Another Update

Hi all, this is just a brief general update on my study abroad plans with a few other announcements.

I have not heard from CIEE since three weeks ago when I turned in part of my application that I was asked to rewrite, and was told that I did well. I am going to wait until next week Monday and if I have still not received an e-mail I will contact the organization and ask how things are progressing.

Thanks to all of the crewmenbers who have bought cookies from me, I have now reached my minimum fundrasing goal! I will continue to sell cookies and babysit to raise money so that I will be a little more securely within the reccommended financial range.

There are two items that you can look forward to seeing on this blog. At the end of this week I will be writing a post explaining what I have been doing in my work experience week as a photographer. Also, I am adding a page called "About this Blog" so that people can get an idea of why I have published this site and what can be found on it. This will enable visitors to my blog to determine whether it might interest them and to get some background information.

Thanks for reading my blog!

Family Weekend Trip

This Saturday our family went on an overnight trip. We left in a hired car with a Guinean driver. The car was made for four passengers, but all six of us crammed in. The ride was long, hot, and cramped, but it was worth it! We arrived at a hotel next to a river.



Our two-room hotel hut



The inside of one of the rooms


After we had eaten our packed lunch, we put mosqito nets up over the beds. The first one was not too difficult, but the second net was missing the part which allowed it to hook into the ceiling. My parents and I put our heads together to solve this problem. First,  I thought of using the cord from my camera that goes around my wrist. My mom tried to thread it under a peice of wood on the ceiling, but it was too thick. Then, my dad pulled a nail out of the wall, but decided we could not hang the net with it unless we bent it, and we did not want to destroy the hotel's property. Finally, my dad noticed that one of the other mosquito nets had an extra peice of hanging wire. My mom cut it off and used it to precariously hang the net.



My mom threading the wire onto the ceiling



My mom spreading out the sucessfuly hung net



Once our rooms were ready, we spent time by the river. My brothers threw rocks and climbed trees while I helped Xavier get accross the river without getting wet, took pictures, and enjoyed the scenery. I got some pictures of interesting flora and fauna I saw there.



The river by the hotel



The men of the family on a rock near the river



Malachi in a tree



Xavier playing with a stick



Eli with a praying mantis on his head



A beautiful butterfly I found



A cool red dragonfly


Later that day, we collected sticks to use for smores later. We whittled them to points. Malachi was especially excited about this, since my dad told him he was old enough to learn how to use a pocket knife. I was happy that I had a chance to use my new leatherman.

Malachi whittling a stick

After a dinner of chicken and fries, my family and I lit a fire. I read my book by the firelight while my brothers played with flaming sticks. When the fire had burned down enough, we roasted marshmallows and ate smores. We loved doing this, since we are not allowed any type of fire, even candles, on the ship.

Eli and Malachi poking sticks in the fire

We stayed the night in our hut, enduring the heat and avoiding the frog that lived in one of the toilets, and woke up the next mornig to pack. We ate omlettes made only with egg and peices of bread for breakfast. There was also coffee and tea, as well as some packet mix for apple cider that my mom had brought. Suprisingly, our driver arrived on time, with an even smaller car than before. We squeezed in, glad that we would soon be in our air-conditioned cabin.



Our family

We had a really good time on our trip, spending time as a family, experiencing the outdoors, and making a fire. I wish we could live near a river and spend time outside all the time, but I am also reminded anew of how thankful I am for air conditioning and showers!

Chicken Run

This Saturday, the 26 of January, the Africa Mercy crew held the first ever Mercyships Edition Amazing Race! Fifteen teams of three travelled the city of Conakry, Guinea completing a series of ten challenges. The teams went to the challenges in different orders so that they did not collide. The team who completed all the challenges and arrived at the ending point, the Rivera hotel, first, won!

While our family were not among the racers, we did host one of the challenges. We set up our station at the dental clinic. Our challenge was called 'The Roundup,' but I prefer 'Chicken Run.' First, when a team came in, we told them that in order to catch their prey they needed to understand it. This meant that they had to put white rubber gloves on their heads and long yellow gloves on their hands. Then, my brothers woul realease the chickens! Two roosters were dumped out of their box. The praticipants in the race had to catch both roosters and put them back into the box before they recieved the clue to their next challenge.

Our challenge station was a lot of fun. I videoed every team chasing the chickens. My family and I had a great day. Some other stations, which we were not a part of, included drinking a disgusting mixture, canoeing to a lighthouse and drawing a picture of your team next to it, composing a rap song and singing it in the middle of a store, pounding plantains and yams into fufu, and convincing some locals at the market to pay the mercyships teams to shine their shoes. The teams had an allowance of money, so they could pay for some taxi rides, but many times they had to run to their next station.

Here I have some pictures of our Chicken Run challenge. I had some really funny videos as well, but unfortunately they would not upload.



Malachi and his friend Natty, who came with us



Xavier trying a glove on his head



A racer's glove popping




Two of the members of the winning team members listening to the instructions



The third member putting his glove on



Eli in his chicken gear



One of the racers catching a chicken

 




 

Update on my Study Abroad Plans

Hello all,

I am making some headway on my plans to study in France. My application was reviewed and CIEE, the  organization I am using, asked me to renew my passport before they continue with the process. I will be going to the American Embassy this Thursday to get that done. Next week Tuesday I have a phone interview with CIEE. Within four weeks from the interview I should know if I have been accepted and where I will be staying. Sometime after that I will also hear from the scholarship comittee. Please continue to pray for me!

It is Finished!

I have some good news! I completed my application to study abroad in France yesterday! It is currently being sent to CIEE, the organization I am going through. I should know if I have been accepted in 4-6 weeks. Please pray that everything will work out and that I will be abe to study abroad in France next year.

My Story- Digital Photography Final Assignment

Hello, everyone. These pictures are part of "My Story," my final assignment for a Digital Photography class I am taking. I took photos of important people in my life, my school, my home, and some of my favorite things. These help tell the story of who I am and what my life is like.

Important People

I think that the people I spend time with are very influential in making me who I am. My family and friends shape my values.
 

My Mom  Helping my Brother with Homework, by Grace Koontz. 02.10.2012



 My Dad in his Office, by Grace Koontz, 13.12.2012



Elijah the Animal Lover, by Grace Koontz, 10.12.2012



Malachi the Clown, by Grace Koontz, 10.12.2012



Xavier the Baby of the Family, by Grace Koontz, 24.10.2012



Iona, my Best Friend, and I, by Grace Koontz, 10.12.2012

 My School

Another major aspect of my life is school. I spend a lot of my time in school or doing activities related to school. The teachers are a crucial part of school and help me learn all that I need to know.




The Big Room with Students, by Grace Koontz, 13.12.2012



Miss Dunn my Geography ans Bible Teacher, by Grace Koontz, 12.12.2012



Mrs. Robinson my English and Math Teacher by her Fish Tank, by Grace Koontz, 11.12.2012

 My Home

The environment I live in is a third part of my life story. Living on the Africa Mercy has definitely affected me personally in a multitude of ways.




The Africa Mercy, by Grace Koontz, 03.11.2012



My Bedroom, by Grace Koontz, 5.9.2012



The Library, by Grace Koontz, 26.11.2012



The Town Square, by Grace Koontz, 11.12.2012

 Favorite Things

My favorite things tell about my personality and interests. I love God and enjoy learning about Him through nature and through His Word.



The Jungle, by Grace Koontz, 13.10.2012




Bibles on a Bookshelf, by Grace Koontz, 28.11.2012

 Thank you all for reading! I hope you enjoyed "My Story."

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

December is here! This weekend we began decorating the ship for Christmas. On Saturday afternoon Xavier and I helped decorate the midships cafe area. We put up a Christmas tree and put some decorations on top of the piano. Other crewmembers also hung garlands,  put up trees, and strung ornaments to add some holiday atmosphere to the Africa Mercy. In the evening, my family and I decorated our own cabin. Afterwards, we drank hot chocolate, ate popcorn, and watched Toy Story together. On Sunday we went to the first advent service. Xavier got to stand in front and help light the first candle with the kindergarden and first-grade class. I think this year's Christmas season has gotten off to a great start!





People decorating the midships area




The area Xavier and I helped with





My dad taking out our tree




Elijah untangling the lights




Malachi and Xavier decorating the tree




Our finished tree




Xavier wearing the Christmas stockings




My mom and Malachi looking at old Christmas photos