tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31403740765030564582024-03-05T09:44:26.683-08:00The King's KongsThe King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-65850783381830680182012-01-10T06:59:00.000-08:002012-01-10T06:59:44.020-08:00"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."<br />
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Romans 12:10-11<br />
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<br />The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-40993782305946763132011-12-31T07:42:00.000-08:002011-12-31T07:46:04.335-08:00The Lord, my portion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>This I call to mind and therefore I have hope:</i></div>
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<i>Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.</i></div>
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<i>They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.</i></div>
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<i>I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him."</i></div>
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<i>The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,</i></div>
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<i>to the one who seeks him;</i></div>
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<i>it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.</i></div>
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<i>~Lamentations 3:21-26~</i></div>
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Some good friends of ours are going through a rough time with their 10 month old son, who recently went through a surgery and is having some complications. The father wrote in his blog,<br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">"T<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">he feeling of powerlessness is foreign soil, but it’s a fertile place for growth. These days and nights in the hospital feel deeply unsettling, but being unsettled is not always a bad thing. Furrows come before seed. Remembering this allows us to see these grooves in our plans (holy disruptions, if you will) not as an excuse for bitterness but as an occasion for gratitude."</span></span></i><br />
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When I feel down in the depths of misunderstanding and doubt, I will remember to say to myself that the "Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him." Waiting is so hard, but as I look back on my life I am beginning to see that in the waiting God is working, and that he does answer our prayers, just not always the way we want them to be answered, or in our time.<br />
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There is much in the word about waiting. If we had it all right now, we wouldn't be able to handle it, so it is good to wait on the Lord, to wait on things to come to pass that we want to see happen. May the Lord strengthen me during this time of waiting on him.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-4701963025685494412011-12-23T06:17:00.000-08:002011-12-23T06:17:34.704-08:00The Sin of the World, Placed on a Baby<div style="text-align: center;">
He is despised and rejected by men,</div>
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A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.</div>
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And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;</div>
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He was despised and we did not esteem Him.</div>
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All we like sheep have gone astray;</div>
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We have turned, every one, to his own way;</div>
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And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.</div>
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<i>Isaiah 53: 3 & 6</i></div>
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<i><br /></i>The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-2155243568492709292011-12-21T07:06:00.000-08:002011-12-21T07:08:30.540-08:00Who's in your genealogy?Tamar, a widow who bribed her father in law to sleep with her...Rahab, a prostitute...Bathsheba, the object of David's misguided affections...what do all of these women have in common? They were all in the line of Jesus. God is so amazing to use weak, imperfect people as his vessels for greatness.<br />
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I have family members who came to the United States on the Mayflower. I bet those pilgrims never imagined that one day they would have a great, great, great, great...granddaughter who was part of a mission traveling to Mexico to bring the gospel and message of Jesus to people there. <br />
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I've been thinking this morning about who might come after me in my family and the impact they will have on this earth for Christ. All I have to do is have babies, and by doing so, I am affecting the world for Christ. That's an exciting purpose to have, even if I never accomplish anything else on this earth.<br />
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I may never completely comprehend the impact that those who came before me who were faithful followers of Christ have on my life. My mother and father, my grandparents, my great grandparents, my great great grandparents. They weren't perfect people. God used them to bring more people into the world who would make a difference for Him. Their heritage of faith is an important part of who I am today.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-32192951139838966892011-12-16T19:32:00.000-08:002011-12-16T19:32:17.753-08:00Christmas...Christmas was...<br />
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...setting up the Christmas tree with my mom...hanging my "My First Christmas" ornament from 1982.<br />
...trying hard not to touch the gifts Mom had already wrapped for us that were under the tree.<br />
...opening up gifts at Grandma Russell's on Christmas Eve and Grandma Bachman's on Christmas Day.<br />
...going to church on Christmas Eve and then opening gifts afterwards until late into the night with my Mom, Dad, brother, and sister.<br />
...wishing that Santa were real even if I knew he wasn't.<br />
...nights spent giggling with my sister.<br />
...staring at the Christmas tree and enjoying the warm feeling it produced in my soul.<br />
...waiting snuggled in the car, trying not to let the cold get me while Dad loaded up the gifts from Grandma's house.<br />
...lots of eating.<br />
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Christmas is...<br />
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...lots of eating.<br />
...time spent in the word reflecting on the Christmas story.<br />
...reviewing the story of the birth of Jesus with Adah.<br />
...singing "Silent Night" and "Away in a Manger" to Adah to go to sleep.<br />
...getting gifts ready for the people that I most treasure.<br />
...working to keep myself at peace in the midst of the hustle and bustle.<br />
...still having the joy of gathering with both of my Grandmothers.<br />
...realizing that life is precious and that we only get so many turns around the sun...and that each breath is a gift.<br />
...home group Christmas party.<br />
...trying to savor each and every moment that I have to spend with family.<br />
...being thankful that Jesus came for me.<br />
<br />The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-28742383404873427872011-12-12T06:29:00.000-08:002011-12-12T06:29:19.232-08:00Fear in Following<i>...an angel of the Lord appeared to him (Joseph) in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."...When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ~Matthew 1:20-21 and 24</i><br />
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Isn't it hard when you know you're called to something bigger and better than yourself? Sometimes I wish that an angel would come to me and tell me exactly what it is that I'm supposed to be doing! However, after looking at these verses, I think it might be a little more scary to have a heavenly being come and tell me what to do! That's a big day...and a big calling. The angel told Joseph not to be afraid because "what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit." If it were only that easy...ok...so it was conceived of the Holy Spirit...fear is gone! <br />
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There is so much difficulty surrounding a calling. I'm sure it wasn't easy for Mary and Joseph to consider the fact that they were going to have GOD for a Son. Wouldn't you be so afraid that you would mess it up? It's hard enough raising a little one without knowing that they're God's Son that's been entrusted to you. I know that Mary and Joseph had to have a lot of fear in following the call that the Lord had placed in front of them. There were so many unknowns for them.<br />
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Linn and I know that we have been called to follow God's purposes in this world with our whole beings. But what does that mean in day to day life? A fear and doubt sundae, smothered in a hot fudge of faith and grace. We will continue to rest in the knowledge that the dreams that God has conceived in us are of the Holy Spirit.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-1952340440158405602011-12-06T06:10:00.001-08:002011-12-22T08:00:24.955-08:00Google Maps: Nazareth to Bethlehem<i>For <u>nothing</u> is impossible with God. </i><br />
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<i>~The angel Gabriel; </i><i>Luke 1:37</i></div>
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What a journey it must have been for Mary and Joseph to travel to Bethlehem! Too bad they couldn't google the directions, hop on the freeway, and be there in less than two hours. I can't imagine the hardship they must have gone through. Not only the physical hardship, but what about the mental and spiritual anguish of having to make a journey like this. I can only imagine Mary's thoughts at the prospect of having to travel 90 miles while being pregnant...</div>
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"What???? How am I supposed to travel to Bethlehem? Do you know how far away that is? What if the baby comes while we're on the road? My mother was supposed to be there to help deliver the baby! I have had such a hard time with this...no one understands the pain that I'm going through. No one understands how I even became pregnant when I'm not even married. They all hate me. Now I have to travel to some town I've never been to? Where will we stay? Where will we put the baby? Where will Joseph work? Will we even survive? I just don't know how this is going to work. God! What is going on? Wait...the angel said that nothing is impossible with God, but it's so hard to believe that right now. I can't see it. Lord, help me."</div>
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So many times when God asks us to do something, at first we can say, "Alright God, whatever you say. I trust you." Then we actually have to live it out, and it becomes something entirely different. So many doubts, frustrations, anger, and annoyances plague our thoughts. </div>
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It has to be a moment by moment decision to remain in the presence of God and choose to believe that nothing is impossible with God, and to say as Mary replied to the angel, "May it be to me as you have said."</div>
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<br /></div>The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-64426598812181888092011-12-05T08:37:00.001-08:002011-12-05T08:41:59.787-08:00AbideToday, the plan will be to abide in Christ.<br />
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From John 15:<br />
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<i>Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.</i><br />
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<i>I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do NOTHING.</i><br />
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At times in my life, abiding seems to come so easily to me, and at other times, it seems out of reach. Why do I spend so much time struggling and striving to find my way on my own, apart from the power of God? I feel so discombobulated, so strung out when I'm out there trying to do <i>anything</i> apart from Christ. Even going to the grocery store can be a challenge done apart from Christ. I need his power in all things. Either I believe this or I don't believe it.<br />
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What I say I believe is not what I believe...what I believe is what I do.<br />
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Lord, let what I <i>do</i> today...be to <i>abide in you</i>.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-8119738580458183542011-11-30T06:43:00.001-08:002011-11-30T07:00:48.078-08:00Inside Outside Upside Down KingdomDar's thoughts on...<br />
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Philippians 2<br />
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<b>In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus,</b> (<i>is this even possible for us as humans, to really have the same mindset as Christ Jesus in our relationships? even in those relationships that get on our nerves? what would that look like if we did? if we truly understood what that really meant? Lord, come in your power and give us the power to have peace in our relationships on earth as it is in heaven.</i>)<br />
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<b>Who, being in very nature GOD</b> (<i>what?? He was God but he laid it all down so that he could come and know me? So that we could know him and the freedom that comes in a relationship with him? So that he could know our sufferings?)</i><br />
<b>did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;</b><br />
<b>rather he made himself nothing</b> (<i>and was born in a barn among stinking animals in a little known town called Bethlehem! There was no place for him to lay his head even as a baby.</i>)<br />
<b>by taking the very nature of a servant, </b>(<i>we say that we want to follow in Christ's footsteps and become a servant, until we are really treated like one...then we don't like it!</i>)<br />
<b>being made in human likeness.</b> (<i>with all of our weaknesses and imperfections and strivings</i>)<br />
<b>And being found in appearance as a man,</b><br />
<b>he humbled himself </b><br />
<b>by becoming obedient to death,</b><br />
<b>even death on a cross! </b>(<i>and death on a tree was the lowest form of death there could be for a Jew. My mind cannot even fathom where Jesus went for us. I can't even imagine an earthly king doing something like this, much less GOD, the God of the universe stepping down to be with us.</i>)<br />
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Therefore God exalted him to the highest place<br />
and gave him the name that is above every name<br />
that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow,<br />
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,<br />
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,<br />
to the Glory of God the Father.<br />
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...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.<br />
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Lord Jesus, thank you for giving me the place in life where I can be a true servant. Even though, honestly, it's really annoying to be treated like a servant. I want to be where you are Jesus. If my God could give up his throne to come to the earth and be a servant, how much more do I need to do the same? Unfortunately, I don't have the strength to be able to do that! I just want to be in charge, to run things, to make my goals and vision be made known. Lord let me be a servant as you were a servant. If even just for a moment, let me catch a glimpse of what that looks like. It's not going to be a fun day at Disneyland as I learn what this means, and I accept that. Refine me God, take me through the fire.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-36787772205571574232011-11-22T06:50:00.001-08:002011-11-22T07:01:38.084-08:00Excerpts from Ephesians 4:<br />
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<i>Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.</i><br />
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<i>It was he who gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.</i><br />
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<i>Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.</i><br />
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<i>INSTEAD, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the head--CHRIST.</i><br />
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<i>From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.</i><br />
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I am longing for the day when we as a body of Christ can truly work together out of the bond of peace. I am so tired of being tossed here and there by every wave that comes in life. I want to know the fullness of Christ. I want to be strongly rooted in him and in his mighty power. I want more. It's so hard to want more, because through wanting more, we are asking for some rough and challenging times. I feel like it's only in the depths of challenge and heartache where we truly learn to live this life. Where we truly learn to discover who God has made us to be. In the midst of heartache and struggle we learn to know who God really is and who we really are.<br />
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I often think that our view of God is too small. When we pray for something, and he doesn't answer, what does that really mean? Do we really think that God is going to work how we want him to work? What does it say about God when something horrible happens...or we find out that something horrible happened to someone we love dearly. Where was God in that?<br />
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Through this whole support raising process I am learning that God is giving us the exact amount of money that we need each month to learn to truly cling to him and his provision for us. We have exactly what he wants us to have so that we can grow in our faith and in our understanding of who he is in our lives.<br />
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Just because we give it all for God doesn't mean that we automatically get some kind of orb of protection put around us. I often think, "God, we put it all in for you...why did this happen??" I guess God says in those moments that there is even more that we need to put in for him. More of ourselves that need to be shaved off, more refining that needs to happen in our spirits, so that we can be mature and complete, lacking nothing.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-18720093034115711472010-08-21T07:41:00.000-07:002010-08-21T07:52:42.916-07:00Columbus Home y másLooking forward to going back to my Columbus home. I am ultra excited about this year coming up. I am looking forward this next chapter in our lives. Yesterday I was listening to a message on-line and the preacher said that Faith isn't the absence of doubt, but rather it's the act of moving forward in the face of doubt and fear. Just because fear and doubt exist doesn't mean that we lack faith. I am ready to jump into the next phase of our lives that God has for us. I don't want to just go through the motions of life and never really live.<br /><br />I hope to get more involved with the Latino/Hispanic community in Columbus this coming school year. I am excited to learn more about what God is doing in that area of our city.<br /><br />This summer I have learned that God has given me a great confidence in speaking Spanish. I think I've been waiting for this moment for the last 14 years since I started learning Spanish. It's not that I've reached a point where I know it all, but I just feel a new comfort around Spanish speakers that I haven't felt before. I feel sure of my abilities and sure that I can communicate in a myriad of different situations without getting stuck.<br /><br />I've also learned this summer more about being a good mommy. I've learned to involve Adah in what I do, and try to focus on her world and what she's learning more and more. She's 16 months old now, which is amazing. I still think sometimes how blessed I am to be Adah's mommy. She fills my day with so much joy and accomplishment. Having her here in the midst of so many people who love her too is a beautiful thing to watch. I'm going to miss the companionship of being able to walk out my door and have so much and so many people for Adah to explore.<br /><br />Something else that I have realized is what a blessing it is to be a part of all that God is doing to save lives here in Rosarito and Tijuana. Through my service, people's lives are being changed. Although I'm doing the grueling and tedious background work the majority of the time, I am able to derive so much joy out of that because I know what the end result is.<br /><br />Praise the Lord for another amazing summer!The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-80008550640848389092010-08-10T21:12:00.000-07:002010-08-10T21:20:57.766-07:00Difficult for different reasonsSo each week here seems to bring its own challenges. Isn't that how life is, though? This week has been rough because last Saturday we said goodbye to Matt and Amanda and Jeremy. Also Bill Drake was here last week, which was such a blessing. We had an amazing dinner at our favorite restaurant in Puerto Nuevo. They have tortillas the size of pizzas, and they taste amazing! We have one team here from New York, as well as two guys from Canada. Thinking about heading back to Columbus is starting to make me feel a little nervous, just because I know that this fall is going to be different for us, and what awaits us beyond the fall is exciting to think about, but it's also an unknown!<br /><br />Adah is growing so much...today I think she babbled non-stop. She does this weird sound where it sounds like she's a motorcycle revving up, like "a-nun-nun-nun-nun." Then she makes another sound, "neener, neener, neener..." And she makes the sounds so loud sometimes! She is definitely going to be a talker. She talks to me all the time. Sometimes she's just babbling, then other times it seems like she's really telling you something, with the correct sentence intonation and everything. I think the thing that I need to pay attention to now is keeping my eye on her all the time still. Since she's a little more independent now, it's easy to just kind of let her do her own thing, then you realize she has a crayon in her hand, is unrolling the toilet paper, or worse, getting into some kind of trouble that she shouldn't be in.<br /><br />We're flying home on August 29th. Katie is coming to hang out with us for a few days before we fly home. It will be great to have her help on the plane!!!The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-74511413320219392842010-08-09T11:45:00.000-07:002010-08-09T11:47:46.704-07:00Holy momentsThis morning I had the incredible opportunity of leading worship for the team of 11 that are here this week from New York. We held the worship/Bible study in the newly re-designed staff lounge. It was one of those holy moments for me, when something of heaven touches earth. We had people of Chinese, Pakistani, Cambodian, American, Canadian heritage there in that room, all worshipping in unison the one and only God.<br /><br />"Missions exists because worship does not."<br />--John PiperThe King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-91615326443045675572010-06-04T14:17:00.000-07:002010-06-04T14:18:39.378-07:00June 2010 Newsletter<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CKINGSK%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><link rel="Edit-Time-Data" href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CKINGSK%7E1%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtmlclip1%5C01%5Cclip_editdata.mso"><!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* 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src="file:///C:\Users\KINGSK~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.wmz" title="MC900352095[1]"> <w:wrap type="square"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" spid="_x0000_s1028" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\KINGSK~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image003.wmz" title="MC900320992[1]"> <w:wrap type="square"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->Well the time has come once again.<span style=""> </span>Time for us to pack up say our good-byes and get ready for another crazy amazing summer of service in Tijuana! As some of you may know since we’ve been doing this in 2006 we were able to pack up our vehicle, a Jeep Liberty, and take a long yet fun drive across our wonderful country from Ohio to California.<span style=""> </span>This year with our beautiful addition we’ve decided to both fly down to San Diego instead.<span style=""> </span>We don’t think for Adah that long of a trip would be the best way for us to travel.<span style=""> </span>Pray that we’ll have a pretty non-eventful trip you know, no delays, Adah adjusts well to the new environment, etc…<span style=""> </span>We will be leaving on June 11<sup>th</sup> at 6am.<span style=""> </span>We hope to be all packed up by Tuesday of this coming week.<span style=""> </span>The summer season of outreach begins on June 13 and ends on August 21.<span style=""> </span>We will probably be staying beyond the outreaches for a few days or weeks to debrief, rest, and meet with people there.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">This summer brings a new position for both of us.<span style=""> </span>We are now officially going to take on a position as Outreach Directors.<span style=""> </span>It’s so amazing to see where God has led us the last 4 years that we’ve been involved with YUGO.<span style=""> </span>When we first went to take part in the outreaches, we just wanted to do whatever God wanted us to do…we really didn’t have any plans.<span style=""> </span>Now he has given us the ability to lead others in a really powerful way.<span style=""> </span>The whole time we have worked with YUGO, our goal has been for unity.<span style=""> </span>We are driven by Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17: 20-23: </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 45pt 0.0001pt 27pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">“I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.<span style=""> </span>May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me…may they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">This has been at the core of what we do when we’re in Mexico.<span style=""> </span>We put almost all of our effort into maintaining the bond of peace and love amongst the staff, the team members that come from the US, and the Mexicans that we have the privilege to work with.<span style=""> </span>We have seen that as we love each other and serve together, we are able to show the world God’s love.<span style=""> </span>So often in the Church and as Christians I think we don’t realize how much our love for each other really needs to be at the center of what we do.<span style=""> </span>When Jesus prayed to God in the above passage, this was at the center of his heart, and we strive to make it the center of the ministry that God has entrusted us with.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\KINGSK~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image005.wmz" title="MC900013491[1]"> <w:wrap type="square"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]-->
<br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">We wish there was enough space here to fill you in on all that will happen this summer and all that we hope to see God do in us and through us.<span style=""> </span>We could probably fill many pages!!<span style=""> </span>We hope to update our blog (and Facebook!) as much as is humanly possible throughout the summer to try and fill you in on the details of things as they happen!<span style=""> </span>One of the most exciting things this summer will be our Mexicanos a Mexicanos (Mexican to Mexican) outreach week during the last week of July.<span style=""> </span>During this week, we will be bringing in Mexican youth from the Tijuana area.<span style=""> </span>We will be training them and sending them out as teams into the local communities to reach their city for Christ.<span style=""> </span>It is an amazing and humbling thing to watch God use us to empower the local people to reach their own people for Christ!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="_x0000_s1029" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="april2010 268.JPG" style="'position:absolute;" wrapcoords="-305 0 -305 21113 21620 21113 21620 0 -305 0"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\KINGSK~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image007.jpg" title="april2010 268"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]-->
<br /><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">Our prayer for you is that the Lord would richly bless you as you pursue Him and His will.<span style=""> </span>I have discovered lately that life is all about relationships.<span style=""> </span>Our relationship with God first, then our relationship with others.<span style=""> </span>I think that relationships are all that really matter in this life.<span style=""> </span>It is through our relationship with God that we are able to find strength.<span style=""> </span>It is through our relationship with others that we are lifted up, are able to serve, and most importantly, are able to point people to HIM.</p> The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-24059079650164163972010-03-04T18:32:00.000-08:002010-03-04T18:37:39.335-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_DFKLUpL5maguEHDmyQ4-Fq8AVRBoxnpMZvu1Fc6xIcV0kCmRgxeY_IU-99iNQp8pnmzce1PDrxMawUsm3Tq3HAJqxLuNit76tzRzwOcWmYHKfLaaGtoDjbUVbH9ueZsz5YMQkIBlbur/s1600-h/DSC03887.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_DFKLUpL5maguEHDmyQ4-Fq8AVRBoxnpMZvu1Fc6xIcV0kCmRgxeY_IU-99iNQp8pnmzce1PDrxMawUsm3Tq3HAJqxLuNit76tzRzwOcWmYHKfLaaGtoDjbUVbH9ueZsz5YMQkIBlbur/s200/DSC03887.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444973019442196802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir53WQmFZi2sqOg2Bt5sB7DP3Eq_ul3tUC1l67_qRdRxp8bnS7Z-2XRPOhtiMzu5fcZervrOJDpQ5NBzDTfR3BHOt-dEnxUldfBQdY-MxuNBZno2P2DVYnjEERYo09emZgxnheS1hgaFU0/s1600-h/DSC03890.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir53WQmFZi2sqOg2Bt5sB7DP3Eq_ul3tUC1l67_qRdRxp8bnS7Z-2XRPOhtiMzu5fcZervrOJDpQ5NBzDTfR3BHOt-dEnxUldfBQdY-MxuNBZno2P2DVYnjEERYo09emZgxnheS1hgaFU0/s200/DSC03890.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444973006487203362" /></a><br />Here are some well 2 pics of us playing in the snow. just some fun shots. the snow is melting and the forecast shows warmer days. So hopefully this will be the last of the snow pics this year.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-35331459543232046672010-02-25T11:24:00.000-08:002010-02-25T11:37:08.480-08:00Gotta love sinuses.Well in my last blog or prayer letter, not sure which I wrote it in, but I wrote about not being sick. As with many things I do I spoke to wrote rather too soon. Dar as been battling a small cold and is now getting over her PINK EYE!! (gasp) I didn't think adult got that anymore. She had to go to the doctor or minute clinic of Customer Value Store better known as CVS. That was sunday and today I am happy to announce she's just got a little cold. I on the other battle a horrendous EARACHE. (chills down your spine) This was the most painful earache I've ever felt. It made me wake up twice last night and both times I seriously thought 1. I might need to go to the emergency room and 2. I though I was going deaf. My ear was ringing (and still is as I am typing this out) all night and sounds coming into the poor ear seemed like they were going through a fan. You know the sound when you talk through a fan. I was battling between thinking that it was kinda cool and could someone just knock me out! Thankfully I checked on line and I'm pretty sure its not an infection because I don't feel feverish or "sick". I think its just wax build up and SINUSES. Of course it had to be SINUSES, because of the first 3 letters in the word. Says it all. However we are doing okay and the promise of the weekend had lifted at least my spirits. I hope everyone is doing well too. Who's excited for Easter? I am more than normal. God is showing great stuff about obedience and life. I hope to share about it soon. Well good night and God bless.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-1654310587103589212010-02-16T11:00:00.001-08:002010-02-16T11:43:18.658-08:00Snowtorious B.I.GAhhh White death has engulfed us!! Here is whats going on here right now. Of course I'm gonna talk about the snow because of what I just wrote. Here are the top 5 things we are doing to beat the winter blues. It's not in any particular order. 1. dig it up and shovel yourself out. Its not something thats very fun especially since I seem to be doing it every other day but It's neccesary. 2. make snow Ice cream. Yes we even have it on video. it basically turned out to be a really sweet and cold slushy. 3. cut down iceicles with your samurai sword. Yup also on video. the best part was that Eric went out barefoot in his sweat pants. 4. biulding a smowman and 5. doing nothing and enjoying the 2010 Olympics. We are having a pretty good time even though the weather seems to be disasterous. Today Darlene didn't have school and if you know anything about OSU then you know its pretty bad. However God is good and we have power and staying warm. so I hope your doing ok cause I know its been pretty bad all around the country. these times are so crazy but I think we need to see the positive. its the middle of the week and most of us have a little time off. to me thats a blessing and we can only do what we feel right. Maybe try something from my top 5. <br /><br />PeaceThe King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-53257975744942345822010-02-16T11:00:00.000-08:002010-02-16T11:43:09.018-08:00Snowtorious B.I.GAhhh White death has engulfed us!! Here is whats going on here right now. Of course I'm gonna talk about the snow because of what I just wrote. Here are the top 5 things we are doing to beat the winter blues. It's not in any particular order. 1. dig it up and shovel yourself out. Its not something thats very fun especially since I seem to be doing it every other day but It's neccesary. 2. make snow Ice cream. Yes we even have it on video. it basically turned out to be a really sweet and cold slushy. 3. cut down iceicles with your samurai sword. Yup also on video. the best part was that Eric went out barefoot in his sweat pants. 4. biulding a smowman and 5. doing nothing and enjoying the 2010 Olympics. We are having a pretty good time even though the weather seems to be disasterous. Today Darlene didn't have school and if you know anything about OSU then you know its pretty bad. However God is good and we have power and staying warm. so I hope your doing ok cause I know its been pretty bad all around the country. these times are so crazy but I think we need to see the positive. its the middle of the week and most of us have a little time off. to me thats a blessing and we can only do what we feel right. Maybe try something from my top 5. <br /><br />PeaceThe King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-65274222331027925972010-02-02T19:10:00.000-08:002010-02-02T19:29:00.219-08:00I just want to go on record that this particular blogging site in very confusing. I guess I just need to familiarize myself with it more and just blog more. I am to use to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">facebook</span> which is much easier in my opinion. <div><br /></div><div>Anyways, we are doing great. I just want to thank God for keeping all 3 of us very healthy. Adah had a little cold in December but nothing before and nothing really now. Dar and I have had similar success. I had a cold in November or so but have not come down with anything this winter season. So praise the Lord!! What is really cool right now is that we are becoming more and more free by being more and more disciplined as humans. Of course we're not perfect and are still major sinners but things have been going really smooth. Its all blessings from God in every way. <div><br /></div><div>Its so amazing how the more you train yourself the better you feel. For example physical activity such as <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">exercise</span>. You know you loathe thinking about it, but once you're on the go and working out, even though its painful, you instantly feel better. And medical science has proven its good for you too. We are becoming more healthy and trying to make better choices and I feel the Lord is definitely honoring that. With <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">exercise</span> to the soul, we are learning <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">alot</span> from all around. Isn't that just the amazing thing about God. He is just everywhere and always speaking and teaching us. As life moves He is in front guiding our every step. This is just part of all that He's showing us. I will reveal more as He shows more. </div><div><br /></div><div>So all in all life is good and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">thats</span> all it needs to be right now because we have Christ. What else do you need? </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for reading,</div><div><br /></div><div>Linn</div></div>The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-26446545498166731272010-01-26T14:24:00.000-08:002010-01-26T14:52:34.434-08:00Happy New YearWell just a quick update for all 8 of you who are on here reading. I hope we can have more. Anyways I just wanted to get even this up to speed. <div><i>The Holidays:</i></div><div>We had a great Christmas. The most special reason for us to be so happy was having our daughter celebrate with us. She is just the best and loved all her gifts and so did we. </div><div>New Years was well good and bad. It was bad because of our travel issues which is now a really funny story. We really had a hard time because the outreach we did before hand tired us out. The outreach though was excellent. We were encouraged and humbled by what happened there. </div><div><i>As of Now:</i></div><div>We are hard at work getting teams for the summer. Its crazy but in a few months we'll be heading back to Mexico! It feels like the summer sneaks up on us all the time. We've got one week for individuals this summer and are really excited for this. We hope to get at least 10 people or more. Getting worship leaders and teams and interns are going well too. Adah is doing so great! She getting bigger, stronger, smarter etc... A few more weeks and we're pretty sure shes going to do some real walking. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well thats whats happening as of now. We are doing great and thankful to our Lord for His amazing blessings. Each day is a new and full of promise but only because our hope is in Him. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks and peace.</div>The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-12298460639940140172009-10-07T20:02:00.000-07:002009-10-07T20:44:16.910-07:00October fun by Linn<span style="font-family: verdana;">Oh Sweet fall air you fall so fair<br />On my grass like my falling hair<br />October<br />October<br />Nothing rhymes with thee<br />October<br />October<br />You make me want to pee.<br /><br />If you just read that than I'm sorry to have taken half a second out of your life that you could never take back. Now on to better things. This is a little insight on to my world as a part time stay at home father. So I get up whenever baby gets up which is about the same time momma leaves. I like that however because I get to have a good start on my day. I have a sweet smelling diaper that I have to change and a beautiful smile from my daughter as I do this task everyday. Seriously I'm not kidding about the smile. Its as if she's saying <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">YAY</span> I get to hang out with daddy again, he's the best. Well just like her mother she's never wrong. And then it varies from this point with only one constant me and Adah are attached. I rarely put her down and we just bond through our time together. The house is quiet and we spend a few hours a day just learning more about each other. Never leaving ones side for less than a few moments to either sleep or make coffee. I thoroughly enjoy every <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">millisecond</span> being at home with her. While to some, men and women, Its all about sleeping, eating, and pooping. To me its watching a life grow with a little help from dad and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">a lot</span> from God. I couldn't ask for anything more than that.<br /><br /><br /></span>The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-42717213657678051072009-09-22T19:47:00.000-07:002009-09-22T19:51:00.762-07:00Weird week...This has been such a weird week so far...and it's only been two days! I had to go to school yesterday and today for meetings and such, and tomorrow is the first day of classes. I teach at 8.30 and 9.30 with some other office hours during the week. The past couple of days have been a huge adjustment...making sure that Adah has enough milk before I head to my meetings, Linn taking care of her, me coming home with lesson planning to do...it's actually been harder to adjust to this than being in Mexico...probably because I have to be away from Adah for a bit during the day. I am so thankful for my job and KNOW that it is where God wants me right now, which is really encouraging. God gives me so many opportunities to talk about YUGO and what God is doing in Mexico with the people that I work with at the University...just looking to be used by HIM. That's all I want.The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-55898615867125877492009-08-30T13:55:00.000-07:002009-08-30T14:12:19.009-07:00El HogarWell, we are back home and taking it slow for a little bit. Just adjusting to not needing to help run the outreaches is difficult. One night I woke up and wasn't sure where I was, I thought I was still in Mexico. We are missing the ranch but are glad to be back and continuing our work to spread the word about Mexico and YUGO. We are working on getting our house in order right now and praying that our Jeep doesn't need transmission work done. It was giving us some problems driving back but God got us through and me and my friend had a great time hanging while we drove for hours and hours and hours. Please keep praying for us and specifically more people to come and serve as we approach a new year of outreaches in Tijuana and Mexicali.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>...Cool<br /><br />LinnThe King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-13602076782556136382009-08-25T20:39:00.000-07:002009-08-25T20:59:18.976-07:00The beauty of solitude and restI've been back at my Columbus home for about 2.5 days now. I might be tempted to say, "I haven't done anything." But, what I have done is so important. I haven't left the house and gone out to do stuff, hang out with a bunch of people, go to movies, out to eat, and the things I did before having Adah, but I have been able to experience some silence and solitude like never before. <div><br /></div><div>Having time to ourselves is something that our spirits crave, but somehow seems so elusive sometimes. It has not been easy to put aside my desire to turn on the TV, to take a drive in the car, to walk to a store, to spend hours on Facebook or the internet. I have been trying to use this time while Linn is on his road trip home and Adah needs me exclusively to just rest. This is something that is hard for me to do, but I have been enjoying it. It feels strange to think that I have been at home all day today and all day yesterday, living life simply. Taking care of Adah, eating, napping. It has been beautiful really. It feels amazing to embrace the opportunities that life affords us. Rather than wishing that something else were going on, or that I had more activities to do, I have been attempting as much as possible to abide in the love of my Savior while extending that love to my precious daughter. </div><div><br /></div><div>I know that these days will not always be with me. I know that the next breath that I will breathe is not promised to me. So I am thankful for each one that the Lord gives me and gives to my daughter, my husband, and all of the people that I love in my life. I have experienced so much love, peace, and joy for a thousand lifetimes and my heart is in a continuous state of thanksgiving because of this joy and inner peace. Sometimes I think to myself how amazing it is to feel at peace with yourself, with others, and with God. This peace only comes through a relationship with Jesus Christ, I am convinced. Through the Holy Spirit we are able to have constant communion and connection with the creator of the universe. What does that even mean? It is hard for me to fathom it! That the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, wants to know me and have an intimate relationship with me...and with all of us. I could spend an eternity pondering that concept.</div><div><br /><div>It is not easy to abide in Christ. It takes a constant effort and choice on my part. I have to bend my will towards God. There are so many distractions in life. I have been trying to think about the things that I do in a day. If the things that I do don't draw me closer to God, then why would I do them? I am evaluating what it is that God gives us to do in life. Learning, cleaning, working, singing, eating, playing, showering, creating, these are all things that God created. I want to enjoy God in all of the activities of my life. Whether it be through the laundry that I do, the bedroom that I remodel, the time walking around with Adah, visiting family, shopping at the mall, buying groceries, cooking dinner. In all of the seemingly mundane activities, I want to see where I can find God in them.</div><div><br /></div><div>You know how in the Bible it says that God sees the things that are done in secret? I think that is one of the greatest joys that I have found in parenting so far. That I can be alone with Adah, all day, tending to her needs, and I know that my heavenly Father sees me and approves. Nobody else can experience our moments together. It's just me and her. I think that is one of the greatest difficulties in parenting as well. It is hard to be alone without other adults around, talking to the baby all day. I have been trying and striving though to find out what it is that God wants for me in these moments, and I think it is for me to find him in it all. That I do all for Him and Him alone. Whether it be winning a soul for Christ or changing a diaper.</div></div>The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140374076503056458.post-66117473365837522232009-08-22T17:13:00.000-07:002009-08-22T17:20:15.072-07:00On our way home!We left the ranch this morning. It was bittersweet, and always is. Linn, my mom, Adah and I are in a hotel in San Diego because my mom, Adah and I are flying out tomorrow morning at 6:45am. Linn's good friend Keo is flying in tomorrow morning at 11:00am and they are going to start the drive home Monday. It was hard leaving Claudia because she became like a little sister to me while we were there. She is going to be staying at the ranch with another missionary family. Next week Pastor Martin (President of YUGO Mexico) is going to see if she can stay at the Children's home after that. Pray that God continues to open doors in her life. Her 15th birthday is on this coming Wednesday, and so we had a surprise birthday party for her last night. It was so amazing to see her get showered with love. The interns did such a good job putting on the party for her. We all have grown to love her so much. This morning before we left she handed me a rose and said, "You are like this rose. You are beautiful like this rose." She is so gifted in poetry and I'm excited to see where that might lead in her life.<div><br /></div><div>We taught her how to use the computer and the internet this Thursday. She had never used a computer before. She took to it right away and began looking up poetry to write down. I hope she gets the opportunity to go to school soon!!</div><div><br /></div><div>God has blessed us so much this summer. I am looking forward to the ministry opportunities that God has for us in our second home in Columbus. I feel like I go home at the end of August to Columbus and I go home in June to Mexico. It's pretty awesome.</div>The King's Kongshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07018533818847705918noreply@blogger.com1