Minnesota Trip

We have really slacked on updated our blog, and I apologize.  Life has really been busy lately.  We have both been working quite a bit, and we also traveled to Minnesota to meet some important people with COTP and do some orientation over my spring break.  We were also able to bring a moving truck of baby supplies and household items so that they can be put on the shipping container soon.  To all of you who purchased items off our wish list, donated baby supplies, gave us cash to buy household items, or sent us gift cards, THANK YOU!!!  You all are so awesome and so generous.  It was so much fun to get items from family and close friends, friends we haven't talked to for a while, and people who don't even know us.

The two weeks leading up to Minnesota were rough.  We were worried about who to ask and how to ask for items for the supply drive.  We were also worried we didn't have enough time to get things donated. Mix this in with long hours at work and financial stress, and it is not a good combination.  Add to it all the emotions of moving to a foreign land and not knowing quite what to expect.  And then throw in the not so comforting thought of not having a store to buy things in Haiti, which leads to all kinds of lists and hours of browsing on Amazon, trying to think of everything we possibly can.  Seriously, we even ordered a laundry drying rack, which will hopefully get used a lot.  We kept justifying items by saying that our future selves would thank us.

In good Bhullar fashion, we woke up at 2:15 am to pack the morning of departure.  Thankfully, most items had been loaded onto the moving truek earlier that day, thanks to two of our good pals.  We were on the road by 4:30 am.  It took us eighteen hours, but the drive was beautiful most of the way.

We had no idea what to expect in Minnesota, and the orientation went exceptionally well.  We came back reassured that we will be working for the right organization in the right roles.  I'm not sure we were ever treated so well as guests.  We got to visit with the current stateside director and his family, the founders, a board member, the finance staff, former COTP missionaries, a new COTP missionary, seasoned missionaries from Africa, adoptive families, supporters, and so many more really great people.  I'm sorry to say that we didn't even take one picture in Minnesota.  We really tried not to use our phones much when we were there, so having no pictures is just a side effect of that.

Thanks again to all of you who made all our worrying seem like a waste of time.  You have already blessed all of us who will live in our home in Haiti soon.