The holiday season has passed and we’re back into the rhythm of normality. It was great to have a break. Our Hannah spent three weeks here in Germany and we were able to confirm first hand that she’s doing well with her new life at university. It must have been a bit of a shock for her to walk off the plane in Zurich (wearing flip-flops, of course) into snow after leaving the sun and warmth of southern California. We enjoyed a white Christmas together.

Above: our little tree. Below: gift time.

Break was not especially event filled and that was just what we needed. One day trip to a French Christmas Market with friends and we did get to spend a few days in Switzerland – one of those days we went sledding as a family. Mom and Dad are still working through the back pains from that but we had a blast together.

Strasbourg, France at Christmas Market time.

I know that might sound like we get around with all the country name -dropping, but today our very ordinary errands took Russ through three countries in and hour and a half. Most of the groceries were obtained in town but the cheapest gas is over the border in Switzerland and a coupon worth the equivalent of $9 convinced him to stop at a French “superstore” for printer paper, split peas, and some inexpensive pork chops – we have no idea why they were the equivalent of $1 – that’s an unheard of price! Guess what’s for dinner tomorrow.

Above: Street view in Grabunden Alps. Below: geared up for a sled run.

Another popular vacation activity:

Classes are going well for Russ as his seniors begin the five-month slide to graduation. Diane’s work keeps expanding with new ideas, initiatives, and opportunities to use language learning as a tool to open doors for the Kingdom. Amazing things are happening with her ministry! Over the next few months we’ll have the additional task and privilege of preparing with our team (17 students, 5 staff) for the spring M-trip to southern China – we’re getting all our shots Tuesday. If you’re curious on details, check out our monthly newsletter. (If you’d like to subscribe, send us an email at rkraines@teachbeyond.org).

"Our" castle in the mist - as was much of Christmas break.

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