Each day here gets a little bit easier, which is encouraging. I thought I would write answering some of the questions I have received and some bonus material.
So how hot is it?
The temperature is about 80-90 degrees with 91 percent humidity all day and night. Yesterday it rained which helps a lot and gave us a cooler day, but I feel the heat starting up again this morning. Ethan has a heat rash, but other than that has been doing well with the heat. Tyler is the one who is really struggling with sleeping in the heat. Last night we put two fans on him and that helped. He will adjust, but it will take time. The good news is that this is the hottest that it gets in the humid season, but the bad news is we still have 5 weeks until we get relief (although I am praying for an early winter 🙂 ). Many say that in November it will get so cool (70 degrees) that we will want a blanket at night…wow!
What kind of Appliances do you have?
We have a refrigerator and freezer. The refrigerator could be a little stronger, but it works :). We have a stove and an oven, but the oven is about half size and so none of our cookie sheets will fit in it. It looks like for a while all our cookies will be made in bars :).
What have we been doing during the days here?
We have slowly been unpacking and trying to make this our home. We have also been trying to get out and get familiar with our surroundings. There is a small store with a fruit market just across the street from us, where I have been able to buy a few things. Yesterday, Rosetta (our house help) took me and Tori to market with her. It will be a while until I can do the market on my own, since bartering is required there. Joel has been the adventurous one, he went to the hardware store and pharmacy on his own. He also took his first bus ride and got us phones.
A picture of the family of God here
Yesterday Joel took the bus to the NTM guest house and office here. While we was there he realized that he was with a Dutchman, a German, a Brazilian, an Italian and an American. It is pretty amazing seeing God’s family around the world coming together for one common goal.
Things I would have done differently
Two things. One would be to wash all the new clothes for the the boys one time before we came. At the end of the day the boys are not only covered in sweat and dirt, but also in blue fuzz (or whatever other color they are wearing). I also would have tried to sway Tyler from attaching himself to a fleece blanket. Nothing like snuggling with a fleece blankets in high heat.
Chelle says
Haha! I remember being a little kid in Haiti and coming home from playing outside all sweaty and dirty. =) Thank you for sharing. It is always exciting to hear what you are learning and to walk alongside you in this venture. (The hard part is keeping up the blogging when life gets busier, but somehow I imagine you’ll be better at that than me. 😉
Mike says
What simple but important lessons. Picturing two sweaty boys covered with fuzz. 🙂 The updates are great. Helps you not seem so far away.
Love,
Dad
Becca says
Love all the details! Thanks so much for taking time to do that!!! Love and miss you all!!!
Peggy says
Love your updates! Praying with you for that early winter!