Other Summer Happenings

Really, I do work for a living. But I did take a family vacation in early July with Mom, Randy and Abby. My other sibling, Karen and her husband Dave (and boys AJ and Zac) are in Cameroon as missionaries so they couldn't make it. One morning we 4 took rides on bikes/a surrey, along the Ocean City boardwalk. The times with my family are precious and I'm thankful for them!

The Hungary & Austria Trip

There was a single missionaries retreat for numerous missions in June, in Salzburg, Austria. At first I wasn't going to go, but the Lord provided and suddenly I was making plans! I already had my tickets for England, to later connect to the USA to head to the USA for my Homeland Ministry Assignment (furlough). All I had to do was postpone the USA part, and fill the days before the retreat with something. First idea? Hungary! Visit Katy Beth and Dan Searls, dear college and WGM missionary friends.
God worked out all the details and poof- I was on my way. Happy days. Beautiful places. Wonderful visits and blessed times. Refreshment and rest and renewal. Praise the Lord for those days! :)
Out of about 300 photos (so I like to shoot pictures!), I have chosen a number which I hope will be something you enjoy.

Random but Fun Photos

So I like to take pictures of interesting views or subjects. These are my favorites from Austria. The one with the iron grate is taken inside the Salzburg fortress looking out over the city. The other 2 are just neat window settings. Enjoy!

Two Lake Visits

Here I am at the King's Lake (I can't spell it in German, but that is the translation). It is blue-green and one of the most incredible vistas I've ever seen personally. Yes, the various Austrian/Hungarian kings would use the Chateau (castle really) and the lake for their summer and sometimes winter retreats. Now it is a museum and National Forest area.
Next, a photo outside the Von Trapp's family mansion. It was used for filming The Sound of Music. If you remember the scene where Maria and the children fall into the lake from their boat, this is the lake and if you look closely, you can see the patio area which leads down into the lake, where they all stepped out. This place is now a private (no trespassing please!) retreat and conference center owned by... Harvard University (how random). Now look to the left of this photo; there is the fortress which overlooks Salzburg and this is the back view of it, about 2 miles away from the Von Trapp's family home. Apparently the FRONT of the Von Trapp mansion was not impressive enough, so they used another building/place. But Hollywood loved that the family home is located on this lake and has the view it does. Patio scenes and dancing scenes were also filmed here for the movie.

Toliet with an Awesome View

Built in the 1400's, this toilet was connected to the Prince's bed chamber high up in his fortress. It was the first of it's kind- meaning an outhouse was in the palace, not detached where the prince or princess would have to tip toe through the mud and muck for relief. But check out the window in the closet; they had an incredible view overlooking the valley and city below. Naturally the plumbing was just like an outhouse- sort of a drop into a pit. But what you can't tell from this photo easily is that the pit was located about 1000 feet below, down the mountain and still encased in the stone base of the fortress itself. If you look at some of my other Salzburg photos, this photo is taken inside the fortress at the top of the mountain there in the city. High up enough for defense AND a great view while relieving yourself. Hmm. No, the toilet is no longer in use.

My Small Group at Retreat

These missionary ladies made up my small group with me during the retreat near Salzburg. Pictured from left to right are Krista (France), Cat (Italy) and Pamyla (Spain). We had some special times of sharing and prayer. Each morning all the missionaries would meet together for a Bible study session, and then we'd break up into our small groups. These 3 friends were a great encouragement and example to me of faithfulness to the Lord.

Views around Austria

The first photo is of the town and lake area where Maria Von Trapp (Sound of Music fame) had grown up. Is there a better word than beautiful? I mean, besides "more beautiful" or something? Wow.
The next photo is of Salzburg, and that city's beauty practically makes my heart sing. I loved walking all around the streets and seeing the architecture, people, places. It is a city from the 1400's; just amazing.

Out with Katy Beth

Girls' Night out just outside of Budapest was really neat. We girls (5 of us) went to a restaurant in a village known for it's - get this- large film studio! The area is breath taking and they're in the midst of farms, vineyards, and incredible history. This photo shows one of the neat churches in the background. Church towers and spires really add a lot to the photography/views in Europe.

Budapest's Beauty

Upon my arrival to the Searls' home, we had a wonderful dinner and fellowship. They were in the midst of hosting 4 VIA (Volunteers In Action from WGM) and we all had a very nice visit during those days. One night Katy Beth took some of us to see the downtown views of Budapest. The city has done a fabulous job accenting the architecture there with lighting. And then the day time views are pretty awesome, too!

Reunion of College Friends

In London, on the way to Europe then the USA, I had dinner with Lisa Mayo (middle) and Laura Jones (right). They were roommates at Asbury and we all were good friends. Laura is in ministry with her husband in London. Lisa and her family (her husband is my field director in Uganda) were headed to her parent's retirement in the USA. It was a very nice evening together. It had been since, like, 1989 maybe that we all were in the same place together. We'd started out in missions together, under Prof. Roy Lauter (Asbury) who took a crew of us to Kenya. That was the trip that later put all 3 of us more into ministry locations which have (amongst the 3 of us) included: Bolivia, Honduras, Kenya, Tanzania, Greece, England and Uganda!

Culture "Shock" and Computer Issues

It has been more than a month that I've been able to add anything to the blog, and a little longer that I've not been able to use my Outlook in my laptop to email folks. Why? Well, I left Uganda in early June, went to see our Hungary field (awesome.check the photos I'll be adding), and attended a retreat in Austria. Upon arrival to the USA, I've re-discovered how very little I know about computers. I've struggled about 2 weeks trying to get my computer to let me send from my outbox; no luck yet. I'm working on it and I think a WGM IT guy will be helping me out this week.
All of that is to say I'm sorry I've not updated any of you; it has been a fight and one I've easily lost a number of times.I am sure you'll know when things are straightened out. Ugh.
As to culture shock, well, I notice the sun is out later (Indiana now is East Coast year-round where before the state had never switched, so in the summer it was Central Time Zone, and winter it was EST). Since moving to year-round EST, yikes, the sun is out till nearly 10 p.m.! I also notice how smooth the USA roads are. Compared to the bumps and dips and horrible roads in Uganda, it is a pleasure (and a bit boring if I'm tired- very little to dodge here!) to drive in the USA. I LOVE sleeping without my mosquito net, and those horrible things don't even bother me here (so far). In Uganda I have to close my doors at 6 p.m. and NOT open them till about 8 a.m., or they rush in and attack all night long. I can even sit outside on the deck at my Mom's and enjoy the back yard instead of constantly swatting and spraying so that I don't get bitten.
I AM happy to be "home" in Indiana, with my Mom and sister. I've had a few visits with friends and of course I expect to talk with and see a number of others too. I'm currently working (besides on the computer issues) on my travel schedule and where I'll be when and who I'll get to see! :-)

May Youth Pastor's Training

We just completed 4 days of training more youth pastors. The photo above shows nearly all those now trained. They will receive certification once they finish the class take-home requirements. That is a joy to have now 32 people trained to develop youth ministries in their churches and to even train others to do the same! These folks come from all over Uganda and it is exciting to see the program spreading. Pray for the roots of the program to deepen as these individuals grow their ministries in their areas and throughout Uganda. Thanks!

Nairobi Seminar

I recently completed the Leader Link program hosted by the IFMA/EFMA mission organizations. This was a 4-year, one week per year program. For the last 3 years, I've attended in Nairobi. Since I was headed there anyway, and since I don't know when I'll get back to Nairobi, I decided to take 2 days vacation and go see the city sights there. Below you'll see the animals I said hello to. The seminar was good, and I'm glad I completed the leadership training, but sorry- the animals were more photogenic than a picture of me sitting at a table during a session. Enjoy!

Giraffe Hug and meeting Daisy

Daisy is one of a number of giraffe which live at a hotel/giraffe center in Nairobi. Yes, I was on her level, by going up into the second-story balcony of the feeding area. I even got to feed the giraffes! How awesome that experience was!

Peek-a-boo!

Elephant Baby center, Nairobi

This was a medium-sized little elephant, compared to the ones they'd had out in the beginning of the "program" at the center. All of them have such distinctive personalities and are too cute! I wanted to include the photo above this one because it looks like the little guy is trying to play peak-a-boo. Actually the care taker walked right in front of my camera when I was snapping, but I like the idea of peak-a-boo better!

An Ice Rink in Africa

During my time in Nariobi, I visited (for just a few minutes) this ice rink. It certainly was freezing inside there! The people skate around on what look like walkers, leaning on those so they won't fall. I had just missed the skating session (had been there once before when I was in Nairobi in Jan. for the mentoring seminar), so I only got this photo of the guy cleaning the ice. It still was so non-African to me that I thought I'd include it!

Nile Perch Take A Boda Ride

Yep, those are some BIG fish on the back of the bike. Yes, the bike also holds 2 men in this photo, plus some bags of something else, too. I am telling you, nearly ANYTHING can go on the back of a "boda boda". The original term is derived from the pronunciation of "border to border" and it is now down to either "boda boda" or just "boda". I have seen 30 or so dead chickens, feathers flapping in the wind, tied to them. I've seen families of 5 on them, plus the driver! I've seen beds, windshields, beds, sofas, goats, dead pigs (big ones!), and even other bodas on the backs of bodas. It is sort of a game for us to find a really unique thing on them. I think this was the first time I saw fish of this size on one.

HIS Youth on Retreat

I would have gotten into this group photo but the batteries on my camera were dying, so I just snapped away with one shot, hoping it would come out! PTL it did. This is all the HIS junior high and high school kids plus the counselors. I was so glad everyone got to go to retreat. Thank you for praying for us for both the retreat and the mission's trip!

Spring 2007 Spiritual Retreat

WGM Volunteer Brad Brown, here till June with his wife Annie (who is our HIS Kindergarten teacher this semester) was our devotional leader on the mission's trip, and our speaker during retreat. Here he is with our kids during one of the sessions.