Next Week: March!

Dear Friends,

February 29 is Leap Day. That's the extra day we add to February once every four years to make up for the extra five hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds a year it takes the earth to rotate around the sun. Some fun Leap Day facts:

• A baby born on Leap Day is called a leapling.
• In some countries, legal ages are on February 28 or March 1. In the United States, there is no law for a leapling.
• Leap Day is St. Oswald's Day. In many countries, children are named for the saint of the day. Now you know the birthday of someone named Oswald (but do you throw a party on the 28th or the 29th?).
• It is a tradition that a woman can propose to a man on Leap Day in many countries. If the man refuses, he has to buy the woman a gown or money. There are some laws in Europe that the man has to buy the woman 12 pairs of gloves to hide the fact that she doesn't have an engagement ring!
• In some European countries, Leap Day is called Bachelor's Day.

Do you want to try Chinese Brush Painting? We are meeting this Saturday, 2:30-4:30 in room 205-207. No experience is necessary.

International Bible Study: Tuesdays 9:00-10:30, Room 100

This week we read Luke 8. Jesus tell a teaching parable that explains how the good news is shared to many people, but how the wonderful hope and joy doesn't take hold in their lives. He uses the analogy of a farmer broadcasting seed. This explanation helps Jesus' followers to understand why some people don't grow in their faith and hope. We talked about how in some cases, we can help prepare people to better receive this news!

March 1: Let's read another parable and then see how Jesus' family is reacting to His work.

International Friends: Tuesdays 10:30-12:00, Room 100

We went to Cool Creek Park to see the art show and enjoy the Nature Center. They have a great playground and nice trails. This is a great place to welcome spring! Afterward, we went to Steak n Shake for lunch. Try the new cup of French onion soup and black raspberry chocolate chip shakes. They have a fish and chips fish sandwich for the season.

March 1: Let's color!

Bring your colored pencils, markers, crayons. If you have an adult coloring book and color for fun, bring your work. We will try this relaxing and fun activity. Afterward we will head to Koto and try this new Japanese restaurant by the Lowes.

Conversation: Wednesdays, 4:30-6:00, upstairs classrooms

We cancelled due to the weather last week. We can't wait to get together on Wednesday and find out about Elizabeth's surgery and talk about Unit 17 (or not).

English Classes: Thursdays, 9:30-12:00, upstairs classrooms

We are still open for friends to join our classes. The $60 annual fee covers the costs: your text books, copy costs, markers, teacher's books. Carmel Lutheran Church donates the space and the childcare. Our excellent teachers are all volunteers. Start early, start later, you will always get your money's worth!

analogy: a comparison between two things

broadcasting: scatter by hand or by machine, not plant; this is a very fast way to plant very small seeds

gown: beautiful dress

to hide the fact: to not sow something

bachelor: unmarried man; a women is called bachelorette (but mostly for pre-wedding parties)

analogy: 

broadcasting: when a gardener or farmer scatters seeds (tosses them) rather than planting them.
annual fee: costs for an entire year