Today we spent our first Sunday in America. We worshiped with Bethany Bible Church in Kenmore, Washington.
We all enjoyed singing praises songs in English and a few American doughnuts before Sunday school!
We will be spending the first month with Bethany Bible so if you are anywhere near the Kenmore, Wa area we’d love to have you come and join us! You can also check our full schedule here.
This is a quick shot we took at the park at Wright Park in Tacoma on Friday. We are planning on getting an updated prayer card out soon but this will have to do for now. I’ll let you know when the new prayer card is ready.
This past week we took the family to the dentist for cleanings and checkups. Unfortunately I have to go back this week to get a crown! I’m not sure why they call it a crown but I’m thinking it’s because you have to sell the crown off your head to pay for the one in your mouth!
- Pray that we would have wisdom to know what dental work really needs to be done now and what can wait.
I think the family has pretty much conquered the jet-lag so now after week off from school the kids will be starting up again tomorrow.
- Pray for Christina and the kids as they get back into the rhythm of schooling.
Our younger kids in particular are enjoying all the new things in the USA. Here’s a list of some observations they’ve made since we arrived.
- People don’t dress for the weather, they still wear shorts when it’s 45f outside!
- Everyone drives places in their car instead of walking
- There’s more wildlife
- Lot’s of fast-food choices
- People often wear shoes inside their house
- People pray while sitting
- It smells fresh
- The roads are smooth and nicely painted
Question: If you’ve ever traveled outside of the US what differences did you notice when you arrived back home?
floyd
October 21, 2013I’ve only been to Mexico so it really is another world. I usually am sitting when I pray… Oh know!
Caleb
October 21, 2013I’ve never been to Mexico I suppose it depends on where you go there but it could be quite different than the US.
Yes, someone already asked me about “sitting to pray”. In Ukraine we either stand or kneel to pray but never sit.
Betty Draper
October 21, 2013Welcome home Suko family. If you ever get down to southern California would sure love to meet you. I think the biggest difference we notice was the amount of choices in everything. Praying for you and family in your adjustment.
Caleb
October 21, 2013Yes a lot of options for just about everything you can think of in America. I guess options are supposed to make life better but sometimes they just complicate your life.
I will be at John MacArthur’s church in March, not sure how close that is to you.
Betty Draper
October 27, 2013Are you speaking at MacArthur’s church? It is not far from us and if we are not traveling would love to come meet you. How long will you be staying in that areas?
As far as the options, I still get over whelmed in the stores from all the stuff to chose from.
Caleb
October 27, 2013No, I’m not speaking, still waiting for John to get back to me? 😉
Actually I’m attending the Shepherds conference. I think it’s March 4-6 but I’ll have to check.
Betty Draper
October 27, 2013I’ll connect when it gets closer to the conference. It sounds like a good one to attend. We have a couple missionaries attend that church when they are home.
Dan Black
October 21, 2013Washington is a beautiful state! I lived in Portland OR for years and during that time made several trips to the Seattle area. I think your going to have an amazing time! I’ll be praying for you, your family, and ministry.
ps. Sorry you have to go back to the dentists:(
Caleb
October 21, 2013Yes, Dan we do enjoy the beauty here in W. Washington. As for the dentist, I’m still thinking about it, might have to get a second opinion.
Dan Black
October 21, 2013Glad to hear that! A second opinion is not a bad idea.
Hazel Moon
October 21, 2013May God continue to direct your steps as you settle in for this season in your lives. Thank you for visiting my site. I also have a true story blog hop at: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Caleb
October 21, 2013Thanks Hazel!
Chris Peek
October 21, 2013Welcome back to the US! I hope your time here is refreshing and filled with adventure.
After traveling to Australia, I noticed how much bigger everything is here in the US – homes, cars, food portions, etc.
After traveling to Thailand, I realized how blessed we are for simple things, like indoor plumbing!
Caleb
October 21, 2013Yes, we’ve noticed the biggerness of things here, like giant bags for tortilla chips at Costco!
Ngina Otiende
October 21, 2013Welcome back to Stateside! 🙂 I haven’t traveled outside the US since we arrived here 2 years ago. I agree with everything you’ve listed (maybe except # 3 – there’s more wildlife in Kenya 🙂 ) Also the vastness of country – coming from a country of 40 million, the US with it’s almost 300million people feels like a planet by itself 🙂
Caleb
October 21, 2013Ngina, thanks for the welcome!
My kids have already seen a bunch of squirrels and yesterday 3 big raccoons walked across my parents backyard. The kids were amazed, we just don’t see that in Ukraine.
What kind of wildlife do you see often in Kenya?
Ngina Otiende
October 21, 2013Kenya is known for it’s wildlife generally – it’s a top-income earner. Much of it is in game reserves (at least the more dangerous!). What you see mostly as you drive around are baboons, zebras, giraffes, gazelles e.t.c depending on one’s locality
Caleb
October 21, 2013Wow, sounds amazing! Here in Wa, we have bear, dear, raccoons and many different kinds of birds, but no baboons or zebras!
DS
October 21, 2013Congrats on being stateside! I’ve made a trip with just my wife and I internationally, and can’t imagine doing it with a full crew – wow!
I’d say I enjoy the way the states do road construction as well as intersections run by traffic signals that people (for the most part) follow.
Caleb
October 21, 2013Good observations! Compared to many countries the US is a very nice place to drive. My wife won’t drive Ukraine and she’s Ukrainian! However, when we are in the US I just hand her the keys and she does almost all the driving, I love it!
DS
October 21, 2013I’ve seen and heard of stories of that. In fact, when we hit a traffic jam in the US on the way to our home for the first time with the host kids, they panicked. Fortunately, I knew a back-road, we had no issues, and they were amazed. Rest, games, or productivity while getting the respite from driving?
Caleb
October 22, 2013Usually it’s productivity for me if we are driving to a speaking engagement and rest for me if we are driving home from a speaking engagement!
DS
October 22, 2013Hilarious – love it!
TCAvey
October 21, 2013Welcome!
So glad you all made it.
I will certainly be praying for your teeth- seems each time my husband goes to get a teeth cleaning he leaves with a filling or root canal. It’s crazy!
What struck me in your list was people praying while sitting. I never realized it that might be different. Thanks for sharing this list.
Caleb
October 22, 2013Sometimes when we have guests come over to house for dinner in Ukraine we ask them if they are ok with us praying “American style”, which means seated. They don’t usually have a problem with it.
TCAvey
October 22, 2013It’s awesome to hear of different cultures- thanks for broadening my horizons 🙂
Dan Erickson
October 22, 2013Welcome back to the Great Northwest. I’m just across the mountains in Yakima.
Caleb
October 22, 2013Thanks Dan! Yakima’s a great city too, I love the Eastern part of our State.
Larry Poole
October 23, 2013Welcome back!
I’m almost embarassed to say this, but after spending a summer in Ecuador and some time in Greece, I was so happy to have ice in my beverage.
It’s such a small luxury that everyone here in America takes for granted.
Caleb
October 23, 2013Ice?! You’ll get sick! At least that’s what they always tell me in Ukraine. I’ve gotten pretty used to no ice, so much so that I often prefer it!
Lisa notes...
October 23, 2013Welcome back to the US! I love seeing the list of your children’s observations. 🙂 I’m wondering about this one: “people pray while sitting”. I take it that’s not a typical practice in Ukraine? What position do people usually take? [Never mind–just read your response to Floyd on that. Interesting!]
Praying for your wife and kids to have a smooth transition back into schooling this week. I can imagine there’s still many distractions that could hinder that for awhile yet to come.
Caleb
October 23, 2013Thanks for your prayers Lisa, we appreciate it!
Paul Sohn
October 30, 2013Hey Caleb – glad you’re in the States. I saw your other post about the tour you’re doing here while you in the States. In fact, I sent you a FB message about visiting Portland, OR. Let me know if you can make it here in November. I’d love you to meet you in person.
Caleb
October 30, 2013Thanks Paul! I just read it and responded. I hope we have a chance to connect in person!