The Yau Zone...

Wednesday, 5 March 2014

High School Retreat - Part 2

I'm happy to report that High School Retreat was a huge success! It was great to get to spend the whole weekend with my small group girls. I feel that it really allowed for us a form a stronger friendship and deeper level of trust. The girls all enjoyed our speaker, our worship time, and our small group discussion time.

The focus of the weekend was Colossians, chapters 1-2; focusing on being rooted in Christ. It was great to hear the girls being challenged and thinking about their walk with God. I hope to post some pictures of my group later, but I need to check with one of my students who's parents work in a 'creative access' country.

Saturday, 22 February 2014

High School Retreat!

Next weekend (Feb 28 - March 2) is BFA's annual High School Retreat! All of the high school students go away for the weekend for a time of fun, fellowship, and spiritual growth. I (Anna) am super excited to get to go this year! I have a small group of 5 amazing freshman girls, and I'm so looking forward to spending the weekend with them, especially discussion times and debriefing after each of our large group sessions.

Please PRAY for all of the students and staff who will be attending the retreat. Pray for open heart and for God to do amazing things next weekend!

Clarence will not be going to retreat this year, but will instead stay in and have time with the Middle School students. They will having lots of fun here in the Kandern-area, including a trip to an indoor waterpark, gym time, and chapel.

Some belated Christmas pics :)

Decorating our tree

Christmas Eve gift - rice/heating socks

Austin's first time on ice skates!

New family pic

Friday, 4 October 2013

Canadian Citizen!!

So I [Anna] am now officially a Canadian Citizen! The progress has been a little more complicated than we originally thought, but it's done now, and it's a big relief. I originally applied for citizenship in Sept 2011, thinking it would be finished in plenty of time before we moved to Germany (we originally planned to come to Germany in August 2013). However, we ended up moving to Germany a year earlier than planned. Thankfully, they were able to keep progressing my application, but I had to fly back to Canada TWICE for official matters - once to take my Citizenship Test (in May 2013) and once to do my Citizenship Ceremony (September 2013). There were so other minor complications along the way - the clerk actually recognized my name when she called me up during the ceremony to receive my Citizenship Certificate! She joked about how my case had given her such a headache and she was glad to be done with me. :)

So, I am now a dual citizen - yes, I DO get to keep my American citizenship, and am working on filing for a Canadian passport. I am excited, and a little nausea from all the maple syrup I drank . . .

Sunday, 15 September 2013

A few summer pics!

A few pictures to recap our summer!

Some traveling with Clarence's parents: Rothenburg, LEGOLAND, and Paris.

A visit from Anna's mom: Connyland, Europa Park, and fun at home!

Good old summer fun: playing in the creek!

New School Year

The new school year is well underway already! We had a wonderful summer enjoying visits from family and some local vacationing. This new school year brings lots of changes for our family. Austin is attending Grade 1 at a bilingual school which partners with BFA and a German, Christian school. He's loving it! He's picking up German fairly quickly and loves his teachers. His biggest complaint the first day was, "there's too many breaks!". Silly boy. ;)

Our family (with Anna's mom visiting) at the Einschulungsfest - a special ceremony to

welcome the new first graders! Austin is holding a 'schultute' - a cone they're given on the

first day of school filled with school supplies and small gifts from the parents.

Silas has started German Kindergarten. Kindergarten here is private and non-academic. So, really more like preschool in North American - hence why he's starting so young. Silas tends to be fairly reserved and takes awhile to warm up to things, but he's adjusting okay so far. He enjoys playing with the toys and having snacktime at Kindergarten. Thankfully, there are a few other English speaking children in his class, making the transition a little easier. He's usually exhausted by the time he comes home for lunch, though - I'm glad it's only half day!

The boys on their first day of school!!!

Clarence is enjoying being back in the classroom again! He loves teaching Bible to the 8th graders, and this year he is in charge of a homeroom as well. Things are quickly coming together for the Middle School small groups, Student Council, and other Middle School events. He loves being involved in all of it!