Genocide Memorial

Today we went to the Genocide Memorial in Rwanda. It was really impactful to learn more about the genocide and what really happened; not just from the movie Hotel Rwanda. It was interesting to think that such hatred occurred during my life-time. People came to a point of wanting to get rid of a people group completely for one silly reason or another. The memorial also walked through other genocides that have happened throughout history. Maddy and I tried to figure out what we would have done if we were teaching in America or another part of the world. If we saw footage of something like this happening on the news. Would we continue to eat our breakfast and say, to bad for them? Or would we go and try to figure out a way to do something and help in anyway that we could? It is something to think about.

12 Days of Kenya

On the first day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

A Tony Eagle Soaring

On the second day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

2 Bike-bikes Hiding

On the third day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

3 Wildebeest Running

On the fourth day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

4 Lions Roaring

On the fifth day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

5 Elephants!

On the sixth day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

6 Rhinos Charging

On the seventh day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

7 Hippos Snorting

On the eighth day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

8 Impalas Jumping

On the ninth day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

9 Giraffes Standing

On the tenth day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

10 Pelicans Diving

On the eleventh day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

11 Baboons Swinging

On the twelfth day of Kenya my Safari gave to me

12 Zebras Grazing

Finished... Sigh

We finished the first semester of school today. It has been a hectic, crazy, fun, adventurous week trying to get everything finished before the end of the term but it is done. The year has gone by really quickly. Now it is off to Africa to spend some time with my dear friend Maddy. I am excited to see what she has been doing and where she is living. I gave the message today at our Christmas Program. I found this video and used it. I thought that it did a good job of summing up what Christmas is really about. You can watch it and let me know what you think. After thinking about my week it is true. I have been so focused on the things of Christmas that I have forgotten to focus on why we celebrate Christmas. Christ came to earth as the perfect gift to save us from our sins.

Watch the video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXgH8ZIz9jQ

Coffee Cozy and A Fallen Tree

Yes these things do go together. The coffee Cozy was a gift from my mom for my birthday. This way she and you can see how cute it is on my french press and you will all want one. It is like a blanket for the french press. It makes the coffee stay all warm and cozy.




Yesterday when I went upstairs to get my camera there was a loud noise coming from outside. A man with a chainsaw as big as he was, was cutting down my tree in the front yeard. There was another man on the other side of the street with a rope in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He was going to catch the tree when it fell from the man with the chain saw. He said, don't worry it will not hit the house. I said, "Thanks".

4 people in the backseat of a taxi

We were coming back from the waterpark and were trying to save money. The 3 of us were sitting in the actual seats and Brittany was laying across our laps. It worked out pretty well until we got stuck in traffic.

Thanks Happy Birthgiving Day

That sums up this past Sunday for me. We celebrated my birthday and Thanksgiving all in one day. It was pretty stupendous. I was in charge of cooking the turkey. A pretty nail biting adventure but completed successfully. We ended up having 33 people at the house, they were sitting wherever they could find room. There was plenty of food, fellowship, and laughter.

This is me basting the turkey every 30 minutes like my strict instructions said.


After everyone left we were going to play some games. This is the first game that we played, taking every last morsel from the dead turkey carcass to eat for later.I don't remember what the face that Debbie was making was for, but it must have been serious.

Happy Thanksgiving

We talked about being thankful in Biblical Studies and then we made thankful turkeys with our hands.


The other day I was at the mall and the restaurant that we ate in had a fall tree in the restaurant. It wish I had a sweater, there was a slight autumnal breeze.

Elephant Massage

I got a massage from an elephant yesterday at Taman Safari. I went with 4 other friends to spend some time with the animals. Elephants give really hard massages, their trunks are very powerful. We went to a cowboy show which was hilarious, and we saw the globe of death. Four motorcyclist ride around in a cage and do crazy tricks. I think that I am at the stage of my motorbike experience to do the same kind of tricks that they were doing. I am that good.

Jakarta Fun

This is a picture from Batik Day that we had at school. It is me, Debbie, and Brittany (my roommate).



While I was on holiday I went into Jakarta with my friend Debbie. We went all over Jakarta and shopped until we dropped (a lot of cash money). I got my hair cut, we went to the grocery store, we saw a really really big cow that was going to be killed for the holiday.


I was trying to feed him to make him a little fatter for the offering.

We also bought some clothes. Debbie and I decided that we are shopping soul mates. I tried on a shirt but one of the buttons was missing. I asked if I could get it for cheaper because one of the buttons was missing. Instead the man sewed the button right back on for me.

Goat Slaughtering Holiday

It is that time of year again where we get to celebrate Idul Adha, well I do not celebrate but I get some time off of school. Muslims slaughter goats and cows and give the meat to the poor. I decided to stay home and save some money for when I go to Africa this Christmas. Some things that I plan on doing while I am on holiday dodging the dead goats:
-get a haircut
-go shopping in Jakarta
-sleep in
-read a book
-watch a movie in theaters
-go to the fabric store

It should be a relaxing enjoyable holiday which is just what the doctor has ordered.

A Wedding

We went to a wedding in Chihileut which is where I give the English lessons on Tuesday after school. The wedding was for one of my students sisters. The wedding had been going on all day, but we got there after school. We first had to buy some umbrellas because it was raining. Then went to the wedding. We said congratulations, took some pictures, and ate some dinner. The chicken was yummy. Here are some pictures. The woman and man in the orange is the bride and groom. The kids loving getting their picture taken and then looking at it. That is what we did most of the time, take pictures.




This has nothing to do with the wedding but on Monday we went and ate African food that one of my friend's friends made that is visiting. It made me really excited to go to Africa this Christmas.

Marble Art

On Friday in Art class we did marble art. You take a marble dip it in paint and swirl the marble all over paper. The students really loved it, and they did a pretty fabulous job.

Malaysia and Marvelous Fruit

As you know for Idul Fitri I went to Malaysia. We spent lots of time driving around on a motorbike named Maggie trying to figure out where we were in this big earth. We figured it out for the most part.


We decided that we were going to create a TV show about 2 girls on a bike named Maggie in a quest for delicious food. You would watch that show right? Anyways. One night we went to a night market and bought lights, now they are hanging on our wall(after some mad hammering skills) and they look like this.


Brittany went to the market today to buy some fruit and veg., and this is what she came back with. It is marvelous looking, and tastes marvelous too. I already had a Mangosteen.

Rhyming Words

As we have been learning about rhyming words these past 2 weeks this conversation ensued...

"What is a word that rhymes with cart?"
"Part, mart, smart"
"Fart"
Resounding in a series a loud obnoxious noises. You catch the drift.

How to Get to Penang, Malaysia

Take:
1 bus to Jakarta
1 taxi to spa
1 taxi to lunch
1 taxi to the mall
1 taxi back from the mall
1 bajai in a circle
1 taxi to the airport
1 terminal transfer bus
1 airplane to Kuala Lumpur
1 bus to Putaraya, Chinatown
Walk to the bus station that is closed
Wait outside KFC
1 bus to Buta
Pay 20 sen (20 cents) to go pee
1 ferry
1 taxi to the apartment

Week Four

I noticed that it has bean a little while since I have posted anything. School has been busier then what I remember it being last year. There have also been lots of different fun things that I have done over the last month and I guess that I have not told you about it. I thought that I would tell you through pictures.

I went to Bali for a wedding the weekend after we started school. It was a pretty small wedding but a lot of fun. Most of my friends were there, it was nice to catch up from the summer. when we were at the beach we always to Ray the chair man. I finally got a picture with him.

Brittany's friend Jess was in town. We took her up to Punchuk because we thought that we were going to go paragliding but it was booked out so we did not go. We had a beautiful drive up though.


Oh... I also have some students that you have not seen yet. I have 16 students. I am working on loving them everyday. They are not like last year which is okay, and that is why I am spreading the love.



On Tuesday I go and teach English in a village in Bogor. Bogor is about 20 minutes away to help to put things into perspective. We sing songs and dances to help them with their words. The children call us "Ka Leanne" which means 'older sister'. The kids are really cute and need some love and English which is what we give them.






I was feeling a little bit windy today but I figured that I should catch ya'll up on what is going on. Another great thing. We now have a hammock in the backyard. It has been one of my favorite places to go and sit. More to come, hopefully more frequently.

First Day of School

Today was the first day of school. I have 17 students this year. 11 girls and 6 boys. It was great to be back in the classroom. My students have larger personalities than last year which means more fun. Right? I do not have pictures loaded yet they will be here soon.

In other news: When I got home from my trip this is what the ceiling in the bathroom looked liked.Before we left for holiday I had mentioned that it was caving in slightly and they took action. They also took our oven away today because it is leaking so they figured that it would be better to transport it back to school to work on it.

In other other news: I started volunteering in a village in Bogor where we will be giving language lessons. We sang the hokey pokey and the 12 months of the year song. The children liked my dance moves. I am excited to have this oppurtunity to minister to kids in a different way. I am still waiting for pictures to upload from this event as well.

Picures are taking too long to load. I am tired. You can see them later.

Blue Mountains and The Great Barrier Reef

Great Barrier Reef Action:



Yes that is right I have swam (or would it be swum?) in the Great Barrier Reef. I saw turtles, octopus, whales, and dolphins. It was a snorkeling trip that turned into a whale watching excursion as well. Have you noticed that Australians add great to the beginning of their places, Great Ocean Road, Great Barrier Reef? Why is that? We have the Grand Canyon but we do not call it the Great Grand Canyon. Something to mull over as you look at the pictures.




While I was still in Sydney I went up to the Blue Mountains and saw the 3 sisters, and many other beautiful sights. Our trip is almost done. (insert sad face) Tomorrow we leave for Bali, on Monday we go back to Jakarta. I have done some pretty amazing things while I have been here, and seen a lot of God's creation. I love your work, especially your earlier stuff.