More of the kids that make this job so much fun !!!

This is Deb's small group that met every Wednesday evening. Joanna, Ginny, Alyssa and Erin.
Luke and Serge - basketball martyrs

Katie B and Autumn
Becki and Debbie
Bethany and Chew

Korean Kookiness in the Dorms

I'd would sit by the fireplace and do my homework and Deb would disappear upstairs into the rooms with the girls.

Rebecca, Esther and Ja - what goofballs !!!

Good Byes at the dorm - Storchenblick

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow...." you guys were part of those blessings.

Every Thursday night for several years we would sub for the dorm parents who needed their night off. Dinner was always an adventure and we always sand the doxology before eating. I'm sure that any future singing of the doxology will bring many good memories, if not, tears.

Here's Debbie and Bethany woofing it down before I even get in line. We miss you guys already.

After dinner often was laundry time and Krausey ..... well let's just say I almost stuffed you into one of those dryers.

Good Bye to my Small Group

For 12 years now I've been in a small group with a few guys who try to hold me accountable. The faces have changed over the years, mostly just getting wrinkled, but I'm know that despite the miles and decades, we will always be great friends. Left to right - Mark Wiebe - BFA board chairman; David Harrop - pastor at BFCF; Tim Shuman - director of BFA; Glenn Lewis - ResLife administrator and Mets fan. Cinnamon buns compliments of Tim's wife Sandee.

Our Last Christmas Banquet

Glenn and Shelia Lewis are some of our closest friends here at BFA. Glenn heads up the Residence division of the school. Together Glenn and Shelia were the MCs for the evening.

Deb hosts a discipleship group every Wednesday night and her girls are Joanna, Erin and Ginny.

I had all three in Bible class last year and I guess they saw the need for some Bateman balance. I'm sure Deb has corrected all my faulty teaching by now.

Pizza Night - Again

Sam, David, Jae, Rebecca, Esther & Deborah just had to sample Mr. B's pizza before we leave. A quick game of Spoons followed and then Taboo.

These are some of the things we'll miss most !!!

New Staff Gathering

We had 32 new staff members gather at our house for fellowship. They've been on the job now for 90 days and it's time for a checkup. Pray for these fine folks as they enter their first Christmas holiday season apart from family.

Herbstmesse in Basel

We took in five buses loaded with students for this fall festival.

Talk about the "fall of man".

Polish Pottery

Every once in a while Deb gets some time out with her girlfriends. This year the group of them went to Poland for one last trip to the pottery factories.

I suppose this would amount to me going to a motorcycle convention.

All Saint's Day in a Polish cemetery.

AAAAAHHHHHH !!!!! The treasure at last!

Fall Shots

This is without a doubt the prettiest autumn season we've had here in 13 years.

Saturday Night - Pizza Night

Every Saturday night is Pizza night. Sometimes we invite staff, sometimes students. Here's the group from last night, all nine of them.

Merrit, Phil, Ginny and Erin David, Brandon, Kingsley, Serge, Alyssa.

These are the just some of the things we'll miss.

Senior Class Trip to Rome - Venice

You can't do Italy without making a stop in Venice (Venezia). The trip was saddened by the news that the Phillies lost all three games, but I'll get over it soon. The day was overcast, but that was better than the heat we've experienced here in the past.

It's a shame that the canals are filthy, but there is still the mystery of the city that floats.

At the end of a long day, which was the end of a long trip, we all sat down to enjoy a concert performed by the Interpreti Venezians. They made Vivaldi's Four Seasons come alive. We boarded the bus one final time at midnight and returned to BFA by 8:45 a.m. the next day. What a trip, what a great group of kids!!!!

Senior Class Trip - Rome Day 4 & 5

Day 4 we spent as a day off from touring the city. The kids hung out, swam and watched another glorious sunset. We then went out for dinner, Italian style, a full 6 courses.
One final class photo at Osteo Antica before we head off to Venezia, then home.

Senior Class Trip - Rome Day 3

No trip to Rome would be complete without a tour of the Coliseum. Every year Mario Bruno, missionary to Rome and friend of BFA, gives us an outstanding understanding of the history of the Coliseum and the Forum.

On the steps of the Victory Monuments are Deb, Christine, JyHae, Bekkah, Katie and Bill. All great kids. We will miss them all very much in a few months.

Late afternoon shot of the Coliseum.
Here's the Forum where Paul gave witness to Jesus Christ and where I'm standing is where tradition has it that Paul and Peter were imprisoned before their execution.

Senior Class Trip - Rome Day 2

Day 2 took us on a walking tour past the Pantheon (above), Trevy fountain and other neat sites. We were able to return to the hotel early enough for the kids to swim in the Meditterranean as the sun went down.
We had our own little cove.

Senior Class Trip - Rome Day 1

After spending a day in Florence, we then head off further south to Rome (Roma) for five days. Here are just a few of the hundreds of photos I saved.

We waited in this line for 2.5 hours to get into the Vatican. It seems criminal that the RCC has some of the world's greatest art treasures locked up here and cannot manage crowds enabling more to see the works.

One of Deb's favorite shots every time we visit the Vatican museum.
Here's a photo taken of Rome from the top of te dome at Saint Peter's Basilica.

Lunch with our friends Mike and Loralee Hill. There home supporting church is Hershey EFree.

Senior Class Trip to Rome - Florence

We stop for 8 hours in Florence (Firenze) on the way to Rome, so the bus drivers can sleep. While there, we visit the Academia, where Michealangelo's "David" can be seen. Unfortunately, they do not let anyone take pictures these days.

This shot of the Arno river in Florence was the clearest we've seen in the three times we've been there. I am standing on the famous Ponte Vecchio as I took the picture.

Deb loves this shot as an exmple of symmetry. I tries to get the sculler to move over a few feet for my camera, but I guess he didn't understand my italian. Just joking, of course.

Hundreds of mopeds and scooters line the streets.

Anyone for gelati? Some of the best in Italy is in Firenze.

Quick Ride in Switzerland

Here are just a few shots of our latest ride across the border to Switzerland. The cycle is up for sale, so we'd better se it while we can.

This is the town of Rheinfelden that borders Germany and Switzerland as it sits on both sides of the Rhein river.

Steve and Renee Grubb have been cycles buddies for Debby and me since they arrived in Kandern. We now welcome them to the Yamaha family with his latest purchase.

Our Baby's Engaged

The proposal !!!
I guess she said "Yes". Look at that contentment...aaaaahhhhhh !!!