Always Learning

These days pass us by quickly. The process of adapting to an unfamiliar schedule has been different for each of us. Integrating into life here is exciting, yet it’s not without its tough moments. Living in a different environment comes with the attitude of “try try again”. Although adjusting brings along difficult moments, this is where we are confident God wants us, and I can already see the positive impact this journey has had on my parents, and my family.

The process of learning is not solely connected to school or my parent’s classes, it’s connected to everything – even the little things like washing shower curtains.

Last week, Rachael was assigned her weekly responsibility in her dorm room – taking the shower curtains to the laundry and washing them. Confident that it would be simple, she and Elise took down the shower curtains and headed to the the laundry center.

First mistake: If you haven’t received any instruction about the ins and outs of the laundry room, don’t attempt to figure it out yourself.

Oblivious to that piece of knowledge, Rachael and Elise pick an empty washing machine, dump the dirty contents into it, and, wondering why the machine had no slot for the detergent, sprinkle the powdered detergent on top of the clothes.

Second mistake: Although the dryers may look like washing machines, they aren’t.

Once the curtains and detergent were officially stowed in the machine, Rachael realized that she had accidentally mistaken the dryer for a washing machine. They reopened the dryer and transported the curtains to a genuine washing machine, accidently scattering the detergent all over the floor.

Third mistake: Attempting to sweep up detergent when there is no broom available is not the best idea.

Since powdered detergent was now all over the floor and in the dryer, Elise searched all over the room for a broom with which to clean up the mess. No broom, but there was a scrub brush! On their hands and knees, Elise and Rachael manage to clean away the detergent on the floor, but were unable to thoroughly clean the dryer since they didn’t have a vacuum. Now officially flustered, Rachael starts the washing machine, watching and waiting for the water to run down the machine’s glass door so she could leave. No torrent of water. In fact, it wasn’t even trickling; it was barely dripping. Unwilling to stay and face the fact that the washing machine wasn’t working, the two left – and didn’t come back for the curtains until a day later. By then, the washing machine had mysteriously washed the shower curtains, and the dryer that still had powdered detergent within it, displayed an “Out of Order” sign. The maintenance team probably still puzzles over the excessive amount of floral smelling detergent all mixed into the dryer’s mechanics!

Let’s just say that mistakes such as that are frequent as we continue to learn.

Now, turning to a different topic, let’s hear some opinions from people other than me:

ABBY

Q: What is some of your favorite things to do on campus?

A: I love to swing on the swing and playing outside. I also love spending time with my family around the campus, talking to people, and playing with my friends. I also love Magic School Bus, which I do for science in school.

ELISE

Q: How are you liking homeschooling with Rachael?

A: I love it. I really enjoy doing the science program and making a car for an experiment.

WESLEY

Q: What has been one of the hardest things to adjust to here on campus?

A: Having our weekend on Sunday and Monday, not Saturday and Sunday. Also, not having my friends near me has been the hardest thing.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do on campus?

A: Play outside!

KIMRY

Q: What has been one of the hardest things to adjust to here on campus?

A: Having to think about what I am saying since I’m around people from all around the world. I have to stop myself and make sure what I am saying someone will understand and get.

Q: What is one of the things you love about this school and the people here?

A: Everybody is super friendly and there is a sense of “everybody’s in it together”

PAM

Q: What were some of your thoughts as you and David walked to class for the first time?

A: I thought, “I certainly hope Rachael is OK when I get back home!” and “This is very exciting!”

Q: What has been one of the hardest things to adjust to here on campus?

A: Being in class and having to concentrate for such long periods of time.

Q: What do you think of your classes and the things they have been teaching you since you’ve now completed a whole week?

A: The classes are amazing, they are both simplistically foundational and deeply meaty at the same time. So far so good!

DAVID

Q: What has been one of the hardest things to adjust to here on campus?

A: Limited internet access and instant coffee.

Q: What was one of the “surprises” for you once we settled in?

A: The food has been fantastic! Much better than expected. They cook recipes from around the world, which is right up my alley. And we’ve yet to have the same dish twice, so I’m really enjoying the variety. Oh, and I’m loving that my wife doesn’t have to cook!

Q: Now that a full week of classes has happened, what do you look forward to in these coming months?

A: More learning and insights into ministry, more worship, and more communing with my God.

RACHAEL

Q: What was one of the “surprises” for you once we settled in?

A: The shocking coldness of the water in the sink, which has now been fixed as of yesterday (a GLORIOUS thing!)

Q: How do you like being in a dorm with eight other girls?

A: It’s chaotic, emotional, and quite enjoyable. One moment we are all laughing our heads off at someone’s imitation of another’s accent, and the next moment someone is sharing their story and we’re all crying.