American College Students Visiting for Summer
Birthday Bash- Anna turns six, Brooke sitting next to her
Andrew blowing out candles
5 friends from school and their siblings come to the party
Opening presents...Andrew loved the scooter, Anna a babydoll bed
First Tennis Match: Lynn and I try artificial grass (split sets 7-5, 4-6)
Claire tries Riparugby (like flag football) at a regional field day
She did great!
Don't get me wrong. There is no need for Prozac. I am not manic either. Lest everyone think we are on a year long Holiday, there are challenges here. Like anything else in life, this experience is a mixed blessing, a two-sided coin, a mixed bag, etc. I am not ready to throw this baby out with the bathwater. I am just saying nothing is perfect here or anywhere else for that matter. With that said let me tell you some of the great things we have been doing recently. Lynn still is seeing a lot of patients and spreading his kind heart, earnest prayers, and special medical knowledge to the patients at the hospital. I am making in roads with the histopathology folks and learning a lot about lab management through the hospital. We have made some ever dearer friends in the Abascal family (pastor who was Lynn's first patient). I have enjoyed Claudia (his wife), Anna's friend Brooke's mom (named Rene), and my coworker, mentor, and friend Viv especially a lot. We recently had 4 college students from Oklahoma, Ohio, and Massachusetts spend a few weekend nights with us. They are in New Zealand for 6 weeks with a mission through the Nazarene church. They did some programs at elementary schools, some afterschool programs with at risk teens, and some service projects like painting while they were here. The kids loved to play Cluedo with them and just hang out. They were such a blessing to our family as we got to know them. Lynn and I got some tennis in on a sunny day. We were rusty but the view was great. Claire and Phillip made Whangarei Heads school proud playing Riparugby at a regional field day last week. The twins birthday party was a great opportunity for us to meet other families including a german family and an Irish family who live close by. We are so excited about our little international rural community that the school is hosting a potluck and culture share for the school families to be held right on our street. I am thinking about bringing southern fried chicken but will take other suggestions in the comment section or via e-mail.
5 friends from school and their siblings come to the party
First Tennis Match: Lynn and I try artificial grass (split sets 7-5, 4-6)
Claire tries Riparugby (like flag football) at a regional field day
3 comments:
Fried Green Tomatoes would be great too ;)
I thought about that but they don't dale them green here! Dawn
Just catching up after a few days off. Baaeball has ended, summer has kicked in and so have the camp and new child care schedules!
WOW! Lots going on with you guys. Happy Belated Birthday to Andrew and Anna - they actually look a year older! Everyone looks older - except you and Lynn - you both actually look like you have lost weight, which is surprising hearing about all the dinners you are having - HA! Must be the surfing and mountain climbing!
I love all the kids rooms and your home! They seem to be connecting well with the people around them and making some good friendships. Surfing!! Fishing!! Rugby!! Play dates!! What an exciting time!
God is truly working in your lives and in your work. We are so proud of what you are doing and know it has been a tough transition. We will turn around next April or May and wonder where the time went and reflect on all of the accomplishments. You are already touching so many lives, we cannot even imagine what God has planned for the remainder of your stay.
We love you and miss you! I tried to Skype last week, but had trouble with our connection. Will try again this week! We are having Pastor Jaime and his family over tonight for dinner! Excited about that!
Take care! We will talk soon!
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