A ladder
PC games: Risk, Sorry, Jeopardy, Hoyles Board Games, Monopoly, Smart Games, Atari Arcade Games, Print Shop, Kiplinger's Home Attorney

A large decorative vace ( @ 3 feet tall)

I am probably boring most of you with my talk of the Peace Corp but it will be a HUGE change for me. I am both scared and excited. To help you get a picture of what I am expecting, here are some tidbits I have learned so far:

Coconut cream is used in just about everything they cook. I am not a big fan of coconuts. Guess I need to learn.

Last year they had at least two Hurricanes, one earthquake and the volcanoes erupt pretty regularly

You are expected to drink Kava at all ceremonies. Kava is prepared by crushing the Kava root (or for a more fulfilling taste it is chewed by a young boy) and then squezzed for its juice. It taste like tar and looks like muddy water. Your first sensation is a numbed mouth. Then your senses are heightened to light and sound. It relieves all stress and helps open up lines of communications.

All deaths and weddings involve a 5 day ceremony where no one works. At the end, there is a massive feast and celebration.

There are malaria carrying mosquitoes all over you during the summer and the rainy season consist of 30 days of flooding.

The view from your hut will make you cry it is suppose to be so beautiful.

There are no strangers as everyone treats you like a member of the family.

Your survival depends on learning how to grow a garden, climb a coconut tree and kill/roast a pig.

Here are a few words from the local language called Bislama. See if you know what mean.

mixmaster blong Jesus Christ

Yufella i stap go.

Hemi gat bel.

Hemi gat gris.

Hemi gat sit sit wota.

Skills I need to learn before I go:

Horseback riding - I can buy a wild horse for about $50. No saddle or bridle included

Cooking - Thanks to Sarah and Jill for a cookbook.

Gardening

Drinking Kava

I will try to do a better job of blogging on this adventure in the future.

There actually is not too much going on in my life right now. Here is a quick run down:

* I played flag football Saturday. Scored a touchdown, blocked a pass and hurt my finger. I am not very good at the sport so these are major accomplishments for me. I am also sore from running.

* The above note leads to my need to return to exercising. My plan is to walk everyday and do weights three times a week.

* My days are not as filled with the homeless shelter as I thought they might, so my mornings are slow. I am reading business and religious books and studying business journals. Any suggestions of what I else could do to stay out of trouble?

* We had a teen devo on Saturday. I had the brainstorm to throw marshmellows dipped in chocolate. It was messy and probably will not be a keeper in terms of teen games.

* I am still waiting to hear where my assignment will be with the Peace Corp. I know it is the Pacific Islands, I just do not know which one.

* I am learning that Father is with me in all things and always loves me even when I forget.

Anyone want a large dresser with a mirror?

What about 2 extra long single bed boxsprings and one extra long single mattress?

I realize that some of you may be getting tired of hearing about Standup for Kids. But, the more involved I get the more I realize how little I know. And even worse, how little I cared until now. So, I will continue to post little notes here and there to remind me that people are out there needing help both physically and spiritually.

Here is a link to an article about the founder of Standup and more info on the group and need.

http://www.aarpmagazine.org/people/rick_koca.html