We didn’t plan on leaving the States sick and exhausted, it just happened. As we woke the kids up at 330am on Friday to get to the airport, we all had clogged noses, chest coughs, congestion, and sporadic fevers, yet this was the day…the day our adventure would begin! So we all went through the motions of getting our 9 pieces of luggage checked in, bodies scanned, and hands tested for who knows what with little enthusiasm or joy. Our plane trips were mostly fits of open-mouthed naps filled with runny noses and drool. What a site to behold! But we made it!

No one is allowed to enter the airport in San Juan, as this cultures often brings the whole family for greetings which overwhelms the baggage claim area…let alone the sticky fingers that might sneak in as well, so our sponsor, Marlin, banged on the window and waved a broad smile greeting as we waited for our mountain of luggage to appear. We hired a guy to load our well-travelled belongings to aid us to our 2 van escorts…we had arrived!

The heat hit me first like a fist to the face…I forgot how abrasive it can be after a blood thickening trip of snow and frost, yet as we travelled along the roads, the lushness of trees, grass, and brush, the heat became less important. My driver was the pastor of a local church who told me of his ministry and life in PR. He was engaged and excited about Jesus as well as welcoming another visitor to his world. Then as we entered the housing area, my eyes were filled with palm trees, yards, and pastel colored houses that lined a sleepy street. We pulled up behind Barrett and Marlin and discovered that instead of living in a lodge until a house became available, we got a three-bedroom house! They apologized that it wasn’t renovated and we barely heard that as we entered this mansion of a place! Its twice the size of our apartment in Oki, had a full kitchen, an entire laundry room, screened in porch, yard, central air, and was furnished! The spouses put a welcome basket together and Marlin’s wife made us chicken soup because she heard we were sick. We almost cried with thankfulness. This renovated house quickly became our dream one. I’m still in shock that we are here!

We dropped our stuff and took a quick tour of the pool, gym, tennis courts, and covered play area that is a stones throw from our driveway. Really Lord? How in awe we are of your goodness. But wait, there’s more! Marlin drove me to a local grocery store so I could get some eggs and see where it was located. In the meantime, Barrett and the kids made fast friends with the neighbors so that by the time I got home, AC was running around barefoot with other free spirits. We met the leader of the Classical Conversations community, made friends with another mom who had also adopted and was a wealth of information, and possibly found a church. All of this happened in a matter of hours of landing. Wow.

The twins were breaking down (as were we), so we said goodbye and headed in to feed our sick bodies but happy hearts. As we ate warm chicken soup with fresh bread, we marveled at God’s grace of all the happenings of that day. We went to bed exhausted and humbled that each of us had a bed and a lovingly stocked and provided house.

The next day Barrett and I woke up with snot filled sinuses, coughs, and nasties, but managed a mile run around our complex to get the lay of the land and move our bodies. We ate breakfast on the patio and discussed how thankful we were of a God who takes care of needs for which we didn’t even ask. Then the kids began to wake, although we adults could blow our nasties out, the babies could not and managed to smear it all over their faces and bed. Poor things! We cleaned up and got ready to see what the day would bring.

We were taken to Fort Buchanan by new friends whose boys had a date with Jedi training. We bought AC the new, pink, Hello Kitty bike and helmet we had promised since leaving Okinawa and she was so excited to be able to ride it freely in our neighborhood. Upon returning, the twins were put down for their naps and Annabelle was able to walk to another house to play! This has never happened in her lifetime! What a joy! I won’t bore you with all the details, just know despite how our bodies look and feel, we are excited to be here and see how the Lord will use us.

The twins are waking up from their nap today…I have to go…I hope to be able to post more pics to introduce you to our new temporary home. =0) Pray for our bodies to mend. We are well aware that when we are weak, He is strong…yet we do long for our bodies to be strong again as we lean on Him. Love you all! Thank you for supporting us in this journey.