Jakarta...

Jakarta has had a flood recently and so when we went to Jakarta this weekend we talked to lots of people that had been affected by the flood. We had a great time in Jakarta with Janna's parents. We went to the local amuzement park and the kids had a great time. We also had a great time watching the kids, even though the temperature was hot, hot, hot. Jakarta is close to the ocean and so is at sea level elevation, this means that it is hotter than Bandung that is up in the mountains.

The kids said goodbye to grandpa and grandma which is never easy and we prayed for a great trip for mom and dad. We had a great time together with family and really appreciated the fact that mom and dad made the effort to come. Thanks.

During their time here we were able to experience and do so many things. We tried to show them some of the tourist attractions around Bandung, many of which we had not been to. All the while trying to keep up with language school. Language school continues to go well and we continue to be amazed with how quick our time here is going. Next thing you know we will be in Papua. We continue to dream about Papua and the fact that we are ready to go. Even though we are ready right now to go (in our hearts) we realize the importance of language. The last weekend in Jakarta I realized how much more comfortable I am in this country now that I can speak the language a little bit.

Hope everyone is doing well. We are doing well and continue to be so thankful that you all have supported us in coming here. Without you we would not be at the spot we are and we thank you.

Back from Pangandaran...

We took a trip to the south of the island of Java to see a beach where one of the tsunami's hit. Our family and Janna's parents went to the beach to hang out and see some of the effects of what happened. We had a great time talking to people and hearing some very interesting stories about what happened. I guess the water receeded a great distance off the beach and some of the kids were playing soccer on the beach. Some of the people playing soccer had heard about the tsunami in Aceh and that the water had receeded there too, so some of the children ran and told their parents. The rest of the children kept playing soccer and most of them were swept away by the wave. One of the ladies told us that her older son ran from the beach but could not convince his younger brother and the younger child died. So much devestation and loss of life. The government has told the town not to begin rebuilding because they think another tsunami is coming. The last one hit in July 2006. People there are beginning to get their lives back on track and it was interesting to see all the devestation to the buildings.

We are now back in school and coaching bball. The next little while sees us quite busy studying language, travelling for a bball tournament, travelling to return Janna's parents to the airport in Jakarta, travelling to MAF meetings, and studying studying studying. Is going to make for a quick month.

Please continue to pray for our health, desire to learn the language, and schooling for the children. Thank you so much for all your prayers. Talk to you all again soon.

Onto the next unit....

This past Friday Janna and I both moved onto the next unit of language study, putting Janna in unit 7 and me in unit 6. We are both continuing to work hard at learning the language and hope that by the time we leave Bandung we will have a good grasp of the language.

This up coming week we are traveling to the South coast of the island of Java to Pangandaran. A beach area that was hit by the tsunami about a year ago. It is a popular vaction spot for Europeans and Indonesians in Bandung. People that we have talked to here are not exactly sure what state of repair all the buildings are in, but we are going to go there and see it anyway. There is a national park and some surfing spots near by to where we are staying and so we hope to go and explore some of the different things that this island has to offer. It will be a long drive for the kids but they are happy when we say the words "swimming pool" so we hope that this will get them through the long drive. Janna's parents will also be with us.

We continue to thank you all for the support that you have been. The Christmas cards and presents were tremedous and were a real encouragement. It is not easy to be on the other side of the world for Christmas but all of you helped us with that. Thanks.

Our children continue to love school. One story that occured two days ago now is that Kaya was playing and somehow jumped off a very high place and has hurt her foot. She does not put any weight on it yet and has been crawling around trying to play with all the things that she normally does. The doctor did not see it as anything serious and so we hope that it will soon heal. Please pray for continued safety and well being as we live here. Some of the students that are on my basketball team have recently been diagnosed with Dingy Fever. So just continue to pray that God will protect. Thanks again.