We enjoyed a fun day out playing with friends. Playing darts, riding carts, trying new foods, made a great time for all!

We celebrated Joshua’s heart birthday at Pizza Hut. Remembering the day that he told God he had a sin problem and he asked Jesus to take the punishment for his sin. When I asked him what his sin problem was, he said, “Using angry words”. He understands that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. This is the most important decision of his life, and we remember it with celebration!

Hannah’s school took a trip to an apple orchard in the mountains. I was so glad, too. My mom and dad had just sent me photos of the apple tree behind their house, so I loved being able to participate in the fall with them.

Hannah is wearing a dress a local friend made her and she wanted “apple hair” that day, so I obliged.
At the end of the day, there was an apple carving contest and we won second place!

Joshua started soccer this season, we were so pleased to have found a team out here! Culturally, walking on grass is taboo, so it had been awhile since we had enjoyed this.

One week after I gave the kids their allowance, Joshua walked by a used electronics store to find parts to build with. When the shop owner realized that Joshua didn’t care if the item was broken, he pulled out an old VCR. SOLD! Joshua delighted in taking it apart. Hannah, not to be outdone, bought a calculator phone.

While visiting a nearby town, we decided to see a famous river, made even more breathtaking by the mountains through which it flows in this particular stretch. The moment we boarded the bus, we heard arguing. Apparently, our bus was boarded by a group of friends, who had in mind a particular stretch of the river they wanted to see. They wanted to change the bus station’s designated route to match their preference. But when their attempt to convince the bus administrator failed, they turned to bribing the bus driver. It came out to two extra dollars per person to bribe him. He seemed used to getting money on the side, though, as we stopped along the way for a third party to load our bus roof with chickens, another stop to pick up cases of milk and yogurt, and a soda for the driver, and then another stop to ask if any chickens were needed that day! But the bus dynamics were unlike any I had ever been on. About 30 minutes into the drive, a lively chorus began and everyone sang energetically. People sang solos, the group clapped, and everyone was loud! Only our family and our Deaf friend in the back seat were quiet. But the group embraced us, too. When we got off, they plunged forward in their unsteady English to explain to us what the plan was, and when we embarked on the hike they helped carry our children up and down the mountain. At breaks, they shared their snacks and wanted their photo taken with our children. My initial reservation about this forward and boisterous crowd changed when I saw their generosity of heart. We had an exhilerating and day!

Some people rode in the traditional manner of kings and queens.

David loved the rapids, I loved the mountains.

During our visit to a nearby town, we climbed a mountain where a five-story pagoda stood. From there, we took in a 360 degree view of the city, old juxtaposed with new, like the pages of a history book placed close together but holding stories from hundreds of years apart.

During a recent trip to a neighboring town, a friend of ours showed us how this special pot can make water vibrate into bubbles. He taught both of our children how to do it and each of them were able to do so with soapy fingers.

Our family took a recent trip out of the city and into a nearby town. All along the way, we saw corn drying: on people’s gates, on their rooves, hanging from poles... just about anywhere it could get some sunlight on it to help dry it out. In the town where we stayed the tradition was to make a ladder of hanging corn. When the poles of the ladder had no rungs, David and the children discovered, they could be great fun for climbing!

On our recent trip to a nearby town, we saw how silk is made from silk worms. Their coocoons are boiled and stretched over a frame to dry. They are made into dresses, comforters, scarves, and such.