Family Fun and Resiliency

Three weeks ago we packed up our home to be away for three months. Transitions like this can be difficult for our sensitive children, so there were tears and extra hugs at all the things they love that will be left behind.

We had car trouble on the normally 10 hour road trip to the capital, but the children handled waiting on the side the road in small villages in melting heat (110) surrounded by local children for an extra 4 hours very well. We traveled to Rwanda for a Pecusa mission coworkers conference focusing on reconciliation. We stayed in a beautiful location and there was a children’s program from Ferncliff camp, who created a wonderful environment for our children. They even gave our children attention when they didn’t ‘have’ to, as our children always wanted to be around them! It was a little break for a homeschooling Mom who is around her children 24-7. El Padre and I had time to have good conversations with colleagues (the best part), attend meetings sharing the amazing work of God’s grace and reconciliation in Rwanda and update us on church procedures. A Delight stated that she wanted to stay there forever and there were tears when we said goodbye to the children’s new friends.

We stayed in Rwanda to travel around as a family with coworker of our for a couple more days and again we were spoiled with beautiful accommodations at a Free Methodist clinic compound. Rwanda is green with abundant wildlife, much less dust and strict laws on keeping the country clean. They don’t even allow thatched roofs! It seemed so very developed, referred to as the “Switzerland of Africa.” We always had running water and electricity, cool evenings and comfortable days - makes it pretty easy to idealize a place we are visiting. We hiked, had a day to relax and meet another missionary family, and even went on a Rwandan safari. Still at the end the children rated the Sahel ahead of Rwanda on their list of favorite countries! 

From there we flew back to the Sahel to extreme heat. The capital had had their first rain, so it was 110 and muggy with power cuts! We were pretty glad that we were heading out of the country about 13 hours later! Because of Zig Zag’s visa, we had to spend a few days lay over somewhere on our way to the US. We chose Casablanca, Morocco. I found a hotel on Expedia outside of town that caters to children. They had a man on stilts and a clown here for the weekend. They have a pool and even a playground!! Again, the children were bouncing around with uncontainable excitement. Maybe once one had adjusted to living in the Sahel – it is easy to please! We visited a few sites in Casablanca the morning we arrived and walked on the old walls in El Jadida and enjoyed the beach. We found Morocco very cold with the wind in the country – almost too cold to enjoy the pool! But again, it was more developed than we thought and the part we were in looked very similar to a southern Europe country side.

So the resiliency? First saying so many goodbyes was difficult. Second, as you probably know traveling is difficult with odd times for everything. We had four middle of the night flights, some as short as 2 or 3 hours, meaning a full night of sleep was completely lost. With three children there was no way we could carry them all, but they all stepped up to the challenge and woke up to walk when needed! We had 5pm bedtimes and many nights the three children were sharing two twin beds (even El Padre and I shared a twin!). We had lots of time in the car not knowing where the road would go, as our maps were poor or didn’t match up. We ate lots of sandwiches and had strange meal times. But the children did very well adjusting and not complaining. I would say they have earned the title mish-kids. We are grateful for this energy intensive but fun family time.

--La Maestra