We. Are. Here.

Yes, we really are!

It has been an absolute amazing 3 days.

The flights went as smooth as silk ... no problems at all, except they did lose 2 of our bags! Thankfully it's not my clothes!!! Poor husband will hopefully have his things tonight. The boys did great flying for 21 hours, exceptionally well. We know the prayers made a difference, we could feel it.

In the last 3 days we have seen so many things! I have to say that today I was incredibly privileged to be able to go to a Fellowship with girls from "the District" as we call it here, that are working vocationally during the day through Project Rescue. I was overwhelmed that I was able to sit and be there and see what they are doing. Some are seamstresses, some are card makers, some oversee the projects. You should see the things they make!!! The handmade cards and gift bags are beautiful. The seamstresses make quilts, organizers, bags, placemats, etc... I was so impressed to see the cards they make (along with everything else) ... if you know me you know I like great cards. Just another little 'desire of my heart' being fulfilled.

Ok, so I will start from the beginning ...

An hour before we land we get a 'telegram' (that's actually what he said) from the airline that says the ground personnel needs to talk to us about our baggage. They couldn't tell us right then what the problem was, etc ... but just that we need to talk to them. This made for a very nerve wrecking last hour of the flight because we had no idea what the problem was. We finally figure out that 2 of our bags were delayed and didn't make the 2nd leg of the flight ... so ok, no big deal, we can handle that. It took us f-o-r-e-v-e-r to get through baggage, though, b/c they had to document everything we had and we had to try to tell them what was in the bags that we are missing. After you pack 8 suitcases, it's a little hard to remember what exactly is in which bag! Plus we were exhausted from traveling and couldn't think. So finally we get through baggage, immigration, and customs with not one problem.

We get to where we are staying and crash for the night ... until our youngest wakes up very early b/c of jetlag! So we were up early the first day. We went on a drive around the city. The driving here is crazy!!! We seem to fit right in though, we love it. The people that we are staying with are going above and beyond and making amazing meals for us, even American food, to help us get over jetlag more quickly and just make transition a little more smooth. So we had dinner after our tour and went to bed!

This morning (Friday) we got up and they made us french toast, but the syrup is made from dates and it's actually very good for you b/c it's very high in iron. It is delicious. We then went to the "the center" and toured that building and grounds that many people we are with work at. Then I went to the Fellowship with the girls from the District. If you don't know what I am referring to here, read SOLD by Patricia McCormick. Excellent book that gives an amazing story about the kind of lives these girls have been forced into. Now we have returned, it is pouring down rain and we are trying to rest tonight to, hopefully, get over our jetlag once and for all.

Tomorrow we will go and look at a 'flat' (apartment) that we hope will work for us.

We have seen some incredible things already. People that have obviously lived very hard lives, but still smiling and waving hello. 3 of us were waiting outside the Center today and a little girl, about 2 years old, and her brother, he said he is 13, came up and started talking to us. They don't have a mom or dad and he said that they are all alone, the little girl started crying while her brother was talking. They wanted money, so we gave them some drinks that we had. It can be overwhelming, we are just so far 'behind' in all the help that is needed here. How can we make a difference? We have to remember that it's not us, it's Him. He makes a way where there seems to be no way, and that certainly applies here.

There is a lot to talk about and a lot to share, as we get our computer going (I am using someone else's right now) I will post more often.

The bottom line is that we are so thankful to be here. Many blessings to you!