The Winter Journals

Eli's visit...

2007-03-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

Update

2007-02-20T18:49:00.000-08:00

Weather up here in Michigan has gotten warmer...a nice warm 22 degrees. It's a nice change from the zero or lower temps. When you walk outside during the day, you can hear all the snow melting around you. Its funny that I find walking around in a t-shirt reasonably comfortable. There's not been much going on, nothing worth writing about at least. Even though we have weekend programs, things still seem too quiet fro me. Every day is just work. Shoveling snow, painting, and getting shocked when I forget to turn off the power when I am changing outlets. I've got two months left here, then it's goodbye Davison. The job search has begun, but I wonder when it is the right time to start? I'll just be plugging away at Monster, seeing what's out there.

I wonder why Baha'i institutions are always in such small towns? It leaves us employees with nothing much to do.

I'm also itching to play an instrument.

Some Pictures

2007-02-15T15:51:00.000-08:00

Eva and Jaleh
Me with Hayden
Leo and Eva
Athol! Bad man!
It was fun Eli, I'll be seeing you around.

Recien Kazadito!

2007-01-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend my friends Aaron Patton and Ximena Arce were married in Baco Raton, Florida. Here are some pictures.

The Bride and her father!

Aaron's friends from Maxwell and Santa Cruz.

The Arce Family
The ParentsOnly gringos can rock the tweed at a formal wedding.

Cutting a rug with Ximena's mom.

Bartender!

Aaron's brother Josh.

Having a Blast in Boca

2007-01-23T07:28:00.000-08:00

The Last Dons of Santa Cruz

(Below) Matt loves bowling more than bullying kids on the playground.

Whose turn is it?

Who took this?

New friends!

Helen learned how to tie a tie. Next on her list. How to say Raton.

Sassy.

Yuzo. He was that one Asia guy in The Fast and the Furious.

New and Old Pictures

2007-01-16T08:23:00.000-08:00

Glad I was off that day...

John and I recently replaced that light fixture.

It's not easy to strike a pose with the snow and wind in your face.

The Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia?

The student and teacher. Shiraz looks sad because Eli took his Redbull without asking.

Tried to get a picture of the field during the heavy snow fall. Even though it's blurry, it still looks mysterious. Well, as mysterious as a playground can be.

The BMG

2007-01-14T12:39:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend Louhelen was meeting place for the Black Men’s Gathering (or the BMG). It is an event I have had the blessing of being a small part of twice in my life. The BMG gives black men a chance to be together as brothers…as family. They get a chance to talk, to laugh, to cry, to sing, to be happy, to praise God, to play music, to ask questions, to enjoy the company of their brothers. These men represent the young and the old of the black company. Knowledge and wisdom is passed on during this time, to ensure that the future is to be a blessed one. The love that has emanated from this weekend has been overwhelming and can barely be described in words. It is amazing to be greeted by total strangers as if you were a part of their family. The staff was allowed to join the men in prayer to end the weekend. The men played drums, prayed, and sung the Praise of God. Now I will admit that I’m a crier, and this morning was no exception. I wept openly at the beauty, power, and sound that surrounded Unity Hall.

I guess you just had to be there.

Winter School Part 1

2007-01-03T18:31:00.000-08:00

Food.

People at dinner.

Athol, you're so tall!

Mimi!

Leo helping with dinner.

R.I.P.

2006-12-25T06:42:00.000-08:00

Take it easy Godfather of Soul.

More pictures...

2006-12-24T15:06:00.000-08:00

Me changing the balasts.

The Refuge

One scary ear of corn. In the nursey mind you.

Some People I Know Part 1

2006-12-15T15:49:00.000-08:00

Well there's me...

Boss man John

Then there's Eli...yes Eli...

Godlove and Athol trying to figure out what this what stuff is around them.

Keon, also a little confused. Yeah man!

More to come!

First Few Days

2006-12-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

I've been spending a lot of time getting a feel for the area. There's a lot to learn in what seems to be a small amount of time. It's been pretty low key. I guess cold weather and programs don't get along well. Today is my day off, although I may be working with the kids who come in from Flint and Davison for childrens classes. Its cool...I figure that I had a nice six month vacation while I was at home, so a little more work wouldn't hurt. Some time in the next few weeks Winter School will start. And from what I've heard it gets pretty crazy. A nice change from odd silence that envelops the school now.

Pictures of Louhelen

2006-12-03T13:06:00.000-08:00

This isn't Jamaica Keon!

Where I'm Going

2006-12-01T10:44:00.000-08:00

So by tomorrow evening I will be in Davison, Michigan. There I will be working until about April, at the Louhelen Baha'i School. It is a nice place with a beautiful campus and I could not ask for a more tranquil place as I comtemplate my future down the line. But what forces drove me to such a cold place?