tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68971562011315658442024-03-13T16:22:58.527-07:00Brandon in Kandernbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-30890844826941130152010-10-14T09:13:00.000-07:002010-10-14T09:15:36.972-07:00New BlogIf you haven't heard, Lizzy and I started a new blog to write together about our experiences in our ministry at Black Forest Academy. Check it out at:<br /><br />http://brandonandlizzy.wordpress.com<br /><br />Thanks! See ya later!<br /><br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-10114773986327007232010-06-06T06:04:00.001-07:002010-07-04T21:25:36.465-07:00Fast Forward Three Months<span style="font-family: georgia;">Welp, it's July, I'm not in Germany anymore, and my wedding is less than a week away, and all you know about me is that I cut some kids' hair in March. It seems like I lost track of my blog and couldn't catch up. The past few months were filled with stress, and the blog went to the back burner. And I would think, "I need to write about this, but I haven't even written about that yet!" Hopefully, you dropped by the Storrs' blog (http://storrsside.blogspot.com) and read about a few things we've done in the dorm the second half of this semester. Greg is really good at updating quickly and does so at least a couple times a week usually. He's good at this communication thing, and I'm still getting better.</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">But anyway, here's what I'm going to do for you. I'm going to send you through a fast-paced whirlwind blog miniseries. Won't that be fun? I'll just describe some of the stuff that happened the second half of this semester. Let's see, how far back do I need to go?</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">On April 25th and May 2nd, there were baptisms at church. The majority of them were students from the school. On the second Sunday, two guys from our dorm were getting baptized: Spencer and Phil. The way the church does baptisms is that the person being baptized can choose people to be involved in baptizing them, reading Scripture, and praying for them. So it ends up being the pastor or the parents or other mentors. Not all of the students' parents are able to be there so you see a lot of dorm staff and other teachers involved. Spencer's parents were there, and his father baptized him. But Phil asked me if I would pray for him at his baptism! Here are some pics from the morning.</span>
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<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGL60rM9Hn5onIG5iePpVEY_rxBc11aCDTJrGc_FSbrQySIL9_iqoHq5YmY9MQPXR19FBrMz9pAjGLs6IN2pqgojkq9EYAHYwo4a3Nw94_5VcaUT1Vk2zYkpARF0lu5Byy4crc0vbRPw/s1600/spence3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitGL60rM9Hn5onIG5iePpVEY_rxBc11aCDTJrGc_FSbrQySIL9_iqoHq5YmY9MQPXR19FBrMz9pAjGLs6IN2pqgojkq9EYAHYwo4a3Nw94_5VcaUT1Vk2zYkpARF0lu5Byy4crc0vbRPw/s400/spence3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482666205624745250" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXaMz9Y8XwJjQw74daVIsY0lTYneW-arsCRHkwtdhpFeGu5Z2Q9M-TMR93M3UwpdFrZlxazJiih0ziQFgL62QfcrFSnmYl6dh9IpH5dXTV5-v7L7wdmFUFL7KTevyiXup0pstiEMB5zk/s1600/spence2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKXaMz9Y8XwJjQw74daVIsY0lTYneW-arsCRHkwtdhpFeGu5Z2Q9M-TMR93M3UwpdFrZlxazJiih0ziQFgL62QfcrFSnmYl6dh9IpH5dXTV5-v7L7wdmFUFL7KTevyiXup0pstiEMB5zk/s400/spence2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482666211535646434" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwndZuZAMO3p_v7fXcLaEQ_hTNQfcynFv_Uwz2Ne00VvvdG4Jd4eKN80xp3aShnkeYKYW9uCDtDZbW4rxGaZsGCu5npt1SwtUqOoL9k_aUVIojwMuXyVQrrcgMakCRhab9FTf8R4LN-s/s1600/phil1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcwndZuZAMO3p_v7fXcLaEQ_hTNQfcynFv_Uwz2Ne00VvvdG4Jd4eKN80xp3aShnkeYKYW9uCDtDZbW4rxGaZsGCu5npt1SwtUqOoL9k_aUVIojwMuXyVQrrcgMakCRhab9FTf8R4LN-s/s400/phil1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482666216086381202" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl_eDVxFcI3I7JAyVs35XKAGfYzmHewG0tvFD9Q29Ucd2qwpue66sBQEzd38SbEO4p5AJkb96d_Qzek-WHr-ZTFbtIg_tHymzzMRZ9BmfXxFMm0F7tns0ONRPAflvVJ1QManVPP10fPs/s1600/phil2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAl_eDVxFcI3I7JAyVs35XKAGfYzmHewG0tvFD9Q29Ucd2qwpue66sBQEzd38SbEO4p5AJkb96d_Qzek-WHr-ZTFbtIg_tHymzzMRZ9BmfXxFMm0F7tns0ONRPAflvVJ1QManVPP10fPs/s400/phil2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482666220852742242" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2EhxbkqiJO-q8IJfY-cLP1pkrVGrnuC-ibfGinyZSb93KlRwaGtNZ_IdIoqFmn-WoirGde7ty9YGytYPkg4-ntZ3bVXOYlYTMWkmeFw_Nmdfr1x2Hlqi7_ioyeTIBAbmsu7TvnPDZ5E/s1600/phil3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2EhxbkqiJO-q8IJfY-cLP1pkrVGrnuC-ibfGinyZSb93KlRwaGtNZ_IdIoqFmn-WoirGde7ty9YGytYPkg4-ntZ3bVXOYlYTMWkmeFw_Nmdfr1x2Hlqi7_ioyeTIBAbmsu7TvnPDZ5E/s400/phil3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482666231859595026" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Make-Your-Own-Pizza Night</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is kind of self-explanatory. One weekend a lot of our students were gone because of a soccer trip, a track trip, and other stuff. So with the handful of students we had left, we allowed them to create their own pizza or calzone instead of us making them for them. A lot of them really got into it, and the results were delicious!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">JSB</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Junior Senior Banquet was on May 7th, and I wore the suit I always wear. I had the same beautiful date as always, and we had as much fun as always. 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mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family: georgia;">üllheim like always, and the guys wa</span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:georgia;" >ited o</span><span style="font-family: georgia;">utside for their dates like always. There is always entertainment which includes tributes that juniors make for the seniors. This year I helped Reece and Ross make an awesome stop motion video. We took over 1,000 pictures and had a lot of fun with it. If you haven't seen it yet, here's a </span><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5b0GSkuC4k">link to the video</a><span style="font-family: georgia;">. I hope it gives you insight into the personalities of our nine seniors!</span>
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ftrwwgIflCpwLJz_8HywYdu_eleWCa3bmG35X2nyBr0wU6DLJXiUsoYCyu6OM9xrBZ-w-hqGM4P3g6A2KNEVSbkArYRrPuDFEuZlXNUfLl2FBGyJdegn2cYKeYlelvO0Khz9K4wErI0/s1600/100_5089.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ftrwwgIflCpwLJz_8HywYdu_eleWCa3bmG35X2nyBr0wU6DLJXiUsoYCyu6OM9xrBZ-w-hqGM4P3g6A2KNEVSbkArYRrPuDFEuZlXNUfLl2FBGyJdegn2cYKeYlelvO0Khz9K4wErI0/s400/100_5089.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482741132137053778" border="0" /></a>Guys waiting for their dates
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FXYPZd7ZRX5xiGlycaDbmuBQ8m7xR3u7DIy9S-s-28ApgGjh1dq_iPYI14ZsIYIaeSy8M8ctsCsBNOBq3B7oiwULTk6NExua4j0jKo_CRpQTx6_f5ijea5jpIpklVsPYDg5b2HeHQvI/s1600/29191_394785693878_503613878_3966200_6223849_n.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5FXYPZd7ZRX5xiGlycaDbmuBQ8m7xR3u7DIy9S-s-28ApgGjh1dq_iPYI14ZsIYIaeSy8M8ctsCsBNOBq3B7oiwULTk6NExua4j0jKo_CRpQTx6_f5ijea5jpIpklVsPYDg5b2HeHQvI/s400/29191_394785693878_503613878_3966200_6223849_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482741519473248530" border="0" /></a>Me with my beautiful date
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHF928rFwPN9EQpWK4xWNT_4gByWhzv9xJ1etMXicFvnQQd0QGj5q1ptwRn7xSWarQVPoDyqeOr3tzYZusjumnLnM6swMuuGVRjwGp07qU_sne-jb27HjrsBzft-07UfgmoXQjqID6-ko/s1600/DSC_0405.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHF928rFwPN9EQpWK4xWNT_4gByWhzv9xJ1etMXicFvnQQd0QGj5q1ptwRn7xSWarQVPoDyqeOr3tzYZusjumnLnM6swMuuGVRjwGp07qU_sne-jb27HjrsBzft-07UfgmoXQjqID6-ko/s400/DSC_0405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482760741198334610" border="0" /></a>Greg and I with our nine seniors
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<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oCrPSMp_1J7zLLr5AOO_h3aYMqG8GXKzmpPGq-531wnRO8JgAg5luNy0vnzmutOKDiyIvoQahaqc_ROQCYZMhRRehQ1xvUqlkrCHDpaIJ1Erob7sP6f-sigXs95TAxDINquioZVLJcE/s1600/DSC_0228.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2oCrPSMp_1J7zLLr5AOO_h3aYMqG8GXKzmpPGq-531wnRO8JgAg5luNy0vnzmutOKDiyIvoQahaqc_ROQCYZMhRRehQ1xvUqlkrCHDpaIJ1Erob7sP6f-sigXs95TAxDINquioZVLJcE/s400/DSC_0228.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482760732564059762" border="0" /></a>Everyone from HBR at JSB
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Senior Appreciation Day</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">BFA does a good job with goodbyes. And there are always a lot of them. One way that dorms say goodbyes is by having a senior tribute day or senior appreciation day. Basically we spend all day going through each senior one by one and allowing anybody to tell that person why they admire them or what they will miss about them. I think this is an important time, especially for guys. It gives them an opportunity to say things on their heart that they otherwise might not say or even think about. This took about six hours starting in the afternoon and lasting into the night, and we took a break in the middle to eat a giant dinner of ribs! It always ends up being a long, tiring day, but the guys enjoy it nonetheless.</span>
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<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEhjHvCY2H44rbRoOWYRu4kdhapKqxft3_bugjkOtQkeCP3uHGuV3ydBdiY6Cya5NKRYSwOKMpgAjtSve6XV0fPdLy5liK9dwME5Ucbr8SLoDqMVJEeuehi2qzGFoi3kDddkCi0483G8/s1600/DSC_0175.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEhjHvCY2H44rbRoOWYRu4kdhapKqxft3_bugjkOtQkeCP3uHGuV3ydBdiY6Cya5NKRYSwOKMpgAjtSve6XV0fPdLy5liK9dwME5Ucbr8SLoDqMVJEeuehi2qzGFoi3kDddkCi0483G8/s400/DSC_0175.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486608415470260130" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJ7OcRCpGBnB9E0g6xkbX3lddUdjZNND1LIWhFDPK2stWVc0WNrhUvA4vIkXgQJHd_SyYI8YepuzFAIy97wRCqxuaLM5dBBKMPdeM3o7Xib2gVcBegVt93Q-49BXlosK4DL-zts7fF14/s1600/DSC_0173.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJ7OcRCpGBnB9E0g6xkbX3lddUdjZNND1LIWhFDPK2stWVc0WNrhUvA4vIkXgQJHd_SyYI8YepuzFAIy97wRCqxuaLM5dBBKMPdeM3o7Xib2gVcBegVt93Q-49BXlosK4DL-zts7fF14/s400/DSC_0173.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486608424453504210" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRaYe-9YM3EdR3eJL5tys1KL_QBDDuKhTP7zmnD1C3q_7r_FkmyFgzwMccqxM-D9fqZFdQC6gbyZfN9OjwfCjNkOM0sNdlQ38Qy6NZIAUT3_LBGv2yKTtU3Q8OBBQcFd_Vf1NMIZl1rs/s1600/DSC_0198.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRaYe-9YM3EdR3eJL5tys1KL_QBDDuKhTP7zmnD1C3q_7r_FkmyFgzwMccqxM-D9fqZFdQC6gbyZfN9OjwfCjNkOM0sNdlQ38Qy6NZIAUT3_LBGv2yKTtU3Q8OBBQcFd_Vf1NMIZl1rs/s400/DSC_0198.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486608436673444386" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Dorm Party</span>
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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Every year each dorm throws a party at the end of the year where they go out and do a ton of fun stuff all day long. This year HBR threw an epic party of parties. We got up in the morning and drove over half an hour into France where we rode go-carts THEN we went back to Germany and went to a water park for a few hours THEN we came back to the dorm and ate T-bone steaks the size of my head THEN we drove out to Switzerland to watch the movie "Prince of Persia." That's about as much as you can fit in a day, and at the end of it all, we were exhausted. But the guys loved it!</p>
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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">FYI: We're wearing those creepy black masks so that none of us gets athlete's foot on our ear or something from the helmets. And for the second year in a row, there are no pictures from Laguna the water park because well... speedos only. I wrote about the big blue slide last year, and we dominated it once again this year. Basically, it's a giant no-rules slide. Actually, I saw a sign saying you couldn't take an intertube down it just as I spotted one of our guys dragging an intertube up the stairs so I stopped him. So I guess there was a rule. But as many people can be on it at once as you want. It tells you what kind of slide it is when it is not uncommon at all to be receiving apologies from strangers in the middle of the slide. Weird. When it was time to leave, a group of us were going down the slide one last time, and as everyone dropped into the pool at the end of the slide, every guy started splashing in the water and yelling, "STEAK! STEAK! STEAK!" Goofballs. But dinner was good, and the movie after dinner was good.</p>
<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">My Creeking</span>
<br />
<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">This year on June 3rd, exactly two months after my real birthday, I was creeked for the first time. My birthday falls during spring break so no one is around for the real celebration. When this happens, we reschedule the birthdays for a time when everyone can be present. Last year my birthday got rescheduled at least two or three times until it was eventually forgotten amongst the end-of-the-year busyness. This year the rest of the staff was determined not to let this happen. So my birthday was stuck on the schedule a week before my flight was set to take me away. I made it interesting by coming down to dinner dressed in my "Italian Stallion" boxing robe with some boxing gloves on. After my birthday song was over, I pulled out my cap gun that was hidden in my shorts and started firing it in the air like a mad man. There was really nowhere for me to go though, and fake guns only help so much. I put up a good fight, but ultimately ended up in the creek. Once again, all pictures stolen from Greg's blog.</span>
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<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5gUz-cOibvB_tfvc2VJuF7EgY_Bu6S7WzE_A9k6fZlAp0dgbGd6QZ5w0Uyg9UKS0MO7DccPEyUGigcUVYsfN1gfeuQetgCZtggf_JJQQIF8L7rDsrcS8k6McRAvX3V9t8_NPfUCQGZg/s1600/DSC_0312.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5gUz-cOibvB_tfvc2VJuF7EgY_Bu6S7WzE_A9k6fZlAp0dgbGd6QZ5w0Uyg9UKS0MO7DccPEyUGigcUVYsfN1gfeuQetgCZtggf_JJQQIF8L7rDsrcS8k6McRAvX3V9t8_NPfUCQGZg/s400/DSC_0312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486617430040852706" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV29eWhyphenhypheng09mGGXEVQ19sXiD59rBZUsZ0LndPOn_562LqKOi3dElRWSyV5Fymueq9j9i2lZcouls7_8icZVrdbQBSV7PWzFmsLLgcyZDDaEACDXnfqUMptubd2_TSr0oGk36FC8q8zDLg/s1600/DSC_0368.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV29eWhyphenhypheng09mGGXEVQ19sXiD59rBZUsZ0LndPOn_562LqKOi3dElRWSyV5Fymueq9j9i2lZcouls7_8icZVrdbQBSV7PWzFmsLLgcyZDDaEACDXnfqUMptubd2_TSr0oGk36FC8q8zDLg/s400/DSC_0368.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486617443298336370" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yEF1_FgIftGdbymkBB2iw_VcLLWogrF_VF8eiCXSbOxc-qk6P6M7rbvs0d3C3RNgYE8YdupQbo3DI-NBx9MVA_-mZMn5BTK4oQApEf1eyza-TwFH1YBFPWyPnqVlL3hYTAs5cMSEB8A/s1600/DSC_0378.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7yEF1_FgIftGdbymkBB2iw_VcLLWogrF_VF8eiCXSbOxc-qk6P6M7rbvs0d3C3RNgYE8YdupQbo3DI-NBx9MVA_-mZMn5BTK4oQApEf1eyza-TwFH1YBFPWyPnqVlL3hYTAs5cMSEB8A/s400/DSC_0378.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486617446376367602" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Camping on top of a castle</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">We continued the "tradition" this year, which we started last year, where we took all of our seniors and camped on top of the tower of the Sausenberg castle. Greg and I both went up and camped with the guys. We cooked hot dogs, told stories, played twenty questions, and enjoyed the beautiful view. The wind wasn't nearly as bad as last year, but we were awakened at about five in the morning by some GIANT buzzing fly/bee creatures. There were about a dozen buzzing around us like helicopters before they disappeared again. Very weird, but overall, it was a lot of fun!</span>
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<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqovS8CfdICieruxIBmfQBHCcO148Nb_fOOexVD8EQPoNj8AT0oKUT-v1awVxab3-kyuq9EtMiZaHgWXlBoe2-GiGa7v4WokzCd6FdBJTYJAUPe6JBIJlNcbxw68uXRK9XTFWKsIoZfEw/s1600/DSC_0265.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqovS8CfdICieruxIBmfQBHCcO148Nb_fOOexVD8EQPoNj8AT0oKUT-v1awVxab3-kyuq9EtMiZaHgWXlBoe2-GiGa7v4WokzCd6FdBJTYJAUPe6JBIJlNcbxw68uXRK9XTFWKsIoZfEw/s400/DSC_0265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486618361586111602" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3iF5ubz2YtubcVUQDUV1W6fjIBeBeB2QU0H4O_mnVaAsQEkCROqD727vjY1pULSQeBRbVninqmGOdfZLRxlKWYPo-J0WnbfUDQ5hTYUI8nEFmMc4LH_Gqlk0R5KhYc_2Pra9je2CGEs/s1600/DSC_0293.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3iF5ubz2YtubcVUQDUV1W6fjIBeBeB2QU0H4O_mnVaAsQEkCROqD727vjY1pULSQeBRbVninqmGOdfZLRxlKWYPo-J0WnbfUDQ5hTYUI8nEFmMc4LH_Gqlk0R5KhYc_2Pra9je2CGEs/s400/DSC_0293.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486618367977978690" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVzsSYUvrNshsUoFT9vj1uEcWeG6sOlAPdZfhx17iUhuiJ1CSB5LmQuD9aJmahmn8hMRvv2hB6QEqVFEhWvyN9HJI-LKSser3tKTfnDgbtezrhRMjIkivZ1o5T4C__sURdV0Huy9AaI8/s1600/DSC_0295.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVzsSYUvrNshsUoFT9vj1uEcWeG6sOlAPdZfhx17iUhuiJ1CSB5LmQuD9aJmahmn8hMRvv2hB6QEqVFEhWvyN9HJI-LKSser3tKTfnDgbtezrhRMjIkivZ1o5T4C__sURdV0Huy9AaI8/s400/DSC_0295.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5486618382665933154" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">The last event of the year was graduation, but I can't tell you about it because I was already gone! I came back the States early so I could be in the wedding of Jamie, a good friend of mine from high school. The next weekend I was in my cousin Brent's wedding. Now my own is coming up in less than a week. This summer has been so busy so far with wedding planning and support raising. Sorry I dropped the ball on this blog the last couple months! But thank you so much for being interested in my ministry this last year and for supporting me and praying for me. Talk to you later!</span>
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<br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Brandon Jeffers</span>
<br />brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-51339897104936988642010-03-28T12:51:00.000-07:002010-04-01T06:26:08.015-07:00Brandon's Salon<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">One way that I have been able to serve in the dorm this year is by giving haircuts. At some point while I was still in college, I started to cut my own hair using clippers and found that it wasn't that hard. Not long after, I was giving haircuts to guys on my floor in college. And now I have found myself offering the same services here at HBR. Once in a while, Brandon's salon will open up at the top of the staircase on the top floor, and guys will hear my clippers running and climb the stairs to see who the victim is. Out of the 24 guys in the dorm, I have given haircuts to... let me think for a second... maybe 12? So I've cut the hair of half the guys in the dorm! Plus a couple adults including Greg the dorm dad. No girls though. I would have no idea what I'm doing there. I only use clippers. I tell the guys, "I'll cut your hair, but only if you want it short." There are several of them who have come back for seconds so the reviews are good I suppose. It's something I enjoy doing for them, and I think they appreciate it. I mean, what guy wants to spend money on a haircut? I think their mothers might even appreciate it more than they do. Some of them tell me horror stories about getting haircuts in their own countries (or from their own mothers) that lead to them having the attitude of "Oh well, it can't be that bad. Do whatever you want." or even begging me to cut their hair, especially when we are nearing a break from school. This last week, I gave one of my more notable haircuts so I figured I'd write about it. Phil has had a lion's mane ever since the first day he showed up last year. I've written about him before, and you may have seen him in random pictures. But this spring break, he was going on a missions trip to Africa, and he is also on the soccer team so he just decided it was time to say goodbye to the long hair. It actually made me sort of nervous. I kept asking him, "Are you SURE you want to do this?" Eventually, I gave in. Here are the two of us upstairs, Phil looking calm and me looking uneasy.</span><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4A8M8oDOcu216WRuegFbUpTcYE8glMEie2Bke3XCAY1ir95gQoxYr6-YFgQfRR-_DHHdt_9P3fkO_mpTzgarIh2oGmI-nEesb1XRc_o99QZ-BbdPQemUyFo8rzE_Obus-xJK6o5C9llk/s1600/100_4983.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4A8M8oDOcu216WRuegFbUpTcYE8glMEie2Bke3XCAY1ir95gQoxYr6-YFgQfRR-_DHHdt_9P3fkO_mpTzgarIh2oGmI-nEesb1XRc_o99QZ-BbdPQemUyFo8rzE_Obus-xJK6o5C9llk/s400/100_4983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453788325731821858" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Here we are after the deed was done.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDCko-9RnJnfSsmlh3atH3su-FMJN4-pe5lsSxH9c_guwffcE6_3Q-_fbvHFImQhsK3qw62jm_1F4D8qnlhS5mxs-hxQV5lcOr_C5MnkV2qKEV9w5acKq3o8gsHNhE2w5dhK5uEZc7vk/s1600/100_4985.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDCko-9RnJnfSsmlh3atH3su-FMJN4-pe5lsSxH9c_guwffcE6_3Q-_fbvHFImQhsK3qw62jm_1F4D8qnlhS5mxs-hxQV5lcOr_C5MnkV2qKEV9w5acKq3o8gsHNhE2w5dhK5uEZc7vk/s400/100_4985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453788329379400690" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Immediately after I finished with Phil, I gave Will a haircut as well. Here is the pile of hair combined from the two of them following the haircuts.<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kTQUfSPAE-BIilrItDkK4Q7g5PLlONINR7_wcViaj0XYM5IIBXIRgJAqHtFRlfWITuhllWUSnnopv_c0zzNphwpJ5Z0XZ0g0Xz-P-z-L2en4X4FXWy12Q9yOGBR3j1s4wCPFUVXY18c/s1600/100_4989.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3kTQUfSPAE-BIilrItDkK4Q7g5PLlONINR7_wcViaj0XYM5IIBXIRgJAqHtFRlfWITuhllWUSnnopv_c0zzNphwpJ5Z0XZ0g0Xz-P-z-L2en4X4FXWy12Q9yOGBR3j1s4wCPFUVXY18c/s400/100_4989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453788340474690754" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The day after that, I gave a haircut to Isaac as well. That was the last night before spring break started. A good portion of the dorm was gone already, but the next day we took everyone who was left to the train station and the airport and our spring break officially started! Sidenote: the week before spring break was when March Madness and the NCAA Tournament started so we were able to bring the tradition of filling out a bracket to HBR. Again, similar to my comments on our students and the Super Bowl, quite a few of them had never filled out a bracket before and had no idea what they were doing. But they really enjoyed it, and the first handful of games the first day of the tournament really introduced to them what March Madness is all about. After that, some of them were hooked. I made a giant bracket on the wall to keep track of the official results, and we hung their personal brackets around it. My fellow RA Jon did a great job of keeping the standings updated, showing who was in the lead in making the best picks. I was delighted that we could introduce them to this great weekend of American sports. Here's a picture of the back wall in our TV room upstairs.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7PETHKmXefVKOAGpgPkeDiQK2ntfHK2iHWSs9YUlCCkOVWmPx4IxB5Ye4cihvWYJTWPA6EnmO12Vx-wGzoCY4BWishcepJyookaREp4B49EXvbvA277FD24UqCHFpX2Nv0A1NyZ5OG4/s1600/100_4990.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7PETHKmXefVKOAGpgPkeDiQK2ntfHK2iHWSs9YUlCCkOVWmPx4IxB5Ye4cihvWYJTWPA6EnmO12Vx-wGzoCY4BWishcepJyookaREp4B49EXvbvA277FD24UqCHFpX2Nv0A1NyZ5OG4/s400/100_4990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454944733138810066" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I mentioned how Phil was going on a missions trip. Every spring break, BFA sends out a handful of student groups led by staff who go on mission trips to surrounding countries. This year BFA sent out teams to Greece, Macedonia, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, and a country in central Asia. HBR had four guys who went on a mission trip. The group that went to Macedonia set up a blog to use specifically for their time there to keep everyone updated on what they are doing. Here is the link: http://www.bfatomacedonia.blogspot.com/. Josh from my dorm and Christopher from my small group are on the trip. They are still there as I write this; go check out the blog! (And pray for all of the kids on missions trips!)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHhRcmzIEt6Lyzn8xAMGZwXxrBcpvaeKI9mTaksz5YVhc3OqY3_d4qMsqcvh86eubcp7LMokFxZbTo9-Asq2oZQJfOFdT3UZqzx2Srm6FKxz9l4A2YEtkQGjOZ2iT7mPFHaPS-Kz9AdE/s1600/Team+Pic.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHhRcmzIEt6Lyzn8xAMGZwXxrBcpvaeKI9mTaksz5YVhc3OqY3_d4qMsqcvh86eubcp7LMokFxZbTo9-Asq2oZQJfOFdT3UZqzx2Srm6FKxz9l4A2YEtkQGjOZ2iT7mPFHaPS-Kz9AdE/s400/Team+Pic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454964989226633810" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" class="UIStory_Message" ><span style="font-weight: normal;">Although our spring break started on Thursday of last week, we still had work to do because this year BFA was hosting a conference during the first part of the break. It was the ICEC (International Christian Educators Conference) put on by ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) at BFA (Black Forest Academy). Yes, we love </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">acronyms! The Residence Life program was put in charge of transportation so we were doing a lot of the same things we do for the students. We picked up people at the airport, got them to the places they were staying, shuttled them to and from the school during the days of the conference, and then dropped them off at the airport when it was time to leave. The conference officially ended yesterday so today was the last day spent driving around making trips to the airport. </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" class="UIStory_Message" >I was able to attend some sessions during the conference, but what was amazing to me was being able to meet so many people who are serving God all over the world. Everyone who was there worked at a Christian school somewhere in Europe, Asia, or Africa. I met lots of phenomenal people with phenomenal stories. God is good, and he is at work! The fact that I am one of these people who is in a position to be used by God in this way leaves me stunned. All of the people at this conference represented thousands upon thousands who are supporting people doing God's work at these Christian schools. If you are one of those people, I hope you're stunned, too.<br /><br />God bless.<br /><br />Brandon<br /></span>brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-7273336455521559212010-03-11T16:59:00.000-08:002010-03-12T00:24:21.946-08:00February into MarchBasketball season got over a couple weeks ago. The boys' varsity won three games this year, which was a big improvement over last year (when they didn't win any games). They also went on to the tournament where they won two of three during pool play. However, going into the elimination rounds, there were too many teams whose record was 2-1 so they decided who got in based on number of points scored during the first three games. BFA missed the cut by two points! The guys were happy that they made it that far but were heartbroken that they were ousted by such a tiny margin. We felt the emotions along with them, but overall we were very proud of our guys. Here are a few pics from the final home basketball game of the year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Wk9S3tOZfzFt7LJY5qv-LkzcyWOrKN5wJaJwIAM9syygT46x0_IEh1wlykHQlVQoIxzLwAzpxHn-0eFDXbhqZriG6nD1uYz7xWqRdrlDAtzUHxllst-GOyQy3LFJOotVzoOgBMMoOJA/s1600-h/dsc_0301.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Wk9S3tOZfzFt7LJY5qv-LkzcyWOrKN5wJaJwIAM9syygT46x0_IEh1wlykHQlVQoIxzLwAzpxHn-0eFDXbhqZriG6nD1uYz7xWqRdrlDAtzUHxllst-GOyQy3LFJOotVzoOgBMMoOJA/s400/dsc_0301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447546052325921778" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zqlJ9ikK3b4gW-Ap7Oc27BAKiun4oUytwYv8W_vcZ5AMdhUAZi1iteurUsMNyXjbd9l9hvA3KCX-1lmdUwW7D58hlYiA5tWluo2o6AYBUbLDcjA0XWrLc_ckg5A05Y60EPyYnKnGUec/s1600-h/dsc_0180-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zqlJ9ikK3b4gW-Ap7Oc27BAKiun4oUytwYv8W_vcZ5AMdhUAZi1iteurUsMNyXjbd9l9hvA3KCX-1lmdUwW7D58hlYiA5tWluo2o6AYBUbLDcjA0XWrLc_ckg5A05Y60EPyYnKnGUec/s400/dsc_0180-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447546040794913586" border="0" /></a>The student cheering section: they cheer just as loud no matter what the score is all the way to the end of the game.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMepC-uZZrTxcQlLFGJm5qL4qIj29g3NWuSBPvm4AUa7cJLgmdDA3Uicu3-h2gNfwACX2RjFxcmKLbEfTHUgebIAD1HCOIRzruoiUmRu0xIECtS-qehAEHJiD2i5nGNuuHeYD584rFJo/s1600-h/dsc_0077.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqMepC-uZZrTxcQlLFGJm5qL4qIj29g3NWuSBPvm4AUa7cJLgmdDA3Uicu3-h2gNfwACX2RjFxcmKLbEfTHUgebIAD1HCOIRzruoiUmRu0xIECtS-qehAEHJiD2i5nGNuuHeYD584rFJo/s400/dsc_0077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447546039038168914" border="0" /></a>The last home game of the year is "Senior Night," where the school honors the seniors who are on the basketball teams. Many of the students' parents traveled to be able to be at the game with their son or daughter. Will asked me if Lizzy and I would represent his parents since they weren't able to be there. I think part of him just thought it was funny to force the two of us into a role of being parents, but it meant a lot anyway!<br /></div><br /><br />This last weekend was our high school retreat. All of the high school students jumped on a rented bus, and we headed north to the town of Feldberg, up in the mountains. This is the same town where we took some of our HBR guys about a month ago. The kids were able to ski or snowboard if they wanted during their free time (I refrained). The speaker was named Greg Speck, and he did a great job speaking to the students and challenging them to be people of character and to put their hope in Jesus Christ.<br /><br />There were many moments over the weekend when it seemed that a large portion of the student body were being convicted and were softening their hearts and embracing spiritual growth. If you have been on a weekend retreat or an event like this (and I'm guessing almost all of you if not all of you have), you know that there is a period of time following the event where you are still considering words spoken and desiring life change but before long... it seems like life is completely back to normal again. Please pray for the BFA students and especially our HBR guys that they would not settle for returning to spiritual dryness and a heart closed off to the Spirit's voice. I know there were thousands of people praying for these students over the weekend while they were at the retreat, but this is still a vital time for you to be praying for them as they are fresh off the weekend and are feeling the pull back to routine life.<br /><br />I don't remember if I have mentioned this, but this year I am leading a small group at school. Each student has the opportunity to join a small group if he or she so desires, and the groups meet on Wednesdays. I am actually the only RA leading a small group (most are led by teachers), and I have a group of sophomores. So these are the same guys I was meeting with at the retreat for small group time. There was much evidence that God was working in them throughout this weekend, and I was blessed to be a part of it. Here is a picture of all of us together that we took this Wednesday: from left to right - Christopher, Josiah, Jean Claude, Kenneth, Noah, and Daniel. Pray for them, too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9hqlJivU5zNxalhZC63oVhtyOFO1FLWxaDwLY-pnqZq4fC6tZbluOtdBcRJvkA62hr6nT_JTFwC3vriaE34a9yBqem3fH59_h3buhcpo3ae_L636-6B5Pfxa6h6ovg8lP1XfhGSKq4A/s1600-h/100_4695.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9hqlJivU5zNxalhZC63oVhtyOFO1FLWxaDwLY-pnqZq4fC6tZbluOtdBcRJvkA62hr6nT_JTFwC3vriaE34a9yBqem3fH59_h3buhcpo3ae_L636-6B5Pfxa6h6ovg8lP1XfhGSKq4A/s400/100_4695.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447552410637828754" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lastly, HBR is blessed this week to have a student visiting who graduated last year. It did my heart good to sit down with Sam and hear him talk about his growth and how college is going (he's a freshman at Notre Dame). He also displayed loads of generosity by bringing back a huge suitcase filled with American food to bestow on the dorm. On Tuesday night, we called all of the guys down and let them eat a bowl of cereal or a couple Pop Tarts. Now, I was raised on and absolutely love cereal. And he brought Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cookie Crisp, and Honey Bunches of Oats. I ate a couple bowls, and I don't think I've ever got so emotional over a bowl of cereal. It was delicious, it reminded me of home, and it just made my day. Sometimes it's the little things!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxVxdE3Ful9WqpEHGvhSAibmrGEw0XnHb9RQR5yksqv9iOJ7jQVrRNG5jJMQB6QZc-9lt1utsYBIGnTrNkyw-GSrzJO6D8kiuwd7nIewAmzqySAItMrY_hGou5yuNGux8TsroukdH0WE/s1600-h/moto_0038_resize_0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxVxdE3Ful9WqpEHGvhSAibmrGEw0XnHb9RQR5yksqv9iOJ7jQVrRNG5jJMQB6QZc-9lt1utsYBIGnTrNkyw-GSrzJO6D8kiuwd7nIewAmzqySAItMrY_hGou5yuNGux8TsroukdH0WE/s400/moto_0038_resize_0.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5447561759482933122" border="0" /></a><br />Thanks for reading, and thank you for your continued prayers. God bless!<br /><br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-84443225443613221872010-02-11T06:10:00.000-08:002010-02-12T17:42:18.746-08:00Skiing, Bowl, Getaway: All Super<span style="font-size:180%;">Super Skiing</span><br />Last Saturday Greg and I took a couple vans about an hour north to the city of Feldberg. Seven of our guys went along with three guys from Sonne, another boys' dorm. About half of us skied, and half of us snowboarded. I guess you could say I skied. All you need to know is that skis have never touched my feet before. And they may never do so again. It was exhausting, but all of the guys seemed to have a good time. Here is a picture of the group of us that went. I'm the one on the right in the Ronald McDonald costume that I borrowed from Greg.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5U8sNptij6i72X0haqlrt2wJUT0m9DEU-Ew-RKX2bZNc1QDxEDf3OlxjsevLNUMMxOI7MByq4i-fu3hx3u5de7-HgNj99ALvNbRd59KFCgm6QglgxGbMRdoKBAQYzs0ALCkbrV_qc9Y/s1600-h/DSC_0240.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS5U8sNptij6i72X0haqlrt2wJUT0m9DEU-Ew-RKX2bZNc1QDxEDf3OlxjsevLNUMMxOI7MByq4i-fu3hx3u5de7-HgNj99ALvNbRd59KFCgm6QglgxGbMRdoKBAQYzs0ALCkbrV_qc9Y/s400/DSC_0240.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436988924360348130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Super Bowl</span><br />I wrote last year about our Super Bowl celebration, and this year we once again had a really great time. Yes, we are stuck without the commercials, and yes, the game starts well after midnight, but we enjoyed it. Super Bowl Sunday is the one night out of the year that the guys are allowed to stay up way past bedtime on a school night. I mean, how can we deny them the Super Bowl? Although when we asked at lunch on Sunday, at least four or five guys admitted they had never seen a Super Bowl.<br /><br />This year we decided to hold our first ever "Super Bowl Snack Extravaganza!" We asked them before the weekend to get into teams of four, and to choose a recipe for a snack they would like to enter into our competition. Most of them turned in recipes on Friday so Danielle and Anna went shopping for all of their ingredients on Saturday while we were skiing. Now you probably know what a Super Bowl snack might look like, but I can introduce you to 24 young men who have no idea. Of the six groups, one of the snacks looked vaguely familiar - it was a dip made of olives, cheese, and tomatoes. The other five snacks were bruschetta, churros, cheese quesadillas with homemade tortillas, Korean pancakes, and smoothies. To be fair to the guys, the snacks were delicious and really reflected their home cultures, and overall they did far more than we ever expected out of them. Here's a pic of some of them working in the kitchen.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N7XjQ3ECOvkD1qP47Rs7GhvykqmtwuuiQnELarbsVNmBkCFseq6epoUygg7BG3owJ0qG2xOqc57VZUrr7-JWyHReBUwO4eVUQTG3Wc8GAwC7m3DwN4TNSOD-dp1Gh_mOGcewe5Xv5k4/s1600-h/DSC_0301.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4N7XjQ3ECOvkD1qP47Rs7GhvykqmtwuuiQnELarbsVNmBkCFseq6epoUygg7BG3owJ0qG2xOqc57VZUrr7-JWyHReBUwO4eVUQTG3Wc8GAwC7m3DwN4TNSOD-dp1Gh_mOGcewe5Xv5k4/s400/DSC_0301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436988925459187330" border="0" /></a>The prep work took place in the late evening and the actual event began at 11:30 pm. C.B., an RA at the boys' dorm Sonne, came down to drop off three guys who were watching with us so she was pressed into service as a judge. So the four judges from left to right were Danielle, Anna, C.B., and myself. Yes, I wore a Bears jersey for the Super Bowl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDTD2XCV4g05rkf2h6eEHDXLp1-pfrVFLgG2atbiTAjMsWwC9KLKyzORDNzwScxC5FTw3ztmo6PSxAmnBF7n_XBeEH3KWNrHbVChP8hrjoCKkPd1RyC7H_7vAiCWJWchYTShil1xfQYs/s1600-h/DSC_0314.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLDTD2XCV4g05rkf2h6eEHDXLp1-pfrVFLgG2atbiTAjMsWwC9KLKyzORDNzwScxC5FTw3ztmo6PSxAmnBF7n_XBeEH3KWNrHbVChP8hrjoCKkPd1RyC7H_7vAiCWJWchYTShil1xfQYs/s400/DSC_0314.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436988933753576530" border="0" /></a><br />Here are some of the reactions as we started announcing winners. After the judges conferred, I led off by saying, "Before we announce the winners, we should say that we were really impressed with all of you..." I couldn't finish because I was immediately drowned out by boos. BOOOOO!!!!! They didn't want to hear my sensitive, politically correct, mumbo jumbo preface - they just wanted to know a winner! (We gave awards to the bruschetta and the quesadillas)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmn4WP86EesDEMxnIQHAz4wwhdbzcLEnZnW7E_bCjJfMLmbMrtuDzDOF41_sHwEwqPzgxtekJ3OgE3eiU-5EsVIs2hCQWoB1yL7XEgwPczy74Otw0PFKDqZsYz6im30wSu9k2Sb1Z5V4/s1600-h/DSC_0340.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmn4WP86EesDEMxnIQHAz4wwhdbzcLEnZnW7E_bCjJfMLmbMrtuDzDOF41_sHwEwqPzgxtekJ3OgE3eiU-5EsVIs2hCQWoB1yL7XEgwPczy74Otw0PFKDqZsYz6im30wSu9k2Sb1Z5V4/s400/DSC_0340.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436988933250329922" border="0" /></a><br />This is the TV room upstairs where we were watching. I made a couple of my own snacks and Luke, the dorm dad from the girls' dorm Palmgarten, helped me carry them up. You really have to know Greg to understand the sour expressions on our faces reserved for the cameraman. And yes, not only was I wearing a Bears' jersey, but it was David Terrell's jersey. Go look him up. Shame.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKol09yGos9Yp_XYglWvRRsgAkX3XHAwuEC4c7pzz0GsfIqmri_NmRhRdrVFQr0-Y6Y-wtnGpZPT0hZUa5dmywjk6WffqpMUjGItq2_hXC0B1zpu1wvLLcGZSYft3geejnHk94uAbSk8/s1600-h/DSC_0371.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKol09yGos9Yp_XYglWvRRsgAkX3XHAwuEC4c7pzz0GsfIqmri_NmRhRdrVFQr0-Y6Y-wtnGpZPT0hZUa5dmywjk6WffqpMUjGItq2_hXC0B1zpu1wvLLcGZSYft3geejnHk94uAbSk8/s400/DSC_0371.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436989128342402866" border="0" /></a><br />We invited some students over from other dorms who wanted to watch. Everyone sits anxiously during the pregame and as the National Anthem is sung. They're all ready for the action to start!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxlUX1ozUZwzyPSw0MA9UAbFk3AmWHhFu2BE2KLXT1GqsZ9yd1SAqBTaMCIUJDxSDSC-LM_JX_QKe83qL9aDYCaa-B1f_0iA9oaszpLE5Mf8jgqxjP42vSSIwGhpv0EPAR7dMTgdlnxM/s1600-h/DSC_0367.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxlUX1ozUZwzyPSw0MA9UAbFk3AmWHhFu2BE2KLXT1GqsZ9yd1SAqBTaMCIUJDxSDSC-LM_JX_QKe83qL9aDYCaa-B1f_0iA9oaszpLE5Mf8jgqxjP42vSSIwGhpv0EPAR7dMTgdlnxM/s400/DSC_0367.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436989124058750386" border="0" /></a><br />Another group shot. You can probably point to a random person in this picture, and there's at least a decent chance they don't know half of the rules in football. But we had a really fun time! The game went from 12:30 til about 4 in the morning, but the most of the room lasted through the entire thing! (Go Saints!) (Sorry Greg.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzV93rqBQMSaYUd99qhH5KWShthFx2cfxl60l5DaxpGA2aVRkyzB5SMEazLBQbdYwxRARTlvzUJkkprzU78GD3msXKyUsWgVIvohIGXa_0L-F3-e0HI9fxiqcR3dz1ZJMfWZhBS3u-u3A/s1600-h/DSC_0363.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzV93rqBQMSaYUd99qhH5KWShthFx2cfxl60l5DaxpGA2aVRkyzB5SMEazLBQbdYwxRARTlvzUJkkprzU78GD3msXKyUsWgVIvohIGXa_0L-F3-e0HI9fxiqcR3dz1ZJMfWZhBS3u-u3A/s400/DSC_0363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436988940980017490" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;">Super Getaway</span><br />Meet Austin.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjoKBU6ESeYF8bhcAhDr-a69bGDuMJ7pz39NdInx2RZy3wP7Ma0t8lmfZW6U7qc5sjZChNPUW-yoyylG6XlfMqmdnzd6JJjZkr0zTp6EGL5pg24X876uElaog9ohvnL4f2grsoTASEP8/s1600-h/100_4477.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjoKBU6ESeYF8bhcAhDr-a69bGDuMJ7pz39NdInx2RZy3wP7Ma0t8lmfZW6U7qc5sjZChNPUW-yoyylG6XlfMqmdnzd6JJjZkr0zTp6EGL5pg24X876uElaog9ohvnL4f2grsoTASEP8/s400/100_4477.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437125331714780722" border="0" /></a><br />Austin's birthday was Wednesday, but we celebrated it in the dorm on Tuesday because a bunch of people were going to be gone Wednesday. Austin did the unthinkable on his birthday. He escaped from his creeking. As many of you know, a major birthday tradition in our dorm is creeking. On your birthday, you get whatever cake you want, we sing a birthday dirge to you, and you are promptly hauled out back and thrown in the creek. Doesn't matter if it's sunny, raining, or snowing. You're going in the creek. Seniors are exempt from this practice, and they are also the ones who carry out the sentence. But on Tuesday, Austin got away.<br /><br />Austin is a sophomore, and well, let's just say a lot of the seniors were really looking forward to this day coming. Let me give you a visual. Here's a picture of the dining room where everyone was sitting. The blue circle in the middle is Austin. The red squares around him are all of the other students, singing and yelling in his face, circling like vultures. All of the lights are off aside from the candle on his piece of birthday cake. After the singing and yelling is over, Austin blows out his candle, and it is pitch black. Immediately, there is a tussle like you see in a movie or cartoon where there is yelling and grabbing, but no one knows who is who.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fETyw_neaMW7PWxy6rEPjsrdyJrNvtJI2x5fTeOCyZm2uBXTGM23xthoVs9DTEmHwbbKq2hgjJLoFxFL3i7rpukzzfXZprVUJDJpugtdbeRoUK4TUgdUhr5ve0m0qcsEJFixFG03iws/s1600-h/100_4478C.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6fETyw_neaMW7PWxy6rEPjsrdyJrNvtJI2x5fTeOCyZm2uBXTGM23xthoVs9DTEmHwbbKq2hgjJLoFxFL3i7rpukzzfXZprVUJDJpugtdbeRoUK4TUgdUhr5ve0m0qcsEJFixFG03iws/s400/100_4478C.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437524633631083858" border="0" /></a><br />The green circle by the door is me turning on the lights probably three or four seconds after the candle was blown out. The blue arrow represents where Austin was when the lights came on. He was scrambling on all fours straight out of the room, untouched. I couldn't believe it. He had quickly slid under the table and crawled out as everyone was lost in the confusion. He raced out the front door as a number of students chased him. In short, he made a getaway and eventually made it back up to his room on the fourth floor without anyone knowing. He remained in hiding for several hours until not long before lights out. The sophomores showed a video to the dorm interviewing Austin under his own bed, and the seniors took off to tear the dorm apart and find him. They found him hiding in another student's room and carried him outside to deliver the creeking that had been put off for most of the night. So although he made a spectacular getaway, he was indeed eventually creeked. And yes, it was snowing that night.brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-20610483636035063422010-01-19T05:01:00.000-08:002010-01-20T15:53:16.719-08:00Stories from ChristmasThe last day of finals for the first semester was December 17th, and by the afternoon of Friday the 18th all of our students were out of the dorm. They were rejoicing as they headed towards their three-week Christmas break, and I was granted the huge blessing of visiting home during this time as well. So a month ago on December 20th, Lizzy and I flew out of Basel, Switzerland together. We had a layover in London where we discovered our upcoming flight was overbooked. Then we were randomly pulled aside and informed that we were getting put on business class! Woohoo! This was a life-changing experience (falling short of hearing and receiving the gospel but surpassing the time I found a twenty-dollar bill in an old pair of pants). I ordered coriander chicken off of a menu! I was served salmon, trout, and shrimp as an appetizer! I had my own personal computer that I could watch a huge variety of movies and TV shows on! I could recline almost all the way back in my leather seat and sleep without a problem! I was served a hot fudge sundae for dessert! This was a blessing because it was amazing, but it was a curse because anytime I fly from now on, I will be absolutely grumpy and depressed. Just kidding. Sort of.<br /><br />So our trip started off the right way, and we had no problems despite several flights that day being delayed and canceled due to the weather. We spent the first week with my family in Morton, Illinois. And here's the part you're all waiting for: On Christmas Day, I woke Lizzy up early in the morning (our family always wakes up early on Christmas), and I told her to get ready. She came downstairs, and I gave her a dozen red roses. We went out on a walk, and walked to a big tree all alone in the middle of corn fields not too far from my house. We watched the sunrise together, and I said some pretty nice things. Then I asked her to marry me, and she said yes! We're engaged! We came back to the house, and spent Christmas Day with my family, and it was a really great day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgKD41Ys2NlaPUV6BhbcpFUg4YrO6ZNlf4OIWQX81cQ5xa26xzgbJT5TOjH_oCr1dHOdgLkT8L3XuipW3cl8jnD_dDgwv0ZaXL0B570K6z_pCj084EVDEd-IkSEGIrhB9gy3YoOpCtsE/s1600-h/17046_524167333939_163800115_31051656_1855478_n.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLgKD41Ys2NlaPUV6BhbcpFUg4YrO6ZNlf4OIWQX81cQ5xa26xzgbJT5TOjH_oCr1dHOdgLkT8L3XuipW3cl8jnD_dDgwv0ZaXL0B570K6z_pCj084EVDEd-IkSEGIrhB9gy3YoOpCtsE/s400/17046_524167333939_163800115_31051656_1855478_n.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428452790297222770" border="0" /></a><br />We spent the second week of our break in Atlanta, Georgia with Lizzy's family. It was a lot of fun, and we also got a lot of wedding planning done down there too, which was a huge blessing.<br />The third week, we spent a few days in Wisconsin and a few days in Wheaton, Illinois. In Wheaton I was in the wedding of Andrew Tebbe who worked with me at HBR last year. The wedding was on the 8th, and we flew out of Chicago on the 9th to come back to Germany. Looking back at our three-week break, I realized we didn't have a single night off the entire time. Leading up to the break, I was thinking things like, "Well, I can take care of a lot of stuff over the break because I'll have more time then." And when we were actually on the break, I was thinking things like, "Well, when I get back to Germany, I'll finally have time to take care of everything." Yes, life has been busy, but it has been a good kind of busy. I'm very thankful for the time I was able to spend at home. If you were a part of it, thank you! And if I missed you on this visit, hopefully I'll see you next time.<br /><br />Speaking of Christmas, I realized I never showed HBR's Christmas celebration to the blog universe. We celebrated the weekend before finals. First we played one of those Christmas carol trivia games where the students were in teams and they had to decipher the names of Christmas carols which were renamed with a more descriptive phrase (i.e., Jingle Bells is instead "A joyful song of reverence relative to hollow metallic vessels which vibrate and bring forth a ringing sound when struck"). Even though I witnessed them trying their hand at similar stuff last year, I was once again surprised that they were terrible at any sort of Christmas trivia.<br /><br />Then we played "Pin the Nose on Rudolph".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJz09KgF6CaWSsAL2n8NlWOZvZw6wpw-vNl0y2uKN6GRs9haLP3PWs2Ha7-TPkkkrh6nGKpkoxTut5sHitlzFt9WzQW9TpQtP_i6lap29GDjrN5PbycFcQVxksDTYYQ8gf4J57RnyMaKY/s1600-h/100_4401.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJz09KgF6CaWSsAL2n8NlWOZvZw6wpw-vNl0y2uKN6GRs9haLP3PWs2Ha7-TPkkkrh6nGKpkoxTut5sHitlzFt9WzQW9TpQtP_i6lap29GDjrN5PbycFcQVxksDTYYQ8gf4J57RnyMaKY/s400/100_4401.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428571297657995266" border="0" /></a>Poster drawn by yours truly<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GjLgzbBk15yRKKzklbe_hZ9skQn355dTeuHaCGI0EEgIGEMH11DkdZPnpP-z3D-TCQ33adTkTp-2KxM4ZG3qBLm0uja8VynQKmFasoEvNf5d-oICLxUYNa0yHwF0CBj6Is1Qma4G0jw/s1600-h/100_4410.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GjLgzbBk15yRKKzklbe_hZ9skQn355dTeuHaCGI0EEgIGEMH11DkdZPnpP-z3D-TCQ33adTkTp-2KxM4ZG3qBLm0uja8VynQKmFasoEvNf5d-oICLxUYNa0yHwF0CBj6Is1Qma4G0jw/s400/100_4410.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428571317077533746" border="0" /></a>Tony being prepped for a Rudolph search<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFvLMBdEXP6stEQtDY692KDVIdazvV7Y2Z0vXQWcKWHzC_UovvFO5HVCvjq-F89HM2qAdWzY6alXXAuMdfmLV0AKzEnKo0k2GRhEdTK76I13oab2P3BQqTn008zq-D9qYRpqep6lvxl4/s1600-h/100_4402.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQFvLMBdEXP6stEQtDY692KDVIdazvV7Y2Z0vXQWcKWHzC_UovvFO5HVCvjq-F89HM2qAdWzY6alXXAuMdfmLV0AKzEnKo0k2GRhEdTK76I13oab2P3BQqTn008zq-D9qYRpqep6lvxl4/s400/100_4402.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428571302885886178" border="0" /></a>Spencer can't find the wall<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilF-UH-qn2U6fwsQ-9i5VTnpttmpZ_LK2KCsdg9_7Sw416WX99okz3KogXbtYDVAf-TYDD-ZxkqX_zWQOfsFOnEEICeRYRfpXY7LTBnM7RNW5kfjFFv7WoTGUWIou3YmFi_L0FNZBafZY/s1600-h/100_4408.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilF-UH-qn2U6fwsQ-9i5VTnpttmpZ_LK2KCsdg9_7Sw416WX99okz3KogXbtYDVAf-TYDD-ZxkqX_zWQOfsFOnEEICeRYRfpXY7LTBnM7RNW5kfjFFv7WoTGUWIou3YmFi_L0FNZBafZY/s400/100_4408.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428571308759211810" border="0" /></a>With some help from the other guys, Samuel was literally wandering out into the hallway to look for a place to pin his red nose<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QxMuljSIB2jZHaNtSKNEI_eLCI59StSC99Ko8FatSk1nrIzjUtzCskIfnxEymoZI4l_g_5YHUUg8qlEWcPfu5D3PwxnYDDRdLac7gJqB6W7h37RiCV3S5Ep0UqmZttWLq6-Nbnjjp1s/s1600-h/100_4413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 358px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QxMuljSIB2jZHaNtSKNEI_eLCI59StSC99Ko8FatSk1nrIzjUtzCskIfnxEymoZI4l_g_5YHUUg8qlEWcPfu5D3PwxnYDDRdLac7gJqB6W7h37RiCV3S5Ep0UqmZttWLq6-Nbnjjp1s/s400/100_4413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428571321409497026" border="0" /></a>A side view of Erik nailing Rudolph right on the nose<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After the game, our dorm took part in our annual Christmas gift swap, which was a big highlight of the year for me last year and did not disappoint this year either. Basically, the dorm staff goes out shopping, and we buy enough gifts so that each student will receive one. Then they draw numbers out of a hat and open in order, and they can either open a new gift or steal one that is already opened, and a gift can be stolen three times. Each class of students - seniors, juniors, and sophomores - band together to help each other get the best gifts. It's fantastic. The looks of excitement on their faces and the hooting and hollering from the other guys when they see the opened gift is just priceless. They are simple gifts, but they get a great reaction. Some examples of the gifts we gave are a belt, a scarf, a Spongebob pillow, a couple strands of Christmas lights, ramen noodles, duct tape, a gift certificate to a local restaurant, a large painting (of an ocean scene), slippers, Euro underwear, several hats, and some soda. Here are some pictures documenting the event.<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawrVyx_bNLBCM0NRcBgRPlBEi8l3GJ4bJfoi5LhtwgxvfM4Ns4ToiU1IjSSjqf8AA0g9Wq0NHu1Dn_Xe2CFl7Y3Rm2nOD_9aP25ACFDbtAdDxBdl_8f0ot2OqEyUU977GrUII2odawnU/s1600-h/100_4414.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhawrVyx_bNLBCM0NRcBgRPlBEi8l3GJ4bJfoi5LhtwgxvfM4Ns4ToiU1IjSSjqf8AA0g9Wq0NHu1Dn_Xe2CFl7Y3Rm2nOD_9aP25ACFDbtAdDxBdl_8f0ot2OqEyUU977GrUII2odawnU/s400/100_4414.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428614940988330610" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnOWzPi7yJ5FY_JHhMn_EKtTJsDW_5rgkfrpMi13KqUQbw84UUVRRT0wjB-IcFNEqQTN4PM9V2ZY-undrdCXQGi5gSW18gL6rn7CiuRQ53WCBBHYlJ9QjG-UiW92Lt8a3IsF8k1VTTlQ/s1600-h/100_4417.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnOWzPi7yJ5FY_JHhMn_EKtTJsDW_5rgkfrpMi13KqUQbw84UUVRRT0wjB-IcFNEqQTN4PM9V2ZY-undrdCXQGi5gSW18gL6rn7CiuRQ53WCBBHYlJ9QjG-UiW92Lt8a3IsF8k1VTTlQ/s400/100_4417.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428614941661382866" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eqlEmg5kzeKA-KWw1srOWpvicfbyRuDWJUYYnSOgdwMx0iGKhqJ6gv0kIngmZZ7rHmGwc89Mwjgc3wl_kw8fO2Q5b1DGbrS-9EO-iYDdRQ9MB-2DWqzFQDEXOMz7UJU2jlRP8NR1f7o/s1600-h/100_4418.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eqlEmg5kzeKA-KWw1srOWpvicfbyRuDWJUYYnSOgdwMx0iGKhqJ6gv0kIngmZZ7rHmGwc89Mwjgc3wl_kw8fO2Q5b1DGbrS-9EO-iYDdRQ9MB-2DWqzFQDEXOMz7UJU2jlRP8NR1f7o/s400/100_4418.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428614947505757346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fsJYG8q-wgxku6qaGy-q5O3zYZZ50bAvc-O6dgkR0VGN0XnEzHWKNIfwlQr8jpkr_28rZ_1nspUJxlQhIs9HsIA22gcMuP1-JfR1Yg274nJ1ZVVlBAe-p8Sjr1VtQBViTLjjTHTvZXs/s1600-h/100_4421.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2fsJYG8q-wgxku6qaGy-q5O3zYZZ50bAvc-O6dgkR0VGN0XnEzHWKNIfwlQr8jpkr_28rZ_1nspUJxlQhIs9HsIA22gcMuP1-JfR1Yg274nJ1ZVVlBAe-p8Sjr1VtQBViTLjjTHTvZXs/s400/100_4421.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428614962627560994" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNxfaOGMBCL8mF8C-UTk4aLAGI2dns567S6DNAXhmDvDMAEZ3DfDjtw9TTf6AAiHqSmdH3io6_LqYOuyz2MGu33SUeA_f5ZASmRERxoJkAhOb3wXqFEc6Ay6meOvAEqfAWM8P8FstzcU/s1600-h/100_4425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNxfaOGMBCL8mF8C-UTk4aLAGI2dns567S6DNAXhmDvDMAEZ3DfDjtw9TTf6AAiHqSmdH3io6_LqYOuyz2MGu33SUeA_f5ZASmRERxoJkAhOb3wXqFEc6Ay6meOvAEqfAWM8P8FstzcU/s400/100_4425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428614966059605410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgL4C3hj5y1WYGhi7lsFEgO2TUURiyRKtyye8lloubaxzc3g9jl8P0VbsoHPO7cCUjLLyQ2bpzIDnieX4qbws4PpEGJsw149RJVdHhru4VXC9h4BWNasU-RPhtQ9xmskg2cwTcaElrxY/s1600-h/100_4432.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgL4C3hj5y1WYGhi7lsFEgO2TUURiyRKtyye8lloubaxzc3g9jl8P0VbsoHPO7cCUjLLyQ2bpzIDnieX4qbws4PpEGJsw149RJVdHhru4VXC9h4BWNasU-RPhtQ9xmskg2cwTcaElrxY/s400/100_4432.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428628483394946770" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqm1Afvrui74Ku-clDIjIsptP_YidccxHvSaX37Vt2iyNcdSm36vjxRWcQwtrJFPNzgAHnYZxsP22KeYClRMhRVtONUdFWzjTVv9w7uEW0BFfTvC2qQbPATuk8xTV9yHw4ZGc_XZIvYE/s1600-h/100_4456.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqm1Afvrui74Ku-clDIjIsptP_YidccxHvSaX37Vt2iyNcdSm36vjxRWcQwtrJFPNzgAHnYZxsP22KeYClRMhRVtONUdFWzjTVv9w7uEW0BFfTvC2qQbPATuk8xTV9yHw4ZGc_XZIvYE/s400/100_4456.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428628492721946930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmxSoKGyRtBI2E8OCPMHFCNlCzNDfdXTLiGgc6k0Agm9cJq7dQx2jnL-HmzaEnm-gY32Q-6h8G7vpnRvrZbpal1rFMfs_2UfbRzw1Xx92HJ8m0yzejBx3ry6MY8A_nDfftvzlx6BzUxI/s1600-h/100_4439.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmxSoKGyRtBI2E8OCPMHFCNlCzNDfdXTLiGgc6k0Agm9cJq7dQx2jnL-HmzaEnm-gY32Q-6h8G7vpnRvrZbpal1rFMfs_2UfbRzw1Xx92HJ8m0yzejBx3ry6MY8A_nDfftvzlx6BzUxI/s400/100_4439.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428628489801632322" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">After the gift-opening was over, we all took a few minutes in our temporarily remodeled TV room to relax and listen to Danielle read "Twas the Night Before Christmas".<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLdf0db_bQEbdke_GJxK5Ut5KmLM83a-Uk2UtijQGhCbyZVEJmiXixis6FTcpvYmuLTRxZbng78hXDXWhoZqbnIreOg4ir2pd0w_3uNlMBpaA4qq0GC-ocp0g9LmR3lPFHZlSAEbhce4/s1600-h/100_4460.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLdf0db_bQEbdke_GJxK5Ut5KmLM83a-Uk2UtijQGhCbyZVEJmiXixis6FTcpvYmuLTRxZbng78hXDXWhoZqbnIreOg4ir2pd0w_3uNlMBpaA4qq0GC-ocp0g9LmR3lPFHZlSAEbhce4/s400/100_4460.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428628497938250978" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />So that is a sampling of several of my Christmas celebrations from this year. I've gotta say - it was probably my best Christmas ever!<br /><br />And now I am back in Germany about a week into the second semester at BFA. More news will be coming soon. Thank you for your prayers!<br /><br />Brandon<br /></div></div>brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-41457309375121239632009-12-06T05:37:00.000-08:002009-12-07T16:24:10.491-08:00Christmas BanquetLast weekend (November 28th) we held our Christmas Banquet here at BFA. I believe 20 out of our 24 gentlemen had dates for this night. The day of the banquet, it was the same old routine. We were outside playing pole soccer on the basketball court roughly an hour before it was time to leave. Then everyone started getting ready and the questions started coming. "Brandon, do you have a black belt I can borrow?" "Does anyone have an extra pair of black socks?" "Can someone help me tie my tie?" "If anyone has a pair of black shoes they're not using, come to my room!" Eventually, everyone looked presentable and we took off in our vans heading towards the school and a successful night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are all seven of our sophomores in the dorm before we left.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbZrwEbpXt8sJNaj7VoB4OGHSkNFRWfZMAkUpjive7I5u_yHwvFsb82HgjCsS5CrZZHq8SwyiUjkQj_gWU9V9OpvsEtwFQ1vdCHhK92Hu_c3QWl5dfJi0-RhkF-ysmmYJjLAuJ8jy_zk/s1600-h/100_4299.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbZrwEbpXt8sJNaj7VoB4OGHSkNFRWfZMAkUpjive7I5u_yHwvFsb82HgjCsS5CrZZHq8SwyiUjkQj_gWU9V9OpvsEtwFQ1vdCHhK92Hu_c3QWl5dfJi0-RhkF-ysmmYJjLAuJ8jy_zk/s400/100_4299.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412291927897351138" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">A few of the students from student council were already at the school getting ready, but here are most of our juniors dressed up with an undressed Titus wandering around in the foreground.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcAq6-1SI7lxK4Yvl7WOdpDgb3JqRliW3YR-fR55HPlRzrohn8F9kCf_EXDWGShPGSlfpy3tfccjh84N7iyL2GZMdkKpkZv4sZzlFIoutrbgYlTgyCnhi9frKCLrLd8YVDJWM54JAdPQ/s1600-h/100_4303.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghcAq6-1SI7lxK4Yvl7WOdpDgb3JqRliW3YR-fR55HPlRzrohn8F9kCf_EXDWGShPGSlfpy3tfccjh84N7iyL2GZMdkKpkZv4sZzlFIoutrbgYlTgyCnhi9frKCLrLd8YVDJWM54JAdPQ/s400/100_4303.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412291937563029730" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The senior class looking dapper.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4BlmcbLtMIeQjN3rk8G4HoZKwaK0AVsdPt677GDSMA407iRVbgKSqYjKBAq-PkSWMQYuOfqAxCIm_nY2oMgrYXpNNLsHtbefxk7qqmOzkVp5qeE1f_pnK3PUZJkNugfS_Ip1pEYG-y4/s1600-h/100_4304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH4BlmcbLtMIeQjN3rk8G4HoZKwaK0AVsdPt677GDSMA407iRVbgKSqYjKBAq-PkSWMQYuOfqAxCIm_nY2oMgrYXpNNLsHtbefxk7qqmOzkVp5qeE1f_pnK3PUZJkNugfS_Ip1pEYG-y4/s400/100_4304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412291946563584850" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here are all of the students meeting up with their dates outside the school before heading in to the auditorium. There's Greg snapping a picture of a good lookin' fella.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTswXraKTZtY90q9C8q5mUT7y7K2xr3NzV7WXtMZpPNGCqG5mUIcCpHVAFo1VkjwpWAGS0VWZOcIWZhJa3xEgNLff_thA0V6Pl-CMNKemVBnTvz8Fuyh1fsAqTFV_OdFCwPAI70nNtsL8/s1600-h/100_4310.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTswXraKTZtY90q9C8q5mUT7y7K2xr3NzV7WXtMZpPNGCqG5mUIcCpHVAFo1VkjwpWAGS0VWZOcIWZhJa3xEgNLff_thA0V6Pl-CMNKemVBnTvz8Fuyh1fsAqTFV_OdFCwPAI70nNtsL8/s400/100_4310.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412291954890878594" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">If you've read much of my blog, you might remember that at Christmas Banquet, there are several activities that take place on stage, such as acts performed by the students, wishes of the students being granted, and emails from parents being read aloud. If you've read much of my blog, you might also know that whenever there are people using their musical gifts on stage, you're probably going to find Phil. Here he is playing and singing a song with Deborah and Hannah.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ASBGrHBaIpdETCgNaqMpBfohBWKN3bQkS4i7SofQUSCB5IohARZ6QNZBliTUTE8ptaYiyQEz0qM90tVLyW9_xUK90ZTDPYbuJ1nImS6ylH7QKE1IYHWFb3xpvR-HMeFNl88OiY5E7zM/s1600-h/100_4323.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ASBGrHBaIpdETCgNaqMpBfohBWKN3bQkS4i7SofQUSCB5IohARZ6QNZBliTUTE8ptaYiyQEz0qM90tVLyW9_xUK90ZTDPYbuJ1nImS6ylH7QKE1IYHWFb3xpvR-HMeFNl88OiY5E7zM/s400/100_4323.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412595920573841250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">One of the odd wishes that was granted with hilarious consequences was a wish by one student that Austin, a junior from Maugenhard dorm, would have a rap battle with Mr. Bowen, the junior year English teacher at BFA. Really funny. Austin on the right, Mr. Bowen on the left, entourages behind and on the far right.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtYKjNaAS4vZH2Ml14-K7NJcQRD7YlqHCVD9HztghzoWDfrE5LV9HGASKzMRXBgvgdLgEncOM0HKjepfBSSn8mFKmePtmEEfpUj0Ha5RCvGPQcFGn0C_ANVSv-DwNVZfl7_2WBaMu2tY/s1600-h/100_4311.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtYKjNaAS4vZH2Ml14-K7NJcQRD7YlqHCVD9HztghzoWDfrE5LV9HGASKzMRXBgvgdLgEncOM0HKjepfBSSn8mFKmePtmEEfpUj0Ha5RCvGPQcFGn0C_ANVSv-DwNVZfl7_2WBaMu2tY/s400/100_4311.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412291968128217410" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And Phil was on stage again at the end of the night with these other students performing a bouncy rendition of "I'll Be Home for Christmas." This song was performed last year by a student, and the song was given new meaning to me because last year was my first year celebrating Christmas away from home. If you haven't heard, this year I have been afforded the huge blessing of being able to come home and spend Christmas with my family! I'm also going to be in the wedding of Andrew Tebbe on January 8th, which was part of the reason why I made the decision to fly back for Christmas break. Andrew was an RA with me at HBR last year. Needless to say, I'm really excited to be coming home this year!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qSKj75A65EzF1XOmp_AKYNKmMudhVfUSYeXjnOWJobDw11y3D0ztYSrix__9Ts52wLucQeVNVan0v9h_I2MDrwHaADn7ohfHhcSfdTl8s8s41s_7FS2EGY35HT5TUA1DggdB5DGbcFg/s1600-h/100_4330.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qSKj75A65EzF1XOmp_AKYNKmMudhVfUSYeXjnOWJobDw11y3D0ztYSrix__9Ts52wLucQeVNVan0v9h_I2MDrwHaADn7ohfHhcSfdTl8s8s41s_7FS2EGY35HT5TUA1DggdB5DGbcFg/s400/100_4330.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412595934921293186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here is a rushed picture of the Christmas court voted upon by the students. There is a boy and girl from each high school class. Yes, it's blurry - they were barely up there long enough to snap a pic before they all hurried back to their seats. This year HBR's very own Hangil Jung was voted onto the Christmas court for the sophomore class (third from left).<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVTlLpoU5PIcQWWY9mfy8yt55aOYHoZ7doucwQYpyk2Rnaz1xWPKXc4f76XnAzwOcGl836J7_CkUkzUqi6Z_htAsWE_S9nyb2vDPBh5k_fAyQfKHoQe6uF5BqOfEnX7APWzyac4P1L2o/s1600-h/100_4324.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVTlLpoU5PIcQWWY9mfy8yt55aOYHoZ7doucwQYpyk2Rnaz1xWPKXc4f76XnAzwOcGl836J7_CkUkzUqi6Z_htAsWE_S9nyb2vDPBh5k_fAyQfKHoQe6uF5BqOfEnX7APWzyac4P1L2o/s400/100_4324.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412595933126736258" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Tony and me.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaoytEp1X8SYIn2JE8vR6wlV-HRKOpRmmifLFi6UGr41NQ_WCsLXUiB_AXsUjPC2b4NZJYew6-Fs_mb6jicG3_jpw6FwORC3dwcFNZNRX-rBOEth9dYyCBWObalhgb85Gg8Wl2VA32lE/s1600-h/100_4332.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjaoytEp1X8SYIn2JE8vR6wlV-HRKOpRmmifLFi6UGr41NQ_WCsLXUiB_AXsUjPC2b4NZJYew6-Fs_mb6jicG3_jpw6FwORC3dwcFNZNRX-rBOEth9dYyCBWObalhgb85Gg8Wl2VA32lE/s400/100_4332.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412595944148803826" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And this is every student and staff member from HBR this year!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagnInNwKnfBFWgrq5FX1Mc0XZdq8xudLgipZ5Y3gpaaw1CytN1cDhz7YOxs8pIJ3_zZYhZ8OsohIBQcvsmwVlKHiXdTo2zv5L7beTertSURHv1i6MA4d3nPo1mbiESFRE-9AwvOFAqi0/s1600-h/DSC_0215.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagnInNwKnfBFWgrq5FX1Mc0XZdq8xudLgipZ5Y3gpaaw1CytN1cDhz7YOxs8pIJ3_zZYhZ8OsohIBQcvsmwVlKHiXdTo2zv5L7beTertSURHv1i6MA4d3nPo1mbiESFRE-9AwvOFAqi0/s400/DSC_0215.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412595944785773106" border="0" /></a><br />Christmas Banquet was a great event that the school body all enjoyed together this year. I marveled and agonized at some of the awkwardness on display (and I don't mean only from the students), but it all added up to be a fun night.<br /><br />There is only about a week and a half now before the students start leaving for their own homes for the break. And I will be leaving a few days after them. This Sunday night we all met as a dorm, and we asked the guys to share some things that they think God has been teaching them this year. The answers were varied, but some of the concepts that came through consistently were that God is sovereign and every person who lives in the dorm is there for a reason, the students are blessed to be where they are, and they should take advantage of the situations they are in and the friendships that they have. Pray that the students and the staff both would be taking advantage of the opportunities we have in these last days together before our Christmas break. God bless.brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-55558611814686268972009-11-30T05:34:00.000-08:002009-11-30T07:19:12.047-08:00A Swine Flu ThanksgivingSorry I haven't written here in a while. I wrote in my last email update about our swine flu experience and our medical problems in general this semester. Basically, we are pretty familiar with a lot of the doctors and hospitals in the area at this point. During the first week that myself and many of our students were getting sick, the dorm just felt dead. Either you were sick or you felt sorry for those who were sick and also felt like you were going to go down any day. Here's a picture of a white board we were keeping by the front door during the week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfsgNAJ6oRidWuRsKKecZxAjmTcRdT895UbMvsowZSGaCmDb5VR5IljJa1xPjgcNmACW8XUd9RdFG94L8w44f4PMloMEzjYnNv6KASvVSVE957M3Yh4HlOceLxHV6jurAs8NfQyW-s9s/s1600/100_4087.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfsgNAJ6oRidWuRsKKecZxAjmTcRdT895UbMvsowZSGaCmDb5VR5IljJa1xPjgcNmACW8XUd9RdFG94L8w44f4PMloMEzjYnNv6KASvVSVE957M3Yh4HlOceLxHV6jurAs8NfQyW-s9s/s400/100_4087.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409895202777899650" /></a><br /><br />At the time this picture was taken, there were nine people in the dorm feeling under the weather, including two staff (Danielle and myself). The piece of paper taped to the board is actually a police report created by a student. He decided to get cute and make a chalk outline of a person out of tape on the junior floor. He got sick not long after.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0-XJ0MIZLauiQT-2zLi8Edt8AI6a5PJBiAuOETc0JvpD53QBy0jkNJznD8jnuqyO4E-krdOtCZpcBwQBbIJXr-1ps2KNjmZvrkovcPNcYGwKk0PXPJLFK8XSCDCgEzSBL2QKDLSkStE/s1600/DSC_0004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0-XJ0MIZLauiQT-2zLi8Edt8AI6a5PJBiAuOETc0JvpD53QBy0jkNJznD8jnuqyO4E-krdOtCZpcBwQBbIJXr-1ps2KNjmZvrkovcPNcYGwKk0PXPJLFK8XSCDCgEzSBL2QKDLSkStE/s400/DSC_0004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409911084322847954" /></a><br /><br />To follow up on my email: the school was closed Monday and Tuesday, the 16th and 17th to help prevent the spread of swine flu. On Wednesday most of the students went back to school, but there were still some kept home. Now if you happen to remember from last year, BFA celebrates Thanksgiving on the wrong date in the dorms. Why? I guess it's a compromise between the Canadian and U.S. Thanksgiving dates. But really. I don't know. It's weird. So we were all set to celebrate on Thursday the 19th, a week early. We invited all of the people who help sub in our dorms to join us. Here's a blurry picture of some of the folks eating in our dining room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8shY3ETU-NdXElWn3DbhKjSBxrHQnAf0g9vEtt2VPZT7XGeSJCiJkCFnuJ3MBWxk5Ok2i8osYhjC1lx-P1_n8CBYPq9bxwrJS_7rXR-JRxg734ut2oX4A9iHOle-nKdsVKifXCOBgFk/s1600/100_4109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8shY3ETU-NdXElWn3DbhKjSBxrHQnAf0g9vEtt2VPZT7XGeSJCiJkCFnuJ3MBWxk5Ok2i8osYhjC1lx-P1_n8CBYPq9bxwrJS_7rXR-JRxg734ut2oX4A9iHOle-nKdsVKifXCOBgFk/s400/100_4109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409902508068151938" /></a><br /><br />If all of the students had been healthy, we would have had somewhere around 50 people for dinner that night. But they weren't all healthy so there were a little less. Yes, we had four students with the flu who were not able to celebrate Thanksgiving with the rest of us. It was really sad! Instead we let them celebrate together in one of the extra rooms on the junior floor. They were a sorry sight. I couldn't decide if it was more funny or sad. We brought them platters of all the food from downstairs, I prayed for them, and we just let them dig in. Here's a picture of the Swine Flu Thanksgiving, again blurry. Sorry about that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3fQWIA9OW2hGiGsd822eI-URH-Obs2MRpCUOn4fRE1tzOS7-mPo2kuUyS1vLhdeLWpGgEhWvTXIh5YEy2NMZVlEH40L3IRjL8O-nr6fCzUxw2hnfiwoWeHukU8JWp4HP92672OOM944/s1600/100_4108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3fQWIA9OW2hGiGsd822eI-URH-Obs2MRpCUOn4fRE1tzOS7-mPo2kuUyS1vLhdeLWpGgEhWvTXIh5YEy2NMZVlEH40L3IRjL8O-nr6fCzUxw2hnfiwoWeHukU8JWp4HP92672OOM944/s400/100_4108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409905472529570002" /></a><br /><br />The weekend following was my weekend off so I disappeared for a few days. I came back on Monday to the news that Anna, Danielle, and the Storrs' two children were all sick with swine flu and had been sick all weekend. Poor Greg! He must have had an exhausting weekend. The good news is that none of our students were sick any longer. By Wednesday, everyone in the dorm was flu-free and feeling good. It has been several days now, and it seems like this trial of sickness is behind us.<br /><br />When we celebrated Thanksgiving in the dorm, Greg gave a short devotion before the meal and emphasized that we should be thankful for everything, including the painful circumstances in our lives. This two-week battle with swine flu was not necessarily a barrel of fun, but I can see some positives that came from it. Many of the students were able to use the time off to catch up on some of their homework. They also spent a lot of extra time with each other having fun and strengthening relationships (especially since they weren't really allowed to leave the dorm or go anywhere). All of them, even the ones who were sick, were able to get a lot more rest than normal. I personally was thankful that I was forced to get a lot of rest the week I was sick even though it was frustrating not to be able to help out around the dorm. Also, this time in the semester in November is when the students often get really restless and harder to deal with because they are ready for a break and the end is almost in sight but not quite. With all the focus on the swine flu and sickness in the dorm, it felt like we kind of skipped that period of time. Now there are only a few weeks left, and I think we can make it! Thank you for your prayers!brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-29548287813747847312009-09-28T07:48:00.000-07:002009-09-30T14:28:34.693-07:00My Thursday Diary6:57 am - Alarm goes off.<br /><br />7:06 am - Alarm goes off again. I get out of bed.<br /><br />7:32 am - It's time to take the early van in to school. This is for those who want to go in earlier than they would by riding the bus at 8:30. Three have signed up to ride in. We throw the hot box in the back before taking off. The hot box is what we pick up dinner with every evening to bring it back to the dorm and keep it hot. We take it back to school every morning. The three guys ride silently most of the way to school.<br /><br />7:47 am - I arrive back at HBR.<br /><br />7:56 am - I depart again, this time on an "ortho run." Different dorms are assigned at different times to provide drivers to take a group of kids to the orthodontist. It's usually on Thursday but not every week. I take Tony, Mark, and Austin with me as we leave HBR.<br /><br />8:02 am - We pull in at school where four girls from Wittlingen dorm are waiting to jump in the van with us and ride along. "Ready to get our teeth worked on?" I ask. No response.<br /><br />8:29 am - We pull into the parking lot for the orthodontist in the city of Müllheim.<br /><br />8:31 am - I give paperwork to the nice lady at the desk, and we all sit in the waiting room and hang out. I always want to grab a book or magazine in the waiting rooms here, but then I remember... I don't know German! So I try reading a little of "A Tale of Two Cities," which I brought with me.<br /><br />9:03 am - Soyoung, an RA at Blauen dorm, arrives with another vanload of five more students from different dorms.<br /><br />9:35 am - Falling asleep.<br /><br />10:04 am - Everyone is finally done so I leave with the seven students I brought to head back to school. After we're in the van for a few minutes, I ask, "Does anyone want to go to McDonald's?"<br />"YES!!!" from everyone.<br />"Is anyone opposed to going to McDonald's?"<br />"YES!!!" from one or two. Frantic whispering in the back: "He said is anyone opposed!" Then "No, no one is opposed!"<br /><br />10:15 am - They switch from breakfast to lunch at 10:30 so I buy a couple breakfast items. A bunch of the students buy one-euro ice cream sundaes. Nice stop after a visit to the orthodontist, huh? This is almost tradition for any visit out there so don't think I was being an especially cool guy at this point.<br /><br />10:53 am - We arrive back at the school, and the students sign in at the front desk and start walking to their respective classes. Third period has just started. I go check if I have any mail and then I hunt around for my Bible that I left at church on Sunday. No luck but it turned up later.<br /><br />11:29 am - I get back to HBR and find Anna downstairs. "Ready to go shopping?" I ask. I wait for the answer, "Actually, they have hired people to deliver our groceries to us now so we never have to shop again!" Instead, all she says is "Yep."<br /><br />11:38 am - We grab seven large crates to carry groceries in and jump in the van. I would never think to take crates along if I were just shopping for myself, but when you're shopping for a dorm, it's a necessity. We visit two grocery stores on Thursdays. Anna works on the grocery lists and then divides it so that we're looking for different things in the stores. Here is my list:<br /><br />Brandon's LIST<br /><br />LIDL<br />Ice Tea 12<br />Milk 5 1.5 cases<br />Soda 2 Coke 1 Fanta 1 Sprite 1 Apfelschorle<br />1 case H-milk<br />1 case Multi-Vitamin<br />1 case Orange juice<br />2 cases Apple juice<br />2 Master Crumble fruit<br /><br />Penny<br />5 White bread<br />2 Wheat bread<br />8 toast bread<br />1 Bee Pops<br />1 Fruit Cereals<br />2 Nougat Bits<br />4 flats yogurt<br />12 flour<br />6 sugar<br /><br />11:45 am - Our first stop is at a grocery store called Lidl. Lidl is a lot like Aldi - in fact it is Aldi's main competitor worldwide. Look it up! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lidl) I run around and fill my cart with everything on my list. 12 cartons of ice tea. Milk comes in 1.5% fat and 3.5% fat. I pick up five boxes of ten cartons each of the 1.5%. H-milk is a special kind of milk that doesn't need to be refrigerated - the H is an abbreviated German word. We use it mostly for baking although you can drink it as well. It creeps me out. The cases of soda are a six-pack of 1.25 liter bottles. I get 12 cartons of multi-vitamin juice, eight cartons of orange juice, and 16 cartons of apple juice. Master Crumble is a kind of cereal that we get that is actually quite good. After filling my cart with all of these drinks, it's probably almost as high as my shoulders and is probably the heaviest shopping cart I've ever pushed.<br /><br />12:14 pm - We pay and head out to the van. The driveway down to the parking lot which you drive onto and push your cart down is sloped downward. So when you're pushing the kind of cart that we push, it makes for a really fun experience. When we get down to the van, I think aloud, "I wonder how many liters of liquid are in my cart?" I quickly add up everything in my cart, and the answer is: 161 liters. There are 161 liters of milk, tea, soda, and juice in my cart. And this was only supposed to get us through the weekend. The majority of it would be gone by Monday night. I told Anna, "Have you ever watched those 'World's Strongest Man' competitions on ESPN? I felt like this was one of the events - how fast can you push 160 liters of liquid down a hill and unload it into a van?"<br /><br />12:20 pm - We arrive at the second grocery store of the day called Penny Markt. I get all of the cereals and breads and decide to get only three flats of yogurt instead of four. Each flat has 20 yogurts on it so that was still 60 yogurts. Again, just to get us through Monday.<br /><br />1:13 pm - I pull up next to the front door of HBR. Anna and I transfer everything from the van indoors to the pantry. This takes a while.<br /><br />1:59 pm - Arrange the last item on the shelf and pay a visit to the laundry room. I did laundry on Thursdays last year, and it worked out for me to have Thursday once again. I do the laundry for the seven sophomores in the dorm every Thursday. Because of the busy morning, I hadn't really done much to this point so I just transferred stuff from washers to dryers and put another load in the wash as well.<br /><br />2:08 pm - I walk upstairs to my room for a brief respite.<br /><br />2:12 pm - I leave for school again, this time to meet with a friend named Lee. Lee is the middle school chaplain at the school, and he is excellent at asking good questions. His first question to me is, "Are you getting your rest?" Go back to the beginning of this blog post, and start reading all over again, and you'll know what we talked about for the next few minutes.<br /><br />3:04 pm - I drive over to Palmgarten dorm to hang out with a really special lady named Lizzy.<br /><br />4:00 pm - I head back to HBR. The bus usually shows up at about ten past four with whoever wanted to come home early that day. It could be four guys or it could be 14.<br /><br />4:12 pm - Anna made cookies as a snack for the guys who came home. I grab one and head out the door to take Michael to the doctor. Similar to the entry about visiting Palmgarten, there's not a ton you need to know about this trip. Let's move on.<br /><br />5:57 pm - Normally, I would go pick up dinner at the school at six, but Anna had already left to do so since I was busy at the doctor's office. So I lay down on the couch until she returns and brings turkey stir fry with sesame noodles back with her.<br /><br />6:15 pm - "It's dinner time! Everybody come downstairs! It's time for dinner!" Made by Anna on our PA system.<br /><br />6:30 pm - You'd think we starved them by how fast they inhale their dinner. If you've ever eaten with me or seen me eat, then you know I'm not exaggerating when I say I'm the last one sitting and eating at the dinner table every single day.<br /><br />6:46 pm - Guys are either doing their chores or sitting at a computer or playing outside or are up in their rooms at this point. I find Anna in the kitchen and make sure it's ok that I take a short nap. I climb the stairs to my room and collapse on my couch for a while.<br /><br />8:03 pm - Study hours start at 8:00 for the juniors and sophomores, and normally I would stay up on their floors to monitor things/help guys study/discourage goofing around. But since I still haven't finished laundry, I walk downstairs to work on that. Thursday is the day off for all dorm parents so Greg and Danielle are not around, but we usually have dorm subs come in on Mondays and Thursdays to help out, and Eric and Viki are here to help preserve the order.<br /><br />8:05 pm - Doing laundry is a time for quiet reflection in the dorms. Faithful blog readers will bring to mind my laundry blog from the first semester of last year. It takes a while when you're trying to do laundry for seven teenage guys all in one day and end up with it nicely sorted and folded! I pop in a mix cd, and start folding.<br /><br />8:37 pm - Still folding.<br /><br />9:14 pm - Still folding.<br /><br />9:43 pm - I finish folding, and venture back into the world of the living.<br /><br />9:44 pm - I climb the four flights of stairs up to my room for probably at least the tenth or eleventh time today.<br /><br />10:00 pm - Toast time! Study hours end at ten, and the guys are allowed to go downstairs and enjoy some toast and milk. When I first heard about the idea of toast time, I wasn't sure what to make of it. Why toast? But now it seems completely and absolutely normal. Toast time!<br /><br />10:03 pm - Our dorm subs Eric and Viki don't have cars so I leave to drive them home. They both live in Kandern. Good night! Thanks for your help!<br /><br />10:20 pm - I get back to HBR. Lights out is at 10:30 for the sophomores and juniors so I start hunting around for anyone who looks like they'll want to make trouble tonight and avoid going to bed. This usually isn't a problem, but I like to be ready to practice some Clint Eastwood lines on them anyway. Well, do ya, punk?<br /><br />10:29 pm - Tonight is a little more frantic than most nights because tomorrow is a spirit day at school. They have these once in a while where there is a random theme to dress up as for the day. Tomorrow students are supposed to dress as their favorite Bible character. This leads to one of my favorite lines of the day.<br /><br />10:31 pm - On the junior floor, Jay is standing in the hallway and flexing in the mirror. I'm yelling, "Alright, get in your rooms! It's lights out!" Jay is basically ignoring me and eventually proclaims, "I don't know who to go as." He follows that by saying in all seriousness, "I'm thinking of going as Samson." I laugh, and then give him some serious counsel about how he could dress up tomorrow.<br /><br />10:35 pm - All of the younger guys are in bed. Marco is out in the middle of the senior floor designing a Roman soldier's costume. I stick around and talk to some of the seniors for a while. I'm basically done at this point. It feels especially good tonight because it's my weekend off, and I won't have to be on again until Tuesday morning. Thank you, Lord, for giving me rest! I need it!brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-37694335567251280482009-09-21T04:41:00.000-07:002009-09-22T02:39:27.638-07:00Rugby, Fall Party, and a Sad Goodbye1.) Rugby<br /><br />Two weekends ago, there was a student-led rugby tournament that pitted each of the three boys' dorms against each other on a field in the nearby town of Holzen. All seven dorms were present with boys playing and girls cheering. Now, rugby is a sport that I haven't thought about for longer than five seconds at a time ever in my life. All I knew is that I should be ready to make a run to the hospital despite Tony's assurances that rugby was safe. Tony is one of our sophomores, and he has lived part of his life in the UK where rugby is quite popular, and he has played on a team before at his former school. This made him one of the very few who knew anything about the rules and gameplay so he attempted to teach rules and strategy to our guys before we left for the game on Saturday afternoon. With BFA being a place of great cultural diversity, students are always ready to embrace a new event or game despite their lack of knowledge about it. To me, having a big group of teenage guys sprinting around playing a game they don't understand and just trying to hit each other is a little scary. They were pressuring me to play, but since we had enough to form a team already, I labeled myself an "emergency reserve." After we played a few games, and my fears that the game would be a war of attrition were realized, I was forced into service for a few minutes at the end of our last game. Yes, we did have a couple injuries. Greg left early on to take Will to the hospital, and after the games were all over, I took Ross to the hospital. Don't worry - they are both ok now. Here are a couple pictures from the afternoon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDAjSTrM3dJysyKpUm5sB3c48KNV3rk7B5E94JvEPj3ep9EVZR5guXh7PWeXwMeu6-wD_Twfm3MjXsf_SwWDVGc-BZEwISSekWFxR_wbeQCjLPTte4dIndgy6OjlQnY2z0xLJB-EcZ7M/s1600-h/rugby+guys.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDAjSTrM3dJysyKpUm5sB3c48KNV3rk7B5E94JvEPj3ep9EVZR5guXh7PWeXwMeu6-wD_Twfm3MjXsf_SwWDVGc-BZEwISSekWFxR_wbeQCjLPTte4dIndgy6OjlQnY2z0xLJB-EcZ7M/s400/rugby+guys.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383889702947192066" /></a><br />Here is everyone before the games getting ready to leave.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUBWyWX1NOcy5DWwpD9pshDcZ6xujXHc0YmCr2Ryrbs8Tf89vCPE0uV1P04nn0W5NdwE4g2hccQNKe3xAzzpSV7U2n7RD3gGTiVdp_VtAe50mgIGU9Cq8J-MXY8TCfNZizRh8MocNaAM/s1600-h/rugby+play.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuUBWyWX1NOcy5DWwpD9pshDcZ6xujXHc0YmCr2Ryrbs8Tf89vCPE0uV1P04nn0W5NdwE4g2hccQNKe3xAzzpSV7U2n7RD3gGTiVdp_VtAe50mgIGU9Cq8J-MXY8TCfNZizRh8MocNaAM/s400/rugby+play.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383889690926209186" /></a><br />And here is a picture from one of the games. Greg titled this picture "sweet shoestring tackle" while I titled it "old man getting owned." I'm not sure exactly what's happening actually.<br /><br /><br /><br />2.) Fall Party<br /><br />Faithful blog readers and those familiar with BFA know that Fall Party is a big party that takes place on one of the first weekends of the year where everyone dresses up in a costume. Last year, the theme was "Black and White," and I, along with my co-RA Andrew, cleverly dressed up as gray issues. This year the theme was "Opposites," and the party took place last weekend. Here are some of the costumes this year:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRgyEiLLN7avs9PzjENaDAHY0TtWNTKuXdlQokt9eHZykXS4j4bCg4W4tdIb3rkeNq0ZqnASCs5I_Dd7qUB2Rh9vc8a1Ss275yH6ObQZtqPpv-mIFb2dLiW82hODMMzipdZMAJa5AcmM/s1600-h/fall+party+david+joe.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilRgyEiLLN7avs9PzjENaDAHY0TtWNTKuXdlQokt9eHZykXS4j4bCg4W4tdIb3rkeNq0ZqnASCs5I_Dd7qUB2Rh9vc8a1Ss275yH6ObQZtqPpv-mIFb2dLiW82hODMMzipdZMAJa5AcmM/s400/fall+party+david+joe.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383893678884940098" /></a><br />David and Joseph were a businessman and a slacker.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhyphenhyphenQhfbHqxFrDlrUdd5eD-TlrEdgtFbIuOzNFMe5BH6Rm6B4wWM8-__tbpbH3RHWasBgdUGQPQ0iHgTVY1h-4m7HJ0HOeb44e9aehToQV71U9SJ8MfTmSD8jWiaV433KVwSFO54Z-9X8/s1600-h/fall+party+samuel+hangil.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimhyphenhyphenQhfbHqxFrDlrUdd5eD-TlrEdgtFbIuOzNFMe5BH6Rm6B4wWM8-__tbpbH3RHWasBgdUGQPQ0iHgTVY1h-4m7HJ0HOeb44e9aehToQV71U9SJ8MfTmSD8jWiaV433KVwSFO54Z-9X8/s400/fall+party+samuel+hangil.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383893668269676706" /></a><br />Samuel and Han Gil were an angel and a demon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYd8AtVF1-fQWCo9R3ilSJi9m4w7j-53OpAH1ik4eI6GAzdsDRDF5hne0mAV1DzSB8FOd8ac3v2mclJCLIsWnbc58esQqCP92yv2GmOYCzjunH2s2mY3rk2-S1y1w1bnnyx4_YdBgtTBk/s1600-h/fall+party+ross+jay.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYd8AtVF1-fQWCo9R3ilSJi9m4w7j-53OpAH1ik4eI6GAzdsDRDF5hne0mAV1DzSB8FOd8ac3v2mclJCLIsWnbc58esQqCP92yv2GmOYCzjunH2s2mY3rk2-S1y1w1bnnyx4_YdBgtTBk/s400/fall+party+ross+jay.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383893661394203666" /></a><br />Ross and Jeremiah were rich and poor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRF7g037PayYT8SF7FR3J9Yh8niDpfm4UbSkS4pAibNxKQMEeas3jnEW-2wvO-OBlN0QPWf7s-bThCwjACyeX2Fr1C4Ei3PntmjeHb-hLL9rYm343tx9czSM7gtZGH-7i2gAHfAuQYtg/s1600-h/fall+party+reece.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRF7g037PayYT8SF7FR3J9Yh8niDpfm4UbSkS4pAibNxKQMEeas3jnEW-2wvO-OBlN0QPWf7s-bThCwjACyeX2Fr1C4Ei3PntmjeHb-hLL9rYm343tx9czSM7gtZGH-7i2gAHfAuQYtg/s400/fall+party+reece.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383893652180740130" /></a><br />Reece and a friend Josh were a Mac and a PC.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovbMWSUCH-ntZN4YuXUd4Fy9p3wuISJN3PbOS-gAdqfRUVBVBfBkBhy4QB3812wEHjp0Up7JgngQXfVyu0Y8uaWEE0OwR1Dcqm3xxPVCATxbel8ajTj4HR3MfIyEuP_a8IXtuOw5X2wI/s1600-h/fall+party+anna.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgovbMWSUCH-ntZN4YuXUd4Fy9p3wuISJN3PbOS-gAdqfRUVBVBfBkBhy4QB3812wEHjp0Up7JgngQXfVyu0Y8uaWEE0OwR1Dcqm3xxPVCATxbel8ajTj4HR3MfIyEuP_a8IXtuOw5X2wI/s400/fall+party+anna.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383893646136999394" /></a><br />Anna and another RA Bonnie were Coke and Pepsi.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG-sBRglT18qX-eky66SBT6zxL3fABJNnniYrdFHkSuCIh2ztw0WjGD6-TNwzNEcwU-X9xykCGvyX_CZlU3jSCpDD_sPqsHgz-IPp7MZNfDHAXIsOFGbPMu0aiaeHl6ta46pj-7FPTtQ/s1600-h/100_3618.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOG-sBRglT18qX-eky66SBT6zxL3fABJNnniYrdFHkSuCIh2ztw0WjGD6-TNwzNEcwU-X9xykCGvyX_CZlU3jSCpDD_sPqsHgz-IPp7MZNfDHAXIsOFGbPMu0aiaeHl6ta46pj-7FPTtQ/s400/100_3618.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383895543262646466" /></a><br />By this time, an exceptionally clever blog reader who is also my friend on facebook would realize where my current profile picture came from. This year I went along with fellow RA Chris dressed as war and peace. This is why I'm a bearded, tattooed, fur-wearing, war-mongering, giant-sword-wielding Viking. And why I'm accompanied by a friendly yet strong-willed hippie. I thought it was quite original and clever, but evidently a few more people thought the same and showed up with their own interpretation. Oh well, I liked ours the best. And it was the second year in a row I broke out my tattoo sleeves for Fall Party.<br /><br /><br /><br />3.) Sad Goodbye<br /><br />Don't worry, the sad goodbye was not for a student, a staff member, or even a human for that matter. The goodbye I'm referring to was for our beloved van SY 50.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tjkDkJrRuPmNGWkvpPZEJIg9NCMY89vqQQDO43EBb_-HNJMckih7Htdkx9yLrSnwaUUcAQwJhTZzwhuqCmB6807dQUxhEq9ZLHZabGzlFFdBSexJdfVRzvtmxcDwa58wWM-GADtKowk/s1600-h/100_2257.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tjkDkJrRuPmNGWkvpPZEJIg9NCMY89vqQQDO43EBb_-HNJMckih7Htdkx9yLrSnwaUUcAQwJhTZzwhuqCmB6807dQUxhEq9ZLHZabGzlFFdBSexJdfVRzvtmxcDwa58wWM-GADtKowk/s400/100_2257.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383900128777665762" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bv3tIYxm3uAawYF5Df8HnhDwtImF4q36RP_cwDc__qttCdrQiZW-BCwgQuGpAiXT3vB2jPgz_VVkIaxBDse7DfZt13Bjsb8bpT5hYI2xqXNuWlhle5adr2ZyNcz8G3p3OlRuAxAJTUg/s1600-h/100_2259.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bv3tIYxm3uAawYF5Df8HnhDwtImF4q36RP_cwDc__qttCdrQiZW-BCwgQuGpAiXT3vB2jPgz_VVkIaxBDse7DfZt13Bjsb8bpT5hYI2xqXNuWlhle5adr2ZyNcz8G3p3OlRuAxAJTUg/s400/100_2259.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383900121423315506" /></a><br /><br />We usually refer to our vans according to their license plates, which is why this van was known as SY 50. The LO at the beginning designates the district where the vehicle is from, which in this case is Lörrach, a larger town not far from here where almost all of our vans are from. This van belonged to HBR last year and actually has been here at this dorm for roughly the last twelve years. That's not a joke. So you can see how a strong connection has been made between the van and the dorm.<br /><br />Let me describe the character of this van. It had no power steering. It had no power windows. It had no power locks. It had no power, period. It could barely get up a hill sometimes. It had no radio. The transmission was on its last legs. We had to double clutch in and out of second gear. After the engine was started, the key could be taken out of the ignition with no repercussions, and it often fell out on accident. In the winter, students were supposed to sit in the back of the van to help give it more weight and better grip. It made weird noises. The interior had torn upholstery, ripped up flooring, chunks missing from seats, and random pieces and handles missing. The outside of the van had various dents, scratches, scrapes, and rust spots. Don't get me wrong, the van was completely safe to drive, we never had any huge problems with it, and I loved driving the heck out of it. Everyone loved it.<br /><br />Well, the van was sold this year and no longer resides anywhere at BFA. I felt like it was my duty to our guys and to anyone who has lived at HBR for the last decade to hold a memorial service for the van. If you are understanding me so far, then you know what I mean when I say I'm not sure if the service was supposed to be a joke or serious. It was a little of both. We definitely did not intend to mock the passing of people in our lives who have meant much to us. But we invited the students, especially the returning ones to meet outside at 7 o'clock in the evening on Sunday yesterday for this service and to dress nicely.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI5BlH2PF0eaGZ1N7r_hyphenhyphen8z5bz_QvUSRSGy0lR0vOjtrzIVc3mdr3wZRbk3RyZXq0M6p3WK9mQSADYbgzi-zf72nuf2Xx8uFXaTkZ86tYGkj5mOnv_jToblhlFatGrqqTaIwFWTaCcng/s1600-h/100_3795.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzI5BlH2PF0eaGZ1N7r_hyphenhyphen8z5bz_QvUSRSGy0lR0vOjtrzIVc3mdr3wZRbk3RyZXq0M6p3WK9mQSADYbgzi-zf72nuf2Xx8uFXaTkZ86tYGkj5mOnv_jToblhlFatGrqqTaIwFWTaCcng/s400/100_3795.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383909546960524658" /></a><br />We met outside on the basketball court next to this tree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdOlCbJaM_rKr-t5tHheez_kgLhmkFTnqf-gZY7wTI54Qo_XTE3nEU9qjCz74t3jQxEyrwI2J9Mhyphenhyphenf-BKLyQwk9mTpUqR74aZozKGvGfQVpWqz6sCnL3nnqQe5QeHMU8ya3nuGto5V9A/s1600-h/100_3794.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdOlCbJaM_rKr-t5tHheez_kgLhmkFTnqf-gZY7wTI54Qo_XTE3nEU9qjCz74t3jQxEyrwI2J9Mhyphenhyphenf-BKLyQwk9mTpUqR74aZozKGvGfQVpWqz6sCnL3nnqQe5QeHMU8ya3nuGto5V9A/s400/100_3794.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383909539970959570" /></a><br />I put together these pictures of the van from the past years. Some of the pictures were from years ago, and the guys really enjoyed looking at them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vnpQCYTRVToYkbdJ_PZvTK30d7ocxTkK8moJbw01N7TA6LDDALA6S6iYKKYGGjBHJns21rKFWJ7wxf38SG21HniXfu4_uzH8YbLahx8XNZ3h6beTzDb33Xq-ygV2bVWuNJgT_Ip-mes/s1600-h/100_3798.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vnpQCYTRVToYkbdJ_PZvTK30d7ocxTkK8moJbw01N7TA6LDDALA6S6iYKKYGGjBHJns21rKFWJ7wxf38SG21HniXfu4_uzH8YbLahx8XNZ3h6beTzDb33Xq-ygV2bVWuNJgT_Ip-mes/s400/100_3798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383930722415881330" /></a><br />I shared a little bit about SY 50's past and delivered a "eulogy," if you will. I shared some of my favorite memories. One time I was riding in the passenger seat last year as Andrew drove, and all of a sudden my right foot was soaking wet. I looked down and found that a puddle was forming after a hose had come undone and was spilling windshield fluid all over me. I couldn't believe it. Another time, I was taking a student to school, and it had just started snowing. I compared it to if you had just bought a brand new pair of the fuzziest socks you could find and then sprinted around on a freshly waxed floor. It was a little scary.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn488SXZEoIoCZy5WoN1iR7K82DjBXioY5UgXtW5PuIlB2Ot6R9NS4r3xI4Kq57-3Ah8GT1uP5UqDeNYJGpe_xgZ3BtN9PodcLN8TD6nae3gpGbAk5k1Yym2T4_-6lrpq1qra64N0OeU/s1600-h/100_3799.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn488SXZEoIoCZy5WoN1iR7K82DjBXioY5UgXtW5PuIlB2Ot6R9NS4r3xI4Kq57-3Ah8GT1uP5UqDeNYJGpe_xgZ3BtN9PodcLN8TD6nae3gpGbAk5k1Yym2T4_-6lrpq1qra64N0OeU/s400/100_3799.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383913954723704386" /></a><br />A lot of the students chipped in with memories of their own as well.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i9E86YHwRON1fy45eGHJ3Pt2pQRkeb0sj9w9gYYv0bdsDqg6_gYqkA2PPwXIHfFYNtHk-_VFiwV0unIz31MHxfKBtk0pG5zhBnxNb0jolUrqd0giq5Xhvu31gJTbdsN-WT0qymhJpdQ/s1600-h/100_3803.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i9E86YHwRON1fy45eGHJ3Pt2pQRkeb0sj9w9gYYv0bdsDqg6_gYqkA2PPwXIHfFYNtHk-_VFiwV0unIz31MHxfKBtk0pG5zhBnxNb0jolUrqd0giq5Xhvu31gJTbdsN-WT0qymhJpdQ/s400/100_3803.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383913964819315746" /></a><br />We took all of the pictures of the van and put them in this pot and burned them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhANyP9pHfR8fWCik09irTgR6EORbNCFMQTDZSarWYIfZ7WYeL01Jna2buCsPmShVgmHHLDbg318CpUSYWkQY1S5T11wcmLqF0tE4SNbj1c8ZDJe5-BIs2DURVk-Hp6Ua2hXaG5r1U9og/s1600-h/100_3812.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhANyP9pHfR8fWCik09irTgR6EORbNCFMQTDZSarWYIfZ7WYeL01Jna2buCsPmShVgmHHLDbg318CpUSYWkQY1S5T11wcmLqF0tE4SNbj1c8ZDJe5-BIs2DURVk-Hp6Ua2hXaG5r1U9og/s400/100_3812.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383913974235311762" /></a><br />Then we headed down to the creek and spread the ashes and sang songs.<br /><br />This time with the students remembering this van will be one of favorite memories I take from BFA when I leave. I'm glad that we did it.<br /><br />Things continue to get a little easier in the dorm although it is nonstop busyness all the time. Greg and Danielle were off this weekend so it was just Anna and I, and we also had a couple come in as dorm subs. It felt like every day presented its own new crisis over the weekend. But everything is fine! Please pray as we continue to learn and take care of our responsibilities.<br /><br />Please pray for Timmy, an RA at Maugenhard dorm who is here in his second year. His support is very low right now. At this point, it's not looking good for him to return for the second semester, and he might not even be able to make it through this semester. This would be really terrible if he had to leave. Please pray for the people who know him and his ministry, that their hearts would be softened and they would be willing to take hold of the opportunity to use the resources God has given them to support Timmy and his ministry. Thank you for praying! God bless!<br /><br />In His Service,<br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-1372919815291591752009-08-31T14:39:00.000-07:002009-09-06T07:02:14.702-07:00I'm Still AliveForgive my silence! I'm not dead! In fact I am very much alive. I arrived back in Germany on July 21st. Orientation for the new Res Life staff started on August 3rd. Students started showing up on August 23rd. Today is September 6th. Students have been here for two weeks now. I've been meaning to write a blog for a long, long time, and the planned title has shifted from "My Summer" to "I'm Back" to "One Week Left" to "They're Here" to "One Week In" and now I'm settling for "I'm Still Alive." Sorry about that.<br /><br />But every time I sit down to start typing, I think, "How am I supposed to summarize everything that has happened since my last post?" Because students graduated and left. And I worked at BFA doing odd jobs for a couple weeks. And I went back home to the U.S. where I hadn't been for ten months. While I was there, I spent considerable time in Illinois, Tennessee, Georgia, and Wisconsin. I returned a month later and brought my brother and sister back to Germany with me. We spent a couple awesome weeks together traveling around Europe. And orientation and new students and so on and so forth. So really I just need to post a blog to break this stale three-month old ice, and then I feel like I can start writing more regularly again. Our new dorm parents Greg and Danielle have been updating their blog seemingly once a day or at least several times a week. I'm not joking. Here it is: http://storrsside.blogspot.com/ Go to that link and read about all of the things I have been too lazy and negligent to tell you about.<br /><br />Speaking of our new dorm parents, Greg and Danielle Storrs are doing a fantastic job in this role here at HBR. The guys are responding very well to them, and we're all having a great time together. I can't find a picture of our staff together, but here is a pic of the Storrs family that I just ripped off their blog.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36SLXcKHAh4ZI22q8FazFk2oYyscCba743PyqCQeK5pKwClCHjM5cYwYM5pXWGo2ozmgnln1MWdOGp40BDFokais71k7fhzNS81xS-aCYz1zz87Of0Ie-RsDYK0GnLLEMDeNbDqNXBsg/s1600-h/Storrs+fam.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh36SLXcKHAh4ZI22q8FazFk2oYyscCba743PyqCQeK5pKwClCHjM5cYwYM5pXWGo2ozmgnln1MWdOGp40BDFokais71k7fhzNS81xS-aCYz1zz87Of0Ie-RsDYK0GnLLEMDeNbDqNXBsg/s400/Storrs+fam.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378326830600807154" /></a><br /><br />We do not have any new RA's in HBR this year. This is not ideal. There was only one male RA who applied, was accepted, raised support, and arrived here at BFA. So there are four guy RA's as opposed to seven last year, and two of the boys' dorms are short one male RA. We just went from having four RA's last year in HBR to two this year. While we are handling this ok, it is still a bit of a transition. Please pray for the Storrs as they continue through this transition to a different role and a different culture and a different life. Pray also that we as a staff would be using our gifts to capably fill the positions we hold. Pray that we are getting rest and are not getting too stressed out.<br /><br />Other highlights: On that first Tuesday after all of the students were here, the opening ceremony was held. This was just like last year. All of the seniors filed in holding the flags of probably 50-some countries.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-Q-O_E0OZeuRuOpG_w7f4aF-YeN5TCfzyNR2_VpUBCPdgHPem9tcocqeYm3VrcO3lveV_szYR60f_vBQkctetBKIHCq29FB2xbIpQMs2fIJwZld4ja1SJnXAxDK9adH23zbP7TwlNA4/s1600-h/100_3566.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-Q-O_E0OZeuRuOpG_w7f4aF-YeN5TCfzyNR2_VpUBCPdgHPem9tcocqeYm3VrcO3lveV_szYR60f_vBQkctetBKIHCq29FB2xbIpQMs2fIJwZld4ja1SJnXAxDK9adH23zbP7TwlNA4/s400/100_3566.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378343104939728962" /></a><br /><br />This year the student body president comes out of HBR. He is a senior named Will, and he is seen here in the red tie preparing to give his speech and then delivering it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SHKVc4J7bbi8Ns3zfrzNjbNUyrF9dApOIycvoUgdyNg0xcKCQ78L32pyCrFDVT2xXcVn3OckZmdIGJRG57-h1lYrpHbCG-net0Kp_iiBU4I-vEBGjffmfDa53WSpbaP5Yub7Q5WSzCM/s1600-h/100_3562.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5SHKVc4J7bbi8Ns3zfrzNjbNUyrF9dApOIycvoUgdyNg0xcKCQ78L32pyCrFDVT2xXcVn3OckZmdIGJRG57-h1lYrpHbCG-net0Kp_iiBU4I-vEBGjffmfDa53WSpbaP5Yub7Q5WSzCM/s400/100_3562.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378343112576926850" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYnQF05qa_DQk0n3N4Um-TufyPNNWkHHbRE1VmD_ubXiR7smt-49emYi8dx4fv2eQnNN6y79uKWHUDI-c4WNrIUIjKgBWOFvu4g84Y9qzNQY-e64-kRF_cZmtPGRdIXZcxyngYHyMwSA/s1600-h/100_3576.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYnQF05qa_DQk0n3N4Um-TufyPNNWkHHbRE1VmD_ubXiR7smt-49emYi8dx4fv2eQnNN6y79uKWHUDI-c4WNrIUIjKgBWOFvu4g84Y9qzNQY-e64-kRF_cZmtPGRdIXZcxyngYHyMwSA/s400/100_3576.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378343117582147458" /></a><br /><br />We spent a long time getting the dorm ready to be lived in again, and now we're so glad that the students are actually back. Here's another good picture. This is one of our vans upon returning from a trip to the grocery store a few days before the students returned. Greg and Danielle were amazed at the sheer volume of food we bought and agreed that it felt like it should last all year long. But no, a lot of it lasted only the first week or so... We usually purchase at least one thousand dollars' worth of groceries each week.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjOSPNNZx6bd9WfEzq-GtYMj-Ro_u0FCXBBIe2bhe-IjCslkhIegMxpdXAhwUHWNyFKGhH3OJsz0_7HQ44MqPn6aqwUSGRklQzhNyDkO3ehFixTROKTOZ2YPPdkQBnfv-YnwWxKbWPNs/s1600-h/van+full.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjOSPNNZx6bd9WfEzq-GtYMj-Ro_u0FCXBBIe2bhe-IjCslkhIegMxpdXAhwUHWNyFKGhH3OJsz0_7HQ44MqPn6aqwUSGRklQzhNyDkO3ehFixTROKTOZ2YPPdkQBnfv-YnwWxKbWPNs/s400/van+full.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378351090433888290" /></a><br /><br />That's all I'll share for now, but hopefully I'll be on again soon to share some more details from the past couple weeks. Thank you for reading. I am very excited for this new year of school! Please pray for my students and my staff and me! Thank you and God bless!brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-84216114371751223722009-05-30T15:40:00.000-07:002009-06-01T14:29:04.651-07:00Less Than a Week LeftGraduation is this Friday! There is less than one week left! We have been packing the days absolutely full as the end draws ever nearer. Friday was the Spring Party which took place "up the hill" in the town of Marzell outside of the boys' dorm Sonne. Sonne and Blauen, the girls' dorm across the street, are about a 10 or 15 minute drive away and basically halfway up a mountain. The Spring Party is the last school-wide event before graduation. The theme was "Viking Olympics" (don't ask me why), and there were a lot of competitive games pitting each class against each other, which reminded me a lot of the Homecoming games that we had back when I was in high school. They had contests for pushing a van, throwing a log, and pie-eating. The best part of the evening was when the entire junior and senior classes were engaged in a tug of war and actually broke the rope and fell to the ground in an incredulous heap.
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<br />After we returned to HBR from the party, we gobbled up some fresh chocolate chip cookies, and thirteen of us prepared to leave again. Andrew and I had the privilege of taking our senior class out on a camping trip overnight Friday. Remember that castle I hiked to back in September? Well, we returned there and slept overnight atop the castle's tower.
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<br />This is most of us hanging out around the fire before heading up to bed.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSx7jDVmt0JM2DGnL07_PuX15f2lVG57GP5h8TjtHk05fOevgWE5lpX2dS5AAHlR6LIoiPQUZYuIAkgaLApE8Kp5RoU2q-fBi8VC7dN8kYkSFdNZOwO5xpA1s-g9DCNlxmXAr6B-_yF4/s1600-h/100_2618.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYSx7jDVmt0JM2DGnL07_PuX15f2lVG57GP5h8TjtHk05fOevgWE5lpX2dS5AAHlR6LIoiPQUZYuIAkgaLApE8Kp5RoU2q-fBi8VC7dN8kYkSFdNZOwO5xpA1s-g9DCNlxmXAr6B-_yF4/s400/100_2618.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342132868303998066" border="0" /></a>
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mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--><s style="font-family: georgia;">falling asleep<o:p></o:p></s> laying awake all night as bitterly cold winds threaten to sweep us right off the top of the tower.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaIpinSIkXDAGVLCQ_XKnLTBpwtBgduCEWs_lY9cNlMIrQF8x10QXbarnsjC5BdsLqP_XlImsxas5ItkkqHHWzxTe6Q8JASAA8bsbSv7LPsDMwo_Zp5ySH2zrJ9QUetVxS-2H-_NapYE/s1600-h/100_2638.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPaIpinSIkXDAGVLCQ_XKnLTBpwtBgduCEWs_lY9cNlMIrQF8x10QXbarnsjC5BdsLqP_XlImsxas5ItkkqHHWzxTe6Q8JASAA8bsbSv7LPsDMwo_Zp5ySH2zrJ9QUetVxS-2H-_NapYE/s400/100_2638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342132872787930930" border="0" /></a>
<br />This was my view when I awoke and got up in the morning. Note the familiar pillowcase.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4mfmVmsqNf5nlrYA151uJkGgxIgzJsNIxz3E3yFILXVtO4CkQWQDRsC4qNnjzWhyphenhyphenRjShL6YCVQ-0xs5BMbJ7WmW30ycE9CZ9xHCYn5Stf9KfIH3Rk8v23Thlo1yBxbpylddQVWI1LHY/s1600-h/100_2642.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ4mfmVmsqNf5nlrYA151uJkGgxIgzJsNIxz3E3yFILXVtO4CkQWQDRsC4qNnjzWhyphenhyphenRjShL6YCVQ-0xs5BMbJ7WmW30ycE9CZ9xHCYn5Stf9KfIH3Rk8v23Thlo1yBxbpylddQVWI1LHY/s400/100_2642.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342132877033501666" border="0" /></a>Saturday the students spent all day packing up their stuff and cleaning up their rooms. They should pretty much be living out of a suitcase at this point. Here's a shot of the wreckage on my floor.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2sX8eczwZ7v3zMdBryXbHi0roAmOqGbvJJOKGIYLKC9wcqjTYa_ikqxY_DalnTfZQ8mdknkZBaAlLSB6fijuCIcS1v3cbwdWsnHEb22Ttws3EZHdM3c-8ihNiYXAqMCgy7ovfORGvmY/s1600-h/100_2645.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis2sX8eczwZ7v3zMdBryXbHi0roAmOqGbvJJOKGIYLKC9wcqjTYa_ikqxY_DalnTfZQ8mdknkZBaAlLSB6fijuCIcS1v3cbwdWsnHEb22Ttws3EZHdM3c-8ihNiYXAqMCgy7ovfORGvmY/s400/100_2645.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342136591275927170" border="0" /></a>And here's Marc getting a box out of the attic. All of the students were responsible for arranging all of their possessions in storage upstairs, and for the seniors, there is a lot of work to do, especially for some of them who have lived here for years and years and have seen the amount of belongings they own grow larger and larger.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSpD50gC1YO6B7eAuj45kCuAjAmnwNKFFAHJIy8EppdxXx3aFOVHuO-bBcmx1Xhcr54_g7qDHyWl7ishTMuBPwlP30sI227F7gjTygA7KCaZqDDbw0HZbIVf__bVAEcoysVdy62TlF2k/s1600-h/100_2649.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqSpD50gC1YO6B7eAuj45kCuAjAmnwNKFFAHJIy8EppdxXx3aFOVHuO-bBcmx1Xhcr54_g7qDHyWl7ishTMuBPwlP30sI227F7gjTygA7KCaZqDDbw0HZbIVf__bVAEcoysVdy62TlF2k/s400/100_2649.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342136598035227794" border="0" /></a>Sunday we spent most of the day on a giant end-of-the-year dorm outing. First, we went to church and the seniors were honored and given Bibles. It was almost like an early graduation ceremony. After church we came home for a quick lunch and then headed out to a water park called Laguna. It was a really fun place, and I am continually amazed by things I find here that you would never, ever see in the States. Example: this water park had a big blue slide that was probably five feet wide across and twisted and turned all the way down to a small pool below. However, there was no limit at all about how many people could get on the slide and when. So tons of people are jumping onto it nonstop and slamming into other people all the way down. There were a couple times where we probably had close to 15 of our guys fighting each other and yelling "HBR!" all the way down. I kept getting off the slide feeling like my legs had been the victims of a 18th century torture device as people were rolling all over me and riding me like a raft all the way down the slide. Oh yeah, and another thing. This water park did not allow shorts to be worn. Only speedos! They were the square-cut style with legs so it's not as bad as what you're thinking, but it was not something I was used to. And umm... I don't have any pictures to post.
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<br />We left after a few hours and spent some time playing basketball and volleyball at the school's gym before going home and inhaling some enormous t-bone steaks. Yummy! We finished off the day by driving out to Basel, Switzerland to watch "Star Trek." It was one of the smaller theaters and our dorm took up the entire two back rows. Anytime someone did the "live long and prosper" hand gesture onscreen, about 20 guys in the back of the theater threw up the sign along with them. Then we came home and went to bed after a long day!
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<br />Answers to prayer! I found out a few months ago that new dorm parents were found for our dorm. I didn't want to write anything until it was confirmed that they were going to be coming. Well, it has been confirmed for a few weeks now. It was an especially sensitive matter because the new dorm parents are coming from that fantastic missionary talent pool known as the "pumpkin capital of the world." Yes, next year I'll be working alongside a couple from my hometown of Morton, Illinois! And if you're from Illinois, you probably either know this news already or there is at least a good chance you know who they are. The new dorm parents at HBR next year are Greg and Danielle Storrs. Greg was formerly the middle school youth pastor at Grace Church in Morton. Check out http://storrsside.blogspot.com/ to stay updated with their transition to BFA! I thought it was really bizarre that the new dorm parents randomly come from my own small hometown, but I am continually amazed at the funny ways in which God chooses to work. I am extremely excited about next year and really look forward to working with the two of them.
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<br />I also just found out that there has finally been a male RA accepted for this fall. And guess where he's from? Central Illinois! Chris Jones has accepted a position as resident assistant at BFA for next year. Chris went to Moody where he just graduated from, and we were also both directors for Camp of Champions USA a couple summers ago. I'm really excited for Chris and will be happy to be working with him again, at least in the Residence Life program and possibly even in the same dorm.
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<br />If you know any of these folks or even if you don't, feel free to write them a note and encourage them as they progress through the sometimes daunting task of raising support (they're all on facebook). I love seeing the way that God has answered the prayers for next year. There is also a married couple who have been accepted as RA's. There are no married RA's this year, but it is not uncommon. So it would be best if there was at least one more male RA for next year, and time is running short. Please continue praying. And pray for the countdown that is going on right now! Four days til graduation, five days til everyone leaves! Later!
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<br />Brandon
<br />brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-18987454916879751282009-05-24T14:49:00.000-07:002009-05-24T16:00:07.503-07:00I don't remember how air conditioning feelsIt's hot here. The last few weeks have felt... hot. I wish I could think of a funny metaphor, but I'm too hot to come up with anything good. We don't have any air conditioning. It doesn't seem to be very popular over here in these parts although I can't imagine why not. Yes, since I've been here, the moments have been few and far between when I have been able to experience the magnificent gift of AC. Today was somewhere in the 90's. It's the kind of situation where you take a shower, and immediately you are in the same predicament you were in pre-shower. Sweaty and uncomfortable. It's a travesty. But I digress.<br /><br />This was a pretty big weekend for the students. The soccer and track teams were away at their national tournaments from the middle of the week into the weekend. Both our boys' and girls' soccer teams were ranked as the one-seed entering the tournament! HBR sent six guys to participate in the track tournament and several of them came back with medals. And both of the soccer teams made it all the way to the championship. The girls won the tournament, but the boys had to settle for second place, which they were pretty bummed about. But they all performed really well. From what I hear, all of the other schools who compete in our conference really appreciate BFA for who we are and how we play the game. So as BFA progresses through the tournament, all of the other schools who are already out cheer for our kids. It's really incredible. Also, a lot of the other teams apparently buy us food to send with us because they know we don't have access to American food like the other schools located on army bases do. As our eleven students returned late Saturday night (actually Sunday morning at 2:15 - I picked them up), it was clear that they had a great experience at the tournaments and gave it their all.<br /><br />We let the guys stay home from church today and made a brunch of pancakes for them at 10. At noon we started the annual event referred to as "Senior Appreciation." This is where we went through each of our eleven seniors one by one and opened the floor to everyone so that other students could tell each guy what they appreciate about him, recall fun memories, and let him know how much he means to them. It was really good for each student to be able to hear those things from so many people, and it was good for students to have a platform where they could vocalize those ideas to their friends. Laughs rang out, and tears were shed. We took a short break in the middle, but the whole thing went for close to five hours. Wow! We've got a lot of great seniors departing so I wasn't surprised. After we wrapped it up, we went downstairs for a delicious dinner of ribs that was being prepared as we talked. After dinner I dropped some guys off at the pool for about an hour, and then a group of us played ultimate frisbee for about another hour. It was a good day.<br /><br />Being forced to process the year so that I could vocally encourage and affirm each of our seniors merely reinforced to me the fact that I love our students, and I love my job. Thank you for your part in helping me be a part of their lives this year. We have had a great year, but it isn't done yet. In a mere two weeks graduation will be taking place, and everyone will be leaving. Continue to lift the students up in prayer along with me to the very end and beyond. Thanks!<br /><br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-17143989556311984422009-05-06T09:03:00.000-07:002009-05-10T06:23:36.339-07:00BFA? 10. The earthquake? 4.5. Ahoy there from the finally-green-again Deutschland! I was informed one morning earlier this week that we experienced an earthquake during the night which woke up quite a few residents of our dorm while I, of course, slept right through it. Our RA Anna is from California so she has felt her fair share of earthquakes, and this one woke her up so it was a decent one. It ranked a 4.5! I wish I would have woke up and felt it because I don't think I've ever felt one, but alas. God made me a happy and heavy sleeper. Meanwhile, the sights and smells of a spring that continues to get warmer tell the boys that the end is almost near. We've had several fun events take place in the last week or two. Let me tell you about their sights and smells.
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<br /> Last week the student council hosted an event called "BFA's Got Talent" where students entered and performed various talents, which were actually quite remarkable. There was a lot of singing and piano playing, but there was also xylophone playing, humorous skits, and interpretive dance. The first picture is the student who took first place. His name is Jun Kim, and he performed some sweet martial arts moves for the crowd, including the use of one of my favorite weapons of all time: the nunchuk.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OvUMr3e8Mi3UIAtXc4J7yh4S-DmtXbuHDANRmkFvb-ia6uibLrJBymRJqo2WlILm2AWxALSKM80hCFAWHw3mdAB1Xdd0L046LvJO3Qz7U-cl9A_J9NH43swFx-iQzoP9fW_m-cjRIDE/s1600-h/100_2336.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9OvUMr3e8Mi3UIAtXc4J7yh4S-DmtXbuHDANRmkFvb-ia6uibLrJBymRJqo2WlILm2AWxALSKM80hCFAWHw3mdAB1Xdd0L046LvJO3Qz7U-cl9A_J9NH43swFx-iQzoP9fW_m-cjRIDE/s400/100_2336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333602926589251314" border="0" /></a> And this is Reece from HBR. He sang a Lifehouse song accompanied by his friend David. They did a great job!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN2V5TuPkd1oPsLzmVqkNsVrsoCFhjibga9A354PqEKhfzEhgwVZaj2rS8_mavFGpUdW0Eipcfyzy1CGbtdS219lhU8-tqeLyARiuh7C_gMR7gXhe3HasghP5j28VWvRMZN9ZLM_ooek/s1600-h/100_2339.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQN2V5TuPkd1oPsLzmVqkNsVrsoCFhjibga9A354PqEKhfzEhgwVZaj2rS8_mavFGpUdW0Eipcfyzy1CGbtdS219lhU8-tqeLyARiuh7C_gMR7gXhe3HasghP5j28VWvRMZN9ZLM_ooek/s400/100_2339.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333602925756319970" border="0" /></a> Oh yeah, and umm... the RA's were strongly encouraged to participate in the show with their own act. I won't link to it, but if you are interested and want to go digging for it, feel free. You can find it on my facebook or on youtube if you search for "evolution of dance BFA." Disclaimer: we are not good dancers. We realize this. But we had a blast putting it together (the day before the event itself) and performing it in front of our screaming fan base.
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<br /> We enjoyed another big event on Friday night - one that is possibly the biggest all year and one that holds particular significance for the seniors and the end of the school year. Last night was JSB. The Junior Senior Banquet. It's a banquet put on by the junior class for the senior class with only juniors and seniors allowed to attend. The night included a dinner and some entertainment, most of which were tributes put on by each dorm's juniors for the senior class, a tradition that takes place every year at JSB.
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<br /> An important tradition every year for HBR on the day of JSB is that all of the guys attending go outside and play pole soccer for as long as possible before running in to shower and get ready as fast as they can. I have meant to write a blog post explaining in depth the sport of pole soccer, but haven't got around to it. It is played on our basketball court behind the dorm. Basically, it's just soccer, but the basketball poles take the place of the nets. So to score you have to nail the pole. Sound difficult? It can be. But it's a lot of fun. I have improved quite a bit since first arriving. Here are some pics proving the guys were outside playing less than an hour before we left for the banquet instead of inside doing their hair and their nails.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqZzHg-lIdgkrrLo9AcOWWmgFr_cEkkS_y4w0OuMwtPaHIwnZ7oKuJsz8aQ9eEeKzooeLic-Vc_DHbdIKGjIKNZz3i6CbgJwW2PKd44yXwsHayQpSZ820pOEMelRSbnqU3ug7yaosnt4/s1600-h/100_2524.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBqZzHg-lIdgkrrLo9AcOWWmgFr_cEkkS_y4w0OuMwtPaHIwnZ7oKuJsz8aQ9eEeKzooeLic-Vc_DHbdIKGjIKNZz3i6CbgJwW2PKd44yXwsHayQpSZ820pOEMelRSbnqU3ug7yaosnt4/s400/100_2524.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333933160647061538" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHxfegwDKt37_k4shQ9OobgyaBGq2uFC6aMWYeS5TuJnxJK_Znh3ola07iggRGHSFUgd64Wggbv-dsw2qTJzpuQGyJaSAEzTBhOv8uf-SyJlc05392RkpR9YZF4g2gvh820noPqRapN8/s1600-h/100_2518.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYHxfegwDKt37_k4shQ9OobgyaBGq2uFC6aMWYeS5TuJnxJK_Znh3ola07iggRGHSFUgd64Wggbv-dsw2qTJzpuQGyJaSAEzTBhOv8uf-SyJlc05392RkpR9YZF4g2gvh820noPqRapN8/s400/100_2518.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333933158589531938" border="0" /></a> Then it was time to come in and get ready.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCV5kdZpEXS593Iqszvfup3vimloBZ_LsOetCi3BlLrzWgi5H226NzuInSeyLJvVhd3efqvAnZ2DnYDzfPhHNxtsxUGge3hfxJme9HMMOL4new-UqhWiOBSs33Ec07qI7zgBIGgBjWNo/s1600-h/100_2525.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCV5kdZpEXS593Iqszvfup3vimloBZ_LsOetCi3BlLrzWgi5H226NzuInSeyLJvVhd3efqvAnZ2DnYDzfPhHNxtsxUGge3hfxJme9HMMOL4new-UqhWiOBSs33Ec07qI7zgBIGgBjWNo/s400/100_2525.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333933171203785442" border="0" /></a> Here is our senior class doing a fun pic right before we left.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkJk0xdJTeaGpFYGZ9P0uGDH578tOsdK-Y3qJawiBvV9jnoW2DCCYW7UjWBOfPMXSkuFXWhQf5UiMR8Xi0tgCBibslYNKAC7pb12ZkTRGqArUMgn3A5grus9JQHu3UUa7qynSErT8CFY/s1600-h/100_2537.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkJk0xdJTeaGpFYGZ9P0uGDH578tOsdK-Y3qJawiBvV9jnoW2DCCYW7UjWBOfPMXSkuFXWhQf5UiMR8Xi0tgCBibslYNKAC7pb12ZkTRGqArUMgn3A5grus9JQHu3UUa7qynSErT8CFY/s400/100_2537.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333933173752278914" border="0" /></a> We drove to a place in Muellheim where the banquet was held, and all the kids found their dates outside (if they had one).
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsARsWuEiUJFv-AjUU4256u2sGXM5W4vdmPi2GUrInnsSkIMdITUa23qUTr-kcNa9gQg7ecr43d1VdAh2x8DHpb_IfUs_BSTmHGq6IsP4are0eyXTGGgw4wpGGLb8IkDGKq-0JNFjSYo/s1600-h/100_2539.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdsARsWuEiUJFv-AjUU4256u2sGXM5W4vdmPi2GUrInnsSkIMdITUa23qUTr-kcNa9gQg7ecr43d1VdAh2x8DHpb_IfUs_BSTmHGq6IsP4are0eyXTGGgw4wpGGLb8IkDGKq-0JNFjSYo/s400/100_2539.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333933178506031010" border="0" /></a> The theme of the night was "If Dreams Come True" and focused on the future of the seniors, their dreams coming true, never never land, and all the happy thoughts that we could muster. No really, Peter Pan was at the center of the decorations and what not. HBR's very own juniors Parker Rundstrom and David Blanchard were the emcees for the night, playing the parts of Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Did I stay up late the night before creating a Captain Hook hat using cardboard, staples, red paper, glue and tape? Why, yes. Yes, I did. You just take a good look at it.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUEBuSUjg_dh0DwDtDGPqgOC68XbH9ZcKg6ipawJaVhkzOxPLF9qP3Jn-uygXSPDqYAGGtUzSF2YK7UFQ2o_7iS6LDNEZmVyNoQ0W1wnSd_yOFUismv_BHenxC_dak_3rbqAeIKbsRwY/s1600-h/100_2540.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUEBuSUjg_dh0DwDtDGPqgOC68XbH9ZcKg6ipawJaVhkzOxPLF9qP3Jn-uygXSPDqYAGGtUzSF2YK7UFQ2o_7iS6LDNEZmVyNoQ0W1wnSd_yOFUismv_BHenxC_dak_3rbqAeIKbsRwY/s400/100_2540.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333935792172804530" border="0" /></a> Here is a picture of Phil, once again performing a song on stage along with friends Jae and Hannah. Good job, Phil!
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNnjKf_xW6R-gOzmal21PSS5KbVIZkrMCJe1BM6QR8ZQt1G-lkXxLSe7HRz_eTh1lNVxPc2ZJ3eKVn-cds4ASt7E3K5gG6EvxBTZSUgEc1e_GkFz1jBCZMazZ8clrxtUPo4jAooB_YGc/s1600-h/100_2542.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbNnjKf_xW6R-gOzmal21PSS5KbVIZkrMCJe1BM6QR8ZQt1G-lkXxLSe7HRz_eTh1lNVxPc2ZJ3eKVn-cds4ASt7E3K5gG6EvxBTZSUgEc1e_GkFz1jBCZMazZ8clrxtUPo4jAooB_YGc/s400/100_2542.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333935798695317090" border="0" /></a> JSB was a lot of fun and acted as the unofficial marker for the end of the year for the seniors. Good luck to us in trying to get them to do anything from now on. They are checked out. Ready for the end. Pray for our senior class as they make all of the necessary preparations for moving on with their plans for the summer and for next school year.
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<br /> We celebrated two of our seniors' birthdays on Tuesday - Aryan and Sam. Seniors are immune to creeking so that tradition was not in play. Sidenote: my birthday fell over spring break, and as of now we have not celebrated it as a dorm so I have not been creeked. We'll see what happens. Now, you know I can make a delicious carrot cake. But take a look at the delicious birthday veggie platter I made for Sam. For their birthdays, we let them choose whatever cake or dessert they want from a list that includes a veggie tray. So some of our more healthy-minded students like Sam actually do pick the vegetables. A decision that I would have never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever made growing up. Or now for that matter.
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9WelM-djvD6qgDuw2AVhMk2v0E8zX6mMR_6BxN8snT8Er1Cb3S-rDf2TJZ3QM75MUEROr4sg-fpol4NYnOBPRiPZwswAvxEJq6-kS9xyA5SE97-nH1Qcr_wfdCGN_GdQeUKa14rCRJc/s1600-h/100_2507.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9WelM-djvD6qgDuw2AVhMk2v0E8zX6mMR_6BxN8snT8Er1Cb3S-rDf2TJZ3QM75MUEROr4sg-fpol4NYnOBPRiPZwswAvxEJq6-kS9xyA5SE97-nH1Qcr_wfdCGN_GdQeUKa14rCRJc/s400/100_2507.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333928900840255634" border="0" /></a> Last week I asked Sam if he would write a paragraph for me to throw on my blog that shows a little bit of his perspective as a student. Sam has been here for five years so he knows BFA well by this point. Sam is one of the best in the dorm at encouraging other students, especially the underclassmen. He's really intentional about including others and making them feel welcome. I really appreciate that about Sam. He's one of many in our senior class that makes our job as a dorm staff a little easier. Here's what he wrote:
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</w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">"I’m a senior at HBR, the best dorm ever, obviously, and Brandon, my RA asked me to write something.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just a little about myself: my name’s Sam Lee, and I’m a Korean American. My parents serve in the central asian republic of Kyrgyzstan. I am finally graduating, and I will be attending University of Notre Dame next year. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’d just like to share what this place, both BFA and HBR has done for me. I have been going to this school since my 8<sup>th</sup> grade year, and since my freshman year I have been a proud member of HBR. I pretty much did not have the best attitude about this place the whole 5 years I have been here. It is only recently, when I realized that I am leaving this place, that I realize how much it all meant to me. Though it was hard “growing up” without my parents always being there for me, I think it was easier for me to mature through it all. I grew to understand what it’s like to be myself, what the Christian faith really means in my life, and how to live within a community (Living in a dorm is NOT easy, I can assure you this). Amidst all this “growing,” however, there were countless times when I swore to myself that I’d leave BFA the next year (and yet, here I am, as a senior). Now, reflecting back on all those hardships, I think it really was the people that made me come back every year. The relationships I made with my “bros,” the staff, and the many friends at school are each an important part of what I am now. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">But don’t get me wrong. I am way excited to go and graduate. I am actually diagnosed a fatal case of senioritis and so I’m just hoping that I make it down the aisle. :)"</p> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoysx12YG76HCaM2DpWtg7j2duRYCVzL8r1yeGBGZyg4tU3gGc3H1NZ1r90db2MjT4OuNmJ_PZFZwCBAwQyvcXuw7aq5E55OfdghkZVjxIkzsBrVa5X-SkwCbCMmlM2fcebIsWaYNlmA/s1600-h/100_2510.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoysx12YG76HCaM2DpWtg7j2duRYCVzL8r1yeGBGZyg4tU3gGc3H1NZ1r90db2MjT4OuNmJ_PZFZwCBAwQyvcXuw7aq5E55OfdghkZVjxIkzsBrVa5X-SkwCbCMmlM2fcebIsWaYNlmA/s400/100_2510.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333928905442476866" border="0" /></a> Sam is one of 28 young men at HBR who you can pray for right now. I assure you that they all need your prayers and that they appreciate your ministry to them, even if they don't know about it. Sam is in this picture with me along with Stephen and Peter, two more seniors. I thank you on behalf of them and also for myself personally for your continued love and prayer. Be blessed!
<br />
<br />Brandon
<br />brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-47233100355163160342009-04-16T08:19:00.000-07:002009-04-18T18:50:36.595-07:00The boys are back and so is my blogHey there, sorry I haven't written for a while. I'm now on the other side of a relaxing two-week student-free spring break. But classes resumed on Wednesday so all of the guys started returning on Tuesday morning. I drove to the airport twice on Tuesday to pick up loads of students - kids from our dorm and others as well, who I dropped off at their dorms on the way back to HBR. Days that are full of pick-up operations like this are always managed to the last detail, very exciting, and very tiring. There were probably at least 30 runs made on Tuesday by various dorms to different airports and train stations, and there were several more made on Monday and Wednesday. Welcoming students back is always exciting because it feels like they've been gone for much longer than they really have so you make sure to find each student to give him a hug and for the most part, they are happy to see us again. But it's always a tiring day - I suppose because we basically don't get any time off all day long. The guys generally don't feel up to doing too much, but we have to always be on our toes waiting for the next student to show up, and there's always something to do yet nothing to do. I know that doesn't make sense. But anyway, it takes only a very short bit of time before we are back in the thick of the schedule here in the dorm. So now I am once again used to seeing a lot of the same sights through the day that I'm used to. Here are a few of these sights.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlBZNgauX6E1sC0a2eaRuQlpq9W99TqdWI61pISmjxsEvL9ZfQwp68u1_H1K8vVRgmUWCy_0pnYRz4rmb6FwCll4Qe_LNcLyoed4Ed-PRSPVbG5obbZPLTnIzAl8FpIlO6snP8QSlO2M/s1600-h/100_2267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlBZNgauX6E1sC0a2eaRuQlpq9W99TqdWI61pISmjxsEvL9ZfQwp68u1_H1K8vVRgmUWCy_0pnYRz4rmb6FwCll4Qe_LNcLyoed4Ed-PRSPVbG5obbZPLTnIzAl8FpIlO6snP8QSlO2M/s400/100_2267.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325813886003699762" /></a><br />Guys wasting time on computers in the aptly named computer room (yes, you can see facebook on the screens)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-3ICJ1qmuX_Av7w7M6Jo2HuRn3oGjsN2hHChU7nVQFoTe_3A8DG3esq77P0gjsigplt-4pzkifHbsXTTf7QYW_OMxijBJGdc_2dD5HGVD_xIpBUMEoQjoX-sUc6NT2xaAE-iJG9Y8s4/s1600-h/100_2250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-3ICJ1qmuX_Av7w7M6Jo2HuRn3oGjsN2hHChU7nVQFoTe_3A8DG3esq77P0gjsigplt-4pzkifHbsXTTf7QYW_OMxijBJGdc_2dD5HGVD_xIpBUMEoQjoX-sUc6NT2xaAE-iJG9Y8s4/s400/100_2250.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325813883919781522" /></a><br />Guys coming home from soccer practice and bringing us our dinner<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPkEkKFKR0QroLSgS_u9O0wGW488UtH9j0bLrgprEFmcly9iYHZwwyELoIwgi843u4izlpbwLNoc6Xj3KGD2PBpU4YmxyA1RlFYlJaa9R282i3tvYRzMRn_08M6bdEv_fur_0yxUru4U/s1600-h/100_2254.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPkEkKFKR0QroLSgS_u9O0wGW488UtH9j0bLrgprEFmcly9iYHZwwyELoIwgi843u4izlpbwLNoc6Xj3KGD2PBpU4YmxyA1RlFYlJaa9R282i3tvYRzMRn_08M6bdEv_fur_0yxUru4U/s400/100_2254.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325813880817732706" /></a><br />Guys holding things?<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVZjA756FlNJor-17dPfUqGkecF_GbMH7SNzSR8-cqJ6FZv1pMtdcf2dCb7X13GNCIPo-Kc22N-8dxyINxqRfKYKktTguEE8wEnJPPvG4P_hA7VNXOFwlIxotai64zA9_wARgGRDJCy0/s1600-h/100_2263.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPVZjA756FlNJor-17dPfUqGkecF_GbMH7SNzSR8-cqJ6FZv1pMtdcf2dCb7X13GNCIPo-Kc22N-8dxyINxqRfKYKktTguEE8wEnJPPvG4P_hA7VNXOFwlIxotai64zA9_wARgGRDJCy0/s400/100_2263.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325813873038261602" /></a><br />Guys studying and wandering the halls during study hours (this is my view from the end of the hall where I'm sitting and supervising the junior floor on Thursday during study hours at night)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFAK04T6rB2ZF3U8ddnBj5ZxPk0B-My58gdMm41gpJZveOvAa3XExrA99_UmWiA2ERFZCikc8njxosBkjNRUl_OKNS43hce_KPvh3dXPyXnyZdxJ3V_bjp5-85vOJs1gFHZ_JkdKdU6k/s1600-h/100_2271.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFAK04T6rB2ZF3U8ddnBj5ZxPk0B-My58gdMm41gpJZveOvAa3XExrA99_UmWiA2ERFZCikc8njxosBkjNRUl_OKNS43hce_KPvh3dXPyXnyZdxJ3V_bjp5-85vOJs1gFHZ_JkdKdU6k/s400/100_2271.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325813874194742610" /></a><br />Guys sitting in the rec room watching a TV show (we usually show a couple episodes per week)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKqPvSHU9LhGu2_xgd0ET8SA-kR-EvIAdezaw3ooHNKq78Jfd-8Xn-xYgQxQ8LDUyVYgYRE_fp7KzNV9TW4ZA53bEAbUbeocF4veiBa10Vgb7XLn5pO6EmzlKjkHzrfwHqHYYYd1FXbo/s1600-h/100_2281.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKqPvSHU9LhGu2_xgd0ET8SA-kR-EvIAdezaw3ooHNKq78Jfd-8Xn-xYgQxQ8LDUyVYgYRE_fp7KzNV9TW4ZA53bEAbUbeocF4veiBa10Vgb7XLn5pO6EmzlKjkHzrfwHqHYYYd1FXbo/s400/100_2281.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326074505317717634" /></a><br />Guys stealing my camera and flashing me in the face with it...<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXHfIA2H9Pnl-kxmjEkOe_m4H0RmsPUQAoztwxQ9924S14e-Uod39Ud37JhGcJwciuLz66Ng-IozaVgodH8PQgsaJgcUuNbRbxio0bG_eA1aeP6iYVEo_tVX-6C79kOynZ5tNfMmwyCc/s1600-h/100_2300.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXHfIA2H9Pnl-kxmjEkOe_m4H0RmsPUQAoztwxQ9924S14e-Uod39Ud37JhGcJwciuLz66Ng-IozaVgodH8PQgsaJgcUuNbRbxio0bG_eA1aeP6iYVEo_tVX-6C79kOynZ5tNfMmwyCc/s320/100_2300.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326210296422558866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh-RtpX-N5YlAD99kkYl58zfVSMjexPRmbAUeWQKQw-fIG6B1BR2L-jw5NdG8qYzQoyaF_OwD_lX5OM2epM7Kp0PuKI92CEa7vF_udGo5q1Lst63dF1FXNbf3hWAMocdFBmw53Eav57E/s1600-h/100_2297.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOh-RtpX-N5YlAD99kkYl58zfVSMjexPRmbAUeWQKQw-fIG6B1BR2L-jw5NdG8qYzQoyaF_OwD_lX5OM2epM7Kp0PuKI92CEa7vF_udGo5q1Lst63dF1FXNbf3hWAMocdFBmw53Eav57E/s320/100_2297.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326210293590676402" /></a><br />We also enjoyed our first home soccer games on this first weekend back. They took place today (Saturday). The weather was at times sunny and at times cold and rainy, but overall, it was a good experience. Through two weekends of games so far, none of the teams has lost a game, not boys or girls, not varsity or JV. It's all been wins and a tie or two. So that's been exciting for the kids (coming off of a winless year for boys' varsity basketball). Here are a couple pics I took at the game today.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXrx8Uz4DBD22CxCBcpvnAhqXBfVuQZuuAJ6EEFkaqGthmPEFf8sqK8zIgDpqGMYV0_tR8rTryfeQaFVoPiF-xouIvNYFv_SQCQ0cQ7PstUbKVRTE3nuBWnioTav0qtKW652UQA462nU/s1600-h/b-day+candles.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXrx8Uz4DBD22CxCBcpvnAhqXBfVuQZuuAJ6EEFkaqGthmPEFf8sqK8zIgDpqGMYV0_tR8rTryfeQaFVoPiF-xouIvNYFv_SQCQ0cQ7PstUbKVRTE3nuBWnioTav0qtKW652UQA462nU/s320/b-day+candles.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326211165568559890" /></a><br />Over the break, I had the privilege of becoming a quarter-century old on April 3rd. During the first week of the break, I was given the surprise opportunity to visit Nice, France when somebody from the BFA community informed me that that there was a time share available for me to use there which they were intending to use but couldn't because of sickness. So all I had to do was get there. So a few other RA's and I drove down to the Nice area (through four countries in all) and I spent my birthday in Nice. So that was fun!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gP6xcHuL0laFZJHE5eI1AKfGe58rOiAUl03dzROdKwk0RX2VhOt17xj_viKC1qLLQbjmXeemniBn81ZOMoqQKmNQ0rp-FL9fOpQi5HkIc5O5M5kYHgoIyq974cAaHaUpFRrgle4ErAw/s1600-h/easter+food.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gP6xcHuL0laFZJHE5eI1AKfGe58rOiAUl03dzROdKwk0RX2VhOt17xj_viKC1qLLQbjmXeemniBn81ZOMoqQKmNQ0rp-FL9fOpQi5HkIc5O5M5kYHgoIyq974cAaHaUpFRrgle4ErAw/s320/easter+food.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326211160356888050" /></a><br />It's funny because if I drive seven hours southwest from my home in Illinois... I'm in Kansas or Oklahoma or something. But if I do it from my home here... I'm in France or Italy. So I'm glad to take advantage of that benefit to living here once in a while. This is a picture of me blowing out candles at a party held for me once I was back at the end of the week. And the other ones show our Easter meal that the RA's and some of the other staff were able to share together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtujFQMoFyPyGb1pIRb16gTqZ1Lsa1mzoWFXilhyphenhypheny81HnicdEWPqAGwn9THNQx7oyvaz1RIwZCXIo_NjAbJNwahEWuMqKDIoi_H3D12-X3_ecJ9hXVJ2J1Q_YNKwgY52YMX1snNxSRto/s1600-h/easter.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtujFQMoFyPyGb1pIRb16gTqZ1Lsa1mzoWFXilhyphenhypheny81HnicdEWPqAGwn9THNQx7oyvaz1RIwZCXIo_NjAbJNwahEWuMqKDIoi_H3D12-X3_ecJ9hXVJ2J1Q_YNKwgY52YMX1snNxSRto/s320/easter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326211157496033026" /></a><br />I included the middle shot because prominently featured in the foreground is my very own strawberry rhubarb cobbler (Thanks for the recipe, Grandma!) It's one of my favorites from home so I was happy I got to make it and be reminded of family on Easter. And I'm standing at the table because I'm preparing to pray for the meal (I think because I was the only one wearing a tie).<br /><br />So things are going well here, and I can't believe there are only seven more weeks of school left. The countdown is officially beginning: until the end of school and the chance to see family and friends. That countdown is especially significant for our seniors and for staff who will be leaving BFA this year. Pray for guidance for those staff members trying to plan their future, especially in light of the economic climate. And pray for our seniors to stay focused and finish strong through the end of the year and to enjoy their last couple of months here. Thank you! See you soon!<br /><br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-20350760466052768542009-03-12T16:49:00.000-07:002009-03-13T03:43:42.738-07:00Retreat Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Io0FxpSlqts2gLLjoSdgaccTv_VM99kowR231HWYpVFdjzrOPbBwe0Bwz1TK9u-Uw_K-Z3Om1pwexs6b0FSnfEWSAqouvc6TlcMkVTm10City3Glsa4RlsvO5835mga1JPkmzBt8t7s/s1600-h/100_1876.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Io0FxpSlqts2gLLjoSdgaccTv_VM99kowR231HWYpVFdjzrOPbBwe0Bwz1TK9u-Uw_K-Z3Om1pwexs6b0FSnfEWSAqouvc6TlcMkVTm10City3Glsa4RlsvO5835mga1JPkmzBt8t7s/s400/100_1876.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312604504386734386" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgZMe2XHoxs2FD6bvVpfYH5Vque3KKem4ml5XwdPACE_WVkY-er6PKQ0X49MCu49ylYjjKfQZWxgnyBtOg5UZucl1cWOItGrSTW4f3NoxCjCXHyZSRgiY8pRBuEFYyeJbIhOt32waxII/s1600-h/100_1878.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgZMe2XHoxs2FD6bvVpfYH5Vque3KKem4ml5XwdPACE_WVkY-er6PKQ0X49MCu49ylYjjKfQZWxgnyBtOg5UZucl1cWOItGrSTW4f3NoxCjCXHyZSRgiY8pRBuEFYyeJbIhOt32waxII/s400/100_1878.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312604512315773922" /></a><br /><br /> I want to update everyone on our retreat weekend, especially for the benefit of those who prayed. So first of all, thank you to everyone who prayed for us. God answered your prayers and did some amazing things. We got back on Sunday night, and overall it was a great time. We stayed in the town of Nuernburg, which is a walled city much larger than the small town of Kandern where BFA is. So there were plenty of things for the students to do in town. Above you see a picture of the youth hostel that we had all to ourselves for the weekend. It appeared to be and felt like a castle, but I don't know what the history of the building is. It was very spacious and a great place to host an event like this for a group our size. There was even some soccer played in the (very) wide hallways upstairs with a miniature ball. The building was on top of a large hill in the city, and the other picture is a view down the hill into the town. There was both good and bad that came from the weekend so I want to share both with you.<br /><br />The bad: several groups of students were either caught or confessed to drinking alcohol over the weekend. The attitudes of those involved cover both extremes and range from very repentant to completely unrepentant. Two young men from our dorm were caught amongst a group of five total because they drank over the weekend, purchased alcohol to bring back to school, and also lied about it. The reason the guys were caught is because a bag was accidentally left at the school after everyone was dropped off and headed home Sunday night. The bag contained some alcohol and cigars, which led the investigation to the student whose bag it was. Our two students who were involved were both given a four-day suspension that needed to be spent with their parents so plane tickets were purchased at a moment's notice and the two of them are now in Sweden and San Francisco. These two guys and the others with them are the students who are unrepentant and apathetic about their punishment in general. If anything, they are proud that they broke rules and are searching for sympathy from the rest of the student body, a portion of whom seem to be giving it to them. One of these guys is open about being an unbeliever, and the other one has had a rough past and is very apathetic about fixing his poor behavior (and may be an unbeliever as well). With that being said, I somewhat expect guys like this to openly sin and break rules, but that doesn't make it much less unsettling for me, the rest of the staff, or the students. Alcohol is a tough issue because the attitude about it is much more relaxed in Europe. The laws and drinking age are different, and many of these students occasionally drink at home with their families, but can't drink here. This makes it all the more controversial, but not unimportant. Pray for Min and Erik, that God would soften their hearts and reveal to them the reality of their sin and their bad attitudes. Also, pray for the rest of our students and the student body, that they would have a proper understanding of breaking rules and the consequences. The issue is not that drinking alcohol is a sin but that it is in violation of school rules and compromises their integrity.<br /><br />The good: there was a lot of growth and spiritual openness displayed over the weekend, and I believe the good far outweighed the bad even though the bad is getting more attention right now. The small group that Tommy and I led went very well. We were taking over a small group that already meets during the week, but their small group leader couldn't be at the retreat. It was a group of sophomores, and four of the six guys were from HBR. Through our meetings, the guys opened up to us and to each other more than they ever had before. I had the privilege of getting a glimpse of their true hearts and their desire to change. This was really exciting for me. They all showed a real desire to grow in their walk with our Lord. For the third and fourth times that we met, we actually allowed them to lead the group, asking the questions that were given to us beforehand and making sure everyone answered and was involved in the discussion. Several of them are beginning to show signs of real spiritual leadership. Pray for Andrew, Sam, Z, and Michael, that they would be serious about their commitment to Christ and would choose to make their lives about Him. Pray that they would remember the weekend and their intentions for life change. Pray for me, that I can connect with them on a deeper level now as I continue to invest in them and that I can challenge them to keep seeking growth. I am really excited for the opportunities I will have for ministry in the coming days. I have a weekend off coming right now though, and I'm leaving town for a while so pray that I find rest and come back refreshed.<br /><br />Thank you as always for your faithfulness. In reading my updates, in giving, in praying. Thank you! God bless!<br /><br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-50907475724845949332009-03-05T16:51:00.000-08:002009-03-05T19:45:35.905-08:00Retreating from Heartbreak<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBrandon%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="themeData" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBrandon%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_themedata.thmx"><link rel="colorSchemeMapping" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CBrandon%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_colorschememapping.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> 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table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span>This was a tough morning for me!<span style=""> </span>All week soccer tryouts have been taking place at school, and this morning the lists were posted telling who made the team.<span style=""> </span>If you don't know the soccer culture outside the U.S., well...<span style=""> </span>it's a big deal.<span style=""> </span>We had 14 guys from our dorm trying out (half the dorm), and for a lot of them, it would be a dream come true to make it on the team.<span style=""> </span>There were 42 guys in all trying out and only 30 spots available.<span style=""> </span>That means 12 young men needed to be rejected, and eight of them ended up being our guys.<span style=""> </span>That.<span style=""> </span>Stinks.<span style=""> </span>To put it lightly.<span style=""> </span>I think they were kind of preparing themselves for the letdown, but I know each of them is still very disappointed.<span style=""> </span>It's not that the ones who were cut are bad at soccer.<span style=""> </span>Many of them are quite skilled, play with so much heart, and were so excited by the idea of playing soccer for BFA.<span style=""> </span>Six of them are HBR seniors who have never played soccer on the team before so they started off at a disadvantage.<span style=""> </span>I'm not saying the process and final decision were unfair, but I was surprised that so many good players failed to make the team.<span style=""> </span>I think I was feeling worse about it than some of the players themselves.<span style=""> </span>I was in a bad mood all morning.<span style=""> </span>But this weekend should be able to cheer everyone up.
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span>This weekend we are embarking on the annual high school retreat.<span style=""> </span>Every high school student will be loaded on a bus and driven five or six hours away to the city of Nurnberg (or Nuremberg). <span style=""> </span>This will be a time when the kids can just get away from school and Kandern and enjoy the weekend in a new place.<span style=""> </span>RA's are not required to attend this event, but many of us are going anyway.<span style=""> </span>All four of the RA's from HBR will be there.<span style=""> </span>While there, we will get to shed all of our normal duties and be able to merely hang out with the kids and enjoy the weekend with them.<span style=""> </span>I will be helping to lead a small group of six sophomore guys along with Tommy, an RA from Sonne (check out the link to his blog on the right).<span style=""> </span>Please pray for the spiritual growth that may take place this weekend.<span style=""> </span>As you know, taking students on a trip like this out of their normal surroundings sometimes opens them up to realize things they normally wouldn't, and it is often camps or retreats that kids point back to as a major event or turning point in their spiritual lives.<span style=""> </span>So pray that the students' hearts would be softened and would be vulnerable to the Word of God and the words that the speaker and the small group leaders would have to share.<span style=""> </span>I myself am looking forward to a great weekend, and I will be carrying the burden of prayer along with you.<span style=""> </span>We're leaving tomorrow morning (Friday) and will be coming back Sunday night.<span style=""> </span>Thank you to those of you who will be praying!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Auf Wiedersehen,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Brandon<o:p></o:p></span></p> brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-20960042051892893752009-02-24T16:00:00.000-08:002009-02-25T17:27:41.087-08:00Twenty-Five Weeks From NowTime continues to pass at HBR, and all is well. Last weekend was my first weekend off of this semester, and it turned out to be wonderfully relaxing and fun. This week is the same old kind of busy. Yesterday (Tuesday) we had a meeting in the morning, I went in to town to pick up a few things from the school, I whipped up some no-bake cookies to serve as a snack when guys came home, I relaxed for a few hours in the afternoon, I did dishes, I ate dinner with the guys, and hung out with a few of them in my room as they studied at night. Today (Wednesday) was my co-worker Andrew's birthday so a battle ensued after dinner, and he ended up getting creeked. Tomorrow, I have to wake up at 6:45 to prepare breakfast, run kids in to the school at 7:30, take Marc in for a doctor's appointment at 9:00, I have a Bible study at 10:00, I'm going out to lunch with a few important people, and it's my laundry day so I'll be doing a lot of folding. Hopefully, I can fit in a nap. Next week will be more of the same. Fifteen weeks from now, our BFA seniors will be graduates, and seventeen weeks from now, I'll be seeing my family for the first time in eleven months.<br /><br /> Twenty-five weeks from now is what my mind has been dwelling on often this semester. That is when the new BFA staff should be arriving, orientation will be starting, and the new school year will be getting underway. As of about a month ago, there were no male applicants for the RA position, and they were having trouble finding dorm parents for this coming year for which there are a couple openings. Basically, there are always a lot of job openings every year at BFA from teachers to RA's to support staff. Check out http://www.bfacademy.com/staffopen.asp and scroll down to look at the major needs for next year. I think there is now one guy officially applying to be an RA, but the lack of applicants is a little scary and especially concerning for Tommy and Timmy and I, the only male RA's slated to be back next year. This is where you come in. Drop whatever is going on in your life right now and come work for Black Forest Academy! Just kidding. But you can be praying for those whom God is preparing right now as I type this to bring to BFA for the 09-10 school year. Some of them don't even know it yet. But yep, they're coming, and their lives are about to be completely changed. Pray that they would have courage to continue forward in the process and would have peace in their decision. Pray for their financial support and for the major transition that will be taking place in their lives.<br /><br /> I have no doubt whatsoever that God will provide for this coming year and for specific reasons will bring unique individuals here, placing them right where they need to be in this school. I look forward to hearing stories from people I haven't met yet about how God has been abundantly faithful to them and to be able to see them at times struggling and at times victorious as they adjust to their new life and ministry. I'm already seeing God at work answering prayers for next year. And I do look forward to that time, but I won't get ahead of myself. Right now I'm content to look forward to tomorrow and the opportunities I have right now.<br /><br />Thank you for your love and prayers.<br /><br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-41894229033048580552009-01-30T17:05:00.000-08:002009-02-03T17:22:51.516-08:00Super Bowl SonntagWell, school has been back in session for three weeks now so we are back in the swing of things here at HBR. It's funny how after weeks of living on a completely different timetable during a break, one day back is like a refresher course sending you back to the same toilsome schedule that it seems like you've been doing for years. It didn't take long for some of the RA's to start feeling worn out even just coming off of a long and relaxing break. It seems like a few of the guys returned to school ready to pick up where they left off in testing boundaries. But as tired as I feel sometimes, I am so glad to have them all back for this semester.<br /><br />The first two weekends back were filled with home basketball games. What happens on weekends like these is that games will start at 4 o'clock on Friday right after school gets out. Girls JV plays first, followed by Boys JV, Girls Varsity, and Boys Varsity. We basically spend our entire night at the gym watching games, and eventually get home around 10:30ish. Concessions are available at the games, and all of the students and residence life staff get their meals provided. The entire process starts all over again on Saturday morning at 10:00 as all four teams play a second time. It's a lot of fun to hang out in the stands and cheer on the teams although by the end of four full games sitting on wooden bleachers, there is a lot of... ermm... discomfort involved. Also, BFA's basketball program isn't exactly Europe's finest. The teams we play against are all from schools on American military bases throughout Germany, and the students tend to be more athletic than our kids. Our Varsity guys haven't won a game yet, and they're getting pretty bummed about it. The BFA players have fared well overall though as they handle adversity and keep good attitudes. Plus, even though we aren't extremely competetive in basketball, I hear that we generally kill the other schools in soccer most years. This current week is Spirit Week at school, and we will have our last weekend of home games this coming weekend. Hopefully, the guys can capture their first win in front of the home crowd!<br /><br />More sports discussion: When I was preparing to come over here to Germany, I really had no idea how much I would be able to keep up with American sports. Of course, I would be able to see the results of games on the internet, but I wasn't sure if I would be waiting a full year or so before witnessing my next professional American sporting event. It sounds kind of silly because sports aren't exactly the most important part of life, but I decided that part of the sacrifice of coming here was giving up the ability to keep up with American sports. When I arrived here, I was happy to find that a couple of the dorms, including HBR, have a channel called NASN (North American Sports Network). It is a channel run from within Europe that basically shows what they decide are the best games being played in North America. The games they choose to show are alright, but the organization of the channel as a whole is quite sad. The commercials are horrible; there are basically about three of them total which play over... and over... and over, and all of which I have memorized. They also like to float their logo around the screen any chance they get while playing an annoying little ditty which has also been seared into my brain. I'm very thankful for the channel however. So anyway, during the NFL season, what would be the Sunday afternoon games at home came on at 7 and 10 at night, and they were basically the cream of the crop of what was available. Needless to say, the Bears didn't find themselves looking anything like a cream of a crop this year so they were never featured during those games. However, the Sunday night and Monday night games were always on no matter what (and started at about 2 in the morning) and the Bears managed to be in four of those during the season, and yes, I did watch all four of those games. Those were always late nights, but it was made easier because RA's get every Monday off so if I stayed up late watching football on a Sunday night, at least I could sleep in the next day. I also got to watch exactly three Cubs postseason games in the fall. No more, no less - just three. We don't have to talk about it.<br /><br />Anyway, as some of you might have heard, there was one of those Super Bowls on Sunday, and for us it started at midnight. Yes, we did have a Super Bowl party here at HBR. Several staff members and a group of student girls came over from other dorms to join us, and we served chicken wings, french fries, and soda at midnight before it started. And even though hardly any of the kids in the room knew anything about football, it turned out to be a great time. This despite the fact that my discouraging prediction came true when several students seemed to pick a team to cheer for at random and proceeded to go nuts every time that team gained more than three yards. One of the sad subtractions from the evening were the commercials. We didn't get to see any of the Super Bowl commercials firsthand so I had to wait until Monday when I could look up a few of them online and watch to my heart's content. Even though I was pulling for the Cardinals, it turned out to be a great game, and I'm really glad I had the chance to watch it.<br /><br />For those of you who are wondering, our new RA Anna is doing a fantastic job of picking things up quickly and adapting to life here at HBR. She seems to be finding her niche in the dorm and connecting with various students so that is an answer to prayer. Tell me if you have prayed for her, and I will let her know! I'm sure she would be encouraged to hear it. She is still working on her driving and needs to take our BFA driving test before she is able to drive with students in the vehicle. She's a little nervous about it due to the combination of large vans, manual transmission, and boys being in the van with her. So you can continue to pray for Anna and her transition. I'll leave you there for now. I try my best to make calls home once in a while, but there are so many people out there who I want to talk to and so little time to use on talking. If you'd like to talk to me, send me an email, and I'll try to set up a time when I can get a hold of you. So if you're reading this and you haven't talked to me in a while, I'd love to chat sometime. Until then, thank you for your prayers! God bless!brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-13653460002818649192009-01-09T18:09:00.000-08:002009-01-10T08:54:49.386-08:00Wilkommen Null Neun!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Ein Beschwingtes Neues Jahr!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Happy New Year!</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSFs1MWY5IVJKt9o1HjbNlX2ViSEJl1z4RBQTIAZS4zqwEfBRMrleG0_cQa9Q0ymjvXMhzBY1pAZotcA9yfhONCNGocvfXDQunlXdj1tC0CTJU6bGEu7jUFZaOEQDxWu0kePKJzeuopc/s1600-h/100_1495.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOSFs1MWY5IVJKt9o1HjbNlX2ViSEJl1z4RBQTIAZS4zqwEfBRMrleG0_cQa9Q0ymjvXMhzBY1pAZotcA9yfhONCNGocvfXDQunlXdj1tC0CTJU6bGEu7jUFZaOEQDxWu0kePKJzeuopc/s400/100_1495.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289491738689394498" border="0" /></a>Happy New Year from Germany! Sorry I haven't written sooner. I finally made it to our Christmas break when I had spare time to get things done, but all of a sudden, all I could force myself to do was relax. A couple of us joked about making a schedule for ourselves for the break like when the kids are here. It looked like this:<br /><br />7:00 - Wake up... or don't. You choose.<br />10:00 - Wake up... or still don't. It doesn't matter.<br />1:00 - Go shopping to pick up food and necessities only for yourself.<br />4:00 - Make a snack... for yourself... if you want one.<br />6:00 - Drive the dinner van into town to pick up dinner and eat whatever you want.<br />8:00 - Study hours - Study a movie.<br />10:30 - Lights out... or not.<br /><br />The casual reader will look at this schedule in bemused speculation at its full meaning. But trust me, I am laughing so hard right now, my fingers can barely find the right letters on the keyboard. Ok, that's not true. It's not that funny. But it is a little bit. I'm considering backspacing over all of this. But even if that joke flops with random blog readers, I still think it's<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-FlvrtJ5P47xhPNc2QGEBIo6ToLs7K1VdcHhyphenhyphenT1AxEqkEnOHr3Yvg2INCUKcFM0c_xlXh9GQ1nWJHNdfuPTltsbDOEUl6wra1e3o-hGOaapA7ysLOTFffh4F7fIcPoydC1tUZEPJ3nc/s1600-h/100_1523.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY-FlvrtJ5P47xhPNc2QGEBIo6ToLs7K1VdcHhyphenhyphenT1AxEqkEnOHr3Yvg2INCUKcFM0c_xlXh9GQ1nWJHNdfuPTltsbDOEUl6wra1e3o-hGOaapA7ysLOTFffh4F7fIcPoydC1tUZEPJ3nc/s200/100_1523.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289490908954027346" border="0" /></a>funny. So there is some insight into the job for you.<br /><br />Christmas went well for me here at HBR. I was dreading its coming for most of the semester since I knew I would be away from my family. But it ended up being a great day. I ate a brunch in the morning with all of the RA's that were still in town. And I spent time with a couple different families later at night. And I got to video chat with my family at home a few times through the day and opened gifts with them. On the right is a Christmas tree I stole from our rec room and put in my room after the guys left. I even got to put some presents under it from family back home, a few people here, and even a couple of my supporters!<br /><br />The Sunday night before the guys left, we had a Christmas party here at HBR. It was a blast. Here's what happened. We split them up into their small groups and let them take part in three events for the evening. First they chose two students from their group to wrap a gift. The trick was that the one in front couldn't use his hands and the blindfolded one behind was the one actually wrapping the gift. We got a few interesting looking presents, and I couldn't help but laugh anytime it actually looked like the arms really belonged to the person in front wrapping. Tee hee hee!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yqpfKILH5FLU2n90rrf1k_gIC54ZZWI9z4dPyGmAhu1h7HiC27dW7MIgg9rd7OgLcVFZqfeqCYRYBYLmeCjKmPjdz6YC_B6lC7GR0-9EuiGRMrEF3L17u8W4XaLFmbw-sbKJnGxwCfs/s1600-h/IMG_2201.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_yqpfKILH5FLU2n90rrf1k_gIC54ZZWI9z4dPyGmAhu1h7HiC27dW7MIgg9rd7OgLcVFZqfeqCYRYBYLmeCjKmPjdz6YC_B6lC7GR0-9EuiGRMrEF3L17u8W4XaLFmbw-sbKJnGxwCfs/s400/IMG_2201.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289487274349952162" border="0" /></a>Next I donned my gamemaster hat and led a few rounds of Christmas trivia (my forte). These guys don't know much, but it was fun anyway. Here are a few of them shouting out <span style="font-size:78%;">(probably wrong)</span> answers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2GyeUBF6sFIIL7eCrHmHAhtLFjsT7qYwJmbseMMch77WUUD9Reh7juGUK0g66K4u8bF_CWXsCt2jjs75hhHE3ZTYcE2GXiQZ0hELUBeBmjmJtCOs8OnoSAF27VnuFe6v8Gi5VKezzlQ/s1600-h/IMG_2217.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq2GyeUBF6sFIIL7eCrHmHAhtLFjsT7qYwJmbseMMch77WUUD9Reh7juGUK0g66K4u8bF_CWXsCt2jjs75hhHE3ZTYcE2GXiQZ0hELUBeBmjmJtCOs8OnoSAF27VnuFe6v8Gi5VKezzlQ/s400/IMG_2217.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289487282672819714" border="0" /></a>After this we used Rachel's brilliant idea to portray a live nativity scene. We assigned each group roles that they had to fill so we could take a picture. Hilarious consequences.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIHlDQVPIpHM0D4fS1URQJNg_IXn8UFtYnW99i9BZVIigNg98NizXGHtP2hkHRx2hBpk2HXVj-5WkVG2fcKbj0nHyfu0k9XlAI8DsYI4AMvsb6AFLXIgwT1BlOurdYD3Tf0oR__YS14w/s1600-h/IMG_2227+-+Copy.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIHlDQVPIpHM0D4fS1URQJNg_IXn8UFtYnW99i9BZVIigNg98NizXGHtP2hkHRx2hBpk2HXVj-5WkVG2fcKbj0nHyfu0k9XlAI8DsYI4AMvsb6AFLXIgwT1BlOurdYD3Tf0oR__YS14w/s400/IMG_2227+-+Copy.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289648864586854114" border="0" /></a>Can you find me in the picture? From left to right we have three magi, a little drummer boy, the star over Bethlehem, a camel composed of three boys, the moon, Mary and Joseph (with Jesus), a group of angels and a group of shepherds in back, a group of animals in front, King Herod, and finally a good-looking and well-dressed innkeeper turning away the young couple.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2Q_HhZGEu82AJOYCUw_Zf0pnI9kyn0VuwruFmedC65EaDvgjoPcH2ph1ns-dwPGnNfCxSSDy1ikBwBzKD0MCRnJ7gbd4H1Frk7GyjrLVLq0xfjKQIShkB-74rDBhWnTbWUA12_cRYnE/s1600-h/IMG_2239.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2Q_HhZGEu82AJOYCUw_Zf0pnI9kyn0VuwruFmedC65EaDvgjoPcH2ph1ns-dwPGnNfCxSSDy1ikBwBzKD0MCRnJ7gbd4H1Frk7GyjrLVLq0xfjKQIShkB-74rDBhWnTbWUA12_cRYnE/s200/IMG_2239.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289489492778576674" border="0" /></a>We came inside out of the cold and enjoyed some snacks and punch. Then it was finally time for the boys to open presents. The five of us staff had gone out and bought a bunch of relatively inexpensive gifts and wrapped them up. We then allowed them to draw numbers out of a hat and proceed with the gift exchange. And I've never seen one like this.<br /><br />To see the looks on their faces when they opened something as simple as a pair of headphones, sidewalk chalk, a pair of slippers, or a Spongebob pillow was great. One of the most revered items to open and find was the almighty roll of duct tape. There were at least half a dozen rolls of colored duct tape, and they are a huge hit every year.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraGo34KgV1AFdzL-dYEZyYSfvjiHtwMbHt0ofx4PzRXCmJtWRo6WeEB0azXhmarVak2tjQ3yWfOTd18AFvwm3M44erQPwrFmqubiw271qbWMyobp_d9UQLIFC2ezWXD_kZ8TYw6J2XkI/s1600-h/IMG_2245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgraGo34KgV1AFdzL-dYEZyYSfvjiHtwMbHt0ofx4PzRXCmJtWRo6WeEB0azXhmarVak2tjQ3yWfOTd18AFvwm3M44erQPwrFmqubiw271qbWMyobp_d9UQLIFC2ezWXD_kZ8TYw6J2XkI/s200/IMG_2245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289489497310232898" border="0" /></a>Of course, they were allowed to steal gifts from each other, and this is when things really started to get funny. After a gift is stolen three times, it is considered safe and can't be stolen anymore. The seniors worked together and the juniors worked together and were strategizing how to keep certain items for their floor because if a student wins something, it basically belongs to the entire floor of guys at that point. The seniors were really good at this strategy and the juniors... not so much. So whenever something got stolen for the third time, one entire side of the room would jump up and start taunting the other side. I've never seen anything like it. When all of the gifts belonged to somebody, the night was over, and it was bedtime. All in all, it was a great Christmas party.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd69OmX8Dyz1FnlDAqv0-FAAHwKfV54a4o9NpIslvMJZX4q4PAA_NU3jKDuMZg3V4IHm_igA4ciTYxq51mlZ2rAZiUSY3o7X-FwNBCrwTzZ6pcXT225gzEcmTwLE2T8lj-WZgfYFKtLRc/s1600-h/IMG_2251.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd69OmX8Dyz1FnlDAqv0-FAAHwKfV54a4o9NpIslvMJZX4q4PAA_NU3jKDuMZg3V4IHm_igA4ciTYxq51mlZ2rAZiUSY3o7X-FwNBCrwTzZ6pcXT225gzEcmTwLE2T8lj-WZgfYFKtLRc/s200/IMG_2251.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289489500903277234" border="0" /></a>Something I haven't mentioned is that at the end of last semester, Rachel found out she couldn't come back for this coming semester. Her support had been low for a long time, and she basically ran out, and her missions agency was having her return to the States. Also, there was a new RA coming for this semester who was going to be placed in one of the girls dorms. After this new development took place, however, she was moved to HBR. So we'll have a new RA this semester! Her name is Anna, and she got here earlier this week. She seems very nice, and I think she'll do great. But she could really use your prayers through this transition. To follow up on the other story, the dorm students were really sad and upset that Rachel wouldn't be coming back. After some of the students' parents found out about it, they contacted their supporters and tried to start raising extra support for Rachel. Some of the parents (missionaries themselves) are even sacrificially giving of their own money. And we just found out a couple days ago that Rachel is at full support and she will be returning to join us for this semester! It was really exciting to see God's people come together and use their resources to support someone here at BFA who needed help. And that shows you how strong of a ministry an RA can have here. Many of the guys were nearly devastated that Rachel would be leaving. And hardly any of them even know she's coming back at this point. But we will all be delighted for her to be back. And now we will have four RA's at HBR. We're looking forward to a good semester!<br /><br />Keep praying for me and God bless you in this new year!<br /><br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-57588308235087663072008-12-02T03:26:00.000-08:002008-12-04T13:04:45.163-08:00Christmas BanquetThis Saturday (Nov 29th) was BFA's Christmas Banquet. For about a month prior, most of the guys at HBR had been working up courage to ask a girl in some creative way to be his date to the banquet. Songs were sung, flowers were offered, poems were recited, eggs were laid... all done for the word "yes" from a sweet young lady. I drove one guy to a girls' dorm after dinner and witnessed him performing a song he wrote on guitar first over the PA system and then in front of her. Overall, it was a fun and exciting time for the guys (and probably more so for the girls, I think).<br /><br />After weeks of anticipation, the day was finally here. We admired their suits and helped tie their neckties. I convinced one guy that he needed to borrow a pair of black socks. We arrived at the school at around six and all of the boys waited outside for their dates to show up so that they could escort them indoors. After a lot of milling around and pictures being taken, the banquet officially started. The theme of the banquet was "Christmas in France." There was an Eiffel Tower on stage, and we were served all night by middle schoolers with thin mustaches.<br /><br />The program was composed of a three-course meal, musical acts by the students, wishes being granted for them, and parents' emails being read. The emails from the seniors' parents to the kids were mostly made up of statements like "I can't believe this is your last year" and "I remember when you were filling your diapers." The wishes by the students were submitted in the month leading up to the banquet and Student Council along with the staff chose which wishes to grant. One kid wished for hot drinks to be available in the student center. One girl received elf shoes. The girls' volleyball team wished for Coach Woodward to put on a performance for the audience. A couple girls wished for a surprise and received a box of junk that was garage sale worthy. Our very own David Cho wished to go out on a date with the prettiest single teacher at school and won himself a night out with Mr. Michaels. The kids auditioned to be able to sing a song at the banquet, and the musical performances were done well. The last act of the night was a student singing, "I'll Be Home for Christmas," a song which hasn't meant much to me in the past but that is a lot more moving this year all of a sudden.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGoSlNc_LibKpUTN5usWjVXt60SmIop6zqZ2ZTsqEptlwaxdXqnnjOTPOZg9bjok5-sxBEtjT2WKcMIqQ5bm4NnKxG4GYxVezhIWqcwlf7l_AMPYDqTv37MCc3bHW4bnsCqYgMQZjZAs/s1600-h/100_1474.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGoSlNc_LibKpUTN5usWjVXt60SmIop6zqZ2ZTsqEptlwaxdXqnnjOTPOZg9bjok5-sxBEtjT2WKcMIqQ5bm4NnKxG4GYxVezhIWqcwlf7l_AMPYDqTv37MCc3bHW4bnsCqYgMQZjZAs/s400/100_1474.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275159367700440530" border="0" /></a>This is Phil playing guitar and singing a song with another student named Amelie. He's really talented!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtHYpr3-ZPvn5J9TyLIrbwIYDaG3m25y9Hku2f9BlnLgqCXdftQmpUCDdnTfxDZzQQrrBnC1_OYV_azeDCAKpIwoDfwSAPo_PVKg_emD9JnJkpRpC2pTnlOuLH6iER3_cR8G52Yhyphenhyphenjv4/s1600-h/100_1478.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNtHYpr3-ZPvn5J9TyLIrbwIYDaG3m25y9Hku2f9BlnLgqCXdftQmpUCDdnTfxDZzQQrrBnC1_OYV_azeDCAKpIwoDfwSAPo_PVKg_emD9JnJkpRpC2pTnlOuLH6iER3_cR8G52Yhyphenhyphenjv4/s400/100_1478.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275159370906435234" border="0" /></a>This is the Christmas court, as voted on by the student body. Note the French items given to each student. Aryan from HBR on the far right was chosen to represent the senior class on the court. He was the Big Cheese for the night.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSknz0_RDPuN3dDpQCmEUnd4rgXa5CZLfLwp0Sq6H4Jn4tHlbqgxD-6pY96fN1nZK8sy-l9eeWlSb9ToU3gfzB-PqGw8IDq6Fj8H1IkxAqBsJlgR0op6Ntpg2W0Lj1i6t2IDfCU4nRSA/s1600-h/100_1480.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSknz0_RDPuN3dDpQCmEUnd4rgXa5CZLfLwp0Sq6H4Jn4tHlbqgxD-6pY96fN1nZK8sy-l9eeWlSb9ToU3gfzB-PqGw8IDq6Fj8H1IkxAqBsJlgR0op6Ntpg2W0Lj1i6t2IDfCU4nRSA/s400/100_1480.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5275159377025842754" border="0" /></a>This is one of the group pictures I got of HBR at the banquet. Can you find me?<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The Christmas banquet was the biggest excitement we've had around here for a while. There are only two more full weeks of school before the Christmas break. You can tell that most of the students are ready for a break. They've been here a long time, and they're getting a little antsy pantsy. I have to say that I'm ready for the break as well. Weeks upon weeks of a job like this will take its toll on you! I feel physically drained, and I can imagine I will just collapse and not get up for a week as soon as the last student is dropped off at the airport. Continue to pray for me getting my rest and for the preparations for Christmas. Thank you!<br /><br />-Brandon<br /></div></div>brandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-31251303354479291552008-11-12T16:03:00.000-08:002008-11-13T02:47:58.415-08:00Herbstmesse!Hallo! I absolutely cannot believe that it is the 12th week of the semester here at BFA. Someone mentioned that the other day, and I was astounded. On the one hand, it feels like I've been living here in Germany at least a year by now, but on the other hand, it feels like school just started and I only have a few weeks under my belt. This is one of those places where time just absolutely flies by. I can't keep up!<br /><br />Here's your trivia question for today. How much does this dorm pay for water each month? If you guessed 2,000 euros per month, then you are exactly right! That is somewhere between 2,500 and 3,000 dollars spent each and every month just for the use of water in this one dorm alone with 33 people living in it. I heard that stat the other day, and it just blew my mind. I hope it blew yours, too.<br /><br />Now you're probably thinking to yourself, "I've read Brandon's intro, and I've read his trivia question of the day. Now what does that German word in the title of the blog mean?" Well, my friends, Herbstmesse is one of the biggest festivals of the year here in Germany. I mean, it's no Oktoberfest, but it's up there. I know not a single one of you at home is going to correctly pronounce Herbstmesse, and I'm not even going to try to explain how. I think it's more fun that way. But the word "herbst" means "fall" (as in the season), and the word "messe" means "party" or "festival" so we're talking about THE Fall Festival here. Two weekends ago, on Thursday, October 30th, we loaded up every BFA dorm student into rented tour buses and traveled to Basel, Switzerland for the night to celebrate.<br /><br />It is basically set up like a festival in the States. There are wild rides, booths with food, games ready to scam you, and creepy carnies. I spent most of my night walking around the city with a group of RA's, riding one single ride (continue reading), riding the bumper cars with a huge group of BFA students, and taking in the sights. My favorite part was the random American influences all over the park. There were signs hanging everywhere of random American celebrities like Macaulay Culkin from his "Home Alone" days and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. One ride had a background behind it with some no-name girl looking risque in the middle of it, Marilyn Monroe in the left corner, and Doc Brown and Marty McFly from "Back to the Future" in the right corner. Lovely. Read on for pictures and stories.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUv5g4mk23Mq7Y0POps1c0POHmLeKnsk8dvmSJjqGdpVZx8fb-2_h6k9cJyfqPVeEF8hReGC4DBzCarJWau_JXfVnO9XeOlDyHV4ef0cFjtVtprWtElJLLoirTkF8BsWtTiyaC9ouO71I/s1600-h/herbst+ride.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUv5g4mk23Mq7Y0POps1c0POHmLeKnsk8dvmSJjqGdpVZx8fb-2_h6k9cJyfqPVeEF8hReGC4DBzCarJWau_JXfVnO9XeOlDyHV4ef0cFjtVtprWtElJLLoirTkF8BsWtTiyaC9ouO71I/s400/herbst+ride.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267936151470398018" border="0" /></a>This is a picture of a handful of RA's riding one of the carnival rides. The one I rode was like this except the spokes were longer and sat five people across. After five of us loaded ourselves into the ride and the seat bars locked over us, we were sitting there waiting for it to start, and I was kind of rocking our entire row back and forth. After doing this for about a minute, the bars holding us in place came undone and stayed loose. The problem didn't fix itself right away, and after some nervous laughter, I was just thinking to myself something like, "Ok, play it cool. The ride probably isn't going to start like this... but if it does, you are really going to die." After a few seconds of this, a couple German guys show up chuckling and push our lap bars back into place while thinking, "Stupid Americans!" Or maybe they said it out loud. Who knows? But you can bet that during the entire ride as it mercilessly flung me every direction upside down and backward, all I could do was imagine my lap bar coming undone, and my flailing body hitting several steel beams before it met the ground below completely lifeless.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZZrcCdPN1bad6mKFPpGKOFmmWFmVkzuN1LZ3q3FIWAhjX5W0QhdVVXrThAdITrX5AoKgjAQnWz2qOelq_Whnk9VOhEkQrtpKHLCTNj8AYm4aBiZwR_mHfvpA9tBBS7GWtARQZhYEePE/s1600-h/bumper+cars.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZZrcCdPN1bad6mKFPpGKOFmmWFmVkzuN1LZ3q3FIWAhjX5W0QhdVVXrThAdITrX5AoKgjAQnWz2qOelq_Whnk9VOhEkQrtpKHLCTNj8AYm4aBiZwR_mHfvpA9tBBS7GWtARQZhYEePE/s400/bumper+cars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267936158602993138" border="0" /></a>This is Andrew and I dominating all of our students on the bumper cars.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SS-ABJfK5X8iboAFeqgOUoe8s5qyhzL9wq7EsCXJCgLcB37TFrFQHVkGppiBz_cWuiZu5LolbpH8ObVOyZTCl4c3R1ki9f9vWQCe2CzQdy4frNzIuiUs43Yc2wtczIRon9Vpj7AFsQg/s1600-h/IMG_0860.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SS-ABJfK5X8iboAFeqgOUoe8s5qyhzL9wq7EsCXJCgLcB37TFrFQHVkGppiBz_cWuiZu5LolbpH8ObVOyZTCl4c3R1ki9f9vWQCe2CzQdy4frNzIuiUs43Yc2wtczIRon9Vpj7AFsQg/s400/IMG_0860.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267943504561309666" border="0" /></a>From left to right: Mr. Corn on the Cob, Rachel, Andrew, myself. Reenacting one of Andrew's digestion issues from the beginning of the year. We won't let him live it down.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0t39g5zOFb3aa7elgWeN594ZRxGXxXEMBnG13VK24qQ7C2yQPBFZW4UrVeO8hRVi0SgiNq8KlBYpSPip7ZTotJSB2w8h9m-y0UfDtVF-gz4wdInJ3IXEFTppkeiMbqYoJ1cP21ybZVjc/s1600-h/IMG_0868.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0t39g5zOFb3aa7elgWeN594ZRxGXxXEMBnG13VK24qQ7C2yQPBFZW4UrVeO8hRVi0SgiNq8KlBYpSPip7ZTotJSB2w8h9m-y0UfDtVF-gz4wdInJ3IXEFTppkeiMbqYoJ1cP21ybZVjc/s400/IMG_0868.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267943817151000834" border="0" /></a>I don't remember doing this, but this is from the end of the night, and I was evidently ready for the night to be over with. Left to right: Lizzy, Timmy, Andrew, and myself.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHOm8CPU7s1aIl_6jiTn_5RsY7etQmnHi7H9BrNRH1lCXcWANPtS3di-L2vgS4vGp8Y-PqU00wH3BGNsRVK3CQaqGImYPnSmFUUU59-h8wMh0wySiAi60v03ekZHZHw4_A-0lAJzkdBQ/s1600-h/CIMG0482.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHOm8CPU7s1aIl_6jiTn_5RsY7etQmnHi7H9BrNRH1lCXcWANPtS3di-L2vgS4vGp8Y-PqU00wH3BGNsRVK3CQaqGImYPnSmFUUU59-h8wMh0wySiAi60v03ekZHZHw4_A-0lAJzkdBQ/s400/CIMG0482.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267936168209134930" border="0" /></a>This is probably my favorite sign that I found which featured American influence. It was displayed over a food stand and proudly presented characters from the 90's Batman movies. You can see Jim Carrey's Riddler on the left and Chris O'Donnell's Robin on the right. And yes, in the middle, wearing a white tux jacket OVER his leather suit, is Batman himself, offering a tasty burger and a thumbs up. I loved it.<br /><br />I've been asked several times about how we are handling Thanksgiving here. Germany doesn't have any Thanksgiving holiday, but we are celebrating it at BFA. We are actually celebrating it tomorrow... two weeks early. Don't ask me why, but we are. But we have been concerning ourselves with preparing for it because the meal is indeed going to be much larger than usual. I'm hoping that a lot of the RA's will be able to celebrate together in a couple weeks on Thanksgiving Day itself. This brings me however to the unavoidable fact that I will be missing the holidays with my family this year, the first year that this will have taken place. This is obviously one of the sacrifices I had prepared for in coming to BFA in the first place, but as I have remarked to several friends and family, it is going to be tough, and I will miss all of my family back home especially during these times in the coming months. So keep me in your thoughts through this holiday season! And thank you for your continued prayers!<br /><br />-Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-51143962670999903332008-10-31T05:54:00.001-07:002008-11-01T18:10:54.013-07:00BattlingI think most of you know that I have loved the time I've been able to spend here at BFA so far. I really like the rest of the staff here, being involved in the students' lives has been a blessing, and I have been growing by taking on the role of a servant in the dorm. Some of you know I even got to take a weekend trip to Barcelona on my last weekend off, which was amazing.<br /><br />But I need you to know that not everything here in Germany is as beautiful or as fun as my pleasant blog posts make it out to be. Because as great as I can portray the ministry here to be, there is definitely a war being waged against BFA right now. Anytime a ministry is strong and thriving, Satan is going to attack that ministry in any way he can.<br /><br />We are being attacked physically. Last weekend one of our dorm moms got into a bad accident on her bike and needed work done on her face and hands. Also, one of our (tall) guys hit his head on a doorway, giving himself a concussion, and needed to go to the hospital. And one of our teachers finally arrived to school late for the semester after staying home and fighting a bout of cancer. And besides these injuries and disease, working here is exhausting!<br /><br />We are being attacked emotionally. Dealing with these kids day in and day out grows tiresome. I am essentially putting aside the freedom of my own life so that I can live their lives alongside them every single day. As nice as I can make the kids sound, sometimes they are... not nice. Sometimes I want to strangle them (I'm not really going to). Just like any other kids, the ones here can be wildly disobedient, make stupid choices, and be incredibly disrespectful. Working through the students' issues is emotionally draining.<br /><br />We are being attacked spiritually. The busyness that comes with every day makes it seem easy to miss a quiet time of meditation with God on a daily basis. This can't happen if we are to resist the devil and fight back against him! It's frustrating to try and get involved in the students' spiritual lives. Because even though almost all of them come from families of missionaries, some of them don't have much interest in spiritual matters, and even the ones who do don't seem to talk about it much. Sure, they have church services, small groups, dorm fellowship, chapel services, and whatnot, but I don't know how much they are growing or learning from any of those things.<br /><br />All that to say, I am finding joy in my trials and am taking up the Sword to fight back in the war. I just want you to know the reality that along with the good times here, there are hard times. We really do need your prayer here as we continue battling!<br /><br />Fighting for Him,<br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-62588429804926702682008-10-16T17:37:00.000-07:002008-10-16T18:27:35.744-07:00Overdue Pics<div style="text-align: left;">Hallo! I decided I should hop on here and add a couple important pictures since I've been meaning to for a while. This first one isn't important, and it's rather dark and grainy, but I like it. This is at least half a dozen guys or more who were in my room a couple weeks ago playing Halo against each other on the network. I joined in, but I stink so that part wasn't fun. But I was really glad that my room was a place where they could feel comfortable coming together to hang out and have fun. A lot of the guys pop in once in a while to relax and talk in my room, especially the eight guys who live on my floor with me. And I love that they feel like they can do that.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefMsMYQB1qEjvPH3-6YflVGx4l9VD3UpNKW8nlgk3Ntbn5KN0gWi7CllBxPqHG-kaw31LUijS9NVkEdsPTig36l-M3eoSh2gIJJu7nQamq8tGc06pEtzukjkW7hvIBNnzOasuP-_cUS0/s1600-h/100_1143.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefMsMYQB1qEjvPH3-6YflVGx4l9VD3UpNKW8nlgk3Ntbn5KN0gWi7CllBxPqHG-kaw31LUijS9NVkEdsPTig36l-M3eoSh2gIJJu7nQamq8tGc06pEtzukjkW7hvIBNnzOasuP-_cUS0/s400/100_1143.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257919713062549778" border="0" /></a>This next one's not important either. It's just me. Both of these next two are from orientation before school started when I had only been here about a week and a half. This was taken the day we found out which dorm we would be in. We were referring to it as a draft because each new RA was picked to join the staff of a certain dorm, kind of like how players are drafted to join a sports team. You follow? So I took the time to draw jerseys for everybody so we could hold them up just like athletes do on draft day. Not really a good story, but since I'm holding the thing up in the picture, I couldn't really avoid explaining it. Jeffers! HBR! #23! Just like Michael Jordan, Ryne Sandberg, Devin Hester... Needless to say, I was the steal of the draft.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSixMxaOxkCCDASOxHu8-u65Ic4d1MTP7Obve3f2grtCn0WGuW_OmozMbcp73gl9DRMElc8bxj-BntQ4q8fINuH0FWYYiM2tMxwd80jP80Pqd8Kl4Li7rahls6HFF4MIbNNs7n9923ZRQ/s1600-h/IMG_0189.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSixMxaOxkCCDASOxHu8-u65Ic4d1MTP7Obve3f2grtCn0WGuW_OmozMbcp73gl9DRMElc8bxj-BntQ4q8fINuH0FWYYiM2tMxwd80jP80Pqd8Kl4Li7rahls6HFF4MIbNNs7n9923ZRQ/s400/IMG_0189.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257919717550413842" border="0" /></a>I would have put these up earlier, but they are Andrew's pictures so I had to get them from him. And that took... over a month. OK, I guess I don't really have an excuse. Anyway, I realized I had never to this point put up a picture of my dorm staff so I thought I should take care of that! This is the important picture I was referring to. As you can see, this picture was taken the same day, right after I found out who I would be working with this year. Refresher course: the dorm parents' names are Calvin and Joan, and the two RA's who are also working here are named Andrew and Rachel. I'll let you figure out for yourself who's who.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY0nML1FaAlE7tSSOqBm_jdfyoLkgn5yRijio6PoxS_-YOSVp-f6VUPJTmoFN5g1gvgFoER2_RbR9YrJolh0_dkMiZRtJU2n31kaFtWY0q6Rf8LWNiOJK0uLkrTLRI67fcVVI5j_mClI/s1600-h/IMG_0190.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY0nML1FaAlE7tSSOqBm_jdfyoLkgn5yRijio6PoxS_-YOSVp-f6VUPJTmoFN5g1gvgFoER2_RbR9YrJolh0_dkMiZRtJU2n31kaFtWY0q6Rf8LWNiOJK0uLkrTLRI67fcVVI5j_mClI/s400/IMG_0190.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257919726876051090" border="0" /></a><br />They have been great to get to know and work with, and like I've said before, I think we make a great team. In other news, I get a weekend off this week which starts tomorrow, and I'm getting the chance to get away for a while with several of the other RA's. Pray that I would take the opportunity to get some rest and to be reenergized for when I return and to have a good time of fellowship with the others who are going. I think I've made it clear that this job is quite exhausting so it's important to take advantage of these rare times to get away and rest. Thank you in advance for your prayers! Auf wiedersehen!<br /><br />-Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6897156201131565844.post-36636656709527540882008-10-11T02:10:00.000-07:002008-10-11T15:51:04.293-07:00Laundry Day<div style="text-align: center;">Buntwasche!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOpTBhdTz0mjMCCsGT3jCliLN8ULNWJ2Umej71QjuWKg255xzvKZ5nLk09o2Bn_fNGy-ipCpKUKbZhqFjge8CKXSnXjpFDjqtV3y6COPABLjMjU4w7Ph34HI4d6PWrOYXS2rhSdIdOwo/s1600-h/100_1248.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOpTBhdTz0mjMCCsGT3jCliLN8ULNWJ2Umej71QjuWKg255xzvKZ5nLk09o2Bn_fNGy-ipCpKUKbZhqFjge8CKXSnXjpFDjqtV3y6COPABLjMjU4w7Ph34HI4d6PWrOYXS2rhSdIdOwo/s400/100_1248.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255824972244731106" border="0" /></a>Thursday is laundry day for me here at HBR. It actually starts on Wednesday night when all of the sophomores and freshmen bring their laundry baskets downstairs after dinner and throw their clothes into (mostly) organized piles. We have six sophomores and only two freshmen so that means I'm doing eight guys' laundry once a week in addition to my own. I throw in a couple rounds of loads Wednesday night (usually 10-12 loads overall) and then finish Thursday and spend around two hours folding. I usually throw in a CD, and it's a good time to just be quiet and reflect for a while. By doing so much laundry so often, a couple funny notions hit me. First, I think how funny it is that I can expect certain things from certain guys and can recognize most of the clothes and who they belong to. Then it hits me that every parent must have this same experience. I'm sure it's a little different. But I know that Sam is going to give me almost as many undershirts as regular shirts. And that almost every single one of Reece's t-shirts have one of those goofy sayings on the front (Lost in thought: Send a rescue party!). And that all of the Italian soccer jerseys belong to Chris. And that Andrew will give me a few of his older brother's old shirts. And that so-and-so never brings me hardly any laundry. :( And that if clothes aren't marked, more often than not they belong to Z (Zwelakhe). All of their clothes are supposed to be marked somewhere so we know whose they are. And all of the socks and underwear get put in mesh bags so I don't have to learn <span style="font-style: italic;">that </span>much about the guys. So anyway, that's part of what my schedule looks like on Thursdays. So if you ever wake up in the middle of the night at 3 or 4 in the morning on a Thursday, you know I'm probably folding clothes...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">It goes from this...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn-G7CY5Vmc-J5jGewJ_keFp2h_4PUrYUjm9il52mDIwSqztnX-aTTx7OZp7BcvlD8TvMAzbDn2ON3TgQ78QVvhDLMOst3VezZXVJRQ-LeLoAj96Ms-kaMYKSGubSmYRkHthZ_i_Aw7w/s1600-h/100_1245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyn-G7CY5Vmc-J5jGewJ_keFp2h_4PUrYUjm9il52mDIwSqztnX-aTTx7OZp7BcvlD8TvMAzbDn2ON3TgQ78QVvhDLMOst3VezZXVJRQ-LeLoAj96Ms-kaMYKSGubSmYRkHthZ_i_Aw7w/s400/100_1245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255824971494628898" border="0" /></a>...to this...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqNxlOdPygiZJ1wTtJ0_agdGMC4qMtMu0xmKrMaTa_YdMRYtLwdKJl8bsg4yUBaAfR9vvrxyI7WPakTFL8S8RNkuCAphLGKcDgnH5eEtT_Yi4QjQbIQh49D80mC899wp4KaPrrV_XzxI/s1600-h/100_1249.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqNxlOdPygiZJ1wTtJ0_agdGMC4qMtMu0xmKrMaTa_YdMRYtLwdKJl8bsg4yUBaAfR9vvrxyI7WPakTFL8S8RNkuCAphLGKcDgnH5eEtT_Yi4QjQbIQh49D80mC899wp4KaPrrV_XzxI/s400/100_1249.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255824976022650578" border="0" /></a>...to this.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYes5lgcDytMWN1qkqWtjNI4Afk1zGmu7TwraJZh6GRJ7NvHBSDxTm6YHChnbFIQDpE7MscwKvJIWFHNSAi-_Xbr3Xw3_4AY6npv_p7GuvPAKxQHq0od-cCafgrU_hYcG0knWZ8zQrQyA/s1600-h/100_1256.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYes5lgcDytMWN1qkqWtjNI4Afk1zGmu7TwraJZh6GRJ7NvHBSDxTm6YHChnbFIQDpE7MscwKvJIWFHNSAi-_Xbr3Xw3_4AY6npv_p7GuvPAKxQHq0od-cCafgrU_hYcG0knWZ8zQrQyA/s400/100_1256.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255824978652716850" border="0" /></a>Fun, huh? That's part of what I do around the dorm that involves service rather than relationships. There's a fair amount of both here, and I've mentioned before that I enjoy the time I spend with the guys more than the time I spend working, of course, but it is great to get work done and develop the heart of a servant and contribute something to the dorm. Especially on Thursdays, after I finally finish the laundry for the week, I feel like I've completed a grand accomplishment! And now you've seen proof that I'm doing real work around here, too. :) Thanks again for your thoughts, prayers, and encouraging messages! God bless.<br /><br />In His Service,<br />Brandonbrandonjeffershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110404116698752334noreply@blogger.com3