Today was a wonderful day off from the study routine. First off were the eight of us who would be SCUBA diving at Pennecamp. We had two one-hour dives on French Reef and Molasses Reef, and everyone had a great time. SCUBA is the closest thing to flying, and these reefs are spectacular.

Most of the rest of the group followed a little later, with most opting for a snorkeling cruise and a few choosing a glass-bottom boat. From all reports everyone had a good day (except a couple of woozy folks on the glass-bottom boat). We couldn't have asked for better weather -- clear and warm and sunny with pretty calm seas.

Everyone got back to the hotel here this afternoon and scurried about getting respectable for our evening dining at the Whale Harbor Inn. We all had a bag-lunch a LONG time ago, and a full day of activity, so we were good and hungry for the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet. Everyone was pretty full afterwards and many walked awhile around the harbor admiring the day's catch of fish.

This evening, though, was marked with a profound sadness as we received news that Jessica Eggeson's father had died this afternoon. Jessica is the girl on your right in the photo below together with several of her friends earlier this evening. She is a Senior at GHS this year. There is no "good" way to get news like this, but Jessica is surrounded with many people who love her and care deeply about her. All of the students here are very supportive.On their own, the student raised money to pay for Jessica's plane ticket so she can join family in Goshen as they prepare for her father's funeral. She will be flying home tomorrow evening. We would invite you all to remember Jessica and her family in your thoughts and prayers over the coming days.