Wow, almost the entire school year has gone by and no blog updates - you can't really call that blogging.

Some reflections are in order, I guess.  Reading the beginning of the last post is kind of funny because it expresses excitement for school.  Right now we are counting down the days for school to be over and so the excitement for school has subsided considerably, but the excitement for summer has taken over!  It is always positive to look back in time and reflect on the things that have happened, how you have grown or responded to difficulty, and how God has been forming you.  This year is no different - while I may not like it in the midst of a trial, looking back always reveals God.   I want to take this time to be sure that God gets the glory for the work that is being done in my life.

School has had its challenges this year but there are some great teacher who challenge me to grow professionally and spiritually.  I have had the opportunity to speak to our local church congregation of expat missionaries.  That, I must admit, is quite intimidating ... to preach to a bunch of missionaries!  Then I realize that I also am a missionary and if the other missionaries are half as weird as I am then I'll be alright.  The point is, we are all sinners!

The kids are growing up and getting big.  It has been a few years since we have been to Canada and so this summer we are going to spend 3 months visiting friends and family.  Our kids are looking forward to camping, camp fires, roasting marshmallows whenever they want, wiener roasts, and seeing cousins.  Karen and I also are looking forward to those same things, but if we just say that its for the kids!!

A few last thoughts... keep reading the bible, even when you don't really want to.  Don't let too much time slip away between reads.  Keep praying, even when you don't really want to.  Keep them short and simple - one liners are okay.  Just don't stop talking to God. 

Thanks for listening ...


Paul

Back to the 'ol grind!

We had a terrific summer, but the teacher in me always enjoys the excitement of a new school year!  We started our school year on August 10th and it felt really good to be back in the saddle!  I worked on restructuring some of my class materials over the summer and so far everything is working out smoothly!  

The first week of every school year the entire high school does a unity building and spiritual emphasis weekend as a way of welcoming the freshmen and new students and bonding as a high school.  We travel to a nearby beach and camp on the sand and enjoy each other, the sun, and the ocean!  I am one of the teachers responsible for planning this excursion! Part of the weekend includes worship times and listening to the guest speaker.  I truly believe that this is a spiritually renewing time for our high school students and also a great bonding experience.  You can see the difference in the atmosphere of the school from before beach trip to after beach trip.  

I would like to share some pictures of my beach trip experience.

This is our group during a morning meeting. We meet under tarps to sing and pray!

Relaxation mode!

Our make-shift kitchen.

I would also like to draw your attention to our new email address: pjuneau@maf.org.  Please make this change so that we can effectively stay in contact!  Thanks for reading!

Paul

MAF Family Conference

There is a church in Vancouver, Washington that is very connected with MAF in Papua. This church is called New Heights and every year they bring a team of college kids to Papua to bless the MAF Papua missionary families by running a week long family camp. This family camp includes a VBS program, which all of our children were old enough to be a part of, a youth program, worship, and adult teaching. It is difficult to explain how blessed we feel when total strangers come and serve your children with smiles and then cry when it is time to leave. Thank you, New Heights Team!

One thing that I have always appreciated is the teaching that Pastor Matt Hannan does. I find it truly a blessing to have him share his insight in scripture and his background knowledge of biblical history, which he uses to help explain the significance of stories told, and the application of those stories in our lives.

This is a side picture of our main meeting place. Notice the fireplace - we are at a fairly high altitude and it gets quite cold for us sea level folk!


This is a picture of the rows of cabins where we sleep.

This is a shot of Grayson and Karen getting our cabin ready. It is quite close sleeping quarters for the week!

Darryl and Grayson in the dinning hall. Great food!

Stephan after sliding down "The Muddy Mountain!"

The kids performing songs they learned during VBS. You can see Elleah on the far left and Grayson near center. Very cute! Darryl and Stephan are there they just can't be seen.

Grayson with his backpack on ready to go home.

Elleah with her backpack also waiting to go home.

This is us on the way home!