Plans? What Plans?

Our whole family on Clove (pre-team)

Last month we wrote about arranging our team’s travel to Clove Island. Every plan was shot down, until finally we had a boat reservation for Sunday- one night on Volcano Island.

Less than two days before the team arrives we get a call. The boat is not leaving on Sunday anymore… it will be Monday. We balk at the change and try to get them to reconsider, but it is set. So we extend our arrangements in Volcano Island and shorten our arrangements for the Orientation Week on Clove. This isn’t ideal, but what can we do.

Tom & our youngest on Clove Island

The next day (the day before the team arrives), we get another call-- now the boat is not leaving until Wednesday!!! Now this is ridiculous. We have to be on Clove Island for the Orientation week, this won’t work. Tom is already on his way to Volcano Island to receive the team. We have a friend go to the office and get our money back from the boat, while we quickly explore other options. Airplanes-- no spaces available Monday. Other boats--no other boats going on Monday. Finally we go back to the airline, is there any possibility of their being spaces on a Tuesday morning flight?
“Yes, we have space.” 
    “How many spaces? We have lots of people.”
        “We have 15 spots left.”
The exact number that we need.

We go back and change our arrangements on both Clove and Volcano Islands again. We get tickets for Megan and the kids to join the team on Volcano Island. We flex and rest in His hands.

In the meantime, the team has arrived with all their bags! We are writing from the hotel on Volcano Island. The room originally meant for just Tom now has our older two asleep on a mattress on the floor and our youngest asleep in a pack n’ play on the other side. It has been a crazy couple days, but God has been providing (even giving us grace when we ran into trouble at airport immigration).

Our kids taking a break

The team is here! This wonderful new phase of life and work is finally beginning! Tomorrow we’ll start the day with a time of worship and thanksgiving, then in a few days we’ll fly to Clove Island. That is, if our plans don’t change again!

PRAYERS ANSWERED
Despite all the crazy changes the past few days, the team arrived this afternoon and we’re all settling in and getting to know one another.  It’s fun to see the kids playing together.  We had a scary moment at immigration where we didn’t seem to have the proper paperwork and they threatened to put some of our teammates back on the plane.  Thankfully, we found a paper that would suffice and things went smoothly after that. 

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Our teammates are tired from all their travel and need some good rest.  Pray that the next few days would be a good time to recoup and adjust.  Being on Volcano Island will make things a little more complicated for the next few days. Pray that we make it to Clove Island safely, that our luggage comes safely, and that our week of orientation goes well.  There is a lot of coordination that comes into play for the coming weeks.  Pray that it all comes together in his time.  Pray for good bonding as a team and with islanders in the coming weeks.