Fasching Time

Below are some pictures of Fasching here in Germany. It is similar to Carnival or Mardi Gras elsewhere and represents a very dark spiritual time for many. Just prior to the season of Lent, where we sacrifice something of ourselves, this is the time to let it all hang out, coupled with the thoughts of chasing away the dark spirits of winter.

The Party, then the Parade

This is quite scary !!!!!

Skiing Anyone????

Stoos, originally uploaded by BFA Bill.

We are void of snow so far this winter except for a few flurries this weekend. This shot is from our HS retreat a few years ago. This year our retreat will be in Nurnberg, Germany. Phil Carnuccio from Providence in West Chester will be the speaker along with the Bridge Band leading worship.

New Occupation

No, we are still working at BFA, but it's fun to see our name used in England and elsewhere.

Maybe this is a long lost relative. What is Honest Ale anyway?

New Year's Eve Fun

Enjoy the following shots from the New Year's Eve gathering at our house. All shots were taken by Tim Shuman at considerable risk. Credit where credit is due.

Glenn, Phil, Jason, Luke & Tyler in chorus together.
Overlooking the our little town of Kandern. All is aglow with fireworks. Our neighbor called the fire company because of a tree fire down the street. Believe me, it was not our fault.
Our house with some interesting lighting effects and fireworks in the background.
Option 1: Jason's New Year's resolution will be to give up smoking.

Option 2: Jason shooting off his mouth again.

Option 3: Jason under the full effects of the Gluhwein.

Any way you look at it, we had a great time. Wish some of you were here.

Family Time at Christmas

Well, here we are, all together once again. Despite some traveling difficulties we are able to spend six days together as a family. We got to our Christmas Eve service at BFCF and then home for dinner. On Christmas day we could open only some gifts because most were in lost luggage in Zurich. The eventually arrived and we has the second opening on Boxing day.

Don & Cyd Storrs and Zeke Adewale joined us for Christmas day dinner. Zeke is a good friend of Heather, Jeff & Jason and the Storrs work with us at BFA.

Christmas Trivia

These strange balls of green in the trees, what is it? You don't see it in the summer with all the leaves on the trees, but it is very visible in the winter when the leaves are gone.
Technically it is a parasite that eventually kills the trees. One more factoid: it is illegal to pick this stuff off the trees for any purpose because of its parasitic nature and ease of spreading. This stuff can't be good for anything or anybody, can it? Leave a comment if you know what it is.

2006 Christmas Banquet

This year Deb and I took a break from attending the banquet, to serving at it. What a blast working behind the scenes. I'm amazed at all the time and effort put into pulling off such a special night for our students.

Every year the Student Council grants some Christmas wishes and this year was my turn. My wish was to have my picture taken with my 10th grade Bible class students all dressed up in their finery for the banquet. Here they are:

Kandern in the Fall

The school building is now finished from the outside. The big brown roofed building in the foreground is our gym, the aluminum roof to its left is the latest project completed and the windowed building on the right is where Bill's office is. I wish we had an aerial view, but this'll have to do for now.

Senior Class Trip to Rome

Debby and I are senior class sponsors this year which entitled us to go along on the senior class trip. What a privilege to not only travel with, but to get to know these kids on a deeper level outside of the classroom. A quality group they are. On our way to Rome we stopped in Florence and on the way home it was Venice. I think my class trip as a high schooler was downtown Philly to see the Liberty Bell. Enjoy the pictures.

This is the Victory Memorial in center city Rome.

This is Trevi Fountain in Rome.

This is Debby misbehaving in Rome.

Sunset on the coast in Santa Severa where the whole group stayed.

We have had some very interesting senior trips over the years, each with their own unique theme. For instance we've had the year of the stomach flu, the year of the tunnel fire, the year of the bus door accident. This year was the year of the sun. Six cloudless days of temperatures in the 80s. What a blessing.

Heather Comes Home

Yes, that is a real castle behind Heather. Neu Schwanstein was built by mad Ludwig and it is in the Bavaria region of Germany. The castle in Disney World is patterned after this castle and it is just one of four that Ludwig had built before his suspicious death at age 41.

Heather's visit was a great time for all three of us. She's in the midst of moving from UVA to NC State to begin her graduate studies and was able to squeeze us in for 16 days. That's our baby, all grown up.

More Guests

Scott and Shelly Leary came to visit for 10 days. Despite missing their dog, Winston, I think they had a pretty good time. They flew into Nice and joined us in Monaco for a few days as Bill wrapped up substitute preaching at Monaco Christian Fellowship for two weeks. Then we all drove up to Kandern to visit the school and answer the many questions they have regarding the possbility of their joining us on staff someday. Scott is the son of my twin sister, LouAnn. Pray for them as they yield to the leading of the Lord.

Heather arrives tomorrow, August 7, for her first return visit "home" in several years. Can't wait !!!!!

Summer Visitors to the Bateman Hotel

The whole Mellon clan for Tini's graduation

June 7 - 11

Mark & Heidi Berg June 23 - 26

Heidi (Freisen) graduated from BFA 2001

Gordon & Cathy McNiel June 22 - July 2

Cathy is Bill's cousin from Denver

More are coming in August - How about you ???

Our summer projects continue on the Janz building. The roof trusses are in place and the new floor has been laid. The outside will be finished by the start of school, Lord willing. Check out that project and its progress on our school website listed on the right.

Bill is preaching three times this summer, twice in the International Christian Fellowship of Monaco and once at our home church of Black Forest Christian Fellowship. Deb is in a van with three other BFA ladies somewhere in Poland at the time of this posting. I'm sure she's having too much fun!! Our nephew Scott Leary and Shelly, his wife, will fly into Monaco and ride back with us to visit the work at BFA. Our daughter, Heather, will also be here for a few weeks in August. Can't wait !!!!!!

Graduation Day

Finally, eventually the year comes to an end. We pray God's blessing on all 72 seniors, now alumni, as they scatter to the ends of the earth. We are reminded of the school's vision statement: Globally minded Christians impacting their world through biblical thought, character and action. May the Spirit of the Lord rest on each one of you as you follow His leading.

Sad Goodbyes :-(

The year is almost over and with just one week left it's time to start saying "goodbye". This goodbye belongs to the Storchenblick Senior girls. Alana, SunMin, Liz, Grace, Fiona & Nicole with aunt Deb left of middle. They're headed off to Turkey, Korea, Australia, Ireland and the USA. With a solid 3 - 7 years of BFA behind them, we know they'll do GREAT !!! We miss them already. God bless you ladies. It's been tons of fun.

The Junior Senior Banquet

This is one of the most cherished memories for our graduates every year. The junior class raises funds to put on a great banquet for the seniors. Here's just one of the many pictures we will hold on to for a long time. Tini, the last of the Mellon clan is graduating. It's been fun teaching her to play Rook, throwing pizza parties for her and her friends and picking on her in the halls of the school. In a few days I'll have the privilege of shaking her hand and 64 others at the graduation podium on the big day. Wow, what a blessing!!!

Easter Dinner

This was our first Easter without our kids. We were able to get together with three families that form our small group that meets biweekly and their kids as well. School starts up again this Wednesday after a two week spring break. However, after two weeks of pretty lousy weather including several days of snow, we are still waiting for spring to arrive. Those springtime pictures will have to wait.

Deb's Art 1 Pizza Party

With the end of the school year approaching, and Deb's first semester Art class over, it was time for a celebration.

Snow Storm of the Year

Boy, did we get hammered. The heaviest snow in the eleven years we've been here. Perfect timing too, our High School is closed Monday because of their retreat this weekend.

Thai International Dinner at Blauen Dorm

From left to right we have Lauren from Ireland, Elise from Uzbekistan, Jason, Ellen, Laura & Frauke from Germany, James from Kosovo & Rachael from Germany. All great kids and now superior Rook players, well at least some of them. The Thai food prepared by Glenn & Shelia was great, but the fellowship was even better.

Deb's Wednesday Night Bible Study Group

Pray for these junior girls: Lydia, Elise, Linnea, Anna & Laurel