We Have Arrived! (and have internet)

We are in Galmi! I thought for now I would just copy and paste a recent email that I sent our parents to update everyone else who is curious about what we have been up to for the past few days. This is a long email but the kids are about to wake up so I don't have time right now to summarize it. :) We had quite a chaotic start to our trip when we found out that our initial flight from Wichita to Atlanta was delayed. They had to bump us up two hours to a different flight to Minneapolis so we could make our connection in Paris to Niamey (otherwise we were going to have to stay a night in Paris). Marc called me at home while I was packing our carry-ons Wednesday morning and told me that we had to make a new flight that was leaving in less than an hour. As you will read, by God's grace, we made that flight and all the rest of our connections as well. We initially thought we would have internet access when we arrived in the capital of Niger, but it seemed to be down everywhere we tried to get access. We did manage to have a local missionary send a brief email out to our parents letting them know we had made it safely. I will try to put up a few pictures tomorrow. We have some fun ones from our little plane ride from Niamey to Galmi with SIM Air! Our internet here seems to be working fairly well currently and we hope that continues.

Hi to our family from Galmi,

Last time we saw most of you we were flying through the airport trying to catch our flight. We were really delayed at the TSA check-point with our liquids. We did not declare them before they went through the scanner (because we couldn't even remember at that point where they are were) so they wanted to test EVERYTHING. Marc knew that we didn't have time so he let them throw away the kids' four apple juice boxes (which would have been of no use to us anyways if they poked holes in all of them) and a tub of peanut butter that they wouldn't allow. They also didn't like our six packages of baby wipes but fortunately let us keep those. The kids and I had run ahead to the gate to see if they would hold the plane, and then Marc eventually arrived about 1 minute after they had shut the door and told us we couldn't board. We took our seats and waited to be rebooked. After about five minutes the airline personnel told us if we still wanted on the flight that we could get on (I think they realized it would be easier to board us than to locate and unload all eleven of our trunks!) and we boarded the plane. 

We made it through Minneapolis fine and got onto our flight for Paris. The kids did exceptionally well on the flight to Paris which was our longest (I think around 10 hours). They both went to sleep close to their normal bed times and woke up just in time to land in Paris. We had lost 7 hours at that point so they were a little tired and grouchy once we got there, but we thought we would have plenty of time to get them situated and fed before getting on the next plane. Unfortunately, after we landed we taxied for nearly half an hour before getting to our gate. We then had to walk (for what seemed like forever), take an elevator and two escalators with 2 kids, 4 carry-ons, and several small bags to get to what we thought was our next gate. Once we arrived we realized we were not at our next gate but at a bus pick-up to take us to the next terminal. At the next terminal we had to go through a security checkpoint which also took a very long time (long line and 3 of our bags searched) before we finally arrived at our gate as they were boarding the plane. When we handed the lady with Air France our boarding pass she asked for our "special papers". We had no clue what she was talking about. She said we had purchased our flight at a reduced rate because we were with a non-governmental organization (NGO) and that we needed to produce a paper to verify that in order to board the plane. This was all very difficult to even understand since she spoke very little English. Her manager came over and Marc gave every piece of paper he owned and she cleared us to get on the plane after seeing his medical credentialing. The Kubacz's did not get asked this at all so I have no idea what it was all about. This was why we had no free time in Paris to contact anyone. 

Our kids did amazing through the next flight as well. Hailey slept the majority of the time and Eli watched videos on the TV on the back of the chair and loved that. His DVD player battery was long gone by this flight because we loaned it out to a 3 year old girl on our last flight who was laying of the floor screaming at 3am. We had no melt downs from either child during any of our travel time. We arrived in Niamey on time and were elated to see that every piece of our luggage was also there. After getting through customs we were greeted by some of the local SIM missionaries that live in the capital. They managed to get all 17 of our trunks, all of our carry-ons, and all of us into vehicles and off to the guest house. Their was another local missionary family who had a warm meal waiting on us when we arrived. We had Shepherd's pie, salad, and bread for our first home cooked meal in Africa and it tasted delicious after only eating airplane food and Goldfish crackers for over 24 hours. We all had some difficulty sleeping the two nights we stayed in the guest house in Niamey. The four of us were in one room and usually awake and unable to sleep from about midnight until 3 or 4 in the morning. We were eager to get to Galmi.

On Saturday we took our small plane ride from Niamey to Galmi. Eli was super excited when he got to see and touch the small airplane in the hanger. He couldn't wait to get on it. I think Marc was most nervous about this leg of our trip, but we had an experienced pilot with SIM Air and we all thoroughly enjoyed our flight. The views are so much better from a smaller plane (even when you can only see desert!). Once we touched down on the Galmi Hospital airport (which is dirt by the way) we were greeted by quite a large crowd of missionaries and their kids. Eli immediately seemed to be at home with all the kids. He is having a blast. 

The people here have been SO welcoming. We have been invited over for dinner the past two nights and have two more meals on our schedule before we will be on our own. We are starting to stock up our kitchen goods, and I am planning to make my first loaves of bread in the next day or two. I will also be learning how to make my own yogurt from milk powder. We had some at a neighbor's house the other day with fresh pineapple and papapya and homemade granola on top and it was delicious. We are going to eat well here. While chicken is expensive, it is somewhat available and there is ample supply of ground beef. Eli is going to be a much better eater when we return. He has been playing hard and getting much hungrier and more willing to try new things. Today at lunch he was eating tuna fish salad by the spoonful and wanted more when his bowl was empty! He would never have even come close to that stuff a week ago. He is also beginning to like peanut butter which is huge change for him. We all slept much better last night being in our apartment here in Galmi. They actually have a really nice duplex being built that is about a month shy of being ready. We will move into one side and the Kubacz's into the other once it finishes. The biggest adjustment for me so far has been not having a water heater! We had hot water in Niamey, and some of the apartments here have one, but ours does not. The kids don't seem to mind at all. I'm sure when the days get hotter it won't bother me either.

We miss you all but hope you can rest assured that we are doing really well. We are excited about what our time here will hold. The kids are doing so much better than I ever could have anticipated (and slept all night last night) but you can continue to pray for all of us as we transition to a new culture. We walked outside the hospital compound today into the village and it was a fun experience. I will be going to market on Wednesday with some of the other ladies to get our produce for the next week. I hope to get some pictures posted on the blog maybe later today. Talk to you soon!

Stephanie

Departure Day

It is crazy to think that this day has finally arrived! I have been collecting items for this trip for almost a year now (I got tuna fish packets for a steal this time last year!) and we have been packing for nearly a week off and on. My mom and sister surprised us and came up for the day on Sunday to help which was SO appreciated. We ended up a little heavier than we would have liked (we are taking three extra trunks- one with medical supplies and two with extra food, diapers, and toys), but we think these items will come in handy to us and others over the next few months. We have eleven trunks total today that we will be hauling to the airport along with four carry-on pieces. We are thankful to have both of our parents here to see us off and to help us get checked in at the airport. I am pretty sure I have never traveled with this much luggage before. :) Along with all our "stuff," we are also taking hearts and minds that are very excited and ready to see all that God is going to teach our family in the coming months. We hope to see how God is working throughout the world drawing people to Himself through Jesus, and how he chooses to use ordinary people like us to help show others how great His love is for them. We are also eager to grow closer to God through the hardships and challenges that await us. We know that we are guaranteed some trials and difficult days, but we also trust that God will be right there with us walking us through those moments as individuals and as a family. I hope you are excited to take this journey with us! We are praying that God will use our story to teach each of you something along the way as well. Next stop.... Niger, West Africa!

Last Stop: Ashland, Kansas

We are finishing up the last leg in our few weeks away from home. Marc has been covering the ER in Ashland for the past 4 days and we came along for the fun. This is actually our second trip out to this tiny, tiny town. You can read about our first trip here. There is now a permanent doctor here so Marc was just covering for him for a few days over the holiday. It has been windy and cold so we have spent most of our time inside our apartment. We are staying in an apartment in the assisted living community. It has two bedrooms and a kitchen and has been a great set-up for our family over the past few days. I packed all our food and have even cooked up a few yummy dinners. :)

We did attempt to brave the cold and wind for one very quick trip to the park.

We ordered a pizza from a local pizza pub on New Year's Eve (the only restaurant open all weekend). Eli helped me make some cookies after dinner, and then Marc and I finished the night off by watching Captain America (the pizza place also rents movies; it's great to find "all in one" places in a small town like this. :))

Hailey is teething so bad right now. Both of our kids have had only one or two teeth by their first birthday and then gotten a ton in all at the same time shortly after. Hailey currently has EIGHT teeth cutting through and four of them are molars. She has been a little fussy and irritable (and loud at times) and I was afraid that we might be bothering our elderly neighbor. So, I baked up some cookies and took Eli over last night to offer up our peace offering (which he proceeded to drop on the floor shortly before she opened the door; most people still follow the 5 second rule, right??). 

It amazes me how God can place us in someone's life at just the right moment. This sweet lady found out yesterday that her daughter has been given less than a week to live in her battle against cancer. In the past two years she has also lost a son, a husband, and a sister. I think she really enjoyed our company (who wouldn't be entertained by a 2 1/2 year old pretending that the chairs in the room were cars and that a walking cane was the gas hose to fill up the cars??). We hope to stop in and see her again before we leave. Will you pray for this woman that she might still see how deep God's love is for her even through all this pain?

Florida with the Millers

Happy New Year! I almost got all my 2011 posts in time, but I am extending myself a bit of grace with our recent travels. My grandparents will be celebrating 60 years of marriage in February and they wanted to take our entire family to Florida in honor of the occasion. Marc and I honestly did not know if we could feasibly fit this trip in considering everything else we have going on right now (I am typing this from Ashland, Kansas where Marc is working until Tuesday and then we return to Wichita to start packing for our departure to Africa!) but my dad helped us get a three-way flight that made it possible for us to make it. We were so glad it all worked out! Even though our time there was short, the warmer weather and ocean breeze were refreshing, and it was great getting to catch up with some family that we don't see often enough.

Nana and Papa D were really excited to get to see Eli and Hailey.

A balcony view

 My dad was getting a little time in the sun in his jeans since the high was only 60. :)

All 33 of us went out to eat at the Back Porch in Destin one night to celebrate Memaw and Poppy's marriage. My aunt had a cake made and our waitress (yes, we had only one waitress for our entire group!) took a picture of us all together at the end of the night. It was wonderful to see everyone all together.

It was fun getting to see Brandon and Stacey (and Stacey's little baby bump!)

 I adore my Memaw and Poppy.

The picture on their cake was screen printed on. It was from their wedding 60 years ago.

A kiss from my favorite little boy at dinner.

 We caught the two love birds on our last day at the beach enjoying the sand and waves.

Happy 60th Anniversary Memaw and Poppy!