Burn the Ships

Emily is studying explorers in school this year, something we did in homeschooling 2 years ago. She is currently writing a report on an explorer. That got me thinking about one explorer we studied in homeschooling. (so you don't think I am some brilliant scholar, it is also one that I know a song about) In 1519, Spanish explorer, Cortez, landed in Mexico to build a colony in the New World. In order to make this a success, he burned the ships so that there would be no way to give up and return home. We feel a little like those men must have felt. Leaving everything that is familiar and dear to us, there are times when each of us feels a little voice whisper, "go back to the life you knew." I think for Emily sometimes that voice is louder than for the rest of us. We have learned it is tough to be a 5th grade girl at a new school, but through it all we know this is where we are supposed to be. I am more confident of this than almost any decision I have ever made. "The one who brought us here is saying...

Burn the ships, we're here to stay.
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith.
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return.
Our life is here, So let the ships burn.

Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone."

Not that life here is bad. We are actually enjoying most of it. When we talk with friends from residency that have started "real dr jobs", we realize, we are enjoying life with no call, no insurance red tape, and none of the hassles that make American medicine a chore. After years of the busy-ness of residency, Allan and I are spending 20+ hours together most days. We eat 3 meals a day together. Where else could I be both nurse, pharmacist, and lab tech with no formal training. Life is very simple here and we like it, if only it weren't so far from home!
By the way, Emily and I had a "date" today for lunch. It cost us less than $4 to eat at KFC(her choice). I alone couldn't have eaten for that in the states.

**" Burn the Ships" by Steven Curtis Chapman from Heaven in the Real World