TCK-PFO

This is the Campus Center on the Houghton College campus in New York where I am attending the TCK conference, along with approximately 120 other people. We have our meals in this building and our meetings in the lecture hall of the science building which is behind this one. It's a lovely campus and the facilities are great. We have received a lot of information this week - one of the presenters said it's like trying to drink from a fire hose, and we really feel that sometimes. We have one more week. The conference ends on Friday and I leave that afternoon to return to Spain.

This is a photo of all the World Venture folks who are here. We all had lunch together on Thursday. This group is going all over the world to work in MK schools - Spain, Czech Republic, Japan, Germany, and a few other countries I can't remember at the moment.

Last night we had the opportunity to take a "field trip" to Letchworth Park, about a 30-minute drive from the campus. It's over 14,000 acres and has three waterfalls. It was a lovely evening and it was great to get off campus and see some powerful evidence of God's creation. Tomorrow many of us are going to see Niagara Falls. I'm excited!

New Hampshire

I just spent a few days with some dear friends in Peterborough, New Hampshire. We enjoyed spending time together - grilling in the evenings...

...exploring downtown Peterborough...

...visiting a neighborhood "pond"...

...picking strawberries...

...and eating lobster rolls.

I had a great time and now I'm in New York for the TCK conference. More later. ;)

Stateside

I am in the States for three and half weeks. The main reason is to attend a conference for people who work with TCKs (third culture kids). I spent the first 10 days visiting friends in Detroit, MI and Peterborough, NH.

Here are some photos from my time in Michigan -

We took a two-day road trip up north. First stop, Frankenmuth and my favorite Christmas store...

...followed by lunch at one of my favorite places.

Next stop, Mackinaw City...

...a boat ride the next day to Mackinac Island...

...where we walked through town and then along the shore and climbed up to Arch Rock...

...and back into town and out to the Grand Hotel (where they filmed the movie "Somewhere in Time").

We returned home that afternoon and spent the next few days shopping, celebrating Father's Day and two birthdays and enjoying being together. Then on to New Hampshire for me.

Graduation

The Class of 2010 was an amazing group of young people. A few of the words I would use to describe them - thoughtful, servants, friendly, lovers of learning, bright, and compassionate. I am going to miss them. Most of them are already in the States, working summer jobs and getting ready to start college.

We also said good-bye to several staff members this year - some to retirement, some to home assignments, some to other ministries. I suppose that's one of the harder things about being a missionary - saying good-bye to folks you have come to know and love.

It was a great first year for me at ECA and I look forward to the next.

Missionary Kids - Through Their Own Eyes

A friend of mine who works with TCKs/MKs posted this on her blog awhile back and I was so impressed with this video that I wanted to share it with you. It will give you a glimpse into the lives of the students at our school. (This was made at Black Forest Academy, an MK school in Germany, but the experiences and feelings of TCKs/MKs are the same, no matter where they are.)

As our Seniors get ready to graduate in a few weeks and head to the States, to a life thousands of miles away from their families, would you pray for them. And for their parents and siblings who will have to adjust to life without them. I know what it's like to be separated from your children by an ocean, and at times it's very hard. I guess I need your prayers, too. :)