Life on our corner

Each year for the past 5 years our church has hosted an international conference for church leaders around the world.  This year close to 100 leaders from around the globe are coming to Ames for two weeks!  Ames couldn't host everyone so a few got shipped out to the Des Moines area and for the next two weeks we are hosting a man from Nepal (between India and China.)  Raj (his name is much longer, but he is gracious with us since we can't pronouce the whole thing!) arrived this weekend after traveling three days down to the plains of Iowa from "The top of the world!" (Nepal is home to 8 or the worlds 10 highest mountains.) Raj speaks English very well, and Jonah's world has been broaded to the fact that people speak more than just English and Spanish!  Raj is a pastor in the capital city of Kathmandu, a city of about 5 million.  His church there runs a ministry helping children caught in sex trafficing to India.  He will spend three more weeks traveling the states

Here are a few sound bites from our world this week.  You pick your favorite. We had our energy audit this week to see where we can save on heating before the winter.  The man had to run back to his SUV to get a ladder to check the attic.  When he came back the kids were lined up as if they had never seen a ladder before.  He walked in asked "So are you guys trying to keep up with the Duggers or what?"  Yes, we are only 15 behind them, but give us 10 years and we should be close! As I often do if I have to leave the floor that the kids are on I tell Jonah "I am going to switch the laundry.  Can you keep an eye on Reuben and Audrey for me?"  He likes the power, but I didn't realize how much until this week when I heard him say very seriously to his sister "Did you hear that Audrey?   I am the boss...me, the mayor and the president."  He thinks pretty highly of his position as older brother! We had a picnic at the airport with friends on Tuesday.