where has the week gone?!

This has been such a busy week, as I said before. I can hardly believe it is the weekend already! There are a bunch of new teachers here this year, and I had been asked to have several of them over this week for dinner and help them feel welcome. I don't mind doing it at all, in fact, I really do enjoy it. It gives me a chance to get to know some new people and offer them a meal in a new place where the food is a bit different, the grocery stores are a bit different, and the language is completely different.

Making dinner was one of the most stressful things when we moved here. Grocery shopping was a close second. You just don't know what things are/aren't available, the substitutions (if there are any) for those things you can't get, and the knowledge of the language for everything else. Plus, lots of things come packaged differently here. Like I never thought of looking for milk on a shelf. That's right, it's not refrigerated here. There is no such thing as "Cool Whip," but there is a liquid or powder form that you have to whip yourself to make whipped cream. Who knew that or that it also is not refrigerated? Now that we've been here almost one full year, those things are not stressful, well, hardly ever. :)

So making dinner for people is one thing I can do. I was really glad to do it, and it was nice to get to know so many of the new women joining ICSB this year.

One of the new teachers is here with our mission, so besides having her over for dinner, I also took her grocery shopping and out and about. I well remember what it was like not to have a car and the stress of trying to get things done without one. I am incredibly grateful to all the people who helped me/us out by letting us borrow their cars or asking me if I needed to go to the store. I wouldn't have made it through without all of those people, and I want to help out in those same ways now that we have a car!

I have had 10 people over for dinner, not all in one night or anything, but that's the most I've ever had in a week and a half span, not including hosting a party or something. It was lots of different meals, but I had fun cooking. And I seriously could NOT have done it if we didn't have our supporters helping us out. I know I'm not planting a church or anything, but this is still ministry in a different form, one that I love and can do. So thank you for your partnership and ministering along side us!

It has been such a fun week, and Seth has certainly made a few more friends, not that the kid was lacking any! :)