Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Yap... we arrive at last.

With signs and banners to welcome us, we arrive at Yap (well, once we get through customs!). The local church members and the missionaries already serving here wait patiently while we wait for our bags to clear customs. Once we realized that the signs and the people waiting were for us it was hard to hold back the tears.





The missionaries helped us with our bags and drove us to our apartment, which was actually in a lot better condition than we had expected. They had done an incredible job of cleaning the apartment, putting some eggs, bacon, butter, milk and a few essential items in the fridge, along with baking us some corn bread and taco soup for dinner the next day (Sunday). The apartment was spotless. The tile floor was glimmering, and the bedroom air conditioner had brought the temperature in our bedroom to an inviting cool temperature. The furniture was nicely arranged and provided very comfortable surroundings considering that this was an apartment made of concrete (as is most housing in Yap --- termites eat anything made of wood.)


It was about 9:30 at night when we arrived in Yap, so we had no idea what the area we were travelling in looked like. When we awoke in the morning, this is what we saw out our window:


We are indeed in the middle of a "Survivor" series! Sorry the picture isn't larger as it truly is magnificent foliage. In the picture are several banana trees, coconut trees, papaya and avocado... and probably lots of others. Of course, actually getting to those fruits is a different story!

7 comments:

  1. i almost started crying just seeing the PICTURE of the people with the signs waiting for you! it makes me so happy to know you're already loved. :)

    p.s. the pictures aren't clickable for some reason. not sure what you can do to fix it, but just so you know.

    love you guys! and miss you lots.

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  2. Don't get sucked into the A/C, isn't it expensive to run?

    And you need to post an address of where we send stuff!

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  3. I know Janaya from when we used to work together at Prosper. I noticed on her facebook she had put that you were going to be serving a mission in Guam. I lived in the Marshall Islands (on the atol of Majuro) for 2 months. I went there for an intership w/ BYU for social work and helping them set up some adoption laws. I LOVED the Micronese people and hope you enjoy your mission there. I'm excited to read about all your advetures. :D

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  4. David: Right now, we would be dying without the A/C. Yes it is expensive, but the house is unbearable without it. I can understand why the locals run around half-naked.

    Janaya: thanks for letting me know that the photos are unclickable. I suspect that is it because I am unable to upload the full sized images at these speeds. Some of the older posts should have clickable images still.

    Lisa: Thanks for saying hi! How did YOU handle the heat?

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  5. It's hard to imagine you in the jungle...or is it? Seriously I'm glad you arrived safe and sound. I've experienced tropical heat and humidity It can be debilitating until your body adjusts, drink lots.
    I also nearly cried viewing the airport picture, you will be well loved and appreciated by everyone there. You on the Lord's errend and will be blessed and so will we as we follow your journey ... Love you lots
    janice

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  6. Love your pictures! My Mom's cousins LOVED the people there! How nice to be greeted like that!

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  7. You'll get use to the heat, if you find that your switching between air con and humidity a lot, try not using the air con so much, it will help you adapt faster, and it won't fog up your glasses. Drive with the window down instead of using the air con as well. Marshall Islands were taken out of my mission at the beginning on my mission.

    Troy

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