Wow, It’s Been a Day!

August 21, 2023

Wow, It’s Been a Day!

Hello patient blog followers. I had intentions of posting one blog post a week since we arrived, but that has proven to be a lofty goal. I do hope to update this much more frequently moving forward.

We have now been in Nairobi for a month! Since arriving we have found a house (praise the Lord!), bought a car, found people to work in our yard and home (very customary/ expected here), Ellie and Audrey have both started school (Second grade and morning preschool) and we have all gotten sick at least two times each. It’s been a whirlwind of an entry, but we’ve come to expect that with international living.

During the first two weeks of living here every night when we were heading to bed, Will or I would say “Wow! It’s been a day!”. I noticed somewhere around the three week mark, we stopped saying it. Not because we starting having less difficulty but because I started to remember that life when adjusting to a new culture always feels like “a day!”. It’s just hard no matter how you cut it. There are water issues (we’ve taken very few hot showers since living in this home), constant requests for help and always something that is breaking or someone who is sick. I think we are finally catching up to the level of intensity that comes with an international move with three young children in tow. I have had to lower expectations from myself (like my lofty blog posting hopes ;)) and choose to be present with the needs right in front of me each moment.

Here are some things we are grateful for at this point in this transition:

We are in a comfortable home with plenty of room for hosting visitors and we are right next door to friends of ours who we have been friends with for many years.

Ellie and Audrey are both really enjoying their new school. Every school year comes with an adjustment period, and we are still feeling that in a major way, but overall, they are happy with their teachers and their new friends. We are so thankful for an excellent school options for them! We know that’s not always the case with an international move.

We are currently all healthy! Something to rejoice in and not take for granted! So far we have dealt with strep (I learned something apparently everyone knew but me- in kids, a strep symptom can be vomiting- no fun at all!), stomach bugs and a bacterial infection. Another tag along praise to this is we have amazing co workers on the continent who are able to help advise with medication issues- it’s been incredibly helpful!! We also have great access to clinics and medicines. A fun side story for you- one night Will was very sick and medical coworkers of ours advised we get him an antibiotic and start it that night. Within 45 minutes of calling a pharmacy (at 8pm) we had amoxicillin delivered to our door! All for less than $6. It was incredible!

The weather has been incredible! We are at the tail end of “cold season” so the mornings are still a little chilly (in the 60s) and the sun is shining almost everyday. Sunshine goes a long way in helping to make days feel more manageable!

So while we are still very much in the throes of transition and “re-settling”, we are finding so many things to be grateful for in the midst of it all. We are hanging on to why God has called us here on the hard days and remembering it won’t be this hard forever. We have felt God tangibly helping us along the way and we are continuing to search for that reality each day. Thank you for praying for us and I hope to update you again soon!