youth group

We've had fun working with the kids in our local church here. Wednesday evenings, we go to youth group, I play the keyboard for the band, and Phil hangs out with some of the guys. We've not proven to be as fluent with the kids as others, but we've had fun trying to get to know them.

our thursday evening

Sunny and blissfully warm (76 degrees) today!

Here are some shots of the guys, just a few mintutes ago - playing soccer and enjoying this wonderful new weather.

P.J. somehow makes everything he does so very dramatic.

Not bad for not having played in about 3 years - He's feelin' it now, though. :0)

canoe

Saturday afternoon, we had a chance to enjoy the lake - and each other's company by taking a little canoe trip with some friends (the same friends we went to the horse farm with, Tiffany and Phillip). We spent the afternoon rowing around our little coves of Lake of the Ozarks - got some excersise and some sun, and had a nice time exploring some of the little quiet nooks on the lake.

tribal culture study

This semester, we've been spending lots of time learning methods of getting acquainted with a general tribal culture. Below is a picture of a few of our class listening to our language helper, Kinosi, a Dobu man, tell us about his family. The Dobu are a real people group, located in Papua New Guinea. We are using minimal English and Indonesian to talk to Kinosi in order to learn about his culture and family and beliefs.

It's been a fun way to spend class time - a little nerve wracking sometimes, but better than sitting in lectures!

beautiful day for a good sound beating

Since the arrival of warmer weather, we've been spending lots more time outside. Yesterday, we went to a horse-farm with some friends of ours, and spent the afternoon rounding up and attempting to ride a few of the horses. Phil hasn't done too much of that sort of thing, and I've not logged too many hours doing that either, so it was quite the show. Phil rode the black one (all the way to the right in the photo below), and spent the bulk of his time trying to keep the little guy from doing anything more than walk. I ended up with the bully in the middle of the photo...He's got quite the attitude, and after a few hours of struggling together, he more or less gave up trying to tolerate me, and decided to rear-up and throw me off. That was exciting. I felt him getting more and more restless, and after several failed attempts to calm him down, began to feel his hooves dancing in that scary, restless sort of way that tells you nothing good is about to happen. It was then, that I got a clear view of the sky, then the ground - and at the same moment, began to realize that one foot was still stuck in the stirrup - great. Somehow, he managed to cool his jets before he stepped on any of my flailing body parts, and I was able to wrangle my stubborn foot free. Thank God!

So, now, I'm just moving slow and nursing my soreness - Maybe we'll go back in a few weeks and try it again. (Phil is not thrilled with the idea - but I think it might be glorious!)

Phil's favorite part of the day was seeing a few, much gentler creatures who would stand still for a picture.