We spent the weekend at the lake with our friends the Conners. They live in Mexico and work with another indigenous group. We had a GREAT time with them! We all had a good laugh while we were there because a water pipe broke and we spent a day without water. We thought it was quite ironic that the two families that lived in villages in Mexico where they have no water would come together for our first weekend together in the states and not have water. Which was even funnier because it didn't really bother any of us. I really do think God has a REALLY good sense of humor! I mean, after all, He created ME!! :o)
Then on Monday we all headed to Va. to a learning center where we receive training from IMB. We have had some debriefing about our time on the field and received a lot of helpful tips on how to speak to churches about our experiences. We hope to be able to do that as much as possible over the next year. If your church would like us to speak, please let me know and if we are available, we would love to do so! Again, God and His sense of humor, we arrived here and I found rat pellets on the stove and in my drawers. I think someone or maybe something actually planted them there as a "welcoming" gift! Just a little reminder that there are rats in the US too! :o) Oh the blessings!
The kids have had a wonderful week, playing with other TCKs (third culture kids) and have really bonded with many new friends. They love this place, it is the one place where they always seem to fit in. Please continue to pray for our culture shock. I know I have written that on here and for those of you living out of the US you understand what I mean, and for those of you who don't you may be confused. It really is REAL!! I never dreamed it was possible to not feel normal in my own country, but I really don't. I don't know how to do anything anymore. You are asking, "Like what? What don't you know how to do?"
- Pump gas and pay for it, what buttons do you push? (it is pumped for you in Mexico)
- Credit card machines at stores..... don't know how to use them. ( they do that for you in Mexico)
- Movie theatre..... where do you go, who do you give your ticket to? (there were 800 movies and one lady taking tickets, not to mention 5000 people waiting to see Harry Potter and I was looking around like a lost puppy) Okay so my #'s might be a little off! ;o)
- Automatic sinks, okay, is it a shower or just to wash your hands, or am I doing something wrong, b/c it sprays my whole body every time I try to use an automatic sink to wash my hands. Then I need a MD degree just to figure out the automatic paper towel dispensers.
Okay, that is probably enough for now. I am sure I will think of a ton more. So, when I say I am experiencing some culture shock these are SOME of the things that I am talking about. Most of them are probably because I am just a tiny bit on the ditsy side, YES I said a TINY bit! :o) Anyway, pray for all of us as there are many more transitions to come. I love you all and love meeting some of you in person! It is nice as I travel to hear people come up and say, "Hi my name is so and so (not really but you get the picture ;o)) and I have been following your blog since Annie's accident. " I love that I have all of you out there still encouraging me on through your prayers! Love to you all!! Missy
