Posted on 15 Jun 2008
The following pictures are of the boy’s dormatory “Housebad Ridlingen”, where we are doing renovations this summer. The kitchen walls and floor are being re-tiled, and new cabinets and an oven will be installed. The dorm’s entry-way walls are being opened up to make a lounge area where students, staff, and guests can hang out on their free time. We will add new pictures as progress is made throughout the coming weeks.
Posted on 31 May 2008
Sue working at the Reception Office desk
As Junior class sponsors we get to join in on their various fun activities.
Marshall in concert with the Kandern Youth Accordian Club.
Marshall in the Middle School play, “The Golden Goose”
Sue was in charge of the set and props construction.
Below are some shots from the Candelight Dinner - an outreach to the local German community which is held at BFA. We invite people from town to come for a dinner and a show. It is performed by students, staff, and others from the church community. The theme is always thought provoking and is tied in to a Gospel presentation. This year was very well attended by nearly 400 people. Over thirty individuals responded to the message, saying they were interested in knowing more about what they heard. Notice the international flare (and look for Hannah)!
The Kummers in Italy?
In March we traveled to northern Italy to help the Luker family (Cross World missionaries) who were in the process of moving. We spent two days painting the interior rooms of their house. We also visited with an Italian couple, Daniele and Monica Corrioni, who work with the Lukers planting a church in the town of Sesto Calende.
We then traveled to the Torino area to visit another family, the Guadagnos, and their ministry “Forte Rocca”. This center is being developed through Operation Mobilization for training in evangelism and discipleship. The directors Eliseo and Paula are good friends of ours from our years serving at Centro Maranatha. Here are a few shots:
April Italian Wedding!
In April we were blessed to attend the wedding of Marco Santoro and Lucia Morbido. We have known Lucia, her mom, and her sister since our first visit to Italy and Centro Maranatha in 1990. Both Marco and Lucia grew up attending our camps at Maranatha and later served as kitchen workers and counselors. Lucia also came to America one summer to work at Camp Sankanac. It was a great privelege and joy for us to attend this wedding celebration and to see many of our Italian friends who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also enjoyed the great Italian food and wonderful spring weather.
Please pray for Sue and I regarding Italy! We have been seeking to know God’s will regarding returning to Italy in the near future. We have been asked to consider joining one of CrossWorld’s church planting teams, such as the Luker’s above. We have also been asked to consider coming to Forterocca and using our Christian camping experience to serve with them. We are open to God’s leading, however we do not feel God’s definite calling to these ministries yet.
Posted on 31 May 2008
At dormatory, “HouseBad Riedlingen”: (some before and after pictures)
New Computer Room
Hallway converted to Phone Booth
New Storage Room
Two new Bathrooms:
Main Campus Building - new roof tiles
Dormatory - “House Sonne” Kitchen Pantry renovations
Before:
After:
Posted on 27 May 2008
Our last weekend subbing for the dorm parents at the Liel dormatory:
It was a beautiful spring weekend of fun, food, and sharing time with these kids.
Sue cooked a great Italian dinner (Gnocchi with cream sauce, chicken cooked with Italian spices, green beans, and Italian bread).
The weather was beautiful and so we ate outside!
For “Dorm Fellowship” that evening we had marshmallows over a campfire, Bob shared from the Bible about baptism, and then we all spent some time praying for one another and for their parents who are missionaries in nine different countries.
Posted on 26 May 2008
Meet Bethany! She is a senior in high school and has been living with us this semester. She has enjoyed playing on the soccer team and we have enjoyed having her as part of our family. Her parents serve in Asia. After graduation she will be spending time with her parents and then moving on to Taylor University to begin her college education.
Spring Break mission trips: Seven teams of students and staff traveled to do outreach in:
Glascow, Scotland with an outreach to students.
Our daughter Hannah was on this trip.
Germany, with an outreach to Turkish immigrants.
Poland, helping a church renovate their facility
(here seen digging out a basement).
Slovenia
Ruwanda, Africa working with orphans.
There were also teams in two other Northern African countries.
Posted on 14 Feb 2008
After three weeks of spending Christmas and precious time with their families our dorm students returned to their life and studies at BFA. Here are some pictures emphasizing the “life” of BFA students. By providing fun activities we seek to communicate the love of Christ to these kids who find it hard at times to live and study so far from their parents and younger siblings. At BFA we seek to provide much more than a good education.
Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team
Girls Varsity Basketball Team
BFA Choir Members Participate in “Association of Christian Schools Internation” Choir in Prague, Czech Republic
High School Outing to (nearby) Basil Ice Skating Rink
BFA Has Offers An Excellent Music Program
And Many Special Activities
….And Opportunities for learning new things
…And For Getting to Know One Another
Posted on 13 Dec 2007
Meet Sue’s small group!
Tuesday nights are small group Bible study groups for high school and middle school students. Sue and another woman on staff (Carol) team up and lead a group of six high school girls. Their names are Solveig, Helen, Deena, Naomi, Lindsey, and Joanna. Here they are at our house having a Christmas party:
Evangelistic Outreach in our community!
Thursday nights in the local town of Kandern are special nights for celebrating the Christmas season. Campfires are lit for roasting doe on sticks and for places to gather together for conversation. Booths sell traditional German foods and drinks, and local musicians perform to usher in the Christmas spirit. Black Forest Academy was privileged to take the opportunity to present the message of Christmas through song, mime, and a Gospel message. Have a look:
BFA Elementary School Choir!
High School Ensemble!
Mime Team!
Please pray for the safety of our 180 dorm students who will be traveling many miles to be with their families for Christmas break. Pray also for warm times of reunion with their parents and siblings. Thank you for co-laboring with us in this amazing ministry to missionary and other third culture kids!
Posted on 09 Dec 2007
Hausbad Riedlingen (HBR) Renovations
As the three year “Project Renewal” of the Janz Building on the main campus nears completion we are now turning our attention to some much needed improvements on our dormatory facilities. Our eight dormatory buildings scattered about in the surrounding German communities house 180 students, the majority of which are MKs. HBR is one of these dormitories where Bob and the maintenance crew have been doing some renovation work this fall. This past week we had a work team from a supporting church of Joe and Susie Stebner. Joe is the maintenance crew supervisor. The work team has been a great help in moving this renovation project along. Below are some pictures of the progress which has been made:
Bob, Brad (BFA maintenance), and Ernest, Karl, and Bob from Virginia work team: (Left to right)
Storage and Utility room being converted to a student computer room:
Bathroom and shower room (door to the right) being converted to a phone booth and storage room:
Newly renovated Bathroom:
And new shower room:
Oh, and here are the guys who live at HBR!
Posted on 03 Dec 2007
Boy’s Volleyball Team:
Girl’s Jr. Varsity Volleyball Team:
Our Daughter Hannah (made 14 serves in a row for a win of 15-3)!
Girls Varsity Volleyball Team:
Tennis Team (New This year):
Posted on 03 Dec 2007
Featuring some news from some of BFA’s alumni
(Where some of them have ended up and what they’re doing):
Joelle Lewis – “I’m teaching at Bilgi University in Istanbul, learning Turkish, touring the city, adapting to the culture, and meeting many new people.”
Charles Dokmo – “I’m now living in Okinawa and keeping very busy with my job in the Air Force. God has been faithful and I’m very thankful to His grace to continue to walk with Him.”
Scott Sutton - ”Since leaving BFA, I have graduated with highest honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and am working full-time doing communications for a nuclear power plant. My parents were missionaries in Africa. My years at BFA changed my life and set me up for personal and other success. I deeply appreciate the personal attention and encouragement I received and am convinced that BFA is the best high school around. I was able to explore my passions (Chronicle, yearbook, student council) and received grounding in my faith that served me well once I joined a secular state school. The love and care you showed built a strong sense of self-confidence and … I credit a lot in my life to my years at BFA. Thanks!”
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