Bacon Anyone?

The Vermillion County 4H Fair is in full swing. Kyle signed up with 3 friends (David, Evan, and James) for the pig wrestling competition. They got a bit muddy and had a great time! I'm not real sure if the pig enjoyed it though?

Before the Pig Wrestling

After the Pig Wrestling

Hosed off courtesy of the Fire Department

Misc

Jessica wanted me to post a note about her haircut. In case you hadn't noticed on the postings she has a new hairstyle. She had it done while I was in Haiti. When I was walking up the terminal at the airport I saw this young girl standing their at the end of the hallway. It took me a moment to recognize her. She looks so much older. She's growing up way to fast!

Kyle wanted me to post that his baseball season has officially ended. He had his last game tonight. The tournament is next Saturday but they will have several players unable to be there so his team will not play. They won tonight's game and finished the season with only 3 losses (all to the same team). His whole team is eligible to play together next year so they should be a really good team next season.

Blue Ribbon Basket - Blue Ribbon Dog

Jessica's 4H competitions were tonight. She received a blue ribbon on her basketry .... and her dog obediance received a blue ribbon and third place! Yes, she showed our dog, Jack. For all of those who thought we had a wild dog here's proof that he's a good dog and Jessica has done very well training him. He's a Blue Ribbon winner!

Gas Prices Up ... Who Cares!

Yeah, I'm probably the only person who goes out and buys a bigger truck when gas prices go up. Well, my 94 Ranger had 130,000 miles on it and the kids didn't fit in the jump seats anymore so I was ready to move into something else. I tossed around the idea of getting a fuel saving car but I dreaded not having a truck. So ... I justify it by saying, "Hey, I do most of my driving locally anyway." Never mind that the day after I bought it I put 100 miles on it making a hospital visit.

Anyway ... It's a 2002 Ford F150 FX4 (Yeah, sticking with the Ford). It's a pretty sharp truck We'll see how it goes ... If I find that it sucks me dry on fuel cost it may be short-lived.

Purdy Girls Overnighter

They Purdy girls had their annual overnighter a couple of days ago. This year Jessica was able to bring a friend so Kate joined them for the night. Since my nephew Alex is currently still nursing he was able to join the Purdy girls overnighter also. They went out to dinner at the Olive Garden and then back to the house to play cards. The adult women enjoyed foot massages and pedicures compliments of Jessica and Kate. The following day they went to the Fair Oaks Dairy Farm for a picnic lunch. Everyone had a nice time.

Down South

While I was in Haiti Leanne and the kids took a trip with my Mom and Grandma to visit some family down south. They spent time in Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia visiting my Grandma's sister (Margaret), and my mom's cousins (Anita, Bill, Sandy, Brenda, and Cathy).

They had a nice time but the highlight of the trip was seeing Nana's eyes light up when she saw her sister. I guess its true that sisters have a special connection. Even the kids noticed the lights in their eyes when they were together.


Leanne and the kids made a stop on the way home to see our good friends the Rasor's.

Kyle's Baseball

Right before I left for Haiti Kyle had hit a couple of balls that came close to going over the fence. I kinda thought, "Great- he's gonna hit his first home run while I'm in Haiti."

Well he didn't. But the first game after I returned he got it. A hard in-field bounce and then into right field. Home run! He was pretty excited. Except he pitched the last inning and hit one of the batters pretty hard right in the knee. It took some of his excitement away even when everyone was telling him it was okay and it was just part of the game.

He played again tonight and got another one. A line drive to the baseline that then rolled to the right field fence (can you tell he's a leftie?).

Here's a quick video clip of his last time at bat.

Kyle wanted me to include a picture of the bat that he hit the home runs with.

Back in the U.S.A.

This is the group of 12 from our church that went on the Haiti Mission trip. We spent 2 weeks together on the north coast of Haiti.

Some children gathering for one of our VBS programs. We did VBS at LeBay, Beauchamp, and Ansefelour. This picture was taken at Beauchamp.

I preached at the church in Beauchamp. My translator's name was Jude. The church is a newly established church and the building isn't finished yet. The kids above our sitting on one of the church "pews." Two women came forward after the sermon and committed their lives to Christ. Jude said they were "moved by the sermon." One of the Haitian church leaders looked over at me, gave the thumbs up sign and said, "good preach." I didn't necessarily agree but apparently God was still able to touch a couple of lives.


Beauchamp is a new site in which the mission is establishing. It has a mission building that is somewhat close to being finished (minus running water, and bathroom facilities). In fact this is a picture of our bathroom. 3 plywood sheets, and a 4 legged stool with a toilet sit sitting over a hole dug in the ground.


It was market day at the big river when we crossed to go to Ansefelour. I wish I could post more pictures because it was a really pretty drive along the coastline of Haiti. Speaking of rivers ... the big river we had to cross on our way to Lebay and Beachamp was pretty high. It was up over the headlights when we crossed.


All in all it was a really great trip. I was missing my family and a little more homesick this time than on previous trips so I was really glad to come home. But what an experience it was!