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“Mountainview International Christian School in Salatiga, Central Java, Indonesia invites qualified applicants for the position of Superintendent. Mountainview has a vital Christian mission, serving the children of (insert mission agency) workers and many others in Christian service. Job description and application available at www.mountainviewics.org. Send letter and resume to : superintendentmics@mountainviewics.org.”

H.S. Retreat 2009

we just got back from a H.S. retreat up the mtn about 15 min. the location is ideal because the hotel was made for retreats...you can camp in already set up tents or you can sleep in a hotel room. food is prepared on site and there is plenty of meeting space. a pool that overlooks the Salatiga. it's all quite nice. this is the second year we have been and i like going. it was brought to my attention by the speaker, that this is quite a unique group of kids. i knew that, but really, where else do you find so many cultures, walks of life, religions, ages (4 mo-50+) talking and playing together and even more so...having tight community together. i realized this summer being home in the states...we really did miss the tightness of this school community here and we have come to embrace it differently now. i was glad the speaker could put some words to my feelings and thoughts. it really helped me look around the room and soak it all in. we are in THIS place for such a time as THIS. we can't want to live in other parts of the world for such a time as THIS. our time will come and go from here but for now we will soak this up and learn from THIS. the speaker shared with us what had been put on her heart today from Daniel 4:17..."The observers gave this command; the holy ones declared the sentence. this is so all people may know that the Most High God rules over every kingdom on earth. God gives those kingdoms to anyone he wants, and he chooses people to rule them who are not proud." This is my prayer since we have come back...that we are not proud so that God can work...that we don't know what the next step is because it's Him taking it...and with so much going on here in salatiga with the school and the community here and also with the ever increasing problem of prostitution, AIDS and human trafficking...my learning curve is once again...HUGE! i am thankful that we believe in a God who is more powerful than things we are discovering. keep prayin for indo...for our school here..for our team...for our family...things are moving...

Temperature Gages

so tonight i went to our neighborhood ladies meeting. this happens once a month. last month i was out of town and couldn't be there so this was my first chance to give out my oleh-oleh from america. (a little present that we are expected to bring with us). while in the states i was having a hard time figuring out WHAT to bring back...something little...something NOT too expensive but yet something NOT too cheap. and yet something "american"...do you know how hard this is??? so anyway...i settled...yes...i was not excited about my gift but i chose a temperature gage from Lowe's Hardware. they all had nice little paintings on them and you could suction them to your window. and they were cheap and lightweight...and one more thing...to tell the temp...it had both C and F...i figured this would help them to understand American temp too :D ha!

ok...so back to the meeting...i gave out the gifts and everyone thanked me and smiled and all was well. after the meeting, they asked me to go in the middle of the group and demonstrate how to use what i brought..."huh? you don't know what this is?"...i only thought that...i didn't say it. and many of them were putting them under there arms as if to take there temp if they had a fever or something. this is when i realized...they really don't know what this is! i had to hold myself back but i seriously explained what these were and demonstrated how to use them. then...the whole room broke out in laughter...hahahahahaha...and it was quite funny to everyone involved! one lady even had said..."if it gets red all the way...does that mean i am pregant?" ha ha! others were saying maybe it was used for cooking...

so who knows how my little temp gages will be used...but i guess it turned out to be a better oleh oleh than i thought! laughter is always the best gift!!!!

Remembering out last days...

Grandma made us yummie sandwiches...i can still taste them!!!

Aww...what a family :D

taking it all in...how we miss the ocean

chillin' in the pool greg made with Malachi O...

yeah for friends at the beach!!!!

Last Days in America...

Playing at Golf n Stuff with the Copeland fam

Eating the last dessert with super fine friends...

Swimming with the Verwyssss...

Grandma Teddie...we miss you!

This is how Eric would look at you... if he were your uncle :D

Last days photos...

Paul went around Grandma and Grandpa's house minutes before we left for Indo taking pictures of everything and everyone and saying, on the brink of tears, "i'm gonna miss this place, i'm really gonna miss this place."

Sweet Danica and Collin...we miss you friends...and your momma too...ok and chen too!

Good friends never really say good-bye...i am thankful to have so many!

House church...where kids outnumber adults! Blessings to all of you and the growing bellies!

the Denver zoo...good memories with Grandma and Aunt Teresa and Hannah and Noah

Bathtime tonight

ha! do i even have to say anything? we love our nightly bathtime here

of course ian cries! when we take him OUT of the water...

so we, having learned from our other 3 kids...put him BACK in the water if that is what he wants. we have opted for peace rather than control...we manage the chaos :D

ian loves to try to figure out that kid in the mirror. if we walk by a mirror he checks himself out all the time...often times a quick smile comes to him as he sees himself and likes "his friend"

conversation

Paul and Hazel talking over making snowflakes with green and purple paper.

Hazel: i like my snowflake
Paul: i don't like THAT snowflake. do you know why?
Hazel: yes
Paul: why?
Hazel: cuz it's purple and boys don't like purple
Paul: yes. but that's ok, right?
Hazel: no. that is a problem!
Paul: no, it's ok. why is it a problem?
Hazel: i don't know? but it IS a problem.
Paul: well, that is how it is.
Hazel: well, i am bigger than you... and i can lift you up.
Paul: no you can't! you are NOT bigger than me
Hazel: yes...i...am...i am strong
Paul: here hazel...here is your new snowflake...i made it for you
Hazel: oh thanks Paully, i like it. you are my best paul!