Hip Hope Production of Oklahoma

Have you been wondering what has been keeping us busy since February? One of the many things is an all school production of the play Oklahoma. Robert was the design director which oversaw the people making all costumes, props and any other design element as well as the music director. There were two other directors. The main director and the choreography director. Last night we finished the fourth performance with a Thursday, Friday and two Saturday shows and it is finally all over!

This is Robert with the kids at Hope Academy practicing.

The set being built.

A video of the backdrop after it was painted in a warehouse.

We spent 2 weeks at the theater practicing and our kids would come home at night singing the songs and re-enacting the parts.

There were also students who ran the lights, sound, and scene changes.

These are the student crews and cast as well as the three directors. There were another 20+ adult volunteers who did so much to get this show done. It was so much fun but we are glad it is done.

Misc. Info

This is a street on the way to take Ruthy to school. What I want you to notice is the different colors in the licence plates. The white plates on the right and left are local owned cars. The vehicle right in front of me is a foreign owned car because it has yellow plates. The government employees have red plates. The vehicle I drive has white plates because it is registered in a local persons name and papers of permission to drive "their" vehicle was given to both Robert and I. It cuts down on the theft ministry.

Bishkek City is right next to Robert's school and the kids love to go into this indoor market for a snack after school.

This is another of our fast foods on the side of the street. This is roasted lamb on a bun. Very good!

The hamburger and hot dog stand on the left is not so good.

This is a bus stop. But what we love is the words above the benches which are pronounced

B-A-R-F . This is a detergent here.

Josiah organizing his cars.

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip cookies. Before we left Texas Ruthy wouldn't even touch chocolate. Now she is the one requesting chocolate.

Robert's 4th Grade Class

This is Robert's 4th Grade class. The kids at school absolutely adore our kids so whenever they have a Birthday Party at school our kids are invited.

Robert's desk:)

Birthday girl and mom who brought the goodies.

Josiah loves the attention he and his cars get.

The Birthday girl turned 10 years old in American years and 11 years old in Korean years. In Korea they count the time in the womb as the 1st year.

Lighting the candles. The goodies for the party as pictured was Kimbop (homemade wrapped in tin foil), juice in a box, snickers candy bar and chocolate cake.

We sang Happy Birthday in 3 languages!

Here is the best Kimbop I have ever tasted in my life.

New Chidren's Center Set Up

The Mountains were just beautiful this morning!

This is the new Nursery set up.


The Nursery worker behind Ruthy said, "These are not Chinese Toys, they are very nice!"
The reason she said that is because most toys here literally last 30 min before something breaks on them, they are so cheaply made.


Most of the kids have never had toys like these so the big kids kept coming back into the Nursery whenever there was some down time to play.

More big kids.

Robert holding a baby.

He got her to smile real big.

This is the big kids in the next room doing crafts.

These are left over VBS crafts.

This is the next generation to hear, believe and carry on!