The Adventure Begins

Well, if you have clicked on the links to the updates I wrote below, you know that we have encountered some obstacles making it into the village. Steve ended up going up alone while the kids & I turned back and waited in the town so he could scout out the situation. He discovered a total of 3 bridges out between us and the village where we will be living. However, he thinks he has figured out ways to get us past all of them, so we are headed out again tomorrow am early. This is the 1st bridge that is out. They are in the process of rigging a temporary bridge, and they told Steve that it will be passable tomorrow. If not, then there is another route around; you need 4 wheel drive, but we have it so we are set.

Notice the audience gathered to watch people try to cross. Just imagine how entertaining our family will be for everyone. :)

This is the 2nd bridge out. Today they filled it with dirt and gravel so it will be temporarily passable.

Unfortuately, there is no temporary fix for the 3rd bridge that is out, however it is only a couple kilometers from our destination village so we will just walk from here.

It will be a while - if ever - before you can "proceed when clear" on this bridge!

This peaceful river WAY down there doesn't seem capable of such fury, does it? But it is this river that took out all those bridges! The flooding was crazy, and it caused unbelievable damage as well as several deaths.

So we will walk the last couple km. But we still have to cross the river WITH all our stuff (school curriculum, kitchen gear, food, tables, foam sleeping pads, clothes, medical supplies...). But if they can get these 2 motorcycles across (for Steve & another guy to drive out earlier today), then they can surely get our stuff across, right?

They made it safely across with both motorcycles none the worse for the journey. (And you can be thankful that no pictures exist of when Steve jumped in and helped with the heavier one - dressed just like the other guys who also didn't have swim trunks.) :)

Please pray for us as we embark on this adventure tomorrow. Pray that the temporary bridges really are passable by tomorrow (if they are not, then we will have to leave the vehicle, unload all the stuff and walk it across - which will be great entertainment for the audience! - then hire another vehicle to take us to the next bridge, repeat process). Pray that the computer bag and school books make it across without falling in any rivers (preferably that nothing falls in, but especially not those!). Pray that we don't get ANY rain tomoro. Pray that I am able to keep my sense of humor through this crazy adventure. :)

Next update hopefully in about 2 wks.

Tnx for praying!!!