July 28
This is hard. Really, really, overwhelmingly hard. Don't get me wrong--the school and the people here are top-notch! It's not that I regret coming here.
I'm struggling with weariness after moving across the world. I'm struggling with the daunting task of teaching a completely new-to-me curriculum. I'm struggling with not having my classroom set up in anyway, shape, or form. I'm struggling with being strong and encouraging for our kids when they're tired and overwhelmed. I'm struggling with mommy-guilt now that I'm not able to be the same mom to our kids that I've been able to be for the last 11 years. I'm struggling. I still believe God led us here, despite my struggles. I'm relying on Him to shine through my struggles--soon.
I almost didn't post this. I tend to be a private person, and being vulnerable with others is not something I do regularly. But I need prayer for myself and for my family. Thankfully, the kids and Seth seem to be adjusting better than I. I just need to catch up to them in this regard. We're here by God's design, for His purpose even when it's hard to see that.
On a more positive note, I attended chapel for the first time in my professional career. Tears. Fortunately, I was able to contain them for the most part. Seth may have been the only one who noticed. I stood next to my husband and sang worship songs with members of His international church. Powerful praise. I'm looking forward to more of those moments.
Prayers for us:
-Thanks that the kids are doing so well as they get shuffled around to different places while Seth and I have school meetings.
-Thanks to those who cared for our children: Carli, Raema, John, and Cindy.
-Peace and reduced stress regarding the upcoming school year.
-Pray for the students who will be in our classes.
-Pray that our family finds a comfortable "new normal" soon.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Friday, August 12, 2016
First Weekend Fun
We finally opened the five boxes that had traveled around the world. Our giddy kids reconstructed Lego sets and sorted out favorite toys. In unpacking our boxes, I realized that half our luggage weight must have come from the books our kids packed!!! Oh my goodness!!! We could have brought half the house if we'd left their books home! Really, though, I am thrilled that my kids are such avid readers!
We spent a lot of time shopping again over the weekend. The local go-to store is Hypermart which is a bit like Walmart back home. This was our second visit to the store, but we still left with two shopping carts full, feeling like we'd purchased one of everything yet still missing so much. It's been a while since I've set up a house and it takes a bit of time, energy, and money!
We also made it to the local IKEA which is about 25 minutes away from Lippo Village. We picked out a blue bookshelf, something I probably wouldn't have picked back home because I tend to choose more practical/neutral colors, but this new home needs a bit of whimsy and color! I love it! I might just need a bit more whimsy in my life.
We also enjoyed the taste of Swedish meatballs in the cafeteria. Well, the kids picked hot dogs and pasta, but Seth enjoyed the typical IKEA dish.
I could have bought the store out, but I'm thrilled with the blue bookcase and few other housewares for now. We'll be back to pick up more when we have the vehicle space to get it home!
As I said goodnight to Koen tonight, he pointed out the one picture hanging in his room. It's one Seth's mom painted for the boys. He remarked, "Isn't that a great verse for our life right now?" Yes, buddy. Yes it is.
We spent a lot of time shopping again over the weekend. The local go-to store is Hypermart which is a bit like Walmart back home. This was our second visit to the store, but we still left with two shopping carts full, feeling like we'd purchased one of everything yet still missing so much. It's been a while since I've set up a house and it takes a bit of time, energy, and money!
 |
| Our favorite new bookcase! These are only a portion of the books that came to Indo with us! |
We also enjoyed the taste of Swedish meatballs in the cafeteria. Well, the kids picked hot dogs and pasta, but Seth enjoyed the typical IKEA dish.
I could have bought the store out, but I'm thrilled with the blue bookcase and few other housewares for now. We'll be back to pick up more when we have the vehicle space to get it home!
As I said goodnight to Koen tonight, he pointed out the one picture hanging in his room. It's one Seth's mom painted for the boys. He remarked, "Isn't that a great verse for our life right now?" Yes, buddy. Yes it is.
 |
| Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go! Joshua 1:9 |
Prayers for us:
-That Koen's poison ivy heals quickly.
-That the coming week is productive and smooth as we prepare for the new school year.
-Praise for the other newbies here at SPH with us. We've made many new friends already!
-That we don't get caught up in the busyness of life and forget to take time out for each other and God.
Home
July 22
Friday was another day of family meetings at school. The school leaders introduced a few cultural differences to be aware of, for instance:
-Don't touch people on the top of the head
-Don't show the bottoms of your feet to people
-Don't burp
-Don't pass things with your left hand
I'm sure we'll learn many more cultural differences in the days to come. I hope we don't learn the hard way by offending someone, but we've been told Indonesians are quite forgiving.
The kids spent some time in the school pool during some of our meetings, but they were quickly ushered out of the pool and into the gym as a large storm rose up this afternoon. The rain crashed down, its power overwhelming. Before long, the storm passed, and the kids were back in the pool by dinner as we dined poolside at the school.
The food has been phenomenal so far! So many choices and flavors! We keep encouraging the kids to try something new at each meal, but they're quite content with the white rice.
I haven't included much about our house yet. We love the convenience of living in the neighborhood right next to school--walking to school is quicker than driving! It's certainly handy! Koen and Tysen enjoy the independence of having their own room after sharing for the last 6 years. My boys are growing up.
The home isn't quite as move-in ready as they home we'd left, but we're hoping a few fix ups and some personal touches will make it home soon. I believe Seth is the current leader in cockroach sightings--seven! Fortunately, the ones I've seen have all been dead!
Our neighbors have welcomed us with open arms! We've enjoyed getting to know a few of the families and look forward to meeting others! I believe we're the only American family in our neighborhood; many families hail from Australia, China, and, of course, Indonesia. It's a wonderful and diverse community.
Prayers for us:
-Adjusting to the time difference is proving tricky!
-Pray we feel at home in our new house sooner rather than later.
-It seems small, but pray for food to be a non-issue. The food here is very different from what we're used to, and it'll take some flexibility on the kids' part to learn to like new things.
Friday was another day of family meetings at school. The school leaders introduced a few cultural differences to be aware of, for instance:
-Don't touch people on the top of the head
-Don't show the bottoms of your feet to people
-Don't burp
-Don't pass things with your left hand
I'm sure we'll learn many more cultural differences in the days to come. I hope we don't learn the hard way by offending someone, but we've been told Indonesians are quite forgiving.
The kids spent some time in the school pool during some of our meetings, but they were quickly ushered out of the pool and into the gym as a large storm rose up this afternoon. The rain crashed down, its power overwhelming. Before long, the storm passed, and the kids were back in the pool by dinner as we dined poolside at the school.
The food has been phenomenal so far! So many choices and flavors! We keep encouraging the kids to try something new at each meal, but they're quite content with the white rice.
 |
| Home sweet home |
The home isn't quite as move-in ready as they home we'd left, but we're hoping a few fix ups and some personal touches will make it home soon. I believe Seth is the current leader in cockroach sightings--seven! Fortunately, the ones I've seen have all been dead!
Our neighbors have welcomed us with open arms! We've enjoyed getting to know a few of the families and look forward to meeting others! I believe we're the only American family in our neighborhood; many families hail from Australia, China, and, of course, Indonesia. It's a wonderful and diverse community.
Prayers for us:
-Adjusting to the time difference is proving tricky!
-Pray we feel at home in our new house sooner rather than later.
-It seems small, but pray for food to be a non-issue. The food here is very different from what we're used to, and it'll take some flexibility on the kids' part to learn to like new things.
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Settling into SPH and Lippo Village
July 21, 2016
We set our phone alarms to rouse us in the morning, but since we hadn't accessed wifi since arriving in Indonesia our phones were still set to Singapore time--an hour earlier than here. Neither Seth nor I realized this, though, until all five of us were ready and waiting outside our home for 20 minutes wondering why our ride was so late. After asking a neighbor what time it really was, we headed back inside for a half hour. At least we were ready on time!
We arrived at school at the correct time and enjoyed breakfast and devotions with the other new families. Our devotions focused on 1 Corinthians 13: faith, hope, and love. Each of these traits seem more important that ever at this moment of our lives.
We spent the morning touring the school, setting up bank accounts, and getting to know the other new teachers.
The afternoon found us shopping at the local mall--nothing like we have in Michigan. The mall is three stories (four if you count the basement) and includes grocery stores, an amusement park/arcade, and pharmacies in addition to the traditional salons, clothing stores, restaurants, and kiosks. Setting up house again is extremely expensive, especially when you shop with rupiah, the local currency! We spent over 4.5 million rupiah on our first shopping trip, and we still don't have everything we need! We were relieved to have our host family, Bruce and Judy, with us, guiding us through the crowds and stores and offering ideas for what we'll need in our new home.
The five of us were exhausted after shopping all afternoon. Bruce and Judy provided a delicious spaghetti meal for us (they know the way to my kids' hearts!) and we returned home for some much needed sleep.
Prayers for us:
-Koen seems to have developed heat rash on top of his poison ivy. He says he feels OK, but small, red bumps cover his body and he has rosy, rosy cheeks. Pray for quick relief!
-We survived our first shopping trip, but we need many other items as we settle into our home. Pray that we feel settled quickly.
-We still have no curriculum, and school begins August 1. Valerie, especially, is feeling anxious about this. Plus, she needs to set up a classroom but didn't bring any posters, etc. along due to lack of space. Pray that her classroom comes together ok.
 |
| Outside our new home, waiting for our ride to school... an hour early. |
We arrived at school at the correct time and enjoyed breakfast and devotions with the other new families. Our devotions focused on 1 Corinthians 13: faith, hope, and love. Each of these traits seem more important that ever at this moment of our lives.
We spent the morning touring the school, setting up bank accounts, and getting to know the other new teachers.
The afternoon found us shopping at the local mall--nothing like we have in Michigan. The mall is three stories (four if you count the basement) and includes grocery stores, an amusement park/arcade, and pharmacies in addition to the traditional salons, clothing stores, restaurants, and kiosks. Setting up house again is extremely expensive, especially when you shop with rupiah, the local currency! We spent over 4.5 million rupiah on our first shopping trip, and we still don't have everything we need! We were relieved to have our host family, Bruce and Judy, with us, guiding us through the crowds and stores and offering ideas for what we'll need in our new home.
 |
| Hypermart! |
 |
| I've NEVER spent this much money before! Thankfully, this is rupiah, not US dollars! |
The five of us were exhausted after shopping all afternoon. Bruce and Judy provided a delicious spaghetti meal for us (they know the way to my kids' hearts!) and we returned home for some much needed sleep.
Prayers for us:
-Koen seems to have developed heat rash on top of his poison ivy. He says he feels OK, but small, red bumps cover his body and he has rosy, rosy cheeks. Pray for quick relief!
-We survived our first shopping trip, but we need many other items as we settle into our home. Pray that we feel settled quickly.
-We still have no curriculum, and school begins August 1. Valerie, especially, is feeling anxious about this. Plus, she needs to set up a classroom but didn't bring any posters, etc. along due to lack of space. Pray that her classroom comes together ok.
Friday, August 5, 2016
Arriving in Asia
July 20, 2016
Sleeping while stretched out was refreshing, at least until a six-year-old wriggly body joins you in a twin bed. Our sleep greatly improved our moods, as did a bountiful breakfast buffet. Tysen insisted that we just HAD to try the toast with butter--the BEST he's EVER had! And he would know; he is a connoisseur of toast with butter. He's our very own Mercy Watson! (Does anyone know this beloved Kate DiCamillo character?)
After having our fill of toast and other delectable treats, we explored the streets of Singapore for a few hours, stopping to enjoy lunch at the Happy Pancakes restaurant in the Orchard Center Mall. I mention this because the establishment is a non-profit organization working to encourage lower income kids in the arts. Good food and a great cause! Win-win. Adjacent to the eating area was an art work space and potential display area. They had only been open for a few months, but with food like this, they are sure to be successful!
It turns out that the overnight stop in Singapore was unnecessary because our work visas could not yet be processed. We still enjoyed our brief encounter with the city and look forward to returning in a month or so to complete the visa process and possibly explore more of the city.
The Singapore airlines have a strict limit on luggage weight--a lot less than Delta's limit.We paid a huge overage fee at the Singapore ticket counter, but we had heard this might happen so it wasn't a complete shock. The Lord took care of us once again as a special individual had previously offered to cover the cost of our luggage fee after she heard that potential problem as one of our prayer requests. Over and over, we are amazed at people's generosity. We were pleasantly surprise that the airline did not include our carry ons in the luggage weigh in; we had heard they limited each carry on to only 15 lbs so we carefully weighed each one. This was a tricky endeavor when your carry on suitcase weighs 8 lbs on its own.
The flight to Jakarta seemed to take no time at all after our long flights the day before. None of us even got to complete the in-flight movies we'd selected. We landed, praised God that ALL our luggage made it, and hopped on the bus with the other new teachers to head to school. I make this sound like a quick and simple process; it wasn't. Two of the three kids were at melting-down point which made the process a bit more stressful. We finally arrived at school around 10pm. Our amazing host family met us, and, in multiple trips, carted us and all our luggage to our new home.
Prayers for us:
-Thanks for safe travels!
-As we all adjust to the time change (11 hours!), may we show each other grace and kindness.
-That we (the kids in particular) find good friends sooner rather than later.
-We think Koen is dealing with poison ivy. He's handling it well, but it's still a concern.
Sleeping while stretched out was refreshing, at least until a six-year-old wriggly body joins you in a twin bed. Our sleep greatly improved our moods, as did a bountiful breakfast buffet. Tysen insisted that we just HAD to try the toast with butter--the BEST he's EVER had! And he would know; he is a connoisseur of toast with butter. He's our very own Mercy Watson! (Does anyone know this beloved Kate DiCamillo character?)
After having our fill of toast and other delectable treats, we explored the streets of Singapore for a few hours, stopping to enjoy lunch at the Happy Pancakes restaurant in the Orchard Center Mall. I mention this because the establishment is a non-profit organization working to encourage lower income kids in the arts. Good food and a great cause! Win-win. Adjacent to the eating area was an art work space and potential display area. They had only been open for a few months, but with food like this, they are sure to be successful!
 |
| Happy Pancakes making happy customers! |
It turns out that the overnight stop in Singapore was unnecessary because our work visas could not yet be processed. We still enjoyed our brief encounter with the city and look forward to returning in a month or so to complete the visa process and possibly explore more of the city.
The Singapore airlines have a strict limit on luggage weight--a lot less than Delta's limit.We paid a huge overage fee at the Singapore ticket counter, but we had heard this might happen so it wasn't a complete shock. The Lord took care of us once again as a special individual had previously offered to cover the cost of our luggage fee after she heard that potential problem as one of our prayer requests. Over and over, we are amazed at people's generosity. We were pleasantly surprise that the airline did not include our carry ons in the luggage weigh in; we had heard they limited each carry on to only 15 lbs so we carefully weighed each one. This was a tricky endeavor when your carry on suitcase weighs 8 lbs on its own.
 |
| Weary travelers with all their luggage upon arrival in Jakarta. |
The flight to Jakarta seemed to take no time at all after our long flights the day before. None of us even got to complete the in-flight movies we'd selected. We landed, praised God that ALL our luggage made it, and hopped on the bus with the other new teachers to head to school. I make this sound like a quick and simple process; it wasn't. Two of the three kids were at melting-down point which made the process a bit more stressful. We finally arrived at school around 10pm. Our amazing host family met us, and, in multiple trips, carted us and all our luggage to our new home.
Prayers for us:
-Thanks for safe travels!
-As we all adjust to the time change (11 hours!), may we show each other grace and kindness.
-That we (the kids in particular) find good friends sooner rather than later.
-We think Koen is dealing with poison ivy. He's handling it well, but it's still a concern.
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Leaving Home
I've kept up with the blog as we've traveled, but I haven't had consistent access to wifi. I'll post what I've written even thought these days are past. Enjoy our journey with us!
July 18, 2016
We're on our way! The past weeks have been a flurry of sorting, packing, cleaning, and saying goodbye. We could not have completed everything on our own; we owe a HUGE THANK YOU to so many people: parents, siblings, friends, and neighbors. We are OVERWHELMED by the time, energy and encouragement you shared with us to get us out the door! We love you all!
While we weren't able to say an official goodbye to everyone important to us, I was able to spend some time with a dear friend, Gijem. Gijem attends 1st CRC with us, and she was born in Indonesia. She taught me to cook an Indonesian dish a few years back (although I didn't make it nearly as often as I should have), and we take time to chat at church every Sunday. She called a few days before we took off and I will always treasure what she said: "You are very deep in my heart!" What a lovely sentiment! Gijem is also very deep in my heart!!!
We were able to spend some quality family time with the Smits and the Davies families over the last two weeks. Our kids are already mourning the loss of cousin play time over the next two years as well as the lack of time with grandparents--time we've taken for granted in the past. Fortunately, both sets of grandparents plan to trek across the world to visit us once we've settled in Indonesia. We're stretching our parents in more ways than one.
Naturally, our time at the airport was emotional this morning as family came to see us off. Goodbyes stink! We visited for a bit, took some last "together" pictures, and prayed together before we left for the security check point. It was the perfect send off. God continues to reveal himself to us. Some say the little things are just coincidences, but I believe God's hand is in each moment. When our family descended upon the airport in Grand Rapids, not a single person was there to check in. No one! Not even at a different counter! We walked right up to the Delta counter with our 20 pieces of luggage and checked in easily. Not a single box or suitcase was overweight, a feat the Delta agent said she's never seen before! (Kudos to Mom Davies for her help in that department!)
We spent some time with our parents and my Uncle Judd and Aunt Linda who had come to see us off, ending with prayer and tears. We then breezed through security where a kind and helpful TSA agent fixed our already broken carry-on luggage handle. Thank you, Lord! The flight to Detroit was a quick 30 minutes, but in that time we learned the new headphones I'd purchased for the kids didn't work very well. A gentleman sitting nearby overhead the disappointment and quickly offered his headphones to Koen.
We also met a young woman flying with her active two-year-old. She found out we were moving to Indonesia and her eyes lit up. She had grown up in South America from ages 5-7 and raved about living over seas as a child; she promised our kids would thank us for the experience later in life. I'm praying they'll be excited about the experience long before adulthood!
The flight from Detroit to Tokyo lasted f-o-r-e-v-e-r, but we survived the 12 hours to took to arrive in Asia. The only small issue occurred when Brielle's motion sickness presented itself in a very physical way toward the end of the flight. Thank goodness we had an extra dress packed away in her carry on! She handled the ordeal remarkably well, especially since her beloved blankie was soiled as a result. We bagged it all up and hoped for laundry in Singapore.
We arrived in Singapore ahead of schedule around 11pm on July 19. Carting our luggage through the airport in Singapore. God sent us an angel at midnight in the Singapore airport. Dnata, a Delta employee, trekked all over the airport helping us get our luggage in the right place to store overnight. We finally arrived at our hotel in Singapore around 2am local time. Bed for everyone! The hotel didn't have a room for five, though, so we divided up for the night. It was hard to believe we'd landed in Asia!
July 18, 2016
We're on our way! The past weeks have been a flurry of sorting, packing, cleaning, and saying goodbye. We could not have completed everything on our own; we owe a HUGE THANK YOU to so many people: parents, siblings, friends, and neighbors. We are OVERWHELMED by the time, energy and encouragement you shared with us to get us out the door! We love you all!
 |
| It's all packed! |
 |
| Out for breakfast with Gijem. |
 |
| The Smits family |
 |
| The Davies family |
Naturally, our time at the airport was emotional this morning as family came to see us off. Goodbyes stink! We visited for a bit, took some last "together" pictures, and prayed together before we left for the security check point. It was the perfect send off. God continues to reveal himself to us. Some say the little things are just coincidences, but I believe God's hand is in each moment. When our family descended upon the airport in Grand Rapids, not a single person was there to check in. No one! Not even at a different counter! We walked right up to the Delta counter with our 20 pieces of luggage and checked in easily. Not a single box or suitcase was overweight, a feat the Delta agent said she's never seen before! (Kudos to Mom Davies for her help in that department!)
We spent some time with our parents and my Uncle Judd and Aunt Linda who had come to see us off, ending with prayer and tears. We then breezed through security where a kind and helpful TSA agent fixed our already broken carry-on luggage handle. Thank you, Lord! The flight to Detroit was a quick 30 minutes, but in that time we learned the new headphones I'd purchased for the kids didn't work very well. A gentleman sitting nearby overhead the disappointment and quickly offered his headphones to Koen.
We also met a young woman flying with her active two-year-old. She found out we were moving to Indonesia and her eyes lit up. She had grown up in South America from ages 5-7 and raved about living over seas as a child; she promised our kids would thank us for the experience later in life. I'm praying they'll be excited about the experience long before adulthood!
 |
| Waiting to take off! |
The flight from Detroit to Tokyo lasted f-o-r-e-v-e-r, but we survived the 12 hours to took to arrive in Asia. The only small issue occurred when Brielle's motion sickness presented itself in a very physical way toward the end of the flight. Thank goodness we had an extra dress packed away in her carry on! She handled the ordeal remarkably well, especially since her beloved blankie was soiled as a result. We bagged it all up and hoped for laundry in Singapore.
 |
| Snuggled and sleeping in style. |
We arrived in Singapore ahead of schedule around 11pm on July 19. Carting our luggage through the airport in Singapore. God sent us an angel at midnight in the Singapore airport. Dnata, a Delta employee, trekked all over the airport helping us get our luggage in the right place to store overnight. We finally arrived at our hotel in Singapore around 2am local time. Bed for everyone! The hotel didn't have a room for five, though, so we divided up for the night. It was hard to believe we'd landed in Asia!
 |
| Navigating through the Singapore airport. |
Monday, June 13, 2016
A Big Week!
This past week was HUGE for our family!!! First off, the kids' passports arrived!
We also got the address of our new home in Lippo Village. We don't have any photos to see/share, but the email stated that it's a 2-story home with 4 bedrooms--wow! It feels good to have a place waiting for us.
Next, WE RENTED OUR HOUSE!! Renting our house out for two years was weighing on us; we weren't sure it was going to work out. We should never doubt God and his amazing plans. He planned to use a couple relocating from Ohio to answer our prayer. They lived in our neighborhood in the 1980s and attended the church right across the street from our house (they're excited to get back to worship at St. Mark's!). They prayed for a house to rent in this area once they decided to relocate here to be near family. I wish I could introduce them personally to you all! They are a wonderful, fascinating couple who are eager to care for our home. We are so thankful to God!
We enjoyed a picnic with some friends last night, a goodbye of sorts. Many families have summer trips planned, so this was the best weekend to gather together before we move. We reminisced as we sat, chatted, and watched our growing children run around, laughing together. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were chasing them around, wishing we could just sit and chat instead. These precious kids will have grown by leaps and bounds before we see them all again next summer! I keep reminding myself that change isn't bad; just different.
We have a lot of different coming our way. Please keep praying for peace for us as we pack, as we move, and as we adjust to a new normal. We've felt your prayer support! Thank you! I'm shocked and humbled that our little family blog has 700 views in the past three weeks!!! You all amaze me with the outpouring of love and support in your words and deeds. I wish I could thank each of you individually, but this blanket "thanks" will have to suffice for now.
 |
| Ready to travel! |
Next, WE RENTED OUR HOUSE!! Renting our house out for two years was weighing on us; we weren't sure it was going to work out. We should never doubt God and his amazing plans. He planned to use a couple relocating from Ohio to answer our prayer. They lived in our neighborhood in the 1980s and attended the church right across the street from our house (they're excited to get back to worship at St. Mark's!). They prayed for a house to rent in this area once they decided to relocate here to be near family. I wish I could introduce them personally to you all! They are a wonderful, fascinating couple who are eager to care for our home. We are so thankful to God!
We enjoyed a picnic with some friends last night, a goodbye of sorts. Many families have summer trips planned, so this was the best weekend to gather together before we move. We reminisced as we sat, chatted, and watched our growing children run around, laughing together. It doesn't seem that long ago that we were chasing them around, wishing we could just sit and chat instead. These precious kids will have grown by leaps and bounds before we see them all again next summer! I keep reminding myself that change isn't bad; just different.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)