Our Arrival on the Field
Our flight from Seattle to London on Norwegian Air was easy and delightful because we were able to snag very inexpensive first class tickets. We had to take a few things from our bins before checking as they were over the maximum weight limit, but other than that we didn't even pay for our overweight bags. We had five suitcases and two bins, plus five carry-ons. My suitcase has a bag that connects to the front, and we had to take that one off and carry it on to meet weight requirements. We wanted to check this bag, so it caused us problems with TSA in Seattle, where they took toothepaste and sunscreen from us, and then in London, where I had to empty all my essential oil bottles into a plastic bag and send them through security by themselves. Fun times, but nothing too challenging. In London we enjoyed an English breakfast of poached eggs, beans and sausage before boarding our flight to Madrid. Austin especially was so exhausted by this time. He cried for 20 minutes when they took his apple juice at security, but after some breakfast he was able to play in the little playground while we waited for our flight. In spite of the bustling early morning at London's Gatwick airport, it was the middle of the night for our bodies, so all of us slept a bit on the flight to Madrid. Austin conked out and could barely walk off the plane. I laid him down on a bench while we waited for our baggage and he just kept sleeping.
All our luggage came off quickly but we were missing carseats. Thankfully our team had some in the car they brought, so we're legal until the airline can deliver them to our temporary home at the Browns. There was a young man who traveled on our flights whose backpack was also missing. He is in Spain to do the Camino de Santiago and he basically didn't have anything except his passport; no phone, no language and nowhere to stay in Madrid where the airline could deliver the bag. He was very stressed out, as you can imagine. So, we offered what advice we could, showed him where the information desk was and I said a silent prayer for him. Our coworker helped him get situated at information and was even able to share why Chris and I had been so nice and helpful - we desire to show the love of Christ everywhere we go. What a sweet way to begin our adventure! Will you also pray this young man's bag is delivered to him shortly and that God would speak to him on his many days of walking?
All of our teammates who were able to make it came to meet us at the airport - much more than necessary but what a sweet welcome it was to see all their faces and know how happy they are to have us here.
Here's a "missionary life" moment for you. One family is leaving for a short furlough on Monday. Shortly after that, another family is leaving for a short furlough before they change mission fields to Peru. Their gathering at the airport for us was the last time they'll see each other. With our agency, the only thing we can say to fellow missionaries on different fields is "see you at Missionary Enrichment sometime!" We only have to go to ME every 5 or so years, so there's really no guarantee. Missionary life is lots of hellos and goodbyes, sometimes unexpected ones.
The family who's van we'll be borrowing drove us to the Browns' home, where many of our other teammates were waiting. We had snacks and chatted and the kids got to meet the other missionary kids. I didn't catch any photos yet but we are so thrilled that there are kids Susanna and Austin's age on our ministry team. We'll spend more time with them on Tuesday.
We were all so exhausted, Austin especially, but we really wanted to stay up until 8 pm or so. Cindy made us a delicious hot meal around 7, we did Legos for a few more minutes, and then we finally put the kids to bed. Susanna was up in the middle of the night for a while, and Chris has a head cold that kept him awake a bit and got him up at 9. The kids and I slept until 11 am and I had trouble waking them up! Jet lag is not for faint of heart.
After breakfast we walked into Alcalá to drop off a letter, visit a playground with swings, and get a loaf of bread at Cindy's favorite panaderÃa. I have no idea how I will ever learn where everything is in this town, but I believe I can! It has been a mild spring for Madrid but the warm weather seems to have arrived. I hope it heats up to the 100s slowly. We have to get used to wearing sunscreen and planning our time outside for morning and late at night.
Our first Spanish comida (the midday meal, which is usually the largest), was a typical lentil soup, bread and Spanish sausage, plus watermelon for dessert. We're hoping to stay awake until a bit later tonight. Later this week we have a picnic with church friends and church, and next week we have meals planned with each of our teammates, a meeting with the lawyer who will help us get residency, and plans for logistics like bank accounts, new sim cards, and a trip to Evangelical Christian Academy, where Susanna will go to some classes in September.
Our apartment will not be ready until July, but ministry teams start arriving on June 29, so we need to leave the Browns' home by the 28th. There is a missions home on the other side of Alcalá that we might be able to get into until our apartment is ready. We're praying that will work out, and it might give us some opportunities to learn our way around Alcalá during the camps.
Off the top of my head, these are our prayer requests:
carseats arrive asap
adjusting to the schedule
good sleep and health protection
that we all feel God is with us as we navigate these unfamiliar waters
that I (Rose) can have grace and patience with my kids, who are needier and less independent than usual