During
our 6 month CPx training a key focus here is church
planting.
As
many of you know, we are praying and exploring ideas
for long term work with vulnerable children, human
trafficking victims and soccer ministries(which
would start after our 6 months of CPx training that
ends in July 2010).
Right now, we are learning about church
planting, and the methodology is like nothing we’ve
seen before!
These are the "white picket fences" in
Ocean View (Amanda - a member of our team is talking with
some children
we met in the community where we are working)
February 14, 2010
Julie on the ropes course
a pile of packets
our waiter at the Cuban restaurant
CPx starts (Monday-Friday)!
Our classmates are from 11 different countries
and it’s been great making friends. We
painfully admit we are among the oldest students
- by at least 10 years.
At first it felt like a cross between summer
camp, college dorm life and a reality show.
We had a team building day on a ropes course,
attended a cross-cultural seminar (learned
that sometimes it can be very rude to bust out
with your hand sanitizer and camera - Doh!)
and visited several townships (the correct term
is "previously underprivileged communities").
More photos...
Karl’s 36th birthday was Saturday,
February 13th.
I bought cupcakes (you would think in Africa
I would be baking cupcakes – but alas,
it’s not meant to be).
We talked everyone into playing a game of Packets.
Packets is a Jensen game tradition. Essentially
you break into teams and run around throwing
rolled up pieces of paper at each other –
freeze tag style. It was quite festive and everyone
was very competitive (the girls really annoyed
the boys when we won using the playground as
our fortress). More
photos...
On Valentine’s Day, Sunday February
14th, we ate at a Cuban restaurant.
No, it’s not owned by Cubans.
We don’t think there is a single Cuban
on the premises, and it’s highly unlikely
the food is actually Cuban…but it was
quite delightful.
Although we will say there was an awful lot
of capitalism going on at this communist themed
restaurant. More
photos...
Note: We loved it – but in the end
it did not love us back, and we were out of
commission for a few days.
1. Boarding at Eppley –
Well, in all our crazy packing, I somehow lost track
of “carry on” suitcase rules. Omaha
security was not impressed with my 16 oz bottles
of shampoo, lotion and hair stuff...read
more»
Ostrands saying goodbye at Eppley
January 22, 2010
DONATED SOCCER GOALS - 2 portable,
high-quality soccer goals, donated by Dan Grunfeld,
of Goal Oriented, arrived this week.
Many children in Africa have never played
a game of soccer with "real goals."
Read more»
GOING AWAY PARTY REMINDER
Our party is tomorrow (Saturday, January 23rd).
We hope to see you there!
To let our daughters experience growing up in
another culture – they’ll realize
that the world is bigger than Mama’s love
of Gap matchy-matchy...read
more»
Ever wonder what's involved with packing
up your family and moving out of the country?
final good byes to the many people we love and
will miss
stay up till 3 am most nights trying to get it
all done
a million errands (trips to the dentist -
final "US haircuts," exchange some money
into South African Rand - First National is the
only bank in town that does this, by the way, etc.)
get simple bands to replace wedding rings (would
rather not have the originals stolen)
obtain an international driver's license (it's
scary how easy this is to do)
finalize vaccines (just a little dose of
oral typhoid for breakfast this week)
try to think of everything we're likely to forget
(ha!)
Karl standing next to the "plowed snow"
on Highway 92
(on our way to Ansley, Nebraska to visit Karl's grandparents
this week).
January 5, 2010
GOING AWAY PARTY
You are invited to our Going Away Party on Saturday
afternoon, January 23rd (two days before we
leave).
WANT TO BUY A CAR?
We are selling our 2002 Mazda Protege with automatic
car starter - asking $4,000 (silver, good condition,
104,000 miles)
#1 Are the sharks really that bad?
Known as “Great White Shark
capital of the world” I have to ask myself,
“What are the chances that me and my bite-size
daughters could walk more than 2 inches into the
ocean...read
more»
THANK YOU FOR THE SUITCASES: We
now have 8 suitcases...thanks to you all!
Going Away Party
Please stop by for some coffee and dessert!
So…I was getting dressed a few months ago
and tried to put on my lucky pants.
The important point to note…is that I tried
to put them on...read
more»
HAVE AN EXTRA SUITCASE?
We have 2 suitcases, but need 8 (we are only
bringing to Africa what we can fit in these suitcases).
If you have an extra sturdy suitcase (that can
hold 50 pounds) with wheels -
and you are somehow able to part with it - we would
be so grateful! Let
us know»
#1. Own and proudly drive
a mini van. Yes, I am here to say boldly,
“My name is Julie Ostrand and I drive a
mini van.”...read
more»
INVICTUS (NOW PLAYING IN THEATRES):
Nelson Mandela, in his first term as the South
African President, initiates a unique venture to
unite the apartheid-torn land: enlist the national
rugby team on a mission to win the 1995 Rugby World
Cup. See
the movie's web site»
UDPATE:
Wow! You have given over $20,000!
We
saw this movie and would recommend it to
anyone wanting to understand more about South Africa.
