What would Mom do?

Since September I've been caregiver/nanny/babysitter to two active boys age 6 & 10 (the youngest will be 7 next month). I often rack my brain trying to remember some of my Mom's parenting techniques since she spent the most time with us...I usually can't remember or I say the very thing that I always hated it when she said! (Like, "just ignore him", "find something else to do", "go play outside", or "I'm setting the timer. Find a book and read quietly until it goes off"--this one is kind of a lifesaver!). She was the master of redirecting us, thinking of something fun & creative to do, and correcting our inappropriate behavior--yes that happened frequently. I feel like she did such a nice job of communicating with us and respecting us. She never was demeaning or mean spirited towards us . I pray for wisdom to be a good teacher and encourage these cool boys to become great men someday.
So last week was spring break and I was on my own with these two kiddos for 9 hours a day--they really are great boys. Pretty well behaved, they listen to me usually though on a consistent--but not frequent-basis need redirected or corrected. After a few hours though, I found myself looking at the clock and asking myself what on earth I was going to do with them for the next seven hours! We made it though and I even thought it was a super fun week. Here's what we did:
Made, played with and ate edible play doh (this is my handiwork. An anteater and a little boy)
painted readymade birdhouses

made pigs in a blanket for breakfast
played games
went to the library to get movies (PG rated movies are kinda hard to come by these days...)
took a tour of the Jiffy plant (accidentally found that when i got lost on the way to the dentist)
got hot chocolate on a rainy day
went on errands (grocery store, post office, etc. Sometimes it's just nice to get out).
Read together--and separately.
etc...

All in all, I enjoyed playing mom for a few days! I work for a really great family that pretty much lets me have freedom to do what I want with the boys. I really like them and they seem to like me too. It's an ideal work environment! :) (Plus I get paid to play!)
Here are some pictures because I respect the privacy of the family you'll not see the boys' faces, but you can get an idea of how much fun we have! ;)

Oh, and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOM...a little bit early!

Delivered from Death

In God whose word I praise.
In God I have put my trust,
I shall not be afraid.
What can mere man do to me?
This I know that God is for me.
For You have delivered me from death,
Indeed my feet from stumbling,
so that I may walk before God
in the light of the living.

-Psalm 56:4, 9b, 13

Happy to be Healthy again

Being sick was not exactly my choice of how to spend last weekend, but the one good thing was the anticipation of warmer weather. I left my window open and couldn't wait to get well and get outside! I felt like I'd been hit by a truck and can't remember being that sick in years and years! My cough has lingered on all week, but otherwise I feel great now! That was the first time in my life I've taken a sick day (called off work and skipped classes). It was actually rather refreshing though, and I got some reading done and organizing. Maybe that's God's way of telling me I need to slow down every once in awhile.
This weekend we have outside plans I think I'll make it to Cabela's for the very first time! ...So many firsts this week!
I've really been enjoying my classes--well in that I feel very challenged to take my relationship with God more serious. After all, if He is who I say I believe He is, my life should clearly reflect that in the choices I make, lifestyle I live and way I treat others. Living with an eternal perspective? My dad talks about building THe Kingdom, and sometimes it's easy to just smile and agree because it sounds right, sounds very christian at least. But I think the point of what he was probably trying to emphasize was that our time here on this earth is crucial for leading people to Christ. If I'm not doing anything to show people that I follow Christ, there's really no point, right? I might as well live like a pagan and at least show that the reason is because I believe there's no God. I don't think God appreciates or honors mediocrity. Christ is coming back in His glory one day--we hope soon. As believers we need to be doing what He has entrusted us with when He comes. I believe it was a man from a hindu temple who told someone from my school that christians don't really believe in a resurrection. If they did, he said, they (christians) would not be living like they do. Hm, that's a tragedy my friends.
Here's an incredible verse I can't get out of my mind this week:
Luke 21:³⁴ “Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware, ³⁵ like a trap. For that day will come upon everyone living on the earth. ³⁶ Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

Mid-semester update!

So we're one month away from spring break already and I'm finally writing an update!

This semester I'm studying classes ranging from the Life of Christ, Psalms, Prophets, Anthropology and Hermeneutics II. We've finally gotten into the New Testament and will finish up with Acts, Christology and I Corinthians. I cannot even believe how much I am learning. God provided through a few faithful individuals which allowed me to be able come back this semester and I feel very blessed and thankful to be here. My faith has taken on a whole new dimension and it reminds me how much I still don't know or understand.

I have started volunteering with AWANAs/Truth in Training. I've done one week in each so far! I also visit a spanish church here sometimes, and often am surprised at how much I miss speaking in Spanish all the time. But I did dream in Spanish the other night which was pretty exciting!

I continue to babysit for the two boys I watched last semester. It's a really fun job, I often am discouraged when I realize how much wisdom I lack in dealing with/teaching kids and what a big responsibility parenting really is. I often find myself asking, "what would Mom do in this situation?"!

I've made a few weekend trips.
Twice to Chicago to visit my cousin, former co-workers from Bolivia and other friends.
Weekend in Chicago after the huge blizzard!
Visit #1. You should recognize these people! (former co-workers from Bolivia). from L-R: Jen, Katie (on floor), me, Elsa, Matt, Nate & Kate.
Visit #2. Again with friends from Bolivia. They convinced me to try Chicago hot dogs. Let's just say that I'll still vote for pizza!! ;)
Trip to Lincoln Park zoo with my cousin.

Twice to Ohio to visit family and friends. We celebrated my grandpas 79th birthday--what a beautiful life and amazing influence he's had on all of us.
Bizzy & I made this red velvet cake from scratch! This was a definite improvement from our first attempt the night before! ;)

And I went snowmobiling for the first time with my friend Bethany (also a former co-worker from Bolivia). It was super fun, we have no photos of the actual adventure, but here we are ready to brave the snow and COLD!
Looking forward to seeing the rest of my family for the last half of spring break! Oh how I miss them!

And now I'm ready for spring. The snow's begun to melt and I've enjoyed a few sunny afternoon runs around the neighborhood the anticipation mounts with each new day. I think after the winter I will appreciate the spring/summer/fall all the more!! :)
Carpe Diem!!!

Simple & Healthy Granola

I made this recipe up--I tried another recipe but didn't really like it, so I made up this one. And it's pretty delicious if I do say so myself!

Honey Peanutty Granola
Ingredients:
3 c. old fashioned oats
3 T peanut butter
5 T honey

Toast the oats for about 8 minutes in preheated oven (350 degrees).
Melt peanut butter and honey (about 1 minute in the microwave) pour toasted oats in mix well and pour onto greased waxed paper. Leave mixture kind of heaped up (I put it in a 9x13 cake pan), cook for about 8 more minutes. But keep an eye on it, it cooks really fast and sometimes it gets a little over toasted!

Last words.

By far the most convicting chapel services of my LIFE were a few weeks back. There was a guy here by the name of Brad Buser...and I'm still processing everything he talked about, but I know this: He confronted some misguided selfish thinking that I've adopted.
Basically he reminded us of the call of God to each one of us to go into all the world and preach the gospel, I know we've all heard that before, but I for one have often shrugged off the significance of this command. I continue to try to wrap my mind around what it means to really follow the God who loves the nations. So here's a little bit of my thought process...
If there are in fact 2,100+ people groups who have never heard the gospel (these 2,100 people groups contains roughly 2/3 of the entire world's population), when I stand before God and those people who've never heard are condemned to hell, will all the excuses I make up for why I can't or shouldn't go into overseas missions even matter? Will I still feel justified by the way I've chosen to follow my dreams rather than obey God to go and share His message of hope?
The point Mr. Buser points out is that we've all been called to passionately pursue God and share His word with others. Sometimes it boils down to this: obedience. God wants our lives to count for a bigger purpose than building our own "kingdoms".

²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. ²⁵"For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt. 24)

God's heart is for the world--that every person would hear the gospel. What then will I do about it? So convicting to me, and encouraging to hear something different.
Anyway, This is just as much--if not more--for me than for you. I just write these blogs hoping that perhaps one of you faithful readers will get something out of it too. You can listen to Brad B. if you want here's a link to his youtube videos.

Last words before Jesus ascended: (Matthew 28)

¹⁸And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

That's all for now. Feel free to comment.

Bella Esperanza

"Beautiful Hope"

Dear Pray-ers,
I cannot thank you enough for you prayers, encouragement and support of our trip to Bolivia. We are well aware of the fact that without you we would have been unable to accomplish as much as we did.
We spent a few days in the city of Cochabamba visiting a few different ministries, catching up with dear missionary friends, and distributing donations. We had the honor of meeting Gracia Burnham, and staying with the amazing Hedvall Family while in Cochabamba!
God brought our team together in the most unique way for the Potosi trip. We knew that we would go with Dr. Jorge and Dr. Waldo (who formed Red Vida de Esperanza years ago). I've been going with them for four years now and they are always asking when I can bring another team (so start saving up!!!). Sylvia, David and I came down from the States. Laura was a friend through mutual friends and Eduardo went to the same church as me when I lived in Cochabamba. The day before we left for Potosi I met Jed at baby washing (He was an intern with the same organization I worked with in 2008). He decided on that day to join our team to Potosi. When we arrived at the terminal Eduardo informed me that the little boy named Edwin would be accompanying us as we returned to his village Kharimayu Frias-which we visited in May/June when I went. It was so neat to see God orchestrate that and our team really had a neat dynamic and we worked together in an amazing way.
If you recall, Edwin was my little patient on my last trip down. He broke his leg a year ago now, and we took him out of his village in June because he needed to have some major surgeries in the city. He has had three surgeries and still needs more. He hadn't seen his family since June so he came along with us to spend time with his parents and siblings and returned back to Cochabamba for more medical attention. It was fun having him along and he was one of THE most joyful kids I've ever seen!
The trip consisted of two days each in two communities. Kharimayu Frias was up in the mountains and much more remote than the second village. They have installed running water since I was last there. People travelled for hours by foot to see us. We shared a Bible lesson, had games, coloring and songs with them. They also had a day for Especiales, where they would sing for us and we would sing for them, had dramas and testimonies. It was a joyful place, they slaughtered a sheep for us, and cooked up everything! We were humbled by their generosity and saddened by the harsh realities they face every day. Rain has been scarce and their only agricultural crop of potatoes has suffered. We spent a morning with Edwin's family which is one of the only christian families in the community. They are under immense pressure from the leaders of the community due to their refusal to worship mother earth (Pachamama) and are blamed for anything that goes wrong (lack of rain, etc).
On Thursday morning we arrived in Vacuyo (which I visited with a team in 2008). We did a similar program there. This community wasn't as remote or poor as the first, but still depended on the crops and livestock/llama herds to sustain them. The rituals of worship to the sun god and pachamama were still a big part of the culture but the church seemed to have a bigger influence in the community. We try to make sure the people know that we are associated with the church so that their job of following up with those who have questions or make decisions to follow Christ will be easier. On the last night we had a program with testimonies, a message of God's love and power as the only one who can save us, skits by Waldo the Clown and Co., and an invitation to follow Jesus. Many children responded and we finished the night by praying for the leaders of the church in Vacuyo and some leaders of neighboring churches that had come to be involved in the program we were hosting. There were tears all around, and we were reminded of the harsh conditions these laborers are under both physically and spiritually.
We gave out gifts in both communities, it was the last of the Samaritan's Purse shoeboxes as the bolivian government has imposed taxes on any incoming shipments of boxes which the organization cannot afford. So we supplemented with the load of donations which we brought. God's people were very faithful, and I must admit that I was surprised by how much we were actually able to pack! We must've seen over 150 kids and I kept thinking we weren't going to have enough but wouldn't you know it--we did!
God is faithful and his timing impeccable. The hike in gas prices was withdrawn late Friday night and everything was back to normal by Sunday. We even got to see the presidente! We had no problems with the vehicle that we rented and we stayed mostly healthy throughout the trip. Our flights were on time and our luggage only got lost on this side of the trip.
Thank you so very much for your prayers and for all of you that donated please know that you brought joy to the children and families of Potosi. Continue to be in prayer as to if and how God would use you to continue to support the ministry of Red Vida de Esperanza. Jorge has been praying for a vehicle of their own for years, and always asks me if we can bring another team (He's hoping for July...), the women also have handmade tapestries, bags, bracelets etc, that have also been sent with me if you would like to support these women and receive one of these unique pieces prices vary and 100% of the money goes back to these people in Bolivia. The need in Bolivia (as elsewhere) is great and God has burdened Jorge, Waldo and the other leaders of RVE to assist, teach and bless the rural communities throughout the country. I am always humbled and blessed to be a part and hope to continue to communicate to you how you can be a part also, and as always if you want to be removed from my mailing list just let me know and I'll be happy to oblige. :)
Mil gracias (many thanks) from the bottom of my heart! :)
God's blessings to you in 2011.
Much love and appreciation--
Kristen

Jehova nuestro Dios, Jehova uno es.
The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Deut. 6:4