autumn

Hello everyone. I thought I should write on here a little since I haven't written since July (I just checked.) To make it short (because a lot has happened in my life lately) I'll do it point form.
Since July I:
-totalled my car--actually I was t-boned on the passenger side by a girl on a motorcycle who ran a red light. Things are starting to get figured out, and Scott and I are now proud owners of a blue '95 Honda Civic. Thankfully I was not hurt, although I have become a very tense passenger.
-moved to Abbotsford, B.C. I live in a wonderfully rambling old house in the country with three of my friends from high school in Abbotsford. We welcome visitors. I even have an extra room (my office) in which to house visitors. (Scott moved to Abbotsford as well, which has been an adventure for him since he hasn't moved very much in his life.)
-started my very first REAL job as a teacher at Abbotsford Christian Secondary School. It's stressful and busy, but so much fun. I'm excited to see my little grade nine students mature and grow throughout this year.
-made a number of wedding plans. July 21st 2007 in Sioux Center. I hope that some of you can make it.

That's it for now.

Camping

I thought you would all enjoy a picture of Brad and I from this weekend....we went camping. We are crazy, we went camping at the Oregon coast, but amazingly we didn't get rained out.

Pastor Dave at MCC

Since we didn't go to Maadi Community Church very often I don't know how well you all remembered Dave Petrescue, the senior pastor. Last week he died and left behind his wife of 31 years and three grown children. They had lived in Cairo for 14 years. He came to Egypt the year before we left and left a very impressive mark on my life (I was a very angry teenager at that time).

There were lots of rumors about his death, suicide or the Egyptian government, but this is the truth behind his death. Here is what sources closer to the scene have pieced together to the satisfaction of his wife and family as well as others.

Pastor Dave was found naked with one of his wrists bound with a dish wire. He liked to occasionally go on the roof with just a towel and sunbathe. Locking himself out of his apartment and embarrassed to call his wife or anyone else and having an appointment, he looked around to see how he might get down from the roof to his balcony just below. A witness fixing an AC unit saw him looking at the balcony from several different angles. An extreme sport guy unafraid of heights, it seems he tried to bring himself down with this wire wrapped around his wrist, and the wire snapped.

Evidence at the scene is not consistent with any struggle, and investigators also noticed hand/finger marks on the railing where he tried to get a grip.

All of you who are into extreme sports please re-think what you do. Dave's family has had to work through a lot of anger and grief all at the same time.

Below are a few words written by a dear friend of his family. "To most of us he was “Pastor Dave” the one who weekly spoke the Word of God into our lives and daily lived it with gusto and joy. Dave will be remembered as an eternal optimist, seeing the best in every person and situation, as well as an encourager, possessing the powerful ability to honestly express the depths of his emotions, whether through bursts of excitement, heart-felt tears, an intoxicating smile, or his token two thumbs up. "

falafel

well guys, i cannot figure out how to keep my falafel together.
if anyone's got some tips (marcia? :) i am more than willing to listen.
i've tried more moisture but that does not seem to help...HELP, i can't
keep going on with crumbly falafel!

ANdrew