tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77831135981009609372024-03-09T18:48:23.063-08:00the world as best i know itKristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.comBlogger140125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-3681529158675756852020-10-07T11:38:00.004-07:002020-10-07T12:20:44.015-07:00A lot has changed-and so have we.<p><b> We are now parents of a ONE year old!</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5_dk-Y55jHDkk_5bp5lX3Q19KAfQyeN8RIWBpQvh8F9KQNHKJUj-J6wB9Nop9lrbArjdQbs4u7Z9GgGke98isZFEcY_2UXJAKx53VXks0nQFcAVu2OGtzgqydTMOqIy0Lb9gfE5tjCVz/s2048/IMG_4648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1741" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5_dk-Y55jHDkk_5bp5lX3Q19KAfQyeN8RIWBpQvh8F9KQNHKJUj-J6wB9Nop9lrbArjdQbs4u7Z9GgGke98isZFEcY_2UXJAKx53VXks0nQFcAVu2OGtzgqydTMOqIy0Lb9gfE5tjCVz/s320/IMG_4648.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">It's a joy to experience life with Sonny and definitely a challenge to depend on the Lord as we try to teach him to be a wise, responsible, respectful, obedient child. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b>A vehicle!</b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiHiO6ds_3bTA8an05ia-_RV_FlUte-Wgb88pBRhzi_YIa9CsvntkeYa9odBrM_6OZTGukeOpXe6_XwD1oKz6QEFXagOP0OfVzlkRxi5d36Uxoe3QlCdswIx73FFaa70bvR_bkiwS2Kxp/s520/119982470_351221796076984_1780065612293906687_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqiHiO6ds_3bTA8an05ia-_RV_FlUte-Wgb88pBRhzi_YIa9CsvntkeYa9odBrM_6OZTGukeOpXe6_XwD1oKz6QEFXagOP0OfVzlkRxi5d36Uxoe3QlCdswIx73FFaa70bvR_bkiwS2Kxp/s320/119982470_351221796076984_1780065612293906687_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cars are very expensive here (compared to the USA) and although we had some money saved up, we definitely did not have enough for a vehicle that would be big enough to haul around a lot of volunteers and take us on rough roads. The Lord provided a grant to help us pay for an upgrade! (I like it because it has a lot of space for people, lots of cupholders and is a pretty color!) </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><b>Covid-19</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v6yPAeGRJKTT9XhuWC3-hcvi5ruv1Kvez_ye3EcgnlRmlXKeNCuoXtPZoZJq3fkl1xlArxSzLST7W9rKn-qyfAGcje19WQJd3tjJciQw7mh0GK0EPQmkP31viY6B8FujvQNsj81Q9Frz/s750/119990762_339961463912052_7512342231463446060_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0v6yPAeGRJKTT9XhuWC3-hcvi5ruv1Kvez_ye3EcgnlRmlXKeNCuoXtPZoZJq3fkl1xlArxSzLST7W9rKn-qyfAGcje19WQJd3tjJciQw7mh0GK0EPQmkP31viY6B8FujvQNsj81Q9Frz/s320/119990762_339961463912052_7512342231463446060_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Like everywhere else in the world Covid hit us hard! Lots of families have been affected deeply and the Lord has provided for us to be able to help many families and individuals in these days. </div><br /><b>CdR Ministry</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn4EcWxFmy_Guvhyphenhyphen_vR4qlrmO1qmJbuJcwxqBWbaaUejF1VCTN-Qze07UGfBdEUeRKT-5aBhh7p7zh80dqJzGBdjpXC5yPtJwUOFlaMWgjxxOSUxbGaej3gXM1uO-0NTcEQ8BdYFstvEU/s2048/IMG_5559.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn4EcWxFmy_Guvhyphenhyphen_vR4qlrmO1qmJbuJcwxqBWbaaUejF1VCTN-Qze07UGfBdEUeRKT-5aBhh7p7zh80dqJzGBdjpXC5yPtJwUOFlaMWgjxxOSUxbGaej3gXM1uO-0NTcEQ8BdYFstvEU/s320/IMG_5559.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>We have a really great leadership team, staff and volunteers and we are even more grateful for the opportunities to spend time with them and see how God is working in their lives. We aren't able to be open at normal capacity, but we are finding that this time is allowing us the opportunity to do things we can't normally do when we are open at normal capacity. :) <div><br /><p><b>Political Unrest</b></p><p>Last October following the presidential elections there were 3 weeks of blockades, conflicts, and lots of tension leading up to the presidents' resignation and flight from Bolivia. We spent Thanksgiving with a new perspective and a deeper gratitude for the peace that the Lord gave (both personally during that time and to the country as a whole following the resolution to the conflicts). But one thing that hasn't changed is that we still love living here and we are so thankful to all of you who pray, encourage and support us so we can remain here. Thank you!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoi2WexJ-rogHld9dI6tE4qZLLeMhUOt8rfaw_yesU-crnFPlJUuR8_NXCodCHpFJOVENvD220lO3T1l3Ezl8a0YdkcYrJKzWDvncwE5bHBznC6QkHqd6oKTsXYP0o6G3g_btKAh7dFeo/s750/120048746_724777601436989_1663613261305158585_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="750" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMoi2WexJ-rogHld9dI6tE4qZLLeMhUOt8rfaw_yesU-crnFPlJUuR8_NXCodCHpFJOVENvD220lO3T1l3Ezl8a0YdkcYrJKzWDvncwE5bHBznC6QkHqd6oKTsXYP0o6G3g_btKAh7dFeo/w400-h300/120048746_724777601436989_1663613261305158585_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p></div>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-44819264273762712492019-07-23T12:12:00.000-07:002019-07-23T12:12:23.569-07:002019-A year of (more) transitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We spent two months in the USA December 2018 to January 2019 and got one of the biggest surprises of our lives when we found out that we're expecting a little one this August! We trust and rejoice in the Lord's timing-and an extra sweet bonus was that my mom got to be with us for our first sonogram! :)<br />
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We began renting the entire CdR building. Upstairs is now housing for our two single intern/staff girls, ESL classrooms, and a sleep shelter for women in need/transition. Here you can see that we have a LOT of ESL students this year! We are thankful for the bigger space for so many opportunities like these.<br />
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Our bosses the Guerrero's left last month, so when this team came from Montana two weeks before their departure they left it all in our charge. They were still here and helped with a lot of things, but we were stretched in our abilities to work as a team, coordinate activities, meals, and practical day-to-day things for them. But it was a great experience and a great team!</div>
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We had a going away party for the Guerreros the weekend before they left. We all cried. A lot. But we trust and rejoice in God's timing (again) and purpose in leading them back to the USA. Now Richard, Lesly, Joel and I remain in leadership. We have two other staff members who work in the Cafe, one intern who helps with ESL classes (one more intern coming for 6 months will arrive this Saturday), and lots of volunteers! Please pray with us for God's wisdom and guidance as we take on this big job of leading and serving these young people. May God receive all the glory-and may He give us the strength to represent Him well here.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-5955552301869454372019-05-06T13:32:00.000-07:002019-05-06T13:32:35.198-07:00The enemy of gratitude and contentment...I've been enjoying listening to some sessions from <a href="https://tgc19.thegospelcoalition.org/">The Gospel Coalition 2019 National Conference</a> . One of my favourites so far has been by Trip Lee called <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&time_continue=2908&v=XM0RIsy_pYQ">Faith and Healing</a>. (If you have 48.28 minutes, WATCH IT!) I can't get some of the things he said out of my head. So I'll put it here, in case it's as challenging for you in your growth as it has been for me this past week.<br />
He was talking about the Centurion in Matthew 8, and how he humbly approached Jesus asking Him to heal his daughter. And he said this:<br />
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"We can be tempted to think that the opposite of gratitude is silence [not saying thank you], </div>
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but the opposite of gratitude isn't silence; it's entitlement. </div>
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And that entitlement is the enemy of contentment. </div>
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We will struggle with gratitude and contentment [until] we understand that everything we have is a gift from Jesus". </div>
And that's a really big problem for me sometimes. I get jealous, or feel sorry for myself or think that I somehow deserve...whatever it is that I want. But really when I realise who I am and who God is it becomes abundantly clear that I don't deserve all the good things that I want...nor did I deserve all the good things I was given. It's a GIFT from a perfect God to a lowly sinner and that makes it all that much more wonderful. So these days I really am making a conscious effort to see God's hand in everything and truly be grateful. And I find that I'm so much happier when I look at it that way. (As it should be). <br />
<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-60068825263413129932018-06-26T18:21:00.001-07:002018-06-26T18:43:49.897-07:00A time to be single… 4 of the things I've learned. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm 32 years old and in 32 days I will be getting married. Some days I didn't know if this would ever happen, and honestly most of the time I was content with that…because I knew (because I had learned over and over) that no matter what humans were my "rock", they would fail me but that God was always faithful. Therefore, even if it was only ever me and Him, it was going to be okay. That said, I'm very thankful for my future husband. He is so good for me in many ways and I can see God's hand in our relationship over the past few years. Meeting Joel was fun, becoming friends was exciting and getting to know him as a boyfriend and fiancé has been an adventure...and I know that this is just the beginning.<br />
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<b>The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3</b></div>
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After one of the particularly frustrating days of paperwork we were talking about the really happy days, and the sad days we'd experienced together and how through it all God has things to teach us. And I totally believe that is true in the season of singleness. Sure, there were moments or days of loneliness, adventure and spontaneity (sometimes intermingled), but God taught me many things. So I wanted to share some for those of you who are single, or those of you who know single people so we keep learning what it means to enjoy every season, and encourage others.<br />
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1. Make each other feel welcome. It was/is fun to be apart of the lives of my friends and their families. I don't know if I can even count all of the couches and spare beds I've slept on, the cars I've borrowed, the meals, coffees, desserts I've been given, babies I've held, house keys I've been entrusted with, or parties I've attended. I feel blessed. I've loved seeing friends getting married, friends going into retirement and friends graduating high school (or preschool). Mostly I think I'm trying to say that I believe that it's good for all of us to have friends in various seasons, maturity and late phases.<br />
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2. Make each other feel valued in whatever life stage you are. If they are married encourage them in their marriage; if they have new babies, encourage them that they will get sleep someday and maybe hold the baby so they can take a shower or make themselves a coffee; if they are parenting teenagers…wish them luck, haha!, if they are single don't feel like it's your job to set them up. God has His timing for all of us, and we should enjoy it! <br />
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3. Remember that you are where you are for a reason. God is very purposeful with us, we just can't always see it. I'm sure all of us can look to five years ago and never would have imagined a lot of the things we experienced during that time-and sometimes He gives us a window to see why things went a certain way. Remember those things, and be encouraged that you have a God that is incredibly personal and loving. He is a good, good father.<br />
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4. Remember that God is your only faithful traveling companion. It's okay to feel emotional about the struggles of your particular season of life I think…but I think it's important to look beyond whatever emotion that evokes. I don't know that I've always done especially well with this. I remember some times of profound loneliness (sometimes because of not having a spouse, but sometimes just because I didn't have any local friends after yet another move) and feeling consumed by that. I remember making really big decisions and feeling like God was truly the only one who knew or could understand why. (Because sometimes He calls us to do crazy stuff). When you're single, sometimes you just feel very alone. I don't know exactly how it feels when you're married…but I think it's safe to say that your spouse will disappoint you sometimes (and you them) and you might still have times of loneliness, because none of us are perfect except God, and He will always, always accompany us on the journey of life.<br />
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So I know getting married isn't going to make my life perfect, in fact I think it's going to reveal a lot of ugly things about my heart, and sin that still lives in there- but I'm sure that God wants to use this season as well, to make me more like Him. So there is a time to be single, and for some of us, a time to be married, but for all of us there is always time to be thankful.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-77620805548498607672018-06-26T17:38:00.000-07:002018-06-26T17:38:05.738-07:00Where I'm at in 2018Well it's been a really long time since I've updated this, so I should let you know what life looks like for me now-a-days. Since I moved to Cochabamba a lot of things have changed so here I'll answer some questions you might have.<br />
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<b>Where do you live:</b><br />
Since July of last year I have lived in the city of Cochabamba. I house-sat for two months for a friend and decided that it was time to move to the city. So as I was looking for a place in the same neighborhood, one night while walking home I saw a sign on a gate for an apartment for rent, only 1/2 block from where I was staying. It all worked out beautifully and I moved in September. It's a small, modest apartment but just right for me. I also have a pet rabbit named Lolo.<br />
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<b>Where do you work:</b><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_TxHW9-fw8i5-1WAzA8q3EIgdIm_ewzOogL7NUpuN0BVHB-sn7689iJeMmwerEcSKYpHiNOzL5ot4LNk-kbWOKP11UkYra_ERPU-KxiYcavzu0tAEAzTu4clxMPnijg6jWpxJKLsZF3A/s1600/34561766_10100927052252188_7629726637877100544_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO_TxHW9-fw8i5-1WAzA8q3EIgdIm_ewzOogL7NUpuN0BVHB-sn7689iJeMmwerEcSKYpHiNOzL5ot4LNk-kbWOKP11UkYra_ERPU-KxiYcavzu0tAEAzTu4clxMPnijg6jWpxJKLsZF3A/s320/34561766_10100927052252188_7629726637877100544_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>My primary responsibility these days is as the director of the ESL program at Ciudad de Refugio (CdR). CdR is cafe a few blocks from the local university. We hope to provide a safe place for college students where if need be they can also find help and guidance for their lives. We offer games, inexpensive food, English classes, activities (concerts), opportunities to volunteer in the community and counseling. I schedule, enroll, teach, and oversee classes. We currently have four interns for the summer. I also spend some time co-leading a Bible study for young ladies and when I can, helping at a Saturday Kids Club.<br />
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<b>What about community there? </b><br />
I attend the Cochabamba International Church and with a few couples who live in the neighborhood we have a weekly Bible Study.<br />
I also am engaged to a young man from here named Joel. We will be married next month. He loves the Lord and helps me grow in my relationship with Him as well.<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-74403231913228762022016-11-07T09:11:00.000-08:002016-11-07T09:11:23.635-08:00Christmas is coming…Hello friends! Christmas is right around the corner and so I just want to share a few opportunities for you to bless some kids here in Bolivia. (And by blessing them you'll also be a huge blessing to those who serve them here too!)<br />
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<b><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Vargas-Vistas-121546787874899/?fref=ts">Kids Club.</a> </span></b>This is what I do with the Vargas' every Saturday! I've become quite fond of the little ones who play frisbee; duck, duck, goose; and relays every Saturday, listen to Bible stories and then ask me about the zombies, and can't stop hugging me when they find me in the multitude of children. Every Christmas we pray and trust God to provide gifts and snacks for 1000 children, family gifts for 200 families with consistent attendance, and prizes for the children with the highest grades. Maybe you want to be a part of that? (We estimate we will need around $8,000 USD)<br />
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<a href="http://navidadenbolivia.blogspot.com/"><b><span style="color: #274e13;">Navidad en Bolivia.</span></b> </a>This is where my friend Katie works. When I lived here in 2008, I also served with this team. They hope to provide gifts for about 80 kids who regularly attend the center for help with homework. For $16 you can sponsor a kid…and check out their self-portraits. They are some of my favorite little artists!<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-60378537941823173332016-06-04T19:31:00.000-07:002016-06-04T19:31:37.146-07:00When we choose the wrong boss<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you remember being a child and taking suggestions from a sibling…when you got in trouble for not obeying mom, you find yourself sheepishly trying to defend yourself by saying "but ____ told me to do it this way!", "Is she the mom?", my mom would inevitably ask. I remember my stomach sinking realizing how right she was. What happens when you take instructions from the wrong authority? In life, work, school, family, etc. We get ourselves in trouble! It's the same in our lives as christians. If we take our cues from the world, we end up contradicting the very God we should be representing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In my Romans class in Bible school we talked about how even though sin is still present in our lives as believers, it no longer is our master! We've died to that life, and now live for Christ, meaning He is the only one we have to listen to! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I think of how much time I spend doing things that make absolutely no difference in the big picture of living to please Christ, I think of how secular music, movies, conversations about superficial things, and other things take up way more time than actually studying God's Word. If my goal as a christian is to become like Christ-which it is-then shouldn't my focus be on what HE has to say? If as a church (a body of believers…a group of people who want to know, represent and share the God of the Bible with the world) our goal is indeed to be set apart from the world, ambassadors of Christ, and messengers of His good news of HOPE to the world we are going to have to <u>know</u> Him. Know His heart and His character, His love and His plan for the world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">as though God were making an appeal through us; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 Corinthians 5:20 NASB</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Tim-3-16" id="en-NASB-29870" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text 2Tim-3-16" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;">for training in righteousness;</span><span class="text 2Tim-3-17" id="en-NASB-29871" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"> </span>so that <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29871B" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29871B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>the man of God may be adequate, </span></span></div>
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<span class="text 2Tim-3-17" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-NASB-29871C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-NASB-29871C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So WHY IN THE WORLD are we looking <i>to the world </i>to tell us what love <i>actually </i>is, how <i>christians </i>are supposed to act, what's appropriate and cool, what relationships are supposed to look like, etc, etc, etc? Should we not rather be looking to God? </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant. Gal. 1:10 NLT</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">It's my challenge for all of us to look to our Savior who indeed shows the greatest love, not by letting us remain as we were but saving us from ourselves and from our sin so we can enjoy LIFE abundantly in a relationship with Him.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Greater love has no one than this, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">that one lay down his life for his friends. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">John 15:13 NASB</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-10-10" id="en-ESV-26480" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">The thief comes only to steal and <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26480A" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26480A" title="See cross-reference A">A</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>kill and destroy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-10-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-10-11" id="en-ESV-26481" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">I am the good shepherd. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-10-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">The good shepherd <span class="crossreference" data-cr="#cen-ESV-26481C" data-link="(<a href="#cen-ESV-26481C" title="See cross-reference C">C</a>)" style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 22px; position: relative; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"></span>lays down his life for the sheep. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="text John-10-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 24px;">John 10:10-11 ESV</span><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #001320;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"> </span></span></span></span></div>
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Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-16788511771222260952015-12-11T21:29:00.002-08:002015-12-11T21:29:26.787-08:00When all we have is way more than all we need. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been thinking of some of the believers that I've met in some of my trips to really, andI mean REALLY, rural parts of Bolivia and previously to Mexico. One of the things that has always hit me is how genuine and simple their faith and trust in the Lord is. I see how little they really have, and believe that they hold on to the Lord because they know that's all the hope they really have. They have no education, money, titles, or fame to cling to. It makes me wonder if all the distractions that pull us were all stripped away we would realize that God is in fact all that we need? </div>
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-35379127120297260332015-10-26T20:35:00.000-07:002015-10-26T20:35:05.682-07:00The weight of the world on His shoulders<div style="text-align: left;">
I work with kids from some pretty tough life circumstances. Sometimes because of their own choices, and sometimes because of someone else's. It's pretty tough and sometimes feels incredibly unfair that they suffer because of someone else's sin. (Ultimately, no one is without sin and all sin is wrong, but some sin affects others much more deeply.) </div>
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I spent a lot of time last week processing, talking, and crying about this, and ended up overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted. And then, this Sunday we read Isaiah 53 in church: </div>
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<span style="line-height: 24px;">2b</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and no beauty that we should desire him.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-3" id="en-ESV-18715" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">3 </span><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;"><br /></span>He was despised and rejected by men;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">a man of sorrows,</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"> </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px;">and acquainted with</span><span style="line-height: 24px;"> grief;</span></span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; position: relative;">and as one from whom men hide their faces</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-3" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">he was despised, and we esteemed him not.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Isa-53-4" id="en-ESV-18716" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">4 </span>Surely he has borne our griefs</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and carried our sorrows;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">yet we esteemed him stricken,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-4" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">smitten by God, and afflicted.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-5" id="en-ESV-18717" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">5 </span>But he was pierced for our transgressions;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">he was crushed for our iniquities;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-5" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and with his wounds we are healed.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-6" id="en-ESV-18718" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">6 </span>All we like sheep have gone astray;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">we have turned—every one—to his own way;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> has laid on him</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-6" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the iniquity of us all.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Isa-53-9" id="en-ESV-18721" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">9 </span>And they made his grave with the wicked</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and with a rich man in his death,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">although he had done no violence,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-9" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and there was no deceit in his mouth.</span></span></div>
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<span class="text Isa-53-10" id="en-ESV-18722" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">10 </span>Yet it was the will of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> to crush him;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">he has put him to grief;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />...<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-10" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">the will of the <span class="small-caps" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> shall prosper in his hand.</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-11" id="en-ESV-18723" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">11 </span>Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">make many to be accounted righteous,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-11" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and he shall bear their iniquities.</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-12" id="en-ESV-18724" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><span class="versenum" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; left: -4.4em; line-height: 22px; position: absolute; top: 0px; vertical-align: top;">12 </span>Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">because he poured out his soul to death</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and was numbered with the transgressors;</span></span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">yet he bore the sin of many,</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><span class="indent-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="indent-1-breaks" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.42em; line-height: 0;"> </span><span class="text Isa-53-12" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">and makes intercession for the transgressors.</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">(ESV version found at biblegateway.com) Here is most of the chapter…but read the rest…it's all good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">And friends…I cried. And here's why: Everything we suffer through, all that breaks our hearts, and the injustices we see, He received, experienced and endured exponentially more than we do. So when we go to him with a broken heart for the messed up world we live in, He totally understands…and I think He hurts too. He loves us so much that He allowed His Son to suffer and die to rescue us from this life where we are affected by sin. He will make all things right one day. And that, my friends, is the greatest hope I can even imagine. </span></span></div>
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Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-50500951622469142962015-08-20T11:36:00.000-07:002015-08-20T11:36:26.115-07:00When the real you comes out...Under pressure, when you're shocked/surprised, when you're with those you know and love the most, when you're mistreated, etc. There's not really any way to hide it, I don't think…<br />
I just finished reading two really good books. They both take place in WWII, both of the main characters are held in prison camps, put under pressure, beaten, psychologically manipulated, looked up to by their co-prisoners, and both lost people that were very close to them. But they responded so differently. <br />
Unboken by Laura Hillenbrand is the story of Louie Zamperini, and Evidence Not Seen by Darlene Deibler Rose is her autobiography. There are lots of similarities in their situations but as I read I felt increasingly discouraged and hopeless as I followed Louies story…that is until the end when he reaches the end of himself and comes to know the Lord. It's amazing the transformation to how he mends his marriage, and refocuses his energy into helping people and moving forward…and even forgiving the men who abused him. Darlene's story was sad, and awful-in different ways, but I found that for some reason there was hope. She knew it was likely she could die, but she found her strength in the Lord, she found consolation in the One who loved her so deeply, and she found hope that no matter what happened the Lord would use her pain and grief for some greater good. <br />
I began to think…if something like that happened would what I have filled my life with give me hope? Would I know enough of God's promises and truths to sustain me and encourage others? Or would I only be able to think of articles that I had read that offered no real wisdom? Could i think of songs of praise of God's sovereignty and trust in His goodness? Or would I only have pointless songs of breakups and shallow love songs? Could I have enough meaningful conversations stored away in the recesses of my mind, or would I only be able to think of small talk had or feel-good movies that I had watched? <br />
I remain so convicted of my apathy. I know that in the situations where I find my ugly side showing itself, instead, I want God's wisdom and goodness to pour out of me.<br />
(*I totally recommend BOTH of these books!)<br />
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"<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:45</span><br />
"<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Ps 119:11</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">"The law of their God is in their hearts; their feet do not slip." Ps. 37:31</span><span class="p" style="color: #001320; font-family: Trebuchet, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 13px; text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="background-color: #fdfeff; line-height: 20px;">"I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart." Ps. 40:8</span></span><br />
Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-81278013256638252242015-08-03T09:33:00.002-07:002015-08-03T13:35:42.276-07:00Three more days...means it's practically over. You can tell that I'm basically an optimist! By the time I leave I will have been home for exactly 2 months (not counting 2 days of travel). It's been a rich time, and a joy to celebrate graduation of Michelle, wedding of Bizzy & Nick (see the poem I wrote for N&B <a href="http://kristen-fotos.blogspot.com/2015/07/nick-and-bizzy-rhyme-about-these-two.html">here</a>…although I've NEVER claimed to be any kind of writer), adoption of Zac, and lots of other fun family & friend moments.<br />
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Nick & Bizzy got married on June 19. </div>
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Zac officially joined our family through adoption on July 9 after 412 days in foster care. </div>
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Michelle graduated June 6. </div>
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AND, my support is officially now at 25%!!! If you're still wanting to send in money you can find more information here: www.ripeforharvest.org my account #20108. </div>
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Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-12834743104392152112015-07-01T20:51:00.000-07:002015-07-01T20:51:01.070-07:00Missing things…big and small. <span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; widows: 2;">Besides the <i>obvious</i> listing of friends and family--which I most <u>definitely</u> have missed, I thought I would share a few other things that you might not expect that your friends who live overseas might extrañar (miss)… </span><br />
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<ol style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px;">
<li><b>Christian radio</b>! I love hearing a challenge and/or encouragement throughout the day as I've been in and out of the car a LOT! </li>
<li>Maná, Enrique Iglesias, and the waiter at the Mexican restaurant. Because it just makes my heart really happy to hear (and converse in) <b>Spanish</b>!</li>
<li>Iced coffee, dark chocolate, and deli sandwiches. My taste buds are awakened with the rich <b>flavors</b>! </li>
<li>My <b>church</b>. As much as I love Spanish, it has been sweet and refreshing to sing praise songs in English and hear teaching in my most comfortable language. Plus being here in the summer means that I can be around for natural summer <b>get togethers and celebrations</b>.</li>
<li>The convenience of having a <b>vehicle</b> to use--and with a sunroof! A sweet couple from my church have lent me a vehicle while I'm in Ohio, and my Dad's been loaning me his extra truck while I've been in Texas. </li>
<li><b>Nature! </b>Lightning bugs, soft green grass, lots of rainy days and cool grey clouds…however, the mosquito welcoming committee has not actually been a favorite of mine. </li>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"> Of course I miss other stuff too, but it's been fun to notice the little things that just make each day a little happier--in a superficial kind of way in many of the instances… I hope this somehow inspires you to enjoy the little things with a little different perspective! </span></span></span></div>
Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-74775672956016201092015-03-01T03:36:00.004-08:002015-03-01T03:36:55.404-08:00Symbol≠Substitute [A reminder of our good Father]A few weeks ago a friend and I went out to see the boys from the orphanage that I used to work out. We showed up the same time as a father who was there to visit his boys. He was clean cut and dressed casually but nice. He comes once a week to visit and is working on paperwork to get his sons back after a few altercations, I later learned.
One son was away at a party but the tías told the son that was present that his father was there to visit to go outside where his dad was waiting. He went out and came back in at which time the tías sent him back out. I went out a bit later to look for one of the other boys as I approached the back yard I hear laughing from a little boy and a man. I got there to find the son with two friends sitting at the edge of the field playing a game on a phone while another little boy (not the son) was playing with the father. The little boy was laughing hysterically and the dad was so good with him. Then they would take a little break and the father would come over and plead with his son to come play with him. The son would say "later, later…" and the father would remind him that he only can come once a week, and he's not going to bring his phone anymore because he only wants to play with that and not him. He then went back to play with the other little boy and I tried to reason with the son, asking him why he didn't want to play and how his dad might feel. He kept playing his game until the battery died and the dad took it back. Later the dad helped him fix his legos and with another game then they went on a walk to get ice cream.<br />
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I couldn't stop thinking about it. I wanted to blame technology, or the kid's attitude until it was like the Lord said to me "you are just like that too!". Ohhhh, right. I thought as my stomach sank. How often does the Lord want to spend time with me, gives me sleepless nights, or beautiful scenery, or great experiences, or lonely moments, and how do I respond? Kinda like the little boy. O sure, He gives us lots of great things to enjoy, but enjoying the creation isn't the same as enjoying T<span style="text-align: center;">he Creator. And basking in the benefits of a love relationship isn't the same as knowing The Love-r. Even though He gives me good things to enjoy, it's not a substitute for time with Him. It's not technology or business that's to blame it's ME. It's my choices, my stubbornness and laziness. But boy am I ever thankful for a Father that continues to pursue me. Continues to love me. And continues to be good.</span><br />
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Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-50785267239045066302015-02-26T18:56:00.001-08:002015-02-26T18:56:07.367-08:00The servant that could but wouldn't...I'm really enjoying the chance to teach the girls at the shelter from God's word. We've been a bit scattered about themes but I feel like I'm so challenged and encouraged from God's word as I prepare and teach them. If you're interested here is a brief summary of three of our last lessons...
For Valentine's Day, I thought it very important to highlight the love of God-which really is the best. We talked about a few key verses and how God's great love was demonstrated in the fact that He loved us when we were most unlovely, had nothing to offer Him other than our broken selves and how He loved us enough to give us the greatest gift of LIFE.
Then last week we talked about the woman who anointed Jesus' feet with her perfume, tears, and hair (Luke 7:36-50). Simon complains and Jesus reminds him that he had done nothing in the way of common courtesy to welcome him into his home, but that this woman couldn't get her own emotions or gratefulness under control and lavished her love on Him. He told the story of the king who forgave two people-one with a huge debt and one with a small one. "Who do you suppose loved the king more?", he asked Simon. I'm sure he was squirming in his seat as he realized what was happening as he said, "I suppose the one who was forgiven more". He who is forgiven much loves much. That blubbering lady on the floor had shown her love for Christ while Simon was standing self-righteously in the corner completely oblivious to Christ's love or the forgiveness that he himself had received.
So this week I'm continuing that thought (Matt 19:21-35) about the servant who was forgiven a debt that he could probably never repay…20 years wages. The king ordered that he and his family be sold along with all their possessions. Only their lives could pay the debt…sound familiar? He pled with the king (who Jesus compared to the kingdom of heaven) who had compassion on him and forgave him the debt. The story goes on to say that he went out from the presence of the king and went looking for another servant who owed him one days wages. He began to strangle him and told him to pay it back right away. The servant begged for mercy, "give me time and I will pay it all back" (sound familiar?). The other servant, <i>who was just forgiven exponentially more</i>, refused and threw him into jail. When the king found out he called him in and reminded him of the great debt he had just forgiven him, "shouldn't you have likewise had mercy on your fellow slave"? He threw the unforgiving servant into prison to be tortured until he repaid the debt. I read this and think "Duh!, it's one day's wages--he just got out of 20+ years' wages!)
The things I'm reminded of:
1. God forgives HUGE mistakes, errors, sins, whatever you want to call it.
2. If I make the mistake of not recognizing how much I'm forgiven I will
a. Not appreciate or recognize the greatness of His love for me.
b. Withhold from others the same grace and love that I've been shown.
3. I am loved. Not for what I've done or what I have to offer, but simply because God loves. He loves me, you and the rest of the world. Will I accept it and enjoy it? Will you? Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-82904251877078231482015-01-27T06:14:00.001-08:002015-01-27T06:14:25.353-08:00This years video! See our team blog for more info or the photo blog for pictures!
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/N_HUTneLsNM?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-61161365112238338922014-11-22T11:39:00.001-08:002014-11-22T11:39:11.349-08:00Navidad all over Bolivia<br />
If you're looking for different ways to share this Christmas I want to share a few that I think are worthwhile:<br />
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1. <b>Navidad en Bolivia. </b>This is a program we started a few years back to help an after school support with at risk students. They majority come from indigenous backgrounds and have parents that hardly speak Spanish. They struggle in school and a few friends of mine from the States, Canada and Bolivia dedicate themselves every afternoon to helping catch them up as well as teach them about the Lord. Here's a sample screenshot of the <a href="http://navidadenbolivia.blogspot.com/">site</a>-you have got to check out this artwork! For $16 you can provide a Christmas gift for one of these talented children.<br />
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2. <b>Sponsor (part of) a team! </b>We are taking a trip back out to Potosí! Lord willing we will have a team comprised mostly of Bolivians, with potentially a few from the USA (including my sister(s) and a friend!). We appreciate your prayers, and if you are interested in sponsoring one of these young people with a heart to serve in the mountains for a week of their Christmas break, you will be a part of blessing their lives as well as the kiddos and families we will get the opportunities to meet. Here's the<a href="http://lavidadekp-teams.blogspot.com/"> team site</a> that includes some info about what we do and the teams we've had in the past (including some of their experiences).<br />
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3. <b> <a href="http://lavidadekp-teams.blogspot.com/p/help-us-on-our-way.html">Donate</a> items.</b> Resources for activities to do with the kiddos. (Last year we took a Parachute that was donated to the clown that went with us that year) and the kids LOVED it! Other good practical gifts are: small toys, pencils, coloring books, toothbrushes, toothpaste, mittens, socks, lotion, etc. I also recently saw some Child Evangelism Fellowship picture books that make the stories more vivid for the kiddos. A lot of these things we can buy here (Except the books and parachute, I think), so let me know if you prefer to send money and we can buy it here to save from the hassle of shipping etc. I'll be happy to send pictures back to you! :)<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-83757646462322774582014-08-22T15:57:00.001-07:002014-08-22T15:57:35.384-07:009 favorites about Bolivia!1. Coffee/tea time. Especially when I'm with the Vargas or Spies families! We sit around and sip our hot beverages and talk about all sorts of interesting things.<br />
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2. Lots of walking. We take lots of public transportation and it's a great way to figure out the city, observe the people I live around, and not worry about the traffic.<br />
3. Licuados. This is like a light milkshake. Fresh fruit, a little bit of sugar and either water or milk (that's milk in the bag). My favorite is strawberry or banana. Try it sometime!<br />
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4. Tiendas. No matter where you are there is a tiny corner store less than 5 minute walk away. They have all the necessities (toilet paper, bread, milk, butter, and tons of other things). And the prices are similar to the bigger stores!<br />
5. Fresh fruit and vegetables. There are amazing produce stands and for pretty inexpensive. The flavor is so much better and fresher!<br />
6. My garden! Talk about seeing the fruit (Or vegetables in this case) of your labor! So many good analogies too--The importance of weeding, watering, cultivating, etc. Someday it will be grown enough to be impressive enough for a photo-I hope!<br />
7. Learning Quechua! Miss Ely is teaching me and we started this morning. This will be challenging, but right now it's fun!<br />
8. Playing sports. Fortunately so far, I've been living in environments where there were enough people for teams. I hope my skills are improving, but either way it's a fun time and a good way to get to know people a little better.<br />
9. Speaking Spanish. I quickly realized how much more I have to learn, although I think I will always feel a little bit like that...for now I want to brush up. The goal is to not immediately be identified as a foreigner.Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-56967698528521989982014-08-18T23:18:00.000-07:002014-08-18T23:18:03.645-07:00Random thoughts from a sleepless night<br />
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<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Trust God no matter what. Because after all, His goodness isn’t dependent on our circumstances. I’ve been reminded over and over for the past few weeks that God calls us down paths we never would have chosen for ourselves. No one would choose death, injury, sickness, conflict, loneliness, war, abuse, disaster, etc. But that’s part of living in a fallen world, and the presence of God doesn’t mean the absence of these things. The presence of God means we don’t walk these roads alone. He’s the one we cling to, because He’s the one who cares about our hurts, He wants us to come to Him, trust Him and find our strength in the One who gives us breath every morning. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If He cares about the lesser, of course He cares about the greater. I was provided some things from my hopeful list--you know not necessities, just desires. A lamp, a rug, a mirror, etc. Through some thoughtful friends I was loaned some things--the things from my list-they had no idea what I was praying for. My friend was provided a job, in a really cool way. It was a cool reminder that God’s got this. My life looks really different than I thought it would, but I can be confident that He knows what’s best and will get me right where He wants me.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Give thanks. Always. I’ve been reading in Psalms and David is always giving thanks and telling the people to give thanks. He can be in the middle of a war, betrayal by a friend, mourning the death of a loved one and He still gives thanks. And I should to. I have plenty to be thankful for. </span></li>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. Everything. Sometimes I have to remind myself of the big picture, and remember that anything I “suffer” here, is a small thing compared to the glory of seeing my Savior face to face. “If Christ be God and died for me then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” -C.T. Studd. These are my adorable grandparents. They've been through some really crazy stuff too, this is where I found them one day this summer. Singing from the hymnal, "It will be worth it all when we see JesusO". Timely reminder from some who have experienced-and are experiencing-some significant changes that have caused them to lean hard on God. </span></div>
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Ok, I think that's it for me...I'm off to sleep. Buenas noches.</div>
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Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-8768933567970429512014-07-24T19:52:00.001-07:002014-07-24T19:52:04.898-07:00Lessons learned while hiking the treacherous mountains of Huay'ku Mayu at sunset<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last Thursday is the day I arrived in Cochabamba. I cannot believe I LIVE in Bolivia now. It's been a hectic two weeks filled with visa paperwork, a trip to Potosi, and a few work projects and visits. It's been fantastic!<br />
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Potosi felt longer than usual because we visited fewer communities and spent more time in each, and we took more day hikes than usual. Abby and I talked about all the analogies/lessons we learned from our afternoon-late evening hike to see a woman sick with bronchitis and her grandbaby sick with an infection. This is what we came up with:<br />
1. Sometimes you have the luxury of stopping to take a break---and sometimes you don't. <br />
2. Sometimes you can't see the bigger picture and just must keep taking baby steps-one foot at a time.<br />
3. There is great value and peace in having an experienced and trustworthy guide.<br />
4. Sometimes you CAN see the bigger picture-and when you can, you should soak it in and then remember it when you can't see the end goal.<br />
5. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger".<br />
We were thankful for hermano Vicente who led the way. He is a single man who walks all around the community to visit people there because he believes it is so important that they hear the message of love and hope of God's word. (He also provided us with fresh mandarins from his Shakira shoulder bag). Overall though, I loved the hikes! It's a great opportunity to take in the scenery, and seeing the homes of the people and meeting the older generations provides a more realistic look into normal every day life there.<br />
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Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-76099332584334649322014-07-11T17:14:00.000-07:002014-07-11T17:14:00.107-07:008 Things I Forgot.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I just got back to Bolivia yesterday for the 8th time.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Yes, that’s right.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And it turns out that the combination of my lack of observance and selective memories have meant lots of good, funny, and embarrassing experiences already!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Here’s a 8 of the things that I have forgotten.</span></div>
<ol>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That Cochabamba Bolivia does actually get cold! I always would say that Cochabamba is about 70 degrees every day, the winter just means it’s a little cooler at night. Well, it’s a lot cooler at night. When I landed in La Paz to 40 degree weather I remembered at one point when I lived in Cochabamba when I had EIGHT blankets on my bed-and used all of them at once!</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">How friendly people are here. I knew it was cultural to greet friends and acquaintances, but I forgot that it was cultural to greet complete strangers too! Walking down the street, getting into a trufi (public transportation mini-van), in places of business, etc.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">You need your passport for <i>all </i>visa application meetings. (*that was the embarrassing one).</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I need a pillow and vest/jacket with a hood to sleep on planes. (Hence the one hour of sleep). All of a sudden I’ve become some sort of rookie traveller! </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">How pretty Bolivian Spanish is!</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">How much we walk! I thought that not running=no exercise. Boy was I wrong! Not having a car means you must walk to catch the bus or trufi that happens to go where you need to go. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That plans will change at least 10X in one day. Flexibility is so necessary to live as a sane person. You decide to laugh or cry. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That I don’t look like everyone else here! (Sometimes I forget and think that I really look hispanic, or sound bolivian...but I quickly am reminded by my accent or a mirror, or others’ responses that I don’t). But I still pretend...</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="font-size: 12px;">I'm sure there will be many more in the days, weeks, months and years ahead. And I know I have so many new things to learn and I can't wait! </span></span></div>
Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-25788605324110851822014-07-08T15:01:00.000-07:002014-07-08T15:01:52.688-07:00Last days in the USA...for now!And they included:<br />
A roadtrip with stops in North Carolina to meet cousins and Georgia to meet my cousin's baby.<br />
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Welcoming Bekah back to the USA!</div>
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A wedding for another cousin, also in Georgia.<br />
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Relaxing with friends...also in Georgia.<br />
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Visiting family in Houston.<br />
Meeting my newest (TINY) foster-nephew.<br />
Celebrating Independence Day with my family and friends.<br />
Tubing down the Comal river with siblings, friends and my oldest niece-it's so fun that she's old enough to go do stuff with us now-and enjoy it!<br />
Celebrating Grandma's birthday, and Her & Grandpa's anniversary. Sweet examples of unconditional love.<br />
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Reunion with college friends!<br />
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Visiting my friends from work-they've changed me forever!<br />
Lots of eating, running, sleeping, packing, laughing, playing, crying, etc. I'm so thankful to all of you who have chosen to be a part of this journey with me--and have allowed me to be a part of your journeys with God, your families, and careers too. It's quite a ride, and I can't imagine doing what I do, without the joy, peace and hope that God gives so generously.<br />
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In case you wonder what's next:<br />
I will fly to Bolivia tomorrow. I will do paperwork for my one year visa which will take a couple of weeks, and a few hundred bolivianos. Then I will go with a team of about 6 or so people to Potosi. There we will have a kids camp--sort of like intense VBS. Then when I get back to the city hopefully my visa stuff will be almost done and I will head to ETNOS in Santa Cruz where I will jump back into classes for literacy, teaching, medical training, translation, learning language and culture, rugged living skills, etc. Other than that, I'm starting from scratch. I know that the facilities are a little more rugged than in Missouri, and I know I will have some chores to keep up the grounds, and will find some friends and a church there (*soon, I hope!).<br />
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The hardest thing is saying goodbye-because even as confident as I am that I am going where God is leading me, I will MISS people here like crazy, especially my familia, friends who have become like family, and the little ones who hopefully will not forget me while I'm gone.<br />
This is my second niece. She and her sister's said they won't grow up while I'm gone. The oldest suggested putting something really heavy on her head-to which they all agreed! ;)<br />
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<br />Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-70538220328400800502014-05-30T19:59:00.002-07:002014-05-30T20:02:06.833-07:00What is "Volunteer Summer"?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDN-uHjNo-3NveQGx8R2Ns-17BzdNsGA615xYIuI4KYnPKIQT4vmvB_UFNwP1rI8qGdlkLekrWb2SPB5h7uOCVYSkHEezC4FU0NdRHh84xEl1FrksXn5YwzauduCBsmtfbYPT0BRT7fDE/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDN-uHjNo-3NveQGx8R2Ns-17BzdNsGA615xYIuI4KYnPKIQT4vmvB_UFNwP1rI8qGdlkLekrWb2SPB5h7uOCVYSkHEezC4FU0NdRHh84xEl1FrksXn5YwzauduCBsmtfbYPT0BRT7fDE/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">It's what you do when you only have 3 months in Ohio before you move to Bolivia!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">This is what I've labeled Summer of 2014. I applied for a job and then it fell through
and I decided that three months is not very long to get to know and connect
with hundreds of people... so I decided to let it be a volunteer summer!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">So this is what it has looked like. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Lots of good conversations over dinner.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDN-uHjNo-3NveQGx8R2Ns-17BzdNsGA615xYIuI4KYnPKIQT4vmvB_UFNwP1rI8qGdlkLekrWb2SPB5h7uOCVYSkHEezC4FU0NdRHh84xEl1FrksXn5YwzauduCBsmtfbYPT0BRT7fDE/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></a><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Babysitting for friends’ kids.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Helping weed and plant flower beds.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LoUOXGyabX7W-ATwpUuUASiKfTgXyeLkq_sLaIUyFdax03YymN3nDBgcYHvQxC4lPpHl0ZnMRlF1dnYvknSGt7MnHKqG5zbLI6-hcgCNUsHFGE7sLdiUmX6pGEQt0S-LBNXL3pq_Skdy/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1LoUOXGyabX7W-ATwpUuUASiKfTgXyeLkq_sLaIUyFdax03YymN3nDBgcYHvQxC4lPpHl0ZnMRlF1dnYvknSGt7MnHKqG5zbLI6-hcgCNUsHFGE7sLdiUmX6pGEQt0S-LBNXL3pq_Skdy/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Visiting widows and senior saints. (Mrs. E. is 94 years old and so awesome!)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Helping put in a fence.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Homeschooling.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Spring cleaning.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Playing frisbee.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Attending wedding showers, birthday parties, graduation
celebrations and weddings (three coming up!!), Bible studies, etc.</span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoHFC-rpujD6zdxNEx-XkvFoziDR3xe12x19DliEqAMgZOqrF-7c9HQAw7DcIvuhuAJ6uToLwK3rtl24nYrGGSn9pE-d_ZZEdT7DZsk3ZYaPdYLBRfaU6fULTf3yEtE13HvJrWg1DJZKT/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoHFC-rpujD6zdxNEx-XkvFoziDR3xe12x19DliEqAMgZOqrF-7c9HQAw7DcIvuhuAJ6uToLwK3rtl24nYrGGSn9pE-d_ZZEdT7DZsk3ZYaPdYLBRfaU6fULTf3yEtE13HvJrWg1DJZKT/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Teaching 4, 5 & 6 grade girls Sunday School.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Sharing at kids’ corner (story time at Sunday evening church service).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Holding babies. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Telling stories...</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">and listening to stories.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Bonfires.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Meeting with my pastors. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiikOnuYj36leLEE5M0ibgcDGSZe41V0XBriuGVE08wFdTdCFDG2TBPwsQYb1DayTnQNy69NAG4NMdipQ1mqZ7X_5VoQBixl0at_ghoPKmn12ht7PgrJrVS2y8UJLUyEctN8BNyqzj6Zz/s1600/IMG_1175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiikOnuYj36leLEE5M0ibgcDGSZe41V0XBriuGVE08wFdTdCFDG2TBPwsQYb1DayTnQNy69NAG4NMdipQ1mqZ7X_5VoQBixl0at_ghoPKmn12ht7PgrJrVS2y8UJLUyEctN8BNyqzj6Zz/s1600/IMG_1175.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">Lots of adventures</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br />
Filling the gas tank!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">etc...</span></div>
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"> <o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="Body">
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">I couldn't have asked for more. It really has been an incredible time of learning how to love others, listen to others, and serve others. I hope I’m being a good student-because this is really good to know. (And so fun!)</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9eE8pYiVuQgeP4ZsswhU-5i7LyFLpFdyHazi2gk19PPbmwEy_C9-ipBEVfIlwctRaLOf4FbIEwQI4e8Kb3IoIxaHPC-M8C5J4JUeAZ8IbtZYx7c_zTn6GUBuVSC4NQcZjvo7t0GBTcVF/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9eE8pYiVuQgeP4ZsswhU-5i7LyFLpFdyHazi2gk19PPbmwEy_C9-ipBEVfIlwctRaLOf4FbIEwQI4e8Kb3IoIxaHPC-M8C5J4JUeAZ8IbtZYx7c_zTn6GUBuVSC4NQcZjvo7t0GBTcVF/s1600/IMG_5569.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">It's been really neat to have the time to go visit people-just for fun. It's sweet to have the freedom to help with little things to make life a little easier for my friends. It's sweet to be around to celebrate milestones in the lives of those I care about. </span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEwbfcF3qCwZDxnGDFL2WGlOiRqx2923wAaOpsDHkrcIXyHvRx0yoDvPTCcto03yaVBqWQz-RR49NuoACUYsXtZgsdLEVs0oYAE7OoHtljL3wfmFKVScntwjQDhmSfrwSsAjynBsYll2T/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibEwbfcF3qCwZDxnGDFL2WGlOiRqx2923wAaOpsDHkrcIXyHvRx0yoDvPTCcto03yaVBqWQz-RR49NuoACUYsXtZgsdLEVs0oYAE7OoHtljL3wfmFKVScntwjQDhmSfrwSsAjynBsYll2T/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">I’ve got a plane ticket to Bolivia! I’ll be leaving Ohio June 25, and my heart is just so sad to think of leaving this place. I really am so overwhelmed by the kindness of those that have taken me in, fed me, encouraged me, prayed for me, and who spur me on to go do what God is calling me to. It really does mean the world to me. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;">In case you didn't know, I'll be in Santa Cruz Bolivia for 18 months finishing up some classes (the rest of the course I started in Missouri--in Bolivia though, since that's where I will serve, Lord willing). I will learn more about phonetics, linguistics, literacy, teaching, medical care, translation, etc. I'm in Ohio for relationship building and "partnership development"--which is raising a team of encouragers, supporters, and friends to keep me going, and who hopefully will realize their hugely important role in seeing the world reached with the Gospel. I hope to represent you all well, and recognize the role you play in getting me where I'm going-both physically and emotionally. God made a whole Body so we work together to see the task finished. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #660000; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F-izKL9QBHxJg%2FU4lBJlt19uI%2FAAAAAAAACXg%2Fzasqt24-e8M%2Fs1600%2FIMG_0059.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDN-uHjNo-3NveQGx8R2Ns-17BzdNsGA615xYIuI4KYnPKIQT4vmvB_UFNwP1rI8qGdlkLekrWb2SPB5h7uOCVYSkHEezC4FU0NdRHh84xEl1FrksXn5YwzauduCBsmtfbYPT0BRT7fDE/s1600/IMG_0059.jpg" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "https://images-blogger-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?url=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F-LYNDOT5OYLo%2FU4lBKmlhEbI%2FAAAAAAAACXo%2FXraZoxOV_Nc%2Fs1600%2FIMG_1175.jpg&container=blogger&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiikOnuYj36leLEE5M0ibgcDGSZe41V0XBriuGVE08wFdTdCFDG2TBPwsQYb1DayTnQNy69NAG4NMdipQ1mqZ7X_5VoQBixl0at_ghoPKmn12ht7PgrJrVS2y8UJLUyEctN8BNyqzj6Zz/s1600/IMG_1175.jpg" -->Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-72748736841886496892014-05-30T17:18:00.000-07:002014-05-30T17:20:02.538-07:00Finding LIFE! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH9fdVSbq3DRZatICyKtgN7xxK32fxJq_jR-X64dvwtU7YdCOeJIz7sQmdj3N1iV5iBWfcO8n6n4xYpRrXAz3CPwK60JHjHTV0q_la5Blcb1bA-NS2-ksFipism-XMzShDE97XkMa2b3A/s1600/IMG_5578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaH9fdVSbq3DRZatICyKtgN7xxK32fxJq_jR-X64dvwtU7YdCOeJIz7sQmdj3N1iV5iBWfcO8n6n4xYpRrXAz3CPwK60JHjHTV0q_la5Blcb1bA-NS2-ksFipism-XMzShDE97XkMa2b3A/s1600/IMG_5578.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">What were we made for anyways?
To have LIFE, I tell you!
However “life” is a word that we just throw around. I submit that you can live...yet, have no
life at all. Andrew Palau is the son of evangelist Luis Palau, and he decided he wanted nothing to do with God. He pursued alcohol, vandalism, and pleasure
and remembers one day that God revealed to him that it was garbage. He was spending his life on things that
brought him death. (<a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/radio.aspx?ID=%7BFDEA4C27-7703-4C1B-8BDE-9149C485636B%7D">Focus on the Family</a>).</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Sometimes I find myself in conversations that go something like this:</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Joe is drinking again. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Jane left her husband for another man. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Jack is going back to school and applying for another job. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Joan is going to <i>another </i>church.</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Janay has a new girlfriend</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">... you get the idea. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">We then discuss why they are still wandering and I find myself
wondering what these people are actually pursuing. It seems that they find pleasure in these
things--and some of them aren’t bad things in and of themselves--but I suspect
that they think that they will find life at the end of their pursuits-the
happiness they’ve been seeking. The
“happily ever after” that the world tells us can be had.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: white;">The answer to highschool dropouts isn't better schools and more funding. The answer to absentee parents isn't more classes. The answer to broken families isn't more vacations, date nights, and romance. The answer to addiction isn't more programs or medication. The answer to cut down on crime isn't more education or harder sentences. Don't get me wrong, these things can be good things. But they're a resource not a solution. They don't fill that inner hole and ache. They might address some of the symptoms but dont cure the disease. I'm convinced that the answer to the problems in our society are only remedied by finding life just where it's made to be found.</span><br />
<span style="color: white;">We were made to have a relationship with our creator. Chris Tomlin says it really nicely in his song, "Born that we may have life". Try to think about a perfect holy just God who would send His innocent baby to a world that He already knew would mistreat, reject and ultimately kill. BUT He knew that was the only way we would ever find true life.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Lets think about what our Creator said. The one who made us in love and with a
purpose states that our <i>sin</i> brings
death! The first sin by Adam and Eve
resulted in cursed ground, physical death (eventually) and a separation from
God. They were removed from the garden
of Eden (Genesis 2:17, 3:19, 23, 24). This death may be an immediate physical
death, but more often it results first in a broken relationship. I remember the hurt look on my mom’s face, or
the cries from a younger sister when I did something hurtful. An apology, note, or gift didn’t undo what I
had done. Our actions affect the harmony
in a relationship. When we look at God’s
promise to His people, He says, “I have set before you life and death, the
blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live...by loving
the Lord your God by obeying His voice and by holding fast to Him; for this is
your life and the length of your days...” (Deut 31:19-20). God provided the law
for man to follow to be pleasing to Him, but it revealed man’s need for a
savior. He couldn’t keep the law and
instead kept turning to idols, or his own efforts to live a good life. So God provided a solution to our
situation. He provided a Savior. His only son who was able to live a perfect
life pleasing to God. And by His death
he paid the penalty for our sins, and provided a way for us to find life! In </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Jesus said, “I am come that they may have life, and have it more
abundantly” John 10:10. </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">Christ’s death didn’t just save us from an eternity in hell as
punishment for our sins--which is what we deserved, but He died so we might
have LIFE! </span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">“...you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or
gold from your futile way of life, inherited from your forefathers, but with
the precious blood...the blood of Christ”. I Peter 1:18-19</span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">“And He Himself [Jesus] bore our sins in His body on the cross so
that we might die to sin and live to rightesousness, for by His wounds you were
healed.” 2 Peter 2:24</span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">This life is found in Christ Jesus. Sometimes I think about Jesus
and the crazy things He said. Some
people left Him because they just didn’t get it. One time He asked the remaining disciples “
‘You do not want to go away also, do you?’ Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord to
whom shall we go? <b>You have the words of
eternal life</b>. We have believed and come to know that You are the Holy One
of God’ “. John 6:68-69. </span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="Body">
<span style="color: white;">There is no one else I would rather follow. And despite my wandering heart that looks for
life in all the wrong places, and a world that tells us that life can be found
in all the wrong places I know and have seen that my God is The One who has the
words of life. And I truly have never
felt more alive than when I am following Him. I pray that those of you who are
seeking life in all the wrong places will seek for life from the giver and
sustainer of life. </span></div>
Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-57497032296866082152014-04-14T14:05:00.000-07:002014-04-14T14:05:05.142-07:001673 Miles<br />
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I did it! Longest solo road-trip ever-but I made it with the most stops possible to see friends! It really is the best way to road trip! I’ve had plenty of bad hotel experiences that I would rather go a little farther (or shorter) to stay with people I know. Plus it’s extra hang out time which leaves me feeling even more refreshed and happy! </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It was neat to stop back in all the places I’ve lived in the USA and some that I’ve just visited a lot. Here’s what those four days meant to me. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pgF_6Y2uh294JNJ7LmhO4WqpulxOdwV8DHCajSFCSmf8qiL5GksFvrbegs2Ljl7vkOOuszVHzseHZgGuTVSv8BwWqovjf3Khp4RMZlwvuOdyKRjdGtotyaiYbonBYv3N26_cqiKvEG2Y/s1600/Screenshot+2014-04-14+13.37.33.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pgF_6Y2uh294JNJ7LmhO4WqpulxOdwV8DHCajSFCSmf8qiL5GksFvrbegs2Ljl7vkOOuszVHzseHZgGuTVSv8BwWqovjf3Khp4RMZlwvuOdyKRjdGtotyaiYbonBYv3N26_cqiKvEG2Y/s1600/Screenshot+2014-04-14+13.37.33.png" height="215" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Stop 1 (Thursday morning): Dallas Texas to see Nicole. Nicole’s been one of the best friends I ever could have even dreamed up. She’s spontaneous, hilarious, godly and able to help keep me on track (if you know me at all you know that this I need this so bad!). She’s getting married to Joel in June and then they are planning to continue missionary training together. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzf_MOAjShTz985_2OE8QNeBJVbHXdBFbAFZlXHwivLtkeZfD4I4WAhqAbvAGY_DphE-lU8TBQ8q3n_dPRJpeQT1qO6Exc1RNgHf5LARAoBZVTGas3naT2ATuSEkYtErGS3FBASws40A1/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzf_MOAjShTz985_2OE8QNeBJVbHXdBFbAFZlXHwivLtkeZfD4I4WAhqAbvAGY_DphE-lU8TBQ8q3n_dPRJpeQT1qO6Exc1RNgHf5LARAoBZVTGas3naT2ATuSEkYtErGS3FBASws40A1/s1600/image.jpeg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Stop 2 (Thursday night-Friday morning): Camdenton (“Roach”) at the Missionary training center. I saw a bunch of great friends there and was able to sit in a folk catholicism class, communion/chapel, and my old discipleship group (this is a picture of all of us in December-now there's one more baby!). </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Stop 3: Chicago IL (Friday night-Saturday morning) to see a few of my friends who I lived with in Bolivia. So fun to see all that God’s continued to teach us from our time there FIVE years ago!! (*Can’t believe it’s gone by so fast). Matt & Elsa are now parents and Jen is now married! Then i hopped over to the neighboring suburb of Evanston and saw Natalia who is a great friend of my little sister! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Stop 4: Jackson MI (Saturday evening). Had dinner with one of my favorite families in Michigan. Scot was one of my teachers at the Bible school and his wife April became a really great friend. There was another graduate from the Bible school who is now a missionary in Brasil and getting ready to teach literacy in the village. It was so cool to hear about the next stips for me-and for Scot and April to see what they are a part of even though they are working as missionaries in Michigan they get to be a part of seeing lives changed in Brasil and around the world. I’ve come to the conclusion that <b>it takes a community</b> <b>to raise a missionary! </b> Then I got to see my Dean and her family! (This is Me & Martha last spring)</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Stop 4: Detriot IL (Saturday night-early Sunday morning). Bethany was another coworker of mine in Bolivia. She since married Paul and all of us have been able to spend lots of time together. They let me crash in their guest room frequently. I got to meet their little sweetie who joined their family in December.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Stop 5: Camden Baptist Church (Sunday morning). This is my home church and I’m so excited to spend a few months here. It was a super full morning of catching up with friends and meeting new people. Perfect way to end the road trip! I’ll be staying with a lady from my church who has been so kind. She didn’t even know me before yesterday other than over the phone and I’m so impressed that she would take a stranger into her home for 2.5 months! </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I know all you Texas folks are wondering, so the weather so far has been so nice. I hear it might snow soon. :/ But I found an awesome running route with great smelling pine trees, calming rivers and ponds, and quiet neighborhoods. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Favorite Roadtrip tunes:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">*My Victory-Jimmy Needham</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">*Creere-Tercer Cielo</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">*Sparrow-Audrey Assad</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">*Almighty-Wayne Watson</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">*Life in Color-OneRepublic</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">*Celebrare to Amor-Jesus Adrian Romero</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Thanks to everyone who fed me, gave me a place to sleep, encouraged me along the way, and those who made my time in Texas awesome! Y’all are amazing and unforgettable. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And a HUGE thanks to Katie for letting me use her car! I'm unbelievably blessed. :)</span></div>
Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7783113598100960937.post-69344895824111934232014-01-31T11:08:00.002-08:002014-01-31T11:08:23.486-08:00The Movie!!!Here's a video of the week-basically some pictures and video clips. It was an incredible week, and as always, God continued to show me my need to depend on Him and the fact that in Him is the hope and peace that we ALL so desperately need. Loved these songs, loved the scenery, love God's goodness. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isaiah 41:10 ESV</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fear not, for I am with you;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">be not dismayed, for I am your God;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will strengthen you, I will help you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isaias 41:10 NVI</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Asi que no temas, porque yo estoy contigo;</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">no te angusties, porque you soy tu Dios.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Te fortalecere y te ayudare; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">te sostendre con mi diestra victoriosa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Isaias 41:10 Quechua</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ama manchakuychu, qanwanmi ñoqaqa kashani, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">ama pisipaychu, ñoqaqa Diosniykin kani,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">ñoqan kallpachasqaykipas yanapasqaykipas, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ñoqan hap'iykusqaykipas atipachisqaykipas, nispa.</span></span></div>
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Kristenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14667243084109556765noreply@blogger.com0