This is the first time we’ve had any communication with the outside world since we left LA on Thursday night. Now we’re at the mall in Castle Hill (just a few minutes walking from our house) sitting at a tiny kiosk. This should prove how we are craving home. (it’s been a long search for internet – it was down at the church.)
So. We’re alive. Thursday night we had a really great time seeing Jeremy one last time before flying out. We made some teary phone calls and even teary-er texts just before boarding…and then started out on that 10-hour flight to Fiji. Apparently, the gods did not want me to go to Fiji because I was sick all night on the plane and, after getting sick a few more times in the airport once we landed, recovered slowly on the beach. No complaints really, sleeping under a palm tree is a great way to recover. Preston made friends with the locals and brought me papayas and coconut that had been knocked out of a nearby tree. We’ll post Fiji pictures soon.
The flight to Sydney was no problem – we both slept. We made it to our house by about 12:30 AM on Saturday. (We’re 14 hours ahead of Indiana here) The house is….really unbelievable. It’s hard to describe how perfect it is. The view is gorgeous, the smells of flowers get carried through all day and night with the warm breeze, and the birds – all kinds of parrots and the kookaburra and other strange birds – start singing early in the morning. It’s a very peaceful setting, about five minutes walking from the church and 10 from the city of Castle Hill.
We went to church on Sunday (they brought us up front to be introduced and then I presented family dedication certificates!), lunch with Ian Barnett and his family, short nap in the afternoon, and then church in the evening. Preston has been enjoying every minute, getting things set up, making connections, taking care of me. I’ve been surprised at the amount of anxiety I’ve felt. Yesterday was pretty bad – I’ve never felt like that before. But today is better and maybe after awhile I’ll feel as peaceful as our little home is telling me I should. Everyone here is incredibly kind and we’ve had a fantastic welcome.
Oh yeah, Preston is already speaking with an accent.
HIgh Points:
Showers in the Fiji restrooms. (Greatest discovery of my life)
Jeremy’s mix CD
The horses below our home (Maddy, they made me think of you!)
Letters from friends to read on the plane
Most incredilbe youth band I’ve ever heard at church (all high schoolers including horns, strings, various drums , a small choir, 5 or 6 guitars, a tamborine….and it was COOL, and more)
Amazing AUstralian lunch on Sunday afternoon.
Today or tomorrow we should have phone and internet at home and we’ll be calling and writing as much as we can. I’m homesick and sad and Preston is too (we’re also feeling grateful to be here and excited for what’s happening). We would love to hear from you.
Love and miss you tons! We’ll post pictures soon!
The new 80’s thing is everywhere. For men, the style is very asian. Everything looks just a bit too small, nothing baggy, sharp colors. So….that’s important information.