SCHOOL'S OUT!!!
After a sprint to the finish--we only had 2 days off after Christmas--we have finished school. The girls all did pretty well this year.
The only shadow on our joy is that in just over a week, we have to say good-bye to Mae. We've had a great year together and are so glad she came out to teach this year.
The Stolls
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
The Toothless Wonder (according to Fiona)
Yes, its official. Sydney has lost her first tooth! She is so proud of herself.
By the way, the Teddy-bear she received from the dentist in Germany was a big help.
Now, I'm sure she'll be waiting for the Tooth fairy to come.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
I’m having a cold
Well, this is nothing unusual. But when you consider that we are back in Africa, it might put a twist on my runny nose. We’ve just spent three weeks in snowy Germany, without the slightest cough by anyone in our family. However, on arrival in Togo, my nose started to run. By the way, did you know that when your nose runs and your feed smell, you are upside-down? Sorry, I couldn’t resist.
Here in Lomé, the Harmattan wind from the dessert has arrived and brought with it dust and dry weather. We’ve been keeping the windows open the whole day and it is only 30-40% humidity by 26C. The climate is almost perfect, if it wasn’t for the dust.
By the way, it was great being in Germany over Christmas (see the previous post). We were able to spend some quality time with my parents and sister Helga. Well, we can say, ‘mission accomplished’.
On our way back to Togo we had a layover in Egypt. We spent a full day in Cairo, doing what tourists do best: visiting the Gisa Pyramids, riding a camel, eating at KFC, visiting Garbage City and the Church in the Rock, shopping at an Arabian market, sailing on the river Nile and eating dinner with Egyptian friends. Needles to say that everybody loved the experience.
By now, the Kathy and the children are back in school, and I am getting ready for the next school year at the media school. When I’m not blowing my nose.
Here in Lomé, the Harmattan wind from the dessert has arrived and brought with it dust and dry weather. We’ve been keeping the windows open the whole day and it is only 30-40% humidity by 26C. The climate is almost perfect, if it wasn’t for the dust.
By the way, it was great being in Germany over Christmas (see the previous post). We were able to spend some quality time with my parents and sister Helga. Well, we can say, ‘mission accomplished’.
On our way back to Togo we had a layover in Egypt. We spent a full day in Cairo, doing what tourists do best: visiting the Gisa Pyramids, riding a camel, eating at KFC, visiting Garbage City and the Church in the Rock, shopping at an Arabian market, sailing on the river Nile and eating dinner with Egyptian friends. Needles to say that everybody loved the experience.
By now, the Kathy and the children are back in school, and I am getting ready for the next school year at the media school. When I’m not blowing my nose.
Christmas
This year for Christmas, we went to Germany to visit Roger's family. It was the first time in over 3 years that we had seen Oma and Opa. (Three year is waaaay too long--just ask any grandparents)
Anyway, it was loads of fun. We had snow from the very beginning until about a day and a half before leaving. Although the Germans were already tired of snow--it began snowing in mid-Nov--we loved it. It made Christmas seem so
...well, like Christmas should be. It was also wonderful to be with family and to have to wear jeans and shoes, as well as coats, etc.
Anyway, it was loads of fun. We had snow from the very beginning until about a day and a half before leaving. Although the Germans were already tired of snow--it began snowing in mid-Nov--we loved it. It made Christmas seem so
...well, like Christmas should be. It was also wonderful to be with family and to have to wear jeans and shoes, as well as coats, etc.
Friday, 19 November 2010
Family Portrait
We took family portraits this morning. After a while Sydney didn't cooperate anymore. We were all getting hot and sweaty. I lost my patience and got on to her for not smiling. As I hug her at the end I tell her that we sometimes need to do things, even if we don't feel like it. And she gives me this heart-wrenching responds: "Its hard to smile when you are crying inside". :-(
Wednesday, 29 September 2010
two full weeks in September
As I'm leaning back into my favorite thinking chair in my office, I am reflecting on the last two weeks and the impact they have had.
The time started with the Africa by Radio meeting here in Lomé. Representatives of local and international radio ministries came together to strategize and plan how to use radio most effectively to reach the remaining unreached people in Africa. These two days were followed by the annual meeting of the African Media Trainers. Together we identified major media training needs on the continent and ways of meeting them.
Kathy did a lot of work hosting as many guest as we have beds in our house. The rest of the visitors, from South Africa, UK, Canada, Sweden and Ghana stayed at a local hotel. However, they all had a chance to taste her culinary delights one evening, as Kathy, with the the help of many others, organised a BBQ for 30 people! For me it was definitely the highlight of all our meetings and get-togethers.
Just as the majority of delegates left Lomé, we welcomed the participants to a one-week Training of Trainers course. One of our strategies to tackle the immense training needs on the continent is to equipping African media practitioners to be able to pass on their skill and knowledge. So, finally, after many month of planning we held the first "Formation de Formateurs" in West Africa. We had 12 participants, from almost as many countries. It was a big challenge for me, since I was determined to teach in French. It went okay, but now my head is very tired. I really hope that these men and woman will pick up the task and improve the quantity and quality of Christian witness in the media in francophone Africa.
Finally, Sydney saved the day as our ministry leaders, Danny and AnnMarie Isenring, left from the airport in Lomé. We saw that they had problems at check-in. So, I tried to text Danny's mobile phone, but it wouldn't go through. As I was wondering how to contact them otherwise, Sydney had the idea to write something on my notebook and show it to them through the glass window that they had to pass on their way to the passport control. It worked! They saw us and we were able to find out that everything was okay. On our way out, Sydney said to me, 'Ain't I a saver-the-dayer'? Yes Sydney, you saved the day! :-)
The time started with the Africa by Radio meeting here in Lomé. Representatives of local and international radio ministries came together to strategize and plan how to use radio most effectively to reach the remaining unreached people in Africa. These two days were followed by the annual meeting of the African Media Trainers. Together we identified major media training needs on the continent and ways of meeting them.
Kathy did a lot of work hosting as many guest as we have beds in our house. The rest of the visitors, from South Africa, UK, Canada, Sweden and Ghana stayed at a local hotel. However, they all had a chance to taste her culinary delights one evening, as Kathy, with the the help of many others, organised a BBQ for 30 people! For me it was definitely the highlight of all our meetings and get-togethers.
Just as the majority of delegates left Lomé, we welcomed the participants to a one-week Training of Trainers course. One of our strategies to tackle the immense training needs on the continent is to equipping African media practitioners to be able to pass on their skill and knowledge. So, finally, after many month of planning we held the first "Formation de Formateurs" in West Africa. We had 12 participants, from almost as many countries. It was a big challenge for me, since I was determined to teach in French. It went okay, but now my head is very tired. I really hope that these men and woman will pick up the task and improve the quantity and quality of Christian witness in the media in francophone Africa.
Finally, Sydney saved the day as our ministry leaders, Danny and AnnMarie Isenring, left from the airport in Lomé. We saw that they had problems at check-in. So, I tried to text Danny's mobile phone, but it wouldn't go through. As I was wondering how to contact them otherwise, Sydney had the idea to write something on my notebook and show it to them through the glass window that they had to pass on their way to the passport control. It worked! They saw us and we were able to find out that everything was okay. On our way out, Sydney said to me, 'Ain't I a saver-the-dayer'? Yes Sydney, you saved the day! :-)
Monday, 20 September 2010
Simply Fiona
Fiona is a lot of fun. She is always thinking of funny things to do and say. In the last few weeks, we've had a number of things going on and I'm dedicating this post to her way of looking at things.
Fiona has wanted to learn the violin for a long time. We bought one and Mae brought it as well as her ability to teach it.
Fiona's friend, Miriam, spent 10 days with us at the end of August. She and Fiona had a wonderful time together.
Elena braided Fiona's hair. However, they started shortly before bed one night so only half was finished until after school the next day.
This is what it looked like afterward.
The other day, we went thru the girls' clothes and got rid of things that didn't fit or that we didn't need. Fiona decided she wanted to sell them and, with Papa and Sydney's help, she set up a "shop" just outside our front gate. People from all round flocked to her shop and she actually made around $20! Now we see little kids walking past our gate in clothes we recognize.
Fiona has wanted to learn the violin for a long time. We bought one and Mae brought it as well as her ability to teach it.
Fiona's friend, Miriam, spent 10 days with us at the end of August. She and Fiona had a wonderful time together.
Elena braided Fiona's hair. However, they started shortly before bed one night so only half was finished until after school the next day.
This is what it looked like afterward.
The other day, we went thru the girls' clothes and got rid of things that didn't fit or that we didn't need. Fiona decided she wanted to sell them and, with Papa and Sydney's help, she set up a "shop" just outside our front gate. People from all round flocked to her shop and she actually made around $20! Now we see little kids walking past our gate in clothes we recognize.
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