SUMMARY
In February 2010 it was back to Africa again to be the main speaker at a Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA/CMA) seminar. In December 2010 we cruised the Danube on a Viking ship, enroute back to Africa, to Tanzania for the wedding of grandson Caleb January 2011. In 2012 we went to DC and had a great reunion with my former AMREF deputy Elkanah Absalom, who was now Kenya’s Ambassador to US. In 2013 we visited granddaughter Sandra in Costa Rica and helped with a community health program in Nicaragua. Also in 2013 we attended the 50th anniversary of the Lane Family Reunion in Alabama and there were two weddings. In July 2014 came another Family Reunion in Taos. In December 2014 we were on another Viking River Cruise, this time down the Rhone. At the end of the cruise it was back to Africa again for a Serengeti Safari with colleagues from KCMC days. In Albuquerque in 2015 there was a wedding, a great grandson birth and a Wheaton College graduation. In 2016 we visited California, Montana and Texas. In 2017 we welcomed a delegation of offspring from Tanzania to Albuquerque to celebrate the birth of another great grandson.
2010
February. I gave the Keynote talk at the biennial Seminar of CMDA at Brackenhurst.
December We took a Viking Cruise up the Danube from Budapest to Nurenburg. Thence flew to Tanzania.
2011
January we were in Tanzania for Caleb’s wedding to Heleen.
2012
Trip to DC visiting relatives and Kenya’s Ambassador Elkanah Odhembo
2013
Costa Rica visiting Sandra and Nicaragua with AMOS organization.
COSTA RICA. We visited granddaughter Sandra (US Foreign Service) and also some relatives who were co-founders of “Monteverde”, the Quaker colony there.
NICARAGUA. We shared ideas and practices for promoting healthy Community-Based Development with AMOS, a Christian NGO. “Stirring the pot” in Nicaragua.
ALABAMA. At Point Clear we joined Betty’s extended family for the Lane Family Reunion. There were seven Lane siblings so attendance exceeded 200. Expectedly our kids and grandchildren set mileage records getting there.
2014
Rhone River and Africa trip
2015
May Eileen grad. Wheaton
Ellie marries Jeff
California for Laura Barnett’s funeral
2016
Armes family trip to Tanzania. for six weeks.
Talk at Kirkland Air Force Base for Holocaust Memorial (See Chapter 3 “Off to War”)
Carolyn retires from American International School Dhaka.
26 Dec 2016 Family get together at Point Grill, Mariposa, New Mexico
2017
A special summer treat was the presence in Abq. of the “Olasiti Gang” namely Steve and Marilyn (Simonson) and their daughter Serena and her husband Andre (Badenhorst) and their son Otto. They were here for Serena’s delivery of a second child, Ivan, born at Dar al Luz where Otto was also born.
OUR SIX KIDS IN 2018 (a review)
DAN is edging into retirement from the graphics field. He enjoys photography and shown has shown his photos in many exhibits. Wesley Pulkka of The Albuquerque Journal writes, “(Dan’s) works celebrate geometric abstraction at the highest level.” More of Dan’s work can be found on his website danshafferphoto.
DAVID retired after 38 years in education (from KG to Principal in three overseas countries and two states). Overseas David escorted students on learning field trips into new areas and cultures. In New Mexico he was father-figure to many kids from culture-impoverished homes. Through his IT skills he does much to preserve the fabric of family and friendships around the world. Debbie and David enjoy having Debbie’s mother live with them in Albuquerque.
CAROLYN has also retired (from teaching French in four overseas countries and two states). She also led many learning expeditions of students in faraway places. She lives with us in Albuquerque and teaches part-time at Alliance Française.
MARILYN (Simonson) is still teaching “Special Needs” kids at Arusha International School. Her joyful avocation is horsemanship and being the doyenne of their “hacienda” in Arusha, Tz.
BETSY (Benson) trained as a nurse but has spent most of her time raising her kids in four African countries and DC. She has survived a serious encounter with an “astrocytoma”.
GINI (Armes) trained in nursing but then spent time with John in the the military in Germany, Japan, Alaska, Arizona and finally New Mexico. With the maturation of her daughters she has been merging back into nursing (Quality Control).
To our great joy four of them (Dan, Dave, Carolyn and Gini) live here in Albuquerque.
Our 15 grandchildren and 11 Great-grandchildren are scattered from Missoula to Albuquerque to Belgrade to Arusha to George, South Africa.
See Roy and Betty Family Tree (Appendix)