Today I attempted to teach three ladies from the American Women’s Club how to make a basket.  I had to call Jennifer for some emergency help, and we did some things a bit wrong, but in all they turned out really well!  Each one chose to do their own pattern, different from the example, and everyone went home with a beautiful hand-made basket.

My dear friend Joy came to visit last week and I took her on a whirlwind tour of Germany, to include Oktoberfest.  Here are just a few of the photos…

Took another trip!

Went to the little town of Wurzburg, Germany, about an hour and a half away from Frankfurt, Germany

Behind me in this picture in the Marienburg Fortress.  This place is beautiful with manicured gardens.

Down in the town of Wurzburg,  

there are more beautiful buildings and churches.

Walking through the town there were many gorgeous sights. 

  So, this year Janice and I decided to go to Budapest for Easter.  We met up with Rob and Aaric for the trip.  You can see us here in front of the Danube with the Parliament building on the other side. 

We saw some amazing architechture.

This is a beautiful view from the Fisherman’s Bastion up in the castle district which is on the Buda side of the river.

This guy was in the square on Vaci street playing these glasses filled with water.  He had a little rod he was hitting them with.

We went to see the Danube Symphony Orchestra.  It was a lovely performance with my favorite piece being the Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.

This is the end of the bridge at night.  From the side it’s all lit up.

There were some festivals going on and this guy was dancing with some sticks, cliking them together and on his boots.  Then he put them on the floor and was jumping over them.  No, he’s not actually wearing a skirt.  It’s just some real full pants.

I got one of these traditional funnel cakes with cinnamon and sugar.  YUM. 

The beer was NOT as good as German beer.

I loved the experience, and of course I always treasure any time I can spend with Janice.

Just one recommendation though…  Do NOT go to the Spa  / Mineral Baths.  Not a good experience.

Again, we’re in another new year.  I’m looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for us all.  I know I have so many ideas and plans, but more than anything I want to please God and go where He would have me go.

Friends and Family,

I am writing to let you know how the Lord worked through my trip to El Salvador.   I want to extend a sincere thank you to all who prayed for me and my team, and to all who financially supported me.  Your partnership was invaluable to the success of this mission.  I must say that the trip was a success in many ways.  Praise the Lord!!

As you may remember, our mission was a work project to help in the construction of a Compassion International Student Center in El Salvador.  We did, indeed, work.  Some of our projects included hand hauling stacks of cinder blocks, buckets of sand and gravel, and dirt.  We mixed mortar and built cinder block walls.  We cut piles of re-bar.  The biggest project of all was the digging of a pit to pour a foundation for a concrete support pillar.  The dirt was hauled out of the pit bucket by bucket until the guys finally hit rock at 18 feet deep.  What a job!!  We were exhausted at the end of every day, but it was worth it.  Through God’s strength, we worked along side the El Salvadorian people, finishing project after project regardless of the language barrier.

Two of the days we were there, my team was able to hold a two hour Bible School for the children.  My station was face painting, and we also had stations for soccer, a puppet show, singing, crafts, relay races and other activities.  It was such a blessing to interact with these kids and see how much joy they had in their hearts. We could plainly see that the Lord was at work in the Compassion program, teaching the children the love of God.

One of the days, a small group of us were taken on a visit to two homes where kids from the Compassion project lived.  Both lived in total poverty, making only $5 per day to live on.  Yet the power of the Lord was clear.  The first family did not attend church (though their kids DO participate in the program and are learning of Christ).  The desperation and hopelessness of the parents was heartbreaking.  The second family lived in the same dire circumstances, yet put their hope in Christ, and the light in their spirits was plain to see.  This second family trusted their circumstances to God and depended on Him daily.

I pray that the first family, along with the many others like them, will learn of the peace God can give through what their children learn and live through being a part of the Compassion program.  I am so thankful to know that my support of a Compassion child truly does make a difference.  I hope that you will pray, too, that the Lord will work through those children to reach their parents and their community.  God has answered our prayers in the past and He will continue to do so if we ask it for His honor and glory.

Pictures:

This is a group of musicians who were practicing in a back room.  Diane and I went in to listen.  Before long there was a whole jam session with people singing and clapping.

This is me with little Kiomara.  She is one of the children from the family we visited who does not attend church.  She and her two siblings are part of the Compassion project and are learning about Christ.

After a day of face painting with the little ones, we couldn’t resist taking even more  pictures.

This is the front of the church / student center.  Many buildings an homes were surrounded with razor-wire for protection.

This is a street on the way to the church from where we were staying.  Those buildings are the typical home for much of the population in that area.  Many others don’t even have it this good.

I wanted to let everyone know that I am back safely from El Salvador.  The trip was amazing and I have so much to share.  I’ll do up a really good entry when I get all my pictures together.

Okay, so it’s been over a month now since Justin died.  I miss him so much.  The hardest times are when I’m quiet and alone and I get to looking at all his cute pictures.  I wanted to post just a few, so you could see how cool he was.  He was cool because he didn’t know it.  This one of him doing a wheelie on his first sport bike is probably my favorite. I just wish I had one where he was in a full wheelie, not half way up.  He was so skilled on a bike, and he loved it more than anything.  I’m glad I got to share that interest with him.  He encouraged me to ride and we eventually bought a bike togther, which I still have and ride.  I, of course, will never be as skilled as he was but I’m glad that we shared that interest, along with being able to drive tanker together.  I feel fortunate to have shared such a special bond with Justin because we shared those things.

This next one is of him working on his car.  I’d always ask, “Justin, when are you gonna’ quit throwing money into that junkie car?”  He’d always reply that would be never because he loved racing it and working on it, and that was that.  One thing’s for sure, I could always call him up with my car troubles and he could just about diagnose anything over the phone.

This last one  is of Justin on his four wheeler, of course showing us all just how well he could handle his vehicles.  He seems to like saving the rubber on half the tires on all his toys. Maybe to save money to throw into the junk car?  Ha ha.  I’m just glad we don’t have any shots of him with half the wheels of his gasoline taker off the pavement, though it wouldn’t surprise me.  Yikes.

We all miss him so much, but I’m thankful to know that I will see him again soon in heaven.  The day the Lord took him, the angels were rejoicing.  So shall I.

I just wanted to post quick that my little brother, Justin, passed away Sunday August 19 in a motorcycle accident.   This past week has been full of friends and family, which has been a blessing.  I’ll post more info and pictures later.