8 Big Totes and 4 Suitcases

It's a sunny, but very cold morning here in Springfield. The house is clean and comfortable this morning but it was a very different picture last night.

Our Action Packer totes arrived yesterday, so we were finally able to get the things we're taking to Indonesia put in them (from our apartment). All eight of them were filled to the brim as well as the 2 large and 2 small suitcases we are taking. We brought them back to the Stroud house, where we're living now and I began stage 2 of sorting out what we would take and what we would leave. I think Joel was in a state of shock when he saw how much we had initially set aside to bring with us and that it filled the boxes without even having our clothes and toiletries in them. I however, had prepared myself for this possibility, knowing that we would probably need to weed out more several more times. So my parents came home last night to quite a scene in their living room. Totes were everywhere and I was somewhere in the middle of it all hollaring out to Joel every once in a while "what about this????, leave or take? In the end, I was able to empty out 2 1/2 totes and 2 of the suitcases. It is by no means ready to go, but at least we are making progress.

Joel's sister is coming tonight to spend the weekend with us. Our commissioning service is Sunday night and Joel is preaching for it as well. Monday, we hope to finish up at the apartment and check out of it completely.

We still haven't had any word on the visas, but we found out that they have hired a "pembantu" - house helper for us. She will be there when we arrive to help with the cooking and getting us set up. She has helped two other missionary families in the past so she can cook western food and will be familiar with our weird customs. She will also be a great resource for us as to the customs of Indonesia and the city where we'll be living. Once we begin our language study, she will likely be the person who will take care of Jack while we are in class. I am looking forward to learning how to cook Indonesian style and also am hoping she will become a friend I can learn a lot from!

Ok, so that is a peek into our lives right now. I hope you're enjoying the journey as much as we are!

Bethany