I'm Here!

Praise the Lord! I did finally make it safely to Casa Monday night, after a weekend with much family, due to my great Aunt Mary's funeral (Saturday,) enough time in airports, threats of Hurricane Felix closing airports, and much praying! Thank you all who prayed--your prayers are felt!

Arriving:
I took my printer as my carry-on, box and all, and of course I packed it full of other things as well, as to not waste precious space. I also had my backpack, which weighed about 50lbs, so by the time our plane landed in Guatemala City, I was about ready to never have to carry those two things again. Then came the longest walk I have EVER seen between the gate and the baggage claim...it just went on and on! Anyways, after loading all my bags precariously onto a rolly cart--thank God for rolly carts!--and watching/praying as someone took one of my bags from the carousel and about 3 minutes later returned it, I proceeded towards the outside. There's one more stop to turn in paperwork before exiting, which is usually a breeze--just hand them the paper as you walk by--but this time the lady pulled me over: "Is it just you travelling?" as she eyed my mountain of luggage..."over here please, to the bag-check station." I groaned as I looked at the few people in front of me, whose every bag were being opened and searched, then looked back at my stack, thinking "I really don't want to unstack, let alone open all of those." Just about that time, I looked up to see my welcoming committee! :) Familiar faces from Casa, waving their arms from outside the doors (they don't let anyone come into the baggage claim)--yay! Praise God! After searching only a few of my bags, explaining I was moving (hence the load of stuff,) and explaining that, "no, I don't have a receipt for the printer--it's not new and besides there are a bunch of other things in the box with it"--fwew!--, I finally was free to go on to meet my welcomers. Allison (Doncellas house mom), Ashley (Jack and Carolyn's daughter,) Melvin (one of the older guys,) and 2 of Allison's girls Ana Ruth and Keirsy all came and made it a sweet welcome home. Praise God that on the drive back to Casa from the airport, we were able to stop and buy phone cards, since both Ashley and I were out of minutes (pre-paid cell), and that we didn't hit the HUGE boulder that was just hanging out in the middle of the highway! It had fallen off the cliff-side that lines most the highway around here. I mean, I've heard of rock-slides, but this thing was enormous! I wish I had a picture for you.

Getting Settled In:
I've been staying in one of the vacant apartments while my room/dorm is being finished. I spent the last 3 days getting it painted--have you ever painted concrete? It's not so easy as it looks! Tim (maintenance man and house parent of Vencedores, along with his wife Patty) helped me by sharing that the trick is to mix it with water--works wonders! I'll post pictures once I'm moved in there. And yes, I do have a bathroom! Praise God! It's pretty much finished...just have to decide what to do with the closet space. The room is done, except the time to be added on the inside of the door frame, so hopefully I'll be able to move in early next week, once the hot water is hooked up. Thanks to all of you who prayed and/or paid for my living space!
It looks like I'll be buying a stove for the kitchen, as it turns out there was no plan to put one in--let me explain. The plans have changed so that now the university girls will be living in the house Scott, Tiffany, Bry, and I were helping the build the floor for (behind the Doncellas dorm), and it is just going to be Career (High School) girls in my dorm, hence, not so much of the transitional facility, but hopefully we'll be able to do some of those things--just a bit modified. A huge praise in all these changes is that we are only planning to move about 17 girls into my dorm! Thank God! I was expecting 40!! The move will take place around mid-October, after Mike and Dottie return from the States. They go every year in September, but this time they are also there because one of their sons, Chad, is having surgery on the 25th, so please pray for him and for their time away as well. Things have been pretty stressful for them lately. (Read some of Mike's journals on the Casa website from this last month for more details.)

Well, it appears I'm writing a paper...a few last details/prayer requests/praises...

I'm supposed to meet with Pastor Dave tomorrow afternoon to go over rules/expectations for both me (staff) and the girls, so pray that the meeting would actually happen (stuff comes up) and that all things would be communicated clearly, and that I'd be prepared and ask necessary questions. In the next couple of weeks, I'll be going to look for a stove, an armoire (sp?), and some other household things needed for settling in. Pray that I use good judgment and budgeting on what's best/really needed, and what can wait. Oh, I almost forgot: Thursday, Angie (kitchen/supplies overseer) lent me her car and I drove for the first time in Guatemala! I was really nervous at first, but I just kept telling myself "It's just driving, you're fine, you know what to do," and praying! I didn't go very far--just to the store down the road--but it was really nice to have that freedom and feel capable in that :) Praise God.
Well, overall things are getting along well. Thank God I'm able to use the internet now, although it may be spotty as I move to my new room and get connected there, so be patient if I don't respond to emails quickly...hmm...quickly...that's a word that really doesn't exist down here :)

If you're still reading, then thanks for hanging in there. Hopefully I'll be able to update more often and be a little more concise. Also, Paula (internet expert) is will be working on getting a journal up and running for me to use on the Casa website. Once that's up, I'll try to update that close to daily and update this blog more like once a month or something...I'll let you know. Thank you all for you love and prayers! I miss you guys! Blessings!