Friday, March 2, 2012

trees and rocks and rocks and trees

So, I have noticed that I am a simple girl. There is a LOT of beauty in trees and rocks!



trees



and rocks



and rocks



and trees



My friend Mi Yun, a missionary and a great photographer. She is the one who took all the pictures I have posted except for this one.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Colorado Springs - Air Force Academy

This was my first time to any of the US military schools. The Air Force Academy is really incredicle - I mean, I totally want to attend now. Their honor code is "We do not lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do so." Good code! Anyway, there was a lot to see at the Academy, but I was most impressed with their chapel, here are a few pictures.



From the outside.



inside - but the picture does not do justice to how beautiful it is.



reserved seating



the front of the chapel



In the basement, there are additional chapels, this is the front of the Catholic chapel. It was beautiful.



The Jewish chapel.

pictures Colorado Springs - Garden of the Gods



So, this place is called Garden of the Gods - perhaps better to call it God's garden. It was beautiful. Clearly God is creative and amazing!



missionary friends - Jennifer, Katie, and Angie.



me and a really big balancing rock!

pictures from Colorado Springs - seven falls



the frozen waterfall




Some of my new missionary friends - Angie, Katie, and Mi Yun. We were at Seven Falls making funny faces.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Colorado Springs

Lots of random fun in Colorado. This is my first visit. I came out for 5 weeks of training at Missions Training Institute (MTI). There are LOTS of ministries here in the Colorado Springs area, including Focus on the Family and COmpassion International. On Monday, I had the opportunity to visit both.



This was taking at Focus on the Family's kids area

Random writings not posted...until now

“I love Jesus”
For my online banking, when I sign in there are a series of security measures, one of which is a statement I chose to enter. It is “I love Jesus.” It is an important reminder to me, every time I look at how much money is in my personal account.
1. Not my money
2. Jesus is taking care of me
3. No need to worry
4. “Because He first loved me”



Sweet – stolen time at KMBC with people that I love. Should not be able to come home again, but I have had a little glimpse. 3 years at KMBC, people I came in with are still here. Never another time I would be able to come back and experience this again. What a blessing. Hard to leave. Gift really. So many of the things I love about KMBC – the people. Inside and outside at the same time.


Relationships are hard. Maybe that is why I am not married or even dating for that matter. It is hard to just be friends, aquaintences, associates, people are just difficult. It really is about balance and juggling. I think about living my whole life in a small town and knowing everyone. I think about my grandma who moved to Marion after she got married. In middle school, she would meet one of my friends and ask their parents or grandparents name because somehow, she had a connection to them. Maybe because I have spent the last 3 years on a small Bible College campus, I like the dynamic that everyone knows everyone.
I think if it were possible, I would really like to know everyone. I know it is inpractical and unrealistic. But, I struggle in sharing myself with people and getting to know them. So many relationships are so temporary, lives that just intersect for a few minutes – I want more. Lives that intersect for years – I want more there too. People not just at home in my town, but in different States and different countries. And it is hard. It hurts. Knowing people and loving people is a wonderful thing, but it costs something.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

always an apology

I find that every time I look at my blog I need to apologize for not blogging. So, why keep the blog? I love to look back and read the blogs of when I was in Ukraine. They are a journal and I love to be reminded of what God has done. It is funny, that I write blogs and then often fail to post them.

So, right now I am at a training center in Colorado - my first time to the state. I am amazed by how beautiful it is here. I love the people I have met. Lots of sending agencies are represented and it is exciting to see people going to so many different countries. I am blessed to be part of it!

Well, that is it for now, I need to run get ready for church. More later.