6th February 2000

Dear All

It is hard to believe we have only been away from NZ for about 3 weeks, most days it seems like we have been here much longer.  To recap....We had a really good relax in Singapore, the Wakelins looked after us very well and even did our washing for us.  At the end of 4 days though we were ready to leave the humid monsoon heat for cooler climes.  London was fascinating, Lubboch's our hosts thoroughly spoilt us. Everything seemed very expensive, even McDonald's, we did some of the 'must do' things but have left lots, planning to see them with Hamish. Bea a friend of ours from Bangladesh did an admirable job of showing us around the inner city, but 2 days was long enough we were ready to move on. Our luggage caused us near heartattack at the airport but after much discussion and alot of prayer cover we were waived on without any excess to pay when in reality we were very overweight.

We arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan at night so our first impressions were very like Bangladesh with little roadside stalls everywhere.  We met a Finnish family with 7 children who gave us a meal then delivered us to the Operation Mercy office for accomodation until we made our decisions about our housing.  The office had two bedrooms, a kitchen/bathroom sort of set up and the office to use as a sort of lounge! It was adequate for the short time we used it and we appreciated being on our own to cope with settling in.  Our first priority was to decide where to live so the next week we took the 5 hour bus trip to Barda to see the clinic Ian is to work from.  The trip was long and very bumpy,a chiropractors dream!!  The potential house for us was OK but it had an outside squatty potty and no running hot water; in the middle of winter in snow these factors seemed too great for the children to handle with any humour left!!  I will leave the clinic news for Ian to elaborate on...Barda was more primitive and less Westernised than Dhaka in 1993!!  On our return, we did manage 3 days, we started in earnest to look for a house/apartment.  After looking at many we thought we liked one that had an aspect to the Caspian Sea.We went to talk with the Landlord and he became quite bolshy, we didn't want any hassles so left. Another one we had looked at was really nice with 2 toilets but was over our budget and the heating was all electric so could have been expensive. The landlady rang and said she liked us and they would pay the electricity and also add an automatic washing machine!! included in a reduced rent price .Deal done.

We are enjoying the cooler weather and feel like we have pleny of energy to do things. We spend most of our time walking around the city, though we are using the bus system to visit more distant friends.  The weather is cold, the wind bitter, but we have all bought large black overcoats and almost blend in with the locals.  Baku is quite westernised and clothing is much as winter NZ. 

 As we write the kids are watching TV in Russian and laughing at the delayed dubbing but its giving some language exposure. Actually language is my biggest problem. The Russian we learned has stood us in good stead here in Baku but out at Barda they speak only Azeri so we had a crash course and now can market in both languages but real communication is not possible yet. The landlady in Barda was a real help too even though she speaks no English.

The clinic was a real eyeopener and I was really glad of our Bangladesh experiences as it lessened the shock. Sterility was a relative term but I,m not sure relative to what and the techniques I saw were over 20 years behind us in NZ or even more. The equipment had many problems so I hope to get a better idea of what goes on on my next visit which happens in a couple of days. Already Suzanne and I are formulating plans and visions and as "Project Manager" we have submitted our first plan and budget!

We have told the boss that we do not expect him to find it all and will begin to source locally as it totalled over $150,000!! We are making some exciting networking contacts and the International church we are going to has helped a lot.We have experienced many answers to prayer and it is both exciting and challenging times we are in.

WE REMIND YOU TO BE CAREFUL IN ALL COMMUNICATION TO US HERE. All mail is opened, all phones may be listened to and even E-mails may be read. Our "company" urges discretion. THANKS

We appreciate your support in many ways. Ian really needs lots of resilience to travel to and fro from Barda.  He has been given a lot of responsibility and he will need lots of wisdom to make the right contacts, ask the right questions and make the right decisions.  His health is not 100% so 'grace' is really important as he eats in Barda especially.  Suzanne needs support as she copes with the everyday hassles of living here and overseeing the children's schooling. Lots of possibilities have been suggested but at the moment her priority is to support Ian and the kids.  Thomas has not found a job yet but we have begun investigations in that way. We would like to find a gym for him also that is not too expensive, this would mean a lot to him.  Murdoch and Morag start school in earnest on Monday and need support as they cope on their own and discipline their studies. Murdoch passed 5/6 of his SC subjects so should handle the independent studies OK.  All 3 kids love the E mail  but find the distance from friends and the lack of friends who speak fluent English a constant fustration.  They are coping excellently for all that.

We would love to hear from anyone, by mail or E Mail.  We have a telephone but the expense is not really a viable option.  Thankyou all so much.  Thanks also to all who have kept in touch with Hamish.

Love Suzanne, Ian, Thomas, Murdoch and Morag.