Back in Armstrong!

Monday March 12th

It is Monday the 12th – laundry is done, the mail has been looked at – which means we are really home!!

At 01:30 a.m. we left Addis Abeba, Ethiopia on March 9th. We arrived one hour too early in London due to tail wind, and the captain announced that we were put on “a holding pattern” until the tower would give us permission to land. After 40 minutes of circling we were finally allowed to land.

We were in no rush, since we had to wait for 6 hours at the airport for our connecting flight on Air Canada to Vancouver. The flight was uneventful and hardly any turbulence for which I am always very grateful.

In Vancouver, we were met by our good friends Fred and Edel. Upon arrival at their home in Langley, we saw our little red car waiting for us, no scratches or any damage – all had been taken care of!! By the end of our very nice supper, both of us were almost falling off our chairs due to fatigue. We gladly dropped into bed and were sound asleep in less than 2 minutes!

The drive over the Coquihalla was great – all bare roads, not even snowy or slippery sections for which we were so grateful! (Those road conditions changed in the following days due to weather changes!)

It was nice, and strange at the same time, to walk into our home – soooo big, and clean! (It helps when the windows close properly and there are no sand storms!) A beautiful bouquet of flowers and a fruit basket were waiting for us – thank you!!!

It will take us a few days to get used to the idea that we are back in Canada. (As planned, Henk went back to work this morning.) I already did some baking since the AGM of the Armstrong Farmers’ Market is happening tonight and refreshments will be served. 

Our oldest son Tim and his fiancee Melanie gave us wonderful news by informing us of their plans to get married (May 12th, 2012 in High Level, AB.).

Our eyesight usually takes about 4 weeks to get back to normal – we have no idea why that is, but we suspect that it is due to the nutritional intake that we get when we are overseas (or its lack thereof).

Thank you so much, dear friend Margaret Crozier, for posting our blogs and pictures so faithfully and quickly!! It would be impossible to do that from where we were due to internet restrictions. Thank you Margaret!!!! (By the way: this will be our last blog to complete our work trip to Chad, Africa, 2012).

Thank you to those who checked our house on a regular basis – we appreciate you!

And then thank you to all who were part of our journey through your prayers, messages, and financial contributions. You were truly the most wonderful travel partners!!

May God continue to work through people who are willing and able to provide His Word to those who don’t have it yet.

With thankful hearts,
Your friends,
Henk and Margreet DenOudsten