Happy Anniversary!

by Amy


April 17, 2007, will forever be ingrained in my memory!  It's the day we got off the plane and began our life on this side of the world.  In so many ways, it seems like it was just yesterday that Brad and I drug 3 small children (at that times, ages, 4, 2, and 2), a double stroller weighted down with our 10 carry-ons, 11 trunks, and 4 rolling suitcases and 1 over-stuffed duffel bag half way around the world.  Side note:  by the time we got to LAX, we were convinced that my brilliant idea of packing our most heavy items, like books, in our carry-ons that had no weight limit, was a very bad idea! 


But, on the other hand, April 17, 2007, seems like a million years ago!  It's encouraging to think how far we've come in the last 4 years - especially in the area of language.  Oh, how many times did I have to call a friend and have her tell my taxi driver where I wanted to go?  Now, I'm the one getting calls and talking to my friends' taxi drivers!  How many times did I pay way too much for something at the market?  Now, I'm familiar with reasonable prices and enjoy doing a little bargaining.  Oh, and I remember feeling so discouraged about cooking four years ago.  I had a huge stack of recipe cards, and I could find what I needed to make exactly three recipes.  Now....there are probably about 3 recipes I can't make, (thanks to my husband's awesome use of the local ebay!)  When we first got here, I couldn't even express my most basic needs but, now I can, by God's grace, point my friends to the One who can meet all our needs.  


These last four years have not necessarily been easy, but they have been blessed!  We praise the Lord for bringing us here and pray that we have many more years in this place!