We're Here!!

This is my first posting since arriving in Africa. We have been here for just o ver three days and Elyse has not adjusted her sleep schedule yet. That is why I have set this blog up at 4:00a.m.! In moments of extreme sleep deprivation I fear she may never sleep longer than 4 consecutive hours again! In five hours our house keeper `Me (May) Augustine starts work here. She came with the house and we were asked to keep her on as she would be unemployed otherwise. It should be interesting having someone in the house all day with us. I have heard from others that she is very set in how things are to be done (in my house...) and that she will let me know what she thinks!

Anyway, a brief summary on the past few days...Monday we got to Jo-Berg (as we have learned to call Johannesburg) about 4:00 p.m. The flight went as well as 17 hours on a plane with four kids could. I considered it a success b/c several people commented when we were getting off the plane that they didn't even notice that there was a baby on board. We stayed the first night in a facility that houses missionaries. Tuesday morning we headed to Lesotho about a 6 hour drive. We stopped for pizza for lunch and it was really quite good. Driving we saw fields of sunflowers, cattle, horse, donkeys, it would have been very normal until we saw ostriches! Then the boarder crossing and we were to our new home in Maseru. Our house is very western style with three bedrooms and a bath and a half--the half is only a toilet though....The house also came with a cat. We are not cat people but I have learned the cat keeps out the rats (not mice, rats) so we have all become very accepting of Kayak's presence. We have a tall security gate that remains closed at all times. We press a button to allow people in so it is about as opposite as it could get from living on Iron Horse Loop were the kids roamed freely all day. It is a great house for our family though and we are grateful to have it. There is a large yard and a tree house and a playhouse so the kids stay busy. It is hot here 80's and 90's, so there is lots of playing outside.

Traig has really taken to driving on the wrong side of the road and to driving a stick with his left hand. This weekend is my turn to learn. Our neighborhood is friendly and the people across the street graduated from University of Montana in 1999 and she was born and raised in Kalispell MT--its a small world even in Africa! Well, this is probably enough for one night. Please feel free to contact us anytime. We have skype and a web cam so feel free to call as well. We covet your prayers as we begin this journey. Blessings to all, Laura and family