Flat Stanley meets South Asia

We got an email a couple weeks ago from our good friends, the Lockharts, from good ole Texas land!! Their son, John Scott, asked our family to help him with his Flat Stanley project (if you've never heard of Flat Stanley, you can catch up with Flat at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flat_Stanley). Although the look of surprise wasn't quite as dramatic as John Scott's expession below (and what ABOUT his sister Reese's expression -- the Lockhart kids are some kind of precious), most of the locals didn't quite understand why we'd want their picture taken with a flat man named Flat!!

Meet OUR version of Flat Stanley (John Scott, hopefully you like the outfit we picked out for him). We are THRILLED that he came all this way to spend some time with our family.

Emma and Flat in front of our home ... the first local he met was one of our favorite security guards.

We also have a new favorite rickshaw driver, Senthil. He took us around our neighborhood and was excited to have his picture taken with Flat Stanley (and Emma). What you probably didn't expect to happen, John Scott, was the Father using Flat Stanley to start something pretty special with our new friend. We exchanged contact information and will be having future discussions! You, our young friend, are a part of what He is doing here as well.

The wind almost carried Flat away a couple times, but other than that, he really liked his first rickshaw ride!!

Nothing new to us, but Flat was a little surprised to see a herd of 7-8 cows walking down the middle of the street. He wanted his picture taken with all of them, but we only managed to get one of them.

Flat also helped us pick out some fresh pomegrantes!!

And finally, Noah then gave him a tour of one of the many coconut groves near our home!! One of the ways coconuts are used here is as a "soft drink." The coconut vendors use a machete to take off the top and then sticks a straw through a small hole ... instant coconut drink. Flat didn't want to try the drink but loved the grove!!

We loved, Loved, LOVED our time with Flat Stanley ... and are so thankful for Scott, Shannah, John Scott and Reese. We love and miss you guys!! Thank you, John Scott especially, for letting Flat hang out with us for a few days in South Asia. We will be mailing him back to you (in a flat envelope of course) with a couple souvenirs today.