On July 17th, we had our express shipment packed up and sent out to Japan. This was approx. 1,000 lbs. On July 22nd, our big household pack out began. This took the movers 3 full days and after they left, out house was pretty empty, for the most part. This was about 16,000 lbs. We stayed in our big, beautiful home through August 3rd, which allowed us time to deep clean, paint, shampoo carpet and mop floors. On the 3rd, the movers came to pack up all the remaining household items that we decided we didn't "need" in Japan, but wanted when we return stateside. These item are now in long term storage. This weighted about 5,000 lbs.
After moving everything out, we finished the cleaning, packed up our 22 suitcases, and on August 5th, we boarded the first of four airplanes...moving our family to Iwakuni, Japan! Thankfully we were able to schedule a five day "layover" in St. Luis, Missouri. This allowed us time to recover from all the moving stress and chaos, reconnect with our Peterson family and attend Sylvia and John's wedding. We loved it! The wedding was just beautiful and perfect. Camryn was one of her bridesmaids and we were all able help make it a memorable event. On August 10th, our 24th wedding anniversary, we returned to the airport and spent 28 hours traveling to our final destination. We were so exhausted by the time we arrived. Our military sponsor met us at the Hiroshima airport and safely drove us to our current residence, the on-base TLA (Temporary Lodging Accomodation). It's basically two hotel rooms to sleep all six of us. Each room has a bathroom, a couch, a card table and a small kitchenette. It's not ideal, but the daily housekeeping service helps make it doable.
Since being here, the weather has been hot, sunny and humid between the extra humid, cloudy, rainy days. On-base life is interesting! It's a very small community of new friends. We have been very blessed to meet the nicest people here! We had to wait a week before we could take the driving test and get licensed to drive. In the meantime, we have been driven around base, driven off base and gone sightseeing multiple times with couples and families that welcomed us with open arms and hearts. This has made all the difference in adjusting to this new Japanese life.
Tomorrow, August 24th, we have an appointment to sign the paperwork for renting the house we have choosen. So exciting! The house is currently still occupied, but I believe they are moving out sometime this week. Then next week it should get cleaned and ready for us. So I think within two weeks, we should be moving in. Our express shipment still has not arrived! (Should've been here by the 20th) So, who knows when we'll get everything that makes us comfortable. Living out of suitcases has definitely lost any appeal at this point.
And I think we finally found a car to purchase. It is the base CO's car! It needs the A/C fixed and a couple other minor things updated before we buy it from him, but we are looking forward to having our own transportation again. It's a little Nisson Cube3. Seats six with the steering wheel on the right side and all! Yikes!
Today we attended a little Christian church that is an easy walk off base. It's all in English and mostly serves the military community. Great Biblical preaching verse by verse! And again, such friendly families welcoming us. We feel the Lord's hand guiding us through this big international move and so far, by ultimately trusting in Him through all these changes, we feel blessed!
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