We're here.
A play by play of all the events would be an interesting read to a few of you I'm sure but I'll spare the rest of you.
THE DREADED 29 HOURS OF TRAVEL (3 to LAX, 3 waiting for the plane, 15 for the first flight, 3 hrs in Sydney airport & 5 hours to Perth)...
HA! Actually the plane rides were much easier than we ever imagined so we thank you for your prayers & we thank the Lord for so kindly answering them!!! We certainly had those moments that we had laid in bed fearing about but they were fewer than we had psyched ourselves up about.
At the end of the first flight (15 hrs) Violet burned her hand on something underneath our seats. By the second flight (5 hrs) her whole hand had HUGE water blisters all over it & on the end of each fingertip. She whimpered so badly it broke our hearts. Because it was a burn we didn't know it even happened until the blisters were huge. Kids cry so easily over all sorts of things so the initial burn & cry must of just passed us by and we assumed it was just a moment where one of the kids was crying...sadly we wished we had known so we could have immediately put her hand in a glass of ice water. We didn't know until about 30 minutes before we landed in Perth and being that it's summer here, the water out of the tap comes out at like 80 degrees...so she didn't get cold or ice onto it until much much later. Poor baby! She's doing better now, two of the 7-8 blisters popped on their own so we're just keeping Neosporin on them. Please pray her hand stay free from infection & germs...she's 1 and uses her hands for EVERYTHING!
We arrived to HOT Perth! It's been in the mid-high 90's since we arrived (dry heat)! It's great! I (Laurie) love it! The kids are adjusting with flushed cheeks & sweaty heads...but oh Jack's curls are in full effect & we LOVE it!
BUMMER STUFF...
Our accomodations weren't quite at all what we expected so it's been quite an adjustments for us & the kids. We appreciate your prayers during this time...not only thoughts, please pray! We're currently in a room with no windows. There's a ceiling fan but a very high ceiling so it feels as though it's just pushing down hot air. The kids are having a very difficult time adjusting as we're all in one room and napping in the nearly 90 degree heat is a battle... and a 2 & 1 year old with no sleep is an even bigger battle. One of the men in our house actually has a thermometer & the rooms are 87 degrees at around 4pm so I'm not exaggerating! John and I are also adjusting to a LOT right now and there have been tense moments when us 4 are all at our wits end with each other. We need grace.
We've put in a request for a change of housing - please join us in prayer for this. John and I don't require a lot, we know missions (John began missions in '95 and myself in '98), we had a good idea what to expect so please trust us, it's been hard.
It's not easy for me to admit this or even to ask people to pray. I don't often share hardships or even get down to specifics but we realize we need your prayer support for us.
We're trusting God for what seems like a lot right now. Health insurance is dependent on a student visa & we're currently re-applying for that (we're on a tourist visa) so please pray that in the meantime wild-man Jack's bones all stay intact, Violet doesn't get sick from community living (we're sharing a dorm-like living space & bathrooms with 3 other families all of whom have been sick with the flu) & for John and I's general health.
BRIGHT SPOTS...
There's a park right near our house so Jack's been loving that!
We walk everywhere which we LOVE!!! Feels so good to be back to moving around!
At the Toys R Us in Bakersfield we stopped for a double stroller & it was the best $90 spent ever (thanks mom)! Without that double stroller we would have been up quite a creek with no paddle.
There are kids galore here on the YWAM base so Jack is always entertained & Violet is usually being held, loved & followed around.
We've met so many great people! So many!!!
Australians are so friendly & so helpful! I've been to 23 countries & have never encountered such a helpful people. People have gone out of their way (without us asking) to help in airports, out in the city & on the train/bus!
We've been to the beach twice & it's a gorgeous escape! Violet is NUTS over the water...she was belly laughing so hard as waves we crashing around her! She wants to be in the water, not just looking at it! Jack likes to just look at it. (there are "jellies" in the water though...jelly fish...I got stung on my hand today. They're just little ones so it just gets numb & tingly for 5 minutes then goes away)!
CUTE STORY...
In our housing is a family from Slovakia. There are two daughters 10 & 8 years old. For some reason out of all the little kids Jack's age he has taken to these two girls. He loves to be around them. They speak no English. The YWAM base all went to the beach today from 3-6. Everyone hung out, played in the water, some played rugby & then we all ate dinner. From the time we arrived to playing in the water Jack kept saying, "where's my friends?" I kept saying, "I don't know...they'll come" (I had no idea what he was talking about but thought surely some kids his age would be arriving soon). We sat on the grass area and had a quick snack when Jack yelled, "my friends" and got up and went running. I immediately jumped up to see who his 'friends' were and it was those two girls! He's standing by them just chatting away about the waves & the "dirt" (sand)! HA! They wear these matching florescent green visor/hats with silver sparkles all over them so they're easy to spot! There names are Natalia & Nina and they are so sweet!
OTHER STUFF...
Please pray for our finances - with our student visa's not being processed in time we lost $1,100 (that we'll need to pay again)...and we're still in need of a lot of financial support!
The leader of our school is named Ari & he's from Holland. He's about in his mid 30's. A couple weeks ago his dad had an accident of some sort & died a few days later. Ari has been in Holland and arrived back today. Please pray for him as he transitions back...I think he seems unsure how exactly to do that. We want to be a comfort to him during this time.
IN CLOSING...
This is all hard to be honest. We're thankful for you, we know you care. We trust the Lord to work through our obedience in following Him and your obedience in committing to pray for/support us.
Love,
John, Laurie, Jack & Violet
YOU DIDN'T ACTUALLY THINK I'D DO A POST WITH NO PICTURES DID YOU?
Jack on the zip line at the park!
Violet playing in the hose on our patio area...too precious!
Yep, we're in Australia...there's a stockpile of Vegemite in the kitchen!!
Yeah! I have been praying like crazy! I will keep getting on my knees...poor Vi. Thanks for the post. I have been waiting not so patiently.
Jen