One good thing about social media is that, after any sort of cataclysmic event, people can hop online and mark themselves as “safe.” While moving doesn’t quite rank with hurricanes or earthquakes, consider this blog post Rachel and Brandy’s official announcement: they are marking themselves safe from moving into a new house with four kids in tow. That’s not to say it’s been easy, but they’re hanging in there!
We all know how long Rachel and Brandy have been looking forward to this move. Well—scratch that. They weren’t exactly looking forward to the move itself (who does?), but they were certainly eager to finally be in the new house. Boxes had been stacked for months while construction dragged on. Eventually, surrounded by cardboard towers and energetic kids, they looked at each other and declared, “Ready or not, here we come!”
Is the House Finished?
Mostly. There are still loose ends — such as the small detail of no kitchen cabinets. The cabinets that were supposed to be completed last December are still unfinished, so the family decided to go ahead and settle in, even if it means a cabinet-free kitchen for now.
How Was the Move?
Rachel summed it up: “The actual moving hasn’t been bad. The packing and unpacking have been difficult. Moving with kids? I don’t wish it on anybody! It’s not ideal.”
In the States, a move usually means renting a moving truck. In Honduras, it means a pickup truck at a time. Thankfully, the ministry has several pickups, which actually made things a bit easier. Instead of a one-and-done moving day, they’ve been able to move gradually, truckload by truckload. Only a few stray items — like Christmas decorations and a lone desk — remain at the old house. Now the real challenge is settling in and unpacking.
Why the Move Was Needed
The old house in Gracias had long since been outgrown. Two more kids have joined the family since they first moved in, and with Nathan homeschooling, the family of six simply needed more space. The new house is a better fit for their bustling household.
Biggest Adjustment: Bugs
Hands down, the biggest adjustment so far has been… bugs.
Rachel explained, “We’ve been working on their fear of bugs. Here, you coexist with them. The kids are learning which bugs to stay away from — and that it is possible to squish bugs.”
Some bugs are better received than others. Michael recently collected about 30 tiny beetles in a Tupperware container, only to release them back into the wild at the end of the day. In contrast, a surprise visit from a flying cockroach prompted a scream that made it sound like someone was mortally wounded. (Rest assured — everyone survived!)
Life Hacks & Solar Dryers
Progress is being made, one step at a time. The washing machine was moved over this week, and Brandy put his high school welding classes to good use by welding a clothesline. Rachel jokes that this isn’t the first time he’s made the family a “solar dryer” — but it’s one of the handiest skills he keeps pulling out of his toolbox.
Please Pray
Please keep praying for Rachel, Brandy, and their kids as they continue settling into their new home. Between unpacking and all the usual ministry activities, there’s plenty to keep them busy (not to mention the bug-fearing children).
Mark them “safe” from moving — but definitely still in need of prayer for energy, patience, and a good sense of humor!
PS: Here's a photo of Charlotte (Lottie), helping with the move in the very best way she can. I didn't want her to be the only one left out of this post!
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