Serbian girl in Newberg
Our original plans were to spend three nights in the Yellowstone area, but with how tired we were starting to feel and our clothes smelling like in the inside of a chimney after only a couple days, we decided to cut our plans short by one day and come home early. Also factoring into this decision was the desire to be able to have some down time at home before meeting Amalija and enjoining her to our family.
It actually happened that it worked out great to have Amalija come a day early (Saturday), so our return timing was good. We met on the driveway and exchanged greetings and hugs, had a tour of her new home, including her room, and then let her start to unpack. Since then, her life has been surrounded by kids, family sounds, places to go, church to attend, young adults group to meet, dozens of other people to meet, and a welcome party we had one week after she arrived.
If ever there was a high-impact, "whammo!"-style immersion into a new culture and family, this was it. I think our family life is quite a big change from what she's used to, but she appears to be rolling with the changes pretty well. But this Sunday, she's fallen a bit ill and had to spend most of the day resting. This isn't such good news with orientation at Fox starting on Monday (Today!).
Overall, so far, things have been as good with Amalija as we could have prayed for. She is so helpful around the house, the children like her very much, she has a big heart and a deep love of Jesus. We are so very fortunate to have her here, and we pray that our home can be what she needs and desires in terms of both love and support, but also a place to learn, grow and be successful in her studies.
Here is a message she has sent to her friends and family:
My host family, Alan, Michelle, Brynn, and Jolee, are just wonderful, their love and care is of great help for me in this time of adjusting. It's so easy to love them, and it's great to be part of their family for a while.
Newberg is a beautiful place, where I can thanks God get to the places by walk, or riding a bike, but I have to admit this is the biggest change for me as compared with life in Europe. People here are very friendly to me, even when addressing them in "my English", which happens when I'm getting tired, but there is a hope...
The good thing is that I stoped waking up in the middle of the night, feeling ready to start a new day, and being confused why is still dark outside, and everyone else is sleeping.
This Saturday, my host family are having an open house celebration to welcome me in my new home, and this will be a great time of meeting with their friends and family. I wish all of you could be here, so we can celebrate together.
Next week my orientation program starts, meaning more new things, and new people, but honestly I'm looking forward for this.
We are so happy to have Amalija in our family.
- Alan's blog
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