My Utmost For His Glory and Name

2010-10-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm beginning my fourth week of being home and it's about time that I did one final update or a closing post to for my trip.

First, I would like to thank you all for praying for me and all the support. We couldn't have accomplished what we did if it wasn't for everyone praying for us back home.

I'm so glad for the time I had in HI as well as India. God used it to teach me a lot and I think in some ways change me in ways I don't even realize all the way. It's been really good to be home again and I think I appreciate what I have more now and the country I live in. Seriously, I have never seen such poverty as I did in India. It's like a totally different world there and I see how wonderful and blessed this country is even with all it's problems.

One of the of the really amazing things that happened was what God did in the red light district. As many of you know after being in North India for just a week we found out that we had to find another contact and a different place to stay. We had been told that ministry in the red light district was tough. That we shouldn't expect to see a lot a fruit so the last thing we needed was no contact; or so we thought.

Looking back we could see that God had different plans. He knew that if we had a contact we wouldn't be at freedom to do all that we felt like we were suppose to do. We had a translator who told us that he was surprised at how much progress we had made on our own (we only had a translator like 3 or 4 days out of almost 3 weeks) and how much the women loved us. He also said that when he work in that area for 5 years they would always just go prayer walking and never let the teams actually talk to the women. We are hoping that God uses us having been there to not only affect the prostitutes but the Christians in that area.

We were able to connect with two groups of women. We spent time with them, gave them a bible, brought them flowers, took pics of them and got them printed. One group of ladies we asked the madam if she could make money another way would she want to leave this life. She said yes and that 11 other people would come with her. My leader ending up taking her to a restoration home where they talk to someone about her leaving. Now it's up to her about what she does. I look at that time and praise God for what happened! Even though at times it didn't make sense what was happening He was still in control and had a plan.

Just in case you are wondering how else God used you in India I'll give you a list. (I view my time there like you were there as well because of your prayers and support in more than one way; I think God does as well.)

You fed the poor and beggars
You prayed for lepers
You brought good news to the a hindu girl who will never be the same again
You played, danced, sang, and hugged orphans
You left an umbrella for a homeless man sleeping on the street in the rain
You prayed for, hugged, and loved prostitutes and showed them people can love them for who they are not just for people can get from them
You gave money to those who have nothing
You brought a smile to faces by simply taking their photos or throwing a smile their way with a silly little Indian head bobble
You danced a hawaiian dance in a slum making a fool of yourself
You met with a dentist student for coffee who's a hindu you met on the train; and to talk about your beliefs
You cried for the people in India as you saw a young man sitting in a chair looking like he was on drugs or was physically sick knowing that his life will probably not change his whole life
You gave a scarf to a little orphan girl named Deepa.
YOU MADE AN ETERNAL DIFFERENCE IN INDIA

Thank you again! If you would like to meet anytime and hang out or have coffee just let me know and I'd love to meet with you. God bless!!!

Love Chrissy

Mumbai Update #2

2010-09-03T03:29:00.000-07:00

Hello,

So we've made a little headway in the red light district but not much. It's an interesting area to work in. Like I said in the last update our first contact didn't work out. Our second contact sort of fell through as well. The second man I believe really wanted to help us but he was so busy and communication with us was difficult since our phone wasn't working at the time. God is faithful though and gave us another man who is willing to help us.

We've gone down to the red light area probably around a total of 6 to 7 times total so far. The first 2 times we went down, we went down when it was still light outside. It was good to get an idea of what the area was like and meet a few people and take some pictures. We also tried prayer walking but it didn't work so well since it's so loud you can really only walk in two's and sometimes single file. After it not really working out with our second contact we just started going down on our own. We communicated as best as we could with out little Hindi and their English. There's some people who were very friendly to us and others who tell us to leave.

One night when we were out we met a woman who said she's been a prostitute for somewhere around 20 years. She lived in a village but she needed money so she came to Mumbai. She now has 1 daughter and 2 sons. We met her mother and daughter because they live there with her. She said that she wants to go home but I don't think she can because of money. She doesn't have a pimp so no one is telling her she has to stay. She love my leader and was crying the first night we met her.

There was another woman who Kelsey and I met one night and we thought her name was something like Judy but now we're not sure. We were both really drawn to her after speaking to her. She had really good English and she seemed so very sweet. After not very long at all of speaking with her a crowd of young men was gathering and they (her and another girl with her) started acting really nervous. I asked if we should go and she said yes. We turned and left down the road to met the rest of our group. After not going to far I turn to look back and couldn't see her anymore. It was like she disappeared out of no where. We have looked for her since and asked the other girl who was with her through a translator but we've gotten no where. I'm a little concerned for her and can't help but wonder if something bad happened to her.

Last night was the first night that we went out with our new contact; who is really great to work with. We were thinking about not going out once again because of rain but decided we were going to anyway. I think that some of the ladies were really impressed that we still came even in the monsoon. I hope that it showed them that we really care. As we were walking through the area today I started tearing up. We were going to meet some of the ladies who were really happy to see us last night and especially Kailyn. Some of them told us it was better to come 3 to 6 because they're not busy then. We were going to go have tea with these ladies but didn't find them. We were met with a lot of opposition today partly I think because of our cameras.

We ended up leaving the red light area and just walking down the street taking pictures. We seem to attract crowds at rapid rates. LOL It's okay for a while and in some areas but after a little bit it becomes overwhelming. We ended up meeting a very nice business muslim man who invited us into his office. He gave us pepsi and introduced us to his son. He told us a little about himself and his beliefs and we also shared a little of what we believed about Jesus but not much. His wife was roman catholic but converted to muslim. He ended up wanting a pic of each of us individually. It was pretty gross because I he posed pretending to kiss my cheek. So I pretty much got lipped by an old Indian man. I guess I can mark that off my list of things to do before I die. Just kidding. He was very nice though and told us before we leaved that if we needed anything at anytime to call him; even at 12 at night. "I will come and get you and take you to my house. You are not friends or even good friends but family now!" This is what I love so much about the Indian people. They are so hospitable!

Another thing that's happened in the red light district that I wasn't expecting at all was ministry to male prostitutes. They are cross dressers and at first glance and even meeting them you can't really tell. What got me wondering was his voice for one of them. He is obviously on hormones and/or has had surgeries. One of them speaks very good English so be we've been able to talk to him quite a bit. He's the prettiest man I've ever seen and it's really sad that he's there. He's told us that he's only been here a month and that he's in college or was in college. I'm not really sure I believe the month part at all. He also said he started doing this because of family problems. That's really sad if that's truly the case.

As you can see from the what I've written there's very people who need freedom from more then one thing. The red light area isn't at all like a pictured it would be. It's basically women living in a certain area sitting or standing outside of their home selling themselves as life in India goes on around them. It's not like there's big bars with lots of prostitutes in them or anything. It's like these women living with other women and maybe a pimp or with their children and husbands. Some stand on the main road on the sidewalk. Others sit in front or stand inside tiny little dark ally ways. I've never seen a western man down there all these times so I'm thinking there's somewhere else westerners go.

Please pray for the women to have open soft hearts and their pimps so we can talk to them. We are planning on giving flowers with verses out to the women soon so we're hoping this will open the door up for us a little more. Please also pray that the man who is helping us right now would get a heart for this area and carry on the ministry here when we leave next Tue. Thank you!

From the crazy country of India,

The Traveling Iowan :)

Mumbai Update...

2010-08-27T02:00:00.001-07:00

So much has happened since we left for Mumbai. We met our contact after around a 26 hour train ride. We were living in I would say the most getto conditions so far. We worked with this contact for around a week before we found out that they wanted us to leave. We really don't understand all the reasons why we had to leave but that's okay. It's sort of sad that it didn't work out with that contact since the women in the red light district were starting to like us and open up more to us.

We had to find a new place the same day we were asked to leave. We ended up finding a hotel that is over our buget for housing but we figured it out so it will work. So for the past week we have been staying in a hotel in downtown Mumbai. We had to find a contact and see if God wanted us to stay or not. It appears that He did since that's what He impressed on all us and he provided somewhat of a contact.

As for ministry here, our goal is to work in a red light area about 15 min from our hotel. It's much larger than the one we were working in before. We need your prayers because we need motivation as well as direction. I have only spent one evening down there so far and we're going down again tonight. Pray for openness in the people and leading from Jesus. Please pray that we would finish strong as a team as we've been struggling this this.

Our team has had quite a bit of opposition since arrive here. Everything from lice, weird illnesses, head colds, parasites, losing a contact, getting kick out. Please pray for health as well and protection.

Thanks you so much! I can't wait to be home again and see everyone I love so much and care about. Plus just being in my home country again is going to be amazing! If you ever want to appreciate all God has given you just live in leave the country for awhile :)

Here's a few fun facts for you:

"You Know You're Indian When...."

- You cross the road even when there's oncoming traffic.

- You don't look for a trash can but throw garbage on the ground without hesitation

- You don't say yes by shaking your head up and down but side to side

- You don't know what a line is most of the time and if there is a line you shove your way as close as possible to the counter hopefully before the other hundred Indians try to do the same thing.

- You don't really grasp the concept of time but operate on a event mindset

- You will give up your plans for the entire day just to help a foreigner who you just met and really is a total stranger

- You will pay a stranger on the side of the road to clean out your ear wax with a wire and cotton

- You shove your way through crowds to get to where you need to go; and considered it normal

- You willing invite total strangers into your home serving them tea and cookies (aka biscuits)

- You live with cows, chickens, goats in and around your house like they're one of the family

- You use your horn to let people know you're passing, to get out of your way, to let them know your coming around a corner, and of course just for good measure

- You might drink tea religiously everyday and will stop everyday life to have it

- You think nothing of riding in a overly crowed bus or train where you might have to hang halfway out the door.

- You can successfully fit your four person family on your motorcycle

- You'll call a total stranger Auntie or Uncle instead of Mr. or Ms.

- You don't even blink when you see a full grown man peeing on the side of the road or a child taking a dump on the train tracks

- You are so very generous and will share even a small packet of cookies with a "rich" westerner when you earn the small living by prostitution

- You still have a smile on your face and can laugh and find joy even when you're so poor you really have nothing at all

- You love having your picture taken even if you'll never get a copy but only see in on the LCD screen of the camera

- You know that there are probably as many smells in India as there are hindu gods or languages

- You know what a samosa is

- You eat rice three times a day and still like it

- You can successfully eat with the right hand only. Rolling, tearing and popping your food into your mouth.

- You are amazingly good at water-falling drinks into your mouth instead of touching the glass or bottle to your lips

- A cup of good tea can be as small as dixie cup

- You pay around 33 cents to 1 dollar for an hour of internet service

- You will stare unashamed at a white person even when they stare back

- You are accustom to seeing people begging with deformities that you know they weren't born with

- You find it normal to live in a country that lives in mad chaos and hardly any order at all

- The first and maybe only phrases you know in English are: Hello!!!, What is your name?, My name is..., How are you?, What country?.....

- You most likely know more than one language

- You are most likely very friendly and welcoming to strangers/foreigners

- You've learned to watch where you walk if you don't want to step in mud, poo, or a hole

- You love your country and you're proud of it even if you can see many things that need to change

2010-08-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

I decided that it was definitely time for a longer update. I will start with updating you on our 3 week stay in Vellore before I move on to our current news here in Dhurmapuri and Mumbai. I briefly mentioned the Hindu girl who excepted Jesus. I was able to go back to her house with the pastor's wife and one of my good friends, Dawn. She wasn't there the first time we went to her house but after doing our programs we checked back and she was home along with her mother and sister. Her face was still glowing because of what Jesus had done in her life. One of the most encouraging things was that she wasn't wearing the hindu dot on her forehead anymore. I was worried about this but God totally took care of it. Even though her mother and sister were wearing it she wasn't! Praise the Lord! I gave her the bible and told her to read John with her family. She had told her family about what she did and then Ruby and I talked to them about Jesus for just a few minutes because we had to leave. I was hoping to talk to them longer and had been praying about it but I have total peace. I feel like God wants to use her to lead her family to Christ. That He wants to her as a new disciple to make disciples. This is His heart I believe and this is what I want to see as well. I don't want to come to India and make a disciple who doesn't then make a disciple. I want to be involved in a life being change who will change another and have the ripple affect! I truly believe that mother and sister will be saved and that they will read John together. I prayed for them before we left and the sister I guess was crying. She was the one who ended up with the bible and she was clutching it the whole time. Dawn took a pic so I will put it up at some point. She is so beautiful!

Another really cool thing that happened in Vellore and was totally unexpected was one day when we had decided to go shooting. Dawn, Kailyn, and I decided that we were just going to go down town and get some pictures. To make a very long story short God led us to a business man who showed us a hindu temple and who we ended up talking to for around 3 hours. He is very intellectual and he's searching for truth. He doesn't really believe in hinduism yet he practices it somewhat because that's what his parents taught him. We shared the gospel and talked and talked. He invited us out to eat so we could talk more other day. We went two days later and had another 3 hour talk. He was very kind and reserved a separate hotel room so we could talk in peace. He also gave us presents. We ended up agreeing to disagree but I believe that someday before he dies he's going to find Jesus and believe that He's really who He says He is. God is totally after this man otherwise why would we have met him? He's searching for truth and one day he'll find it in the Truth!

Okay, so on Friday we came back her to Dhurmapuri after a very good fruitful time of ministry in Vellore. I think most of us if not all of us loved our contact there! Pastor Caleb and his wife, Ruby, and three little children are wonderful! They took such good care of us and we had wonderful times of ministry where we saw God's hand move. Just a quick side note of a vision that they have: They would like to start an orphanage. I don't believe that this would be an orphanage that people could adopt from since supposedly you need a license but it's a home for children none the less. The start up cost is so cheap that it really surprised me: $1,100. If you would be interested in helping them, email me and I can send you his email address.

Nine or ten people from our group of 20 are going to Mumbai on Wed. We are going to be working in brothels. At this time we're not really sure what this is going to look like since we don't know much about the contact. That's pretty much how things seem to go around here. We usually find out what we're doing the day of or the day before we do something. Sometimes here in Dhurmapuri we find out sooner but that's always given to change at any moment. LOL We are going to be working with prostitutes and then the children of prostitutes. From all the people that we've talked to who have done this kind of ministry we've found out it's not usually very fruitful. People don't usually see much happen. Please pray for us that we would continue to see the mighty hand of God move in great ways! I would love it if you would pray along with me. This is what I'm going to be asking for one woman who I can be apart of getting her out of the brothels and her heart away from satan. and if God gives more, praise His name!!! Also pray for our team. I guess this is really hard ministry to do. Like some of the toughest stuff people have done before.

Okay, well it's about 1:30 am here in India so I'll call it a day and I'll post this in the morning when I go to the internet cafe. God bless you all so much!

2010-08-02T03:31:00.001-07:00

Hello Friends and Family!!!!

I did have a long post all written but my computer has been acting really funky lately and it turned off on the way here so I lost everything I had written. So once again you'll have to put up with a short post.

I think the biggest and most exciting thing that's happened is that I got to help lead a Hindu girl to Jesus. I was pretty bold and she ended up deciding to believe in Him!!!! I and the translator prayed with her and after we got done praying she was so happy and you could tell by her face that something was different! I'm going to go give her a bible sometime this week. Please pray we have a chance to talk to her family about Jesus as well. I know that I could go home now and feel like it was totally worth everything for that one girl's soul.

Life here is always interesting and you really never know what to expect. Somedays I love being here and other days I feel like I'm going to go crazy. But really it is such an honor to be able to experience this. I really think the trip is going to start going so fast now. We have about 40 more days here before we begin debrief in Singapore and then back to HI.

I'll write more later. Thanks for all the prayers once again!

2010-07-28T00:19:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! This is the first time that I've made it here to the internet in a week and a half. We're in Vellore India right now. Please continue to pray for us for strength, grace, and joy. We've seen God's hand move in our team. We've also seen Him move in the people of India and seen people come to Jesus!!!! Praise God!

2010-07-11T21:30:00.000-07:00

An Indian worker who was more then happy for me to take his photo.

Dear Friends,

Right now I’m sitting here on my bed sweating at 9:45 at night. We don’t have internet where we are staying so I’ll write part of this now, the rest later, and send it in the morning when I take a trip to the internet cafe.

Things have been going well here and it’s hard to believe it’s only been a week. It feels much longer but I’m sure that the weeks will begin to fly by as we get used to life here. It’s been a pretty crazy first week beginning the moment we landed. I won’t go into detail but I’ll give you a quick overview of some of the stuff we did:

Sat we arrived here in India Dhurmapuri, India after traveling for around 50 straight. Needless to say we were beyond tired but our contact here, Pastor Daniel, took us to what we first thought was a birthday party but found out it was a period party :) LOL They were celebrating their daughter/niece beginning puberty. The Pastor wanted us to sing, dance, and give a message. We did all but it was disaster since we were hungry and falling asleep. We laugh at it now.

Sunday, was insane as well but so touching for me. We went to Pastor Daniel’s church at 11 and a couple of us spoke after we sang a song and introduced ourselves. We also prayed for the people. Later that day we went to a leprosy colony and spoke and sang there as well. That was really something to see not only the poverty but the disease that’s slowly taking these people’s lives. Last we went to what they call the beggar’s church were we spoke and sang once again and then helped pass out food.

Monday, we went shopping for India style clothing which ended up being more stressful than I think a lot of us were imagining it was going to be. We had no idea of how to shop for these types of clothes and what to look for; but now we do. After a few hours of that, we went back home and did whatever we felt like napped, pictures, internet.

Tuesday, we spoke and attending part of the weekly pastor’s meeting and prayed with them for the different parts of India.

Wednesday, Pastor Daniel was out of town so we had a day off. (I'm not sure if my days are right or not. Too long ago :).)

Thursday or Friday (I don't remember which one), we also were free until evening when we went over the the girl’s home that the church runs. It was fun spending time with the children and then we got to pray for them at the end. I was blown away by the intense prayer of a little girl.

Saturday, we drove to Pastor Daniel’s children’s boarding school. We ending up eating lunch up there on the mountain which was really nice because it was so cool up there. After we hung out there at a park for awhile we went back down to a village to do street ministry. There was a new and neat experience. We were received really well and a little girl with good english invited me to her house.

It's been a pretty good week and but I'm going through a little bit of a rough time right now. I would love your prayers as it's only the beginning of the 2nd week. We're all looking forward to another part of our team arriving here on Thursday and our team should be complete at the end of this month. Thanks to visa problem our team is broken up into three different groups. But it's fine and God's in control!!!

God bless you all and thanks so much for all the prayers! Our team is switching locations next Sunday so I'm not sure what the living/internet conditions will be there at that time.

Love, Chrissy

2010-07-09T00:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Family and Friends!!! I'm loving life here in India and the food is amazing! The heat isn't something I'm so fond of especially when there's no fans because there's no electricity during part of the day but it's okay. It's definitely tolerable. So much has happened already!

I don't have much time left right now so I'll write more later. Thanks for all your prayers! Things are going really well here and we only have one more girl left who isn't feeling well out of several. God bless!!!!

India!!!

2010-07-07T02:10:00.000-07:00

I'm here and really enjoying it!!! Love you all!! Please pray for health as some of our team is struggling from sickness. Thank you!

Beginning a New Chapter....

2010-07-01T00:07:00.000-07:00

In one way it's hard to believe that it was already 3 months ago that I said goodbye to friends, family, and my home. It's been an amazing time. It's been life changing, challenging, encouraging, one of the most difficult times of my life, fun/ blast, exciting, and stretching. But this has all come to an end and I will be leaving tomorrow morning. I need to be ready at 4:45 so I probably won't sleep much tonight; I'll have many hours to sleep traveling to the other side of the world. This has been an amazing time and a gift from God! I'm so ready to go though. I've been wanting to leave for somewhere around the last 2 weeks and it's finally here!!!

We will be traveling through Japan and Singapore before we get to India. We could arrive to Dharmapuri as late at Sunday morning depending on whether we take the train or bus from Chennai. We will stay with our first contact for 2.5 weeks, go to a new location, go back to the first place, and sometime half of our team will head to N. India to work in the red light district. Please pray that I would be one of the people who get to go. This is something that I said I wanted to do before I even arrived here in Kona.

I'm a little apprehensive but I think that it will be better once we're there. I can feel myself getting really excited that it's finally D-Day! I'm so excited to be heading over to Asia once again!

Please pray for unity in our team. I think that we can have a really powerful outreach if we are unified but if not, it's really going to hurt us. We have a large team of 20 including our leaders so this can make it more difficult. Thank you so much for your many prayers. God has definitely been working on us already.

I'm not sure what the internet service will be like over there at this time. I will try and make time to post updates when I can. As always, thank you for the support, love, and prayers!

Love, Chrissy

Pictures from our last ending celebration for lecture phase:

Dawn, my beloved friend and fellow India teammate

Dork :)

Our Leader/PhotogenX President, Paul, doing a New Zealand traditional dance the "Haka". He's really a wonderful, funny, down to earth guy :); really. LOL

Dawn, presenting her idea/the classes' house warming gift to Paul, Susi, and their two children. We got them a trampoline :)

The India team provided some of the entertainment for the night. We attempted to share our new learned hula for outreach: Parte Parte. It was a blast!

The meal was amazing!!! Complete with Hors d'oeuvres, appetizers, salad, main meal, and dessert! It was so very wonderful after eating YWAM food for most of our meals.

Roomies aka the three musketeers!

Two more of my beautiful friends. Kailyn was my work duty buddy and she is also going to India!!! Hooray!

Men and Women...

2010-06-17T18:09:00.000-07:00

This week our speaker is talking about "Battling your Sexuality". It's been really good and I think at least most of us have been enjoying it. Today we talked about porn and then the 4 core needs of a man and a woman.

We learned about why porn is addictive. Our speaker said that it's one of the most unfair things satan does to us because he takes advantage of the way we are made. One thing that Kenny taught us and had us repeat is: "I am a sexual being and that's okay; because God made me that way." Porn feeds how God made us in the wrong way. It also promises to satisfy but it never delivers because it's not the real thing; it's only 2D. It's not how God meant it to be. It's also done in secret/private.

Here's so statistics involving porn/internet:

56% of divorces are because at least one party's actions can be traced back to porn.

47% of divorces are due to excessive time on the computer.

68% of all divorces involved at least one party meeting a lover over the internet.

Our speaker was talking about photons, the smallest particles of light. He said that these photons travel at a crazy speed of 186,00 miles per second! Do you remember the part where Jesus says something about if your eye is full of light then your whole body is full of light? Our speaker had such a good point from God. He said that those photons bounce off the image in front of you and into your eyes. That light stimulates the rods and cones (I think that's what he said) in your eyes which sends a message to your brain. What God showed him is that you don't just see that image, it actually goes into you. This was such an amazing way to view it. It's true! I, as a human, am made in a way that what I see affects me. I then reflect that in my life and body.

Okay, now for the core needs of a man and woman:

Men:

1. He needs a Reliable, Consistent Male Role Model. (We find this encouraged in Titus.)

2. Consistent Discipline and Accountability in his life. (Someone asked if it needs to be a male and he gave this example: When his mom would spank him not a big deal but when his dad did he got the message.)

3. He need the Appropriate Respect of those around him. (Especially from a wife and a mother when he's becoming a man.)

4. Mothering

Women:

1. She need to FEEL loved. (Even if she knows it she needs to feel it.)

2. She needs to know she is Cherished.

3. She needs Confidence that her Environment is Safe and Secure.

4. She needs to know that her loved ones have what they need.

After the speaker finished with the core needs of women he reminded us that there's no man who can fulfill all of these needs or at least, I would say, perfectly or all the time. There's only one man who did and can....Jesus.

Anyway, I just wanted to share that with you all. I thought it was really good and I hope that you found at least a little bit of it encouraging or helpful. I hope everyone is doing well!!! God bless!

Baptisms on the beach!

2010-06-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

Some of the my fellow students have never been baptized or wanted to be baptized again for various reasons. We all met at eight in the morning and made our way down the the beach. It was neat because instead of everyone just watching them be baptized we all chose a person to pray for after they were baptized. It's interesting seeing what different people shared before they were baptized. It's just shows that we are all individuals and we have our own personal relationship with Christ. It was a beautiful day and a special time for our classmates!

One thing that was really neat was some locals and/or tourist stopped to watch what was happening. I wouldn't be surprised if one group of them were actually Christians since I think I saw them taking pics.

I hope that on our outreach God gives us the honor to baptize one or more people who we see come to the Lord! That would be amazing and I would love it if you would pray for us to be able to see that come true. Thank you as always for the prayers and support!

From Hawaii,

Chrissy

Having Fun with my new wide angle....

2010-06-07T00:59:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for the for the continued prayers and support!!! I really appreciate it and am realizing slowly what a huge blessing this time in my life is. It's really a gift from God to grow me in many ways; some of which I didn't even know I needed to grow in.

So I bought a used wide angle lens several weeks ago now and I've really been enjoying it. I love how it just captures the landscape so much better than a regular lens. And also how it distorts the pic when you're close to the subject. I hope you enjoy the pics:

Another waterfall complete with cool refreshing water! It was Bliss!

Erika from Brazil who loves hugs:)

A few good example of the craziness of a wide angle and the way it distorts.

Waterfall, my friend Kailyn, sky and clouds = all amazing creations of God!

One of our wonderful German classmates.

2010-06-04T10:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's only 4 weeks until we go now. We're getting ready to go and a lot of our lectures are going to be geared towards our outreach. On the first of July we will be flying from Kona, to Honolulu, to Tokyo, Japan, to Singapore, and then to Chennai, India. It's going to be quite the trip!

This week we are suppose to research and write about the country that we are going to. So here's a quote and some info about India:

"A burden of contradictions held together by a strong but invisible thread." - The first prime minister of India said of his country.

Populations and Economy:

In 2000, India reached the one billion mark for their population. Only one year after the world reached the 6 billion mark. India is second for population next to China at this time and it is predicted to pass China by the year 2030. As of the summer of '09 the population was 1.15 billion. It's amazing to me that close to 1/6th of the world lives in this country.

The economy in India is booming yet the people still remain in poverty. The main factor or at least one of the top factors of this reality is that the fertility rate is increasing at a faster rate than the economy.

The top 5 historical sites of the country are:

1. The Taj Mahal, which took 22 yrs to build and 20,000 workers to complete. It's actually a ode of an emperor's love her his wife. Funny what love will drive people to accomplish. Another really cool thing about it is the color appears to change in different lights during the day.

2. Hampi, which used to be the capital of Vijayanagar was an amazing Hindu empire in the history of India. These ruins stretch over 10 miles and date back to the 14th century.

3. The Khajuraho Temples, these were devoted to sexuality and sex. (This reminds me of the goddess ashera that God commanded the israelis not to worship but they did anyway. Some of the followers of this goddess worship her with the act of prostitution.) These are Hindu temples and there are 20 such temples remaining.

4. The Ajanta and Ellora Caves, are caves carved out of rock hillside in the middle of nowhere. They are very old and some date back to before Christ (according to the website where I found this info). They boast of extraordinary architecture.

5. Fatehpur Sikri, was also once a capital city but is now deserted. After only being a city for 15 short years it was abandoned because there wasn't enough water. This city is complete with palaces and courtyards.

History:

Thinking of India's history I can't help but think of Mahatma Gandhi. I remember watching the film with my mom one night years ago. He was born in 1869 and died in 1948. It's interesting to me how quite a few people and maybe even most famous people (excluding Hollywood) chose a life that is difficult and where they have to faces opposition during their generation. I'm not saying that I agree with Gandhi or what he stood for, I don't know enough about him or his life, but we can learn that if we want to make a difference it's not always going to be easy.

Social issues:

A very big issue in India (not just India but the whole world) is prostitution. While we are in India, part of our team is going to have the chance to go up to Northern India and work in a red light district. I have included a youtube video about an organization that rescues and helps recovering girls who have been in this modern day slavery. I don't believe that this organization is Christian but I think this video gives you a small look at some of what is going on. There are three videos in this series but really the first two are the more important than the third.

With so many people living in India, it's overwhelming and discouraging to think of all the girls/women are being forced to have sex, those in extreme poverty, and the orphans. Where do we begin and how can we even begin to scratch the surface of making a difference? Well, they told us a story one day during class that I really like:

Sometimes, I guess, in certain areas along the ocean the tide will wash tons of starfish up on the beach. If they don't get thrown back in, they will die. One day this happened and a man was walking along the beach wishing he could do something to save them. However there were too many and he realizing this was impossible so he began to step over them. As he continue to pick his way down the beach he saw a little boy. He watched as the little boy bent over and took one starfish and flung it back into the ocean. As he continued to do this the man pointed out the obvious to the little boy. "There's no way you can save them all and there's just too many!" As the little boy stooped down once more and flung another starfish into the ocean and back to life, he said "well, it's made a difference for that one didn't it?". Wow! That's powerful! When we are overwhelmed by the hugeness of the problem before us and think about how small of an impact we will have, lets not look at that. Lets focus on being faithful in the little things and giving every human life the unmeasurable value it desires!!!

So inclosing, right now I feel like I know so little about this amazing country and it's people. I'm looking forward to learning more and building relationships with the people we will meet. Please pray that I would know whether or not I'm suppose to go up north and work in the red light district. Also please pray that God would prepare the hearts of the Indians and also of our team. India, here we come!

Thank you!

2010-05-31T01:04:00.000-07:00

Brandon with His Mom the day he left.

Brandon and I.

Dave and his family the day he returned.

Thank you so very to the men and women who have put their lives on the line for us and our freedom! Whether they agree 100% or 0% with the war they still have chosen to serve. Some of them and their families have paid the ultimate price. Today, we remember them and pray for their families. We also thank/pray for those who have served and the ones serving right now.

I would like to say thank you first to my wonderful Man for willingly serving his country last winter in Iraq. Not only did you willingly go and serve but you went over and beyond the call of duty. You held to a higher standard than many, reached out to the Iraqi people, and always did your best!!!! I love you, Brandon; I want you to know you're my hero!

I would also like to thank Dave McDill and his amazing family for their sacrifice and patients during his time in Afghanistan! They gave for our freedom. It wasn't easy but they gave that we might have. Thank you!

You are the true heros of America and we can never thank you enough. Not only did you, Brandon and Dave, serve your earthy country but also your heavenly one while there as well. Thank you and God bless!!!!

::::Chrissy::::

2010-05-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

Pictures from our recent retreat in a beautiful part of the big island.....

Waving Goodbye to Week 6.....

2010-05-23T15:37:00.001-07:00

Wow, it's hard to believe in a way that we just finished our sixth week of the lecture phase of DTS. That means we are half way through and a 1/4 of the way through the whole school. I'm sorry that I have been so bad about communication during this first part. It's been pretty intense and the Lord has been teaching me a lot as well as digging deep into my heart.

During these weeks God has been challenging me and shaping me and stretching me. It's been a painful process at times yet, as Brandon would say "It's a good hurt". The topics that we have covered are: Hearing God's Voice, Character and Nature of God, Lordship, Freedom in Christ, Father Heart of God, and Worldview. That was quite the line up and definitely no messing around. lol It's caused me to struggled over things that I've wondered about off and on through the years. This has forced me to think about these issues more than I have before. I've learned that God is a lot bigger than I thought He was and realize I put Him in boxes that He's way too big for.

During the Lordship week God threw me totally out of my comfort zone and really did some work in my life. I felt like He had some big things He wanted to do in that week. And He did work; one night all I could do for awhile was cry because of how wonderful He is and how much He loves me.

Freedom in Christ I thought was going to be an easy week at the beginning but it ended up being one of the toughest weeks yet. That week was complete with soul searching and confession. It's one of those things I desired just about as much as a swift kick to the butt; however, it was really good and necessary. It's humbling to see the depravity and deep dirtiness of my own soul.

Then Father Heart of God was emotional as well but in more of an encouraging/build up way than weeks previous. I think it was refreshing for some of us and healing as well. The speaker was just amazing and had such a heart for people that only God can give someone. His name is John Leach and he's a pastor in CO. You can listen to his sermons online at JFC.org . I think most everyone in our class loved him and it's like he actually became to us the like the Father Heart of God. It was amazing! God's love was just so clear through him.

At the end of the week the staff, leaders, and John prayed for us and blessed/spoke into or over our lives what they felt God was saying. While I was waiting my turn I desperately wanted John's group to pray for me. At times I had faith I would get his group and then other times I tried to prepare myself mentally that it was okay if I didn't. I know God can speak through others just as much as the speaker. God was merciful to me though and his group did pray for me! I was so very happy! What happened next even more encouraging and exciting. Everyone prayed for me a little and then John spoke what he felt like the Holy Spirit was telling him about me and my life. Then others also spoke out. What John and Christian (one of my school leaders) said just really lined up. They lined up with things from my past and what I believe God is showing me about the future and what He's given me a heart for. I believe that day was to encourage me, show me once again God's deep care and love for me, and then to give me direction for the future :)

Worldview, wasn't at all what I was expecting but that is okay. I was expecting more of the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement style for those of you who know what that course is. It ended up being a very hard week at times for me as well as boring. I highly disagreed with things our speaker said at times and my beliefs were challenged. It ended up being so very good for me to experience this. She had some good points as well just incase you get the impression that she didn't have anything worthwhile to say.

There has been a lot of fun that's been going on here as well. Because we are in the PhotogenX DTS we get to go on trips at least every other Saturday. It's been really cool to see some of the island that a lot of us wouldn't have seen if it wasn't for these outings.

I would ask you to pray for me that I would continue to be open to everything God has to teach me the second half of this lecture time. That God would bless our photography, prepare and unify our outreach teams (there's teams going to India, Philippines, Latin America, Haiti/Dominican Republic), and for God to prepare the way for us and the people's hearts. Also, for myself, my family, and my man, Brandon, during the rest of the time that I'm gone.

Thanks you so much once again for all your support!!!!!

"The Irresistible Revolution (living as an ordinary radical)" -Shane Claiborne

2010-05-17T20:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, well, this was the title of the most recent book we were suppose to read for DTS. I was really excited to start it from looking at the cover but as we all have been taught, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". It was a lot different than I expected. I was somewhat disappointed but I can't say that it was a waste of time either. I'm glad I read it and got to see through someone else's glasses for a little while. I don't think that I've ever really read a book where I didn't agree with it and the ideas so much as with this one. Not that I disagreed with everything or maybe even the majority? but to not agree 100% or 90% was different/refreshing!

The book is written by a man who has had the guts and the radicalness to go against the norm and live on the edge. He has a real heart for the poor and those who are hurting and for that I think the church definitely has something to learn from him.

Once I got into the book I really was liking it. He talked about how in college him and some friend would go hang out with homeless people. He told about how he was able to contact Mother Teresa and go and work with her in India. What they did there was really cool. One of my favorite ministries that they did was to take soap and first aid stuff and set up a cleaning/medical place for street kids to come to. There they would just take the time to wash kids, play with them, love them, and clean their cuts. He said that sometimes the kids would scrap themselves on purpose so that they could be taken care of. Wow, I believe that this is what Jesus was talking about when He said when you do something for the least of these you do it for me.

Then I got to the middle of the book and it wasn't so good anymore. First, I started disagreeing with things that he had to say about our armed forces and then it became bored with his stories and repetition.

There is a story in the book that I strongly disagreed with. It was the way he went about getting his message out about being concerned for the poor. One time when Bush speaking at a Republican National Convention he went dressed in a suit complete with an elephant pin but underneath he had a homemade shirt on. He had written some bible verses on the front and back of the shirt."Woe to you who are rich.... but blessed are the poor." (Luke 6) "Woe to those who deprive the poor of their rights." (Isaiah 10) After Bush got there and everyone stopped applauding he proceeded to rise, tear off his outer layer to reveal his shirt, and began quoting scripture at the top of his lungs! This makes me mad to know that he did this. Not just because it's disrespectful but because I don't believe this gives Jesus or Christianity a good name. What did this accomplish? Well, it gave secret service something to do and him a good story. Whether anyone actually thought more about the poor from what he did or if they were just turned off from this rude demonstration only God knows. I feel like this was definitely a lack of good judgement and showed no respect for the authority he is commanded to respect (in the bible).

Towards the end I started being more interested again. He has a different take on the story of the mustard seed Jesus told that I had never heard before. He explains it more in the context of how a Jew at that time would have viewed it. It's very interesting and makes sense.

Okay so the ending conclusion is: I agree with some of what he says and I think his heart is in the right place. He has lots of good ideas and has a heart for the poor and points out flaws in the church and american mindset. I think that at times his execution is poor and lacking but I applaud him for believing something and going after it with every fiber of his body! If you are looking for a book to make you think, then this is a good one for you. Just remember when you get to the middle don't stop but push through and finish it; you'll be glad you did.

aloha

2010-05-16T20:52:00.001-07:00

Here's some pics from HI. Cliff diving was amazing but I paid for the fun with 5 days worth of headaches. I'll be posting a update this week :)

The Call

2010-05-03T17:29:00.000-07:00

"I don't know what to do with my life. I've never had a call." "What? You've never had a call? You mean you've never heard the call!"

This quote is found in a book called "Making Jesus Lord" and is another one written by Loren Cunningham. This book also contains many stories about YWAM "Is that You God?". However instead of being so much about the story of YWAM it challenges it's readers to lay down their life for Christ.

There's many stories of the power of God. For example: there's a story of a cult and their Guru that YWAM comes into contact with and God shows His authority. YWAM did nothing but follow God's leading even though it didn't necessarily make sense to them. Even after they did what God asked not everything made immediate sense. But as we see in life, God's timing is not always our timing but not far down the road God showed His power! They also mention the Roman government vs. the early church. At first, many Christians died for Christ but ultimately Christ won out and the very thing the Romans were trying to destroy, their government embraced in the end.

It says in the bible

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matt 16:25

The book mentions this verse and how Jesus was the ultimate example of this. It's so true, His example helps us to more fully understand what this means by looking at His life. Jesus gave up everything and now God has exalted Him above all. To "lose your life" or "hear the call" isn't going to mean the same thing for everyone. For some it's going to mean staying in America, other's going overseas, and still others doing both of these. But first it's all about having Jesus as Lord and growing in our relationship with Him.

It's official

2010-05-02T23:27:00.000-07:00

INDIA HERE I COME!

HIV/AIDS

2010-04-29T09:41:00.001-07:00

If you know me well, you might know that I used to not want to go to Africa partly because of my paranoia about getting AIDS. I was very scared that I would get AIDS that I didn't want to be anywhere close to anyone who had it. There's a certain lady in the town that I'm from who has AIDS (of no fault of her own). God has miraculously kept her alive for years now. One thing she does is make scarfs and give them away. We received one of these once but I was fearful to use it. I didn't know if I could get AIDS since she touched it.

Since this time, the God has been working in my life and heart to make me more open and willing to be around people who have this disease. I think that He has been working on me so that if the occasion arises I will be willing to reach out with His love without hesitation. When there is fear then satan has a foothold. AIDS is horrible yet not hopeless. I think that this disease has been made worse than most just by the shame, seclusion, hopelessness, and loneliness that comes with it. Sometimes we fear just because we don't know; we fear what we don't understand.

I find it interesting that for one of the topics we are suppose to research for homework here is HIV/AIDS since I have seen God freeing me in this area and this has just helped continued the process in my heart.

Here are some lies that people believe surrounding the HIV/AIDS virus:

~ “The HIV virus is found within saliva. Therefore, it is possible to get HIV from
kissing.”

~ “Having sex with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS in a person.”(Common in parts of
Africa and has resulted in the rapes of many young girls.) (satan uses this lie to infect and ruin more people's lives.)

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in gay men”

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in sex workers”

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in injection-drug users”

~ “The CIA created HIV to kill the African population”

~ “HIV can be transmitted through day-to-day contact with an infected person” (such as sharing a glass or food, hugging, coughing, etc) (This is a important one I think. This lie keeps us from reaching out.)

~ “It is possible to contract HIV from giving blood”

~ “Mosquitoes can spread HIV”

~ “Women with HIV can't have children”

~ “Women can't pass HIV to men”

~ “A person can not get HIV from having sex just one time”

~ “HIV and AIDS is the same thing”

~ “There is a cure for HIV/AIDS”

~ “A person can get AIDS from a toilet seat”

~ “All people who get HIV will get AIDS”

I know that God is going to keep helping me work through this issue in my own life. I hope that this was beneficial in yours if you struggle with this like I do. When the time comes I hope that I reach out to whoever it might be with arms filled with Christ's love.

God is Amazing!

2010-04-29T00:51:00.000-07:00

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! -Ps 32:8-11

Pics!

2010-04-27T20:00:00.000-07:00

Hey, here's a few of the pics so far. Some of them are from assignments and some are just for fun. I hope everyone is doing well and thanks again for your prayers and support!!!!

Having fun during a field trip....

Enjoying "The Painted" church

Yes, I did meet the gecko from geico.

The ocean after dark....so beautiful still.

A group of us went up a mountain and froze our butts off but it was still fun. The point was to get some star trails but since I had to hold down my shutter button I didn't succeed. It was still a cool experience and helpful for learning more about photography.

One of my most recent favorite assignment shots. Motion at night.

Book #1

2010-04-21T19:23:00.000-07:00

Okay, so here at our training we're suppose to read a number of books and write about them as homework. I will be posting some thoughts I have about them after finishing them. The first book that we read was called. "Is that really you God."

This book is basically the story of how YWAM got started, stories from the first 20+ years of the ministry from the eyes of the founder Loren Cunningham, and their journey of learning to hear and obey God's voice. If some of you are wondering what YWAM is all about, and thinking "I have no idea what ministry Chrissy is involved in", this is the book for you. It's also the book for you if you want lots of stories/examples of hearing the voice of God and obeying/not obeying and the consequences.

One thing in the book that stood out to me was from Loren Cunningham's life and his family. Loren came from a line of christians in full time ministry. His grandfather felt called to preach and then his father and mother as well. At a young age Loren heard the Lord call him to preach and he gave his first sermon at the age of 13. What a blessing it was for Loren to have this legacy. It reminds me of the verse "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." He had the honor of growing up and having "this great cloud of witness" to encourage him in his relationship with God.

Another blessing that goes along with the first, he grew up learning Christian truths as a child; truths most people never learn. It's like the difference between a child growing up in a bilingual home verses a one language home. Speaking two languages to that child is like second nature and he doesn't even have to think about it. Where most people who grow up only having learned one language never learn a second and if they do, most of the time it they won't learn it as well.

It's amazing how God has used Loren for his kingdom and what he's accomplished and the people's lives he's impacted. Not only the people YWAM ministers to but the broken people who come here to "serve" like me. It's sort of crazy being here at the main base and reading all that was involved to get to the place YWAM is now. A lot of work, tears, joy, obedience, mistakes, prayer, and a simple trust in the Savior.

The book ended on this thought "This is what hearing God is all about, isn't it?" Getting to know God better."......

Human Trafficking

2010-04-15T20:34:00.001-07:00

Last night, we watched a video about Human Trafficking. It was heartbreaking to see the faces of innocent women and children who are exploited for someone's "satisfaction". It's horrible to imagine children being being robbed of not only their childhood but their innocence, purity, and spirit!

Just some facts from the different countries from around the world (some of these may be different depending on what source you get your info from.):

Ethiopia, sex with a child $0.50,

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, the rate is around $5-60,

Amsterdam $45.

Thailand is a big prostitution country. In both, prostitution within the country, as well as their own women/children being taken to other countries. It's amazing to me because I have been in Chiang Mai on more than one occasion. I never suspected or thought about this happening in this place I enjoyed visiting.

"On this trip, I've had sex with a 14 year-old girl in Mexico and a 15 year-old in Colombia. I'm helping them financially. If they don't have sex with me, they may not have enough food. If someone has a problem with me doing this, let UNICEF feed them."

-Retired U.S. Schoolteacher

Amsterdam, even though prostitution is legal there I'm sure without a shadow of a doubt that there are women and children who are being forced to live that life style. There's a certain red light district that I read about where the girls stand in windows on display just like mannequins! When a man finds a girl he likes he knocks and they discuss the price and other details. I know that some of these woman have freely chosen this lifestyle but others have no choice. (I use the word freely, but really, who can chose to live like this and not at least be enslaved by Satan?)

America, I just realized recently that there is human trafficking in America! I mean, I guess I realized that people were raped and kidnapped but never realized it is a growing industry. I just read a story of a girl on the internet (whether it was true or not isn't important since this really does happen.) To make a long story short she told how a man won her trust, convinced her she loved him, took her to another city, and forced her into working for him as a prostitute. She was suppose to make $5oo a night but the first night only came back with $50. The Pimp beat her as an example to the other girls. She met her quota the next time but was abused further. These girls are required to make $500-$2,000 a night. No longer is this just a problem of "other" countries but it's my country's problem. It's happening here.

Here is the Sex and Money website, if you'd like to watch some of their webcasts. http://photogenx.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=93 I hope you will not only watch but that it would motivate you to pray and to take action however you feel the Lord lead. This is a group, Sex and Money is made up of former PhotogenX DTS/Track people.

The Sex and Money Team hoping to complete their video by the end of this year to expose human trafficking in America. If you are interested in helping their cause, you can vote of them so they win a grant from Pepsi. www.refresheverything.com/gosetfree

Get ready to grab some Kleenex and get down on your knees for these people who's situation must break the heart of Almighty God! And the question lies, now that we know, what does God want us to do?

God is unpredictable!

2010-02-06T13:33:00.000-08:00

(Brandon and I after a 20 hr day. I'd say we look pretty

good for being up so long and being so tired :) )

Hey Everyone!!!

I really have no idea how long it's been since I last posted without looking. Well, wait, I think it's been maybe since last Oct?! Anyway, since certain people have been hinting or not really hinting at times :) that I never post anymore, I thought I would since I have such wonderful news. I am now dating/courting an amazing man! God sort of threw our lives together and I'm really glad and thankful that He did!!! Neither one of us were really expecting it at this time. I thought God didn't want me to get into any relationship at this time because I'm leaving to go to a DTS with YWAM this spring. But God has a sense of humor and He obviously had other plans for my life.

My boyfriend's name is Brandon and he is a wonderful guy that I hope you all can meet at some point in time even if you live on the other side of the world!

I'm sorry if it seems like I've fallen off the face of the world to some of you. I have been working full time since the 1st of Oct. I'm sorry because one of my big weaknesses is communications and keeping in contact with people. Feel free to send me an email or call or poke me on FB :) God bless everyone who takes the time to even click over to my blog.

Chrissy

2009-09-01T20:15:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I think that all of you probably know this already but I was accepted into YWAM's PhotogenX DTS for next April. I feel very excited and blessed that God has shown me what is next in my life. Right now I would ask you to join with me and others in prayer concerning whether to raise support for this trip. I don't know if it's God's will that I pay for all of it, the first three months of training and raise support for the outreach part, or raise support for all of it? This is the question of the hour.

Oh, thanks for all those who prayed for my quad because it is fine now. Sometimes I can still feel it just a little but it's so much better and I can run again without medication :) I'm looking forward to the race which is in a little more than 2 weeks!

This summer has been very different for me with being the one in my family who has stayed home while my family has traveled and with working. I still really really enjoy my job and know it was God who gave it to me. I have met lots of new wonderful people this year and made so many new friends!

The newest thing in my life right now is that I and some others have started an international student outreach at COE college here in CR. This is something that God has laid on all our hearts and it's been neat to see how He's brought us together. We are going to try and have an international food night for the students every month. If you are interested in meeting some foreign students and reaching out to them with the love of Christ let me know. The next meeting at the end of this month is most likely going to be at our house if you would like to come. Maybe you'll really hit it off with one or two of the students and you can have them over sometime. You never know what God has in-store!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and for your prayer!! God bless!

My Freedom

2009-08-07T12:47:00.000-07:00

I think that I am one of the most dense people. I'm learning once again that I can't do it without God. I haven't been making Him a priority in my life recently and taking time with Him and I can see the results of it in my daily life and myself.

This song is so wonderful and I think that it sort of fits how I'm feeling at this point in time. God is the only true freedom in my life; everything else just takes and steals in the end!

I have a plan for you...

2009-07-18T20:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so over the past few weeks the Lord has really done a lot! Those of you who I have talked to or who have FB know that God has graciously answered 2 huge prayers that have been long in coming :) Anyway, the big news for you who don't yet know is that I'm applying for Youth With A Missions Discipleship School for next spring. I'm pretty much sure I will be accepted. (I'm not trying to sound arrogant I just feel like God has told me that this is what I'm suppose to do and to not doubt; and given me many signs of encouragement.) It's YWAM photography DTS and so they teach you how to use photography for missions! I really excited!!!

So next April I will be on my way to Hawaii for three months and then to another unknown country for 2 to 3 months :) I'm not complaining about the HI part. LOL I've wanted to go to HI for years and I think it's going to be great and warm! Oh I plan on being able to check one thing off my "To Do Before I Die" list; surfing!

Thanks to all of you who have prayed over the years for God to guide me to what He wants for my life. I'm excited because this is just one more time He has been faithful and let me have light for one more step. I'm also excited because who knows what the future holds. One thing I really like about YWAM is that after you go through the DTS I get the impression that it's pretty easy to get plugged into their ministry. Also, I would have the option to do their 2 year photography program where you travel around the world. Who knows what's in store. I will just obey as He leads one step at a time :)

Life has been different for me the last 2 months because of now having a job. I really like meeting new people and getting to know the members and my coworkers; oh and the pay checks :) It isn't always wonderful and my time is definitely more limited but I like it for the most part and I know this job is from God!

I have a small prayer request for anyone who thinks of it. I need to start training for my half marathon again but my leg is still hurting. (I stretched my muscle in my quad a while back.) Of course I really haven't been taking care of it except for not exercising. Anyway, I'm going to try and start running again this coming week and I would just like pray that God heals me. Thanks!

Congrats!

2009-06-05T12:18:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to my brother and all his wonderful friends for graduating as the class of 2009!!!! You all did a great job and are wonderful young men. Seek God first the rest of your lives! I'm so proud of you all!!!

Here's a pic of of all the our brothers with their older sisters :)

(L to R) Henry and Evelyn Lang, Mark and Ally Maloney, Shelby and Caitlyn Hofmaster, Andrew and I, Josiah Ertz and Elyssa McDowell

This post is sort of two thoughts in one.

After talking to a friend recently and telling them that I'm thinking about going to a DTS next spring he ask me why I'm not just going to the missions field now. We ended up discussing the "reasons" why we aren't "going" right now and other things concerning missions. Anyway, this and other things provoked the following thought that I shared on FB but I decided to share here as well:

God, show us when to go and where to go. Our desire is to serve You in other nations among people who have never heard the name of Your Son; yet we are so weak and easily distracted from what really matters in this life. We are so easily satisfied with the lame things our lives have to offer. Make our hearts burn within us with the passion You have for the lost so we are not able to rest until we have followed You!

Hey

2009-05-13T12:27:00.000-07:00

Sorry to those of you who have facebook as well because I'm going to probably be posting a lot of the same things or ideas on both.

I made a deal with a certain party that I would start posting again if they stopped nagging me about something. :) So true to my word, I'm posting again. By the way, thank you to all who left comments on my blog. That was a pleasant surprise and it was very gratifying!

This post really isn't about much at all. I just thought that I would share a pic that I recently took with a new lens. It's a macro lens so it captures fine up close detail. The worlds of canon and cheerio collided yesterday. Eat more cheerios!! (Especially if you have high cholesterol supposedly :)

No more braces

2009-05-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

Hello to those very few who still check my blog every blue moon and still find nothing new. After much prodding from certain parties, one of whom I will not name, but who has a blog by the name of "The Invisible Reality" I'm finally posting again. Thank you for the "encouragement" :) to continue posting Andrew and Dani.

The latest most excited bits of news in my life right now is that I'm engaged! JK! You can all stop freaking out now :) You know, I really crack myself up sometimes. Anyway, as most of you already know, I got my braces off last week and I also had my first day at work! I applied and was hired at the Rockwell Collins Rec Center. I work behind the desk with great people! I feel very blessed that God gave me such a wonderful job. It really is a perfect match for me at this time in my life.

As for not having braces, it's great! I hate the retainer but I'll endure it. I can't wait for my teeth to not be sore anymore so I can bite into an wonderful juicy apple!!!!

Here's a pic from the day I got my braces off:

Boston aka CR Tea Party

2009-04-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so mom said to me on Tue, so and so is going to a tea party. What?! It took a little bit but I finally caught on that like the Boston Tea Party so long ago there was a CR Tea Party to protest taxes. I didn't want to go but Mom drug me along and I'm really glad she did. There were a lot more people than I was thinking there was going to be and it was kind of neat to not just talk about the problems but actually do something (even if that was only to show up and take pics:).

Enjoy, and as you'll see some people really got into it.

I love those two signs! They crack me up!!!

Culture Unplugged Video

2009-04-15T11:39:00.001-07:00

View this movie at cultureunplugged.com

Ally Marie in Concert!

2009-03-31T14:44:00.000-07:00

Ally Marie, one of my good friends, opened for the band Happy Go Lovely last Friday night. She did an awesome job! If you live here in Iowa and have never heard her sing you need to!

It gave me the opportunity to try taking pic at a concert. Let's just say that I'm not very good at low light situation and I think I'll stick with portraits for the most part :)

finally back

2009-03-31T14:31:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Sorry that I've neglected my blog for so long. I have no excuse so I will offer none :)

I'm so looking forward to the very end of this horrible blustery weather. It's really really getting old. It also makes it hard to set up times to go take pic outside. Speaking of pics, if you haven't seen my new blog "Christine Nicole Photography" then do take a look. There's not much on there right now but I hope to be adding more soon.

I was messing around with my camera last night and I ended up with some pics I liked. Here's my two favorites.

Heaven

2009-03-15T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that my Grandma went to be with Jesus this afternoon at around 1:42. She struggled to breath and got kind of congested the last part but besides for that she seemed pretty peaceful. She was surrounded by her family for her last moment on earth.

We're already missing her but we know that she's in heaven and is able to see perfectly now! Praise God!!!

Thanks again for all your prayers.

Thank You

2009-03-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

First, I want to thank everyone for their prayers and support! It's hard yet it's comforting to know that she was ready to go and see Jesus! Praise God! Sometimes we're okay, and other times we cry but I'm so glad God's in control.

Right now my Grandma, because of having such a large stroke is brain dead on the left side. The left side is swollen and continuing to swell. It's become clear that it's God's timing and she's will be walking with Jesus hand in hand and she'll be able to see once again. So right now, we are just staying with her and the hospital is making sure that she is comfortable. We don't really know when she'll go but probably soon. The doctor said probably this weekend but it could be longer.

Thank you so much for all your prayers once again! It's such a relief to know that she won't have to suffer. Also, a big answer to prayer for me, is that no tough decisions had to be made about stuff like pulling the plug or not; you know what I mean.

The Neurologist was really really good and kind and very down to earth in his explaining about what is going on. I guess this is one of the worst if not the worst strokes he has seen.

The new doctor that she now has, has been a my parent's doctor and my Aunt and Uncle's doctor in the past and he's a Christian! This is another wonderful blessing.

Grandma appears pretty restful and she's on her way to glory! I can't wait to see her when I get to go as well. Love you soooo very much Grandma! I couldn't have asked for a better grandma than you!

Urgent need of prayer

2009-03-12T20:50:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,

my 93 yr old Grandmother just had a serious stroke late this afternoon. Things aren't looking good at all. Please pray! Thank you!

Wordless Wed...

2009-03-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

Quotable

2009-03-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

"God isn't looking for people of great faith, but for individuals ready to follow Him"

-- Hudson Taylor

"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell." -- C.T. Studd

"God uses men who are weak and feeble enough to lean on him."

-- Hudson Taylor, missionary to China

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply"

-- Hudson Taylor

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted."

-- Nate Saint, missionary martyr

"The Great Commission is not an option to be considered; it is a command to be obeyed"

-- Hudson Taylor

“God had only one Son and he made that Son a missionary.”

-- David Livingston

“You will never cease to be the most amazed person on earth at what God has done for you on the inside.” --Oswald Chambers

"To every toiling, heavy-laden sinner, Jesus says, 'Come to me and rest'.
But there are many toiling, heavy-laden believers, too.
For them this same invitation is meant.
Note well the words of Jesus, if you are heavy-laden with your service, and do not mistake it.
It is not, 'Go, labor on,' as perhaps you imagine.
On the contrary, it is stop, turn back, 'Come to me and rest.'
Never, never did Christ send a heavy laden one to work; never, never did He send a hungry one, a weary one, a sick or sorrowing one, away on any service.
For such the Bible only says, 'Come, come, come.'

--Hudson Taylor

CR shooting

2009-03-09T14:44:00.000-07:00

Okay, so these photos are from last week but I just finally got my photo program to work so I could convert my RAW photos to Jpegs. (Sorry I help but show off a little of my new found knowledge.)

Last week, a group of us went downtown Cedar Rapids to take pics. The weather was beautiful which made a perfect day for doing that sort of thing. It was fun too because I've never really just walk around downtown CR except during parades when there's lots and lots of people.

I took quite a few pic. but here are three that I didn't take. Thanks to Shelby H., we, the three amigas, or whatever got some shots of all of us together.

Let me know if any of you would like to go shooting with me, because I need all the practice I can get.

The Cross

2009-03-04T07:47:00.000-08:00

This is a song by Brooke Frasher, "Lead Me to the Cross".

" Jesus, help me to keep becoming more and more able to understand all you did and went through for me. I have yet to come close to fully comprehending all that you have done. Please open my eyes that I may see."

Go

2009-03-03T22:11:00.000-08:00

Tonight I went to Perspectives. The speaker's name was Bob Blincoe. He was a very good speaker and I wish you could have heard him. It wasn't just a feel good message, not that he wasn't funny at times, he was, but he's someone who'll give it to you straight.

I think that the Lord maybe using his talk and then last weeks speaker, Floyd Schneider, to challenge my thinking about missions and "if I should go".

You see they were challenging the thinking that God has to "call" you to missions. That you have to have a green light from God before you go. One thing that they both had in common was they both didn't know for sure that the people they ended up serving were really the ones God wanted them to serve among. They saw an open door, a need, so they went knowing full well that if that wasn't God's will He could close the door very easily.

I came across this quote by Hudson Taylor:

"It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home."

So, is our thinking messed up these days? Instead of me praying, "God do you want me to go" maybe I should plan on reaching those unreached people groups (physically and if I can't supporting others who can) and if God doesn't want me there won't He close every door in my face?

So now, I either face the question, "what about me", or I push it under the rug and continue to live my American life. Will I go? Am I willing to give up everything for the sake of the cross? Security, comfort, family, friends, everything that is familiar, a spouse, a home to decorate, a safe and healthy place to raise children, the feeling that I'm a good daughter, sister, and granddaughter for the feeling of betrayal to those closest to me?

You know, I think that we have this idea that we should only go into missions if the Lord has laid the lost and missions on our hearts. But really to go for the people is totally the wrong reason. We can't love a people who are so different than everything we're used to. We can't even love our families and friends at times, the people who love us the most. Who are we kidding? Sooner or later we are going to get fed up with them and want to quit. We need to be going out of obedience and love and the glory of our Lord. He's the only one who loves dirty, diseased ridden, filthy, stinky, jungle cannibals. Because He loves them, then if we love Him, He'll give us a love for them that's beyond us.

One of the last things that Bob reminded us of is that this life is just a blip on the screen. He said yeah he would like to live near his grand kids and children but that's what heavens for. Do we have this life all backwards as well? Is it not to serve ourselves by getting the most money possible. the most toys, more and more degrees but rather to arrive in heaven totally spent?

One last thing that he said that was a wonderful reminder to throw out our time oriented ways. Do we realize that Jesus prepared for 30 year for 3 year of ministry? Why do we lay such great importance on time and measure ours and others success by it?

I really haven't thought about this enough yet but I guess I felt like rambling. Thanks for letting me.

Motions

2009-02-28T17:50:00.000-08:00

I really like this new song by Matthew West. It challenges us to not live our lives for self but for 100% sold out to God. Who's in charge of our lives? Us or God?

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way (I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)
take me all the way (through the motions)
take me all the way

Marion square

2009-02-26T12:49:00.000-08:00

Here's a few more pics from recent photo shoots. As you can see, I didn't take two of these photos. Caitlyn Doris my very creative talented friend took these. Thanks Caitlyn

Going shutter crazy!

2009-02-25T23:39:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's way late but I couldn't help but post these pics of my two wonderful photographer girl friends, Ally and Caitlyn. They are such beautiful subject and I really love how these turned out!

Thanks for a great time shooting in Marion today!

Trust, Be still, and Wait

2009-02-25T06:46:00.000-08:00

Okay, I know it's Wordless Wed but I couldn't help sharing some verses the Lord has been giving to me lately. You see, I asked God not too long ago that He would teach me to trust Him fully; and He has been doing just that. It seem that reminders about trust, waiting, patience, and being still keep coming up; whether it be at church, my quite time, or perspectives. It's so very encouraging.

So here are some of the verses:

"Be still and know that I am God..." -Ps 46:10

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him." -Ps 37:7

"I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the Lord. I will rejoice and be glad in Your steadfast love, because You have seen my affliction you have known the distress of my soul," -Ps 31:6-7

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord! -Ps 31 24

Why do we have a God who cares so deeply for us? I don't know! But I'm glad!!! Let us trust Him and fall flat on His promises.

More Photos with the new camera

2009-02-24T20:40:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Since I'm a picture freak here's some of my more recent photos. Thanks to Caitlyn, my wonderful fellow photographer, I got in some good practice with her over the weekend! Thanks so much Caitlyn for getting me more motivated and actually just taking pic. It was a blast!

Okay, here is a pic of a pony who has wonderful blue eyes that I couldn't help but photograph

Then Sam, one of my favorite dogs in the world

A random pic of corks. Surprisingly, they made excellent photography material

Ally Marie, my good friend who has a wonderful voice! She sang at Catch 4:19 Sat. night. Great job Ally! If only me photography skills in low lighting, matched your singing and playing. Sigh!

And then, Andrew's horse Cowboy. The Harry Houdini of horses.

Life is a song your heart must sing...

2009-02-18T11:25:00.000-08:00

"Most believers die with an unsung song in their hearts"
- Unknown

Our lives our are part of God's song called all of time. Will we be willing to sing the song He has placed in us from the beginning of time; or will we go to our grave without letting it ring out to the glory of God?

Wordless Wednesday

2009-02-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

With Valentines over...

2009-02-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

I didn't receive any roses or candy for Valentines Day which I would have no problem with at all but what I did receive was far greater. In fact I receive it everyday; the love and acceptance from my Savior and Father in heaven.

Recently, God has been teaching me and showing me He is totally trust worthy for whatever happens in my life. He has also been asking me to wait on Him once again. (I feel like I have had to wait on Him a lot of my life since graduating and I have found this to be something that is very hard, yet worth it.) I'm sometimes fearful but when I remember God's wonderful huge love for me, that He is total control of everything, and that He knows what is best; then I can once again rest assured.

Last night, I decided that I needed to clean my room. I was in a romantic mood so I lit two candles and turned on a lamp. I decided that wasn't quite the mood I wanted so I lit two more candles and turned off the lamp and put some instrumental music on. I didn't just want to just clean my room, I wanted to do it romantically.

After I finished I reclined on my bed and watched the candles flicker on the walls and listen to the music play. I talked to Jesus and told him how I was feeling as I was winding down to go to sleep. It was a very nice time.

I was thinking about it, just because we singles aren't married doesn't mean we shouldn't do romantic things. Think about it, God is very romantic. Romance in the right way is a very beautiful wonderful thing. So let us, whether single, married, or widowed be in a romantic relationship with the Lord. Letting Him and asking Him to draw us closer to His side, listening to catch His every whisper, and feeling and seeing His every touch in our everyday lives!

O Lord you're beautiful,

Your face is all I seek;

And when Your eyes are on this child,

Your grace abounds to me.

Wordless Wed.

2009-02-11T17:11:00.000-08:00

Here they are...

2009-02-08T16:34:00.000-08:00

Here are some pic from my new camera. I'm still learning how to use it but I think my favorite feature so far in the aperture. It's so incredibly wonderful to have a such a nice camera now if I only knew how to use it completely.

; ) I'm learning and I hope to send much better photos your ways soon!

The Lens cap. I love it how the focus point is so small.

Oh my how I love not being frustrated any longer when my camera won't focus for that close up shot! Can I get an Amen?!!!

the back of my new lens. Can you tell I'm excited?
A magazine on the desk. Yes, I know it's random.

And last but definitely not least, Vincie who just had a birthday, trying lemon and lime juice. I guess it was a little sour.

Oh Happy Day!

2009-02-06T21:00:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share some very exciting news in my life right now. And no to all my girl friends who understand me, I'm still in the GDLU Club so don't get too excited ; ) It's not that wonderful.

Anyway, I have been praying for something for a little while and the Lord has seen fit to give it to me today. I have been praying for a camera!

When we were in CO I almost got a Canon 40D that was a pretty good deal but it was really hard to work out payment and when and where to meet. To make a long story short the guy ended up selling it to someone else. I was disappointed but it was okay and I kept praying about it on and off. One thing that really encouraged me to pray, was how the Lord provided the Prachars with a camera when theirs broke not too long ago. I knew that if it was God's will he could also send a camera my way.

So earlier this week it happened, my dad found one on eBay, be bid on it (he was the only one who did), and he got it! Even though my camera didn't end up being free it was such a good deal that I know I'm blessed.

My new 40D Canon camera arrived this morning along with 2 lenses, 2 batteries, a battery charger, a flash, and 2 memory cards. I have been messing around with it today and I love it!!!!! I wish that I could share some of the shots I took with it but unfortunately I don't yet have the CD with the software to load it onto my computer :( I'm sorry but you'll have to endure with me and see at least one more photo from my powershot.

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-02-04T07:20:00.000-08:00

Thought-Provoking Thursday...

2009-01-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday at church we sang the song by Matt Redman, You Never Let Go. I know that I've heard this song before but I realized this time how much I like it.

It reminds us that God never lets go of us no matter what. It says "you never let go through the calm or through the storm". It might seem weird to some that it says through the calm but I have found that's when I need Him to hold on to me the tightest. It's during these times of calm that I tend to wander away from Him. You know what I'm talking about too I suppose because you've also experienced it. When things are tough and the storms of life come and we can't do it on our own people will find us crying out and clinging to our Lord. Yet when things are all going our way and there isn't anything that is driving us to our knees in prayer we so easily forget the one who died for us.

This is why I so love this, that He never lets go because if He did I would forever be lost. Thank you dear God for always holding onto me for casting out all fear and for giving me a hope and a future! If it weren't for You, I would have nothing to live for nothing to breath for that wasn't vain and unfulfilling.

Thank and Praise Him today for His everlasting love and His many daily mercies and for just being God Almighty!

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-01-27T21:10:00.000-08:00

Tasty Tues...

2009-01-27T20:37:00.001-08:00

Okay before the clock strikes 12 am I'm going to blog about Tasty Tue. Thanks to the Prachar's here is another special post of the day idea. (You should check out their blog, I have a link to it with all the other one; yeah right there on the right.) Anyway, I'm going to share with you a recipe that all of us enjoy and especially Andrew and I. Mind you it's Tasty Tue not Healthy Tue:)

Pumpkin Bars:

2c Sugar 2c Flour 2tsp soda

1/2 tsp salt 4 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla

2tsp cinnamon (we usually us pumpkin pie spice and I will put more than it calls for in)

1c Salad Oil

2c pumpkin (We like to put extra pumpkin in because it makes it heavier and I think moister. I think we put in somewhere around 3/4 c more but 1c would be good too I believe.)

Mix sugar and oil together. Add eggs, beat; add pumpkin and vanilla and then dry ingredients. Mix together and bake in a 15 x 10 in pan at 375 Fahrenheit for 25 mins.

Frosting (this is what really makes it good.)

3 cups (we use 2 1/2c sugar because it's too sweet with 3)

3/4 stick soft margarine or butter

1tsp vanilla

3 oz Philadelphia cream cheese

2T milk

Mix all together, beat well, frost cooled bars.

Hey, give it a try next time you have company or just for somethings special for the weekend.

One more thing, Bekah, I really think that you should use Tasty Tue on you blog except you can put a healthy twist on things! Then all your readers will find your blog even more helpful and I'll be able to visit your updated blog at least twice a week! (I have ulterior motives as you can see :)

Fun Sunday-day

2009-01-25T15:26:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone,

I pretty much just felt like posting today so I am. It's been a really great weekend and so I thought that I'd share with you all what we've done today.

Our church has two services so we went to first service today so we could meet my cousin and his wife for lunch. The singing was good and the preaching and we met some new people who had just recently gone on a missions trip to India. Or church is getting so big that you could go every Sunday for a long time and meet someone new. I also saw one of my girls from my small group at Bright Lights; they were seeing what our church was like. I'm really glad that we saw each other because it's easy to come into a big church like that and have no one really talk to you or anything. It's sad but all too true at times. There are definitely pros and cons to big and small churches. But don't get me wrong I'm so glad that we are going to Grace. If you're looking for a church right now, come try it out. Brooks (our pastor) definitely preaches the truth whether he thinks people want to hear it or not; which I like.

So after church, we went out for an early lunch in North Liberty with David and Kristin. It was so nice to see them and talk over a nice meal. We went to a restaurant named Eggy's which is pretty good.

After we said goodbye it was about 12:30 so we were going to go home but then we had been talking about how mom's coat didn't match the rest of ours. Dad, Andrew, and I all have more or less brown dress coats so we decided that mom needed one as well. We didn't really ask her if she wanted to go look for a coat we just decide we wanted to so we went. We found a nice coat at Sears for her and even though it's not brown it sort of ties in with the lighter color in my coat and it's a dress coat. Mission accomplished!

While we were shopping for Mom and Andrew I found a second hand purse for a little less than 5 dollars and a pair of really sweet gloves to go with my dress coat and orange scarf. They are pretty funky and they definitely add an artistic flair.

We then made a quick run the the Hyvee store and headed home. All tired and worn out but happy and glad to be a family! Praise the Lord for families.

The new purse: I'm thinking that even though I like my purse from Thailand I'm going to enjoy having more pockets to organize my stuff in so I don't always feel like Mary Poppins digging through her bag.

The new funky gloves. Don't you love them? I'm not sure where the little piece of blue lint came from but I didn't really want to retake the photo so there it is all the same.
Oh, I also got a new pair of earrings instead of a gift that I took back from Christmas. It's the brown one on the end. The cross is from Dad for Christmas, the next one is from Fongs for my birthday, and the last one I bought while I was in Thailand (let's just say that the ones I bought in Thailand were a lot cheaper the the ones I just got the other day and they were probably both made in China.). I can't wait to be able to wear all my new earrings! It's going to be too much fun. (And yes to all who are wondering, I do have a match to all of these :)

Freak Out Friday

2009-01-23T16:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's Freak Out Friday for two reasons. The first is that IT'S THE WEEKEND, DUH :) And the second is this is an extreme video that will cause you to freak out either from fear or a new desire to live on the crazy side of life. I'll let you guess which category I would fit into.

Thought Provoking Thursday...

2009-01-22T15:11:00.001-08:00

Love, it's probably one God's best creations. I'm taking Jie's idea and posting a Thought Provoking Thursday.

One Christian singer that I really like is Chris Rice. He has a way of looking at life differently than most people and then communicating those thoughts through his songs. I think that he brings out some good points in this song (posted below).

Our view of love today is so completely messed up. Our culture and country says "Love" is getting what you want in a relationship but it's not. As Chris Rice says, it's not what we can GET but true love is paying a price even to the point of death (like Christ) and Giving it all away.

Relationships whether a marriage, family, or friends requires love. Not the selfish kind of love that takes and takes but a selfless love that will forgive when it's hurt and keeps no record of wrong.

Sometimes it's hard to love, especially when we've been hurt. Sometimes in friendships we open our hearts and entrust them but in return they are bruised and broken we have a choice to make.

May we become people who because of Jesus' love we pour love to those around us in our everyday lives and as a result people find the healing love of Christ.

What a Heart is Beating for

-Chris Rice

Leave it alone, don't analyze

'Cause love can be your lullaby

But love can be your hurricane too

And love can take your breath away

But love can leave you lonely and blue
Oh, what's a heart to do?

Oh, what's a heart to do?

(Chorus)

Why be afraid

No reason to hide

Take the chance

Put it all on the line

Draw in a deep breath and throw open the door

'Cause that's what a heart is beating for

Yeah, that's what a heart is beating for

Beating for, beating for

Brace yourselves, take a good look around

We've all been thinking upside-down

That love's about what life can bring our way

Oh but love isn't love unless someone pays

And so with love, the only way to gain

Is give it all away,

Is give it all away!

(Chorus)

Wordless Wednesday...

2009-01-21T20:36:00.000-08:00

I need you...

2009-01-19T19:39:00.000-08:00

There are people in the posting world who like to have certain post for certain days of the weeks. For example, wordless Wednesday. This is when you just post a pic without words. I think maybe I should start doing that. I don't know, I guess we'll just wait and see. Anyway, what I want you to do is suggest titles for days of the week. I've thought of mine, "Freak Out Friday". Maybe if we get a lot of good ideas going, we will have people all over doing it like "Not me Monday" by MckMama. http://www.mycharmingkids.net/

I love my Ears?

2009-01-19T18:19:00.001-08:00

Saturday night I proved to myself and my ears that I do not love them. Yes, at the ripe old age of 22, I got my ears pierced for the first time. It's really rather embarrassing and I thought about skipping posting about it all together but I decided to lay myself bare on this one. So yes, I finally did do it, to all my friends who have heard me saying that I'm going to do it for the past I don't know how long.

My parents gave me a kit for Christmas that you take into Wal-Mart and they will then piece your ears for you. Caitlyn said she wanted to come so she went with me Sat. night. We both forgot our cameras so I'm sorry there are no pic. from the process.

Now, to all you who haven't had your ears pierced. I'm very glad I did it but if anyone tells you that it doesn't hurt, don't believe them. It does hurt. I mean not terribly bad or anything, but it's not like it's a little pinch and then it goes away. This is what I thought. Duh, Christine Nicole! You now have a hole in your flesh it's not going to stop hurting just like that :). Okay, so enough of that. My ears are doing fine and they're dealing with their bitterness as I type. I think they'll forgive me since I've made them prettier.

(You know I am so weird sometimes! I really don't know where it comes from.)

Wow, after all that you probably think I'm extremely vain. You're probably right.

I can't wait to wear my new earrings from Christmas and the ones I bought in Thailand. It's going to be fun. Thanks for reading this insane post, if you made it this far that is; which I don't blame you if you didn't. TTFN (Ta Ta For Now).

surrender?

2009-01-17T08:59:00.000-08:00

I was heard this song for the first time the other day and it really is true of my life right now. I hope you find it as beautiful as I do.

Dani

2009-01-15T10:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Dani!!!!

Everyone, it's Danielle's 24th birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I expect all of you who know her to send her a birthday comment :)

Wow Dani, what can I say? I wanted to let you know how special you are to me by giving you your own special post on my blog. I can't tell you how wonderful you are or how much I appreciate your friendship. You are such a good friend and a great older sister, Jie Jie!

I so enjoyed our time together in Asia this past fall and it was great to get to know you so much better over the course of our trip. Your heart for missions is so beautiful and your heart for the Lord. You're so wonderfully funny as well. And I will never forget all the times we laughed together, even at stupid things :)

One other thing I will never forget is the first time I ever saw you. It was at leader's training for a Bright Lights conference and when you came in you looked very aristocrat and proper and a good Christian girl. What I didn't see was that there was a girl named Dani right below the skin of Danielle:) who was so much like Chrissy who is right below the skin of Christine.

It wasn't too long before I started to realize how much fun you were but I didn't like you just because you were fun but because I saw such a love for Jesus! I told my mom more than once (and you can ask her if it's true) that "I wanted to be like Dani". Your love for the Lord shines through your beautiful smile, your love for others, your passion for the lost, and your wonderful voice lifted in praise to your God (sometimes even singing songs you have written).

I'm so glad God created you and blessed my life with knowing you and having the honor of being one of your close friends even though the miles between us separate us.

I love you, Jie! Happy Birthday!

Isn't she beautiful?!

Dani and I holding the lizard we caught in S'pore.

And then the big, beautiful, brown, Italian, eyes of Danielle.

Andrew...

2009-01-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

Andrew; treasured brother, one of my most loyal of all loyals, person who makes me laugh so much, skilled, talented, actor, friend, most wonderful little brother in all the world.

Yes Andrew, this post is dedicated to you. I just wanted to give you the spot on my blog that is due you and has been too long in coming. I also wanted to share with Kitti's Klips little world one of the ways you made me laugh, actually all of us laugh most recently. (You know what's coming:) Okay everyone, are you ready for this? Winston Churchill has so many famous quotes but this one from Andrew, might just be that famous one day.

One day when Andrew was putting away the groceries he looked at me and said out of the blue:

"Sometimes I don't like you very much,

and other times, I think that you are just a lump of butter,

so why bother?"

Wow, that was soooo funny! I still love it!

My little Brother in his senior year:

Andrew was in the Marion Home School play this year. He was Laurence in "Little Women". You did such a wonderful job Andrew! It was your best performance yet! (You can thank all of us Bright Lights leaders for all the acting skills and to do's and not to do's you pick up from us :)

Andrew and I after His last performance. I'm glad you skip the make-up on normal days :)

Andrew and our good friend Jeff this summer. Two tall skinny guys.

So I guess that's all. Thanks so much for being such a great little brother. A much better one than I deserve! Love you!

Oh, I forgot! One more thing, if you ever see Andrew in a suit and bow tie, just refer to him as James Bond.

My chapter for 2009...

2009-01-08T09:27:00.000-08:00

While I was in CO the Lord gave me a chapter for this year. It's Ps. 84. When I read the first part I thought that it was really good and I wanted it to be true of my life. So I guess in a way I'm looking to the Lord to make this more true in my life this year. I think that He probably has somethings in mind this year and I will be able to look back and see His hand at work! I love being able to do that.

One thing you might consider doing, is asking the Lord for a chapter or verse for 2009.

84:1 How lovely is your dwelling place,

O Lord of hosts!

2 My soul longs, yes, faints

for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and flesh sing for joy

to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may lay her young,

at your altars, O Lord of hosts,

my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,

ever singing your praise! Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

in whose heart are the highways to Zion. [2]

6 As they go through the Valley of Bacathey make it a place of springs;

the early rain also covers it with pools.

7 They go from strength to strength;

each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;

give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

9 Behold our shield, O God;

look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day in your courts is better

than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

the Lord bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold

from those who walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of hosts,

blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Video blogging once again...

2009-01-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, here's one of the movies from our GOTG adventure!

Andrew had just made it down from his rock he temporarily got stuck on and we had reach our destination. I was also dealing with a case of indecisiveness as you'll see.

Where to begin....

2009-01-05T15:34:00.000-08:00

Where do I begin! It's been such a packed holiday season since last time I posted! Wow, it has been a blast and it's hard to excepted that real life is upon us once again.

We had a small quiet Christmas. We got together with my Grandma for presents and then had one of the families we know over for a late lunch or luncher whatever you prefer.

Andrew and I both got each other hats for Christmas and we love them! I'm glad that hats are back in. They're so much fun and they really come in handy on a bad hair day.

The day after Christmas, the 26th, we left for Colorado where we visited our friends!

We known quite a few families who have moved to the CO Springs area and Andrew and I are hoping that some day it will be our turn!

We saw and spent time with the McDills, the Faehs, and stayed with the Lueckes.

Here are some pic that I took at Garden of the God's. I love that place and I got to enjoy it twice this trip.

This next pic is of the Kissing Camels in GOTG.

God's creation is sooooooooooooo beautiful and amazing!

One day while staying with the Lueckes, we, the kids, decided that we wanted to go for a hike at Garden of the God's. It was a beautiful day and we had a wonderful time! I'll tell you what, it was a little weird being able to hike in the dead of winter.

So here they are, in IBO ( in birth order, thanks to Dave McDill I learned another appreviation):

Kristen: a beautiful, fun, bible school student, working, oldest sister, wonderful baker, young woman.

Andrew: Little brother turned big little brother, one of the funniest people I know, fun, one of my best friends, young man.

Emma: another beautiful young woman, senior, older and younger sister, missions minded, animal loving, young woman.

Renae: a beautiful, craft loving, middle child, cute, taller every time I see her, fun, Andrew's Narnia partner, young lady.

Allen: a football loving, all boy, cute (he'd dislike me for saying that), sweet boy.

Jacob: youngest, older brother's constant playmate, Kristen's baby, trooper in keep up with all of us, and cute little goof (as the pic shows).

Climb, climb, climb.

As you can see, I had my camera along so we made a video with a news reporter, helpless civilians, and super hero. We had it all, okay, we forgot the evil villain but it was still good.

Here is a photo of our super hero, Luigi the Caped Crusader!

We came across this sign and I couldn't resist the opportunity to get a pic by it. I guess it's probably a little of my rebellious side coming out. I should have been standing on the other side of the sign though. Notice the $500 fine at the bottom.

Now that the holidays and traveling are over I will hopefully be posting more often. Also, I will probably be posting at least one of the many videos I took.

2008-12-23T12:14:00.000-08:00

Here is a video that I took of the guys singing (I think I joined in here and there?) along to the movie the Sound of Music. We used to watch it together when we were younger and I think this made somewhere around the 15th time. This all started because we wanted to beat their mom's record of 20 times or something like that.

Anyway, I thought it was funny and I love my little brothers!

Christmas is almost here.....

2008-12-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

Saturday night we got together with some of our really good long time friends. It was so nice to be able to get together with them and remember the years of fun we had together. Praise the Lord for friendships like these.

For old times sake mom once again made cinnamon rolls.

Here's a pic of the dough before she rolled it up.

And here they are after they were finished. Don't they look yummy? Don't worry they were. Is your mouth watering yet?

For dinner we had a french style meal that was good and fun.

The meal was of potatoes, sliced meat, cheese, and pickles. The potatoes that you see are boiled and then placed on the hot plate on top to stay warm. You then choose your meat and cheese and place them in you little tray which you set under the hot plate and electric coil to melt the cheese and warm the meat. Once it's ready you mash up your potato and slide you meat and cheese on top and enjoy!

I made up a game that was a white elephant gift exchange with a twist. Both of our dads ended up with the Christmas hats. Here's Santa and his little elf helper.

After the gift exchange we played Mafia and Balderdash.

So Merry Christmas everyone and I hope that you are have a blessed new year!

100th Post!!!

2008-12-17T08:55:00.000-08:00

Drum roll please! It's my 100th Post! Wow, it sure has taken me awhile but the day has finally arrived.

I had a personal photo shoot this morning. And for those of you who are wondering, the bird is my friend, Flo. ( I told you Dani!)

This post has multiple purposes as you will see. One of those is to just show you what it looks like here in Iowa for those of you who aren't here. We had a snow storm yesterday and as a result today it's beautiful! I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!!!!!!!!!

I love the snow in contrast to the little crab apples!

My cute doggie, Levi. Winter is definitely his favorite time of year! I think you should have lived somewhere where there is snow most of the year.

And then, last week I had a party to go to so I decided to make Christmas cookies. It took quite awhile but I enjoyed doing it and being creative!

Some of the end results. They were good!

I guess I'll close up this post by first saying thank you to all the comments on my last post! Glad you enjoyed that recipe as well. And then I want to leave you with a quote that I might take the time to expound on later but not now.

We are so obsessed with doing that we have no time and no imagination left for being. As a result, men are valued not for what they are but for what they do or what they have- for their usefulness.

- Thomas Merton.

Bon Appetit!

2008-12-13T21:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, I couldn't wait any longer to blog about this! Today as we were working, (because we tend to work on Saturdays here at the Baskerville household) mom was glancing through my Grandma's old cookbook when she came across a very interesting recipe. I got the biggest kit out of it and decided almost immediately I had to post about it. And Bekah has recently posted about a recipe that she likes and I know she has posted others in the past so I thought it was my turn:)

Can you guess? Okay so you probably did because of the pics. How to cook a raccoon! Gross!

I think this little guy agrees with me hence the tongue sticking out.

Please!!!!!!!!! Have mercy! I promise not to steal the dog and cat food anymore.

(a caption for the below photo)

Mr. Raccoon was tried and found guilty and faced his fate:

How to Cook a raccoon: (this is seriously what the cookbook says.)

Dress the raccoon and remove all the surface fat. Cover with cold water and add 1/2 to 2 tsp. salt, according to amount of meat and 1/2 to 1 pound of butter ( a substitute is not as good). Soak meat 1/2 hour or longer: drain off water. Cut off thighs, legs; and body into three parts. Place in large kettle. Cover with cold water containing the salt. Bring to boil state. Reduce heat, so meat simmers until tender; keep covered. Drain off the broth. When meat is done cool. Cut into serving pieces. Coat each serving with butter. Place in baking dish in oven at 325 degrees for 30 minutes to one hour. Turn during baking. Keep covered with foil to prevent dryness.

This is my favorite part, (We preferred the cooking time in water to be done in a shed on the farm on a camp stove, because of the wild oder and then brought into the house for baking time.)

I guess you are suppose to then enjoy!!!!!!!!! Wow! My mouth is just watering for raccoon now, isn't yours? I don't know about you but I found that recipe highly amusing! (Sorry to all cute cuddly animal lovers :( Just remember raccoons aren't usually cute and cuddly but really can be nasty.

Heart against a thorn

2008-12-11T08:41:00.000-08:00

This morning my mom was reading to me from a devotional call Streams of in the Desert by L.B. Cowman. At the end the devotional for yesterday there was a poem that Mom and I really enjoyed (that's saying something coming from two people who don't really like poetry). Anyway, please take the time to read this as I think you'll find it a blessing.

Once I heard a song of sweetness

As it filled the morning air,

Sounding in its blest completeness

Like a tender, pleading prayer:

And I sought to find the singer,

Where the wondrous song was borne:

And I found a bird, quite wounded,

Pinned down by a cruel thorn.

I have seen a soul in sadness,

While its wings with pain were furled,

Giving hope, and sheer, and gladness,

That should bless a weeping world

And I know that life of sweetness,

Was of pain and sorrow borne,

And a stricken soul was singing,

With its heart against a thorn.

You are told of One who loved you,

Of a Saviour crucified,

You are told of nails that held Him,

And a spear that pierced His side;

You are told of cruel scourging,

Of a Savior hearing scorn,

And He died for your salvation,

With His brow against a thorn.

You "are not above the Master."

Will you breathe a sweet refrain?

And His grace will be sufficient,

When your heart is pierced with pain.

Will you live to bless His loved ones,

Though your life be bruised and torn,

Like the bird that sang so sweetly,

With its heart against a thorn?

Why are you trying to earn grace?

2008-12-08T14:10:00.001-08:00

Recently there has been a song on the radio that I've really liked. I found that the words are really good and probably true of a lot of Christians including myself. I especially like the first 2 verses. Don't feel like you have to read words to the whole song but read the first 2 at least:

By Your Side

1st

Why are you striving these days

Why are you trying to earn grace

Why are you crying

Let me lift up your face

Just don't turn away

2nd

Why are you looking for love

Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough

To where will you go child

Tell me where will you run

To where will you run

And I'll be by your side

Wherever you fall

In the dead of night

Whenever you call

And please don't fight

These hands that are holding you

My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side

They swallowed the grave on that night

When I drank the world's sin

So I could carry you in

And give you life

I want to give you life

Cause I, I love you

I want you to know

That I, I love you

I'll never let you go

-Ten Avenue North

When will I stop crying and fighting in the arms of my Savior and be completely satisfied and say He is enough?

How I feel...

2008-12-05T14:09:00.000-08:00

Today, is a day when I do not feel like this......

...or this...

...but no, I feel like this..

...and I'm acting like this...

...and if anyone gets too close I might become this...

I love pics.! They simply say too much so easily! So yeah, I wanted to post but I'm really not in a good enough mood to post about anything but how I feel. It's been long day and you better be grateful that you're not around me.

It's all about Jesus

2008-12-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

A week or so ago I received a comment on my blog from an Anonymous reader. I've been wanting to reply to it but I haven't yet. So out of the fear that they wouldn't see my reply, if I just left a comment, I decided to post about it. If you didn't see it, this is what the comment said:

"I think what your doing is amazing. I wish God called me to do such work. Its odd but I sometimes wonder if God cares at all. Well, cares about me I mean. I just wonder why I can't be as happy as others that I see around me, but it comforts me knowing that he has chosen such a wonderful person like yourself to do great things. As long as others are happy, that is all that matters. God bless."

Wow, is the first thing I'm going to say. I'm going to write this to you whoever you are.

I would like to share with you something that God showed me before I arrived and while I was in Asia. First, He showed me that I shouldn't be comparing myself to others. Second, He showed me that the "success" of my trip didn't depend on what I did but that I did what God wanted me to do. Third, He showed me further what the second thing meant when I was in Thailand. While I was still here in America I was expecting to teach more English classes than I did when I was there. What we ended up doing much of my time there, which I wasn't expecting at all, was helping with the craft part of kids camps. As we were trying to come up with ideas for crafts, making examples, and doing more cutting out of craft supplies than I have ever done in my life I wondered what was the point. I mean I'm over here in Asia spending hours on crafts for kids which are most likely going to end up on the ground in pieces or in the garbage at some point in time. But God showed me something, He showed me that this is what He had for me to do. Even though it didn't make sense to me why I would come to Thailand to help with so many crafts God knew. It doesn't matter what He wants us to do. He doesn't measure greatness the same way we do. Remember Jesus and the little children? He saw things much differently than the 12, didn't He?

Jesus was showing me that my eyes were not to be on what I was doing or what great things or even what little things I was doing but my eyes were and are suppose to be on Him. It's not about making a name for Chrissy, or that people will be impressed with what she is doing, or that people will remember her when she dies, but that all she does brings glory and honor to the name of the Lord.

I remember, there was a time after I graduated from high school that I was really struggling. I was mad at God for not showing me what I was suppose to do. It was a time of testing my faith. I cried and prayed and told God what I was feeling like. It was tough but since then I have learned that I can trust my Lord. I've learned that He has called me to trust Him and walk one step at a time in what He wants for my life. Sometimes I know what He wants me to do 6 months into the future, other times not even 1 month. But I can trust Him. He is faithful.

Don't let Satan deceive you into thinking that God doesn't care. Sometimes, He allows us to go through the valley to draw us closer to Him. Sometimes we go our own way and find ourselves wanting to eat the food we're feeding to someone's pigs. But just like the prodigal son we can always come home again. At times it's hard to forgive myself I feel like God can't forgive me until I get myself back on the right track. This is so not true. Jesus' blood shed for me is the only reason I can even approach God the Father not because of Chrissy.

You also mentioned you don't know why can't you be happy like other people are happy. I want to remind you that happiness isn't lasting. Happiness is determined by our circumstances while the Lord's joy and peace only comes from Him. Someone can be hurting and going through something as hard as a loss of a child and still have God's peace and joy in their lives. Seek the things that are eternal not temporal.

I also want to encourage you to put your eyes on Jesus Christ and not other or yourself. If you're angry at God, tell Him. I've been there, I've done that, I'm sure I'll go though it again. One verse that I really like is the one about how we have a high priest who understands what we're going though because he has gone through it or something like that (that was way paraphrased). You see no matter what we're feeling or going through He understands and wants us to tell Him. Once you tell Him listen and look for His answers.

One more thing, remember that the grass always looks greener on the other side. What you are seeing on my posts are the highlights. Just because I travel to Asia and maybe you haven't traveled out of the country doesn't mean that what God is having me do is better than what He wants you to do. It's not at all. Ask Him and see that He is faithful. Seek Him and find that He cares for you. There is nothing in the world, not travel, success, money, or fame, that is better than a relationship with Jesus Christ! Everything else only brings temporary pleasure but will eventually become just like everything else. Look at Solomon's life, this man had everything anyone could ever want yet it came back to God for even him. There is nothing sweeter that knowing and drawing closer to our Lord. It's not about do's and don'ts it's about knowing Him and being known by Him!

Our packed weekend!

2008-12-01T19:03:00.001-08:00

Okay as I promised, here is the post from our Thanksgiving and weekend. If I was to give an overall summery, I would have to say it was packed, fun, rewarding, and a great Thanksgiving weekend.

For Thanksgiving we went to my Aunt's and Uncle's home in Walker. My two cousins also came with their spouses and kids and my Grandma was there as well. The food was great and there was such a huge amount of desserts it was almost unbelievable. Let's see there was pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, fudge, pumpkin bars, pumpkin roll, 2 kinds of turkey cookies....okay I have to stop now I'm starting to crave sweets......you get the idea.

Mom's sweet potato pie. It's a lot like pumpkin pie.

Mom and Grandma helping clean the dishes after our big meal.

Grandma sat outside and watch the rest of us play. My cousin Kathy wrapped her up in two special outdoor blankets so she was nice and warm even with the wind. We teased her that she looked like a little Bohemian woman and she was so cute I just had to take this shot.

It's tradition on this side of the family that we play a game of kickball. It's really a blast since most of us are pretty competitive. Yes, we play by farm rules.

On the way out we were taking our 4-wheelers with us when the tire on the wagon went flat. We had to leave it at someone house in the country. That night Dad and Andrew tried to change the tire on the way home but they couldn't get the bolts or whatever they're called off. Andrew and I ended up riding the 4-wheelers over to a friends house and leaving them there while Mom and Dad limped the wagon home. It was an adventure and fun to drive on the gravel roads at night and in the cold.

Friday morning we got up at 5:30 am so that we could be to our church at 6:30 to go to Oakville, IA where our church was doing an outreach. Oakville was flooded really bad this year and their little town still needs a lot of help. There were around 50 people who went down and helped Friday and Saturday.

This is a pic of Carolyn (a lady from our church who's home was also flooding this year), Tom our leader and missions staff at our church, and me. You may be asking what was with the white suits? Well, Carolyn and I were assigned to power wash the river dirt out of the inside of a house. Needless to say it was a very time consuming and dirty job but we also managed to have a blast as well.

At the very end, I plopped down on the floor and blew the back of my tyvek suit out! Oops! We had a good laugh over that one as well.

Sunday, after we got back from out full trip we slept in and went to second service. Since we hadn't gotten the Christmas decorations up yet, we decided to work on it. I think that we have most of them up but we're still not quit done.

Yes, we have an artificial tree, all you real tree people. I personally like this tree quite a bit and I'm partial to artificial since that's what I've grown up with. I really think there are a whole politics about whether to go artificial or real but I won't go into that now.

Here is my brother and father setting up our super easy, pre-lit, fold down branches, Christmas tree.

Mom and Andrew being goofy while I try and get a good pic of them.

I seemed to have the dropsy's yesterday and I managed to break two bulbs :( This pic. is after the first one. I wasn't too happy with myself after the second one.

So this is it. Now you have a taste of what my life has been like since Thanksgiving. I hope that yours was good and your weekend as well. Leave me your thought when you get a chance.

Heaven, Earth, Desires.

2008-11-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

-Ps. 73:25-26

I read these verses not too long ago and thought about the first part. Whom have I in heaven but you? Okay, that's true I have no one in heavens but God but what about the next part. And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you? Wow, I know that that isn't true in my life. There are many things that I desire at times over God or his way. Do I want that to be true of my life that I'm content with God alone? Yes, I do, not 100%, but my spirit does desires this.

Last Sunday during the sermon, Pastor Brooks Simpson was preaching about the rich ruler who came to Jesus and wanted to know how to inherit eternal life. (if you want to listen to his sermons you can go to http://gracecommunitynet.org ) He used this story to address the issue of idols in our lives. God is the only one who can save us from ourselves and our idols. If we decide to get rid of one idol, say food, we will so easily find another idol to replace it with. That's why we need Jesus. He replaces our idols with himself.

Okay, so that's all for now. Look for pics of our thanksgiving and weekend on Sunday or the early part of next week. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

another clip from thailand

2008-11-18T19:26:00.000-08:00

I thought that you all might like to see a video that I took in Thailand at the orphanage. It was during one of the kids camps that we helped with. The movie is of them singing Cowgirl Chrissy's "favorite song" (if you didn't get it don't ask :) ) in Thai and then trying to sing it also in English.

I hope you like it. Next time I post I'm planning on sharing something more on the spiritual serious side.

Getting a Perspective

2008-11-13T11:54:00.000-08:00

Okay fellow Christ Followers, I have something I want to share with you that really was a huge blessing to me this past year. It's a course called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.

It about a year ago when a friend told me about something called Perspectives and how it really changed her life and how I should definitely take it. When we returned from the conferences we were helping with in FL I was so surprised to open the church bulletin and see printed in big font "PERSPECTIVES". Our church was coordinating a perspective course for the first time since we've been there. Needless to say that pretty much convinced me that I God wanted me to go. So I did, along with my whole family, as well.

It was such a blessing to me! I think the main thing that I got out of it was that everything that God does is for His glory!!! I really would encourage any Christian to take Perspectives.

I'll give you a quick overview of what the course is like, but if you want more info or if you want to find a class in your area you can go to: http://www.perspectives.org/site/pp.aspx?c=eqLLI0OFKrF&b=2806295

Okay, during the course you go listen to a speaker once a week. Last year our church held the meeting on Sunday night but this year it's going to be on Tue. Then during the rest of the week you have some reading assignments. The amount that you have to read depends on the which way you choose to take the course. There are three ways which you can choose to take it. Audit, certificate, or credit. If you take it for certificate or credit you have an open book quiz every week.

The course is a little pricey but if you compare it to a college course it's not. It's $200 dollars for the audit and certificate and then $400 for the credit. The course was totally worth it, though!!!! Another plus is that once you take pay once you can go back for free any year after.

This course is very missions focused but it's not just for those who want to go to the field it's for everyone. Just because you might feel like God doesn't want you to on "the missions field" there are still things He has for all of us to do from here. So check it out, be encouraged in your faith and walk, and risk getting a new perspective on life.

Hair and Blog Makeover!!

2008-11-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

There's been a few changes in Chrissy world recently. First, last Friday, I got a haircut. I was tired of too many bad hair days in a row so I found a pic on the net that I liked and went to my always faithful hairstylists, Cost Cutters! Okay, so maybe they're not the fanciest place in the world but you got to love the price and the policies. If you don't like how your hair turned out, you can go back and get it cut again within a week for free.

My hair wasn't the only thing that got a makeover though, so did my blog for all of you who haven't noticed. Thanks to the Pracher's blog I was able to go to a really neat website with free backgrounds! It was fun looking through all the different options and I now feel like my blog is just that much more personalized!

So that's the latest from my side of this round globe.

The Price of Following Christ

2008-11-10T15:04:00.000-08:00

For some the price of following Christ is high. Such as giving their lives or maybe worst, being tortured and living in a prison cell all alone. Then there are others who don't hardly give up a comfort for following Him and maybe even experience greater comfort from being a Christian.

Since visiting other countries numerous times I've concluded that it's harder to really live for Christ here in America. Here there is so much to distract us from the One who is really important. We don't have many hardships that drive us to Christ. When we're sick we go to a doctor, when we need money we work, when we need groceries we go to Walmart which is open 24/7. It's so easy to be a lukewarm Christian.

I'm not saying that there aren't Christians who are completely sold out to Christ here, there definitely are, but all I'm saying is that we need to be aware of what we're up against. What I've experienced in my life coming back from a missions trip, is that it's easy to get caught back up in life and just pick up where you left off; almost like you never left at all. Here we have family, friends, the same language, familiar food and surroundings which are all things that when we don't have them drive us to Him. Let us be seeking our Lord and His will for our lives daily. Would He have us be living the lives we are living.

I pray that I and you would be willing to leave the comfort and security of a normal American life for God's glory. That we would really know what it means to leave father, mother, family, all for the sake of Christ.

Let us seriously look and pray. Are we willing to pay the price here on earth for following Him. Some of us will be called to stay here, some to go, some to live with loneliness, some with many friends, some with much materially, some living from meal to meal, some will live a long life, some will gives their lives at a young age. Will we decided will trade the joy and peace of following Him for a short life of choosing our own way? Are we willing to say yes to Christ no matter where He leads? Not seeking self glory or our own desires or agendas no matter how noble the cause? There is no greater joy and blessing in life then following Christ will all our hearts.

Video blogging at it's worst

2008-11-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

Okay so I did some video blogging the last week and I succeeded in making a really funny video but it was too long and so I couldn't get it to load. I tried a number of times but it still wouldn't work. I've ended up putting one of the shorter ones on which isn't nearly as funny and I'm a dork in it, but that's okay. I probably don't have much of a reputation anymore anyway.

So go ahead, I dare you, and click on it, and enjoy the complete craziness from Chrissy.

(I'm wearing a hat because I was having a bad hair day and just to add to the video)

Aunt 'Net

2008-11-09T15:11:00.000-08:00

Today is a very special day for someone that I love. It's my Aunt Lynette's birthday!

Happy Birthday Aunt 'Net! I thought about sending you and e-card but then I had a better idea, posting about it. I'm guessing that you won't see this on your birthday but I hope it's not too long from "your day" that you return once again to Kitti's Klips:) So many people now know your birthday is today, the 9th of Nov. what they don't know how old you are but that will be our secret :).

I love you Auntie! I hope you didn't have to work today and got to spend it with your family.

Love, Chrissy

2008-11-04T16:57:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone and especially Dani and Nickie. This one is addressed to everyone but definitely you two. The last video was so much fun that I was too excited about adding another that I couldn't wait. This video is from when I was in Burma so enjoy!

You know I might just have to do some video blogging now. Sounds like fun!

2008-11-04T09:30:00.000-08:00

Okay so I finally succeeded in putting one of my movies on! Yes!

The movie is taken on the Santosa beach in Singapore after Dani and I caught a lizard. (I don't think either one of us could really believe we really did catch it.) After admiring him for a little while we had this brilliant idea of making a commercial imitating geico insurance company's ones.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did in making it!

Dying and living

2008-11-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. -John 12:24-25
Okay, so I said that I would blog about the talks that I had on the way back home. I'm not going to tell you all that we talked about but I'll give you some of it and if you want more you have to call me or we'll have to get together.

The first conversation that I had was on the flight from Chang Rai to Bangkok. I chose a empty row of seats and sat in the one by the window. Soon after I sat down there was a man who chose the aisle seat and then the last person to sit down chose the one by me.
I soon found out that he was a German who has been living in Bangkok for somewhere around the last 6 yrs. He said hello and I think I told him that I was there in Thailand for some ministry. We got talking and one thing lead to another and we ended up talking for the length on the flight.
I believe he grew up Protestant but I'm not sure about that. He is an intelligent man who knows several languages including Thai, German, and wonderful English. I got the impression that he's well read in what he's interested in, and he was very polite but very straight forward. I also got the impression that we was a very unhappy person. I think he told me that he doesn't like Germany, I know he doesn't like Bangkok, and he didn't seem very happy with his marriage either.
So if I remember right, he asked me what I believed or what I was teaching on this missions trip. So I started to tell him. It was probably one of the most intense conversation that I have ever had with someone about spiritual things. He said he used to be a Christian but he had a spiritual breakdown (that wasn't the way he said it but it was the idea that he realized all he had been believe was wrong) and now he doesn't buy the it. You know I'm not really sure all of what he believes but we spent a lot of time debating. He told me he thought my arguments were somewhat lame and based on emotions and that I shouldn't be paraphrasing (I was paraphrasing verses that I didn't have memorized word for word) a book as important as the bible.
Over all I am very thankful to God for the conversation for my sake and for this man's. He really did listen pretty well when I was talking and I used some of Ray Comforts illustrations like the parachute one and quoted the bible. So even if he doesn't believe that this is truth he listen to the truth and God promises that his word will not return void. Also, I'm glad for me because it showed me more of where I'm lacking and that I can be better prepared.
During the conversation I felt somewhat attacked by satan but I'm so glad that my God is greater and he is the one who is my Protector! At the end of the flight we ended on good terms and we both said that it was an honor to talk to one another which it really was. That God would let me talk to someone like him is amazing because I am so unqualified but our Jesus is humble and mighty!

The next flight that I was one was to Tokyo, and I sat next to an Indonesian woman and her adult daughter. I felt like I should talk to them about Jesus but I never did. I think that if was okay though because what I was able to do was just get to know them a little and be a help to them on the flight. The mother of course invited me to stay at their home if I was ever in Indonesia. Towards the end of the flight I gave them my home address and phone and email (which I debated about doing since it's world4jesus) and then they gave me their info. I think that it really meant a lot to them that I would invite them to stay with us if they were ever in Iowa especially the daughter. So maybe I'll send them an card, and I guess if I'm ever in Jakarta I'll have to give them a call.
During our conversations I did tell them that I was coming back from a missions trip and they said "oh missionary" or something like that. So I'm hoping that since they knew that I was a Christian, Jesus will use our time together for his glory. And you never know this might just be the begin of a friendship.

The last conversation was in the MN airport. I had gotten myself a hot cocoa and had sat down in a comfortable arm chair to write, eat my cookies, enjoy my warm drink, listen to my music, and wait for my flight. After a while there was a middle aged women who sat down in the other chair across the table from me. I offered her some of my cookies since she had a drink as well. She took one and we started talking.
I told her where I was coming from and she told me that she had been as well. She had come from this religious conference in DC. I asked her a lot about it and what she believed. I forget the name of the religion right now but basically if I understand right they have some set things they believe but then everyone just decides what they believe for everything else. I think it's kind of like however you can find your "connection" with God and gaining high consciousness maybe?
After a while of her telling me what she believed she asked me what I believed. I did want to tell her but first I asked her a few more questions. I wanted to know what her thinking was and why. I think that God worked it all out that way so I would know better about what to say.
We talked for at around an hour, maybe more? I was tired by that time. At one point I quoted something that Jesus had said I think it was "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except though me" she told me she didn't believe Jesus had really said that. She said that the people who wrote the New Testament didn't even know Jesus and it was written thousands of years after him. I pointed out some of the people who did know Jesus personally who were some of the authors of the New testament.
In the end we left on good terms as well. She said that she appreciated how we could just talk about these things and it wasn't that I was trying to convert her or her me. She didn't realize that yes I was trying to share the Truth with her but I wasn't doing it in a pushy or offensive way. I gave her the way of the master website name and ask her for the website to her religion.

God really worked these conversations out and I know that it was Him who had these planned. Like the German man, from his own lips he told me that he wanted to fly home another day but it didn't work out and that the seat by me was the last one in the whole plane (very flattering don't you think? :). And the lady in the airport came and sat next to me, I didn't sit next to her and she was the one who asked me what I believed. It's just really cool to see that God works it all out. He really doesn't need our help we just need to be willing and die to ourselves so we can live for Christ!

Anybody

2008-10-31T19:19:00.000-07:00

Hello, okay you probably noticed by now since you didn't have to log in that I have now opened my blog up to everyone. (Of course only after asking my mothers permission) I'm a little sad to no longer have control over who reads the Klips from my life but I'll get over it.

I think that it will be easier on me and you readers not to have to give or get an invitation to my blog in order to read it. I'll have to google my name and see if my blog comes up now. Scary! Hey Bekah, maybe I'll get more comments now :)

2008-10-28T17:25:00.000-07:00

I'm back safe and sound! Praise the Lord! I had a pretty good trip and had some good talks on the way. I want to share about them with you but that's for another post. This post is about me being HOME and the beautiful Iowa fall weather.
I'm totally loving the cold weather here in Iowa. I guess when you've grown up here and lived with cold weather for 22 years it's hard not miss it when you are living somewhere where it's hot most of the time.
I went on a walk yesterday and was enjoying the beauty of where I live. I realized that it's easy to take for granted the beauty that you are used to and not enjoy it. Being gone for 2 months and coming back to the blazing/calming colors of fall helps me to enjoy it and want to capture it for other to enjoy.
So, tonight as the sun was soon setting, you could have found me out trying to get some good shots. My camera hates low lighting so I had to take quite a few for some okay or good ones. Enjoy and this is especially for you Fongs, so you can see just a tiny bit what Iowa looks like this time of year and also what I wear to keep warm.

Going Crazy!

2008-10-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I thought it would be fun if I set up a my account to post a post? while I'm making my way back to the USA. That way it will be sort of be like I'm letting you know what's going on even though I'm not.

Right now if I got the time right on when to post this I think I'm somewhere between Tokyo and Minneapolis, MN? It's been a long trip most likely so thank the Lord that I love to travel!

I was hoping and praying that I got a seat next to Mr. empty two or three seats so I could lay down. So right now I'm probably either sleeping in a horizontal position, or trying to sleep in a slightly tilted vertical position, or eating, or watching a movie, or talking to someone, or writing? I don't know there's quite a few possibilities! Or there is always the option of going totally crazy and out of my mind where if that is the case, I hope that I remembered to bring along my favorite white suit. You know the one with all the straps?

Okay, so I'll leave you all alone now and I look forward to see all of you peoples in IA again and being back home where the air is cool all the time this time of year!

Thanks for all the prayers! See you soon!

Goodbye Asia

2008-10-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today, I fly to Bangkok where I will say I say goodbye to this side of the the world early tomorrow morning on the 26th. It's been a big blessing to me being over here for about two months. I think that I definitely received more than I gave and I feel blessed by God!

I know that I'll miss Asia because of the people and some of the food:) I don't know what God has in store for my life after this or if I will be back to this part of the world. (I hope so.) But what I do know is that my life is Christ's not because I chose him but because he chose me. I'm not in charge of my life, it's not my own, it's his to do with what he wants for his glory. May he continue to make me more and more willing!

I want to live my life with one love and being totally committed to him no matter if I'm in America for the rest of my life, or in the jungle somewhere. Whatever will glorify his name more. Numbers don't matter to God it's your relationship with him and obedience.

So goodbye, to all my friends and family here. Thank you for all you've done for me and blessed me with. And a big thank you especially to the Fongs for all you given and done for me and allowed me to do with you and your ministries here. Thank you for accepting me into your family and giving me a home in Thailand. May God bless you!

5 Countries in 2 months

2008-10-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! Today, I visited my 5th country of this trip! We had the opportunity today to go to an island of Laos at the Golden Triangle. I was standing there looking at what the little shops were selling when Lois turned to me and commented on what and how many countries I have been to on this trip. Even though today we didn't have our passports stamped we did still go! So since I didn't get a stamp, the Fongs gave me the little piece of paper that Uncle Charles got after he paid out entrance fee. I also had my pic with my passport.

So here are some pics of us today at the Golden Triangle, on the boat ride over to Laos, and when we got there. For those of you who don't know the Golden Triangle is made up of the countries of Thailand, Burma, and Laos. Today it was also so clear, so we could see China!

Chrissy in Laos! The fifth and final country (unless I "accidentally" miss my plane in Tokyo:).

On the island.

At the beginning of our boat ride I snapped this shot of us girls!

Fongs and I over looking the Golden triangle

Okay Burma's on the left, Laos is on the right, Thailand is below, and I think China is somewhere straight ahead in the distance.

A Cat

2008-10-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

OK people,
Recently I have noticed that this blog lacks sorely in the comments department. So, I applied myself to amend the wrong. However, as I worked towards that end I was rebuffed and stymied at every turn. Then came the ray of light, the moment of crowning success, that one great idea to best all others. And it came in the form of an email from the proprietor of this account. (Yes, by now I had hoped that you, dear reader, would have discerned the differences in literary styles and come to the conclusion that another hand had penned these words. But, as I see this is not the present state of affairs I will make things plain. The author of this humble post is Andrew, the brother of above said person.) And the idea runs thus. In so few words...Chrissy wants a cat. She has requested that we save a poor abandoned feline from the Cedar Valley Humane Society. However, while it would be her cat and also her duty to care for it. Chrissy seems to have a bad habit of running of to parts unknown. And if said thing were to happen, this poor author would be left to bear the full weight of the a fore mentioned duty. So I ask you good people, should Chrissy have a furry friend or nay? The gauntlet has been thrown, who will respond?

P.S Have a great day!

On Top of the World

2008-10-21T01:09:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone,
I have no idea why this is underlined or how to change it so I'm not going to take the time to figure it out. Anyway, I wanted to tell you all about the wonderful trip that we just had. The Fongs and I went on a one night adventure up into the mountains of Thailand where it was marvelously cool and I felt so alive. We stayed in two cute little cabin/house things.

Last night after we had supper we (Lois, Uncle Charles and I) went to get Roti Prata in the rain. It was really fun but I think I have determined I like the Roti in Singapore better. Lois and Lydia also taught me how to play Hit the Deck and Speed. I was terrible at both! After the games we went to bed early in order to get an good start the next morning so we could enjoy the sunrise from the top of a mountain.

This morning we got up around 4:30 and climbed up a to Puchifa which mean something like hill pointing to the sky? We were wanting to see the sunrise but it was so foggy that we weren't able to. However, it was still worth the experience and it was totally awsome to see the greatness of our God!

Me, styling my new hat in front of our cabin.

This morning on top of the world, well, at least ours.

As, you probably have noticed I love photographing flowers and this one turned out surprisingly better than I expected. I was standing on a bridge that I wasn't really sure how well it would hold up.

A beautiful view of a valley and moutains in the distance.

Lois, Lydia, and I trying to look cute:)

Prayer, Love, Success, and a Chinese Woman

2008-10-17T00:37:00.000-07:00

Okay, so after reading Lydia's last wonderful and thoughtful post I thought it was about time I also put some more serious thoughts down.

The other morning I was reading my daily Oswald dose and I found this morning's to be
really good.

He was talking about prayer and how prayer is not prep for the work but is the work. We know this in our heads but rarely do we live it out. Here is a little part of the devotion: "Never allow the thought-"I am of no use where I am;" because you certainly can be of no use where you are not. Wherever God has dumped you down in circumstances pray....". This is good to remember that we are not wasting our time no matter if we are preaching to thousands like Billy Graham or taking care of a stinky toddler if we are also engaging in prayer.

The next two days were also been wonderful as well. One was titled "The Key to Missionary Devotion" and the verse was for "for his namesake they went forth." He also quoted what Jesus said to Peter, "Thou lovest me?" "Feed my sheep." It's so cool because here we see that Jesus didn't ask Peter "Do you love everyone else?" and then command him to feed his sheep but he ask if he love him. that's what we need to be focused on Jesus. Our love for Jesus will cause us to love other people.

Love is something that I've realized the bible holds in high importance. I've prayed that I'd love others the way the Lord loves them. Now however, I see that the way I accomplish this besides praying is that I fall more deeply in love with Jesus.

The third devotion was partly about not being too busy doing good things to spend time alone with God. "......in which endless energies and activities are insisted upon, but no privet life with God. The emphasis is put on the wrong thing." One thing that God has shown me and is teaching me is that this missions trip being successful isn't based on how much I do or how important the things are but on doing what God wants.

I've been taking advantage of the Fongs many books and one of the ones that I finished was about a Chinese lady. Reading about her life she really didn't have what you would call a very successful life. Yes, she did do some wonderful things but for the last 20 plus year of her life she was living in an apt. and cleaning an alley as forced labor under the communist government. She was also sick much of her life and had the government take away the orphanage that she started never to get it back again. Yet her life wouldn't have been more honoring to God because she committed her life to him and seeking and obeying him. It didn't matter so much what she did as long as she was in her Lord's will.

Okay, so that was a little random but what's new:)? I'm so glad that God had me bring My Utmost for His Highest on this trip! It's been a big blessing on this trip and it's addressed what I've been going through or God's been showing me at the time.

My Utmost For His Glory and Name

Mumbai Update #2

Mumbai Update...

India!!!

Beginning a New Chapter....

Men and Women...

Baptisms on the beach!

Having Fun with my new wide angle....

Thank you!

Waving Goodbye to Week 6.....

"The Irresistible Revolution (living as an ordinary radical)" -Shane Claiborne

aloha

The Call

It's official

HIV/AIDS

God is Amazing!

Pics!

Book #1

Human Trafficking

God is unpredictable!

My Freedom

I have a plan for you...

Congrats!

Hey

No more braces

Boston aka CR Tea Party

Culture Unplugged Video

Ally Marie in Concert!

finally back

Heaven

Thank You

Urgent need of prayer

Wordless Wed...

Quotable

CR shooting

The Cross

Go

Motions

Marion square

Going shutter crazy!

Trust, Be still, and Wait

More Photos with the new camera

Life is a song your heart must sing...

Wordless Wednesday

With Valentines over...

Wordless Wed.

Here they are...

Oh Happy Day!

Wordless Wednesday...

Thought-Provoking Thursday...

Wordless Wednesday...

Tasty Tues...

Fun Sunday-day

Freak Out Friday

Thought Provoking Thursday...

Wordless Wednesday...

I need you...

I love my Ears?

surrender?

Dani

Andrew...

My chapter for 2009...

Video blogging once again...

Where to begin....

Christmas is almost here.....

100th Post!!!

Bon Appetit!

Heart against a thorn

Why are you trying to earn grace?

How I feel...

It's all about Jesus

Our packed weekend!

Heaven, Earth, Desires.

another clip from thailand

more video blogging

Getting a Perspective

Hair and Blog Makeover!!

The Price of Following Christ

Video blogging at it's worst

Aunt 'Net