Top Ten: Container Day

Almost four weeks ago, our container finally made it to Quito, exactly 4 months and 5 days after we ourselves arrived in the country! Four months isn't that long to wait, really (in comparison, the Angola Team waited nearly 7 months for their container), but honestly, there were times when that wait seemed interminable! I think because we just never really knew right up until the very end, how much longer we were going to have to wait for it! It seemed there were little hang-ups and delays at almost every point along the way. But our things are here now, and we are so thankful, and of course so busy with the work of unpacking and settling into our home.

I'll write more about our whole experience with shipping our things across the world later, but for now, I just wanted to share a few pictures of our "Container Day," August 18th, 2012:

This first picture was actually taken a couple of days before, when the container was still in port in Guayaquil. Rusty traveled down to Guayaquil, along with our customs broker, to clear the container through customs.

Rusty is waiting to cut the seal on the container so they can open it up for the inspection.

After the container had cleared customs and all fees had been paid, our customs broker arranged for a truck to bring it to Quito. This picture was taken the night before the container arrived. We were giddy with excitement -- I felt like a kid on Christmas Eve!

How our house looked the night before the container arrived -- bare and empty!

Finally, August 18th arrived. And so did the truck with the container!

About 6:30 a.m. -- it's here!

Rusty built this ramp to make it easier to carry things off the truck. Later, he used the wood to build himself a workbench for his workshop.

We had a great group of helpers from the EQEB who worked tirelessly from about 8:30 to 11:30 to unload everything. Josh was there, too. Julie helped out by taking the older boys to her house for the morning so they wouldn't be underfoot.

Benjamin and I helped, too! We made breakfast for the driver and his helper, who had been driving all night and were hungry. I also directed traffic in the house, and after Ben went to sleep, I helped carry things off the truck.

The last item to come off the truck was my piano. It was a team effort!

A FULL house -- quite a contrast from the night before!

Since the container arrived, we have been busy unpacking, organizing, and trying to find a place for everything. The boys are eager to help, of course!

Benjamin "helping" Daddy put together furniture!

It's fun to play in the packing paper!