The First Week Hello everyone... We are hoping to switch from dial up to DSL this week, so pictures will be coming soon. A mighty thank you to those praying for us. Your prayers have made a difference. There is a 16 hour difference between EST and our time in Portland. Our bodies are almost adjusted. I will try to encapsulate our first week....arrived safe...wonderful house...got our driver's licenses (no written or driving test required...scary)... Christy drove on the "wrong side of the road" for the first time (I think she would rather drive without three backseat drivers)...received an invitation to tour a commercial freight ship named the Portland (the captain is an American and was in Manassas last October)...Camden and Bailey have made new friends...Michael and Christy have also made new friends...our first trip to the supermarket went well and long(no half and half for Christy)... it is tough find new products when you have been using the same ones for years...we have been participating in the SUFM beach mission these past 10 days...the mission has been running for over 100 years in Portland...kink of like VBS, but with a harbor view as a backdrop...attended Portland Baptist in worship - wonderful spirit...weather has been wam and cold all in the same week...no air conditioning in the house...bigger still, no dryer...hanging clothes on the clothesline - nothing like letting your undies flap in the wind so the neighbors can see...air shipment probably will not arrive in time for our induction service (Jan 14th)...so much for weaing a suit...shops all close by 6, grocery stores close at 10 pm... one syndicated Christian radio station...we live a couple of miles from the beach...Aussie Rules Football, cricket, and tennis are big here...Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi...eating out costs way too much in Portland...Michael's office will be here in at the house (the church does not have offices (or a phone)...interviewed for the local paper on Monday (maybe artilce will run this week)...Camden and Bailey start school on January 29th at St. Johns Luthern School...everyone (private or public) wears uniforms to school...Camden and Bailey have bikes to ride...no signs of Kangaroos or Drop Bears...rabbits are everywhere...get a sea breeze in mid-arvo (afternoon) to cool things down...neighbors are wonderful...4 tv channels to pick from...lot of U.S. tv programs shown here (won't be watching too much tv here)...God has provided some really great people to take us under their wings here...thanks to those that have written and sent emails...we will write back...promise...this document was sent spellcheck-free.

With Great Love,
The Drennans of Oz  ¶ 1/10/2007 09:40:00 AM