Merry Christmas from the Catinellas

Matt & Angela

In reply to Bethany's request to read updates, I've added one. Matt and I are happily serving in Kampala, Uganda. We feel right at home. Ministry has been great. We've developed a youth outreach program called Revolution. You can see some of our youth leaders in the picture below. We rent a youth center for leadership training and youth events. Starting in Feb '08, we will start a youth discipleship program in the high schools. (The picture of Matt and me is from an orphanage in Kampala.)

New Blogs

Sarah and JP: http://www.capitolprice.blogspot.com/

Bethany: http://www.tonyandbethany.blogspot.com/

Hi Everyone!

Hey there, RVA friends! I wanted to show off pictures of my kids and let you know that I check this page often and would LOVE to read updates on each of you and see pictures. An update about me: I am a high school Chemistry teacher here in S. CA most of the time, but I'm taking a semester off to be with my kids. I am loving it! Elliana is 2 1/2 and learning so much! She is a sweet girl and loves to play "Mom" and cook food for me in her kitchen. Marcus is 3 1/2 months and growing and changing so quickly, as babies do. He enjoys being outside and watching his sister run around. Hope you're all doing well - stop by if you're in S. California! ~ Bethany G.

I have a blog, too. www.tonyandbethany.blogspot.com

Welcome Lydian!

I went to visit Jody the other day and took a picture of her and her beautiful baby. What a cutie!

10-year Reunion Update

The results from the survey are in and are overwhelmingly in favor of July 4th weekend, 2008. The survey also reported a desire to have the reunion somewhere in the Midwest. If there is anyone who would like to host the reunion, let me know. If there are no takers, I would be happy to host it in Minnesota.

All ideas and suggestions are welcome. We'll try to keep it as cost-conscious as possible, or at least have options for sleeping ranging in price so each family can choose how much they'd like to spend. This could mean a place that will allow tenting, cabins, or hotel, etc. I'll research what I can find and post more information as I come across it.

Again, if there is someone with a burning desire to host the reunion, let me know, otherwise I'll go ahead with it.

Leave your comments if you have any-- but mark the July 4th weekend on your calendar now! And bring your families.

It'll be great to see all of you and catch up on our lives.
Becky

Baby Girl!

Congratulations to Jody and Gabe and the new addition to their family. Lydian Jean was born on April 28, 2007. Pictures to come soon.

Sarah and Mark Rondeau's Wedding

Mark and Sarah were married June 9th in Kenya. Here are some pictures she sent me, as well as a few from my sister (so jealous that Debbie was able to attend, but I wasn't!). Congratulations Sarah and Mark!

Jordan Benjamin Taylor

We are proud to announce the birth of our son, Jordan Benjamin Taylor, in the wee hours of the morning (12:08) on Thursday, May 24th. Our little 8lb 15 ounce bundle of joy took his first breath after 19 hours of labor, only six hours of active labor, and just over four hours at Langley Memorial Hospital.

He is 21 ¼ inches (54 cm) long. He has a thin layer of dark hair, blue eyes, big feet and hands, and so far the consensus is he looks like a Hubler (Ericka’s family) with a touch of Taylor. He is the perfect mixture between Hungarian and Scot, Canadian and American!

Ericka is doing well. She has second degree tears and is very sore but has no other complications. I was so proud of her during the labor and found it to be quite a spiritually intense experience. When the baby was finally born all the different emotions that had been kept in check while I was helping Ericka through the contractions and pushing came flooding out. Intense joy, fear, pride, uncertainty, relief all flooded into one. I can’t explain it but if you have had a little one before I’m sure you understand.

Anyways, thank you for your thoughts and prayers through this whole delivery. We are looking forward to walking through life with this little one that God has entrusted to us and can’t believe we are so lucky!

I have attached some pictures of the first 24 hours.

Richard.

Psalm 8:2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.

April Wellspring Update

Follow the link to download the Taylor's latest Wellspring Update.
http://www.savefile.com/files/707860
(scroll to the bottom of the page to download the file)

Something old

Well couldnt get the video to play on here due to rubbish HTML skills so have a look here. It made me laugh and even though the quality is pretty shocking its possible to recognise quite a few from our class.
Enjoy! Elora

RVA Reunion Survey

Thank you to all who have voiced opinions on the RVA class reunion next summer. We have had 18 responses so far. If you haven't had a chance to fill it out, please take a minute to let us know where and when you'd like to have the reunion. It's anonymous.

Click here to take survey

Kimbra

Kimbra has a new blog posted:
http://familyofk.blogspot.com

Keely Brandon is getting married!

Here is a copy of an email Keely just sent out and she gave me permission to repost it here. Congratulations Keely!

Hello!!!!!
This is a quick mail to let you know that I am back from... well... 3 interesting years of teaching English in Japan, a busy and exciting trip around the world teaching English on Peace Boat, and a wonderful 2 week trip to Mexico. I am enjoying having time with my family again, settling back into the pace of life in Glendale, and planning my future. This is the longest I have been Stateside in years, and I am looking forward to catching up with old friends and family before I move onto my next adventure. So what is my next adventure you ask? Well it promises to be the most exciting and wonderful yet! I am going to be married to my boyfriend of 2 1/2 years, Jovan :) He's a fabulous person and an incredible partner for me. I am so blessed to be with him! He is now in Japan beginning PhD studies at the University of Kanazawa. I miss him, but I look forward to being closer together in the future.If you want to join us at the beginning of this grand adventure we're planning a wedding in Mexico Dec. 29th [thisyear] and a follow-up ceremony/reception in early January in Kentucky. We will hopefully also have a celebration in Japan. We are moving ahead with planning and trying to estimate guest numbers. If you are interested/inclined to attend any of the festivities, please let me know and I will give you more information as the details unfold. I'd love to catch up with you soon! Please let me know what has been going on in your life as well! I will end with a message from Jovan:
Hello!, I am Keely's fiance, Jovan. I am really happy and lucky to be so much in love with this great and amazing girl. I also would like to know the rest of her friends that I still don't know (and meet again the ones I already know). So please join us to celebrate together, in any/all the places we are planning to have receptions. Really looking forward to meeting you! Jovan

Hope to hear from you soon! -Keely :)

Wellspring Cyclathon

If any of you are in the Pacific NW and want to participate in our cyclathon we would love to see you get involved. We are riding July 14th and 15th as part of the annual Seattle to Portland ride. This ride is first and foremost to remember one of my best friends, who was killed last year while training for this ride. We will also be raising money for our work in Rwanda. So far it's taken me two and a half weeks to ride 200 training miles. I have a ways to go!

Sara and Josh Falk

Josh and I left for Sierra Leone in September 2005, 3 months after we got married. It’s been quite the honeymoon. I think its a little harder getting to know your spouse when you’re doing it in a different culture, but we’ve enjoyed the adventure. We are volunteers with the Church of the Nazarene and will be going home this summer in July. (My sister, Jessica, is getting married) Sierra Leone is a beautiful place, but sometimes hard to live in. We lived without electricity for a year and without running water some of that time. But we love our friends here and it will be hard to say goodbye. I work with finance for the mission and help churches set up their finance books, as well as teach some classes and do Bible Storytelling. Josh works with our Jesus Film team, teaches Theology classes and does leadership development. God has blessed our time here. We’ve learned a lot. It’s a great place to visit with AMAZING beaches.

Blessing, Josh and Sara Falk

Email from Jody

Dear Becky,
Long time...how are you? Saw you kiddie--so cute! Wanted to post my latest news. I'm due less than 3 weeks!!! Gabe and I are having a little girl! Not telling any names yet :) Once all settles down, we will put up pictures. Everything else is the same. Gabe and I continue our music ministry here in the twin cities at our international church across the U of M campus. I have a wonderful job as a Kindergarten teacher at Fair Oaks Elementary (in the Mpls. area). Gabe works for BMW. We have the cutest poopsie dog named Elsy Chicken and a home in Blaine (by your
grandparents!) God has blessed us soooooooooo much! Please Please pray for a safe delivery...I would appreciate it very much! I'm going back to work in the fall so we are desperately looking for a inhome service daycare. Also, next year I am team leader for Kindergarten...Please pray that I stay sane! RUPP fam is great! Pray for Chris (my sister) as usual...:( Robb and Jane just had there 2nd child in March. Jeremy and Kendra are adventurous and having the time of their lives up in Duluth MN. Mom and Dad are amazing as usual. Family is sooo important. I'm realizing that more and more each day. Trying to spend time w/ mom and dad more. After Gabe's dad died, it really hit me...family truely is a gift from God--priceless! Hope all is well w/ you and your family. Miss you over here. Can you believe it?? It's April and we just had a snow storm!!! You may post this email on the website...hi everyone!
-Jody McCarthy :)

Survey for 10-year Reunion

Please take a minute to fill out the survey about our 10-year reunion. It is completely anonymous and will only take you about 3 minutes. Thanks for your input!

Click here to take survey

10 Year Reunion!

Our ten-year reunion is fast approaching. Any plans to go back to RVA? To have a reunion in the US? Add your comments and ideas for summer of 2008!

I am willing to plan a reunion in Colorado... let me know if you're interested and what dates would work. Maybe the July 4th weekend? Sometime in August?

Becky

Congratulations Heather!

Heather and Josh will be getting married on July 21st, 2007 in Virginia!

All are invited. Respond to this post if you would like information for the wedding.

Way to go Heather!

Catinella Update

Olyotya? ("How are you?" in Luganda.) Matt and I have just returned from ministering in Uganda. Our first week in Uganda, we ministered in the district of Rakai and our second week we ministered in Kampala. This was our first trip to Uganda and we had a wonderful time. The people were open and friendly and receptive to the Gospel. We are looking at going back for a longer trip to pioneer an abstinence based youth program. To learn more about this trip see our blog www.living-water.blogspot.com or you can click on Matt and Angela under the Personal Pages links on this blog.

Taylor Update

Ericka and I are living in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is a registered nurse and I am running a non profit that works in Rwanda called Wellspring (www.thewellspringfoundation.com). We are also expecting our first child at the end of May!

Work with Wellspring is going really well. Our first school, the Wellspring Academy, opened in Kigali in January. We have been able to offer training to hundreds of Rwandan teachers and supported the growth of an Association of Christian Teachers.

We have a great home church and that has a strong heart for the needy in it's community and is developing a bigger vision for the world. Please look us up if you are in the Western Canada or the Pacific NW. We love visitors!

Priebe Update

I have two amazing children. Madelyn Paige will be three this March and Brennan Matthew just turned six months old. Madelyn loves to wrestle with him already! Motherhood has taught me so many things about life, love, and patience. I have never experienced anything so wonderful. Matt is a youth pastor and I am a laser technician for a family practice just outside of Kansas City. We long for adventure and cannot wait for the opportunity to arise. It would be a joy to visit old friends so please let us know where you are!
Matt and Andrea Priebe

Hi Everyone!

Hope you are all doing good. My husband and I are going to California on the 3rd of March and we are going to drive around in California for three weeks. We land in LA and from there we'll go to San Fransisco and then on to Las Vegas and back to LA. If someone is in the area or would like to come see us when we're there it would be great! You can contact me on my email adress which is lulle_thedane@hotmail.com if you're interested in meeting us! I would love to see you all again!

Meet Samuel Emmett Bryant! He will be one year on March 27. Beautiful blessing; amazing gift.
-- Becky

Okay, I know that a lot of you have been looking at the site... but not many people have commented or posted (Thank you for the ski picture, Angela). No excuses. If you look, add a comment or post your own picture or update! (-:
Becky

I Can Ski!

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd share with you that I have finally learned how to ski! I've lived in Michigan since 2001 (minus 2004-2006) and only just recently went skiing. It was a blast! I recommend this sport to everyone. You must try it at least once if the opportunity arises. You need a good teacher though. Matt (my husband) did a great job teaching me.

Congratulations Sarah!

Sarah Hamilton will be marrying Mark Rondeau in Nairobi, Kenya! She emailed me their announcement and I thought I'd put it here for all of you to see.

Save the Date!

Sarah Jane Hamilton
and
Mark David Rondeau

Are excited to announce their engagement and date of their upcoming wedding.

June 9, 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya

Welcome!

After JP, Sarah, and I have hosted a webpage for our class since 2000, I discovered the ease of these blogs. Instead of manually posting information for the class, you can join this blog and post whenever you feel like it. Add updates, pictures, and video to your blog entry. Others can add comments to your blog. We will be able to stay connected for free, easily.

If you would like to be invited to have access to post your own entries, email me at rva1998@gmail.com and I will set you up. If you do not want to be a part of the blog posting, but would like to add your post, send me an email with the text or pictures you want to include and I can upload it for you. If I hear of any news or updates from email, etc, I will try to add that as well.

If you would like to add a link on the side of your own personal webpage or anything else of interest, let me know as well.

Becky