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!