Camera Happy

When I got home..

Flip-flops + beach towel + the lake + a book + sunshine = a couple of hours of my day. Amazing!

Shock Factor!

Here's the story. Early in the morning on Thursday, Becca, Christopher and me started our journey south to Georgia. We were chugging along I-94 west through Detroit and coming upon I-75 south. At this point, I was driving. After a few miles on I-75 there was no more I-75, just a pile of dirt. We got detoured and 20 miles later, guess where we were? Back on I-94 westbound! The detour took us about 60 miles out of our way, which in reality was no big deal. You may be thinking, "Why is she explaining all of this if it was no big deal?" Well. the big deal was pot holes. Yes, Detroit, in case you did not know, has horrible roads that should not be in existence in America, especially on interstates. Well, I hit a few of this pot holes on this extended route through Detroit, and a couple of them pretty hard....but we kept going.

*A couple of hours later* We stop in Ohio for coffee and to switch drivers. It was at this time that we realized something was just not right. Upon investigation, it was discovered that a rusted out shock shaft had come up into the car. Christopher informed me that is not the way its supposed to be. :) It was somewhat stable and we decided to keep heading on our way instead of going back through the mind field. We took it easy, prayed a lot and made it through the rest of Ohio in a few hours.
Enter West Virgina aka more pot holes. Yes, we hit another one, causing the car to ride so low that the frame of the car was essentially sitting on the tire on the back left side. Huston, we have a problem!
To make an already long story not quite as long as it could be...called AAA. Got towed to a little whole in the wall place. The machines did a sort of ghetto rig thing because it would take a couple of days to get the parts. Spent some time walking around town, After a few hours, we were on our way again. Eventually we got to Augusta. I think I was home by 2 a.m. and we had left around 5:30 a.m. Pointless to say, it was a long day.
But...we learned a lot, especially what it is like to not have any control over the circumstances and seeing that God did; we had some great chances to talk to people about Christ when we never would have had those opportunities to if everything had gone hunky-dory; we got to spend more time with each other and with the final days of TEPSE growing closer, it is all the more precious; we found out we work well together in frustrating situations (Becca provided optimism, Chris made decisions, and I took pictures) ; and we have one more great story for the book Becca and I are going to write someday about our years at TEPSE.

Church History and Evangelism

Last week we ended our Advanced Apologetics class, which included a study of logic and creationism and then we started what will be my last class here at TEPSE, Church History and Evangelism. Already, I am overwhelmed with the vast amount of information. It was said that we are standing on the edge of the Mississippi and scooping up a handful of water and trying to say "Look, here is the Mississippi!" The main book we are reading is The Pilgrim Church by Broadbent. While I am not near as far in the book as I would like to be at this point, I have found it fascinating. Broadbent takes a different view of history, having written from various documents, many of which have been destroyed by those who do not want the history of various sects, outside the Roman Catholic Church, to be known. Makes me wonder if any of history, apart from what is recorded in scripture, completely accurate. So is history really history? :)
One thing that I have found encouraging thus far, is that the heart of God has always been for people to come to know Him.....that is His plan, His desire, His purpose. If that is on God's heart, should it not also be on mine?

In other news, I will be headed down to Georgia; yes, that warm land in the far country of the South, on Friday. We are headed down a few days earlier than the rest of the group for a couple of weddings, doctors appointments, and to just be there. Right here is where I put up some thoughts and pictures from being home at this time last year and here is a journal entry from the Master's last year, just in case you are interested.

Ramblings about Easter

Today, or rather with a second look at the clock, yesterday, is Easter, Resurrection Sunday. I have been contemplating what it would be like if Christ had not risen, and therefore what His resurrection does, or proves. Why did he have to come back physically from the dead? Through His rising, He conquered sin and therefore death. This makes His resurrection of utmost importance to share when telling someone the gospel. I have so many thoughts about this and books have been written on the subject, but I think the one verse that sums up the matter beautifully is I Corinthians 15:57:

"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Our victory rests in Him! Its a thought that baffles, leaving my mind running with no end in sight. We have victory because the tomb is empty! Praise Him!

But as with all good things, we have to make a big deal out of the small things, rather than dwelling on the reason for the occasion. This was my first Easter away from my family and how blessed I am because this has not been the case earlier in my life. Last year, Easter happened to be the day of the last round of the Master's so I was in Georgia then. :) As I thought about and prayed for my family, I was hit with the realization of how blessed I am. I am blessed because of the family of Christ and specifically the branch of that family the Lord has put me in for now. As we approach graduation, and thus change, I think we are all realizing how precious the time is now....we are not going to be in these days much longer and we will look back and long for these days in the years to come. That being said, we had all the other "orphans" come over to spend the day together. It was going to be a simple (well at least simple for an American Easter) meal....someone brought the ham, others brought veggies, another brought drinks, someone brought bread, we made a couple of side dishes and dessert....and it turned out to be a feast! We sent some of the leftovers home with the guys and we will still be eating off of the rest of them for a week. We have been blessed with abundance. We spent the afternoon chatting (such a northern word, I know), playing games, watching movies, and other little things. This afternoon was beautiful and sunny, so Christina and I took a walk, but by dusk it was snowing. Yes, SNOWING on Easter Sunday. Oh the joy! It was some of the prettiest and biggest snow flakes I have ever seen! Well, I know that I have been rambling on too much if I get around to weather again. :) So, I'll stop now. Hope you had a blessed day remembering the One who died, but yet LIVES, so that you can have the assurance that you will spend eternity with Him!

A couple pictures from today:

CTU pictures

Some random pictures from tonight...

We did a team building exercise of putting up this Boy's Scout tent....I think we all learned a lot from it (like read the directions), got to know more about each other, and had fun.

"Pray"

I will pray for you now, for you have been my faithful friends
While the road we walk is difficult indeed
I couldn't ask for more than what you've already been
Only that you would say these prayers for me

May your heart break enough that compassion enters in
May your strength all be spent upon the weak
All the castles and crowns you build and place your head
May they all fall, come crashing down around your feet

May you find every step to be harder than the last
So your character grows greater every stride
May your company be of human insignificance
May your weakness be your only source of pride

What you do unto others may it all be done to you
May you meet the One who has made us
And see Him smile when life is through
May your blessings be many but not what you hoped they'd be

And when you look upon the broken
May mercy show you what you could not see
May you never be sure of any plans you desire
But you'd learn to trust the plan He has for you
May your passions be tried and tested in holy fire
May you fight with all your life for what is true

I have prayed for you now all my dear and faithful friends
But what I wish is more than I could ever speak
As the way wanders on I'll long to see you once again
Until then, would you pray these prayers for me?
Oh, that you would pray for me.

- Kendall Payne

Handsome guys

Stephen and JJ, two of the cutest guys around, with Lassie.

Is it real?!?

Yes, that is sunshine on the streets of Armada!

Yes, that is me squinting because the sun is shinning in my eyes!

Yes, that is a shadow!

Yes, that is a puddle from snow melting!

Yes, those are dogs playing happily in the sunshine.

And, yes, I took the long way home from my walk to the post office to stop at the park and enjoy the SUN!

Kid's Meeting...at a nursing home?

Today when we went to the nursing home, we decided to do a versionof kids meeting for them. Becca explained that we did this for kids around the country and gave rules and I was the "hawk eye", looking for the best behaved. Tom lead us in songs, singing several hymns and children's songs, including "I'm in-right, out-right" and "I'm in the Lord's army" with hand motions and everything. Becca did a magic trick, the three rope, which illustrated that we are ALL sinners, that God loves EVERYONE, and that ANYONE can go to heaven through Jesus Christ. Christopher then told the story of Big Jim and Little Johnny, illustrating it on the paint board. At the end, he drew application from the story to the gospel and gave a very clear, simple, message. Afterwards, we spent some time talking with people. They loved it and talk about a captive crowd for us! They also love having their picture taken and are amazed that they can look at it on the back of the camera seconds later. :)


Some lovely ladies (and a couple men)....

The lady I am with got the prize for being the best. She sang, did motions, raised her hand to answer a question, and listened attentively during the story. When she got the prize, she was shocked, started crying, nd jsut said "Thank you"

Some ladies at a different table

Christopher telling the story, with Colin listening intently



Becca was the meeting leader and our magician!


Christopher painting

Colin, the man to the right, accepted Christ as His Saviour the first week we went to the nursing home. Brandon sent along a Bible for us to give to him this week. We hoped he would be able to read it, having doubts because of the small lettering. He was able to and sat there for a few minutes reading through the Word.