Come here the story of one in a distant land...!

Jordan and Dan...the amazing teachers/actors!

"Come here the story of one in a distant land...come here the story...of one brave man!"  Yes, I'm not talking about St. Kitts.  I'm talking about Robin Hood.  My family (more specifically Mike and I, but I'm sure Megumi would've joined us if she could!) has been humming the tunes of Robin Hood songs all week long.

About two weeks ago, I was asked to play the piano for the little musical the prepartory school on Veterinary school campus was putting on.  There were two gentlemen that came representing the Missoula Children's Theater.  They travel all across the states as well as internationally working with children to put together a musical production.  They get to travel AND work with children.  Not to mention the acting and singing!  I think it's one of the top five coolest job in the world!  What's really impressive is that they put together this show in four days.  Yes...FOUR days!  From the little "stinkers" known as the skunks to our beloved Robin Hood, all the students at the school worked together.  It was so neat to see the process of assessing and assigning roles on the first day to the dress rehersal only four days later.        

We were a little nervous after the dress rehersal but the kids did an incredible job performing the show twice in one evening.  It's amazing what nervousness and excitement put together can do to you!  We were all thrilled to be a part of this wonderful production!  It was so fun to be working with kids again and it was a great opportunity to meet some neat people.  It gave us an excuse to get out and enjoy some yummy meals at local restaurants while getting to know the staff from the university.  It's so nice to feel like Mike and I are making friends!

Yey for Indian food!

Our little restaurant on the side of the road.

Not sure what I ate...but was assured it was vegetarian.  It was tasty!

The students called me "Mrs. Yuki" and it made me miss my kiddos back in Collegedale, Tennessee (that's what my students there called me because my maiden name was too long!).  I have a feeling we are not going to get the Robin Hood songs out of our heads anytime soon.  But that's okay, because just humming the tunes somehow brings a smile to my face.  Hip hip hooray for Robin Hood!

First Weekend

The beach we wandered into on our excursion of the island.

Our unreliable car that was hissing water during this picture.

Just when we were thrilled to have our own car, we found out on our way back from our little excursion to town and the beach that there is a leak in the hose.  Driving back up the hill full of pot holes, I just kept on praying "please let us get home...please let us get home...".  We didn't say much to each other, but I know that both of us were staring at the silver needle of the temperature gage as it kept on rising little by little to the "red zone".  We make it to our apartment just as the needle hits the "red zone" and Mike quickly turns off the car.  We sit there for a moment staring at the hood of the car where smoke is coming out.  But it stops.  "Thank God we made it" Mike sighs in relief and we both start laughing.  There's never a dull moment here in St. Kitts.

Down town Basseterre - the "tourist hot spot".

The dock for the cruise ships.

One of the places we buy our groceries.

We take that back.  Now all we have is time.  After our little adventure with the car, we are too afraid to drive.  We don't want to do anything to damage the car permanently and the new hose is not available for couple days.  We try to get things done from the apartment like look for a place to live but no body else seems to be in a hurry.  It's hard to get the information we need and to get anything accomplished.  "Island time" - that's our new time zone.  Just like any other time we traveled, it's going to take a little while to get used to it.

After feeling pretty lonely hanging out just the three of us, we are excited to check out the new church in town on Sabbath.  A friend of the old dentist came by to 'fix' the leaking water hose in the car as a patch job to buy time.  However, by the time we park the car, the silver needle is again dangerously close to the "red zone" but we make it to church.  As we enter into the small building, the place is already packed with people and we are immediately surrounded by praise songs and we soon join in.  It feels so nice to be with people and quickly our hearts are encouraged by the powerful lyrics.  Worship service is led by the small group of pathfinder kids.  It's nothing like the big group of pathfinders at Azure Hills church but it makes me smile because it reminds me of my little Pathfinder friends back in the States.  The sermon is powerful and passionate.  Just as I think to myself that Megumi is not going to last a minute longer sitting still, the worship service ends.

Our first Sabbath in St. Kitts

These are the words that accompany the friendly faces the come to greet us: "Doc, welcome to St. Kitts!", "Mrs. Dentist, glad you guys are here!", "Doc, I'll see you over at the clinic!"  Of course, Megumi is quickly making friends reaching out and going into the arms of strangers without hesitation.

We stay for potluck and the food is excellent.  However, I don't have the time to enjoy the food because we are on the verge of overheating, just like our car.  Although the sanctuary was somewhat air conditioned, the adjacent room where we are eating is not.  Sweat is dripping down on to our plates and Megumi is starting to get fussy because she is so hot.  I look around and wonder in amazement of all the people who are in suits and dressses with jackets.  Our hope for venturing out around the island is cancelled due to the condition of our car.  However, we are just thankful that we made it home safely from church and that we have a cold shower we can jump into.

On Sunday, after being cooped up in our apartment we are thrilled to get an invitation to the home of the former dentist of the clinic.  We enjoy a lovely lunch out on the porch where there's just enough breeze to keep us cool.  The view of the ocean is spectacular.  To top off this lovely afternoon at their home, they have a lady that has come to do pedicures!  She is a single mother and they often invite her to their home on Sundays to do pedicures on them and their friends so that she can have enough income for the week to provide for her family.  We convince Mike that it is something he needs to experience and I can't help but giggle as I watch Mike enjoy his first pedicure ever.  We come back home from their house with high spirits.  It's amazing what social interaction can do to human beings and of course, pedicures are always such a treat.

This week St. Kitts has two holidays: Monday and Wednesday.  We were told, "When there's a holiday in St. Kitts expect things to delay for 1 week.  When there are two holidays in one week, expect things to delay for 2 weeks."  Our container is suppose to arrive this week but who knows what is going to happen with TWO holidays.  Ideally, we'd like to have a permanent place to live BEFORE the container arrives but I don't know how realistic that is either.  Instead of getting stressed, I will do what I can and will choose to trust in God's timing.  Then I will choose to relax and focus on getting used to our new time zone - the "Island time".  I don't think it will be that hard, especially when you can sit out on your porch and enjoy a spectacular sunset like this one.      

            

Welcome to St. Kitts, West Indies!

Sea-Tac airport, Seattle WA  September 10, 2012

Despite my lack of sleep from flying red-eye the night before, I couldn't help but keep looking out the window on our flight from Miama to St. Kitts.  I've never seen the ocean colored in such majestic colors of blue.  We flew over a couple islands and it made me wish I had a map of the Carribean so I knew exactly which islands we were flying over.  But I'll always remember the moment St. Kitts came into my view...my island, my new "home".  September 11, 2012...our adventure has officially begun.


As soon as we step out of the airplane, the humidity hits us.  Mike and Megumi are immediately covered in sweat.  It feels like Japan and Tenneesee.  While we were waiting in line to go through immigration, a man in uniform approached Mike and asked, "Are you Dr. DuVall?"  Then he led us to a "V. I. P. room" where he instructed us to wait while he processed our paper work.  "How do you think he recognized us amongst all the people Mike?"  in which he replied, "He was probably told to look for an Asian family".  So far, we are the only Asians we've seen on this island!  The man in the uniform continued to be by our side until we collected all of our luggage (all 9 of them!) and led us through customs, and finally outside.  "WELCOME Dr. DuVall family!" a group of students from the Adventist elementary school, teachers, and pastors greeted us with a banner, a balloon and St. Kitts' flags.  What a wonderful surprise!  It was so unexpected that it brought tears to my eyes.  When you are tired, and had just arrived in an unfamiliar place, it's so nice to feel so welcomed.  My uncertainties were quickly replaced with excitement.  God knew I needed that.

They also had the same banner in our temporary apartment.

Glad all 9 bags made it safely here too!

The view from our balcony.

The first day continued with the pastors taking us to our temporary place to stay (a neon green and yellow apartment on the hill, which you can spot from miles away!), a little nap, then a trip to the store down the hill to buy some groceries.  We were pleasantly surprised to see many of the familiar things we usually buy in the States.  However, the price is about doubled here.  It's nice to know that many things are available, I just don't know how much of it we can afford while we are here.

Megumi is obviously excited about St. Kitts...
or at least her new balloon. 

The second day was mostly spent taking care of business at the dental clinic and in town.  The dentist who Mike is replacing was so kind to take us to places and gave us lots of "tips" on the life here on the island.  We learned which market to go to for dry goods and that the produce gets imported every Wednesday so that's the best day to purchase fresh vegetables and fruits.  I also quickly learned that we can't leave the windows open since you never know when it might rain.  It can be sunny and clear one minute, and down pouring the next minute.  But the rain usually only lasts for few minutes.


We also got our driver's license for St. Kitts.  Mike, Megumi and I went on our first drive out to the store tonight in our "new" car, 1995 Rav4.  It's definitely in a VERY used condition, but we are thankful to have our own car.  Mike kept on turning on the windshild wipers since the turn signal is located on the opposite side then what we are used to.  I just kept on muttering "stay on the left, stay on the left"as he drove us to the store.  It's strange not having to stop for any traffic lights.  There are only stop signs and round abouts throughout the island.  We successfully did our grocery shopping at a new market by ourselves and managed to find our way home in the dark without getting lost.  But how lost can you get on an 18 mile island?

It cost us about $33 to purchase these groceries.
The Starbucks ice-cream was a necessary purchase for our celebration
for finding the grocery store by ourselves!

Our next task is to find our permanent place to live.  I guess the crime rate has increased in the past couple of years here on the island.  We were instructed to look for a place with bars on the windows and protection for the door.  The rent fee is quite expensive here and we are praying that we can find somewhere safe and comfortable that is affordable.  God is faithful though and I know that He has a special place in mind for us that is just the right place for our family.  I take comfort in the fact that our family and friends are covering us in prayers right now.  Why do I need to worry?  There's power in prayers and we know that God will take care of us.    

God's Timing

Departure date: Monday, September 10, 2012.
Arrival date: Tuesday, September 11, 2012.
Destination: St. Kitts.

The last couple of months has been a whirl wind of events that seem to overwhelm us and fill us with excitement at the same time.  We have experienced many "obstacles" that Satan has put in our way to delay our departure to St. Kitts, but we always had faith that God's timing is perfect.  He has placed the right people in our paths to help us and we received the news of the approval of Mike's work permit on Tuesday night.  Despite the last minute doctor's appointments, lab mistakes, paperwork, and tropical storm...we got the work permit approved record time: 7 days.  Praise God!

Now Mike's parents' living room is filled with suitcases that seem to have exploded with our belongings.  Trying to pack for a place we've never been to is difficult.  This is not like packing for a vacation.  What do I need for my 14 month old daughter?  I'm trying to pack her favorite snacks, books and other familiar things to make this transition as easy as possible for her.  I also find myself jamming in diapers in every little space left for I do not know the exact date we will receive our container filled with our belongings.  On the same day we found out about Mike's work permit we received an email telling us that the containers were going to be there on the 11th.  However, now that has changed to the week of the 20th.  Will I run out of diapers? baby wipes? I am doing my best to not forget to pack all of our essentials but what if I forget something?  How can I be prepared for what is going to happen in St. Kitts?  I simply can't.   So I will just have to do my best, and the rest I will trust in the one who CAN see the future.  Afterall, God's timing is perfect and He WILL take care of us.

More than anything...Mike and I can not believe that this is really happening.  We are going to live on St.Kitts island in the Caribbean!  AHHH!

God, please prepare our hearts for what we are about to face and when we are discouraged, please help us to remember how you have intervened and taken care of us in the past.