Settling in is a PROCESS

We are settling into life in San Martin de Porres... Found mold on all all my dishes and had to start washing. Still no tank on the roof so water comes and goes.  Still no hot water so cold showers. Christian is working hard to get it installed. Still no curtains and the siblings who have been helping a lot come up often.  Bathroom is still... in process, no door (makes for an interesting trip to go potty when people are here working).  All my clothes have mold on them as the new dresser we bought right before leaving has mold on the inside and we didn't know it.  The kitchen took me all day to set up and we're still waiting for some pieces to finish making shelves and then it should get a little easier.  Last night I did some grocery shopping and came back about 9pm, we were so hungry and tired with a van full of groceries.  As I got out, I hear yelling and saw running about 6 houses down.  2 gangs. Rocks flying. I was ringing the doorbell frantically for Christian to open as I still don't have a key, knowing once inside the cement fortress all would be well. Called him then thought "put away the cell phone, its the easiest thing to steal."  Doorbell was out of batteries but he guessed right and headed down from the 3rd floor to open up. I ran inside just as they all started running out way. Christian quiet and calm stood outside watching. I stood behind the iron door and peeked out the peek window and a guy ran up and started pushing trying to get in.... he jammed the door against my foot but Christian yelled and he took off. Christian thinks he just wanted to hide out. My heart was pounding, but as soon as I was upstairs in our house I was able to calm down, breathe deep, and Christian came. The batteries are changed on the doorbell. Next time I should probably jump back in the van and take off, but fear froze me. 

the living room still with boxes, construction, curtains...

LOVE my kitchen. Worked all day yesterday & its coming together!

Right in the midst of the chaos is my office set up until I can move it downstairs!

Doorless bathroom is fun to use... a jungle gym for now, But BEAUTIFUL time!

Comfy bed... stuff everywhere as we sort, unpack, demold....

In the midst of these challenges, I am grateful for many things, anxious about some others, hopeful for yet more, and have a LOT of things to do. Missing my mom and people to help with the not-so-fun jobs like whipping mold out and doing laundry. Grateful for my husband who is working his tail off to install the hot water heater (so complicated here, he has had to install the electricity for it, piping, etc), finish shelves, drill holes in cement and brick to hang curtains... he has a list a mile long of other things he wants to do. He told me when he walked in from being in the USA he almost lost it and wanted to tear it all down and start over thinking its not good enough. While at times I want to throw up my hands because of the piles everywhere, I know I have the best apartment I could ask for and a husband who loves me more than I can fathom! I cannot wait to share when things are in order and our house becomes more of a home... in the meantime here are some pictures to remind myself and all of us that life is a process. Walking with Jesus, marraige, relationships, family is all a process and it may not look pretty in the beginning but God is faithful to complete in us what He begins... and our apartment is a small remidner of that for me today!