But where are the ice cube trays? We had gone through all the boxes but they were nowhere to be found. Our kitchen was mostly set up; dishes neatly stacked; a puzzle of how to fit everything into our studio-apartment-style-kitchen. Plate-sized, metal, removable shelves had been the lifesaver; helping to make it a workable and orderly place to live and work. We had even made some eggs for breakfast and a simple salad for lunch, though just in our new home a few days.
Hmmm...as continued to look we couldn't imagine where those little plastic white containers, that fill with cooling magic for hot humid days, had gone. Had we decided not to pack them? Were they broken and we tossed them? We know we had several though...that is just so strange....
Such a mundane thing taking up an extraordinary amount of mental energy. And leaving us quite perplexed and dazed. Well, if we couldn't find them then new ice cube trays would go on the growing list of things to buy. Spending more money to try and situate, but our wallets were feeling the strain.
Ok, one more look through the opened and set aside boxes. Stepping over the piles of extra medicine and blankets, I plunge into an opened box with some photo albums on the top. These should all be books, desk and craft items; all things we could get to later on when we had more time and energy, which definitely was not today.
Wah lah!! To our surprise the ice cube trays were here all along. A victorious cheer could be heard through the open windows by our too-close-neighbors as the trays emerged from under files and zip lock bags of pens. Glad we hadn't bought new ones after all because, just as we had thought, there were plenty. Now we could have a cool drink; a needed refreshment in the sweaty mess we were in.
Welcome to our life. Well, to every missionary's life. The life of transition and packing. Of unpacking and settling. Of constant decisions about stuff. Of wondering "Why did we pack this?" just to put it in the rubbish bin. Or nostalgic smiles at seeing something familiar and homey after a long time away. Of trying to find the needed item when you are not fully situated but life and ministry are moving full speed ahead without you, threatening to leave your foggy brain behind.
Whew! I will sit down for a minute and rest my aching back. I'll remind myself that we will, yet again, make it through, yet again, another move. I sigh and smile and take a few moments to bask in the seemingly small, but to us grand and happy, accomplishment of finding our needed ice cube trays.
