Glow in the dark Disc Golf, one of my new favorite pasttimes.

It is absolutely perfect for those evenings where you and your friends are sitting around wondering what to do with yourselves. It's super fun, and very easy to set up.

All you need is: Frisbees or discs. (one at the absolute minimum).

Glow sticks (which can be found at your local dollar tree, or other inexpensive store).

Clear tape (the more durable the better).

A flashlight or headlamp (Not actually necessary, but recommended).

A disc golf course (although chucking frisbees at trees or other objects works just as well).

And finally, some friends to enjoy the good times with!


Kesh Phillips demonstrating the proper throwing technique.



Alex Hardin, enough said...



Alex, Kesh, and Jasper

Europe trip Recap

Alright, so as promised, here is my post recapping some of the cool moments on our Europe trip. We spent several days in Budapest, Vienna, and Prague, with Emi, Vio, and Megan. Then Jason and I flew from Prague to Athens, where we stayed for about four days before taking a ferry to the island of Santorini. We chilled on Santorini for another four days before making our long trip home.






Our awesome friends we stayed with in Austria



Vio lost in a maze at the Schonbrunn Castle



The Schonbrunn Castle



Tastey!






Prague



Emi on the last night in Prague













Oh yeah!



Santorini

Home

Alright, so we got back from Europe on Tuesday, and it has taken me awhile to get back into the swing of things. Sorry about the lack of posts on the trip, but we couldn't put any photos on my ipod, (our only source of internet connection) so i decided to wait til I could put up some photos. So once I get the photos from Jason, I'll do a nice long post recapping the trip.

I finally started recovering from jet leg Sunday night. That was just in time to have a really fun day with our good family friends the Phillips and the Petersons. We had an early morning disc golf tournament, always fun. Then we headed out to Steelhead Falls and spent most of the day jumping off cliffs into the freezing cold water. Great times. We finished off the day with a nice bbq, and then some rousing games of capture the flag in the dark. In the end it was yet another wonderful day spent with amazing people, in a pretty awsome creation.

Budapest

Tuesday through Thursday we spent walking around Budapest, the capital of Hungary. We were on the go constantly trying to get in as much as possible. Tuesday evening we went to a big Island park in the middle of the Danube river. There we rented a 6 person bike and had a blast peddling around the Island. The next day we went on a river cruise, visited some sort of famous hotel, did a little shopping, and ended the day up on the citadel overlooking the city. The view up there was amazing. Great way to end our stay in Budapest. On the way down Vio almost stepped on a hedgehog! So we were able to get pictures of a wild hedgehog, sweet! Next stop Vienna!



The Parliment building


Jason, myself, Megan, and Emi goofing around in the park


The chain bridge


View from the citadel


Megan and Jason enjoying the view


Our friend the hedgehog

Becoming tourists

Sunday morning (July 26) the rest of the Romania team left for Bucharest, and then home on Monday, leaving Jason, Megan, and myself in Arad with Emi and Vio. We had a couple of days to chill and do laundry before we left on our trip across eastern Europe. Monday our friend Sergiu took Jason and me to see some ruins outside of Arad. We went to what was called the ruins of S'ria up in the hills outside of Arad. Sergiu's little car had a hard time making it up the washed out, steep dirt roads. So Jason and I had to get out several times to push. We made it to the top and got to climb all over the 2,200 year old ruins, as well as take some cool pictures. After spending all afternoon with Sergiu and his fiancee Steghie, we headed back to Arad for one last soccer game with our new Romanian friends from camp. Always a lot of fun! Goodbye Romania!



The ruins at S'ria


Photo opp! Don't worry about how I got up there


As you can see I think I'm having climbing withdrawals


Sergiu's crazy car



Sergiu and Steghie, God bless you guys!!

Arad

So we left Bucharest early Monday morning headed here to Arad. We had a wonderful 10 hour bus ride, except that we kept driving by sweet-looking rock formations that were just begging to be climbed. Yet I could do nothing about it!

If i remember correctly, Tuesday we went to visit an orphanege outside of town. It was lots of fun getting to run around and play with the kids and the kitty pool felt really nice! That night we went to a youth group meeting in a town called Pancota. Kristin Jones and I performed three worship songs and my dad talked about postmodernism. Some of those kids are going to be at the camp next week so it was our first impression on them. I think it went pretty well.

Wednesday we went to Timisoara, the town were the revolution started. Emi's dad gave us a really good tour and we learned quite a bit. Afterwards we were able to do a little shopping before heading back to Arad. Wednesday night we got to play soccer against the Romanians again. There were three teams and we played winner moves on while one team takes a break. And yes, we did hold our own against them once again! I think we won two, tied three, and lost two. not bad for a bunch of gringoes!

Thursday some of us stayed at the church to fix the playground, which badly needed repairs, and some of us went to work with street kids and meet the English chap who founded the ministry Savile. He took us up to a camp that he was running, and told us the story of how God had called him to work in Romania. It was absolutely amazing some of the crazy miricles God used to bring him here. Truly inspiring. After we talked with him we came back to their headquarters and went out to work with the street gypsy kids. They advised us not to bring cameras, so I don't have any pictures of them to show you, but it was once again great to put smiles on the faces of little kids who normally have nothing.

Friday we hung out and started our loads of laundry in the morning. Then some of us headed back to the orphanege to see the kids again. So much fun! Then we came back and had the rest of the day to chill.

This morning Emi's dad took us to the town center to see where the revolution took place in Arad (which by the way he was a big part of).

Now we are sitting around waiting to go to a barbecue at the pastor's farm. Should be fun.

Thanks to those who are praying for us. Hope to keep you posted.
Alex on the 10 hour bus ride


David and Goliath, skit for the orphans. Ha Ha


Me in front of a cathedral in Timisoara


A memorial for those who died in the revolution in Timisoara


Soccer against the Romanians

Romania trip first couple of days

Allright, so we are here in Romania with the Antioch church team for a missions trip. The trip is almost three weeks long, and I hope to keep posting on what's going on.

We left early Wednesday and drove up to the Seattle airport, where we took the 10-hour flight over to Frankfurt, Germany. The craziest thing about the flight is that we flew far enough north as to completely miss any night. So it was sunny the whole time. Once in Frankfurt, we had a four-hour layover before flying the last leg to Bucharest. For the last couple of days we have been getting to see some really neat sights around the city, as well as getting to meet some really neat people. Today most of the team headed up to the mountians to see some castles, but we stayed behind because the word is we might be getting a soccer game going this afternoon against the Romanians!


Jasper, Kesh, and Alex in the Seattle airport

My Dad ready to fly

Waiting for our bags in Bucharest

Kesh and I, tired after traveling

Jazz and Kesh still suffering from jet lag...

The Peoples' House, second largest building in the world!

Kesh being a tourist

Kip, Kristin, Jason, and Alex during some down time

Breakfast at our host family's home

My dad preaching at church with translator

Mexico tour

Ok, so here are some pictures from my recent missions trip to southern Mexico. I went down with the Southern California Seahorses, which is an all Christian team that plays in the PDL second division. We went down to play 4 games against the local teams, and share the gospel with them. We spent several days in Pinotepa, then on to Ometepec, before finishing up the tour with a day of playing in the ocean at Acapulco. It was an awesome trip. I really enjoyed the team, the food, putting on clinics for kids, and just watching God work through soccer.

A church in Ometepec

our team in the blue jerseys

my non-air conditioned room in Ometepec

kids at one of the clinics

Todd Elkins playing some head catch with the kids