT!"

We laughed and laughed and it certainly lightened the mood after the temporary moments of fear that we'd lost and maimed multiple Junior H family members!

We made it to our guest house and we're so thankful for the space, the cool and the lovely surroundings.

The beds are, as we expected, similar to box springs...only.

We went to the market to buy some "supplies" for food...and I was really overwhelmed with the thought..."I can't read any labels...HOW AM I GOING TO FEED MY KIDS?"

I did find some nectarines, some of Potato's "special drink," juice, bread and peanut butter for breakfast but there was no silverwear in the kitchen...so...I improvised and used the end of a toothbrush!

Yes...perhaps I have all the required survival skills after all!

Today Magpie and The Bug are headed of with a summer class of kids working on the local language here on a field trip to a major science museum. They were enthusiastic about going...I pray they don't melt...

One note about The Bug on the airplane...

You'll likely not be surprise to read that she was chatting up anyone who spoke English...and she found an 8 year old girl and her family that were from Canada. Over the white noise of the aircraft Magpie first hears her sharing the Good News with the child's family and further goes on to explain how and why we've come to The New Place!

I had to have a quick conversation with her about appropriate conversation topics...

Busy Bee and Potato are in a Kindergarten class today. Busy Bee was a little tentative...but Potato took her by the hand and pulled her into the circle of darling children.

Bub went to his own classroom. He was really jazzed about the surroundings which I'm quite certain felt familiar from his early childhood. We left him...likely oblivious to the our departure...

Please think of all of them already off on adventures on our first day in the New Place...and think of their Momma and Dad who are aware that this journey is going to take "minute by minute" faith...not just "big challenge to big challenge" faith.

We're going with The Engineer and The Tenderheart out sightseeing for a bit today. They leave us tonight to go further inland to do some sightseeing before we all meet up again on the 28th and go to our temporary, longer-term housing, at The New Place.

Think of us as we will be trying to negotiate all those bags again, this time without The Engineer and The Tender Heart...we need help and strength...although I'm certain Dad will appreciate the absence of fire suppressant in his mouth this time!

Everything about The Old Place makes my heart ache right now...even just the kids talking about what we've just recently done with those we love there...

But I am remembering that we have not been given a spirit of FEAR, but of POWER and LOVE and a SOUND MIND...

More as soon as I can get back to a computer...pictures will likely be delayed for awhile...

Off to find water...

Loving all of you...