Monday, May 20, 2013

WE DID IT!

Certificates to give to my growing daughter.  She excels in her Mathematics, quite interested in Science and well-improved in her reading and writing.
 

Both girls are homeschooled children.  They do crafts together and sometimes the schooling. The two pose with their Certificates of Completion.  One goes to 1st grade and the other to 2nd grade.

 
Well done kiddos and congratulations!!!

Kindergarten Graduation


Oftentimes, Moms who homeschooled their kids just gave directly the certificate to the child.  For me, I want to make it special and memorable to my little girl Marielle.



So I decided to have an official graduation ceremony.


We invited other mothers that homeschooled their kids and gave certificates to them.
The picture below are friends from NTM.  Our family overlapped our time in language school and become friends.
 


 
Raquel has been Marielle's classmate since 2010 in Central Java.  Raquel is happy to see Marielle once again here in Papua.



home-made coconut oil

 
I bought fresh grated coconut from the (pasar) market and had tried to remember how to make coconut oil when I was a young child.  I am glad that I could still remember it.  Coconut oil is known to be healthier oil to use in salads, granola and others in the tropics. 
 


 
The process is too expensive ( since gas bottle in Papua is so expensive) and quite long.  It took 2 hours to finally get the oil. You need to occasionally stir it to avoid burning.  I must try soon to make granola our from own home-made coconut oil. Yum!!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

"feeling so far yet so close"

One of the sensitive points of 4 Spiritual Laws is... do not depend on feelings!
Ya right! It's kind of hard though to not depend on that.. we are mere humans.. okay!
However, when faith strikes... it works! I would say.
Why in the world I say these things.  Aahh.. because there is something.
 
I know I am an Asian, lived in a third world country. You bet I can endure hardship quite well because of my background.  Living in as remote as Papua, far from civilization and so forth makes you miss the world out there.  I sound like materialistic but honestly, it is true!
 
We have been reading the book of Job as our daily devotion.  Everything Job spoke was all true.  It is all true about God, about man and about the world we live in. We are vulnerable, sensitive and feeling-people!  When our health is being bombed and no care nearby that would help you, maybe there is but not is what you are expected to or you are scared to have a try. You would feel miserable.
And if you are given the opportunity to go somewhere to find help... before that, you need to ask for approval from this folk or that.. or call or write to this certain person or that... quite frustrating!
Don't get me wrong.. this is just feelings.. sometimes endless feeling...!
 
The frightening one is when you have a feeling of GOD being so far...  does He care.. does He know what we feel... is HE still around... why does He hide His face?
 
I love Oslo Gospel Choir.  They have a song that says, "there is no way I can hide from Your love, I can only survive through Your love, I could go anywhere but you're always be there to cover my soul."
 
Some crazy questions arise because of our feeling of vulnerability. Don't you think?
Glad that are our Father doesn't depend on feelings but of His character, His deity and of who He is!
 
 
 




Sunday, May 12, 2013

it's Science today!

 
Today, Marielle and Zoe did homeschool together in Science.   "Tricks with Air"!
 

 
They did the magic straw first then the waterproof tissue.  They kept the tissue dry underwater.  They were quite amazed about the result.  First, they stuff the tissue tightly into a glass so it cannot fall out.  Turn the glass over and push it into a bowl of water.  Hint:  Just keep the glass straight when you take the glass out.