catching up on that one brother...

Ok, so I lied about the story to go along with the studio pictures, but most of the story is in the pictures anyway, so...highlights:

-talking late into the night with Dietrich about all [sic] the most important things in life

-conversations about the Bible and the future with Micah, Mel, and Diech around the supper table

-throwing football between long singing sessions

-when our recording guy, Benjamin, would make the mics do this fnky empty cave sound

-the end of an awesome take!


some other fun events of the past week
-helping Meredith move (Jeremy was a great help!)

a pic from her old house...still some snow around :)

Jeremy and Meredith laughing it up on the way back to her house for lunch.

-a fun time at Micah and Krista's for supper and afterward a moped ride in the Clover Hill area. Here, have a ride through the country with us: :)





more catching up:
-i decided to drop the Spring continuation of the Fall seminary class so I could dedicate more time to ministry with 3N1
-Betsy and I are still enjoying a dating relationship by God's grace (2 months has, of course, felt like at least twice that many)
-Jeremy has picked up one of my phrases-- "HWoooo Doggies!"
-i am more engaged in a new congregation called the Early Church (so named because their most regular meeting is at 6:00 am every Monday) and I love it...I feel God doing great things in my life and in the life of our small group of believers dedicated to Christ and his mission among the poor of northern Harrisonburg.
-my work with VMM means doing what I've been doing (speaking to youth groups and at churches as well as organizing the short-term teams) and taking on new roles, including 1) being a member of Strategic Planning Task Force which gathers data and uses it to form a new vision statement, etc and, 2) helping to organize a Perspectives class that will be held in Harrisonburg for the first time this FALL.
-i have a plane ticket to Jamaica March 6-16 for the 50th anniversary of the Jamaica Mennonite Church and some fun times with friends

Next thing:
-3N1 heading to South Carolina for a prison crusade next weekend, Feb 6-10. Please Pray!

Love you all!
Philip

Pics of 3N1 in the Studio

story later... :)
-Philip

Christmas Presents - fridge-filling tips for the holidays

Soooo...now it's my turn to write about how the core group (Philip and I are the only ones left!!) celebrated Christmas. I'll start by reciting/butchering a famous Christmas rhyme:
'Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the streets
one creature was stirring, searching for treats
our stockings and caps we put on with care
in hopes that some goodies we'd find and we'd share
most children were nestled all snug in their beds,
but brother and I had got an idea in our heads;
and I in my overalls and brother in his parka,
hopped in the green car to see if the ignition would sparka.
When out of the darkness there arose such a clatter
and I sprang from the car to see what was the matter.
Away to the dumpster I flew like a flash,
lifted the lid and stood there, aghast!
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
but brother with cakes and more than one asparagus spear!
then as dry leaves that before a wild hurricane do fly
brother and I, we left, quick, and with pleasant sigh.
And to the next dumpster and the next one we flew
and the sleigh we did fill with bagels and a mango, too.
both our eyes twinkled and our cheeks were all rosy
as we returned to the house (not so warm or so cozy).
And we went through our loot both my brother and I
and we sorted it all out as midnight drew nigh.
We filled up the fridge and then filled up the pantry
and then sat down to a supper that was not chinese (snow peas?) but still pretty fancy.
THE END

A Poem in Pictures...
Pretty self-explanatory I'd say. we're ready to paint the town

A sack of toys - oh how we do love Panera bread

We got some shrooms!
More than one asparagus spear. They were a little mushy so we did not keep them

This was the meal we made, which consisted of a Chicken and rice dish with caramel apple sunchips, snow peas, and garlic bread. All of it came from large green containers except the main dish (yes, even the flowers!).

The brothers, after the successful trip and ready to chow at about 12:30ish. Philip also roasted and brewed some excellent Ethiopian coffee - simply amazing

On Christmas day we slept in till 10 and then went over to the Bear's for a Christmas lunch with the relatives (we were Aunt Violette's boys for the day, along with Rudy). It was great fun and food. After enjoying the warm weather outside by tossing the Frisbee around, a group of us went caroling for a bunch of people that I didn't know. It was a good time. After this, Philip and I went back home and started watching the second of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. About partway through, Angela and Meredith came over and we finished the movie and started watching the third one.

Overall a very enjoyable Christmas but I missed everyone terribly - it just didn't seem like Christmas without you all. The most important thing is that we are all celebrating for the same reason and hopefully we will be together in a few years to share stories that revolve around Emmanuel. He is very present indeed!

Our thoughts are with the Whitmer and Beery families - we'll keep praying

que la paz de nuestro Dios este dentro de todos vosotros
Love you!!
Diech

Christmas in a Cabin

Woohoo and Christmas has been lots of fun, even if crazy different than usual. For me, one of the greatest highlights of both of my December Christmases was chatting with Betsy. We got to chat briefly using skype on Friday morning (Dec 21) before heading westward. I got to see her very briefly before our connection gave up on our cameras (she was as beautiful as ever:), after which I was able to hear her voice but she couldn't hear mine. She talked to me while I typed to her. Despite the limitations, it was wonderful to catch up in realtime for a change, and really good to hear her voice as she described to me what her life is like now in South Africa. Skipping ahead to Dec 25, skype allowed us to type "Merry Christmases" to each other again and my camera worked well enough for me to wave and prove that I'm actually alive way over here (there's been other evidence as well, thanks to Martin's Christmas gifts to me, if you will remember). Back to Dec 21...

Friday the first contingent of us (to use a Dad word) got out to the Kanagy cabin at about 230 pm. The adventure began earlier than expected when we came upon a humongous rock in the middle of the lane leading back to the cabin, making the way impassable. Jared, Diech, Bek and I got out and got to work, searching for good strong poles to try and get some leverage. Dietrich was the winner with the perfect pole. It had a little wedge shape on the end that meant we could really get down under the thing. After lots of grunting and teamwork, we finally got the thing up on end and rolled it over (I think I pulled something in my neck that I felt for the next couple of days, but I'm better now :). Next we did a little mud bogging to get through this slushy, snowy, muddy mess, and then we came around corner and there was the cabin. First order of business was getting all our stuff inside; second order was start a fire, so I got on that. It was cold out with a good layer of snow covering the ground in most places. It was really beauitful.

Martin, Sylvia, Elliot and David all showed up a few hours later, in time for the supper Diech and I got together...big Louisiana shrimp (some boiled, some in a shrimp alfredo), corn, salad, and chips.

In the evening some of us played Settlers and the others of us played Rook. I believe Martin took the former and Rebekah blew us all away as we tried to be competitive in the latter.

The next morning, Bek and Jared let us sleep in a while then cooked up some wonderful scrambled eggs and cut up some great fresh fruit.

Dietrich played gift distributer again like old times, but this time with fun wares from Spain. Gifts included chocolates, coffee, little airplanes and caps, a jersey, etc. Thanks Diech! We are glad to have him back not only because he carries good gifts :).

The afternoon found a group playing Settlers again while the three Rhodes brothers threw some baseball (most of the snow was gone by now, but not quite all...making it more interesting, of course; oh yeah, the facts that we only had 2 gloves between the three of us and that there was a river nearby also made things interesting! :). We all got together to play the crazy picture-drawing and describing game, then Martin and Sylvia told some stories about their traveling adventures a couple of years ago. Supper was by Martin and Sylvia: delicious stromboli and peas etc...

That evening everyone left but the three Rhodes brothers. We started the evening drinking coffee and catching up with our lives. Dietrich and I got up a short game of one-on-one soccer in the house. Playing in socks meant we were sliding all over the place and laughing. Martin laughed at us too. We also had a sliding contest across the living room and kitchen floor. After a supper of (very good) leftovers, we played three games of Settlers. The idea was that after Martin and Diech split the first two games, I was to have one last chance to win. But alas, just like had happened in the second game, I came up one resource card short of winning. grrrr... and Martin got another win. Fun times, though.

We're excited about Jared, Martin, Sylvia, Elliot, and Julian moving this way in a couple of months. More good times to be had!

in pictures:
-------

Preparing shrimp for the shrimp alfredo Diech is going to make.
The young athlete.
The three Rhodes bros.

A foreshadowing of the next post
Merry Christmas all!
Love,
Philip

Christmastime in a faraway land...

We had a wonderful Christmas in Spain! I was so blessed to have Mom and Dad, Carmen and Jason, and Lydia and Dara to hang out with (Mom was sick much of the time - but I think she's all better now). They flew in on the 6th and stayed till the 11th - not near enough time! We mostly just enjoyed each other's company and occasionally we went out to enjoy the city, going to the Museum of Catalunya, La Sagrada Familia, La Casa Batlló, the Gothic Quarter, La Boquería and the University. It was also a time to remember the reason why we celebrate and the reason why we live. If He had not lived and breathed and been resurrected from dead, we would not be able to bear testimony to him living and breathing in us today.


This piece of cloth, gifted from Tom to Jason, can alledgedly be used in 100 different ways. Here we have Jason demonstrating just one of them.
Dara got some books: Namely, Charlotte's Web, and The Mouse and the Motorcylce
Mom got a cafetera, turrón, and a scarf from me

We took a hike up to Montjuic and the Olympic Plaza one afternoon - it was a tad chilly
They love each other - and I love them!!! Thanks so much for honoring Barcelona with your presence! See you all on the 5th.

I enjoyed all the talking and laughing with the family. Dad, Jason, and I got in a game of Scrabble (Dad wins) and we also played rook (Me!) and quiddler (Jason? IBID). We also ate lots of good food and watched some home videos of Camping, Elliot, Claire and Eliza, and Dara and Lydia, as well as Lydia's birth and much more! Coming Soon from Nap and Snack Inc.: Around the world in 36(?) days - a documentary of Empty Nest Syndrome from Spain to Thailand. But really, I am looking forward to some more Christmas videos when you all get home.

On a different note altogether - I am finished with exams! Tuesday was my last exam and now I'm hanging around Barcelona until Sunday, which is when I fly home. I'm looking forward to hanging out with the core group next weekend!

Travel safe, Mom and Dad!!
Love you All!
Diech

A Vision

This morning I woke up to beautiful snow falling. It ended up meaning that I got to stay home an extra 3 1/2 hours so that I wouldn't endanger Herman's life or my own. The roads were a bit treacherous (I think most schools were out).

It also meant that I got to have more time alone with God.

I was beginning to pray for people, especially for you who are overseas and I realized that I didn't know how to pray. Everything I wanted to tell God seemed empty and I didn't want to pray empty prayers. Suddenly something that I felt was the Spirit of God filled me and gave me a vision, a very simple one. Carmen and Jason, you were standing together in your living room and Tom and Candice, you were standing together in your living room. All of you were holding your hands up to God in worship and your faces were turned upward toward God. Then I looked down and Claire and Eliza were also there with Tom and Candice, holding up their little hands to God and worshiping too, and Dara and Lydia were in a circle with Carmen and Jason holding up their little hands, following the example of their mom and dad. When I saw this I began to weep. I began to pray with all my heart. I suddenly knew I had been praying past you all, about what each of you were trying to accomplish and I had not been praying about your hearts worshiping God. I realized I had begun to forget who you were. God's worshipers! I knew you deeply again, could see your faces clearly, and even your personalities were more alive to me again. In my vision and prayer I was once again very close to each of you in my spirit and God was moving powerfully. He loved that you all were worshiping him and I loved you more than I can explain. And you drew me deeper in my own worship as I prayed near you. I thought a lot about your hands lifted up and your open faces--the humility and vulnerability of that posture. And then I saw all of you in turn with your hands raised in worship--Anita in Israel and David, Martin and Sylvia in North Carolina (Elliot was confused, and the other little guy didn't have a clue), Dietrich in Spain, Rebekah and Jared, me and Betsy, Mom and Dad. We all worshiped together for a little while, silently in adoration. I wept but I didn't know why. I felt so humbled and broken yet full of joy. In a profound way, I missed you all. Finally I saw Simeon again and he was holding up his hands with Jesus in them.

Jesus, you are why we hold up our hands. We worship you with all our hearts minds souls bodies. You are worthy! Amen.

Some thoughts from this morning

Meditating on Luke 2:21-40, I wrote in my journal:
"I've always loved the story of Simeon. First, I love how much of a man of the Holy Spirit he is! It's exciting to see someone in a deep communion with God thru the Spirit long-term...
...he sees God's salvation, Jesus! I wonder if God didn't reveal it to Simeon more for the sake of Joseph and Mary than for himself (Simeon). They stood there and "marveled about what was said about him" (vs 33). What an awesome confirmation that this whole thing hasn't been some crazy trippin' dream they've been having. But we have confirmation for the doubting human mind in these: angels, shepherds, wise men, nature, Simeon, Anna, John the Baptist (leaping in the womb). We have confirmation audibly, visually, over time, from young and old...from poor and rich, from near and far, from learned and unlearned, from heaven and from earth. Joseph and Mary were just like anybody else, needing to hear God's voice in the midst of chaotic lives...needing reassurance. And Simeon's voice of deep Holy Spirit communion and conviction left them without any allusions as he echoed Mary's song and then added a strange blessing to it."

This week I've been putting Christmas gifts from Martin to use, enjoying some chocolate dipped in Honduran coffee, writing a letter to someone in South Africa with nice pens on good paper, and reading a book called "Brothers K." He is a giver of good gifts like both his fathers are. :)

Philip

A Teaser with Mom and Dad

So I got to spend an evening and a morning with Mom and Dad before they headed off to Morocco. This was just a teaser (a delightful one), for they will be back in less than a week with more of the fam. Can't wait!!! Sooo, they arrived on time and I admit that I went to the wrong terminal at first, but I realized my mistake (even after being in Spain for 2 months i can still read! *round of applause*), so i hauled my butt over to terminal A and there I found them. It was soo very good to see them and to recieve and give hugs (thanks goes out to those that sent their hugs with Mom and Dad). So we went and they met my host-mom, Marta and I got to be the translator. After this we went to get lunch and then proceeded to the hotel where they slept off some jet-lag and that gave me time to go home and grab my sweatshirt. So after the rest we went out to a little local restaurant and had some autehentic spanish food. On Saturday morning we caught the bus (just in time) to get to the airport where I saw them off. I didn't want to let them go, but alas, they left me. I was so depressed that I took the next bus to the city of Girona... Intermission: I was also so depressed that I went from this...

To this...

...Once in Girona I wandered aimlessely and despondently through the beautiful city streets and the cathedral. I also went to the museum of art and the archeological museum. It was a really beautiful city - one of my favorites so far! It was definitely worth the 3.90€.

The Cathedral of Girona

The famous "Apple of Girona"

The Cloister of the Cathedral of Girona
Overall it was very enjoyable weekend. The best part was seeing Mom and Dad, of course, and being with them for a good little while. I hope you all are enjoying Morocco!

and yesterday I went to the Mennonite church for the second time. It was a very good time of worship and we also had communion - although I think the preacher took some stabs at our tradition of feet-washing (maybe i just didn't understand the spanish?). Anyhow, this week I have three days of classes, which would be my final three days of classes, and then there is a holiday on Thursday and Friday, which is excellent because the fam is coming on Thursday (can't wait to be with yall!!). What is not so excellent is that I have to study for exams which will take place the following week (Monday and Tuesday). yikes! and then i go home...for Christmas!!! Can't wait to spend some quality time with the remaining family at home.

Love you all!!!
Diech

Special thanks goes out to Bek for the pumpkin seeds! - they are supercalifragilicious!

On My Way to Her

I wanted to share with you my favorite spot between our house and Betsy's so I made this video Friday on my way out to say goodbye. It's right on 33; hope everyone can see it.



She's leaving for South Africa tomorrow (Tuesday). Please be in prayer for her and her six teammates.

Have a great week!

Love,
Philip

I went on a small excursion to Sitges last weekend with a few friends. Sitges is a small fishing town which is about a 35-40 minute train ride from Barcelona. We walked around the town for about half the day and then took the train back home. The train, however, did not take us all the way back to Barcelona. One stop before the Barcelona station everyone just cleared out and we were a little confused. Finally we asked somebody if the train would go to Barcelona and he kindly told us that it would not, in fact. So we scurried to get out of the train before it headed back to Sitges! So we had to get on a bus that took us back to Plaza España. The train system is a little messed up because of some construction difficulties, so the ride was basically free!

The Church in Sitges that overlooks the sea - there was a wedding there that day.
I'm gonna call this one "random chameleon (spelling?) perched on a wall."
Two friends that went with me, Yuko and Tana.

It was a good time overall and a pretty little town to see.

and...
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!
Last night the BCA group went out to a restaurant for a Thanksgiving meal, courtesy of the BCA program. It was sooo tasty - we had turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, artichokes, and some apple dessert with café con leche afterwards - I admit, I was craving pumpkin pie. I am so thankful to have had this wonderful experience here in Barcelona, but am also looking forward to being with family again. The next three weeks will go by soo fast, i know it, and I'm gonna soak it all in while I can. I decided to drop my Metaphysics class and I'm taking it as an oyente (auditing) instead. This will take a little pressure off as the end is nearing. I enjoyed seeing the pictures of the walnut-smashing (brings back good memories) and settlers from the home-base! Were there any "inadvertant" cases of dropping the bread into the fondue?

Much Love from Spain!
Diech

The Most Exciting...

...to write about. Betsy Fisher.

She's done with her training and will be leaving behind Ohio one week from today. Bek and I went out to the commissioning on Friday and had a very fun drive:

out 33
through slidy snow
over West Virginia mountains

-an amazing picture Rebekah took that we're still trying to figure out!

After lots of talking, friends, meals, drives, walks, books...we decided we still like each other.

:) Good. Philip