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sean’s musings

16
Aug 11sean
Kenya Africa – Arrival in Kenya

We finally arrived in Kenya, after a stop in Ethiopia. After sorting through our visa paperwork (turns out we didn’t HAVE to have our yellow fever shots to get in), we all got photographed and fingerprinted with a shiny new Kenyan visa in our passports.

We then proceeded to find all our luggage in baggage claim, which luckily had all made it. Our “caretaker” Constantino met us right outside the baggage claim and rolled the bus up to meet us. The bus itself was quite large, luckily large enough to fit all of the stuff we brought. We brought all sorts of medical supplies, toys, candy, school supplies, etc to bring to various places within Kenya.

The ride from the Airport was supposed to take about 30 min, but took more like an hour and a half due to the intense traffic. It was utter chaos. Vans were actually driving off the side of the road up into the dirt and making their own roads. Within all the traffic, vendors were walking up to cars and trying to sell goods. It reminded me in some ways of crossing the border from Mexico back into the United States. Along the way you would see nice buildings along side people living in the streets. Shanti towns were scattered along the route, which is the first time I’ve really experienced seeing something like that other than on TV. The ride in general was quite enjoyable other than the fact that we’d been pretty much up for 30+ hours with little sleep and I think most were ready to get to our destination. We finally arrived to our destination, the Africa Nazarene University, which is set on a beautiful campus. There is a housing building especially for work and witness teams which we are staying in. It’s a 3 story building with many bunk rooms. Because we were behind schedule due to the traffic, we unloaded everything, got our rooms, and then headed up to the cafeteria for a late lunch/early dinner.

We met Freddie who is our chef for the time we are going to be here. He is a very nice, enthusiastic and friendly guy. After dinner we all came back to the house and pretty much crashed.

We did meet another team that is staying in the top floor of this building, and oddly enough they are from Calvary Church in Hillsboro, just down the road from where we live. One of the party was a Duck fan, so I even got a little ridicule in Kenya of all places. It’s quite funny that we can travel half way around the world and end up with people who go to church right down the street from us.

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mumblings of a humble servant

01
Aug 11admin
Ryan + Ashley {second shooting} – part 1

This past Saturday I had the honor of second shooting for Mrs. Kim Elsner!  She is the admin for a group on Facebook called “Photography Locations Northwest” and its a great place for amateur and professional photographers to share locations.  I look forward to scoping some of them out in person.  Anyway, about a month ago she put up a post saying that she needed a second shooter for this wedding coming up July 30th.  It just so happened I had the day free and could do it.  I emailed her and she wrote back saying she liked my work and would love to have me come along!!  EEK!  Since my first official wedding is this coming Saturday the timing couldn’t be better to gets some hands on experience.

For those of you who are wondering what a second shooter does its as follows: i’m there to make sure we get all the important, only one chance kind of shots.  The theory is that if, for whatever reason, the main shooter doesn’t get a shot of say the first kiss at the alter, I (hopefully:)) would have gotten the shot.  I also get to take pictures of all the before/after stuff and just get a different angle and what not.   Kim said I didn’t have to edit them.  I just give them to her and she edits them and then gives them to the bride and groom to have.  My name still gets to be on my work too:)  I did, however, decide to edit some because they were just such a fun couple and I want these for my portfolio.  There are like a guhzillion pictures to go through so these are just the first of my favorites.  I will probably have a least one more post, maybe two of my faves.  Please let me know what you think!!

ACK!  10 hours worth of work but it was SOO great!  It makes me super excited for the wedding of Sarah Brown and Nate Tuckness next weekend!  More to come!

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Little Heart

30
Jan 11Nixie Pixie
uuggghhhhh

when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

when you were ignorant, when you were still unrepentant and unaware that you were living a life that clashed with the purposeful holiness of the God who created all of us, you were free to do whatever you wanted.

if you choose to obey sin AFTER having received pardon, AFTER receiving unabashed, liberal amounts of grace, what benefit were you THEN deriving from sin that now causes you shame? do you benefit now?

the outcome of those things – of that sin – is death. what good is that?

but now, having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, which results in sanctification, and ultimately: eternal life.

your payment for working out sin is death; the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

i would rather work out my salvation with fear and trembling before an Almighty, Holy God who loves me unconditionally, than choose to live a life that cripples me, bringing me lower and farther from my purpose, into a listless, hopeless, and hollow life.

derived from the end of Romans 6.

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Random Musings of a Beautiful Letdown

02
Nov 10Amanda
GO GIANTS!!!

Here was a conversation last night.  It’s good to admit when we’re wrong!

Sean: <sheepish grin> I bought a cheap bottle of champagne on the way home.

Me: You’re such a dork!  <adoring smile>  Why didn’t you get some Prosecco?

Sean:  Yeah.  For 40 bucks!

Me:  Well, we could have saved it for Wednesday!  You know I want them to win, but it’s probably not going to happen tonight.  The odds are against it.

Sean: I know.

And at the end of the night, I drank my weight (not literally!) in $10 champagne, opened my mouth and ate my foot…which, looking back, was the tastiest foot I have ever consumed!  Go Gigantes!  Congrats!

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Mischief Managed

09
Sep 10kate
Oh my.

I’m still alive! During my time sipping my tea and perusing the internet this morning I decided to check out good ol’ Haseldens.com and came across this little treasure again.

Where to begin? I am living in this beautiful house with my lovely roommate in Woodburn, Oregon. The Lord has really provided me with the desires of my heart! Though my recent heartache has brought me a sense of desolation at times, I will never deny the fact that God is here and He’s creating a new heart in me. Growth ensues and the Lord prevails I’m trying to soak up Romans 8:28. “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

I’m now a barista at Starbucks in Salem. It’s quite the challenging job, oddly enough. Even so, it’s been a rewarding experience. I’ve developed a few great relationships with coworkers and customers. I’m thankful for this season of my life to settle in and discover what it’s like to have a full-time job. It’s definitely a new adventure!

I’m loving my church/family here. Serving in a church is such a new thing to me. I’m thankful to have the secretary as a sister to make it an easier transition! It feels like home to me and it’s been a very long time since I’ve been somewhere I feel like I fit in. There’s a purpose for me here and I’m excited to see what it really is and discover these gifts. I’m learning to love people in such a different way than I did before! Thank you, Lord. It’s been a long time coming. All of this has!

I’ve been looking back on the progress made on all accounts. Work, attitude, relationships, time management, paying bills, serving, etc. Everything that comes with being an adult (and a human). I feel like I’m fully immersed. It’s terrifying! I can’t believe I finally left the nest (or rather fell out of the nest?) and am pursuing life instead of being still.

I know you all thought “Finally!” when you heard I was moving out on my own. Don’t deny it My point in writing this was to speedily catch you up and thank you for praying and loving me through everything!

On another note, I’d like to leave you with these lyrics:

And after the storm I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up
On my knees and out of luck, I look up

Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won’t rot, I won’t rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won’t rot

And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall
And remembered our own land, what we lived for

And there will come a time, you’ll see, with no more tears
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears
Get over your hill and see what you find there
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair

And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh, no more
That’s why I hold
That’s why I hold with all I have
That’s why I hold

I won’t die alone and be left there
Well I guess I’ll just go home,
Oh God knows where
Because death is just so full and man so small
Well I’m scared of what’s behind and what’s before

And there will come a time, you’ll see, with no more tears
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears
Get over your hill and see what you find there
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair

“After the Storm” – Mumford and Sons

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Gompers Growing Up

15
Jun 10dan
Easter Eggs and Ear Aches

          Sorry for the delay in posting. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been able to sit down and do this. First I was working nights and babysitting days, so any break in the action and I was sleeping. Then I got laid off, so more regular rest. But all my spare time has gone into getting the house ready to sell. Most of that’s done, so I hope to post more regularly.

           So, you may have heard there was a wedding last month. We decided to grace the event with our presence, no matter the hardships we would endure and overcome. The following is the saga of our epic journey.

          We flew out of Indianapolis early Thursday morning. We were quite the sight going through the airport. Two big suitcases, a car seat in a carrier, a carry-on bag, a back pack, the laptop case, the inevitable diaper bag, and a baby in a stroller. Even after we checked the big bags and car seat, we still had a lot of stuff! On the first flight to Denver, Beth was great , she slept most of the way.

       O.k., I started this blog a month and a half ago. I’m gonna finish it real quick like. The second half of the flight Beth got cranky. We thought she was just tired and upset. Turns out she had an ear infection. Imagine the pain when we changed altitudes. Anyway, we went to the wedding, had a great time. If you were there, you know what I’m talking about. If you weren’t, you should have been. Had a wonderful time the rest of the trip, it was too short. Here are some pics of Beth from the trip. Sarah’s mom made her dress for the wedding and my mom made her Easter dress. Coming soon, POTTY TRAINING! 

 

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31
Dec 69

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31
Dec 69

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