Ice Cream!

The best ice cream shop ever! I love lavender ice cream!!!

Allie, me, Tiffany and Amanda

The Panama Canal!

all the qirls with our favorite cook!

Kate, Amanda, Marlena, Heather, Allie y Clara

LASP Students in Kuna Yala with our Kuna amigas!

Back from Panama!

Wow! It has been an amazing 2 weeks out of Costa Rica! First we ended core seminar portion of the semester. Now we are moving into our concentrations. I got to spend time in Panama and with the indigenous of Kuna Yala. The attached photo is of the group of us and our Kuna friends wearing traditional molas. See if you can find me! The second is of my Kuna mother and my house. We spent a day and a half in Panama City seeing the old part and ruins of a cathedral. We stayed in a Hotel during this time. Panama is known as the Miami of Latin America, so if you can imagine there is a lot of life and culture there. Although there a lot of North American influences, Panama City is fun. What I really noticed was the public buses. There were all the same bus but they had art wort all over with music and flashing lights on the inside. The best word I could use is "pimped" out! We never got to ride these buses because we had our own driver for our time there.

The night before we left for our homestays in the San Blas, we had a wonderful Chinese dinner. I had chicken curry chow mein. I loved it so much! To get to Panama from San Jose you have to take an 18 hour bus ride. We left San Jose at 1pm and arrived at our hotel at 5:30 am the next day. It was brutal to say the least. Ok so now lets move on the the stay with the Kunas. Nuedi! is what you will say to greet your new Kuna friends. Many of the people spoke Spanish as a second language. So we had something in common from the start...Spanish is our second language! In my family only the father and some of the sisters spoke Spanish. My mother only spoke Kuna. To get to this island we had to take a poodle jumper plane and fortunately they had recently built an airport so we got to land on the island. Then took a canoe ride to our part of the island where the water is turquoise and the palm tress are heavy with coconuts. Food on the island consisted of plantain soup, avocados, hot dogs, bread, fresh fish, a wonderful hot chocolate drink, lobster and more plantains! One day for lunch the whole group was invited over for food at one lady's house. She made us this five start lobster and crab soup. It was hearty enough to be a winter soup but we had in the middle of humid 90 degree weather! For flavor there was shredded coconut in it. I loved it so much! I did not get sick at all while I was there, I am so thankful.

During our stay we played with kids, took a canoe ride to a river and saw the cemetery for the Kuna people. We went to the local congress and saw two being reprimanded for steal someone's coconuts. Every where in Panama they use dollars but on the island the use coconuts also. One coconut equals 10 cents. It was neat to see people buy things with coconuts. You would think that being surrounded by water there would be beaches but here there is only one area of white sand, which is not even very big. I was so happy to go swimming that day. The water was turquoise and so refreshing. For church on Sunday they had a different style to their service. In the morning was Sunday school for all the kids. All of us students visiting where the leaders for the service. We organized games and songs and even a little skit. Then at night was the regular service. It was in both Kuna and Spanish. Sunday was our last night and when the pastor started to share his thanks for us being there he started to cry and he said that the community will never forget us. This brought all of us to tears too.

We left the island on Monday and it was very hard to leave my family there. We had created a great connection even though I could not speak their own language. My family gave me a beautiful mola in a frame. I will never forget my life with the Kunas.

Once back in Panama at the same hotel we did a lice treatment wash and sent out again to tour the city. What a quick transition from island to city. So crazy! We were all craving something cold after the hot island so we found this wonderful French ice cream shop. They had amazing flavors such as earl gray, pineapple, basil, honey and many more. I got the lavender flavor and it tasted just like a field of French lavender. I also had a taste of the basil ice cream and it was wonderful too. For dinner that night we went to a an Italian place. Me and my friends shared our meals. We had a pesto and spinach fest, yummmmy!!! The next day we visited the canal at the Miraflores locks. We saw 3 huge boats passing through the canal and walked through the museum. I liked being the canal. There is so much history there. My father in Kuna Yala even worked on the canal. After we went to this huge mall called Albrook and had a typical Panamanian lunch (not much to write home about). Then we went to a market full of indigenous stuff. I bought some molas and things. Then we went to dinner at an Indian place and I had coconut shrimp curry. I went through so many food cultural experiences. That night we got back on the bus to San Jose for another 18 hours of my life sitting on the bus. This time it was worse. I am so glad to be back with my Costa Rica family.

I only have 3 weeks left in San Jose then 2 weeks in Guatemala, then one week in Miami and home eon April 27th. Start the countdown! lol Alright folks thanks so much for reading this far down! I am really excited to share more with you all when I am home!!

Love always,

Clara Marina

mac people are the coolest!

andrea, allison and me in the LASP office!

My Tico Family!

Chilling.....

Hello all! I have finished my big paper for the semester and tomorrow we have group presentations tomorrow. Thank you for the prayers during that time! I did eleven pages about the Latin American Film Industry in Spanish.

This week has been very relaxing, not much homework so I have really appreciated this down time. Since I have not had much to do when I get home at night me and my host mom have had some great conversations. We about things ranging from family life to tattoos. I really value this time we spend together because one we are talking in Spanish so I am learning and two we are building a great friendship. My family here is very quite and as I have said before I am outgoing and like to joke. I have always been myself while I am here but I feel now that the family is starting to get my humor and laugh together a little more.

Spring break starts this Friday and ends on Monday the 12th. So technically we only have one day of break and then the weekend. My Dad from the USA is here and we will be traveling to Monteverde (zip line and jungle) and then maybe Puntareanas. Since Dad has been here I have had the chance to be a tourist in San Jose for a bit. We took a tour of the Teatro Nacional and the Gold Museum. Both very interesting and fun. On Sunday Dad came to church and then to my house for lunch. My host mom made a great meal, yes I am talking about food again! The desert was the best, she made baked plantains with a brown sugar cream cheese dressing! YUMMY! I wish I could send you all some! Then me and my Dad went to go see Babel.

We are starting concentrations next week. I am in Language and Literature track, there are 12 total in this track. First we will travel to Panama for ten days and live with and indigenous tribe called the Kunas. They live on the islands of Panama. They use U.S. dollars and coconuts for money and live in palm tree huts. And Spanish is their second language so it will be fun to learn some of their native tongue. After living with the Kunas we will tour the Canal and then hop back on the bus for an 18 hour ride back to San Jose.

I am so glad to be done with that paper and moving into our concentrations. The Latin American Studies track gets to spend ten days in Cuba. One girl told me she wants to smoke a Cuban cigar on the beach! I can't wait to hear stories from their experience.

Talk to you all after Panama! Hi Grandma, I love you and thanks for all the cards!
The picture is of me and my friend Angie on the way back from Nicaragua listening to my new reggaeton CDs!!!

Claire Scholl
EagleVision News Team-- Latin American Correspondent
www.biola.edu/eaglevision

Nicaragua

Buenos dias familia y amigos!

I am back from the campo (the countryside) in Nicaragua. I had such a beautiful experience there. First we had a few day in the capital Managua where we visited historical parks and spoke with a man in the National Assembly. We ate bastante comida (a lot of food) at various restaurants. Next we did a week of homestays all over Nicaragua. I went to a campo town called Wapy. There were no paved roads for about an hour and a half to get to the town. They only had electricity from 5-10pm and no running water. So I took bucket showers all week with freezing water. My family consisted of a mother and her son and daughter. The daughter, Karla, is 6 years old so we instantly became friends, especially when I gave her the pretty hair clips I brought for her. Attached is a picture of her and I. The other photo is of me and the other students that stayed in Wapy. Other groups went to the north of Nicaragua and others to both coastal sides.

During this week we did many fun things. For a service project we painted the Sunday school room with a bright turquoise color, we got to swim in the near by river with all of our clothes on, normally this is a river for bathing and washing clothes, we visited a farm, which was a hike and we would volar la lengua, which means talking. For most of the day we would sit in patio chairs and just talking about various subjects. I really enjoyed this because I got to build a nice relationship with this family. I have many funny stories to share but I will choose just one for this email. I had become sick last Sunday, I had to force my self to vomit, I had horrible stomach pains and the doctor had to come visit me, which only cost 5 dollars by the way, and it was just a bad day. The doctor determined that it was an amoeba in my intestines, so he put me on some pills. So two days later I started to feel almost 100%, and my host mom asked me "are you afraid at all to eat our food now?" and if you know my humorous personality you will understand the way I responded. I said "No I am not scared, I love animals in my stomach!" And the room just fell silent and their faces dropped. :) Then I said oh it was a joke, I am feeling better and then just shoved more food in my mouth. So it was a memorable experience in Wapy.

After the homestays we made our way to Granada a city outside of Managua. It is a colonial city with great old churches and next to a huge lake. We did not get much time here, but I hope to visit again. We stayed at a wonderful hostel that had a pool and real showers. I loved not having to work to make my self clean. Next we traveled back to Managua for a final dinner in Nicaragua. We went to this restaurant called Ola Verde (Green Wave) and it was all food made from organic local farmers. The restaurant was a dream come true after a week of salty and carbo type foods. Oh yeah speaking of foods for lunch one day in Wapy my host mom served me cow brains and we are told to eat everything and yes I did eat them. I stuff a portion in my tortilla with rices and beans and chewed fast! It was literally a whole cow brain in broth! But back to the organic restaurant, we had spinach chicken wraps and a wonderful tomato bisque soup. The owner is a North American and her mission in life is to educate Nicaraguans about organic farming and healthy cooking. This place was just what we needed after our homestays. We took a bus to and from countries, it is a 12 hour ride, so I slept a lot and chatted with friends.

Now back in San Jose for school I have a big paper due Monday on Latin American Cinema. Please pray for me as I go through this. Then tomorrow my Dad is coming to visit for 2 weeks, so I am very excited to show him around. The next portion of my semester will be in our concentrations. I chose Language and Literature. For this part we travel to Panama on March 12th, so soon I know!

Alright, I hope letter this finds everyone wonderful!! I will be back in 2 months! Love you all!

Claire Scholl
EagleVision News Team-- Latin American Correspondent
www.biola.edu/eaglevision

ketchup and mayop

Hola! So I have been in Costa Rica now for almost a month and I am loving life here. Though there are some struggles life taking the bus everywhere, people smoke everywhere and men whistling at you as they pass.

Anyway, two weekends ago the LASP group went to Limon, which is a province on the Caribbean coast. The weather was very humid and hot. On the bus ride there we stopped at a coffee plantation. I tasted a bean right of the bush and it was kinda bitter. Then we went to a Del Monte banana plantation and saw the whole process from field to shipment. Everyone in the State should be thankful for our bananas because there are some high standards for this fruit. Such as if there is but one brown spot it is labeled as 3rd class and the most aesthetic bananas can be shipped to the U.S. and Europe. We stayed at Hotel Miami in Limon, it was very pleasant to have a change from the daily routine of San Jose.

We got to talk with a women who won teacher of the year and who was a member of the Costa Rican government. English was spoken a lot in Limon so it was great to not think as hard while I speak. Then we went up the road a ways to the indigenous tribe Bri Bri and spoke with a leader of that community. They have an iguana preservation project so we got to see various sizes of iguanas and learn how they are protecting this animal. After that we went to the beach...finally!!! The beach we went to was Playa Cahuita, it was beautiful. The water was turquoise and the sand was tan. I found a whole coconut on the ground and had one of the guys open it. I shared the milk and meat inside, it was so sweet! Saturday night we went dancing at a club for one of the professors birthday! We danced to reggaton so that was lots of fun!! Then on Sunday I went to an Episcopal church and had lunch with some members and their kids. After a long hot weekend in Limon we went back to the city.

On February 2nd we meet with two people from the U.S. Embassy and learned what their jobs looked like and their prospectives on U.S./Latin American relations.

This past weekend me, a bunch of girls from LASP and my 2 host sisters went to the beach in Puntarenas which is on the Pacific coast. It was great. You pick up the bus in San Jose, it lasts for only 2 hours, then we stayed in Hotel Cayuga. Very cheap for 2 nights. Now in Costa Rica it is very common to have ketchup and mayo with your french fries. So here is where I have slipped into the culture even more. It tastes great. they do not have mustard here so the mayo works well. At this beach I got my first sun burn, it is not that bad, but it will work just fine for a base tan! lol

This is my last week of language school and then next Monday we all leave for Nicaragua!

Love you all!!

hello

tuesday january 23 2007

so since my last letter i have become much more confident with the bus system and how the tico culture works. everyday for the next 3 weeks i will be at language school for 2 classes, grammar and conversation. i have a great teacher, same one for both classes. she reminds me of an abuelita, a little grandma for all you non Spanish speakers. lol some days i have Latin American studies , LASP, classes in the morning which involve a speaker about different topics. a lot of them are political oriented so i struggle sometimes hearing all that stuff. but i am learning a lot about the Costa Rican government and issues.

since i am in the language and literature track every single homework assignment has to be in Spanish. crazy but i am doing and learning so much. i have found some words different than from what i learned, but no to much. ticos do have a different way to talk about future events and things. but i love my family they are so understanding.

last Friday a group of my friends out to dinner at a really gringo place called news cafe, but i loved the name. it was fun people had hamburgers. there is this really greta place to get ice cream called pops there is one on almost every corner, i recommend the coconut. lol yesterday i found a great place to get a chai frappe, it was so good. that will be my weakness as i pass through san jose.

this weekend the group is of the Limon which is on the Caribbean coast. i am so excited to go to the beach finally. dad i bought a sarong and though of you. hahaha bc we can only take a backpack to this trip, so packing will be hard.

well it is getting dark and i must get home, attached are two pics one of me and a group of friends on our 3rd day in CR. the other is of the house i am staying in. it is the salmon pink color one.

ok love to you all. bye.

Buenas tardes!

wednesday january 10 2007

¡Hola familia y amigos!

I am in Costa Rica now. The flights were very long but God provided some great people to talk with on the plane. We flew into Costa Rica at night se we saw all the beautiful city lights. San Jose is a very colorful city of 2 million people. The weather is everything a Santa Barbarian could ask for, lots of sun, mild temps and clouds that look like they are bursting with rain!

I have meet so many new people and it is safe to say that they are my freinds already. All the LASP students spent the night in a retreat center and had a one day orientation to the Costa Rican culture and how the program will work. We did an activity that asked us to make a collage about the North American culture. Everyone seemed to be cutting out negative and bad images of the USA. So I told my group that we should try to find some positive views of the North. Some students came up to me after and said they apprciated our groups positive outlook. I can see where the direction of this program is wanting to go. On the other hand LASP is wanting us to form our own opinions about issues and that is a valuable trait.

Today we recived our families via a raffle. My host mothers name is Guiselle Machado Tencio. She has a husband and two teen age daughters. I share a room with the oldest who is 16. I have just had a completed a tour of the house. I am writting this on their home computer. They have pretty fast internet! I think these ticos might be well off becasue they have a great phone and alarm system in the house. It has ben a very emotional day full of new information and thinking and speaking in Spanish.

The meals have been pretty large so far, but my host mom said they do not eat large dinners. So I think evreything is going to work great with this family. Tomorrow we have to meet at the Teatro Nacional to do a ¨scavenger hunt¨ type thing around the center of San Jose. The program directors have pretty much left it up to us to figure out the bus systems, banking and other culture elements. However I anticipate the Wards adevice and assistance in this city.

My house is 30 minutes away from the school, in a barrio called Del Pali de Calle Blancos, so I think every morning will be an early one. I apprciate all your prayers and thoughts as I fordge through this new culture.

That is all for now. I am not sure when I can get on her again but maybe every 2 weeks or something....
I really like it here and I have a lot of freinds that are going through the same thing here with me!

I love you all! Have a great weekend!!!

Claire Scholl
EagleVision News Team- Latin America Correspondant
www.biola.edu/eaglevision

day before school!

sunday january 14 2007

Hello again family and friends,

since my last email many new things have happened. LASP took us to Clinica Biblia to get a health orientation so we may be prapered for what illnesses may come our way. so far i have not gotten sick. i drink straight from the tap because the water is treated. all the food is wonderful. my family, i feel, is not into the same type of meal each day. we have had great sandwiches and fresh fruit drinks. i was prepared to live really scarcely but this family is amazing. my host mother loves to buy new cookbook type magazines and she saves them all. kindas sounds like someone else i know, my real mother. lol

it has been kinda cold actually i wish i brought more jeans and one more sweater, maybe i will do some shopping. :)

Dad, before i forget please email the exacts dates you plan to come because we have to let LASP now, along with my family.

this is my 5th day in CR and i already feel like my Spanish vocabualry has grown. every day i am trying to learn a new phrase to incorperate into my daily dialouge. today i went to church with my family it is called Iglesia el Divino Salvador. it is just like Harvest, lots of great hand-clapping music and Biblical teaching. today there were lots of north americans there so i got to chat with them for a while. one group was students here for 3 weeks from PA and the other was a church group from VA that is like a sister church with the Costa Rican one. ¡the church is alive and well in CR!


i am feeling more and more connected with the family. i bought some shampoo and stuff and put in the shower so i dont have to keep hauling my toiletry bag in and out of the shower. it is the little things in life that make you feel at home. also i had a homework assignment to interview my family about various things. i learned about their educational background, what they like to do in their free time and that the U.S. government is not generally liked in CR.

something more on the funny side, they way ticos great each other is by a kiss on the check. can you see where this is going? well even if you have just met the person you do it anyway. so these guys from the youth group came over to the house and of course greeted me with a kiss on the check. 2 of the 3 were cute but i can assure there will be no amor during this semester! do you guys think we could implement this custom in the U.S.?

so it is the day before school and i am very nervous to take the bus. my parents have been through the routs with me once but i am still very unsure about the stops and waht not. so please pray for me and the bus system. i am sure i will become more familar with it as the days go but right now i have butterflies in my tummy.

thank you all for your nice emails from the last letter! hope you all have awonderful week!

love from costa rica,
clara

3 days left...

Here is my mailing address while in Costa Rica....

Claire Scholl
Latin American Studies Program
Apdo. 54-2070
Sabanilla, Montes de Oca
San Jose, Costa Rica

The program recommends that packages are not sent becuase they will get
stolen in the mail. But letters are wonderful I suppose!

I have begun packing today. I am bringing only one large suitcase, a small duffle and then my new back pack. So in a sense I will be traveling light for a four month trip!

I leave in 3 days and I am getting very excited! Thank you for your continued prayer! Have a happy new year!

HOLA

Hola familia y amigos, I just want to let you all know that I have been accepted into the Latin American Study Abroad program for the spring 2007 semester. I am very excited to travel and experience a new culture.

I know this opportunity is a huge blessing from God and I would like to ask you all to start praying for this semester abroad. Please especially pray for the family that I will be living with while I am in Costa Rica. That God will prepare our hearts for this time. Pray for the people I will come in contact with that may not be Christians and that I can be an example of Christ to them. Pray for the professors and other students that are attending the program that we are safe and gain new perspectives about the Latin American culture. Lastly, that God would refresh my faith so that I can better minster to the Spanish speaking community in America and draw closer to God.

I will be leaving January 9 and returning April 29th. I will try to keep an email list and send out reports of how the semester is going. If you would like to be on the email list let me know. All of you who are getting this note have been instrumental in the study abroad process one way or another. I greatly appreciate your help and encouragement.

Thanks for your prayers and love! Have a great day!

Claire Scholl
EagleVision Co-Producer
www.biola.edu/eaglevision

Biola Sports Report 5-19-06

The Biola Sports Report…

The Biola baseball team ended their season in Riverside on the campus of Cal Baptist at the NAIA Region II tournament as they fell to Concordia University for the second time, in the Championship game by the score of 8-7. Chris Weems blasted a two-run homerun in the bottom of the ninth inning to bring Biola within one point. When trailing 8-4 in the eighth inning Biola went on a run, scoring two runs early but the run was halted by a controversial call that resulted in several players and two coaches being ejected. Jimmy Johnson got the start for Biola and went four innings, allowing three runs on six hits to record the loss before Garet Hill came in and pitched the next inning, allowing two more runs. David Mirabal led the Eagle offense as he went 3-5 including his third homerun of the season. Eagles finish second in GSAC and ninth in NAIA. Several players were named to the all GSAC team including Dietzen, Weems, Hill and Hawkins Gebbers.

In softball action on Tuesday the lady eagles closed out their season with a tough game against Concordia. GSAC All-Team, Amera Kesterson finished an amazing year with a 2-2 performance giving her the Biola record for hits a season with 78. Kesterson found her way into other record categories with ten homeruns and 16 triples where she tied for the NAIA record. Katie Gustaveson got the start for Biola and went 4.2 innings, allowing six runs, two earned, on four hits to record the loss. Tatiana Garcia came in a pitched the final two innings shutting out Concordia, only allowing two hits the rest of the way. Final score was 6 to 3.

Intramurals finished Wednesday night with the basketball championships. Winner’s included G-Unit over Mama’s boys with a score of forty-nine to twenty-eight in the B league. Over in the A league United beat Holy Fire by thirty-one points and in the women’s bracket Back Again defeated Senoritas forty-nine to eighteen.
Softball champions are SouthTown Stingrays in the A league and in the B League The Trop also received a championship.
Lastly, bragging rights went to Hope FC soccer team over AC Torrey as the game ended in a tie allowing for penalty kicks to decide the winner. Congratulations to all teams for a successful season!

Finally, Dorm competitions ended on Wednesday with a rousing game of capture the flag. Stewart came out with the victory receiving sweet t-shirts and dorm pride!

That’s it for sports news; make sure to tune in next semester for more extensive sports reporting covering all your favorite teams from Biola to professional. Have a great summer!

Entertainment News 5-8-06

Since Meredith Viera has filled Katie Couric’s spot on the today show, there has been a vacancy on the view and it did not take long for Barbara Walters to ask long time friend Rosie O’Donnell to fill this position on daytime TV. O’Donnell was a frequent guest on the show and the deal — in which O'Donnell agreed to join "The View" for at least a year, not only as a co-host but also in Ms. Vieira's role as moderator. Critics say by mere presence Ms. O'Donnell is expected to alter the tone and chemistry of The View by her outspokenness about the Iraq war and specifically her delivery of views with tough and blunt statements.

Actor Kiefer Sutherland of hit TV Show, 24, has announced plans for a movie version of the series to be filmed in Britain. He credits much of the shows rapid success to the English. Sutherland has starred in the Fox TV show for five series and is reported to have signed up for three more.

In American Idol news, the four finalists visited Graceland on Saturday. The Presley’s and the finalists were at the rock legend’s home to shoot the TV show’s next installment with an Elvis theme and a critique by music producer Tommy Mottola.

With the birth of Tom Cruise and Kate Holmes’ baby girl, Suri, there have been no photos published of the baby for public viewing. But rumors are circulating that Cruise may sell photos to OK! Magazine for one million dollars and then give the money to charity. As one may guess the paparazzi are having a field day trying to get the first snapshot of the baby.

Movies topping the weekend box office include Mission Impossible 3 with forty-eight million, R.V. with eleven point one million and lastly suspense film An American Haunting with six point thirty-eight million.

That’s it for your entertainment news, have a great week!

News 5-3-06

This is your news…

At midnight Tuesday, the African union extended the deadline for a peace pact aimed at resolving violence in Sudan’s Darfur region, where rebel groups have claimed thousands of lives. The extension comes after the United Sates, Britain and Libya pressed the Sudanese government to reach a compromise. Although rebel groups want regional autonomy and more power in central government the Sudanese agree with this peace movement.

Out of the Middle East on Tuesday came a statement from Iran saying that if they are attacked by the United States, Israel will be it’s first target. This reaffirms the Iranian president’s call for Israel to be wiped off the map. President Bush has said a military option remains on the table if Iran does not agree to international demands for it to stop enriching uranium and open its nuclear program to inspections. However, Bush said he wants to solve the dispute through diplomacy.

Relatives of coal miners killed in January’s Sago Mine disaster spoke of heroes and heartbreak Tuesday as they asked an investigation panel to look for ways to ensure others don’t endure similar pain. Families are looking for truth about what really happened in the mine. West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin said at the public hearing that a joint state and federal investigation into the incident is ongoing and that he has asked for a report to be completed by July 1. The report will detail what happened at the Sago Mine and recommend mine-safety improvements.

In LA sports news, Rival groups representing Anaheim and the city of Los Angeles are making pitches to the national Football League owners committee in Dallas. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa says the Los Angeles Coliseum is a clear choice for the NFL. Villarigosa promises renovation and the capability to hold Super Bowls and USC-UCLA games. While Anaheim city spokesperson boasts a platinum triangle with the addition of a football team. However it is up to the NFL to decide whether an expansion team or existing team would come to Los Angeles. The decision will come during a meeting on May 22nd.

The happiest place on earth welcomed its two billionth visitor on Tuesday. This made the day of young Emmalee Mason of Colorado who was greeted by Mickey Mouse and a golden key to the magic kingdom. She also received a lifetime pass to all eleven Disney Parks.

In Biola news Chapel on Friday will feature composers Keith and Kristyn Getty
Keith Getty is an Irish composer whose hymns, such as "In Christ Alone” are sung in churches throughout the world. Kristyn Getty is a young contemporary gospel singer whose talent has led to both solo performance and leading worship, as well as occasionally diversifying into the worlds of jazz and Celtic music. Both chapels will be held in the gym!

Have a great day!

Invisible Children: Global Night Commute

Last Saturday Invisible Children held their Global Night Commute (GNC) to protest the abduction of children in Northern Uganda by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). I attended the GNC in Costa mesa with seven hundred other Americans concerned about this issue. A group of 8 girls and 1 guy drove from Biola to Rock Harbor Church and then walked from the church to Orange Coast College (OCC). We walked 4.5 miles to OCC carrying backpacks, pillows and sleeping bags in hopes of making an impression upon our government to aid the Invisible Children of Northern Uganda.
During our sleep over we wrote letters to senators Boxer and Feinstein to press the government to help the country stop the LRA. Next we wrote letters to President Bush to listen to the senators and the millions of people that spent the night outside at the GNC. Lastly we created art projects with a photograph of ourselves to be complied into numerous books that will tell our story of why we support this cause.
By 11 p.m. the walkers had settled down for a meaningful night's sleep. Many were huddled to contain the heat because it was so cold and misty. the morning came not with the sun but with the blowing of a whistle to signal that we need to take a group picture, clean, pack-up and head out because the permit ended at 7 a.m.
So our group let OCC and walked another 4.5 miles back to our car at Rock Harbor.
As we headed back to Biola we talked about how much we hoped to have made an impression upon the community and the government. Some students in our group felt as though we had not been at our dorm for a long time. Also that we have not seen our friends in weeks. This may have been due to the intense feeling of actually taking part of an international movement to aid someone half-way across the world. Similarly a growth and maturing process had taken place. We saw a mass of people come together for one cause, we stepped outside of comfort zones and found something greater then ourselves.
This sleeping protest will resonate in the hearts of all who participated for a life time.

Please visit the Invisible Children website to find out more information: http://www.invisiblechildren.com/home.php

News 4-11-06

This is your news...

In Spain yesterday a Judge indicted 29 people in connection with the 2004 Madrid train bombings. Suspects are charged with conspiracy, attempted murder and trafficking in explosives. These indictments come a month after Spain marked a somber second anniversary of the attacks.

In the Netherlands, a man is building a modern version of Noah’s ark. This devout Christians’ intentions to build the ark are not for times at sea, but to bring about a new awareness of the story within the Bible. He began construction three months ago and expects to spend 1.2 million dollars. Upon completion there will a petting zoo, a diorama re-enacting the flood and a gift shop.

In national news gasoline prices are on the rise again for this summer. The Energy Department says prices will push or pass three dollars a gallon. Hurricane Katrina is to blame for wiping out production of major oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. However drivers are not expected to ease off their mileage as 1.5 percent more gasoline will be used this summer.

A musical chairs week in day time television is finally settling down. Meredith Vieira has accepted the job replacing Katie Couric as morning anchor on NBC’s the today show. Though Couric’s contract ends in May, Vieira will not assume the position until September. As for the open seat on the view, ABC has yet to announce a possible replacement.

As southern California approaches fire season, firefighters are looking into more natural ways to prevent deadly infernos. Over two hundred goats were released in Peck Park Canyon to eat as much grass and weeds as possible to clear the area for brush fire season. This is their second time helping the cause and they will cover 12 acres in two to four weeks.


Have a great day!