Back to School and Routine

As we settle in, routine has begun.

 Nathan began working fulltime at the hanger this past Monday....

 

..... and the girls are about to finish their second full week of school.

School was a big change for them and added to all the new things of moving to a different country, it was a lot to take in.  For Hannah and Jasmine it was the set up of Middle School that caught them a little off guard, as they now change classrooms for each subject.  It is not a big campus, but following along on the schedule to be sure to be at the right class was a little stressful the first few days.  They have the schedule figured out now, but are still working at balancing homework and fun.  Hannah has joined the soccer team and is quite excited to be playing along side her new friends.  Jasmine is enjoying the new challenges and particularly likes the freedom of being released from class with out having to line up.

Aliyah has jumped right in and gotten to know some of the girls in her class and is just generally loving school.  For her everything is very similar to her old school so it was mainly making new friends and meeting the new teachers.  A highlight for Aliyah has been going to a near by resort pool for swimming lessons every Tuesday as part of her Physical Education class. 

For Lauren everything was new, as this is her first time going to school.  She enjoys the activities and is slowly making friends, but she is also missing her time with Mom.  She tells me most mornings that she is not going to school today because she is going to stay home and bake with me.  I simply tell her she has to go to school and she can bake with me when she gets home.  As she make new friends I am sure being away from home will be less of a struggle for her and she will see that we still do things together.

 

The start of school also began a new phase for me, as it is the first time I have had no kids at home during the day.  I do miss having Lauren around as my little helper, but it has given me a chance to do the unpacking, keep up with the baking demand for lunches and figure out a house cleaning routine.  Although, the highlight for me has been the routine of doing my Bible Study each morning.  After I get back from driving the girls to school, I can throw in a load of laundry and do my study while I wait to hang it up.  Then I jump into the cleaning and baking or head out to the grocery store to do some shopping.  It has been refreshing and is definitely an added bonus to the new phase of all kids in school.

 

We have been on a huge learning curve these past 2 weeks and at times it has felt overwhelming.  But it has also been a time of leaning on God for strength when we are worn and tired and realizing anew that His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.  We have been blessed with an amazing MAF team here, who have been so caring and helpful, and have been there when we needed questions answered or just to chat. We are so thankful to be a part of them.

 

 



 



We are Here!!!!!

Day 3 here in Uganda and we are slowly feeling more at home. 

Our flights here were uneventful and we thank all of you who prayed us through the long trip.  The girls travelled very well with some sleep and a few movies to pass the time.  We arrived at Entebbe airport very late but went through visas and customs without a problem.  Praising God for His provision after a long 18 hours of travel. 

Our apartment here is very nice and we were welcomed with a table full of thoughtful gifts from the other families here. 

 

Although our shipment has not arrived yet, we are well taken care of.  The hospitality team has fully furnished our home complete with towels in the bathrooms, beds made up and kitchen cupboards full of everything we need to make our own meals.  Although we are being treated to dinner at some of the other MAF family homes, we are able to do breakfast and lunch here.

The sounds and smells take some getting used to, but it is nothing too crazy.  We seem to have a number of dogs in the neighbourhood who choose to bark all night.  I’m hoping that once we get into a better sleeping pattern, we won’t hear them as much J

So far we have visited the MAF office, exchanged money to Uganda shillings at a trusted local bank/ATM, visited the girls school, driven over many speed bumps and dusty road, ate lunch from a street vendor that many of the MAF staff go to for a Rolex, (a deep fried flat bread and fried egg, rolled up together) and have gotten to meet many wonderful people who are here serving.

How are we feeling?

Tired from travel and being in a different time zone, but slowly getting into a good sleep cycle

Grateful for God’s many provisions over the past week.

Lost as we try get our bearings as our hosts take us to the different places we need to be.

Thankful for the many people who have welcomed us and made us feel at home, and for those who have prayed us through the last week.

Cautious about drinking the tap water on accident or forgetting to put the mosquito net down when going to bed.

Excited for what is to come and how God is going to grow us in our walk with Him.

Taken after the girls had finished their assessments at Heritage International School

They will begin classes their on Monday, Aug 17th.

 

Less than a month until Take Off

 

In less than a our family will be loading on a plane and heading to Kampala, Uganda to serve with the East DRC MAF program. 

 

We are going to be living here!

 

We have packed our shipment and suitcases and are finishing up last minute details.

 

 

 

With only 10 days in Ontario before we fly out, we have been trying to get in as much time with family and friends as we can and it still seems too short.

The girls with their Great Grandparents and Aunt Esther

 

Fun camping trip with a great bunch of friends

Lots of fun with cousins

More cousin time

Celebrating Grandma's Birthday.

 

It is hard to believe that this time next week we will be unpacking in our apartment in Kampala, and beginning the next step of the journey.  Open to the wonderful people of Africa and what God has in store for us to learn.  We appreciate your prayers as we travel first on Tuesday night flying out of Toronto at 9:40pm with a full 24 hours of travel ahead.  Pray for restful flights and smooth processing through customs in Uganda.  It will be late and we will be very worn out from travel.  We ask also that you pray for the girls as we meet with the school on Friday, Aug 14, for their assessments and introductions to the school.  That they will be able to think clearly even though they will be jet legged.

 

Again, we can't say enough how thankful we are for each on of you that are part of this journey with us.  God has done many things in our lives over the past months and we look forward to the steps ahead and how we will grow in our walk with Him.

 



 

 



 

Half way there!!

We are now officially past the half way point of our time in Nampa. Nathan has spent the last 4 weeks doing his maintenance training which has involved some hands on learning, as well as reading though manuals and writing tests. 
So while he has been busy with training, what have I and the girls been up too ......super cool stuff!  And keeping cool on our high 90F days.
We've checked out the parks and splash pads.

 

 

Done a lot of baking.

Mint chocolate cookies

Borrowed a sewing machine and did some fun projects

Making a romper for Aliyah

 

We've also tried some science experiments.

Stretchy slim (aka liquid starch and glue)

 

Using the slim to blow bubbles

 

As well, on weekends when Nathan is not in class, we have done some fun things in the area and with the other families.

 

Idaho Capitol Building in Boise

 

Water balloon launching.

 

BBQ at the park

 

 

 

So even though some days seem long, and we miss being able to hang out with our friends and family back home, we have been busy and blessed with some great times with our new friends here.  God has continued to show Himself faithful, and has given us joys along the way just when we need them.

Our First 2 Weeks in Nampa.

Wow, it has been a full 2 weeks for us with many new things happening.  We have joked about being in a new culture here in the states and part of it is true.  Finding grocery stores with good prices and thinking through a different currency, navigating new street patterns and although it is not a different language, we have had fun chatting about the different words we each use and how we say some things.  It has been a fun way to think through some of the more signification changes that will be taking place when we move to Africa.

Our orientation class had 10 couples, 7 from the US and 3 from Canada, who are heading out to 5 different countries.  Some going directly to country, others heading to language training next.  We were blessed to be part of such a great group, who shared their hearts openly and spoke honestly about the challenges and joys of being missionaries.  The range of topics was extensive and really too many to list, but they were all very helpful in preparing us emotionally, physically and spiritually for life over seas.  The girls also enjoyed their orientation which included making a Indonesian meal and taking a field trip to the nearby Basque Museum. The Basques are an ethnic group from Europe, who's homeland straddles the French-Spanish border.  The girls loved learning and being able to see and taste ( great food) from the culture.  Overall, their orientation was a very positive experience and they were reminded to keep Christ as their focus as they face challenges in their new country and in the sadness of good byes in the days ahead.

As we spent 2 weeks with the other missionaries, it was a joy to hear their stories, of how God had drawn them to Him and called them into missions.  So many different backgrounds and life situations, yet each one walking in obedience to Christ.  Learning to lean on Him for the strength needed to get through the transitions of packing and moving and making new connections.  We were commissioned at the Thursday morning chapel, into service with MAF US.

The next few weeks are Nathan's standardization which he is looking forward to as he will be back turning a wrench again and not just sitting in class.  I will be able to spend time with the girls and we have already gathered some supplies to work on a number of craft projects in the next few weeks.

We are currently living in the housing units at Headquarter and are fully embracing community living.  Just step out the door and there are friends to play with.  Complete with water fights, Freezies, dinners outside and lots of bike riding. The kids love the evenings when the parking lot is empty and they can ride in the big open space.

The front of our apartment building.

  Lauren made a huge milestone and learned to ride a 2 wheeler in just 2 days, with no time spent on training wheels.  What a go-getter.  It helps to have little friends that can also ride a 2 wheeler, to feel the need to succeed.  She has had a few bumps and falls, but nothing too serious.

Riding like a pro.

Water fight on a hot Sunday afternoon. 

 

New little friends

Best buds.

 

 

We have also connected into a local church and the girls enjoy the Sunday school classes as well as the mid week programs for their ages.  They are also eagerly looking forward to VBS and camp. 

We appreciate your continued prayers as we enjoy this time together as a family but also as our minds continually drift to the things still needing to be done before our departure to Africa in August.  Especially the things to be done back in Ontario during our short week there at the beginning of August along with the visits and good byes to so many of our supporters, friends and family. 







Had to take a picture in front of the cool Kodiak.  Not one that Nathan will be working on, but great for a photo.

 

 

We appreciate you all so much and we will continue to keep you posted on life here in Nampa and on into Africa.

Anyone looking for our current mailing address, it is
Sarah and Nathan Montgomery 
c/o MAF
P.O. Box 47
Nampa, ID
83653

Phase 2 Begins

After a 3700 km drive, we have arrived in Nampa, Idaho at MAF US headquarters for Orientation and Standardization.  We spread out the drive over 5 days and stopped at a few places along the way.  The girls did great and a huge thank you to those who sent us on our way with special packages and treats.  It made the drive a fun one.  Here are a few pictures of our travels.

Through the flat lands........

 

and the South Dakota Badlands.

So many different aspects of the Badlands.  We wished we had given ourselves more time to explore.

 

This little guy even posed for me.  There were so many of them in the field as we left the badlands.



 

From the Badlands we drove onto Mount Rushmore to again stretch our legs and see the sights.

Love the flag in the foreground.  A very patriotic picture that wasn't even planned.

Our main stop was Yellowstone National Park.  This is Mammoth Hot Springs.

Norris Geyser Basin

 

Walking through the steam from a huge steam vent at Norris Geyser Basin

And of course, Old Faithful

There were so many spectacular views as we drove out west and in the park, it was hard to pick a favourite to share.  God's handy work is amazing and it was so neat to see these incredible parts of His creation.

 

We have settled in to our new place and are enjoying the quiet evenings of playing in the park and riding bikes around the block.  It has been awhile since we have been able to just enjoy family time and not be focused on packing and leaving.  We are grateful for this time here and all that we will learn as we prepare for the next phase. 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Progress

What does progress look like? 

It means the items for the crate are all boxed and itemized ready to be packed. 

It means the girls clothes have all been sorted and packed for Nampa, and Kampala.
It means most drawers and cupboards are empty of all that we are taking.

It means most paper work is in order.  I say most, because it seems to be a never ending trail. 

With only 4 days until we leave for Nampa, Idaho and training at the MAF US headquarters, this progress feels like a huge milestone.  The goal, is to be all packed by Friday night, so we can enjoy the weekend with family and friends before heading out.  It may be a little ambitious since we are still sleeping in beds with sheets and blankets that need to be packed in the Kampala suitcases but if we can get most of the suitcases packed with the right weight, it would be good progress.

Even with the good progress, the "To Do" list still seems long :-)  But we will get done, and we will depart. 

Thanks for your prayers and to the many who have helped us with packing, cleaning, meals, taking the kids out and everything in between.  We are grateful for your support.

Now on to filling those suitcases.