Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka
Surfers Giving Back

Saturday, March 30, 2013

March Madness


 BACK TO SRI LANKA AND A FEW DAYS IN NEGOMBO 

When we arrived to the airport back in Sri Lanka we met up with Robert McDaniel, our friend from the High Desert and also STN's International Director now. We awaited for another friend, Chris Rehrer, and Pontus who were flying in within the next day. Both boys came out for a visit and we were excited to travel back to A-Bay with them and have 10 days together. Chris and Robert are both my childhood friends and also work with STN. 

The sunset in Negombo
Kenai loves his Uncle Robert
Cody and his buddy Robert catching up 





 BACK HOME TO THE BAY 



We spent a lot of time together as STN staff and friends. One thing the men all did together was spearfishing, three times. Babu joined them each time and they did an incredible job. They came back with so much fish, that by the end of 3 days, they gave all of the earnings to Babu- $400 US. 




 Thanks to these guys, we were able to feed 40 people at family night with a yummy fish barbecue. 


Family Night Fun



TWO ARTISTS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE


Cody and I were so blessed to have another artist here to help Cody on a project at the Muslim school that I teach at. My really good friend Kavitha and her husband Ishad are the principals of this school and wow how it blessed my "oikos" to have these guys serve selflessly. 


They did a great job!!!
 Kavitha and I decided to go to her house and make a nice rice and curry lunch for the hard working guys. We had fun cooking together :)
 We all enjoyed the delicious lunch together at Kavitha's house




SUNDAY NIGHT WORSHIP AT OUR HOUSE 

It was so nice to have Chris here to lead worship together with me and Cody on jimbay. It was just like old times! We enjoyed a sermon from Waxer (www.onelove.org) together and prayed for each other. Such a great night! 



 In the midst of Waxer's sermon, Cody spotted this spider in our house and it became a group effort to hold flashlights, hold chairs and finally Cody killed it. Yay! Thank you honey! 


GUYS ROAD TRIP TO ELLA

Robert and Chris had been amping to rent motor bikes/scooters and taking a drive up the mountain to Ella. The boys all had their own bikes and were off on their adventure. They left in the morning, had tea and lunch in Ella with a little relaxing, and back on their bikes for a few hours drive back to A-Bay in the evening. They really enjoyed their "guys time."




DINNER AT JOHNSON AND LATHIKA'S

One evening, Johnson and Lathi invited us all over for a yummy fried rice dinner and used some of the fish from the boys catch that day. It was a great night fellowshipping together.


LAST BREAKFAST AND GOOD-BYES

We had such a nice time with our friends and they were such a breath of fresh air! So blessed!


BLESSINGS IN A BOX

 After some rough things this month, it was sure a blessing to have our friends out and also to have two packages sent out with some fun goodies! Thank you! 

Borneo, Malaysia

We had such a wonderful time as a family in Borneo. We had never even heard of the island before, but when Cody was looking for plane tickets, it was the cheapest flights and also had one of Cody's brother Brady's hotels there. We love his perk of 80% off and enjoy a/c and hot water showers and someone else making the bed for a change- hehe! Its such a nice breath of fresh air.

The entire week we ended up sick with stomach issues and the hotel pool was broken until the last couple of days. We couldn't complain though, because it was much nicer being sick in a/c with a tv. We did however go on one family adventure on the second to last day, when we were starting to feel better. We did an 11km kayaking trip on a main river on the island. It was quite a beautiful trip through jungle. We stopped for a "local food" picnic complete with noodles and deep fried bananas. We took one small hike back to a small waterfall and also saw orangutans in the wild. It was worth getting out for!!!! 









 YAY for real bath tubs!!!!!!! 
 Swimming!!!!


 Date Night - okay with the kids 
 Brotherly love
 Uno by the pool



Off To Borneo Malaysia.... Airport Time

Best thing at many international airports- STARBUCKS!!!! Kenai and I were stoked! 


Lots of playing around

View of Singapore from the plane, on our layover

Beautiful flower gardens at this airport

 Playgrounds too!!!!!


And free leg massages!!!!


Beautiful butterfly gardens

And even a movie theatre!!!


And last but not least, Koda's favorite thing- rating your toilet experience. All smiles!!! 

Hikkaduwa Trip With Johnsons Family

We were excited when Johnson had asked us to share a van to Hikkaduwa on our way to the airport for our visa run. He and Lathi needed to go to a family wedding in Hikkaduwa. Lathi's family lives there and her parents have a small material shop. We had a great time with them and Lathi's family.


 Johnson and Lathika at their cabana on the beach that they got to enjoy during the wedding weekend. 

 Stephanie giving Kenai lots of (Ouwa) kisses 

 4 Parents, One Driver, 3 Kids, 7 hour drive.... good times :) 

 This is Lathi's parents shop on the right. The water is slowly taking away the structures.
Below is Lathi's dad in their little kitchen working on tea for all of us. Such a sweet family!
 The front of the material shop on the main road


Kenai enjoying the sunset in the sand 

We love this family- such great friends!!! 


Friday, March 1, 2013

Spearfishing Dive Safari

 Cody's love for and knowledge of spearfishing has really become very beneficial for the local boys. Most of Cody's friends use fishing and surfing to provide their income. As spearfishing has become more popular and more tourists are coming to A-Bay looking for someone with knowledge of the sport,   the local boys know who to call. Cody is the only spear fisherman in the village with a boat and all of the gear, etc. Its been a great opportunity for him to one, bless the locals by making money off of the tourists (which Cody does not keep any of the profit- only replaces the gas), and secondly, Cody continues to expand his oikos. The spear fishermen that do come, spread the word, thus making more business for the locals and using Cody as the tour guide (for free) and more quality time. What a win-win! 






And one of the best parts, is EVERYONE loves Cody's fish barbecue at Family Night!