Proud Parents!

Joshua went to school Friday for a free trial at one of the local pre-schools. Mind you all the teachers are women of the national faith complete with head coverings and all. There is one other white girl that just started last week and the rest of the kids are locals. The school mixes the ages together, so Joshua is in a class with 3-6 year olds. None of the kids speak much English but all of the teachers do. Joshua is of coursed pumped about going and jumps right in playing with the kids. One kid about Joshua's age brought his pet with him to class, you guessed it a Monkey! (Not sure we will be getting one any time soon?) The playground is complete with the normal slide, swings, and two large Rams! (Dont worry they were in a pin) The class time began with singing, introductions, and prayer. When asked what song they wanted to sing Joshua's screams out J Loves Me! They tried to ignore him but he kept asking. They then prayed and Joshua prayed in the only name he knew to pray in and when they brought out the globe to show where Joshua was from Joshua told them that "J made the world!" Candace was observing in the class while i watched from outside. We both shared a smile and knew that our pryrs were being answered already that the Father would use our boys in amazing ways! Lift up Joshua as he will begin school starting in August.

Gamecocks taking Over the World!

So i'm sitting in the movie theater when a local friend sends me a urgent text informing me that the neighborhood grocery has a few S.E.C. plates and that four of the ones they have are the one you see pictured above. Needless to say it made my day! If that wasn't enough, two days later Candace and I are out shopping for baby stuff for Jedidiah and friends who are having babies over here and we are not supposed to be looking for clothes but just happen to look through this one stack b/c I saw a Redskins shirt. Just as I said to Candace "I would shed a tear if somehow the Lord would supply a Gamecock shirt for little Jedidiah," you guessed it the next shirt was the one above! I admit it caught me a little off guard and I did get a little emotional. Ask and ye shall receive. I'm sure the Father had a smirk on his face as I walk into that store. So is this a sign that this is the year of the Gamecock? I guess we will have to see!

My First Language Student?

One of the greatest ideas this new culture has is the c onstant flow of the American equivalent to "the ice cream man." My favorite guy that roams the streets every evening with his grill cart is the "sate guy" (grilled chicken guy). Every day about 7-8pm this guy comes around screaming sate, sate (grilled chicken on a stick). So the boys always want me to buy some even if we have already eaten. So i give him about $1 and he grills me 15 sticks of chicken! I luv it! While the chicken is grilling i talk with the young man and he always wants to know english. so i started trying to teach him and even give him "homework" assignments. He never does his homework so i'm not sure if i'm a bad teacher or if he is just trying to learn english b/c my indo is so bad he would rather speak anything other than my version of his lang.? For those of you looking for a new business venture in America, why not walk the streets with a grill screaming grilled chicken in your neighborhood, your sure to be a hit!

The Most Popular Sport

Badminton is a very popular sport here and ofcourse if it's a sport at all Josh wants to pick it up. He went out last week and bought two badminton rackets. Joshua also loves playing with daddy so whenever he sees other kids playing he wants to jump in. It's really neat to see him get brave. Here's a little friend he made playing badminton.

Life is but a Vapor

The last month we have known two different people in the same work here in Indo. as us that have gone home to be with there Father. One was an eight year old girl who fell off a ravine while bike riding with her mom. The other was a 29 year old fellow student at our school who got sick and was gone home in a couple weeks. He left behind his wife and 2 year old daughter. These two leave such a legacy and to see the faith of there family has been truly challenging. Pry that we all would live life to the fullest today!

23 Reasons

23 Reasons to move to Indo. Josh has been growing his gotee out for over 5 months now (David Crowder like). The reason he has not shaved it is b/c he said he must get under 220 before he can shave it. He came to Indo. weighing a plush (yet sexy)243 and after 2 months of eating fried everything, drinking sweet tea like it might be his last cup, and exercising a little everyday he finally got down to 220 (at least for the day!) So for all the latest fads in weight loss just come to Indo. and eat what you want (especially if you want street food!!) and your goals are sure to be met!

Little Travelers

We recently got back from Thialand. We had a great time at the conference and saw many friends. Here's our boys riding on our luggage cart in the airport. It's hard traveling with little ones but our boys are becoming pros now! We are now adjusting back to our life here back at home in full time language school. Fun, fun!