against all fragmentary things

New Personal Website

2009-12-16T05:54:00.004+03:00

I've been in the process of getting a website up and running for a couple of months now. It's now functioning, so I will be migrating my comments, photos, and updates over there in the coming weeks:

www.paulshaffner.com

13 Months Letter

2009-10-24T17:18:00.002+03:00

Kate just posted Anna's 13 Month Letter.

Unfortunately too true

2009-10-13T16:36:00.003+03:00

via David Moyer

Love you!

2009-09-21T15:37:00.003+03:00

Bizarre Small Mammal Ethology

2009-09-18T20:06:00.010+03:00

Paraxerus vexillarius

photo by William Stanley

It's been a while since I last posted anything, but I came across an article on the BBC today that is worth mentioning. It's worth noting, that this article will only appeal to a very specific demographic of people, namely those interested in East African small mammals ("Rats & Bats" as Bill Stanley says).

It seems that a bush squirrel as discovered attacking a fruit bat. This is particularly bizarre behavior because squirrels are herbivores and have never been known to even scavenge meat, let along hunt live mammals!

This incident was witnessed and recorded by Bill Stanley, of the Chicago Field Museum, who has travelled extensively within Tanzania and often bases himself at Kibebe Farm in Iringa. Furthermore, his discovery was made in Mwafomero Forest Reserve in the Rubeho Mountains (part of the Eastern Arc), part of the WCS Confervation Flight Program mapping project, which I had the chance to help out with in the Fall of 2006. Small world!

Some New Photos

2009-07-26T04:51:00.011+03:00

Scotia Range - Will launches a clay bird as Uncle Eric draws a bead.

I've been pretty bad lately about getting photos posted, but I've just added a couple to flickr from shooting skeet last weekend when we had family visiting and also a couple from this afternoon at the Pennsylvania Jazz Festival at Spring Creek Park in Bellefonte. Click on the photo above to check them out!

Seacom Cable Completion

2009-07-23T17:54:00.004+03:00

When we visited Kenya in 2007, a highly-visible ditch was being dug by hand along the length of the Nairobi - Naivasha road. We discovered that this ditch was being hand excavated all the way from Mombasa to house the new fiber optic high speed internet cables that were being laid from Dubai across the sea floor to Kenya.

At the time, completion seemed like a long way off in the future, but today the link has been completed!

These sorts of cables connect all of the continents but Antarctica, making the rest of the world accessible virtually instantly.

I am a bit in awe of this network of ultra-mass-communication and how amazingly fragile it can be.

I am very excited for the myrid opportunities that the new East African Seacom cable will now open up, however a little part of me wonders how stable a shallowly-buried and well-publicized cable will be.

10 Months

2009-07-22T18:04:00.004+03:00

Anna is now 10 months and seems to be picking up new skills every day (opening cupboard doors, pointing, bouncing, etc.). Click here to visit Kate's wonderful synopsis of what Anna's last month has been like.

A Positive ID

2009-07-17T07:11:00.003+03:00

The aforementioned photo of the mystery orchid actually turned out to be Chimaphila maculata, Striped Wintergreen.

Good job Mom!

Can Anyone Identify This?

2009-07-16T05:58:00.003+03:00

My botanist mother is stumped thus far. Can anyone identify this mystery orchid photographed in State College, PA, USA on 7.14.09? Lens cap for size comparison is 67mm in diameter.

The Winterton Collection

2009-07-02T15:12:00.007+03:00

August 1896 - Damage to Sultan Bargash's palace on Zanzibar

sustained during the 38 minute bombardment known as the

Anglo-Zanzibar War.

The Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies at Northwestern University has just annouced that nearly 8,000 photos depicting life in East Africa 1860-1960, known as the Winterton Collection is now available online. The photographs are all tagged and indexed so you can sort by a number of different categories. To my knowledge, this is the largest collection of early photographs of East Africa available electronically. It is certainly the most accessible and best organized in the world. In five minutes I found photos of the Shultztruppe, Burton, Speake, Bargash, Tippu Tip, Kijabe, Mahenge, Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar, Tabora, and Ujiji! AMAZING.

Thanks to Noel and Kate for bringing this to my attention!

New Global Terrain Map

2009-06-30T15:26:00.004+03:00

As announced in the BBC News this morning, a nearly complete terrain map has just been released and will cover 99% of the surface area of the earth. It is available for public download and use here, though it seems that due to the volume of interest in this project, the number of downloads have been capped for a limited time to prevent the site from crashing. Those of us who are slightly less hardcore will hopefully be able to download and explore the ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (ASTER GDEM) at some point in the near future!

Flickr Photoset of the Day

2009-06-29T19:29:00.005+03:00

The Moyer's home, Kigwembimbe

(roughly translated from Kihehe:

" Where the beer overflows/spills")

Since we (and many of our friends) lived in thatch-roofed homes in Tanzania, I have loved the beauty and practicality of thatch. For those of you who also enjoy it, these Irish thatched homes are lots of fun to peruse.

Canonizing Mwalimu

2009-06-24T17:29:00.005+03:00

The Catholic Church has started the canonisation process for Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the first President of Tanganyika, who united his country with Zanzibar to form Tanzania in 1964.

If the Pope declares Mwalimu a saint, he will be the first purely political figure to attain such status. The Sunday Monitor in Kampala, Uganda has reported on "St. Nyerere's 18 Political Miracles" which qualify him for canonisation.

Whale-Watching & Safari Hunting

2009-06-23T16:39:00.008+03:00

The BBC just published an article about how much more money whale watching brings in than whaling (hunting). I find this an interesting contrast to Tanzania where managed professional hunting outearns photographic tourism nearly 50:1. Ethics aside, this would seem to be an argument for whale-watching and hunting as the most economically viable uses of these natural resources.

For the record, I do not support whaling, and while I believe that hunting can be a sustainable and beneficial practice, I understand that it is prone to the same corruption and abuses that plague other industries as well. The Loliondo case makes me particularly sick and angry.

Embedded Programs at PSU

2009-06-22T19:44:00.004+03:00

As reported by the Penn State Newswire, our office is experiencing real growth in the realm of faculty-led short-term education abroad programs (which we call "embedded programs"). I have been managing the administration of these programs since November of last year, when the previous manager left.

Last year we had a little over 800 students study on embedded programs--this year we've had nearly 1000. While this increase is due to a number of factors - our office is broadening its reach to enfold programs that were previously not under our purview - it also reflects the increasing number of faculty members who are integrating international experiences into the curriculum of courses taught residentially at Penn State. This means that students who couldn't find the flexibility in their schedule to study abroad for an entire semester are now able to travel, if only for a couple of weeks. And a well-implemented short-term trip can be a valuable experience.

"Bad Safaris"

2009-06-16T17:03:00.007+03:00

I happened across these scanned slides on flickr the other day, and thoroughly enjoyed the predicaments that this zoologist has managed to get his Landies in to over many years operating in the bush of Tanzania.

Expedition Africa - Week Three

2009-06-15T05:03:00.008+03:00

This week's show covered much familiar territory in our old stomping grounds. They just left the Uluguru Mountains and headed out on to the Mkata Plain (Mikumi National Park)...

...past the remains of buffalo...

...under the watchful eyes of hyenas...

...and ended their journey at a Maasai village.

Again, I have to ignore the over-hyped drama and ethnocentric attitudes (which make me cringe).

Great Grandma Rensel

2009-06-14T20:43:00.004+03:00

Michigan Trip

2009-06-12T23:10:00.005+03:00

Click on the image above to see weekend photos

We had a wonderful time this past weekend in Michigan. We crammed lots into our 4 day visit. We saw many friends from Tanzania (Caraways! Bentons! Millers! Zubers! LUKA!), rejoiced with Casey and Steven being joined in marriage, visited a friend from Taiwan, and saw Becca and Andrew, whose wedding we attended just two weeks ago.

Usually travelling weekends are draining, but we arrived home from this one somehow recharged.

Wireless Charging

2009-06-11T18:22:00.002+03:00

So it seems that Nokia has produced a phone that charges itself wirelessly from excess radio waves that would otherwise be wasted diffused energy. No more chargers to manufacture and carry. And it eliminates otherwise wasted energy, thereby countering global warming!

Thanks Nokia for being part of the solution!

Expedition Africa - Week One

2009-06-01T05:18:00.022+03:00

For those of you to who don't know the background, Mark Burnett (of Survivor fame) put 4 experienced (and completely Type A) people together to recreate Stanley's trek to "find" Livingstone in the interior of Africa in 1871. Not surprisingly the show focuses on interpersonal drama (true to Burnett's Survivor-roots).

You have to get past this and also the egotism/ignorance of the expedition members (one expedition member to a bunch of Tanzanian fishermen and porters: "How many of you can swim? No one? Okay, then NO ONE stand up in the canoes."). Oh, and it bothers me when people call out to a Maasai man by saying, "Hey Maasai, come here," rather than using his name (though I admit, I know at least one Maasai who doesn't care, so maybe I should chill out).

Anyway, overlooking the above, I really enjoyed seeing so many reminders of "home." This includes:

roads that I've walked in Zanzibar
dhows on the Indian Ocean
Bagamoyo
the same Chinese-made aluminum tea kettle that I suspect everyone in Tanzania owns
Mangrove swamps (and lots of MUD)
the Ruvu River
Euphorbia candelabra
Hornbills calling
spitting cobras
crocodiles
rudimentary Swahili: "Moja, mbili, tatu!" "Tuende!"
Acacia thornscrub
termite mounds
Maasai simis

Man, I miss that place! Anyone want to finance my expedition proposal to follow P.J. Pretorius' 1916-1918 track across Tanganyika?

Weddings

2009-06-01T04:50:00.003+03:00

Higgins, NY 5.23.09

We are starting into the wedding season! Last weekend we journeyed back to our old stomping grounds in western New York to celebrate Becca & Andrew's wedding. This weekend, my coworker and friend Julia Kisner became Julia Law, and next weekend we will head to central Michigan to celebrate the start of Casey and Steven's life together.

Click on the image above for photos from Becca & Andrew's wedding weekend.

kuhusu afya...

2009-05-08T20:59:00.001+03:00

Easter 2009

2009-04-19T21:48:00.003+03:00

To view the new set of photos, click on the photo above.

Amin meets Nyerere

2009-04-14T02:28:00.003+03:00

"The BBC's Swahili Service brought the two together to reflect on the five-month conflict, which left half a million people dead and culminated with Tanzania troops ousting Amin from Kampala on 10 April 1979."

Did the BBC really have to hold a summit to make elicit these statements? It seems to me that Jaffar Amin and Madaraka Nyerere could have sent these comments in via email. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed the retrospective!

wow, simply incredible...

2009-03-30T21:03:00.004+03:00

Man accused of DUI crashes into Penn State building

A 21-year-old man was arrested after police say he drove his vehicle into Penn State’s Chemistry Building, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage.
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According to Penn State police Keith J. Kripp, of McAdoo, allegedly fled after the crash, which occurred shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday. Witnesses told police they saw the vehicle heading north on Shortlidge Road and west on Curtin Road.

Police said in a criminal complaint that several bricks on the sidewalk and two large windows of the building were damaged. Police caught up with Kripp at the intersection of Burrowes and Pollock roads, where they noticed significant damage to the passenger side of his vehicle. Kripp could not complete sobriety tests, police said, and he registered a .241 percent blood alcohol content. He was arrested and taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center for blood testing.

Police say Kripp admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol and to crashing into the building with his maroon 2007 Toyota.

He was arraigned Sunday before District Judge Jonathan Grine on charges of DUI, risking catastrophe, criminal mischief, reckless driving and related charges. He was released from the Centre County prison after posting 10 percent of $10,000 bail.

-Taken from The Centre Daily Times

Our Trip to the Philippines

2009-03-27T06:26:00.005+03:00

After two wonderful weeks in the Philippines, I'm back in central Pennsylvania with overcast skies and a chest cold. After the balmy weather of the South Pacific these are the coldest 50 degree days I've felt in a long time! To browse the highlights of our trip, click on the photograph below:

Anna & Great-Lolo

Five Month Photos

2009-02-24T07:31:00.003+03:00

For those of you interested, I've posted new photos of Anna on flickr. Click on the photo above.

Four Months

2009-01-26T07:08:00.001+03:00

Dear Anna - Last week I was writing the date and it occurred to me that four months ago, you had just been born. Even since your mom wrote in December, you've grown and learned so much: like now you can roll over! We put you down on the bed one day and before we had time to think about it, you ever-so-nonchalantly flipped up on to your side and over. It was like you had been practicing in secret just waiting for the moment to debut your new skill. We were amazed; well done!

Your first Christmas holiday held lots of memorable events. Uncle Luke was able to get time off from the Air Force and flew home to spend three weeks at Grandma and Grandpa's house. When he first held you, it was at arm's length with the mildly-panicked and fascinated what-if-she-breaks-or-worse-yet-poops face, but in no time he was holding you up and moving you around and you were smiling right back at him.

Our trip to Houghton yielded more introductions: Barb and Jon Arensen. Aunt Barb took to you right away, and even Uncle Jon asked to hold you, though with the caveat that if you started to poop he would "chuck" you back to us. Thankfully you heeded his warning and he happily held you without incident.

Mom took you in to see the doctor for your second round of vaccinations. You were exceedingly happy to meet the doctor and sat in Mom's arms cooing warmly. As that needle plunged into your thigh, Mom says your face immediately changed. "How could you DO that to me?!" your teary eyes begged. And speaking of teary eyes, there's something else that's new - your eyes actually tear up when you cry (which is not all that often to be honest). After that visit, the doctor was so impressed with your growth, he said that we can start feeding you SOLID foods, though we think that we may delay that until after you return from your big trip to Taiwan and the Philippines, because that will make it much easier to travel with you! We applied for and received your passport this month, confirming that you will be making your first international journey outside the womb to go visit Ankong, Lola, and all the rest of the Brions and Lao(hoo)s in March. I took your passport photo myself while you were lying on the bed.

Grandma and Grandpa were just here visiting this afternoon. They get to see you every week or two, either when we visit them or they come here to see you. Today you were a little bit out of sorts, since your nose is all stuffy and you didn’t sleep well last night, but I know that Grandma and Grandpa love every minute that they get to spend with you, even when you’re not happy. Grandpa is still hoping that he is your first word.

I like to rough-house with you. We have a couple of tricks: sometimes I hold you up over my head with one hand like you’re an airplane flying around and other times I hold you upright in the palm of one hand, then I slowly let you fall down and backwards before catching you and nuzzling your belly. You LOVE that.

Your mom and I have noticed that when you are content, sometimes the easiest way to make you squeal with glee is to squeeze and hold you tightly next to us while pretending to nibble on your ears, toes, or other exposed extremities. And sometimes we whisper one of our favorite lines from Where the Wild Things Are, "I'll eat you up, I love you so!"

Lionel Trains

2008-12-14T04:35:00.003+03:00

After driving back from Jana & Joel Snyder's wedding in Lewisburg, Mom and Dad came by to visit for a while (Anna is now cooing quite interactively and continues to be the ever-captivating entertainer).

Dad also bought us a transformer so that the Lionel train that ran under the tree when I was growing up now will run under the tree for Anna. She looks rather disinterested in the photo above, but she would actually fixate on the light-up caboose at the end of the train and follow it around the tracks with her eyes!

I think all the people at the wedding combined with the train tired her out...

In other news, we're looking forward to seeing Luke in 9 days!

mpishi yangu

2008-11-07T06:27:00.004+03:00

Katrina has been cooking Japanese food this week, and I haven't been complaining!

Tonight we had particularly artsy-looking soba noodles with tofu, toasted sesame seeds, green onion, ginger all in a sauce that Katrina concocted from scratch (and a recipe). I was too busy eating later to take pictures of her homemade chicken teriyaki!

I hear the oven timer going off for the chocolate-cranberry biscotti, so I'd better go take it out since Katrina has her hands full with Anna!

Kenyan Roots

2008-11-05T17:08:00.006+03:00

"Sarah Onyango, the US president-elect's 86-year old step-grandmother, could not restrain herself and darted out of her house singing and dancing.'If I laugh too hard, I'll die,' she said."

"Auma [Barack's half-sister] said she was looking forward to making chapattis - a local flatbread - in the White House with Michelle Obama. His grandmother says that is his favourite food."

Read the whole article.

2008-11-04T03:31:00.004+03:00

When we got home from the grocery store tonight I went downstairs, tossed our frozen food into the washer, and turned around to go upstairs. Brilliant.

2008-10-27T07:26:00.002+03:00

2008-10-20T05:12:00.002+03:00

When my brother and I moved out, Mom and Dad got a third son...now Luke's a middle child.

2008-10-11T16:03:00.003+03:00

It's been an awfully long time since I've updated you all. Our friends from Tanzania, the Wingfields, drove down from Toronto to spend the day with us on Tuesday. Today Katrina's mom is flying into Pittsburgh International Airport and will be staying with us for three weeks; we are taking off in a couple of hours to go pick her up.

Katrina has posted a number of great photos of Anna and the Wingfields recently, so go to her blog and check them out!

10:45 PM @ Home

2008-09-28T05:44:00.003+03:00

We can see the lights of Beaver Stadium out our front door. Here's the view during the prime-time Illinois game that's going on right now (and I'm watching on ESPN/ABC)--better than a full moon, or at least brighter!

First Glamour Shot

2008-09-14T06:33:00.002+03:00

For those of you who requested a close up, here she is a half hour ago (11:00pm) after her bath and two days in the real world.

Unexpected, but healthy and welcome!

2008-09-13T16:41:00.005+03:00

Our daughter, Anna Brion Shaffner, was born at 3:15 AM on Friday, 12 September 2008.

She is perfect!

Apartment Tour Anyone?

2008-09-10T04:40:00.004+03:00

Katrina is blogging this as well, but if anyone is interested, I have added some photos of our new apartment here in State College.

The photos are all a bit blurry because I was shooting handheld in low light. I don't think it's too distracting.

Hiking Shingletown Gap

2008-09-03T02:06:00.003+03:00

Katrina and I joined some friends on Labor Day for some hiking in Shingletown Gap. The idea was to go as far as we felt comfortable and then spread out the blanket and enjoy the afternoon. As it worked out, I had underestimated my wife's grit...she made it all the way to the top of Tussey Mountain even at 8 1/2 months pregnant!

Check out how steep and rocky the trail is
(and that Katrina is wearing Crocs, to boot)!

Rocky Ridge Reunion

2008-08-23T05:30:00.003+03:00

We had an wonderful time with everyone who made it in last weekend!

Ben! Amy! Sam! Michelle! Mark!

You were missed.

Employed!

2008-08-11T16:52:00.003+03:00

Good news for all of you who have been praying:

Penn State made me an offer of employment on Friday!
I'll be starting August 18 in the International Programs office.

We continue to appreciate your prayers as we negotiate an apartment, move, and make the transition to State College.

-Paul
Assistant to the Director of Education Abroad
The Pennsylvania State University

Luke's Home!

2008-08-05T19:32:00.005+03:00

We've been busy visiting friends and family this past month. My brother Luke, who we haven't seen in two years, is currently in town...so here's the first family photo with all 6 of us (7 if you count the cat)!

Also, I have some new summer photos posted here for anyone interested.

WHAT?!?!

2008-07-04T00:49:00.005+03:00

Someone just sent us a link to this page.

We are now the WikiHow poster couple!

Zanzibar 4 Obama

2008-07-03T21:40:00.002+03:00

I like how excited East Africa is about Barack Obama's candidacy. I can't remember another US candidate ever generating this much international buzz (granted, I'm only 25). During our 3 days in Stonetown, Zanzibar, I saw three Tanzanians with "Obama 08" badges. On our second day in town we happened upon the chairman of "Zanzibar 4 Obama".

Office of "Zanzibar 4 Obama"

Daytrip to Quarryville

2008-06-29T20:31:00.002+03:00

Yesterday we drove down to Quarryville, PA, near Lancaster. Katrina's grandma (Ama) is visiting from her home in Catbalogan, Philippines and we had the chance to meet up with her as well as Katrina's aunts and cousins. In addition, we had the chance to visit some of the Powell family, who work in Taiwan with Katrina's parents and SEND International. Mrs. Powell's mom, Mrs. Reppert is living at the Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community and hosted us for the afternoon. We really enjoyed getting to see everyone and hope to have the chance to visit Catbalogan one of these days!

With the Laohoos (28.6.2008)

With the Powells (28.6.2008)

New Photos

2008-06-15T17:28:00.006+03:00

Click on the photos below to view new albums.

Zanzibar - June 2008

Iringa - May & June 2008

Hadithi wa Swira

2008-05-29T12:33:00.005+03:00

On Tuesday morning, Katrina was walking up the hill to work. She was so thoroughly absorbed in the empanada that she was eating for breakfast that she failed to realize that the black PVC pipe on the trail was not in fact a black PVC pipe but a 10 foot-long spitting cobra! Thankfully something caught her attention (maybe the hood or glistening fangs?!) and she looked up in time to stop her stride 8 feet before running into the thing. Immediately, the snake turned around and headed off into the grass alongside the trail and Katrina continued to school, just like any other day, though not quite so absorbed with her empanada.

affirmation of my undying love

2008-05-22T23:19:00.009+03:00

Both my wife and Paul Christensen commented on the fact that while Katrina wrote a lovely anniversary blog, I posted a photo of a dead chameleon. I just wanted to set the record straight:

I DO LOVE MY WIFE

And the dead chameleon bears no symbolic significance to our relationship. We were very much in love (until I posted that photo). It's just that her blog was spot on and I am left with nothing to add...

...except maybe...uh...happy second anniversary Katrina!

Look both ways...

2008-05-21T11:15:00.003+03:00

During our weekend at Kisolanza we happened upon this guy.

Transition & Title Change

2008-05-20T11:52:00.005+03:00

I don't pretend to be so pretentious as to think you have all been wondering why my blog's title changed. However, my parents did inquire, so I will elaborate.

Since Katrina (& Jack) and myself are getting ready to leave Africa and begin a new chapter in our lives, I figured a title change was a good way to help myself transition. "against all fragmentary things" is a reference to the following Wendell Berry poem:

XI

To long for what can be fulfilled in time
Foredooms the body to the use of light,
Light into light returning, as the stream

Of days flows downward through us into night,
And into light and life and time to come.
This is the way of death: loss of what might

Have been in what must come to be, light’s sum
Lost in the having, having to forego.
The year drives on toward what it will become.

In answer to their names called long ago
The creatures all have risen and replied
Year after year, each toward the distant glow

Of its perfection in all, glorified;
Have failed. Year after year they all disperse
As the leaves fall, and not to be denied

The frost falls on the grass as by a curse.
The leaves flame, fall, and carry down their light
By a hard justice in the universe

Against all fragmentary things. Their flight
Sends them downward into the dark, unseen
Empowerment of a universal right

That brings them back to air and light again,
One grand motion, implacable, sublime.
The calling of all creatures is design.

(thanks to Aryn Baxter who introduced me to the author)

Camping at Ilusi

2008-05-07T11:42:00.003+03:00

This past weekend Katrina and I had the chance to go camping with our friends the Wingfields on the Ilusi Sand River near Ruaha National Park. We enjoyed swimming, reading, playing with our godson Ben, and birding (or should I say "I enjoyed birding"). On our way back to Iringa on Sunday we stopped by Pete Coppolillo's research camp at Lunda, where we got the grand tour and enjoyed drinks while watching hippos in the Great Ruaha River from their deck.

Highlights:
1. swimming with Ben
2. reading in the hammock
3. hyena, duiker, and vervet monkey tracks in the sand
4. five new birds for Paul: Southern Cordon-Bleu, African Golden Oriole, Red-billed Firefinch, Collared Sunbird, African Hawk Eagle
5. early morning walks down the river
6. bush driving
7. spotting a Serval Cat in broad daylight
8. tour of Pete's Lunda Camp

For pictures from the weekend, click on the above photo!

Good News

2008-04-19T13:40:00.001+03:00

Katrina is pregnant and is due first week of October!!!

After a Month-long Hiatus...

2008-04-08T16:24:00.006+03:00

...we're back at Masumbo finishing out the last two weeks of the Houghton in Tanzania program. Too much has happened since I last wrote to really impart it all. To summarize, we:

- forded rivers deeper than the hood of our car
- slid down waterfalls
- were thrilled to spend Easter with Aaron Adkins
- hunted vervet monkeys with a 12 gauge
- learned how to remove and fix a rusted radiator
- found the car's faulty circuit and rewired it (with duct tape and a Leatherman)
- watched a river carry away a cell phone
- had a malaria scare
- are only 1 bird away from seeing 150 Tanzanian birds
- visited 3 spectacular waterfalls (and saw countless more)
- enjoyed having Luka stay with us for 2 weeks
- spent almost 2 hours driving 11 muddy/rocky miles

Click on the photo above for a new set of photos from the past month.

Mambo Mamboleo

2008-02-26T17:34:00.004+03:00

Click on above image for a new set of photos

We arrived back on Friday from our 4 day sherehe (party) with our host Mamboleo, and about 200 Maasai clansmen. We had a wonderful visit in spite of burying a Land Cruiser and trailer axle-deep in mud on the way in. Through the concerted effort of a winch, lots of cut branches, and about 40 Maasai pushers, we got out of the hole and into our camp.

We learned how to properly kill a cow and a goat, how to bleed a cow with a bow and arrow, how to make fire using friction and sticks, and how to milk.

Thursday night, we were inundated with 12 solid hours of non-stop rain, which not only enlarged the mud holes, but flooded our entire camp with 3 inches of water. I slept curled up in the front seat of our Land Cruiser, slapping mosquitos, with three students piled in the back.

We woke up Friday moring unsure of whether we would actually be able to return to Iringa due to the rain. Dr. Arensen sucessfully extricated his Land Cruiser, but quickly phoned to inform me to leave the trailer behind, as the road was running with 3 feet of flowing water.

I didn't even get 20 yards out of camp before my rear axle sank into another hole. With the help of about 15 Maasai morani and palm fronds under the tires, I gunned it out and flew down the road in a controlled skid for the next quarter mile.

My apologies to the students who got couldn't get out of the way fast enough and got soaked or covered in mud. Think faster next time.

New Photos

2008-02-09T11:45:00.001+03:00

Another set of photos from Ruaha National Park is now up on my Flickr site.

Back from Safari

2008-01-31T15:49:00.000+03:00

We are back from our trip to pick up this year's bunch of Houghton in Tanzania students. We spent a couple nights at Lazy Lagoon Lodge, near Bagamoyo to get over jet lag, then on to Mikumi National Park for our first game park safari. Just got home on Tuesday and are trying to settle in to the routine.

I've added a new set of photos that I'm particularly proud of here.

Siku Kuu 2007-2008

2008-01-22T17:01:00.000+03:00

Finally, here are some photos of the Laos' visit over Christmas!

Prayers Answered

2008-01-08T15:40:00.000+03:00

My apologies ahead of time for the failures in my attempts to summarize what has been a 2 week long nightmare for me here in Tanzania.

Many of you may not be aware, but on our way to Dar es Salaam to pick up Katrina's family on 23 December, we hit a man who ran out onto the road directly in front of us. The man was released after only one day in the hospital in good condition, but for any of you who have had run-ins with police or accidents in a country other than your own, you can appreciate what a nightmare this can be.

I am not sure that I can fully explain the range of emotions and fears that have surged through my mind in the past two weeks. Many thanks to everyone who has been praying, as those prayers have really carried us through these past days, and I am overjoyed to report that as of Monday, all matters have been resolved. We were able to pay a good-will settlement to the injured man to cover hospital bills without accepting fault in the accident. The police agreed to close the case with no further questions, and I received notarized and signed documents releasing me from all further liability and fault in the incident.

All of our prayers have been answered in the best possible resolution of the situation, though I owe most sincere thanks to the Lyons, Moyer, and Caraway families for their support and wisdom in helping to discern the best course of action.

We are now looking forward to the students' arrival on 25 January and the start of this years' Houghton in Tanzania program. Again thanks for your prayers, as they have sustained us through this incredibly stressful chapter of life.

Love to all!
Paul

Technology

2008-01-08T15:28:00.000+03:00

I am continually amazed by the pace at which technology develops here in Tanzania. With some Christmas money from my family, we had the Laos bring out a new Nokia N70 cell phone when they visited over Christmas in the hopes that we could connect it to our computer and download email from home. Little did we know the change that this would bring to our lives. Not only can we connect and download email to our computers (anywhere, I might add, where we have cell reception, including while driving through the bush in the middle of nowhere), but we can surf and browse the internet at speeds rivaling my parents' dial-up connection in Pennsylvania. We can also use Katrina's new phone to check and send emails or chat with anyone on Skype without even connecting to a computer!!!

And apparently Tanzania has had this service in place for over a year!!! Where were we?!

We now pay about TSH 200/= (or $0.18) per MB to connect to the internet over our cell phone.

Thanks Laos and Shaffners!

2008 Homestay Survey

2007-12-21T13:30:00.000+03:00

Last weekend we visited the village where this year's Houghton in Tanzania students will be spending their 8-day home stay. Their are two roads into the village: one is rotting and not suitable for our truck. The other takes a number of switchbacks to climb the escarpment behind Mbeya, and should be passable in March.

The village has a beautiful view of Mbeya Peak and is inhabited by Wasafwa farmers cultivating corn, coffee, and beans.

The Iringa Pidgeon Massacre

2007-12-12T09:23:00.000+03:00

Yesterday when driving through downtown Iringa at a respectable clip, a pigeon swooped in to land on the road directly between my front tires. This in itself was not newsworthy. What happened next includes a bit of speculation. I heard a thumpa-thumpa-thumpa sound beneath me and then glanced in my rear view mirror just in time to watch the dead and completely plucked bird be ejected in a white cloud of feathers into the car windshield behind me.

As best I can figure out, the bird made a slight mis-calculation (as you can imagine, since it landed in front of a moving car) and its body was sucked upwards into the whirling drive shaft, which efficiently killed, plucked, and tossed the bird backward.

Anyway, you'll have to forgive me if I say that it was one of the most comical moments of my life.

Sorry, no photos.

Camping at Msosa

2007-12-11T10:11:00.000+03:00

Paul, Katrina (with Luka), Miriam (with Ben), Andrew
(note my inexperienced right hand holding the camera remote)

This past weekend we went camping with our friends, the Wingfields at Msosa, where Richard Phillips is developing a new campsite on the border of Udzungwa Mountains National Park. We spent our days relaxing by the river, hiking, and swimming.

Excitement included:
- baboons
- vervet monkeys
- bushbuck
- waterbuck
- hippo-like sounds in the night

On Saturday night, Katrina was reading in the tent around 11 pm, when she shook me awake. "Paul, what's that?!" The ground shook subtly, and we heard the sound of a muffled freight train growing louder. The ground started shaking again more noticeably, and then the noise and movement faded away. EARTHQUAKE! I thought it was amazingly cool, while Katrina was slightly less enthused, remembering earthquakes in Taiwan which toppled buildings, freeways, and killed people. Thankfully, we were in the middle of a riverine thicket in Tanzania bush country with nothing to fall on us...that, and the quake was so minor that our friends slept through it.

Add that to the Christmas newsletter, Mom!

One Life to Live

2007-12-04T11:44:00.000+03:00

Thanks to Mike for posting what I've been thinking about the past couple of months. Our situations are slightly different, but our struggle with mortality is the same.

Luka

2007-11-22T10:06:00.000+03:00

Kat and I have decided to foster a 2 year old Tanzanian boy for a couple of months. Last weekend we made the trip to Sumbawanga and returned with Luka.

Check out his blog here

2007-11-09T08:50:00.000+03:00

Incredible!

whew, what a month!

2007-11-05T10:42:00.000+03:00

Over a month since you last heard from me. Since you last heard, we've:

Finished a two week survey of northern Malawi for Houghton
Spent a wonderful week acquainting our friend Rachel with Tanzania
Represented Houghton at Rift Valley Academy and Rosslyn Academy in Kenya, while still managing to spend time with Aaron, Bryan, and Heather Adkins (not to mention our hosts the Arensens at RVA and the Kroenings in Nairobi)

For those interested, I've added a new set of photos to flickr!

for more details of our trips, write me an email as there is way too much to narrate here

Malawi Survey

2007-10-03T12:10:00.000+03:00

We leave tomorrow for a 2 week survey of northern Malawi since we're considering taking the Houghton in Tanzania program there this spring. For those interested, our path is in blue on the above map. Our visit will include Livingstonia, a Presbyterian mission dating from 1894, the Cultural Museum Centre, housing the "Malawisaurus," and the rolling highlands of Nyika National Park.

No promises of an update for the next 2 weeks, but I'll hopefully have lots of photos to share when we get back!

Field Trip

2007-09-25T15:01:00.000+03:00

On Friday, we traveled with the Lloyd-Jones and Coppolillo families on a home school field trip to Tanzania's largest hydroelectric dam on the Iringa-Dodoma road. Generally visitors aren't allowed to photograph here, but due to Pete Coppolillo's connection, we were guided around the facility by the Chief Engineer and encouraged to take all the photographs we wanted.

Our tour started on top of the dam where two cement intakes two meters in diameter swallow water. It then plunges 100 meters down through the bedrock to the turbines. We hopped in vehicles and drove down a 1 km tunnel that took us down all 100 meters to the power generating station for a behind-the-scenes tour.

I have a new set on my flickr site, for those interested in a photo tour!

The Plush-Toys of Tsavo

2007-09-12T12:08:00.000+03:00

I understand the case for the repatriation of artifacts plundered from conquered nations during the golden era of western imperialism, when it was said "the sun never sets on the British Empire". I even attended a party in Washington a couple years back when Ethiopia celebrated the recovery of the Obelisk of Axum from Italy.

So I understood the sentiments expressed when I read this morning that Kenya is trying to recover the "Man-Eaters of Tsavo" from the Field Museum in Chicago.

As interested as I was to read this, I can't say that I had any strong feelings either way, until I saw this for sale at the Field Museum. For $30USD you can buy your child a plush representation of the lions that killed over 140 people in 1898. Welcome to the land of merchandising where every curiosity has the danger and savagery marketed right out of it. Instead, we give our kids plush cuddly toys.

Snake #1

2007-09-07T22:14:00.000+03:00

Since arriving in Tanzania, David has taught us that almost every time you hear a bunch of birds scolding in a bush, if you look closely enough you can find a snake of some sort. Last year we spotted three vine snakes this way.

So this afternoon when I heard a bush erupt in bird-song, I grabbed my camera and stealthily crept near. Ten eye-strained minutes later I still couldn't find a snake. There may or may not have been one; vine snakes are nearly impossible to see.

Two hours later, we had our first snake-sighting of the year as we drove into town in the growing darkness - in the headlights I spotted a 5' spitting cobra crossing the road at Kibebe!

Dry Season

2007-08-30T13:59:00.000+03:00

We made a safe return a week ago to Iringa, only to discover that we have once again missed the change of seasons. The lush green mountainsides that we left only two months ago are now strewn with the colors of straw and bark brown. The cold winter dry season is waning and the sun and cloudless skies of the hot-dry season are slowly gathering force. Dry grass (majani) is now being harvested and bound into sheaves for thatching and re-thatching roofs this dry season.

On the Road Again...

2007-08-18T20:36:00.001+03:00

Katrina and I are about halfway into our 48-hour return to Iringa.

Currently sitting in Terminal 4 of Heathrow in London.

A couple of observations:

1. We miss parents

2. We are excited to see people back in Iringa

3. Terminal 4 is plagued by a chronic lack-of-seating problem
(I think Kat & I have the best seats and corner in the place!)

4. Heathrow demolished the smoking rooms that previously
polluted the entire terminal with smoke. Air quality
is MUCH better.

5. Now people smoke in bathroom stalls - welcome to high school!

6. Duty-free shops here carry all the pro-level Nikon lenses that
I have never actually been able to see, let alone touch, pick
up, and take test photos with!

Next time I write we'll be back in Iringa. Check out our contact info in my link on the right of this page!

College Friends

2007-08-10T07:08:00.000+03:00

Spent some time with Dave and Tucker this morning at Great Falls. Picked Katrina up for lunch at The Lost Dog Cafe, and then spent the afternoon sharing pictures and telling stories.

Making the time for even an hour-long walk along the C&O Canal with Dave and Tucker meant a lot to me.

Last week, while in NJ visiting Katrina's family, we got to spend the day with Brandon at the Bronx Zoo, getting a top notch tour of the place.

Tonight we had dinner with Mike and Tegan. We are staying with them tonight.

In the past week, we've also spent time with Rachel, Becca, Jeff and Sean!

In the past month, Paul, Dan, Sam, and Amy.

And those are just some of our Houghton friends!

I thank YHWH for friends that we can jump right back into things with, even after absences of a year! God is good about giving me just what I need, just when I need it!

Look Closely

2007-08-09T07:11:00.000+03:00

This weather could have been Washington, D.C. today...

...105 F

(thanks to Noel for this crazy photo)

Sylvia

2007-08-07T06:46:00.000+03:00

Katrina and I have had the chance to spend a couple of days with my cousins here in Pennsylvania. This is my youngest cousin, Sylvia, holding the frog that I caught in Grandma's pond.

I've finally started putting together a flickr set with highlights from this summer. Check back over the next week as I continue to update it!

Sam & Amy's Wedding Photos

2007-07-12T17:52:00.001+03:00

For anyone interested, Sam & Amy's photos are done. I've posted a few of them on my flickr site. Please click on the above photo to view the photos. I'd love to hear your comments on them, since this was my first wedding as a photographer!

June's Gone Already!

2007-06-30T03:00:00.000+03:00

I haven't been so good about updating since we've been back stateside, partially due to the fact that I have to connect via dial-up.

News?

We got back from Buffalo on Wednesday. It was great to see so many friends again: Sean, Ben, Paul, Rachel, Carina, Jenna, Becca and Bexx (to name a few). Also, we received good news from USCIS: We don't have to interview again, as immigration has recognized the mistake and apparently Katrina's corrected Greencard is in the mail!

What's next? We are baby-sitting my cousins this weekend, and then next week heading out...somewhere. We'll see.

We DO have a new cell number if anyone is interested in getting in touch: 814-591-4380 . Give us a ring.

Back From Minnesota

2007-06-21T19:03:00.000+03:00

W made it back safely on Sunday evening from Sam & Amy Divinagracia's wedding in Wadena, MN.

I am working on editing out the best photos, and will post a new set to my Flickr site as soon as they are ready!

Summer Storm

2007-06-09T03:42:00.000+03:00

While visiting my grandmother down the road a couple of miles we heard thunder. Hopping back into the window-less and door-less Jeep, we sprinted home. Less than ten minutes later the bottom fell out of the sky and we were inundated with sheets of rain, wind, and hail!

Incidentally, Clearfield High School graduation is tonight...

...and the power was out at the school

Rocky Ridge

2007-06-07T15:54:00.000+03:00

After more than 48 hours in transit, Katrina and I are back at my parents' home in Pennsylvania for the summer. Updated contact information is as follows:

Paul & Katrina
Rocky Ridge Plantation
4843 Spruce Hill Circle
Rockton, PA
15856

Tel. (814) 583-7272

We are 5 miles off Interstate 80 in central PA. If you are traveling through, please stop in!

Juu ya nchi wetu

2007-06-03T22:44:00.000+03:00

I took this on our ascent out of Dar this morning:

Taken at 29,000ft, roughly 10,000ft. over the summit.

Africa does its best to leave a mark, even to the last moment!

Our week

2007-05-30T11:13:00.000+03:00

Tough to believe that in five days we'll be back in Pennsylvania! Here's what our week looks like:

Thurs. - Katrina finishes teaching (and we pack our bags)
Fri. - depart Masumbo at 7:00am for an 8 hour drive to Dar
(with friends Andrew & Miriam)
Sat. - free day about town in Dar
Sun. - depart Dar at 8:55am (overnight in Heathrow Airport)
Mon. - Arrive in Toronto at 3:05pm
(meet my mom and dad and drive home to Pennsylvania)

Whoa! See y'all soon.

Another reason...

2007-05-24T10:49:00.000+03:00

...why skies enamour me

(out the window of our house last night)

2007-05-22T11:45:00.000+03:00

I just want everyone to know that my wife can make bagels from scratch!

(and they're really good)

Celebrating Our First Year

2007-05-21T13:38:00.000+03:00

This weekend marked Katrina and my first anniversary. Yep, one year ago, our families and friends were all huddled together in Rockton, Pennsylvania, while Katrina and I pledged ourselves, before God, to this adventure (and mystery) of marriage. We reflect and are grateful to all who were able to be there with us on May 20, one year ago. We are also thankful for the friends (and our brothers) who were not able to make it!

It has been a year marked by some incredible blessings and some equally challenging struggles. It is amazing where the Lord has led in the past year; we've learned many things about ourselves and each other and about how God calls us to love each other and those around us.

Click above to view some photos

Katrina and I were able to spend a night at the Kisolanza Farm to celebrate. We had heard many wonderful things, though they were all surpassed by the actual experience. Inviting fireplaces, a warm bathtub, exquisite food, magnificent flowers, and beautiful forest walks (not to mention a stunning wife) all played a part in making this an amazing experience that we are not likely to soon forget.

End of the rains this year

2007-05-15T13:37:00.000+03:00

Driving from Kibebe Farm toward Wangama village

Estate cars, station wagons, and a boffin

2007-05-12T11:53:00.001+03:00

After posting the estate car question on Monday, I suppose it's time that I answer. I supposed that it was akin to what we Americans call a luxury car, but it turns out that an estate car is an (American) station wagon! In British English, a station wagon refers to Land Rovers or Land Cruisers, or, what is properly known as sports utility vehicles.

Our friends Andrew and Miriam came out for dinner last night, and we learned another new term, with which Miriam referred to Andrew: boffin - which translates somewhere between a nerd and an expert. :-)

Abseiling

2007-05-07T11:01:00.000+03:00

After church on Sunday, 12 of us piled into two Land Cruisers and headed up to the first ridge of the Udzungwa Mountains, a few kilometers south of home. Armed with rolled chapatis, crisps, guacamole, and an array of climbing equipment, we had a picnic and then spent the afternoon exploring and rappelling ('abseiling' for those of you who don't read American English).

On the topic of differential English, when you hear the word "estate car", what is the first American equivalent that comes to mind?

Usolanga

2007-05-05T11:16:00.000+03:00

Savannah on the way to Usolanga

Yesterday I had the chance to drive to the village of Usolanga with my friend Andrew, who directs Emmanuel International's work here in Tanzania. Usolanga is located on the floor of the Rift Valley behind Iringa, right across the river from Ruaha National Park. The country is beautiful (though quite dry and hot) in that stereotypical African way - flat plains with Acacia and Baobab trees. Sukuma and Maasai people herd cows and goats through the dry thornscrub while Hehe and Gogo grow rice at the confluence of the Little and Great Ruaha Rivers.

Peoples' life is very much tied to the earth here. This has been a good year; villagers say that it took much longer than normal to harvest their rice crops. Unfortunately during the harvest, one man was dragged under by a large crocodile and killed while wading through the village irrigation canal. The end of the rainy season is a good time of year for many villagers, because the harvests have come in. Surplus crops have been sold to buy amenities and supplement peoples' diets.

A lightning-struck Baobab
(thankfully my strike was more mild)

Kioo

2007-04-30T13:18:00.000+03:00

Mike Dierck's latest post reminded me of this story:

Katrina and I were ferrying 5 Houghton students around Dar es Salaam on Tuesday. While we were stuck in traffic, a beggar knocked on the window, and I shrugged my shoulders, indicating I didn't want to give anything. His response? Rip the sideview mirror off our Land Cruiser and book it across the road while I am still thinking, "Is this really happening?!" I still can't decide whether he was motivated by spite or greed (it will cost us nearly $200 to buy a new one). Hmm.

Kwa heri nyinyi, wanafunzi wetu...

2007-04-27T12:53:00.000+03:00

27 students and the Arensens flew out of Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, marking the end of this year's Houghton in Tanzania program. It was a bit surreal and lonely as we drove back to Iringa on Wednesday. It was just Katrina and I in the Land Cruiser, rather than sharing the car with 7 enthusiastic students chattering the whole ride. That said, we have enjoyed beginning to adjust to a new routine yet again. We moved in to the Arensen's new house at Masumbo, and are taking advantage of having couches, a fireplace, a big kitchen, and deskspace (just to mention a few). Katrina and Julia are back in the swing of school, and will be until we leave to fly back to America for a bit on June 5. After a month-long hiatus, I am catching up on email, and trying desperately to regain the trust of the friends with whom I communicate online (Yes, I will write back!).

Anyway, I am working on one last set of photos "April in Tanzania" from the 2007 Houghton program, so click on the "Photographic Portfolio" link to my flickr site if you are interested!

Coffee Estates and the Rift Valley

2007-03-26T10:23:00.000+03:00

We are heading to Mbeya tomorrow to drop the students off for their 8 day homestay in the village. The students will be staying in pairs, each with a Tanzanian family from the mountains below Mbeya. Jon & Barb Arensen are in the states for a week, as Jon's mother recently passed away. Today we are packing and trying to get everything ready for our safari early tomorrow morning.

Katrina and I are really looking forward to having a couple of days relaxing at Utengule, once the students are safely with thier hosts. Katrina has been enjoying her one month school holiday by enrolling in Swahili language school at Riverside. Although it's been wonderful, intensive language classes for 4 hours a day are a bit draining!

Things are going well here without the Arensens, though we are anticipating their return!

Tumemaliza Nusu

2007-03-16T11:27:00.000+03:00

We are halfway through the 2007 Houghton Program here in Iringa. Lots has happened, so I will not try and update you on every detail. I have, however, added another set of photos (Maasai & Ruaha) from the past month here in Tanzania. Click on "Photographic Portfolio" to view the new set of photos.

One of the great parts of this semester program is that it’s experiential. After studying wildlife ethology (behavior), the students traveled to Ruaha National Park to observe animals up close. After studying local history, we spent an overnight observing how Uhambingetu, a local village, is slowly learning better agricultural methods. A trip to spend four days camping with the Maasai this past week really brought anthropology and culture change to life.

Katrina and Julia are in the midst of their last day of school before a one month break around the Easter season (today is also Julia's 16th birthday!). On Monday, Katrina will join our friend Sarah Miller for language school at Riverside Campsite for the next two weeks.

My responsibilities have been keeping me busy: grading tests and journals, holding discussions on mission work in Tanzania, organizing service opportunities, trying to keep trips running smoothly, and running errands. The students are currently in Iringa town spending three days living with Tanzanian families, which allows me a morning to catch up on email and my blog.

Houghton in Tanzania 2007

2007-02-05T11:53:00.000+03:00

A week ago we returned from picking up students in Dar es Salaam and visiting some points of interest along the way. They have been at Masumbo for a week now, and have been pretty busy (which means I have been as well). I just got a couple of photos uploaded to a new set on my flickr site. This year's students have come together well and are already quite cohesive as a group. We're looking forward to the coming months with them!

And to boot, our friend Noel arrived in Dar at the same time as the students, and we have been spending 2 weeks together with him here in Tanzania. Wow, what a crazy, small world!

Still Alive

2007-01-23T14:29:00.000+03:00

Hey all (if that many are still reading)! We made it safely back to Tanzania, and are now prepping Masumbo for the students' arrival. We leave tomorrow for Dar, and the students arrive on Friday. Pray for safe travel for all. We'll be back on Tuesday.

I added a couple new photos to the "Philippines" set on flickr. Check it out. Thanks guys.

Peace.

Panay and Beyond

2006-12-31T20:42:00.000+03:00

(for more photos, click HERE)

27-28 December 2006
Manila to Batangas City by car (4 hours)
Batangas City, Luzon to Calipan by ferry (2 hours)
Calipan to Roxas by van (3 hours)
-wait (3 hours)
Roxas to Caticlan by ferry (4 hours)
Caticlan to Iloilo City by van (6 hours)
TOTAL = 22 hours

29-30 December 2006
2 days in rural Iloilo with Sam's extended family

31 December 2006
1 day at the beach on Guimaras

Iloilo City to Manila by plane (30 minutes)

New Year's Eve in Manila with Katrina and Mom (Lao).

Merry Christmas from the Philippines

2006-12-24T11:56:00.000+03:00

We arrived safely in the Philippines a week ago, but hit the ground running and have had little time to write or blog (although we HAVE had time for a couple of games of Balderdash and Settlers of Catan with Lawrence)!

a well-photographed visit

Our first day in Manila was our friend Noel's last, so we spent the day hanging out and catching up. He has had quite the past couple of months (check out the link to his blog on the right of this page). We went to SM City (the mall) and had lunch, did a little Christmas shopping, and rode giant motorized fuzzy animals.

our trusty steeds

After Noel left, we drove to Matabunkay Beach Resort for a brief Brion (Katrina's mom's family) reunion. We enjoyed beautiful views, sandy beaches, and snorkeling the reef there. Since returning, we have spent much time Christmas shopping (true Lao family and Philippine Christmas tradition) and even more time sitting in Manila traffic (just kidding...mostly :-D). The traffic, and sheer NUMBERS of people out and about in Manila has proven to be a bit of a shock to me, I think. I am continually amazed that so many people operate so successfully in such close quarters! We spent a day with the staff of her church having fun around Manila, and another enjoyable day with some of the extended Lao family.

Katrina's family has all been wonderful and welcoming, and I have truly felt welcome and at home everywhere that I have gone. Tonight at 9:00pm is the candlelight service at Katrina's parents' home church - Grace Christian Church. After the service, our family will gather to read the Christmas story and exchange gifts - also a Lao family tradition.

As Katrina and I won't have the chance to write each of you and wish you a very Merry Christmas, we hope that each of you will be blessed as you seek to worship this year through your own traditions. We rejoice in knowing that we are exalting the same name.

Peace. Shalom. Paz. Salaama. Kapayapaan. 名和平.