Relief trip to Banda Aceh

This year for spring break, which is March 19-27, I will be helping to lead a team of students and staff up to Banda Aceh to help with relief work. The plans are still in the early stages and so more details aren't coming yet. Everyone is really excited though because we all want to do something to help. I'll let you know when I know more.

Still voting?

I got an "Official Absentee Balloting Material" in the mail today from the US.

My first thought was, hmm, I've already voted and the election is over.
My second thought was, that was awfully late in coming.
My third thought upon opening it was, oh, its a special election for a bond for the Duncanville School District.

The good news is that I voted. The bad news is that I really don't know what the issues are so I probably shouldn't have. Oh well. Better to have... my clever whiticisms fail me finally.

My own wardrobe malfunction

Today I was "taking care of business" when the button popped off my pants. This happened right in the middle of the school day. Luckily I had a break about 5 minutes later and was able to run home and change. They are some of my most comfortable and beat up pants. I guess it is time to replace them.

Staff changes all around

My assistant, Ray, informed me yesterday that he will be moving to Singapore in two months. I'm sad to be losing him but I wish him the best. I'm starting the interviews for a replacement for him already and have some very promising candidates.

My position has also been filled for next year by someone I think is named Tobin. He has 5 years of experience in IT and is very organized. That will be good because he will bring some organization to the IT department which is one of my weaker points. That means I don't have the option of changing my mind anymore.

The Comeback Kid

My grandpa kept his title as the comeback kid. One of his kidneys has started working again and he even is walking around. My mom said they may be releasing him from the hospital soon. Everyone was so worried this time that all of my aunts and uncles went up to see him in the hospital. Sounds like they had a great time together and with grandpa which was good. Family reunions are great.

Have you ever commented?

I know that there are at least a couple of people out there who read my website and I never seem to get any comments on any of my posts. I'm guessing this may be due to not being sure how to post a comment so here is how. Click on the comment right below this post. It should bring you to a page with just that one post and all of the comments for the post. Click on "Post a Comment." Enter your name and comment and it will post. I may even reply! So for fun, the question for this post is, have you ever commented on a blog before? Post below and let me know.

High School Retreat Update

Our HS Retreat went really well. The topic was "Being Real" and was led by Mark Richardson, the brother of the Athletics Director, Josh. All of the high school, except one student, went which is huge for our school. Many of the students were faced with questions about being real that they had never thought about and had some good questions of their own. The whole weekend was a great success. On a side note, I got sick and had to leave a little early but I'm all better now.

Website finally in the right place

In case anyone is wondering, which I know they are not... I finally have all my website stuff in the right place. That means you are no longer redirected to a different site and it will read in the address bar www.randallknutson.com. Woo hoo!

Geckos get in everything

Geckos are cool because they eat mosquitos and all but they seem to get in everything. I've heard stories of them dead in refrigerators, squished behind doors and fried in toasters. This is where I found one this morning. He must have a death wish.

Quickies

Okay, a couple of quick notes on what is happening. Today is the start of the High School Youth Group retreat which is always a great time for the students. This year everyone in our high school signed up except one which is a huge change from previous years. Many of the students going are not christian yet so be praying for them.

I took yesterday off of work and traveled to Jakarta to see a friend who I haven't seen in a long time. We had a great time together catching up. She had been traveling to Sri Lanka and Aceh to help with the relief work and was stopping by in Jakara.

Tomorrow is a national holiday for Idul Adha. It is the day when they celebrate when Moses sacreficed the ram in exchange for his son (they think it was ishmael instead of isaac even though it it ambiguous in the koran). The most remarkable part for me is the millions of goats lined up along all the roads for the weeks leading up to it. They sacrifice all the goats and some cows on Idul Adha and give the meat to the poor.

My Grandpa

My Grandpa is in the hospital. He has had lots of heart surgery the past few years and recently had a stent. Now he has some serious internal bleeding. Please keep him in your prayers.

Not in Kansas anymore

I got an e-mail from a good friend from college today saying he is headed for Iraq. God be with him.

More from Josh and Mark

If you would like to read Josh's account and Mark's account from their time in Phi Phi as well as see the picture from the day after when they were helping people, go to Peace Portal Alliance. One of our teachers who was in Thailand got the newspaper this photo came from the day after the disaster and that was how he knew Josh was safe. Pretty amazing!

Pic from airport in LA

Here is the one picture I took the whole time I was traveling. It is from the LA bathroom and struck me as odd.



So, it is okay to through anything DOMESTIC into the urinal, just as long as it isn't foreign made. What out for Hecho en Mexico or Bikin di Indonesia! TSA will get you for that.

Newsletter 14

Newsletter 14 is out and ready. You can access it from the menu on the left.

Traveling Nightmares (with one good part)

I just got done with the longest few days of my life. I left Dallas Thursday afternoon on a flight to Los Angeles. That flight wasn't so bad but we were about 10 minutes late into LA due to the weather. While in LA I got to see one of my best friends, Josh and meet his new wife, Katie, for the first time. They are both really amazing and fun to hang out with. They are perfect for each other. I've got to say that was the most fun in a layover that I have ever had.

Next started the fun part. As I was checking in to the LA to Hong Kong flight, they informed me that due to strong head winds we would need to make another stop in Seoul for refueling. The flight eventually boarded and we were delayed in taking off for about an hour and a half. Finally we took off and 15 hours later we were in Seoul, one hour for refueling then another 3 to Hong Kong. Of course because of all the delays I missed my connecting flight and had to sit in the airport for 8 hours waiting for the next flight. Finally at 10 PM (6 hours after my train left for Bandung) I arrived in Jakarta.

Since the train had left and there was no other way to get to Bandung that night I got a hotel room but didn't have enough cash to pay in the morning. All the ATMs I found were closed so I wandered around for an hour and a half till I found on that would work. I got enough to pay for the room and went back and caught 4 hours of sleep. On a side note I don't sleep very well on planes. I got up at 3:45 and was putting my bags in a Taxi when Charity, who was supposed to take the train with me the following morning but was arriving on a different flight, called and told me she had a car and could pick me up in 5 minutes. Yay!

The driver decided to take the back way but we managed to make it back to Banung by 8 AM on Monday. 3 days of traveling! Plus the one for crossing the date-line. I threw my bags in my house and changed my clothes and headed off to school to teach. Classes have just ended and I'm about ready to get some sleep. I'm sure I will sleep for a LONG TIME! Goodnight everyone.

Donations for Tsunami relief

Some people have asked me about donations for the Tsunami. I would recommend Heart to Heart International. I have a friend with them and they are sending trained medical staff and supplies to the affected areas. Information on how to give is on their website.

In Transition

I got back from the cruise with my family last night. We had a great time. The cruise was okay but spending time with the whole family again was great. Is was awesome to have my sister in from Hawaii and my brother and his wife along. This is really the first time we have been together since we were all adults. On the cruise I dove with my brother and sister-in-law and saw some really beautiful stuff off of cozumel and I went to the Mayan ruins at Tulum. That means that now I have seen the main ruins of all three major pre-colonial civilizations. The Aztecs at Tenochtitlan, the Incans at Machu Picchu and the Mayans at Tulum. We also went snorkeling at Xel Ha and saw tons of huge fish and beautiful scenery. Dinners on cruises are second to none.

I leave in a few more hours to go back to Indonesia. On my way here I shaved right before I left for the trip and when I arrived in Dallas my mom thought I was growing a beard. This attests to either the length of the trip or how quickly I grow facial hair. Catch you on the flip side of the journey.