14 hours until departure

At this point, C&E should be snoozing away and resting peacefully in the guest bedroom of the Caplinger's home. Instead, they are still up, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Caplinger, as they experiment with creative packing techniques. Apparently it is cheaper to have excess weight in a 'checked bag' than it is to pay the expenses of an extra 'checked bag'. Even Houdini would be impressed with the ways they stuffed clothes, books, DVDs, Cd's, cookware, educational material, shoes, sports equipment, and a painting into 13 checked bags. Oh yes...it's 13! They began with 16 checked bags and have weened it down to only 13. Thanks to friends loaning C&E a 15 passenger van, they will be able to load everything to the airport in one trip.

The past several days have been stressful for the couple. It is never easy to uproot from one location and transplant life into another time zone. Emotions run high and energy runs low...real low at times. For instance, it's 1am and the update is just now making it off the 'To Do List', but at least it is being done!

C&E would like for family and friends to please lift up their stamina for the next several days. Although they will arrive in country on Saturday evening, C begins work the very next morning at 8am. While he is adjusting to a new time zone, new culture, and new occupation, E will be scavenging the city (population:300,000) for a home and a vehicle. They will also be adjusting to how to live with one another within the boundaries of a more conservative culture.

Points to Ponder:
--our family members who will be learning to communicate via Skype rather than in person
--our friends who will be learning to go through the weekly events without C&E around
--our new home: location, neighbors, large enough to host friends!
--C's new job: flexibility, understanding, and connection with co-workers
--E's new role: full-time house wife...it's a NEW ONE for her!!!!!
--our new fellowship: connection with like-minded people