If someone has not traveled to a foreign country before it is hard to put into words what one goes through. For us we traveled 17 hours in airplanes, flew across an ocean, stopped on 3 continents and jumped ahead 6 hours in time zones. Just the jet lag alone is difficult. You feel so tired suddenly everything looks like an unbelievably comfortable bed, even the luggage conveyer belt at the airport looked inviting to lay down on. Then trying to go to bed at 9pm this time when your body is saying it’s only 3pm. They say a day for every hour you change, so thank the Lord the jet lag doesn’t last long!

We’ve been to Burundi before so we are familiar in many ways, but there is still a lot of culture shock. We just went from one of the richest countries in the world to one of the poorest. Everything here is dusty, everything smells different, the roads are bumpy, the water is cold for bathing, cooking is different, the food is different, even the toilets are different and maybe frustrating sometimes-like broken toilet seats. In all honesty, the adjustments are exhausting. You find yourself tired from all the new and different you’re trying to become accustomed to, and that’s okay. What I don’t think is okay is to sit in that and just complain. Basically, we cry, we feel but I think the most important part is that we still praise.

We’re so thankful to be here. We’re thankful God has opened the doors for us to serve here. We find ourselves much more thankful already for things we called simple back in the U.S. like running water, electricity and internet. One of the things I’m most thankful for is this is a journey as a family and I see it bringing us closer to the Lord and to each other and I wouldn’t trade that for all the hot water in the world. In the sadness of missing home we’ve been able to come around each other and thank God for so many blessings. We pray through the alphabet when we can’t sleep, so chances are you’ve been prayed for this week.

In the exhaustion of adjusting we’re also keenly aware of why we’re here. Everyday God gives us sweet and precious blessings to remind us He has us right where we’re supposed to be. When the boys interact with the Burundians and they laugh and play together, my heart just soars. When a friend just stops in to say hello, I’m filled with thanks to God. When our friends 2 year old reaches up for me to hold her, I melt like wax. When we hugged the widows at the Sister Connection office the other day, the exhausting adjustments vanish in those moments and I know He has us right where we’re meant to be.

Thank you for praying and supporting us through this journey!