It is now 8 degrees, and with the wind, it is just starting to get cold.  It was certainly cold prior to our arrival, and then everything got warm when the folks from Tennessee showed up.  We must have initially put the system into shock, and that system must now be acclimating to us, as the weather is starting to act more typical for this time of year.  (Yeah ... I guess I am a bit ego-centric.)

I am finding out that my beard is worthless.  The thought that hair keeps a person warm must simply be a myth.  Most of the Natives are without beards, as are most of the non-Natives who have transplanted themselves here.  A full beard is simply not the standard ... although to be fair, there really is no standard.  Either way, no change to the-old facial hair will occur until the grooming kit arrives.

We went to church today at the Evangelical Covanent Church of Bethel -- good and friendly people, to be sure.  It would seem as though what I have seen within the town certainly remains true within the microcosm of the church as well: that if you want to try something out, go for it!  There is acceptance and support and willingness and openness all around.

I have gone through orientation fully, at this point, and tomorrow I start the actual job duties.  Not yet solo, as I don't know the lay of the land.  Tomorrow and through the rest of the week I will be shadowing the other therapist as she finishes up her last week.  It would appear as though there is a significant shortage in therapists here, and that I will be filling a real need.  After I am established, there will still be a need for another two or three therapists, if I understand things accurately.

We are now praying directly for a house.  It turns out that we are guaranteed housing for the first 30 days, however not in one location.  On either the 17th or the 20th of this month we are to relocate to another facility -- it would appear as though the B&B where we currently are settled in, has been previously rented out for the holidays.  If we could avoid an additional move, it would be less confusing to the kids.  It would also be a good thing to be in our own place for Christmas.

We are following every lead, at this point, but would prefer a certain location due to the close vacinity to the important places: school and Youth Center and clinic.  It would appear as though others are vying for that same area for a wholly other reason:  unlimited water and sewer.  Most of the town is delivered their water directly to tanks on the outside of their home, and their sewer is removed in similar fashion.  Both the delivery and removal is pre-scheduled according to personal useage, but this one area that we are looking at actually has pipes, above-ground of course, with direct water and sewer.  With nothing ever being too low or too high, many want to be living in this area.  We couldn't care less about that -- in fact, we would almost like to watch the big water tanks slowly go down, and use that visual as a method of teaching our kids to use water purposefully and sparingly.

Yesterday we got another box of warm clothes that we mailed up from Tennessee.  It would appear as though anything shipped Parcel Post does indeed take three weeks to arrive.  The timing was perfect, with the chill kicking in.  Time for another walk, methinks.