Slowly Adjusting

Dear Friends and Family,
It has been a little over a week since I last posted something.  We have been trying to get internet set up at our house but there have been many barriers to that happening.  I am learning that life here in the Philippines is very different than life in the U.S., and that we continue to have to be flexible and patient in the process of adjusting to life here.  We do love it here and love the people and know this is where God wants us, which makes the adjustments easier at times.  We moved into our house last week and have been slowly obtaining different items for our house.  We got a bed frame a couple of days ago, so it was nice to start sleeping above the ground.  We did have mattresses, so we were just sleeping on the ground.  In terms of adjustment for the kids, Elijah has been doing quite well and is just rolling with the punches.  Isaiah, while enjoying the different parts of the Philippines, is having a difficult time as he has had a difficult time obeying us.  We have been constantly disciplining him, and we think that it is just part of his adjustment.  We are spending more time with him now, which is really helping.  We recently were invited by a missionary family to go swimming at the pool at Faith Academy, an MK school here in Manila.  He had a great time with the kids, and it was just good to get out of the house.  In terms of Isaiah's schooling, there is a local school that he will be going to a couple hours a day.  Because of the Filipino educational system being different, he will still be considered preschool.  We have heard good things about this school (called The Golden Pot) and are thankful for God's provision for Isaiah.  We continue to anticipate going to language school, beginning next week.  Please pray for us in this endeavor as it is a big undertaking.  Pray that we will persevere when it gets difficult in school, and that we will continue to go out into our neighborhood and marketplace and practice the language.  Thank you so much for those of you that have been faithfully praying for us and for those who have been giving faithfully.  We love you and would love to hear from you!  Thanks!

With gratitude,
Matt and Becki and the boys