The week in review

I don't know that I will faithfully write a week-ending post but it seems easier to do a bit each week than to try to write a detailed letter at the end of each month. I'll likely do both for awhile.

As suggested in last week's "week ahead" portion we began the process of finding housing and transportation this week. It is not really much different than doing the same in the states so most of you will know what it's like. The main difference, of course, is that much of the discussing with landlords and auto dealers is done in Spanish and we have to make the currency exchange in our heads. It is still temporarily disorienting to be told that a car costs 145,000 (that's about $7700).

In both cases--housing and cars--we saw things that would work for us though we haven't settled on anything yet. We may look at a few more places this week before we decide. We also need to test drive a car or two and have a mechanic look at them before we make a decision on that.

Slowly we are getting to know our way around. Each week offers trips to new places or new challenges like unexpected road closings that force us to learn whether we want to or not!

At church we are starting to get into the flow of a church year. The women's Bible study has met for a few weeks and a men's breakfast group will meet this week (somewhat unexpectedly at Denny's). Some fellowship events are on the calendar and we are looking forward to getting to know more people through those. For the first time this Sunday when I looked out on the congregation more faces looked familiar than not. That's progress.

We regularly get asked how we're adjusting and there's a sense in which that question is impossible to answer. Most who ask it have been through it and so understand. On the one hand I can say that thus far the transition has gone very smoothly. The stresses we have felt are not much above what we would have experienced had we moved across the US. That said, I should also admit that we get weary quickly. We have not been sick but have felt offish in various ways which can likely be attributed to stress and diet and so forth. Contributing to this is that life in general has not settled into any patterns yet. Every day/week is a jumble of activities different from the day before. You know that that can be more tiring than a familiar schedule.

I trust the above does not sound like complaining. We do not feel that way at all. We do, however, know we are weak and want those who love us to pray with and for us meaningfully. Thank you.