Right now we are sitting on a plane flying to New Zealand with our first two months having come to a close. We flew from Cusco to L.A. on Oct 2nd, spent 3 quick nights on Venice beach with Grandpa and Grandma (thanks so much!). We enjoyed US comforts of hot showers, nice toilets, signs in English, Chick-fil-A, BJ's, Special K bars, red velvet cake, worship in English at Hillsong LA, shopping at Target, a pumpkin latte at Starbucks, and a date night ending in limoncello! And now we are in route to New Zealand, a lifelong dream of dads.
We have had 66 days (9.4 weeks) in three different countries, 11 different beds, 12 different airplanes and barely scratched the surface of Central & South America. We did not go to Brazil, Argentina, Chile or a host of other countries each with unique people, histories and cultures. The world is indeed a HUGE place. We have transported ourselves in taxis, mototaxis, tuk tuks, trains, vans, buses, shuttles and trucks, and yet have not driven in 66 days. We have had cut feet, swimmers ear, hurt our backs, bruised ribs, scratched faces, swollen feet, massive bug bites, lots of puke, diarrhea, gone weeks with no hot water, endured fighting children, crying children, fighting parents, been dirty, sweaty and everything in between. As parents we have had little alone time and virtually no privacy even for a conversation. It has not been easy by any stretch and now we find ourselves heading further from home than we have ever been, by far, at a time when we feel quite homesick. We miss our friends, our church, our beds, our home, Prior Lake, our food, our cars, fall and changing leaves, deer season, Starbucks, Chick-Fil-A, routine, and work. And yet something drives us further. The kids talk about how going home for just one week would be so great; no, we tell them, that would not be easy. When we go home, we stay home - doing a pit stop would only be harder. We have at times questioned (both mentally and verbally) pulling the plug and being done, but when push comes to shove no one is really ready - at least not yet.
To an extent we are still figuring out what works for us as we have moved every week for the last four weeks - a period we knew would be challenging. While it was doable, it felt a little fast and school bore the brunt of the pain. To stay on top of school will require a slightly slower pace and more routine, but routine is very tough to keep. There is so much to see and do - how does one balance this amazing opportunity and also stay sane? We are not sure yet, but we have a better grasp than when we started. However now, to an extent, we are starting over. Our first two months included 3 different volunteering times and we connected with two different YoungLife staff. Our next two months have none of that (at least planned). Our last two months were in another language and 3rd world countries, and now we are back to English and the developed world. We left home with our first two months fairly mapped out, knowing (or at least believing we knew) where we were staying each and every night. As of now we only know our next 6 nights and then have 17 nights as nomads in a camper and after that, no definitive plans. We have some things roughly mapped up but have the freedom to do anything we want as nothing is formally booked. Will that be better or more stressful? We are about to find out. So there is an experiment going on to a certain level and we are as curious as anyone as to how it will play out.
As a family we have already created more memories than we will remember when done. Our kids still fight and argue and act like children but they have a higher respect for one another. They have shown the ability to rally together when needed and pull more than their own weight. They have grown up in their own mini ways as they have seen things they never knew imaginable. Multiple people have commented to us how amazingly different the three boys are, and while we know it, it's interesting to see how quickly new acquaintances pick up on it and reminds us just how important it is to keep in mind. Parenting, unfortunately, is not one size fits all.
I'd love to close this with some grand thought and revelation that has been revealed to us but we do not have it and I'm not sure that is the point anyway. We have had an amazing two months outside of our comfort zone and grown through adversity as a family. We all miss things from home but cling to one another and God's plan for us. One thing that is apparent is that life is full of choices and they are hard no matter what you choose or where you sleep. While busyness and mental preoccupation are always knocking on our door we have the ability to fend them off but it takes effort - at home or abroad. It's easy to look at the glamour side of this adventure and think "oh how great" or "how inspiring" without considering the logistic and exhaustion side or the child melt down on a foreign street or the myriad of accidents that occur with limited clothing. At home all the above exist but they are easier to take in stride. On the road all one can do is pray, try to laugh and make the best of it, but sometimes that proves difficult.
Our next two months will be very different than our last two and we are excited for the opportunity. With fewer plans concrete, our goals include slowing down, getting some dates nights, more school, playing more games as a family, and processing what we've experienced and are learning. Life is short and we remain optimistic about maximizing God's glory.
[post landing addition: just moving through airport and getting new sim cards in developed. English speaking nation is sooo much easier... love NZ already!]
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| Snuggles with Grandma |
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| Morning bike rides with Grandpa |
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| Pumpkin Latte while worshipping at Hillsong LA! |
To an extent we are still figuring out what works for us as we have moved every week for the last four weeks - a period we knew would be challenging. While it was doable, it felt a little fast and school bore the brunt of the pain. To stay on top of school will require a slightly slower pace and more routine, but routine is very tough to keep. There is so much to see and do - how does one balance this amazing opportunity and also stay sane? We are not sure yet, but we have a better grasp than when we started. However now, to an extent, we are starting over. Our first two months included 3 different volunteering times and we connected with two different YoungLife staff. Our next two months have none of that (at least planned). Our last two months were in another language and 3rd world countries, and now we are back to English and the developed world. We left home with our first two months fairly mapped out, knowing (or at least believing we knew) where we were staying each and every night. As of now we only know our next 6 nights and then have 17 nights as nomads in a camper and after that, no definitive plans. We have some things roughly mapped up but have the freedom to do anything we want as nothing is formally booked. Will that be better or more stressful? We are about to find out. So there is an experiment going on to a certain level and we are as curious as anyone as to how it will play out.
As a family we have already created more memories than we will remember when done. Our kids still fight and argue and act like children but they have a higher respect for one another. They have shown the ability to rally together when needed and pull more than their own weight. They have grown up in their own mini ways as they have seen things they never knew imaginable. Multiple people have commented to us how amazingly different the three boys are, and while we know it, it's interesting to see how quickly new acquaintances pick up on it and reminds us just how important it is to keep in mind. Parenting, unfortunately, is not one size fits all.
I'd love to close this with some grand thought and revelation that has been revealed to us but we do not have it and I'm not sure that is the point anyway. We have had an amazing two months outside of our comfort zone and grown through adversity as a family. We all miss things from home but cling to one another and God's plan for us. One thing that is apparent is that life is full of choices and they are hard no matter what you choose or where you sleep. While busyness and mental preoccupation are always knocking on our door we have the ability to fend them off but it takes effort - at home or abroad. It's easy to look at the glamour side of this adventure and think "oh how great" or "how inspiring" without considering the logistic and exhaustion side or the child melt down on a foreign street or the myriad of accidents that occur with limited clothing. At home all the above exist but they are easier to take in stride. On the road all one can do is pray, try to laugh and make the best of it, but sometimes that proves difficult.
Our next two months will be very different than our last two and we are excited for the opportunity. With fewer plans concrete, our goals include slowing down, getting some dates nights, more school, playing more games as a family, and processing what we've experienced and are learning. Life is short and we remain optimistic about maximizing God's glory.
[post landing addition: just moving through airport and getting new sim cards in developed. English speaking nation is sooo much easier... love NZ already!]
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