William H. Davis Jr: 2007

Makapuu beach- Windward side

~Cruising over to the east (windward) side of the island~

For a little body boarding and sight seeing

Tetsuo Harano tunnel..

Todd & li'l Nick

Da Family

Navigating down to the beach..

~Doing a little body boarding @ Makapuu!~

Todd

Rabbit Island in the distance..

Makapuu Beach

Breakfast w/ Jackie & Hanging out @ Waikiki

Breakfast with Jackie Salas!

Farmer nick

breakfast on the beach

Nicholas new friend :)

The view from Jackie's hotel room

~Sunset at Waikiki~

Hanging out on the beach!

Claire & Nick

Getting ready to go Surfing :)

~The End~

As you can see they have a really cute little condo. It was funny, when i came down in the morning i really scared Nicholas, he ran over to Claire crying and wouldn't look at me for a few seconds. I think it was the hair :) He eventually warmed up to me and after i read him a few books he was my best buddy. We had a nice time at north shore we ate at this delicious hamburger place and then went shopping for a surfboard at the surf shops a few minutes down the road. I found a sweet board for good deal, i was pretty excited. I haven't been able to try it out yet because its so flat right now, but were going to try different side of the Island tomorrow. After that we drove along the coast and Claire showed me all the famous surf spots. We then landed at this little beach (pirates as Claire called it) and went swimming, i tried to get nick in the water, but he still isn't totally used to me yet, so he decided to hang out with his mommy on the sand!

~Claire & Todd's beautiful little house!~

My little room!

The bathroom and my beautiful sister!

The stairs.

The living room.

Nicholas play room under the stairs.

kitchen, with a dishwasher

Back porch, were we have dinner and breakfast.

The view from the back porch.

Eating lunch at a local hamburger joint on the North Shore.

Looking for a surfboard at the local surf shops.

The find!

Swimming at a local beach on the North Shore, called pirates.

Sand baby!

Driving back to their house from the North Shore, its around a forty minute drive.

Week 4: Pro Bargainers & Loving the Climate

Hi everyone! I miss you all....

We had a record high of 47 Celsius which is 116 Fahrenheit. So you are pretty much in a constant state of sweating. I was shaving in our sauna (bathroom) and my torso was soon completly weat and sweat was driping of my nose! And to top it off both A/C in our flat no longer work. Ours went out first so we converted to Davis A/C, soaking wet t-shirt draped over our upper body with the ceiling fan blasting. This was working pretty good; i mean, we were still sweating our brains out, but it wasn't to bad. We mentend to Mum and Papa that our A/C wasn't working, so they insted that we sleep in there room with them and they wouldn't let us refuse. So we had a pretty sweet slumber party! Last night with our luck their A/C stopped working. Now were gonna try sleeping at the school, either in the lobby area because a breeze is always blowing through or in one of the office rooms were there is an A/C unit. Pretty exciting stuff.

To further our Indian experince we have purchased a bicycle. Its pretty sweet, we now no longer have to get cheated by the rickshaw drivers to go to the market and we don't have to walk to school anymore. Our quality of living has definatly improved, not that its was bad before. We get even funnier looks now. I'm not sure what they think of us, two white guys riding Indian style and one of them with a curly fro. They really maximize on space around here, the most people i've seen on a bike is around three and one time i saw a guy with 5 twenty gallon propane tanks tied to his bike. And this is not an unusal site ethier. Its a little tricky manuvering the traffic, its a little different than the U.S.. But were getting the hang of it, you can pray we don't get run over that would be awesome.

Today, Monday we started an art & craft project. Were having all the students make scrap books. There not scrap books like back home, there more like a bunch of colored construction paper stapled with a cover that says " my scrap book" its pretty sweet! We have printed up a ton of pictures, some of the kids and some from back home in California. Were having them put one picture on each page and then draw and write about whatever the picture is. Its so that when the class is over they will have something to remember us and the class by.

We went shopping to Delhi's largest market and this other market which is kind of a tourist place. Were getting this barganing thing down, after getting cheated so many times you kind of get fed up. Shoping around here is different story, its almost an adventure especialy being white. Its like we have a big target on our forheads "TOURIST" its so crazy.

Oh and my name as changed to Villie its no longer willie. With there accents everyone says my name with a V its pretty funny.

My hair is looking pretty sweet, its probably around 8 inches and as curly as Gabrielle's hair. Just thought i'd let you know!!

Thats all folks stay tuned for more!

Yours Truly In Christ,
William Davis II

Week Three and were still alive! :)

Greetings to My Family and Friends and Gods Blessings!

Three weeks! Sometimes it feels like three months and other times like three days. Its so fun getting to teach these kids. We've really made friends with the ones that come regularly now. We started with thirty and now around twenty come on a regular basis! School go's from 8 to 12 so we have one hour periods. During the second or third period we play games in this big grass field, we taught them ultimate frezbie and they love it. Some times we'll play catch with tennis balls or when were tired or its to hot to play we sit in the shade and talk, laugh and the other day we brought out Barak's picture book that Alison made for him and showed them pictures. It was really cute, they all wanted to see the picture of Alison and one of the boys, his name his Sikander, wanted a picture of Barak & Alison, so the other kids started teasing him and were telling Barak that Sikander was going to take his girlfriend, it was really funny!

Saturday's are site seeing days. But we didn't get a lot of site seeing in this Saturday, because we stayed late at school and were messing with the new sound equipment Barak bought for the school. It was really fun we were the only ones there, so we set it up in the outdoor lobby area and it echoed throught the whole school with the granite and marble floors. And then were up late grading tests that we had the students take. It was hilarious. We told the students that there was going to be a test on friday and of course half of them forgot. So Friday rolls around and all the kids are stressing out and telling us they should take the test on Monday. But like cruel teachers we said no. It was really sad! Ok, so we got up late around 8, we usally arise around 5:30. We hung out at our flat and worked on some stuff for the following school week. We headed off to the school around 11:30 and ate lunch with the office staff Bency, Naynna, and Nesa who are our usual lunch companions. 2:30 we headed of on our adventure to visit India's largest Mosque and pick up some music stands for the guitars from the music store. The mosque was pretty amazing. Its extior is sqaure and on all sides there is shaded areas and on the east side is the place of prayer, which is the largest covered place you can walk. The center is a large stone courtyard with a pool in the center to wash you feet. On the eastern faceing wall in the corners are two very tall towers which you can go in. there really intense. it was very narrow inside and it winds around and around and around; there was no steel or cement used to build them only stone and they've been there for hundreds of years. You can not wear shoes inside, the only problem with this is its 110 outside and i was wearing sandals. But for your convince they have skinny mats that stretch to diffrent areas so you can walk. My feet are gonna be pretty tough by the time i come home! We then finished off the day with picking up the guitar stands.

My Health as been fairly good i only suffered a minor cold and stomach issues on Wensday lets just say it wasn't fun, so i stayed home and slept all day. Besides being extremely tired were doing awesome, its continuing to be a blessing being here and continued thanks for all you prayers, support and encouragment!!! I miss you all a lot! And i'll give more updates in about a week.

I'd love to hear from you too, you gotta keep me updated too!! :)

With Love in Christ,
William H. Davis II

2nd Week: First Week of Guitar Class

Hello every one

My God Bless you as you continue to pray for us!

This is the close of our first week of guitar class. Were pretty much putting the children through a musical boot camp, it is quite necessary because we only have four weeks left and that is a very short time to learn any musical instrument. For the short time they have really picked it up fast. Its a little different than teaching American children, most of these kids have never seen a musical note, have no idea what a sheet of music looks like or how to keep time. The children that are coming are doing very well, they are learning how to strum and have learned a few chords. To help the children learn faster we have set up a practice time after school. This runs from one o'clock to four or five, its worked well except that we have to have intense supervision. Teaching this class has really given me a lot of respect for teachers that i never had before. It takes a lot of energy to teach kids this age and especially if they don't understand you half the time. All the children are really precious, it was my birthday a few days back on the 22, so Barak had the children sing me happy birthday. The next day two of the kids had brought me gifts and following day another kid brought my something. Its a real blessing to see the smiles on their faces as there learning and their enthusiasm is awesome. We had some trouble with kids coming that were to young and from other schools just to pass the time but we resolved this issue and now things are running smoothly.

Saturday was site seeing day. We saw Red Fort, and incredibly large red fort. It was amazing to see all the architecture, carvings and inlay of stone. The landscaping of the this place was awesome, a river was once connected to a huge moat that surroundedhe fort. From this water was transferred inside which fed a stream which ran throughout the entire place, it was called the "the river of paradise". The Carvings in the marble and stone pillars and floor are so intricate. The inlay is amazing in these marble pillars you have flowers and many other designs inlaid with different colored granite and stones, it looks as if it was painted that how well done it is!

We visited another place that i don't remember the name of. This also had incredible carvings stone and an incredibly tall tower. This place had more long always of stone pillars and was more broken down, its a lot older than red fort.

We Also drove by the presidents house and office, it would be like driving by the white house. We also visited the Gate of India which was built in remembrance of all the soldiers that died in

WWI and the war against Afghanistan. All the soldiers names that died are inscribed on it.

Things are going well and i miss you all!!

Love in Christ

William Davis II

1st Week in India!

So, we have been here for almost one week now. I think were finally adjusting to the climate, but there were a few times when the power when out,as it does on a regular basis, that so hot i you can't even imagine! The summer camp is over now. Its really sad, we won't see most of the teachers again because there leaving on summer break. It was a blessing getting to work with the children, they are so precious. how our day went; we wake up around 5.30 or 6 depending on wither if i was giving the teachers devotion. leave for the school around 7.30, it is only a short distance so we walk. Teachers devotion starts 8.00 and last for 30 minutes, every day for the summer camp there is a different song and scripture verse, so who ever is giving the message speaks on the verse and song. Barak and I then go and eat breakfast, which our very kind friend Nessa has prepared for us. After breakfast we spend the rest of the day visiting class rooms and talking with the kids. Some stories; one day i visited the senior girls class, there ages rang probably from 14 to 16 and they speak fairly good English. Upon entering the class i introduced myself, told were i was from. The teacher then asked me to sing a song, i said 'ok.... what song would you like me to sing?' she said "any song". It was really funny because i couldn't think of a song at first. I finally landed upon "As the Deer" but i only sang one or two lines because i couldn't remember the rest. i was then asked to share my testimony. after this the teacher asked me to tell a story, but this time she interpreted. once again i could not think of a story, i finally told how i got hit by the truck when i was little and used the story to share how God saved my life! The teacher said the girls were touched. Barak and I taught the senior boys class "Father i Adore You" it was blessing watching them improve in there singing. the last day each class performed some type of song or skit. So they sang this song and barak played the guitar. The last day after every thing was over i was resting down in the front courtyard in front of this there is a grass area. The children, some parents and teachers were sitting in the grass. Some of the children came up led me to the grass, because they had all been given gifts from the good Samaritans purse. It was so touching watching them show me there gifts and it broke my heart when two of the children gave me some of there candy. I didn't want to take it, but they wouldn't let me. I wasn't eating because i was going to give it back, but the little boy who had given me a lollipop made sure i ate it. It was so moving to see how they have so little and yet they want to share with me. It convicted me in how selfishly i live. i have been given so much, all my need are met and yet i think only how i need more. Come Monday we start guitar classes, arts & crafts and sports, it will be interesting to see how it all works out. 100 kids have singed up for guitar classes. So they have divided them up in to three groups, so it will be around 30 kids. it will be interesting because neither barak and i have ever taught this many kids and i have never taught before like this at all. So please pray for me that i can think of ideas of things to do and if you have any ideas please email me at: willie@davis12.com and for barak that he will be able to communicate with children because the language barrier is hard, especially in this setting. I love you all and miss everyone!! and will give you an update on how classes are going soon.

With love in Christ,
Willie Davis

P.S. check out Baraks blog for pictures, its kind of difficult to upload so only one person uploads. http://lightningdavis.blogspot.com/

First Day in India

After 14 hour plane flight, we arrived safely in New Delhi, India. We were greeted by Daniel Raj and Anand. Anad is a driver for the school and Daniel and his wife Danielle are staying with us for the first two weeks to help us get adjusted to life in New Delhi. The airport is quite a ways from our apartment, so we experienced what real driving is like. Just picture lots of cars ( the cars over here are very small), big dump trucks, rickshaws, bikes and people on foot, i almost forgot the cows. its pretty crazy. Oh and they use there horns a Lot! My first experience with a beggar was a little boy; we were at a stop light when he spotted us and ran over to the car and started wiping the windows with rag, it melted my heart. We arrived at our apartment and they had prepared tomato soup for us. You have to understand it 12 am and its 90 degrees. The soup was a little hot, but very delicious. We awoke to a hot breakfast of Eggs and toast, an American style breakfast as our Indian friend Nessa referred to it has. we have spent most of the day resting. we also were able to visit with Daniel Raj, showing him family photos and pictures of the surfing which he had never heard of. around 6 pm, 8:45 am Kentucky time we headed of to the Internet cafe in a rickshaw. Tomorrow is the start of summer camp for the school and i was told there will be around 500 kids attending.
Love in Christ,
Willie

I'm Leaving!

Hey everybody,
so we have an offical date on our departure now--May 11th. Our tickets are purchased and its now become a reality. I have always known i was going but it wasn't untill we bought our tickets that i realized "i'm actually going to India for two months!" its so exciting...i miss everybody so much and i love you all a lot and am also excited about coming home and geting to see everybody again. :) if you could keep us in your prayers for the next two weeks that would be awesome, because we have to have finish our job--we have a lot to do and its kinda stressful. During our stay in India, if could pray that God would use us to bless the people and children we will be working with. Thanks for all you prayers, love, and support. I miss you all and would love to hear from you in the next two weeks.
William H. Davis II

Skating in D-Town

Our latest aweome little project! after my first atempt on making a qaurter pipe we got inspiered to build a real ramp...and the best part, we used all the old 2X4's from the house and some left over plywood we had laying around. Its also the talk of all the little neighberhood kids, its really cute because they come over almost everyday and ask us to when were going to take it out again-we keep it in the garage just in case it might rain.