Honduras

Here is a link to watch a little video of our visit to Honduras. Dave made this as a 'thank you' to people who helped sponser a new building for the orphans at Hogar De Ninos Emanuel. The building shown at the end of the video is an apartment just for pre-schoolers to live in along with their own "house-Mom" rather than being in the dorm with older children.
Thanks again for documenting these amazing memories Dave!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFyLnYkqhEQ

graffiti clean-up

Check out this link to an awesome video my oh-so-handsome husband made when our youth group came to help in our neighborhood. It was a great evening of helping neighbors, making new friends, and showing people that teens have a really big heart!

http://interface.audiovideoweb.com/gplnk/ld/3654/play.html

my "shape"

My church has this cool thing to help people find out how they're gifted and how they might fit into serving opportunities in the church -- they call it: Finding your SHAPE. It's an encouraging way of looking at people's Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality and Experiences and helps people get plugged in and serving Jesus in the church.

I really like the tool; I just don't like what it's called. "Finding your shape" has a whole different connotation for a girl like me. I mean, I already know my shape. Generally it's called "pear-shaped. " But I call it Barney-shaped and I'm trying to fix it!

The good news is that contrary to common belief in our society, our usefulness to God and reaching others with His love has nothing to do with our little imperfections. I find great comfort that when I look at my "SHAPE" profile at church, it has nothing to do with big-hipped, purple dinosaurs! Hurrah!

what would you choose?

Okay...so you're stranded on a deserted island. The only choice you have to make, the ONLY thing you can control is...what music will you listen to while on the island? It can be only one artist or group for all the rest of your days on this island...who will it be? (I know who I'd choose, what about you?:-)

throw me a bone

hey there friends! Lately many of you have mentioned you want me to blog more. And I want to too -- you know how it is with working and all...but really, it's hard for me to blog to the great unknown. Do you know what I mean dear Blogger friends? Say hello sometimes, would ya! I mean, throw me a bone, people!

Ugly no more!

Have you ever been thirsty? I mean really thirsty? That's how I felt a few years ago when I went to Mexico to serve with our church youth. We had the privilege of working with AMOR ministries and we were on a dry, dusty, sunny construction site and suddenly I was very thirsty.

I'm talking about the kind of thirst that drives you to stop all activity except that which leads you to water. It's funny to think that at first I thought the big, orange water cooler was to ugly to drink from. I know it sounds snobby of me, but it was dirty and smeared with hand prints and there was mud on the side where dust stuck to condensation when we sat it down on an old work table.

When I left the camp that morning with a full, clean water bottle I had the luxury of thinking that big orange thing was too ugly to drink from. I mean come on, I had my standards! Then after hours of manual labor (new to me!) and hot sun (also new to me -- I am from Portland you know!) my water bottle was drained and I had to find more...and the big orange cooler started changing. Not only did it hold water -- it was the BEST water I have ever tasted in my life! It was ugly no more!

I've been pondering water since I came across this cool verse during my morning quiet time with God's Word: Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land. (Prov. 25:25) And then yesterday I heard from my good friend Aline who moved to the great CA years ago, and I experienced that verse first-hand. Whereas I didn't start my day feeling "weary" I sure had a little more pep in my step after she called!

Some good friends of mine are on their way to Alaska where I'm sure they will be like a cold drink of water to the friends they visit too. They are going to build and run a Bible camp for young people this summer and they have some really long-lasting friendships there and there are all these new people they will get to meet. I'm sure all who come into contact with them will be refreshed because these friends of mine -- they are tapped into the Living Water. Yep, Jesus Christ Himself directs their path!