Cell Group Retreat!!

We spent this past weekend on an island off the East coast of the country with our cell group.

One family has two kids, Andrew and Caitlyn.  Caitlyn is 5 months older than Lydia.  It was nice to have little ones Lydia could play with.

We flew on a small airplane that did not go as high as we are used to, so we were able to see the beautiful countryside almost the whole ride.

Can you see the mountains peaking through the clouds?

It was so mountainous!

This is the state we flew into before taking a boat ride to the island.  This state is considered a smaller state.  It is Muslim conservative and has a small town feel.

Phyli loves playing with Lydia.  She is a kid at heart.

This is our "Ferry".  It really is a large speed boat.  So our 1 hour Ferry ride to the island ended up being a 30 minute speed boat ride.  It was much more fun than a ferry!!!

As is with all traveling, it's hurry up and then wait.

Woo Hoo!  Here we go!

This was the marina we took off from to head to the island. Not quite what we are used to.

Ilene and Caitlyn and Lydia's baby doll.  I think Caitlyn needs a baby doll for her birthday!  

The beaches were beautiful!  The water was more clear than the highly chlorinated swimming pool at our apartment.

Boats lined up to take out snorkelers and divers to other areas  of the island to explore.

This huge rock divides the soft sand from the coral reef on the other side.  The coral reef side has baby shark, octopi, and beautiful fish.

This side, the soft sand side, has many different schools of fish swimming around.  The resort provides bread to feed the fish.  These fish are like pets.  They are use to humans and will surround you in hopes you have some food to offer.  It was amazing.  Their coloring was so bright and beautiful!

Lydia is not so fond of the sand, but she gets giddy with excitement when in the water.

She loved swimming with the fish.  The water was so clear she could see the different colors and different fish very well.

We decided we needed a challenge.  So we attempted a human pyramid.  Well, I pulled the pregnant card and became the camera girl.

Hmm...

Almost

That's close enough.

The first one was a little unstable, so we thought it be better to rethink the architecture.

There we go.  

Caitlyn loves playing in the sand.  She did a good job of trying to get Lydia to get dirty in the sand.

It took a while.

But I think she started to enjoy it!

We spent all day snorkeling and playing on the beach and stayed up late each night playing games.  Not a restful vacation, but definitely fun!

The guys.

The girls.

Caitlyn helping Lydia put on her sunglasses as we get ready to leave the beach.

Oh no!  I think Lydia gets those silly expressions from me!  AHHH!

This is the resort we stayed at.  I snapped a picture as the boat pulled away.  It's called a resort, but it was more like youth camp.  We stayed in rooms crammed with beds.  When the cowbell rang it meant it was meal time and we all congregated at a pavilion to eat.  

But the beach and scenery was spectacular!  Top of the line, 5 star!

Here is Andrew!

And some more of our group.

Being on a boat is so soothing.  I just feel need to have at least one boat ride a year.  Lydia couldn't handle it.  She fell asleep to the loud noise of the motor and the wind beating on her face and the bump bump bump of the boat skidding across the water.

We returned to the mainland Monday morning and our flight was not until 9 p.m., so we toured the small state before our flight.  We went to China Town for lunch and then to a Cultural Arts Center.  They demonstrated how Batik is made.  It is a form of art unique to this area.  This lady is making the fabric for a patterned form of Batik.

This lady is painting a piece of fabric.  The fabric must dry for many hours and then be boiled before continuing the process.

Once the fabric is ready for design, hot wax is used to draw a design.

We watched this man draw free hand a beautiful design.

And then this lady painted between the lines of the wax.  The wax keeps the paint in the boundaries, so she just dabbed the brush to color it in.

Once complete the fabric is boiled and processed again to remove the wax and the design is left. The process can take anywhere from 4 days to 4 months to complete.  The price tells you which is which.

This lady is weaving baskets and purses out of a plant leaf.  

We stopped to eat nearly every hour it seemed.  This stop Micah tried Snake Fruit for the first time.  The outside looks just like a snakes skin.  You can't tell in the picture, but it even shimmers and reflects light in a snake like way.

Then we visited the biggest Mosque I have ever seen.  It is called the Crystal Mosque.  It looks like glass to me, but it was beautiful.

This state is 95% Muslim.  The first Sunday in August Micah is leading a group on prayer for this state.  It just so happens that we were able to visit and learn how to better pray for this part of the country.  We thank the Lord for this opportunity to witness another area. 

It was also a great time of getting to know our cell group better and deepen our relationships with them.  It was a blessing all around.

Of course we had to stop for Durian.  I just watched this time but Micah actually had a better experience with the fruit than his previous attempts.

I am truly amazed at how much this country likes to eat.  They eat all day long!

Juli and Lydia playing on the bus on our way to dinner.  (Because it has been 30 minutes since we have eaten.)

My little trouper.  This day was not conducive for a nap.  But she hung in there.  She had her fussy times, but I am amazed at how well she does with all this business.

We bought her this little dress at a market in town.  And she couldn't resist Phyli's hat any longer.

Her serious face is really intense concentration.  She was working so hard to make the hat stay on.

We arrived home late Monday night!  What a weekend!