These are Raquel's school uniforms. The first one is for most days and the second is her sport uniform that she wears one day a week. They're not going to win any style prizes, but I think she's pretty stinkin' cute especially when she comes running to us when we pick her up from school every afternoon. She's started to ask us "How was school today Mommy and Daddy?" when we pick her up and when we leave each morning she says "Have fun at school today!"

This is the day that the Lord has made!

Our church home away from home

We have started attending an Asian-Pacific church in K, a village located a little north of us. We've really enjoyed it, the people are so friendly and it's been really neat to worship with Asian-Pacific believers. We don't understand a lot, but that will change little by little:). Sometimes we sit next to another org couple that also attends and they whisper bits of the message to us. The music is really fun - it's LOUD so that everyone can hear, even those not attending:) The pastor and his wife are so sweet they've given us fresh vegetables twice and almost every Sunday they have us stay and drink tea with them and others after the service.

K is a farming community about a 20 minute drive up the mountain from us. It's a beautiful drive, the air is always nice and cool and God's gorgeous creation is all around us:)

Another perk to this church is that, because it's a farming community, it starts at 8 am so all the people have time to do chores or whatnot (since we don't have chores, we just get to sleep in a little bit:). Most of the other Asia-Pacific churches start at 7.

16 again...

I'm learning to drive. I don't have my license yet, but I'll get it next Saturday. To get it I have to go to the police station and pay 20 bucks. Not too involved, and no proof of actually being able drive is required. So, the first time I went out on the road my hands hurt afterwards from holding onto the bike in a death grip, but I've been practicing quite a bit this week. I didn't even kill Dylan when I drove to school. Yesterday Raquel and I went to a baby shower all by ourselves. I even had to find it on my own. It's really not that impressive as the house was about a mile away, but I was pretty pleased with myself:) Baby steps, baby steps...

Aaand we're off

The right turns are the worst (since we drive on the left hand side of the road) I think I'm going to map out ways to get to places using only left turns- it has to work eventually:)

Random

Hey Mom, recognize the socks? This is how Raquel left the house for a walk the other night:)

On Friday Raquel was very excited that she had been able to use the computer room at school. When we came to pick her up she just had to show us. She told us she sent us an e-mail, but we never got it:)

Maybe someone else got it because she's using the mouse from the computer next to hers:)

Dylan doing homework - getting some language questions answered in the back yard with Mas Paidi, the man who cuts our grass every wednesday (with scissors)

You thought I was kidding- didn't you:)

School Daze

We have completed our org's 6 week field orientation which consisted of working with an Asian-Pacific language helper and going on different cultural excursions, taking pictures and learning the different vocabulary words that surfaced through these experiences and pictures. This was good practice for us for later on when we go into a tribe. Although there is an Asian-Pacific language school here in S, there will not be a tribal language school. When we go into a tribe we will be learning the language (which will not be written down) by the method we have been using these past couple of months. We've really enjoyed it and learned a lot. So yesterday, July 6, we started IMLAC which is a formal school with class rooms and everything:) There are 9 four-week units. Dylan actually did so well in the orientation phase that he was able to "test" into the second unit. I am starting at the very beginning- a very good place to start:) We have class from 8-12 every day and then go home to review what we have learned and to complete our homework assignments - one being 'go out and meet 15 new people, ask them their name, where they come from, how many children they have and where they live' (in the language, of course:).

Not just Dylan and I started school yesterday, Raquel is also going to preschool. It's taught in English but she is the only English speaking child in her class. It's really for Asian-Pacific kids to learn English, so we're hoping that she'll pick up some of their language from them. She goes every day from 10-12 and so far seems to be enjoying it. They have a really nice facility with lots of fun things for the kids to do.



All ready for the much anticipated first day of school!

following the leader to snack time!

and, of course, her favorite part was being outside and PLAYING

(maybe she's related to Dylan:)

Our 4th (warning - sad story within)

The fourth of July dawned bright and early. Raquel usually wakes up with the 1st call to prayer (4:30am) although usually she doesn't come and wake us up until at least 5:30 or 6 (still painfully early:). We were able to go to the pool in the morning and had a fun time swimming. At suppertime we walked down the street to a coffeehouse/restaurant nearby called the Bizztro. They were having a special celebration for the 4th of July so Raquel got her face painted and we got hamburgers, french fries and watermelon.:)

However, our lovely day came to a sad ending. For the past three weeks my allergies have been getting really bad. The sneezing and runny nose wasn't so bad, but in the last week my eyes started itching so bad I couldn't wear my contacts. Unfortunately this was due to Bru, our sweet little puppy. Now some of you who know me well, (or even not so well:) probably know that I am not what you would call an animal lover, but Bru has really grown on me. I had gotten used to his cute little face and his constantly following me around was almost endearing. Well, Dylan and I had reluctantly started discussing the possibility of finding someone who would want him. Soooo Saturday night a man, who we see every once in a while came by selling cookies that his wife makes. Dylan noticed that he seemed to like Bru and ended up offering him to the man. It all happened really fast so we had to explain it to Raquel while I was collecting all Bru's things. She started crying, shrieking and screaming, didn't want to let go until he was gone. It was heartbreaking to watch. After a while she finally finished crying and said "I don't like that man". I almost agreed with her at that point, but tried to explain that we don't say that about people (especially because it wasn't his fault, but actually her mean mommy's)

Thankfully she doesn't seem to be permanently damaged from the traumatic incident although next time we will try to prep her a bit before taking such drastic measures.

Interesting

This sign was outside the bathroom facilities at the gas station that we stopped at on the way to Pacitan. To mandi (shower) it will cost 1,500 rupiah (about 15 cents). It only costs 1,000 rp (about 10 cents) to buang air besar (literally translated "throw away big water") or to buang air kecil ("throw away small water") Get it? :)