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Saturday, October 10, 2015
English Camps Summer 2015
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One month in & annual Rome trip
Actually, it is 2 months in - or back - from our year in the States and to our home/ministry in Germany. Life went "back to normal" more quickly over here than it did in our first 2 months in the States. We moved back into our apartment, unpacked and even got a great deal on a 2007 car with low mileage. For the Rhode Islanders reading this - registration here involved a passport, German documentation and the actual making of our plates (we got to pick our own #) but ir was way more quick and easy than the DMV back home!
School has been back in session for just over a month and classes are going well. Russ has, as usual, grown to love his new students. He is invited/asked to accompany the senior class on their class trip to Italy - a long-standing tradition at BFA. Diane comes along as well. It's a great chance to bond with the class as they bond together. The shared experience pays benefits in the classroom as well. It is an endurance test for us as it involves 2 overnight bus rides and busy days with the kids. We're glad to have a weekend to recover as the trip concludes on a Friday morning (and the Seniors don't attend school on this Friday). A good night's rest in the home bed does wonders!
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| 2007 Mazda 5 above our town |
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| Biblical plates! |
School has been back in session for just over a month and classes are going well. Russ has, as usual, grown to love his new students. He is invited/asked to accompany the senior class on their class trip to Italy - a long-standing tradition at BFA. Diane comes along as well. It's a great chance to bond with the class as they bond together. The shared experience pays benefits in the classroom as well. It is an endurance test for us as it involves 2 overnight bus rides and busy days with the kids. We're glad to have a weekend to recover as the trip concludes on a Friday morning (and the Seniors don't attend school on this Friday). A good night's rest in the home bed does wonders!
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| Some of our gang & David |
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| Photo-bombed in Florence |
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| One of many class pictures |
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| BFA grad from 2001 - the Franciscan that taught Pope Francis how to throw a Frisbee! |
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| The class at Ostia Antica |
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| Love among the ruins |
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| With the Shumans near Vatican City i search of lunch |
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| At VC |
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| Explaining the Forum to some students |
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| At the Coloseum |
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| Venice's official bird & Isaac |
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| At Accademia Bridge |
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Opening Day
Just a few weeks ago for my ninth time I got to enter an auditorium with the Faculty of Black Forest Academy for Opening Day ceremonies. It is a sweet tradition at BFA, full of hope and challenge for a new year and the opportunity to be a part of this ministry to these kids - most of whom are from missionary families. We know our service here then benefits these families, their ministries and the ripples move out from there. The Senior Class marches in with flags that represent them - their passport nation(s) or places they have lived or where their families are presently at work. Sixty-two countries in this year's census! The staff is challenged to serve with integrity. The director and the student body president share encouragements. When it's over the families of our boarding kids depart - always a bit tearful.
Earlier, during staff conferences, the entire staff gathers in an circle in the Auditorium. Each person gets a moment to state their given role for the coming year. Then, we take a moment to remember that behind each of these many people gathered in the circle are dozens or perhaps hundreds of people and churches that offer prayer and financial support for this to happen. It's beautiful and humbling and re-affirms one's trust that God is (understatement alert!) pretty good at orchestrating the work of His kingdom.
I'm already falling for this class - like I do every year. Some Opening Day images below:
-Russ
Earlier, during staff conferences, the entire staff gathers in an circle in the Auditorium. Each person gets a moment to state their given role for the coming year. Then, we take a moment to remember that behind each of these many people gathered in the circle are dozens or perhaps hundreds of people and churches that offer prayer and financial support for this to happen. It's beautiful and humbling and re-affirms one's trust that God is (understatement alert!) pretty good at orchestrating the work of His kingdom.
I'm already falling for this class - like I do every year. Some Opening Day images below:
-Russ
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Just a few photos of recent months. In April we spent some time with Diane's mother as she "vacationed" in New Hampshire. There we took a drive to the camp location where Diene found Christ as a teenager, a place where her Mom took her every summer. No wonder Diane has such fondness for camp ministries. We also got in a great hike and spent one night at the inn where we're honeymooned 35 years ago.
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| In front of the meeting house at Geneva Point |
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| From the summit of Red Hill in Moultonborough |
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| The Sugar Hill Inn - highly recommended |
We've spent much time in the North Shore of Massachusetts this year. Our son Carl is attending college at Gordon - Diane's alma mater.
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| A sweet park on Cape Ann |
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| Gordon from Coy Pond |
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| Carl singing with the Gordon Men's Ensemble |
Family time has been great during this furlough year. We made it to the zoo with the 4 grandkids.
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| My granddaughter Isabelle |
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| All four grandkids |
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| Sharing vows |
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| First kiss! (as Mr. & Mrs.) |
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| Brandon, Evan and Sam |
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| Amanda, Sam, Carl and Hannah |
Friday, March 20, 2015
Winter's tale
So much has happened since last November when we posted. Thanksgiving is always a favorite holiday here in the States. We got together with Diane's family- 30 something people. It was great being with so many for this time.
Carl had the starring role as the Inspector in Gordon College's fall production. It was a great and thought-provoking production wit solid performances across the board.
Christmas holidays were interesting- to say the least. The Kraines smorgasbord was a huge success- in that we got to see so many in Russ' family while enjoying our favorite traditional Swedish foods: korv, head cheese, mettwurst, creamed codfish, Swedish meatballs, lingonberries, and Swedish rice pudding- and Mom's best Christmas cookies. There were over 40 of us crammed into Karen's house. Unfortunately, a few days later most of those 40 were experiencing some sort of stomach bug! The Christmas dinner that we hosted a few days later was beautiful, tasty but largely uneaten.
The short and snowy days of winter caused challenges for our scheduled events. Russ' Worldviews classes were scheduled for Monday nights and we had 3 Monday snowstorms in a row! Diane spent much time preparing for an English Camp Leadership Conference to be hosted at First Baptist Church of Narragansett (our home church) in early March. Well, of course, it snowed but everyone still made it and much good work was done equipping the Area Directors and Camp Supervisors that will help to multiply and improve the ministry of TeachBeyond's English Camps.
We had a chance to share the work of TeachBeyond at Gordon College's Mission's Week which was abbreviated, of course, by snow! We had the chance to see some of Russ' former students there as well.
Carl had the starring role as the Inspector in Gordon College's fall production. It was a great and thought-provoking production wit solid performances across the board.
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| The Inspector (Carl) Calls |
Christmas holidays were interesting- to say the least. The Kraines smorgasbord was a huge success- in that we got to see so many in Russ' family while enjoying our favorite traditional Swedish foods: korv, head cheese, mettwurst, creamed codfish, Swedish meatballs, lingonberries, and Swedish rice pudding- and Mom's best Christmas cookies. There were over 40 of us crammed into Karen's house. Unfortunately, a few days later most of those 40 were experiencing some sort of stomach bug! The Christmas dinner that we hosted a few days later was beautiful, tasty but largely uneaten.
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| The Smorg Spread |
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| Christmas Breakfast |
The short and snowy days of winter caused challenges for our scheduled events. Russ' Worldviews classes were scheduled for Monday nights and we had 3 Monday snowstorms in a row! Diane spent much time preparing for an English Camp Leadership Conference to be hosted at First Baptist Church of Narragansett (our home church) in early March. Well, of course, it snowed but everyone still made it and much good work was done equipping the Area Directors and Camp Supervisors that will help to multiply and improve the ministry of TeachBeyond's English Camps.
We had a chance to share the work of TeachBeyond at Gordon College's Mission's Week which was abbreviated, of course, by snow! We had the chance to see some of Russ' former students there as well.
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| with Hannah P. |
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| with Michelle M. |
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