This year I’m going to split our annual januflection into three posts. I’ll start off with some bullet point highlights in this post and then I’ll devote some space for each of us to share some of our plans for 2016. It won’t be possible to fit everything in there but I’ll sweep it up with more bullet points at the end with six specific ways you can pray for our ministry in 2016.
2015 Highlights
- Perhaps the biggest event of 2015 was Elisabeth’s baptism. I think it’s one of the crucial moments of parenting when your kids take that step and commit their lives to following Christ.
- We had a lot of wonderful guests in the summer. All you have to do is take a quick look at our 2015 summer picture album and you’ll see we had visits from our ReachGlobal pastors to missionaries, family, supporters, and friends. We created some great memories.
- Another thing you’ll notice from our pictures is that last year we did a lot of hiking. I’d say 2015 is the year we became a mountain climbing family.
- The main mountain climbing impetus was Max. Max made some great progress in his sport climbing this year, earning 2nd place in his age group. But more importantly, this is the year climbing and mountains became a major focus. Unlike dinosaurs and trains, this might stick with him for the rest of his life.
- Jana set out on a Shakespearean quest this year. Some of the girls from the upper grades at Narnia expressed interest in putting together a drama performance so Jana took on the challenge. This whole school year they’ve been adapting Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” to a 20 minute production complete with adaptations of some popular songs to spice it up (as if Shakespeare needed spicing up).
- I guess my big highlight this year was attending the annual conference for the Evangelical Theological Society and SBL. Sounds crazy but it was my first time presenting a paper. Jana and I also visited Tyndale House at Cambridge for the first time. Both of those milestones mark a much more important transition to more focus on writing, as you’ll read below.
Brian and Diane Harris are pastors to missionaries for ReachGlobal and so they came to check up on us in Slovakia. So we put them through this.
Jana's brother came to visit from Belgium
We took the Duffs to see some parts of Banská Bystrica, The High Tatras (we climbed Krivaň), and Spiš castle.
The Duffs, dear friends and supporters, came to see a little of Slovakia during a trip to Europe
Once I heard the teltale ringing of the sheep bells I put Bona an her leash.
Cierny kameň or "Black Rock" in the background as we lunch at Ploska Col.
Black Rock Forest Preserve
Zach and Melinda arrived this week to begin teaching at Narnia
Hincovo Tarn is the largest in Slovakia.
Alpine flowers in August
Slavo and Maťa hosted a Sunday afternoon get together for teachers and their families after the first week of school.
40 of us hiked up Rysy for the first Rest Time Outdoor of the 2015-16 school year.
I took a short turn of hauling the 70 pound tank part way up the mountain.
Filip hauls the propane tank up to the mountain chalet.
Narnia opens the school year by welcoming new first graders and all students.
Narnia opens the school year by welcoming new first graders and all students.
Narnia opens the school year by welcoming new first graders and all students.
Narnia opens the school year by welcoming new first graders and all students.
Narnia opens the school year by welcoming new first graders and all students.
Jana had the chance to go to a concert here
Peter, Zuzka, Andy, Beno (in the back of the stroller), Timo, Jana
Not a worm, not a snake--a lizzard with no legs.
On Sunday we prayed for all students and teachers during services.
Fall climbing training has started for Max and Elisabeth. Max got to go out on the cliffs for the kids who attend competition.
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