Rice: Almost Ready for Harvest

Our Niece Natalie!

We are happy to announce that

Natalie Renee was born

to Ian and Angela

on September 12

in Winnipeg.

We immediately posted pictures
of Natalie in our dining room
and went out and bought
her some flowers!

Back HOME in Laos

It's good to be back home again. We arrived with 4 new MCC volunteers and proceeded to head out on a staff and volunteer retreat.

One morning, we took a traditional Lao longboat to visit a cave.

MCC Laos staff children. Pretty in Pink!

Eating Lao food together. It's so good to be back -- and mealtime is no exception!

First day of Lao language classes for the 4 new volunteers. It's rained quite a bit since they've arrived.

Erik and Conrad also started school again. Here they are on the first day.

Trip to Akron
MCC's head office is in Akron and we went to there for meetings. Of course we didn't just go to meetings the whole time....and besides, meetings make for some really boring photos.

Our first stop with Diane was a visit to the Wilbur Chocolate Factory.

The MCC Welcoming Place:

We stayed in Africa House this time.

Supper with Joe (our boss) and his family. Only Matthew and Joe are shown here.

Arthur and Diane in discussion.
We met the Lao participants in the International Volunteer Exchange Program. They are starting a year of volunteering in a thrift store, Ten Thousand Villages store and 2 working with new immigrants to Canada and United States. It was fun to meet them and encourage them as they begin this exciting time abroad.
Arthur sitting on one of the many rocking chairs in Harrisonburg International Airport.

Erik Turned 15!

We spent some time on his birthday shopping for English books....

... and running shoes in size 12 EEE.
Celebrating at Grandma and Grandpa's house.
Counting his birthday money!

Other Fun in Manitoba

Some of the other fun things we did: Watching movies with the cousins
Playing Settlers of Cattan

Conrad having a cornish game hen all to himself
Arthur got a fleece jacket as a gift from his brother that was Made in Laos!
Having a baby shower for Ian and Angela
Contemplating the world together

Playing with the Spud Gun

(It shoots potatoes or apples.)

Ken,

We don't have a photo but it was also really good to see you!

Too bad our visit with you was so short.

Other Summer Highlights

A Day at the Beach

Shopping for treats before we go.

Janessa takes a pause in her reading and it made for an interesting optical illusion.

The countryside is so flat and open. It makes the sky feel big.