Tis the season

The race to the finish for the fall semester is in full swing. The seasons, as you can see by the two views of our local castle, have turned and we've entered the long nights and short days of winter. (Payback is in the summer when daylight lasts until after 10 PM).

Sausenberg ruins from the kitchen window (maximum zoom - it's not that close!)

We have celebrated Thanksgiving three times this Fall. Many of our friends here are Canadian and they invite us to theirs in October. We then joined in a week-early celebration with the girls of Wittlingen dormitory where we fill every other week for Resident Assistants as they take their day off. Finally our small group from Black Forest Christian Fellowship got together for (laughably small by U.S. standards) turkeys (at seven pounds we used two) and many of the "fixins".

The photo below was taken at a English class for German adults that Diane had the pleasure of filling in as a teacher one evening. The lesson of the night was cooking Thanksgiving dishes (minus the turkey).

And then there was the social event of the season at BFA - the Christmas Banquet. Here's a shot I snuck of Carl attaching a corsage to his date's wrist. These kids clean up nicely!


It's far from all celebrations here. The students and staff are winding up a concentrated effort at instruction, learning, sports, spiritual disciplines, dorm living, cross-cultural strains, distance from family and loved ones, and so much more that has been going at a steady and busy intensity since the latter days of August. This will be our last full week of instruction before exam week and the exodus of students for Christmas break to four different continents.

Speaking of different continents, we will soon learn who is going where for this coming April's BFA work trips. Lord willing, Diane and I will be leading a team to a southeastern Asian nation to work with students in one or more schools there. Hopefully we'll be able to do some exploratory and planning work for initiatives in Hanoi on our return journey. We will keep posting what we judisciously are able to post.

Brazil!!!

There's lots of stuff on the ministry horizon. Here's one:

Pray for this. Pray for God to put together the staff and campers that will make this camp all about His glory working itself out in people's lives. Pray that great lessons will be learned from this "prototype" of transferring the English Camp model we've worked on in Germany to many other places. Pray for strength, wisdom, and effectiveness for Diane in her role as TeachBeyond's Director of Language Services.

International Spice Market - emblematic of this month's happenings

A whole lot can happen in a month. Diane has been involved in more meetings than anyone might care to count but exciting stuff is growing out of these meetings. Folks from two "closed" Asian nations spent time here in Kandern to discuss the role that TeachBeyond might have in starting up and staffing language centers and schools throughout these closed countries. God's people in these places are are dreaming big and acting on those dreams. Many, outrageously many are meeting Christ and educational initiatives seem to be a powerful means by which this is happening. Diane has a full plate of initiatives to undertake and that's exciting.

Can you guess what sort of country Russ visited?

Russ' seniors took off to Rome for their class trip and a fine time, we hear, was had by all. While those guys were gone Russ traveled to do some work in a school located in another country that shall remain nameless (although the pictures should give it away. He had a great time helping out with their Worldviews classes and encouraging one of TeachBeyond's farther flung members.

Perhaps the tastiest looking kepab I've ever seen - no, I didn't have one (too full at the time).

Fall in our neck of the woods means harvest time. The big question is, "red or white"?

October '10

Well we're one month into the school year here. It's been a good start - a very calm spirit seems to be reigning right now. Thursday night Russ' seniors headed out on their senior trip. It's a good one - we got to go last year as senior class sponsors. They'll stop for the day (following an all night bus ride) in Florence before heading on to their hotel for the week in Santa Severa. This is a beach town about an hour outside of Rome and the base of operations for the rest of the week. Museums, wanderings through the city and a day at the beach will fill up their time and they'll head back on Thursday via Venice (actually arriving at BFA Friday morning). This trip is designed to bond and strengthen the Senior Class and it usually does so.

In the time off from having classes I'll be traveling to a major city in a "sensitive" country that is home to a sister school. I'm going at the invitation of the principal of that school and I'm very thankful for Europe's budget airlines which allow very affordable travel. I get to meet with the Worldviews teacher there and teach a few classes. I also get to check out a few of the sights.

Diane officially takes up the mantle of her new position now that September is over. She has responsibilities that will necessitate absolute reliance on God's provisions as she overseas various language projects in multiple continents and countries. Pray for God to raise up people and churches with a heart for and background in using language instruction as an opportunity to share the hope of Christ.

We had a great time last weekend visiting with some old friends who were "in town" from California. It's so refreshing to catch up especially when folks are still faithful in ministry after "all these years".

Well it's arrived. Still another season of transition. We're settled fairly well in our long term apartment (check out the view of the local castle ruin we have - albeit on full telephoto - from our kitchen window):
Diane transitions from her posting of the last few years of helping to oversee the local English Camps for German teens to her position of Director of Language Services for our mission TeachBeyond. We have seen so many lives of kids and staff impacted by ECs and they will continue to be dear to us and a great opportunity for North Americas to come and serve for a few weeks in the summer - think about it!

The students started back today at Black Forest Academy and I officially met my Seniors for the first time. It's transition time for them as well but the eve of much larger transitions at the close of this academic year. Here are some shots from the day:

Of course that means I get to transition back to my classroom role - I just love teaching the Worldviews class and, as you can tell I'm ready - Diane has finished ironing the Fall Collection:

Here's a brief excerpt from an incredibly encouraging Facebook message I received from a former student of WVs Class of 2009:

... ALL of this to say- i appreciated what you did for me my senior year. you made it brilliant. you made me learn when i didn't want to, you made me question when i thought i didn't need to, and you made me grow when i though i was already done. I can say without a doubt that there is no was i could've made it through this last year without everything you taught me. i got out my world views notes on more than one occasion and the notes i didn't keep i wish i had. keep up the good work sir, it is much needed...

Wow - I came back to BFA with a desire to help our graduating seniors "make it" after BFA. If I can be used like that it's got to be a joy!

Then there's Carl - our high-schooler - Yikes!

And of course it's time for partings. The parents of our boarding kids go through it and this year I think I'll get it more than ever as Hannah leaves Friday for Azusa Pacific University (not that I already don't understand partings but I've left our other kids in familiar places). Here's what it looks like for our parents here - I don't think I'll be posting my face when the time comes.


So it's an exciting time and a challenging time. We're hanging on for the ride.

So, here's a photo summary of some of the events of the last 2 months in sort of reverse order.

Above and below - some of this year's English Campers

Below - four multi-year EC 6 "grads" who spent the night with us.

Moving day for our friends the Shumans (20 bags + 10 carry-ons!!). We'll miss you!

Moving day for us!

Four generations of Diane, Helen(Diane's mom), Amanda (nee Kraines), Isabelle.

Sam, Hannah, and Amanda together again.

Proud Grandma.

Proud Grandpa.

Hannah in the grad line-up

Just a few random pics this month:

Hannah receiving her grad tribute - High Honors!!

Russ with all his students named "Kim"

Russ & Diane at the Junior/Senior Banquet (we were Senior Class Sponsors)

2001 Prayer card - Yikes!

Hannah and an alumni on Grad day

May in Kandern:

We're facing the last eight days of classes over the next two weeks. Each are four day weeks due to the religious holidays still honored by the German calendar. A week and a half ago there was Ascension Day, tomorrow is Pentecost and next week Corpus Christi day. Days like these reflect the longevity of the Christian story in form here in western Europe even though it is not an essential part of a great many lives here. Stores close, the streets are quiet, and no one mows lawns on these holidays because it is bad form to do so on a "holy day" but that's the extent of it for many.

If you New Englanders reading this are perversely proud of the changeableness of your regions weather, I think southwestern Germany could offer you some stiff competition. A given Spring day here will include glorious warm sunshine, drenching downpours, cold mist and the odd rainbow tossed in. Rainbows appear often and you can actually see the ends of them on the hillsides here. Unfortunately I don't have a recent photo to post of one - this post's rainbow is from English Camp 2006.

The best news of May: We have a new granddaughter and she's a beauty! Isabelle Grace Lavoie was born on May 14, 2010. Brad, Amanda, Cameron and Isabelle are all doing well.

Soon we head back to RI to visit Isabelle, other family, friends, supporters and churches. After that it's back to Kandern for English Camp season.

April wanderings

Hannah on the roof on Burkina Faso

It's been a busy month of travel for us. Hannah went off to Burkina Faso to raise a few roofs, Diane went to Lübeck, Germany to train folks for running "Partner" English camps, hundreds traveled to Kandern for a conference of Christian educators, and Diane, Carl and myself spent some time at a conference near Stuttgart, Germany. All this in a month where travel to, from and within Europe was radically disrupted by Icelandic ashes. On the conference there was a day trip to Rothenberg - a premier medieval city in Germany.

In the town's church.

One of Rothenberg's gates

Hand painted, real blown Easter egg decorations on a town fountain.

That's what I call eyebrow dormers - it's like they follow you across the square.

March news

Well, I hope you've seen the previous post on the Middle School play - if not, go there after this for shots of Carl in the lead part.

We're just starting spring break now and it last for about two and a half weeks in order to let many school missions trips happen, allow our students to get the most of of travel costs to distant homes and fit in a few conferences. BFA is hosting an international Christian educators conference through early next week and then at the other end of break, TeachBeyond will have its conference near Stuttgart, Germany.

Hannah leaves Saturday the 27th to Burkina Faso in West Africa with a team from BFA. (info on Burkina:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkina_Faso). She is so pleased to be heading back to Africa, I wouldn't be surprised to see her there long term someday. Pray that these trips (6 this year from BFA) would run well, meet the ministry goals to the intended populations, and help kids clarify their own future goals.

BFA will be undergoing the daunting process of seeking a new director. Tim Shuman, the current director of over ten years in this role, has accepted a position with ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) and will be leaving after this school year is concluded. Tim has bees a great asset to BFA. I have enjoyed his "direction" and his manner and approach to the job. He and his wife started here as single Resident Assistants over twenty years ago and it was here that they met, married, raised two sons, and put collectively over 40 years of service.

The plan is for BFA to use a one year interim director while a new candidate is selected to begin by the 2011-2012 school year. Change is always hard yet often good. Perhaps you could offer a prayer for this right now.
Hannah at the recent High School Retreat

For ourselves we also face great changes. Hannah has but a few months left with us before college. We're wading through financial aid and other information to help make the final decision on what school of nursing she will attend. We also need to move out of our fourth "live-in-for-1-year-while-a-family-is-on-home-leave" apartment. This year we hope to find a more long-term solution and I think we might have a good lead.

It would be sort of nice to not move every summer!

Get Smart

86 glances disdainfully at Mr. Big.

Well, the highlight of the month for entertainment value was the Middle School production of Get Smart with Carl in the title role. He had to master 300 lines of snappy dialogue (as well as a quick bout of stomach bug the day before the first performance) in order to pull this off. Much prayer and encouragement saw him through the first few minutes of opening night and then he let loose with a great interpretation of the part (doesn't that sound like a proud pretentious father writing!). Carl seems to love this stuff so enjoy some more of the photos below.

Guarded by the Wong sisters.
Sign him up for Richard III!
Oops, wrong phone!
Long before cells and iPhones, there was the Shoe Phone
Keeping Dr. Dante quiet.
86 meets 99.
It was a fun couple of nights. Carl received so much affirmation from peers, high school kids, staff and community people - well done lad!