First Week on the Farm

We had a very sad departure Monday morning before the 17-hour drive.  The Autumn West Virginia landscape was beautiful.  Our first week on the Farm is nearly completed.  They call it the Farm because we are actually on a farm.  There is a silo, cows, pond, and various rodents running around.  Even though we weren't allowed to take Anna with us, there are at least three seemingly stray dogs living on campus.  A family in our "quad" bought dog treats, so they naturally love us.

Now, you might be asking, "What is a quad?"  We are living in four-apartment house (see the above photo).  Each apartment technically has two bedrooms, though ours only has one.  Each unit has a small kitchen, bathroom, dining area, and laundry facilities.  Then all families share a common living area.

Life here is quite simple.  We wake up around 6, eat breakfast, then head off to class.  It is kind of like college life without any breaks from 8-4, except for a 1-hour lunch break.  We even get homework!  Then we spend the rest of our evenings trying to climb a hill to get cell phone service and hoping that we can miraculously get a wifi signal, working out, doing homework, and, most importantly, focusing on why we are here.

Each person is required to have a job while living on campus.  We signed up for the recreation team.  We are organizing daily fitness activities and other events (like a 5K on Thanksgiving morning).  We even agreed to watch children in the gym a couple of times a week.

We miss you all.  Thank you for all of your support.  We cannot do this without you.  This is a very exciting, but difficult time in our lives.  The enemy is attacking us constantly, but through your thoughts and His power, we are upheld.

J & L