We flew out of Chicago on Monday, August 13th with a 15 hour layover in Dubai, which fortunately the airline included two hotel rooms for that night so we got some sleep. We are huge fans of Emirates! Then we flew from Dubai to Dar on Wednesday Aug 15 and we've been in our new home city for 4 full days now.
Here are a few pictures to illustrate our past week....
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Loaded up on the airplane for our 13-hour flight to Dubai. The kids did so well - a complete answer to prayer!
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| Yay for free ice cream from Emirates Airline while we waited for our flight from Dubai to Dar! |
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| We made it to our new home in Dar - a 4-bedroom house with a yard - what a blessing! |
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| 13 checked items, 3 carry-on suitcases plus backpacks |
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| On Thursday Aug 16 we visited HOPAC and here's a picture of the kids in front of Wesley's classroom door |
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| Some of my purchases on my first shopping trip (baking soda, powder, coffee (of course!), oatmeal, rice, flour and crackers. Not pictured? Lots of juice, milk in the fridge and some good fruit! (Thank you to the Mwenda family for buying other groceries in advance for us!!) |
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| Enjoying our yard and the dog Cookie (can you spot Wesley in the tree?) |
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| The view behind our house - water cistern and my completed first load of laundry hanging on the line! |
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| This morning (Sunday Aug 20) we attended a church that meets at HOPAC. It was such a good morning - an excellent sermon, kind faces and people, and time to play on the playground after the service. |
What have we learned so far?
1) Asante sana = "thank you very much" in Swahili (we repeat this over and over because it's one of the only phrases we know!)
2) There aren't many road rules here - makes me a little nervous to start driving!
3) There doesn't seem to be one catch-all store for what you need when moving into a new house - you go around to some supermarkets and small local shops called "dukas"
4) Chapati is a type of flatbread here, and absolutely delicious.
5) Most everything is in cash - we hardly ever use a credit card.
6) Coca-cola in a glass bottle overseas tastes SO good.
7) The families from HOPAC who have helped us settle in, show us around town, set-up our cell and internet service, get us to the grocery store and take care of all those initial set-up things are AMAZING (Sanchez family, Mwendas - thank you!)
8) God is so gracious. He has provided in multiple ways, big and small, from the connection with our pastor's friend who is a teacher here at HOPAC (and he has helped in so many ways!) to the dog who's been living here in our yard until the previous tenants come pick her up (our 3 kids adore the dog Cookie!).
9.) Time to jump in with our new routine! Chris starts work tomorrow (Monday, 8/20) with new staff orientation at Haven of Peace Academy (HOPAC). The kids will begin school on Aug 28.
"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21
We'll post more in a few days. Thanks so much for reading!!
