“The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him”
–Ezra 8:22
##############################
IN THIS EDITION:
* Arrival: We made it!
* Survival: We’re making it
##############################
* Arrival: On Saturday August 10 at 2:30 p.m. we arrived in Trinidad for our first term of service. Thankfully our trip was relatively uneventful. Andrew, Emily and Kate did very well on their first flight. Providentially the ride was reasonably smooth because Kate cried (& sometimes screamed) on the few occasions when she had to wear her seatbelt.
The big excitement came after we landed. Since we were sitting at the back of the airplane, we were the last to get off. After we walked the jet way, went down an escalator and walked through the terminal, we arrived at the immigration area. It was only then that I realized that I had forgotten the immigration and customs forms on the plane! Rather than spend a half-hour or so filling the forms out again, I decided I would try to get the already completed forms from the airplane. That meant a dash through the terminal, climbing up the down escalator, sprinting back through the jet way, and dodging the clean-up crew who were already disgorging the airplane of “garbage.” How I prayed that my forms weren’t included. God had blinded the eyes of the plane cleaners to my forms, hidden behind the Air Canada magazine in the seat back pocket.
Clearing immigration and customs was relatively easy. The process just took a while to complete. The biggest trial was navigating Kate’s stroller and 3 carts piled high with luggage through the customs line while restraining 3 kids recently released from “captivity.”
* Survival: Our main tasks since arriving have been surviving and beginning the process of settling in. We have been successful on both fronts.
Other than some mosquito bites, a few upset stomachs, a cold & sore throat for Jane, and lots of sweat (last night was the first time since we’ve been here that the temperature dipped below 25 C … 77 F), we’re doing quite well. We’ve also experienced some of the trials of life here. We were without phone service for two days last week because someone decided to steal a couple hundred feet of phone cable not too far from here. Apparently they use the wire to make jewelry. And the phone service is out again today!
Ken & Nancy Guth, our hosts, have been treating us very well and have aided immensely in our settling in process. We have accomplished many of the necessary start-up tasks. We have opened a bank account, subscribed to the newspaper, and activated our cell phone. We found the nearest hospital. We celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary with dinner out (without the kids). I wrote and passed the test for my Trini driver’s license. We have been checking out cars and have nearly decided which model we intend to purchase. I have screened in half of the windows at the house we’ll be living in. We began the process of clearing our container through customs… even though it hasn’t arrived yet. It was scheduled to arrive in port yesterday, but we found out last week that the schedule had changed. We now expect… hope… pray that it will be arriving on Thursday August 29. Pray that the process of clearing customs will be smooth.
Again, thank you all for your prayers and support in so many ways. We will continue to need them as we continue the process of settling in and also as we begin ministering here. Pray for me on Sunday as I preach at Calvary in both the morning and evening.
(Please note our address in Trinidad listed below.)
From Trinidad,
Tim & Jane, Andrew, Emily & Kate Bahula
Missionaries to Trinidad & Tobago
