Life at WEC

As you know we arrived here last Saturday and had a couple of days to settle in before classes started yesterday.

The people here are very friendly and we have been made to feel very welcome. On Sunday we attended a local baptist church which was good, but it was hard not to be with our own church family as we worshipped the Lord.

The accommodations they have provided us with are spacious. We do have one wing on the second floor of the castle. We have 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms (now I'm getting spoiled), a school room and a dining/family room. You will notice we don't have a kitchen. I have been told I can use the main kitchen downstairs when it's not in use, but I don't think I will. Let me tell you why. Monday to Friday our meals are provided in the main dining room where all the people who live on 'the hill' meet together to eat. So far the meals have been excellent - even our picky eaters have enjoyed most of what has been served. We are also free to help ourselves to leftovers. Then on the weekend we were told of a place where we can get an extra large pizza, cooked to order, for $5. So, we might have leftovers Saturdays and pizza on Sundays and I get a 3 month break from cooking. Sounds good to me!!!

We finally started class yesterday with just general introductions and outline of the course. We have already been assigned (and completed) our first lot of homework - psychological tests. Today involved looking at the psychological tests to enable us to discover what type of personallity we have and how to recognize different personalities in others.

Our classes normally run from 8am to 12noon. Three afternoons a week Gary gets to help out in the maintenance department and the rest of the time is set aside for assignments to be completed.

We are extremely grateful for the help we have in taking care of the children. Cressia is from Brazil and Mark is from France. A lady called Lee is also helping at the moment. It is working out well as Mark and Cressia get to practice their English (which is already very good) and the kids get to learn about other cultures. There is another family here with kids who are 2 and 4 years old. So while Daniel, Elaina, Nicholas and Naomi do their school work, Jeremiah and Deanna have someone else to play with. I know the kids are having a great time while we are in class because today when I picked them up Deanna was quick to inform me that she did not want to go home with me!!

Another really nice idea they have here is training for the kids - the oldest four. Two hours a week they spend learning how to be a peacemaker and for another 2 they go to a class for missionary kids - to teach them what to expect with culture differences, how to serve others etc. This will be great for them.

Most of the kids aren't having any trouble settling in. Daniel is finding it hard and we have seen some of the old behaviors resurface. We were told this could happen when he is under stress. Thankfully today was a little easier. Nicholas is also finding it challenging. He doesn't like change and has already been asking when we can go home. Please pray for them. Thank you.

That's all I can think of for now - hopefully I'll have some pictures to post over the weekend.

Michelle