MAY...a month of beginnings

This month has been full of firsts!

I started my new internship, which is going really well. I'm working with a classmate, Charles-Henri (who's a "Wallonian" -- a.k.a. from French speaking Belgium), to develop a proposal for a customer loyalty program for VTB-VAB, our sponsoring company. VTB-VAB is similar to the American "AAA"-- a roadside service agency. The research can be tedious at times, but the marketing aspect of it is really fascinating! My psychology degree is definitely useful in a subject like this! I'm getting to use a lot of my Dutch as well. Thankfully, Charles-Henri is fluent in multiple languages, so he makes up for what I don't understand. Overall, it's a good challenge.

Like I mentioned before, another first is that we are hosting our first LST team in Gent this summer! Check out Luk and Holly's blog for some pictures...
http://belgianbreeze.blogspot.com/2006/05/lets-start-talking-has-started.html

One of the most exciting "firsts", though, is that we have begun meeting as a church in Gent, now! Our first meeting was at Luk and Holly's new house, and the second one was held in the LST reading room. We are continuing to worship with the Antwerp congregation on Sunday mornings, and then we meet in Gent for an evening worship. It's really exciting to finally be worshiping together in Gent! Here's some pictures:
http://belgianbreeze.blogspot.com/2006/05/church-plant.html



Gideon is expressing my feelings exactly:

bunny...?

Here's a funny pic of some of my classmates...

Maud, the girl in the "bunny" suit, lost a bet to Emmanuel, the guy on her right. The bet wasn't even that big of a deal...it was a debate over what date our IMAX business game started. But it evolved into a big deal! Emmanuel went out and rented that suit for Maud to wear around school! She had to hop around and deliver Easter egg chocolates (a week after Easter!!)

You might notice that they're holding up Maud's ears...we think that Emmanuel got a bad deal. Her suit looks more like a dog than a bunny! (even the tail's a bit long instead of a fluffy puff...)

=)

Summer RAIN ...Well, it finally feels like summer is here! I got caught in a sudden thunderstorm last week. It was such an incredibly sunny, warm day that everyone was making plans to meet friends out on a terrace for a drink or to barbeque. But as I was leaving school and walking towards the train station, I could tell it was going to storm. I could smell it in the air and feel the wind picking up around me. In the distance, dark clouds were rolling in. If I had been in Alabama, I would have expected tornado weather!

Before I left Gent for the day, I wanted to see how our LST team was doing, so I was in a bit of a dilemma. Should I play it safe and head straight to the station? Or go see the LST girls and chance getting stuck there for a while because of the storm? Well, I decided to chance it and go see the girls.

I made it to their place just in time, but the door was locked! I found out later that they were down the street getting dinner. Anyway, 60 seconds after I left the clouds broke loose and in another 60 seconds I was drenched! The rain was being blown around in sheets and before I made it to the station, there was hail too! Believe it or not, in the midst of all this, I was smiling! Yes, I was drenched...yes, I had a hour ride before I would get home, but at least it was warm rain...and I really miss a good thunderstorm! So I enjoyed myself!! =) (But I did still run the rest of the way to the station and enjoyed the storm from a dryer spot!)


LST ...I guess I should explain what and who our LST team is! "Let's Start Talking" is a worldwide mission program that builds relationships through teaching English. The reading material for the lessons comes from the book of Luke, which is the basis for great conversation and questions. Then, if one of the readers is interested, they are invited to church and to study the Bible further. This summer, we have our first LST team in Gent! It's actually made up of two teams--the first one is two girls, Jessica and Kristy, who are staying for three weeks, and then a second group of two girls and one guy will arrive and stay six more weeks. We're really excited that they're here to help us this summer! The first week has gone great, and we're hoping to have one of the students at church this coming Sunday. Please keep this ministry in your prayers, and pray that we will be able to follow up well will all the contacts that are made!

I HAVE A BROTHER!!

I was starting to wonder if my brother and his wife were merely figments of my imagination... But just this morning my worries evaporated when I opened my e-mail and THERE it was! A letter from Matt!!! =)
In fact, he's probably been wondering himself what happened to his life since it's been kinda non-existent...turns out he's been spending all his waking hours in the lab at school working on his project to end all projects.

You'll have to ask him the details, but from what I understand, it's a pretty fancy robot complete with a webcam and sound system!

Toni's also been swamped with work, spending all her free time applying to med schools. Matt and Toni are both graduating this month from Harding University (my alma mater! ; )

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Infamous Harding Swing

Three swings and a ...

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Congrats you two!!