...he who began the good work WILL carry it on to completion...
The group shot:
These ladies have been a big part of our language learning over the past year and a half...our teachers:
The classmates we're currently studying with:
The guys:
A picture that our student teachers drew for me and Joy:
I even tackled the kitchen yesterday, deciding what to take and what to pass on to others. We're trying to get everything situated since we're having to move everything but the furniture out of our apartment before we leave. I think that every time our friends 
have come over these last couple of months they've left with something in their hands (clothes, blankets, old suitcases, stuffed animals, coat hangers, towels, office supplies, family photos, shoes, all sorts of odds and ends). The funny thing though is that you have to be able to carry whatever you take b/c you don't have a car parked out front to stuff it in...you have to walk either 1 km to the bus stop or find a taxi somewhere on the street. The pic on the left is Anna heading back to the dorms with a suitcase full! I'm still sore from yesterday, hauling our old Christmas tree over to a friend's house under one arm, and a bag full of overflowing kitchen supplies and books under the other, the few blocks on foot to her house. :)
Joy managed to fit everything that she's taking back to America in 2 suitcases (and she doesn't even need all the space). She amazes me, and she is truly one of the most productive and practical persons I know. I think the only thing left in her room is the sheets on her bed, and a few clothes in the closet...and it's been that way for a least a couple of weeks!
This is me making sure all my luggage is gonna close up...and not fly open & hurt anyone in transport (That comment's for you Daddy. ;))
The only potential problem that I could run into at this point is not being able to transport (aka lift) the luggage by myself! My specialty is definitely not lifting heavy things (I'm more gifted in the changing light bulbs/reaching the bowls on the top shelf department). So as silly as it may sound, please do ask that it won't be a problem getting all 5 bags and the additional carry-ons out of the airport when I arrive on the other side of the country! 
It was wild how close you could get to these animals!
Morg...this pic's for you!
This giraffe didn't have much to keep him from making an easy exit. :)
OH and I love the skyrises right behind the giraffe exhibit! That'd be a interesting balcony view! :)
And I got to treat our friends to homemade frappuccinos! 
So here's the waterfall exhibition...
So farther and farther away from the big city we went...til we found ourselves riding through the countryside way up into the mountains.
We finally got to our destination and set out on a hike...which turned into quite an adventure through the "wilderness."
What we thought was a small trek through the mountains turned into a 7 kilometer hike! But it was nothing but breath-taking sights and pure delight from beginning to end! Even though we did start getting a little delirious about hour 4 1/2! :)
Because we were following the path of the river through the mountains we had to cross the river several times...utilizing everything from swinging bridges, stepping stones, to planks supported by rubber tires!
At one point we even went through a cave!
Oh and don't worry...we took lots of little stops along the way to take a short rest...
and to re-nourish! Nothing like gnawing on chicken feet, eating boiled eggs, and drinking pepsi while you're hiking (our friends packed these little treats).
And our friends taught us that there's only one way to cross a swinging bridge...run across it!!! So I gave it a whirl...
I just got to give thanks, not only for his glories, but also for renewed health...what a precious gift good health is!
