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Okay, I’ll Tell You
The truck made it. We had to meet it where it broke down, get a different truck, unload the first into the second, then drive to our house to unload. As we were settling in we started noticing missing items. Uh-oh. That’s right. Not everything made it.
And it’s not just that really. We had an ordeal with the airline that I haven’t mentioned and don’t feel like talking about now either. (But just for the record Northwest/KLM won’t get our business again if we can help it.) We’ve contacted customer service numerous times and can get no help from them.
Then we get here and the driver of the truck lies to us multiple times and is generally difficult to work with. The shipment was delayed over and over and we just got no help on it. Then the truck breaks down and we have to get it here ourselves. Just to find out it’s not all even here.
When we inquired about all this we were told there was also a break-in at the SIL office in Dar where some of our stuff was so some (but not all) could have been taken there. The rest of the missing stuff was on the pallets we just shipped over so we have no idea at this point what happened to those things or where the problem lies.
I mean. Are we being tested, taught, or tempted?
But we’re doing much better now. It’s just been a hard few weeks and I’m extremely glad they’re over. We’re settled in much better than we have been yet. I’m pretty much over losing some of my things (the sentimental, irreplaceable things were the most heartbreaking) and just ready to move forward.
As I hear Jonathan talk about his work I get excited (although I bet I’m not showing it through my fatigued expression). I’m glad we’re here and honored to be able to help the people around us. What is that saying about a bad apple spoiling the whole bunch? Only if you let it.
3 Responses to “Okay, I’ll Tell You”
May 21st, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Tested? Taught? Tempted? Seems like all three apply, plus probably a few more. I’d be interested to know what the basic problem was with NW/KLM, because we will be buying tickets soon for our October trip to visit Julia and Viggo. I’m not even sure if anyone else flies into JRO.
I guess you are warming up with diaper rash, etc. Daniel came down with what appears to be a bad case of the measles while Julia and Viggo where visitng Dar for a weekend. Then their car broke down on the way back to Iringa and had to be towed to Dar for repairs.
I knew missionaries faced many challenges, but I don’t think I realized till now how many were the same as at home, only amplified by cultural differences, lack of resources, etc.
I will definitey keep praying!
May 21st, 2008 at 3:16 pm
NW/KLM – Let’s just say… If you fly with them you better hope you don’t have a problem because if you do (and we had many) they won’t help you. NW sends us to KLM and KLM sends us to NW. Not worth the expense of flying with them! It cost us DEARLY!!
I’m sorry to hear about Daniel! I hope he’s better. That’s scary.
Thank you for praying for us! Can’t wait to meet the rest of your family – probably at conference…
May 22nd, 2008 at 3:46 am
Oh, I feel your pain. Well, not really, because I was the little kid who had probably already forgotten what was supposed to arrive because–in those days–everything had to be shipped and we didn’t get our supplies for months! However, I remember that my dad had built the crates and had grand plans for the wood–including a play house for me. Then the trucks delivered our stuff. With no crates. Yep, somewhere along the line they had unloaded all the stuff and kept the wood! I know a lot of things were broken or lost. Maybe I’ll ask my mom … But I do remember our four-year supply of TP had been rained on.