Feeling a Bit Down Today

Just a heavy heart about a lot of things.

Hoping my Son can soon land a full-time job in Toronto. He's having a hard time to connect with a job.

Hoping my other sons Conditional acceptance to the Aircraft Turbine Repair course pulls through.

Wishing our development agency had the cash to order about 100 Irrigation kits for this Fall to install in West Africa.


Lot's of dreams and hopes in these few words.

Had A Nice Relaxing Archery Day!

I know, I need to relax more. It's easy to see from this blog that I need some things to do besides work. Well I dug out my Sons Parker Wildfire XP 60 lb compound bow and slapped a few arrows in the bag. Boy that sure was relaxing. I was not in the mood for variety so just kept shooting at 30 yards. Hitting 4 inch circles too :-) Not bad for the first time out since last fall.

Anyway, it has been a long time dream of mine to Archery hunt. as a Youth I hunted and trapped avidly, walking a 7.5 mile trap-line in the woods every day, rain (snow)or shine, September to late November. Besides being good exercise, I really got to enjoy the intricacies of various terrain in the forest. Wet areas, that most avoid, are the most interesting areas. Cool fungus growths, interesting animal's, plants, and animal behavior in swampy areas.

While I was out shooting, I got to thinking how I never actually got around to ordering my own bow last spring. I went inside and check out National Archery Supply and I nabbed a sweet Bowtech Factory clear out. A 2008 Bowtech TomKat for a whopping 45% discount.

They are setting up and tuning my TomKat it to my personal specs right now. 70 lb at 29 inch draw, with a D-loop. They are tuning some custom carbon arrows in 100 grains. The TomKat shoots a whopping 318 ft per second. Anyway, can't wait for it to arrive next week.

After I ordered I had my usual guilt. All hungry children in the world issues (You know me). I spent the rest of the day figuring out how to tell Lynn. But she was gracious :-) I think she realizes hobbies get me off her back, and carrying less of the worlds problems on mine.

Anyway, it has been a life dream to do bow hunting for a deer and a moose. However, I think this fall we will try predator hunting right here on PEI for Coyote, and some grouse.

Also purchased a fletching jig and some replacement veins so my Son and I can re-fletch our carbon arrows and save some bucks.

Wish it was not raining today as I would be back out with the Parker at dinner time for a few shots again! Back to work.

First Irrigation Installed!

Here is the first Irrigation System installed. Running off a 5 Gallon (20L) bucket. Notice the garbage around the area? Yep this is where we had to scrap out a plot to grow stuff for Hourna's family. He works hard and is a very smart man (Black T Shirt) They neighbours all came to watch and when we added water and they saw how the Drips of water worked they were pretty excited. Anyway, tomorrow we will be installing for a family who has no house. They are squatting in an open garage. They have NOTHING!'

More Photo's here

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=206196&id=705360133&saved#/album.php?aid=206196&id=705360133

Sissy!

During a thunder storm a young boy called to his mother. She came and he asked her if she could sleep in his Bed tonight. The mother explained that the storm is passing, God is with you, and I will be in the next room, so you don’t need to be afraid. He insisted, “But I want you to sleep in my bed”. The Mom explained, “Dear, I have to sleep in Dad’s bed, with your daddy.”, as she leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. He mumbled unhappily, “The Big Sissy!”

My Friend Steve Was Killed in Africa!

I received a shocking call from Africa today. A friend of ours, about 35 yrs old was killed in Northern Nigeria. Steve Rehn had interned with us in Abengourou, Ivory Coast in 1997. A fun loving adventurous young man. But a passion for people, for Africa, and for languages. He LOVED Africa. Africa got into his blood like it does for so many of us who work there. It kind of messes you up for life.

Anyway, we moved back to Canada and Steve eventually married and he and his Nikki moved back to good old Abengourou for few years, and then on to Cameroon for two years as well. There he help with national Bible translation projects while Nikki taught in a Mission Kid school.
Steve and Nikki eventually moved back to Calgary. However, Steve kept going on short term teaching trips almost every year. Steve was in Burkina Faso this  August- September, helping with some training, and decided to vacation in Africa after the work was done.
He decided to biking all the way from Burkina- through Niger, Northern Nigeria and then down into Cameroon, to his old stomping grounds. A 3000km bike trip in all.

Anyway, I got a call from a friend in Ivory Coast named Damon Jones. He asked if we knew anything about Steve. I guess the African bush wire was hot, and the news spread  and hopped and was alive with news they had heard that Steve had been killed in an accident in Northern Nigeria.

I was shell shocked, but I immediately called Steve's parents, Rick and Linn, in Calgary today. Steve's Dad answered and confirmed that Steve was supposedly killed by a car hitting him on his bike while riding in northern in Nigeria, 11 days ago between Sept 26 an 28th. They where just informed by the Canadian embassy in Nigeria yesterday, October 8th.

A Team from the Canadian Embassy is dispatched and was on their way to the north. The local Nigerian police station did not have any phone and none of the police wanted to use their own personal cell phones to call the Capital to inform the Canadian Embassy they had a Canadian on hand.

Rick and Linn decided not to fly over, as the Embassy is sending people up to see what is going on. Anyway, the family is expecting a call soon. They will know more what to do, then.

Steve covered about 1500 miles on his trip to date. But I know he made it the whole way to heaven in an instant.

Africa was made a better place because of people like Steve. Heaven will be all the richer as well for receiving a great servant. I will miss Steve Rehn very much.

My Sympathy to his wife Nikki, to his his Mom and Dad (who stayed with us on Prince Edward Island before) and all his family.
http://justaboutcrazy.blogspot.com/

Link to Steve's Blog

Memories of Steve www Site Link http://memoriesofsteve.com/

Long Live Canadian Imperialism!

Well someone had the great idea of introducing the Canadian Beaver into wild Russia. And surprisingly they adapted well. Too well! They are damming up the whole country it seems. Causing massive problems. In response to the news as delivered in Maclean's mag, two people rote in- WAY to FUNNY read Both. The second is priceless. Long Live Canadian Imperialism!

BEAVERS ON THE MARCH
"NATIONAL PRIDE swelled inside me and my hand went over my heart when I read Malcolm Gray’s story about Canadian beavers chomping their way across Russia (Ivan, what’s that chewing sound? Nature, July 28). Our imperialist little rodents are can’ing a legacy worthy of us putting them on our nickels. I am sure it is not funny for the Finns, Russians and Argentineans, but it does show our beavers are the best. All hail the mighty Canadian beaver and its conquering of the world.
Glen Davis, Carleton Place, Ont."

THANKS FOR the article on the pesky Canadian beaver threatening Moscow. Do you think they’re onto us? All over the world Canucks meet in clandestine corners plotting how we can take over the world using beavers. Phase one: Moscow and Argentina. Phase two: Washington, London and Madrid. After that, the most devastating. Phase three: we clip the flight feathers of Canada geese and place them in downtown parks in foreign cities. Soon Canadian icons will be everywhere. Today, the Great White North, tomorrow, the world! Owen Thornton, London, Ont.

(Maclean’s, August 18^th,2008, Comments )

So Hungry you will eat Mud?

"A recent report in the Guardian newspaper says that already more people are eating locally made mud cakes literally patties made of mud to alleviate hunger pains. ‘Traditionally, pregnant women eat the clay patties to try and get more iron in their system, but children are eating them too- Dr. John Carroll, who’s spent much of the past 27 years working in children’s clinics in Haiti, says the next blow may be a water crisis. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are water riots in the future because of a lack of clean water for the vast majority of Haitians, he says."

(Maclean’s, August 18^th,2008, “Dirt Poor Eating Mud to Survive”, pp.30)

Marriage Helps our Mental Function?

I thought this was interesting. A Letter to the Editor of Maclean's Mag.

"In the previous issue of Maclean’s, Harvard University professor Mark O’Connell explained why marriage, though difficult at times, is worth all the effort both emotionally and economically. Married couples, he said, are a positive force for society. They reduce poverty, produce law-abiding children, and live longer than singletons. But if you’re still not convinced that a wedding is for you, here’s another perk: marriage is good for the brain. According to Swedish researchers, living with a spouse decreases your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. In fact, people who never marry and live alone are twice as likely to develop dementia, and those who divorce in middle age face three times the risk. So cherish your partners. They may drive you nuts, but not necessarily to the nuthouse."

(Maclean’s, August 18^th,2008, )

Mexican Terrorists in Spain?

No kidding here.

One of my boys was speaking to grade 11 female friend who will be traveling to Spain at some point in the future. She expressed her worry & concern over the trip. Inquiring as to the sources of the hesitation, he was told by said female 11th grader that she was worried about all the Mexican terrorists crossing the border into Spain.

My son laughed and informed the girl that Mexico was not next to Spain, and in fact, it is not even on the same continent. She said to him “I think you better learn your geography Homeschool Kid”.

Ted explained that Spain is under France and next to Portugal.

She replied “I don’t think so! Is France near Mexico?”

“No!”, was sons reply. “

Where is Mexico then?”, was the returning question.

Ask me why I homeschool!

A Star Night Delight!

We dropped our youngest son off at Canoe Cove Camp for the week, and my two older boys at a friends house for the evening. Could Lynn & I even comprehend the possibilities of an evening alone? Would we even be able to figure out an action plan? Do we even remember how to do "alone"? It happens so rarely for families who home schools their kids. Alone, how does that feel?

On our return trip we bought a mound of chocolate and snuggled up and watched a movie together. At 11pm we spread a blanket out on the back deck, but soon moved to the middle of the driveway for a better view of the upcoming Perseid meteor shower scheduled for that night. From under a fleece blanket we watched as meteors streaked by leaving some awesome contrails. We laid there on the driveway under Gods awesome creation in each others arms until 1:30 am. It was nice to celebrate God's creation of marriage too. Such a nice simple evening. It simply had been too long since we watched the stars together at night. It was refreshing, energizing, bonding, yes even romantic. Of course the brightest star that evening for me was my sweetie Lynn. It was nice to just "BE" with her.

Pixie, our border collie, was kind of freaked out over the whole situation. No kids to herd, her owners laying on the driveway at strange hours. She kept circling and looking at us as if we were crazy.

Maybe we are. But it was a star night delight in my view.
Give it a try some time.