Move Update

Here is the majority of yesterday’s “Bolen Family Update.”  I don’t normally put it online because it contains personal details.  Most of this should not be embarrassing to anyone 15 years from now.  If you don’t get that update or know our secret moving blog address, but you live in the Dallas area and want to help us “move in” on Saturday, be in touch with us.

We ‘ve now been in the States for exactly a month and want to update you on a few things.  Overall, we would say that the transition is going well.  The kids fight, but they ‘d be doing that if life was completely normal.  Kelli and I are tired, but that’s just a part of a normal, faithful life.  In some ways, we feel that we haven’t made much progress after 31 days.  We ‘re still living out of suitcases and unable to have any sort of normal routine.  In other ways, we have seen the clear blessing of God as he prepares us for a new place of ministry.

We have signed an agreement on a house to rent.  According to the agreement, we are to move in on Wednesday.  However, I was at the house today and I think the property manager and/or owner are going to start the agreement out with a failure.  They have done none of the things specified things, including replacement of the 30-year-old non-working air conditioner units.  We ‘ve lived the last many years without a/c, but Dallas is different.  We are still hoping we can move this weekend, though we still need to locate some beds before we do. [Update: A/C is being installed today.]

We also purchased a couple of cars.  The truck is going to get its use, as every item that goes into our house will be brought via the truck bed.  Today it took 3 hours to transport half a desk unit to the house (traveling from the place we ‘re staying to the place where the desk was to our new home).  Slowly, slowly. 

Both the house and the cars are tremendous blessings to us.  They are more than we deserve or have ever had.  The desk is pretty swell too.

Another huge blessing, not clearly related to the move, is the reading that the boys are doing, especially Luke.  It is absolutely astonishing to listen to them (especially Luke) read (English) aloud.  Since arriving in the States, they have just been grabbing books (of friends whose houses we have been staying at) and devouring them.  Just a year ago, Luke was having trouble reading single words, and all year was a battle for Kelli teaching him through a Phonics book.  Now he’s off on his own.  Both boys finished yesterday or today a Children’s Bible of 600 pages.  It is entirely self-motivated.  I can account for it only as 1) answers to prayer; 2) living in a single-language environment; 3) access to many appropriate books.  Concerning #2, last month both boys said it was easier to read in Hebrew.

The girls are doing well too.  Bethany turned 5 yesterday, and loves to act and dress as a princess.  Katie is talking more and more, never missing an opportunity to repeat anything anyone says.  That got me in trouble yesterday.

For prayer, we would submit the following requests:

1. Continued smooth transition emotionally for all

2. The three oldest kids as they prepare for school (starting 2 weeks from today)

3. Kelli as she juggles all of the regular responsibilities without the regular tools, plus starting to create a new home

4. Todd as he tries to re-learn Greek very quickly, shops and transports furniture, and is frustrated that he has been unable to fulfill other obligations

5. For us as we look for a church; since staying in places distant from our new home, we have not been as aggressive yet in looking

Your prayers have been answered by God.  We have seen and we believe.  Thank you.