Engaged

Bethany and I had been dating for over a year and eight months, and it was definitely time. I was trying to think of how to propose. Bethany is an athletic trainer, so I thought about maybe having the announcer pop the question to her for me after a football game, but I knew Bethany wouldn't want that. I decided we should hike a mountain and I could propose there.

This past Saturday we hiked up Looking Glass Rock in North Carolina. It's at an elevation of 3,969ft above sea level. The trail head is at 2,269 ft so we ascended 1,700ft over our 3 mile hike. It's a nice hike through the woods this time of year with all the trees are starting to change colour.

Looking Glass Rock

We hiked for a little over an hour, and we were getting kind of hungry, so we stopped on a large flat rock area called "The Heli Pad." We admired the brilliant colours in the trees as we relaxed and ate our lunch.

The view of the trees from the Heli Pad

Enjoying some nice sun while sitting on the not so comfortable Heli Pad.

I'm sorry these pictures aren't quite in order. I think you know what this picture is without any explanation. lol

We finally got to the top, and quite a few people were sitting around. I didn't want to pop the question in front of others, so we found a little more secluded area. We enjoyed the view for a bit, I asked her to marry me, (in a few more words than that,) SHE SAID "YES!!!!!"

Thank you, Bethany. I love you.

The newly engaged couple.

A panoramic view from where we were.

The results of a Sunday afternoon photo shoot.

My Fiancée

It's not her fault, I started it.

We don't have a date picked yet, but we are thinking some where around Late spring or summer, 2012. This

Since Africa

The time since I left Mozambique on June 21st has gone by so quickly. Bethany and I flew back together. We had a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam so we took the opportunity to enjoy the sights of the city for a few hours. We arrived in Atlanta quite rested surprisingly enough on the evening of the 22nd and Bethany's parents were there to pick us up. Mr. & Mrs. Barron were so kind and let me stay with them for the 6 weeks that I was in South Carolina. It was a very good time to get to know Bethany and her family better.

Bethany and me in Amsterdam

July 3rd and 4th Bethany and I went on a kayak trip with Bethany's brother David and his girlfriend and three of David's friends. That was my first time to really kayak. We kayaked 10 miles each day through some very beautiful lakes and tributaries. Definitely going to have to do it again sometime.

Gliding along.

Finally made it to our camp site, a little tired.

Our camp site.

We got back from our kayaking trip in time to catch some supper before going to watch the fireworks downtown Greenville. We got to go on top of the three story building where Bethany's brother-in-law Bill works to watch them.

Bethany's family knows I can't sit around for very long without having something to do, so they were kind enough to give me some projects to work while I was there. I had the privilege to work with Bethany's brother in-law Bill, building a deck on his house.

Mr. Barron and I also worked together on finishing up some bathroom renovations that have been in the works for a bit longer then they had hoped they would have been. We just had to lay the tiles on the floor, tile the shower, paint the walls and put down some baseboard. It's always nice have a reno project finish especially when it has been in the works for quite sometime.

Bethany had a few things at the High School where she works that needed to be done, so I got to help out there as well. One of the things she needed done was for a water horse to be made. It is basically a water fountain for ten people, on the side lines of the practice football field, so that the athletes can keep themselves well hydrated.

Last Sunday my sister Joia and her two kids drove up to SC from Florida. She spent the night there, then we drove up to Ohio on Monday. Tuesday we drove the rest of the way to Ontario. it is good to be back and see family and have some time to visit friends. I am back in Ontario for about a month and a half or two and then I will be going back down to SC.

Where to Begin

Wow so much has happened since I last posted here. Sorry it has taken me so long. It has been a very busy couple of months.

My girlfriend Bethany and her two brothers David and Will arrived on June 2nd. I had a few small projects to finish before they arrived, this wash tub and clothes line being one. It is on the back of the Admin building for those who live there to have a place to do laundry. For the last few years we had only one tub for about 17 people to do their laundry in so it was very well used as you can imagine. This is the third wash tub that I built.

I had a not-so-pleasant experience of being in a motorcycle accident with a man on a bicycle in the first part of May. I praise the Lord that neither he nor I sustained any serious injuries from the accident. You can see the after picture of his bike below. I was able to buy the man a new bike and get things all sorted out with him and his family. I praise the Lord that it didn't have to go to court, which is the normal procedure for this kind of case.

There was much rejoicing on June 2nd when Bethany, David and Will arrived. It is always nice to have friends visit and of course extra special when my girlfriend visited. This was the first time for three people to live together in my round house. I enjoyed having David and Will stay with me and to get to know them better as inevitably happens when living in such close quarters.

I am so thankful Bethany got to come and see where I have been for the last couple years and what I have been doing here. I had hoped for quite a while that she would be able to come and it was a dream come true when she actually arrived. She was such a help for us as we were working she would often prepare meals and keep us supplied with drinks and also helped us with the work too. She loved the times she spent with Matilde, Aurora and Angelina, although it was hard for her not being able to speak their language. Her organizational skills were put to good use in my house, which needed some help :) She was always willing to help out in any area needed.

David and Will were such a help with the construction of another round house which will be part of the future visitors center.

Here they are pouring the footings.

Will has experience in plumbing so we gladly left that part up to him.

Will painting rebar which will be used for burglar restraint bars in the windows.

David drilling holes in the window frames for the bars.

Here I am going in circles around and around the house laying bricks.

A view of the inside of the house through a window.

It was hard to get work done having to pose for pictures. It wasn't that many really, but thanks Bethany for being our photographer and videographer. Well, thanks for most of the pictures anyways :)

To give you an idea of the lay out inside: three quarters of the house will be living/sleeping quarters for eight people. The last quarter is the bathroom. This pictures shows the bathroom lay out: shower stall, counter area, and then toilet stall.

Getting up there.

Will and I starting the roof framing.

Unfortunately we weren't able to get the house finished before we left, but this is what we did get done in two weeks.

We got to go to the lake twice during the time they were here. This picture is of one of the villages that we drive through on the way to the lake.

I have seen monkeys a few times while driving to the Lake but this time we saw about 20-30 of them. They were hard to get pictures of, but if you look closely you can see one in the tree.

People often have gardens that are quite far from their villages so they build these little huts by their gardens that they live in for about a week at a time.

Mud bricks made by hand drying in the sun. Most huts in the villages are made of these.

One of the bridges we cross on the way to the lake. That will make you pray.

David, myself, Bethany and Will sitting in a Baobab tree at the lake.

Me and you know who.

Have you ever seen a bundle of grass walking down the beach? Well we did:)

Those two people seemed to be together quite bit.

There is a hippo that lives there at the beach and he kept a good eye on us as we also did on him.

Most common way of transporting things in Mozambique. Now that's using their head for more then a hat rack.

Pictures don't do justice to sunsets, but here is a taste of one.

And another.

Bethany and I ready to go for an 80km ride out to visit some missionaries in a rural village.

Ok, so that kind of gets you caught up on my last couple of months in Mozambique. David and Will flew back to the states on June 16th, and Bethany and I flew back on the 22nd. I am now staying with Bethany's parents in South Carolina. I am planning on being here till the beginning of August. Bethany and I have been dating for a year and a half and we have spent relatively little time together during that time so this is a good opportunity for us to be involved a little more in each others "normal" lives. We would appreciate your prayers as we continue to seek the Lord's direction for us.

I do not currently have any plans to return to Mozambique. I am so thankful for the total of about two years that I had to serve in Mozambique, for the many things God taught me during that time, and the wonderful people I served along side. My desire is to continue to serve the Lord in overseas missions, but I am waiting on the Lord's direction as to where and when.

During my month and a half or so in Ontario, if you would like to get together and hear more of what God is doing in Mozambique and see more pictures, please let me know so that I can plan that into my time there. Lord willing I will be returning to SC in September.

Thanks so much for your prayers and support while in Mozambique. Please continue to pray for the work and those who continue to faithfully serve the Lord there.