AGM June 2008

This is the villa we stayed in with two other couples. Villapark is a community of villas. This was a first since we have always stayed in hotels previously. We were on the second floor with Chris and Nancy Russell. Ron and Charlotte Craig stayed downstairs.

Mason Hatchel (4 years old) sat by Kyle one night at supper. Mason was born in Bucharest on our anniversary, April 24th. Mason and his family now live in Czech Republic.

On Tuesday night was the Lottie Moon Auction. We bring items from our countries to raise money for Lottie Moon Offering. It is a fun way to raise money for God's work overseas. This year over $14,000 was raised.
Here are some of the items that were auctioned on the live auction. The black mystery box went for over $3000. A group of people went together and bidded against another group of people. Inside a bunch of yummy goodies.

Freda Angeletti painted this wooden calendar of a shepherd with his sheep.Yes, A&W Root Beer, Oreos and a good quality scotch tape brought in dollars for Lottie Moon.



The CEF Singers performed during the evening. Larry, Roger, Robert, Bob, Diane and Carolyn were a hit. They sounded great! (Click on the video to listen to them sing.)

On Wednesday Kyle and Katie Warren (the two high school graduates from CEF this year) received bibles and a money gift from their aunts and uncles of CEF. Prayers were voiced for each graduate and their families. Katie and her family live in Czech Republic.

The Russells and Russells. Here we are with Chris, Nancy and Hannah Russell. They have visited us over the past few years when coming to Bucharest for doctor/orthodontist visits. They live in Moldova.
Kyle with his Aunt Nancy and Uncle Chris.Here I am with WILD Nancy. Life with Nancy is never dull!



On Wednesday night the youth and their counselors performed "The Lawnmower". It has become annual event for them. (Click on the YouTube video to watch the group perform.)Afterwards the children performed their musical they had been learning all week. Miss Cindy a volunteer from California) came to lead the children. As always they did a great job and had great time performing for their parents, aunts and uncles.

The last night we were at Villapark four Hungarian folk dancers performed for us at supper.

This man was a very good folk dancer.Then the dancers showed us how to dance. Kyle and his partner, Cindy had a good time.

The BIG Event - Kyle's high school graduation May 30, 2008!

It does not seem that long ago when Kyle was 4 years old and was attending Pre-K at Caldwell Playschool in Tyler, Texas. The years have passed by, too quickly. Now we have our third BCA graduate!

Over 10 years ago I asked the Lord to provide our sons with Christian educations. Of course we never imagined he would do it by sending us thousands of miles away from family and friends to Romania. By doing this he educated our whole family. The Lord opened our eyes to seeing a lost world in need of him. He showed us we need to stay focused on him to not only meet our needs but also to show us the direction he wants us to go as we serve him. It has been an amazing journey with the Lord!

Of of his classmates Kyle had been at BCA the longest (since he was in 4th grade). Kyle is in the striped shirt in front in Miss Leahy's 4th grade class.

Rachael Mather arrived in the 5th grade.

Rachael and Kyle at the Prom in April.

Class of 2008 with Jennifer Lipp, BCA's school director before graduation begins.
Preparing to file into the graduation ceremony.Tony Barbusca, BCA's secondary principal begins the ceremony.

The graduates listening.A sibling of each graduate read a scripture that the graduate had chosen.Nathaniel read Kyle's selection, John 5:19.Ladies' quartet (Seas Byul, Sarah, Christina, and Lauren) sang Psalm 23 beautifully.Kevin Nelstead, BCA's secondary science teacher and father of Kyle, the class valedictorian gave the keynote address.Lauren Staab was the salutatorian.Kyle Nelstead was the valedictorian.

Kyle receiving his diploma from BCA school board chairman, Jennifer Cox.Jennifer Lipp changing Kyle's tassle from one side to the other.

The class of 2008 after tossing their hats.The reception line.The hugs begin with kindergartner Rose.The oldest brother shaking the youngest brother's hand.A hug from his middle older brother.Laura Crawford (a former BCA teacher) had all three of our sons as students.

Nathaniel with Mrs. Pavel one of his English teachers. She also taught Jordan and Kyle in English and Romanian.Twirling his tassle.The graduates cutting their cake.Kyle receives his official diploma from Mr. Barbusca.Aura (our colleague) taught Kyle for one semester after she arrived here in January 2006.

Jordan with Austin Brown, BCA alumni class of 2007. His parents are colleagues of ours.The two Kyles. They have been good friends since Kyle Nelstead and his family arrived in 2001.The Cristeas and the Russells. We have been good friends since Roger and I had Adina as our language teacher in 2001. Three year old Alex is our godson. Little brother, Andrei is 16 months old now.

Kyle and his Nana.Our family - Roger, Nathaniel, Melinda, Kyle, Nana, and Jordan.

More graduation pictures can be seen on Facebook.

Nathaniel and Nana arrive/ The week with our family

Nathaniel and Melinda's Mom, Marilyn, arrived on May 26th to take part in the graduation festivities. Nana holding the flowers we gave her at the airport. It is a Romanian custom to give flowers to guests.

What no shirts! Melinda's Poppa always said guys needed to wear shirts at the table. Of course it has been a joke in our family for years. Kyle and Nathaniel enjoying breakfast on the 27th.

On the 27th we met up with two volunteers from Texas, Mike Phillips and Dr. Mark Kemp from Copperas Cove. We took them to the Village Museum before taking them to the hotel by the airport.Nana also enjoyed seeing the different buildings at the Village Museum.

Nana also got to meet Dr. Gary Fenton and his wife, Alta Faye from Birmingham Alabama.

Nana was able to attend Ladies' Bible study with Melinda on the 28th and meet the ladies Melinda had been telling Nana about.

Marilyn, Melinda, Margie, Freda, Caty, Lidia, Min and Lisa

We also had our moments as a family in the team van.Melinda and Jordan closeup.

Nana, Nathaniel, Jordan and Kendall also had the opportunity to see some of our colleagues while they were here. On May 30th we had a going away party for Aura, our colleague who is returning to California on July 1st. Her Journeyman term is ending.

"Chester" aka Wes Banks presenting Aura with a small gift."Baba Banks" aka Tamara presenting flowers to us. Our colleagues also had a time of prayer for our family as we prepare to head to Texas to begin stateside assignment for 9 months. Here is Dwayne Brown praying for us.Afterwards the boys headed to BucurestiFest.Jordan and Wesley Banks enjoyed hanging out together.Nathaniel at the concert.

After church on June 1st we headed to the Bucharest Mall for lunch. In the picture family and friends - Kyle, Kendall, Jordan, Nana, Jennifer, Aura, Jerry, and Diana.

One thing I wanted all three of our boys to have done was to be measured. For the past 7 years we had been marking their heights on the inside pantry doorframe at the Piata Alba Iulia apartment (now the Browns' home). On June 1st Nathaniel, Jordan and Kyle went over and Dwayne measured them. Nathaniel's height is still the same 6' 1/4". Jordan is the shortest of the boys now (but taller than Roger). He is still 5' 10". Kyle has grown a tad and is now 5' 10 3/4" tall.

We enjoyed our time with our family. We are thankful the Lord provided the funds for all of them to come be here for Kyle's graduation and visit with friends.