We are incredibly thankful for starting to get in the groove of things. Its been more of a transition and challenge than we thought to jump back into school, figure out the commute into the city, even just the timings of things, grocery shopping, finding pharmacies-all the little details of life that you just have to get the hang of in a new place! But, I am very grateful this week has finally started to feel a little less difficult to do all these things.
One of the biggest reliefs has been deciding on a church! We have decided to go to First Congregational of Hamilton, which is where our pastor and his wife went while they were here and then the new associate pastor our home church hired from here! So in addition to the connections, we went this Sunday again after trying two other churches, and it really felt like home. There was a church picnic after and everyone was so friendly and welcoming and inviting. Also, Chad was introduced to a guy that hunts and they got coffee one morning and hit it off. We really enjoyed getting to meet their whole family on Sunday. Praise God for such a quick answer to prayer!
Also, we are getting back into the mindset of students! Chad is constantly studying Greek--I just heard him pronouncing it in the shower..haha :) But he is enjoying his classes and already studying hard. We are so thankful he has been able to make friends in his class so we will have relationships during our whole time here, as a lot of our friends we have met are already in their second or third year. One of his favorite new friends is from Germany, and we got to have him and his wife over for dinner this week, which was so fun! We also have a new friendship with a couple we met at Orvis! Such unique blessings to have met so many couples so quickly that we really enjoy. Chad has a fraternity brother up here in seminary too that we love to hang out with him and his wife and watch Auburn football :)
School for me is harder than I expected-but I'm so thankful to be excited and affirmed about being a PA! I also have been really excited this week to feel like I have classmates that are friends and that I can study with. Its a neat opportunity to be surrounded by so many different people from different background and really be prayerful about how to minister well to them.
We have done fun things like a seminary wide Clam Fest, having people over for dinner and being treated to dinner by friends, a picnic with Bell Hall (our apartment)
, and last night we went into the city with a couple that introduced us to the North End-which is Italian restaurants everywhere! We had some great Pizza and got to try the famous Mike's Pastry cannoli-
Tonight we are going into the city again for a date night! to see Shovels and Rope-a band we really like! and try and get some authentic Szechuan chinese and catch the end of the Auburn game with the Boston alumni !
Despite all the fun and blessings, there are definitely still waves of homesickness, and missing being known and loved. Its probably all you people who are reading this-we miss you! come visit :)
So please pray for these times of feeling homesick and lonely and that it would draw us closer to each other and strengthen our marriage, and most importantly draw us closer to our Savior. And that the gospel would go forward in our new friendships and relationships.
