We're Here!

Standing in our driveway with our car behind us, on our way to Singapore to get visas.

When we look back on the months of preparation leading up to this point, they seem like a lifetime away.  The past 3 months have included having a baby, leaving a job, packing up a home, packing up suitcases, figuring out a million little logistics, and soliciting advice from those who go before us on the living overseas with kids adventure.  Our family, our home in Wheaton with it's tight knit community, my work with refugees, cool evening breezes, libraries, Aldi, all of that is thousands of miles away, now.

Now that we're here, part of me feels like, well, what do I do now?  There's a chance for me to breath, and it feels a little strange.  Most of the time, I'm breathing with 2 other children attached to me, but it's a different rhythm of life one way or the other.  For Jeff, he's diving in to a whole new pace of life and work culture at the International Teacher's College (ITC).  He described how he feels this way--there's a huge wave coming at him that's teaching at the ITC, there's another huge wave from another direction called THE DISSERTATION, and there's the final wave of adjusting to a new place and culture.  He's still standing, by the grace of God!

As a couple, we are just starting to find a rhythm of communication and life here.  We are trying to practice flexibility and grace on a daily basis.  When we have to do something we don't particularly look forward to, or we don't know how it's going to go, our motto is, "It will be an adventure!" and I think that saves us from getting angry or frustrated, at least for now.  I've also had to consciously choose to be happy when things don't go as we planned...not being able to use the infant carseat on our LONG flight over, being stuck in one tiny hotel room in Singapore when we went on our overnight visa run (not a big deal except that we have a baby who wakes through the night!).  And there have been other "adventures" where I've had to choose happiness.  I know that it's everyone's prayers that are enabling me to do this, again, only by God's grace. 

We are also trying to appreciate and support each other as our roles have changed, and we are seeking wisdom to raise our two children (especially the toddler!) and to know "the good works which God prepared in advance for us to do" (Eph. 2:10) that he has uniquely created us for.  

This blog is a chance for us to let our loved ones on the other side of the world in on knowing what life is like here.  It's not going to be profound or especially moving or even exceptionally interesting. I already spent about two weeks trying to think of an interesting catchy title for the blog, but finally just settled on this one so I could get started with the actual writing.  

Join us as we figure out life here, as we struggle through adjustments, as we rejoice in the daily moments with young children, as we learn to appreciate a new culture and place, as we make new friends and pray for new opportunities.  Join us as we watch to see God's story unfold before us in our sojourn in Tangerang (turns out it's not actually Jakarta proper!) Indonesia. 

Our trusty travel stroller loaded up to the max.

In the St. Louis airport, getting ready to start our long journey. Look at all that stuff!!