Heat Rash, Mosquitos & Houses

Our daughter (with bites on arm), our youngest & friend

We knew that it wasn’t going to be completely easy. We knew that this transition back to the islands would have its hard parts, things which we couldn’t really prepare for. 

We were able to prepare our minds for being back on the islands, but our bodies still need to do some adjusting. Most of us have sprung out with itchy heat rash as our bodies try to cope with the constant sweating and uncomfortable heat. And apparently our blood is a novelty because despite being under the mosquito net, Our daughter was eaten alive our first night on the islands (over 54 bites on just one arm!). We think she rolled up against the net so the mosquitos could bite her through the net (hence why only one side got bitten). The problem is we’re not used to it anymore. We have to retrain ourselves. Our daughter isn’t used to sleeping under a mosquito net anymore, she’s forgotten. The kids have also forgotten how much they need to drink to stay hydrated in this heat. Then there’s our poor baby who is have his first taste of heat, let alone long nights without electricity (ie, no fans!).

Our youngest asleep in mosquito net tent

So we couldn’t really prepare ourselves for the heat and the mosquitos, but the other major thing we couldn’t really prepare for was finding a house. People asked us in the States, “Is there anything like a realtor on the islands?” “Is there somewhere that you can call ahead of time to see what homes are available?” The answer was no. We couldn’t find a house ahead of time. We just had to come and do it. 

So the day after we arrived on the islands, Tom left for Clove Island with two other men. They arrived there Wednesday afternoon and before the day was done they had already seen  six houses (one of which continues to be a real possibility). As the househunt continues and the question becomes, do we go for a house that we’ve already seen or keep pushing for the possibility of something better? What will this house mean for our future life? What benefits and drawbacks will it have?

Our middle son playing outside

So we’re both working through these obstacles in our transition- Megan with the kids on Volcano Island and Tom looking for a new home on Clove. We’re putting bug spray on the kids before going to bed under mosquito nets. We’re powdering our heat rash. We’re praying for better electricity. Tom is out on streets asking around for homes to rent and we’re all of us praying that God would lead us to just the right home soon.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We made it safely to the islands. It took us so long to get our temporary visas that customs people had already left so we could walk right through. Our old teammates are generously housing us during our transition! Tom and two helping colleagues have felt encouraged by the number of houses they have been able to see and by the visit to Ministry of Education office (who will sponsor our longterm visas)-- their follow-up meeting with the big boss is tomorrow (Saturday). The kids have been doing well despite the heat and bug bites. Megan was able to go and visit our old neighborhood and was very warmly received by many of our old friends and neighbors.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Please pray that despite all her mosquito bites that our daughter wouldn’t get malaria. Pray for all of us that we’d be able to sleep well and mosquito-bite-free in this humid heat. Pray for the right house and that we would have the discernment and clarity to recognize the right house when it appears. Tom is supposed to come back from Clove Island on Monday, hopefully with a house having been chosen. Pray for Tom’s meetings with officials on Clove Island tomorrow concerning visas. Pray for good beginnings in this new location (Clove Island).

Abide

Making the most of the snow that delayed our departure

The African heat hit us as soon as we stepped off the plane. Coming from the blizzard of the northeastern US we knew that even Kenya might feel hot. (Kenya is a lot cooler than the islands.) We didn’t get into the guesthouse until after midnight and we tried desperately to convince our three jet-lagged little kids that they should go to sleep quickly and silently for the sake of the other guests, even though the beds were different, it felt hot and they were bouncing off the walls. The five of us in one small room means that no one sleeps until everyone sleeps. Sleep finally came, but the alarm for breakfast came all too soon.

Then the real whirlwind began as we got in a van and headed for the conference center over an hour away where tons of our friends and colleagues were already meeting. Coming late to the conference meant we attracted attention, but we also hadn’t seen anyone for over a year and we have a new baby. Then there were all the new people we needed to meet (including two of the people that will join our team in November!).  Our daughter commented with a good-natured smile, “I always have to tell people my name and how old I am!!” Our middle son started off shy but quickly warmed up and our youngest charmed everyone with lots of big smiles. For hours stretching into days we have been shaking hands, giving hugs and hearing updates from many people we care about a lot and who are working in similar situations as us.

Megan reconnecting with old Chad teammates

On top of the social aspect, there were the meetings. The conference has a good amount of free time built-in but this is often used for meetings between small groups or individuals. Every time Tom said he was going to try to rest-- another meeting would pop in-- at meals, at rest time, in the evenings. He’s gone to bed close to midnight every night. Plus the meetings have pumped us full of information that we will need for our team and will shape and influence the coming months and years.

Then there is the actual conference-- a great speaker, workshops and discussion groups. It has been a busy few days and we’ve barely gotten control over our travel-fatigue, but what theme has been spoken to us in all this busyness?

The message from John 15-- abide!! The speaker encouraged us that we have to take the time to rest and dwell in prayer and study. He who said, “I am the true vine,” He must be our source for all things because verse 5 tells us that without Him we can do nothing. Our relationship with Him cannot be given mere lip service but ultimate priority.

Our daughter making a new friend at the conference

A timely reminder for us as the busyness of life threatens to distract us.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Despite delays, we finally made it safely to Africa with all our luggage! The kids did really well on the flights.  The conference has been a great time to reconnect with old friends, make new friends, and to be challenged and encouraged for our future work and lives. The man who is coming to help Tom look for a house has made it safely to Kenya as well.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
We fly to the islands on Tuesday-- please pray for this final flight. Pray for our kids as we transition to island weather and culture. Pray for Tom and two colleagues as they go to Clove island to look for a house to rent. Pray that they would be led quickly to just the right house and that the landlord would be reasonable and welcoming. Pray for Megan and the kids as they wait on the big island. Pray that we would find favor with the Clove Island ministers as we try to get our longterm visas and that Tom would have wisdom as he makes all these initial contacts.

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Snow & Travel

Slide as the snow began

Well, we’re still here.  At least for the moment.  Our original flight was supposed to leave yesterday evening.  Then we changed our flight to today, but that got cancelled too.  Now we are scheduled to leave early tomorrow morning, assuming the roads are cleared and the planes are back up and running.  In the meantime, we’ve seen a lot of snow.

Slide after most of the snow

Winter Storm Nemo arrived yesterday morning quietly.  Grandpa and the kids went out and played in the gently falling snow.  The kids played on the playground in the backyard, sliding down a slick slide and landing softly on the snow. But as the day progressed the snow came harder and harder.  It was around lunch time that we found out our second flight had been cancelled, and about that time we started shoveling the driveway.  By evening snow was falling hard.  At about 10pm, when all the kids were asleep, all the adults went out to shovel the driveway for the third time, but as we walked back inside we left footprints in a fresh half inch that had fallen while we worked.

Kids wait to go out and play

We woke up to a winter wonderland.  The slide the kids had slid down yesterday now had 2 feet of snow on it.  We trudged out to clear the driveway.  Between four people working for two hours, throwing snow over our heads we managed to clear the driveway.  (Good thing it’s not a very long driveway!)

A hot shower and one nap later, we’re having some lunch and getting ready to go out again with the kids to build some snow forts, make snow angels, throw snowballs and get in enough snow for the next three years (we shouldn’t see much on the islands).

Update:  While writing this blog we received a new email.  Our flights been cancelled again.  We’re on the phone with the airline and now it looks like we’ll be leaving Monday evening.  It means we’ll miss most of the conference in Kenya, but still arrive in time to see some of our friends.  In the meantime, I guess we’ll go out and play in the snow.  What else can we do?

Delays mean more time with grandparents

PRAYERS ANSWERED
On the bright side of things, we finished packing our bags yesterday.  Everything is within weight limits and in our bags and as bag packing goes it wasn’t too stressful. Thanks for your prayers.  Megan’s back has been feeling better too.  And despite all this snow, we managed to clear the driveways, didn’t lose power and have extra time with family.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray that this time we would really be able to get on an airplane and go to Africa.  Pray for our kids and us as we adjust to our departure being pushed back again and again and again.  Pray that the logistics would work out okay when we arrive in Africa- getting late transport to the conference, etc.  They have been very gracious in dealing with all our changes.

Seeing Friends

Megan & friends in Maine

The doorbell rings. Another group of cherished friends is here with another set of kids for our kids to meet.  As soon as they’ve gotten their shoes and jackets off our daughter is grabbing a hand and saying “Come on!  Let’s play!”  Our kids make making-friends look easy. They seem to expect that any child their age will be their friend, and more often than not they’re right and within a few moments they have a new friend.

We adults know that it isn’t usually that easy.  Friendship can be hard.  It can take a long time to make friends and even longer to really become close friends.  Then God calls you to Africa (okay, I guess that doesn’t apply to everyone, but it happened to us). Now we go years between seeing these friends.

All of us & friends in NH

In the past week or two we’ve been seeing lots of old friends and family.  In fact, just about every day we’ve gotten to see someone different.  Some live in the same town, some came from far away. Some we haven’t seen in years, others we see every time we are in the Boston area-- but that still is over a year ago. In that time some have gotten married, gotten pregnant, and/or had children-- children for our kids to play with!

We’re glad that our kids make friends easily, but it is with a touch of sadness that we’ve had to say goodbye each day this week to a set of friends. Will our kids realize how special friends are when they seem to come and go so often? Will they appreciate the years that we have known these people? the miles they have traveled to see us? the time they have taken to reconnect with us?

The kids w/ cousins from NC

Thankfully for our kids, life is still simple. Friends are the kids that play with them and while we’ve talked and caught up- they’ve played and made friends. We’ve all been blessed.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We have many wonderful friends that have gone out of their way to make time in their busy days to see us and spend time with us. We’ve continued to have a lot of chances to share about the islands and the excited things that God is doing there.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
It is our final week in the States. Pray for us. Pray that we would get everything done without feeling stressed. Pray that packing would go well without being too stressful. We leave for Africa this coming Friday, Feb 8th. Megan’s back has been hurting her. Pray that it would improve. Continue to pray for our transition to the islands and for the friends we will be making there.