Figuring it Out

So tomorrow evening marks one week since we all left Birmingham.

And it has been amazing to see how God has this whole thing rigged from the start.

So just honest feedback for a minute or two about international travel with 6 out of our 9 children:

Yes- it has been an adventure in so many, many ways. You should see my family go through customs. As airport personnel, customs agents, and the crowds of wonderful people in the lobby stare at us, I won’t write out their questions to you, but I will let you figure them out by my answers below. And I will hopefully answer some of your questions also!

Why yes, we are all one family. Yes, those are our 16 checked bags, and 16 carry-on bags. Yes- I do have 16 luggage claim tickets. Yes, we do require a flat bed fruit truck to carry our luggage out to Conocoto.

Yes- we do have to talk through shower schedules and the dynamics of life here with 8 people in an orphan house.

Yes- my lungs are on fire the first few days of walking up these mountains.

Yes- it does make a difference if you try to use the language.

Yes- His word is good in South America, also.

Yes- it does rain hard here sometimes, really hard.

Yes- it is staggering to look at the glory of God in how he has shaped this country and these people.

Okay- we have been getting the lay of the land a bit this past few days, and enjoying wonderful meal times and word sharing times with our partner on the ground here, and with our ministry partners, the Coe family and the Brock family. The beautiful children and adults in this orphanage are beginning to know our names, and we are working toward the same result.

Looking forward to giving you more detail of His work in us in the days ahead.

For the sake of the gospel…

Chris and Vickie Nichols and family

Philippians 1:6 “ For I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ.”