First week...

This week was our first time back in the classroom after almost 2 years. This week was spent getting us orientated with what goes on here at the Missionary Training Center and to realize once again why we are here- to see the gospel go out to unreached people groups of the world and to be equipped to do it properly. So now that we are fully orientated we will jump into classes this up coming week.

Jamen is in the childcare program here on campus and its going very well. Its comforting to know he's in good hands and I can go an visit anytime.

We haven't had a whole lot of free time this week but we did manage to go play Frisbee golf together. Jamen likes to ride on Jon's shoulders while we walk around, he's intently studying Jon's hat in this picture!

Catfish King

This is the followup story to the snapping turtle. The next day when I baited my lines I prayed for no more turtles (I'm loosing too many hooks to them). I went down the line and to my sheer bewilderment and amazement was a 2 1/2 foot catfish (31 inches). Unfortunately I did not have scale so no idea what he weighed. All I know is there was plenty of meat on the bad boy. Sorry for the picture quality. I couldn't find anyone to take my picture so I put the camera on a timer and took it of myself. At least I have something to remember him by...besides a full stomache

How To Eat A Turtle

As I wrote in my latest prayer letter (which most have not yet received due to it being snail mail) I have obtained a Missouri fishing license in order to lower our monthly food bill. This is not a sob story to make people feel sorry for us (...wawa look at us we had to eat a turtle...). We feel fortunate to live on a lake where we can catch fish in abundance to offset grocery bills.

Anyway I have a trotline out in the lake that I have intended to catch catfish with. Right now the bass arent hitting too well. But it had been several days since I had caught a catfish on the trotline although all my bait was gone. Two days ago I went out and there were 3 turtles caught on the trotline (I only have 6 hooks total), 2 softshells and 1 snapping turtle. I was frustrated that there were no catfish and in an effort to bring home something I brought home the snapper.

I've never eaten a snapping turtle before, let alone clean one. It was kind of gross, and kind of tedious but after 2 hours or so he was all cleaned up.

Doesn't that look yummy? We had to first boil the meat to get out bacteria and the typical "muddy" flavor of turtle.

And here is the finished product. I can honestly say I liked it. Our only mistake was putting half a jalepeno pepper in the stew. We thought that only putting in half would be ok but forgot to consider the pepper was fresh. A little too spicy but all in all a satisfying meal

I doubt I'll go through it again though...

Walk with me (cont.)

As we continue our journey let me tell you a little about God's creation that surrounds us here in Roach, Missouri. In the mornings when I walk I listen to the birds wake up, so far I have seen sparrows, cardinals, blue herons, indigo buntings, woodpeckers, hummingbirds and the western blue bird. They fly from cedar trees and black walnut trees that cover the property.

(these swings are long the shore of the lake, it makes for a nice place to think)

Deer run through the open fields, sending the turkeys running, the bunnies hopping and the ground hogs heading for cover. The fish jump in the lake and the muskrats swim from shore to shore. The snakes poke their heads out of the water while the turtles sun themselves on the rocks.

(this is where we swim)

The other morning I walked with the camera and saw two deer. Can you see them?

The wild flowers are plentiful and the butterflies love them. I have seen so many beautiful colorful butterflies, some with blue, some with yellow and orange, brown and black.

(this is my favorite view)

Hope this gives you a better picture of what it looks like, I really enjoy it and I have really seen all those animals mentioned above;-)

Walk with me...

I wanted to invite you to walk with me around the campus which we now call home. Every morning I enjoy my walks around the property. I usually take Jamen with me was we clime hills, cross rivers and enjoy the wildlife all around. The New Tribes Mission (NTM) Missionary Training Center (MTC) sits on over 300 acres of land. Its not all developed so there is plenty of room for exploring and growth of the campus. Allow me to give you a tour of my favorite spots and the view that awaited us as we drove into the valley.

When we fist arrived this sign brought much relief, it indicated we were almost there.

This road would lead us to our final destination.

We came down the last hill and...

we were there, well, almost at least we were at the bottom of the hill.

Next we traveled past the classroom, administration and childcare buildings.
We drove up a little hill and turned down the road on the left between those two buildings.

Down a little further and our apt. building is the last one in this row. The apt. buildings are numbered 100 though 600.We are in whats called the 300 row, our apt. number is 326.

Here it is, home sweet home!

Our apt. has two bedrooms but is actually smaller than our apt. in GA but we like it and can't complain. Its all training for the tribe! We only have a half bath and no laundry room so we walk out the front door and turn left and there is the wash house. It has showers and washers and dryers. We are really close to the wash house, which is nice especially come winter time!

Well, that's all for now. I will post more pictures of the grounds soon, hope you have enjoyed the tour so far!