Coming to an End

Well, it is Saturday, May 31st and my time in Jordan is unfortunately coming quickly to an end. In just 3 short days I will be on a plane back to Cali. My heart is now in the position that it has come to hate...torn between two groups of people that I love. Even as I write and think about this my eyes are brimming with tears. One side of me can't wait to get home and see all of my family and friends that I have so dearly missed but then there is the other part of me that dreads leaving my family here in Jordan. I can't even being to describe to you all back home how great these people are....especially when you look at all that they are enduring and sacrificing because of their love for Christ. I feel so genuinely blessed to have lived amongst and become a part of this awesome family. I will strongly miss Jay's constant teasing me and the way he is able to bring the best out of people and how he brings laughter to the household....actually pretty much anywhere and everywhere he goes. I will also miss the awesome friendship that I was able to establish with Kim. Her wise counsel and thoughts have grown me so much...in the way that I view things and especially in the little (or not so little) areas that my heart is still feeling hurt. I have had many failed attempts at trying to get them to come back and work at the church. It seems that God has them here for a reason...but who knows...maybe someday :) Of course there is no amount of telling how much I will miss the boys and the way they bring a smile to my face and joy to my heart. It makes me very sad that I won't be able to watch Aiden grow to be the amazing boy that I know he will be. I won't have anyone to climb on me or to sing me twinkle twinkle little stars with many of the words missing or made up, hehe. It is my prayer that these boys will grow to be like their daddy...strong in faith and who they are in Christ and of course like their mother as well...kind and compassionate to all.
My experiences here have been more amazing than I could ever have hoped for. Never did I think I would walk where Israelites have walked or see places where Jesus, my Savior, has been. It makes my soul soar to think about it all and to look back at all of the fun times shared with them. I don't want to make this too sad because I have no doubt that I will be with them again but I just wanted to try and express how much this family means to me and how much I will miss them.

On the other side of things; I am very excited to get back to the other people that are so dear to me. I have missed my family and friends greatly and cannot wait to get back into all of their lives this Summer. I plan to do many lunch dates and beach days with everyone....and hopefully some pool parties thrown in there if my daddy would be so obliged to do some of his amazing grilling :) Unfortunately the catching up with my brother will have to be put off a little while longer since God has provided him the awesome opportunity to go to Florida this Summer...but there is no doubting that it will happen.

In August I never thought my travels would begin and now that they are over it is hard to believe that I actually experienced all that I did. No amount of words could ever be enough to express my gratitude towards my daddy for setting everything up...and of course for all of those that supported and prayed for me through this whole thing as well. So here is just a big "thank you" to you all. You have helped change my life and been part of God's plan to transform my heart to truly seek after His will and to find His never-ending love and protection.

Baby Aiden

Around 3:30-4:00 a.m. (I think) I get woken up and the surprising announcement is told that Kim's water has broken and they are both heading to the hospital, meaning I need to stay home with the boys (which of course I totally don't mind doing). Well, try going back to sleep after that news....not very easy let me tell you. Instead I sat there and prayed for a while and eventually got a little bit more sleep. It hardly seemed like I had closed my eyes, however, before Jay was calling me telling me that baby Aiden had arrived!!!! That is definitely one of the fastest labors I have ever experienced. I was SO excited and I got the wonderful privilege of telling the boys the good news. Justice thought that he was just going to go to school so immediately when he got up he had started to get dressed in his school clothes. I then told him that he didn't have to go to school today in which he replied...."Oh yea! I forgot.....wait why again?"...he was so cute. When I told him that his mommy and daddy had gone to the hospital in the night and that Aiden was born his face and eyes lit up like a light bulb! He was so excited and was talking really fast and laughing, haha...he was now the OLDEST brother, as he reminded us of many times :). Salem was still sleeping and so when he woke up he wasn't quite as excited as Justice because he was still in sleep-mode but later he was absolutely adorable saying over and over how Aiden had come out of mommies belly. We were all anxious to get to the hospital to see him and I am pretty sure Justice asked me when we were going about 50 times that morning, hehe...of course I would be too if I had waited 9 months to see my new baby brother. We were told that our friend's the Blisses would be coming around noon to pick me and the boys up and take us over to see him. The boys and I began to get ready (very excitedly might I add) and eagerly awaited their arrival!!!!!
We arrived at the hospital and had a little accident with Justice slipping and hurting his knee but he was soon on his feet again and running to get to his new baby brother. How I am supposed to describe the next moments I really don't know. From the time I entered the room I was so overwhelmed with emotion...I didn't even really understand it and definitely did not expect it. I have seen new-born's before but I think maybe only one that soon after and it definitely was not in this kind of situation. I had no idea what to really say or do. I was so content to just sit and watch the little guy. He was so perfect....so beautiful. Kim and Jay were a bit tired (as to be expected of course) but you could hardly tell. The room was filled with smiles, story-telling of how the baby came (which is quite a funny story) and lots of laughter.....basically, Joy; total, complete joy. I'm telling you, I am definitely my mother's daughter for I felt that if I were to speak I would burst into tears any second, haha. Although I didn't really need to speak for that to happen anyways...just looking at the tiny little new-born was enough to make me start. I think it was also a combination of things. God brought me here for more than one reason but I would say that this would definitely be a main one. If it had turned out that I wasn't able to do any other of the sight-seeing or fun things while I was here, it wouldn't matter at all...this would be worth it. Being a part of this wonderful family for these moments and seeing their love for each other and them spreading it, also, to me....it just hit me full on in those moments of watching Jason the giant hold his baby son that is like the size of his head and Salem and Justice peering over at their new baby brother and trying to be gentle with his tiny, soft head and Kim being happy as ever after just giving birth with the smile on her face that could light up a room. I feel like I am rambling now, haha, but it really feels like I could go on and on and never be able to fully express what I was feeling. Oh man when I was able to 1st hold Aiden in my arms....there was no stopping it. Tears of joy and love just came. I figured my mom and Mrs. Fowler (Darlene for Jay) weren't there to do it so I might as well fill in :)
I hope all of that made sense enough. Kim and the baby are already coming home today. I am so thankful that God planned it all out so that I could be here to take care of the boys and, as I have said already, partake in this miraculous moment of a new life beginning it's journey.
I'm sure Kim will post a blog about this as well so if you would like to read up on hers when she eventually gets around to it I'll post a link at the bottom.
11 more days...my my my time flies and I'm pretty sure that it is going to fly by even faster with the baby now here.



http://www.loving4boys.blogspot.com/

Dead Sea

So we just got back from our trip like a half hour ago. We left about mid-afternoon and headed to the Dead Sea for a bit of a float and then tracked up the mountains to Herod's Palace where John the Baptist was held and probably killed. It was a really awesome day! Starting with the Dead Sea....oh man it is so weird to walk in and feel the difference in the water, first of all...it is super salty, of course, so the water makes you feel slippery and slimy kind of, haha as weird as that sounds. Thank goodness I didn't have any kinds of cuts or anything or it would have stung so badly. Kim's hands were just dry and it was stinging them a lot. Second, hehe, you really really float...if you just start to lay on your back in the water it will make your legs go up unless you force them down. It was awesome...I loved it! Holy cow but when you get out...gross!!!!! You have to rinse off and if you got your hair in the water than you really have to wash it out. I only got a little of my hair wet and even that gets so stiff from the salt and you brush your hands through it and can just feel the little salt grains....it was nasty and my hair was so gross by the end of the day!
Well, after the Dead Sea we traveled to Herod's Palace where John the Baptist was held and probably killed. It was so awesome! There wasn't much left of it of course but it was still awesome. Plus it was right at Sunset so it was really beautiful!
I'm home in a little over 2 weeks...I can't believe it. Things have been going really awesome this past week. Kim and I have been able to spend a lot of time together since she is done with school till the next term due to the baby coming. It has been so awesome for me and her getting to have some girl time together. We are anxious for the baby to arrive and the boys are so excited to have a little brother. Still hoping he will come before I leave.
I'm anxious for Summer but hesitant to leave...as always when this time comes around. Continued prayers are always appreciated and loved :)
XOXO

Aqaba

This past weekend was so incredible....never ever in my life did I think that I would be scuba diving in the Red Sea! We traveled to the city of Aqaba Thursday afternoon and checked into the hotel then went and got some dinner at a nice Chinese restaurant. The food was delicious and we had heaps of fun...continuing the fun afterwards by walking to a really good ice cream shop :)
On Friday we got to the beach fairly early. The hotel we were staying at has connections with the diving company or something like that and they have a restaurant area with an gated in pool area as well that had lounge chairs all around so the divers or others staying at the hotel could go there and not be bothered by others. It was really nice...especially because the actual beach part isn't that nice. The sand is more like rocks and little pebbles and it isn't like our beaches where it is sand that leads to the water and waves. The reef is literally right off the shore so you are pretty much standing on top of it while you are in the water, haha. So the pool is a nice area for the kids to swim and for the tourists not to be bothered by the locals. Anyways, so a little after the arrival a guy comes by and I fill out some paperwork and then Jay and I went back to get our gear on. I always assumed that the air tanks were heavy but oh my word I felt like I had a 200 pound man on my body because you also have to wear weights so that you stay down in the water (once in the water of course you don't feel that weight). So the instructor told me some basic rules and things and then we headed down to the beach....oh yea and I also remembered how much I am not a fan of wet suits. The breathing was really easy...that, equalizing the pressure in my ears and kicking my legs was about the only things I had to worry about because the guide was in control of my buoyancy the whole time since it was my first time. I was perfectly ok with that too because all I wanted to do was see the pretty fish and corral.....and Oh My Word did I see that! The reef was absolutely incredible!!! Jay had said that it would be nice but I did not expect all that I saw...it was so full of life and color! It really was glorious.....I kept feeling like I was in Finding Nemo, hehe :) It was crazy...I just had to keep telling myself that I was actually in the Red Sea, scuba diving among the reef; that it was actually real. I don't even really know how to describe it. Jay, Justice and I went snorkeling later and even that was amazing!! I dived for about 45 minutes and then headed back to the pool where we relaxed under the Sun for a while :) one of my favorite things to do. We did the snorkeling a little bit later and then headed back to the hotel after to get cleaned up and go to dinner. After dinner we walked around the city for a bit with a guy that we met named JF from Canada.....not too sure what his name stood for and I kept forgetting to ask him. But he was really nice and was at the pool that day as well and went diving so he and Jay had talked a bit. He was in Jordan by himself so we invited him to walk around with us. It was a gorgeous night and I loved just walking around seeing new things. The next day we went back to the pool and restaurant place and laid out a bit more....Jay and Justice went snorkeling while Kim, Salem and I sat on the beach and enjoyed the splendor of our King. It is really really cool to just look out at the ocean because straight across from us is Egypt, haha......o and you can also see Israel and Saudi Arabia from Aqaba....it is crazy! So yea straight across from our part of the part of the Red Sea was the Sinai Peninsula. All of these places that I have heard of growing up in school and stuff and I could see them all! God is SOOOO great!!!!!!!
We left about mid-day Saturday and took the longer drive home that is a more scenic route that takes you by the Dead Sea and so we stopped at one point and walked down towards the water. We weren't super close to it or anything and we were climbing on rocks and stuff. It was really really fun...I love the random parts of trips like that. Jay was taking some pictures and the boys and I were having fun with the rocks, hehe. The sun was descending so it was really pretty on the water. We will hopefully visit the Dead Sea soon but oh man even just to look at it is incredible....thinking that nothing lives there nor does anyone travel on it because their is so much salt that it just kills the boat and stuff. It is just a big body of water that sits there. It is like God thought to Himself "I'm going to put this here...at the lowest spot on earth, simply because I am awesome and I can, haha"....others speculate that that is were Sodom and Gomorrah was but who knows for sure. So basically the trip was awesome!!!

We went to prayer meeting this morning and I would like to ask that all who read this would just keep the people/families involved in your prayers for strength and healing and just that they would be blessed in all areas. Can't say much else but I would just greatly appreciate that and I think they would too.

Kim is due in a few weeks so prayer for her delivery would be wonderful as well....especially that the baby would come before I leave so that I can do as much as possible to help them out before I have to head back. Things are going great so far...perfectly healthy and kicking :) Jay and the kids are doing great as well.

Missing you all always! XOXOXOXOXO

Petra!

We went to Petra yesterday....OH MY WORD....never have I experienced something that cool that man has made. It was crazy!!!! It started off really cool because a couple ended up going with us that knew my parents from college. Talk about a small world!! Well, the husband new them from choir. The wife didn't but they also knew the Loftis' (the family from Australia) really well. So that was cool and I was able to have some fun conversations with Robin, the wife, on the ride to Petra. All of the women rode down in one car and all of the men rode down in another car with the boys. Thank goodness it was a tourist location so I was able to show more of my arm skin...otherwise I would have been burning up. I don't know how these women do it. Anyways, we had to pay to get in and then Salem and I got on a horse and Justice got on his own (everyone else just walked) and they took us to the entrance to the pathway through the mountains. From there you have to walk aways before you get to the Treasury but it's totally awesome because you pretty much feel as if you are in a movie. The rocks and colors are so cool. There were lots of people but I didn't care...it gives me opportunities to see more cultures and other people's reactions to it. Your first glimpse of the Treasury is just that...a glimpse through the end of pathway...then you exit the mountains and there it is!! It is so big and you just feel so tiny standing in front of it. Hehe...then I rode a camel with Salem and Meagan (the Bliss' daughter) rode with Justice. I was laughing/giggling pretty much the whole time. It's a lot different than getting on a horse because the end of the camel goes up first when they stand so you are like launched forward in the seat, hehe. From the Treasury we walked a bit and then got on a donkey! The donkey's take you all the way up to the Monastery. You can walk it if you want but it is a really really long hike and it is steep too so you're better off riding a donkey...even though that is a bit freaky sometimes too cuz you are on these narrow steps and pathways and that can be a bit scary when you are going up a mountain! The donkeys drop you off and then you have to walk up even more of the mountain! The Monastery is very cool too and while we were sitting down to eat lunch a couple of Bedouin guys came and started to climb up to the top of the it!!! It was CRAZY...they were barefooted too and it was so high! It was so cool to watch and one of the guys got to the very top and started playing an instrument, haha. It was awesome. From there you walked back down the mountain until you got to a safe enough place where you could get on the donkeys again and ride them the rest of the way back. That was pretty much the end of Petra...we all rode back and had dinner at Popeyes, haha. I never would have imagined that I would be able to see or experience anything like that and I am SO thankful to God that He has allowed all of this to happen!

Easter Break

It is hard to believe that April is almost over. In fact it hardly seems like I had an April, hah. But here it is the 29th and we are about to head into May...time does fly. I have had a pretty incredible time these past couple of days. Sunday was Easter over here and one of the team's kids was going to be baptized in the Jordan and Jay and Kim are really close to them so they asked us if we could go and so we spent the morning down at the Jordan river. I never thought I would be able to say that I worshipped the God Almighty in the very places where His son was present. It was awesome! Driving down there Jay and Kim were telling me a bit about where we were located and so we are on the side where the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years...it was crazy to look out at the actual terrain that they lived in...actually some Bedouins still do; don't ask me how but they do. When we got there we had to wait for the others to arrive who were also getting baptized and then we entered into the "sight" were they think that Jesus was baptized. It's a bit sad because there is a big Islam church right up from the spot but we were the only people there so we just sat on the steps and heard a couple of testimonies and sang some songs and then went down to the river. It was so crazy because you looked straight across to the other side and you are looking at Israel and their buildings with all of their flags flying in the air. They have guards posted so that you can't just cross over into Israel. You could also see the city of Jericho from the sight. My mind was amazed :)
Kim and the kids are on Easter break right now so yesterday we went to the city of Jerash. That was SO incredible too! The ruins that are there from thousands of years ago are so awesome! Almost the whole amphitheater is still standing and in pretty good condition and they had guys in there playing the bagpipes and some of the Arabs were dancing around and stuff...it was such an awesome experience. As we were walking up a hill where you could kind of see everything I was just left speechless. To actually be in a Roman city like that and think about all of the history that happened there...man! I mean there were tons of columns that were still standing and entry ways and even an original road where you could look at the stone on the ground and see marks left from all of the chariots that road over them! I mean I can't even describe it. Salem and Justice love to climb on all of the "knocked down stuff" as they call it :) While looking at Artemis' Temple there was a group of Arab girl students and they immediately were swarming me, Jay and Justice (Kim had gone to sit down with Salem) and they wanted to know my name and where I was from and they continually wanted to take pictures of and with me. I felt like a movie star haha...it was insane! I walked away to find Jay and I found Justice surrounded by the girls as well and they were all amazed that Jay could speak English and they were laughing there heads off at him...they think that we are fascinating because we aren't from there and of course we are white and speak English mainly. So the girls continued to follow me and take picture after picture with me and then we went back out and they followed us back to Kim and Salem and then they were all talking to us and taking more pictures...and THEN when they were supposed to be leaving they asked if I could go with them..haha. It was pretty much insane and one of the most unique things I have ever experienced.
Today I went with Kim and visited an Arab woman that lived across from them at their old apartment. It was a really cool cultural experience because I was able to see the inside of their homes and what that all looks like. I thought it was really beautiful! They love to decorate elaborately...especially the Salon which is like the entertaining room for the men or certain guests. She served us Arab tea and coffee...I really liked the tea because they serve it sweet and normally put mint leaves in it. The coffee I much prefer to stick to our American way :) After that we went to the doctors and I saw an ultrasound of the baby :) :) that is just so incredible to me!
So my week has been pretty busy so far and it is only Tuesday, hah. Thursday we are going to Petra and that will be an amazing adventure!! I will ride a horse, a donkey and a camel all in one day haha. Can't wait!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x228/jmkettenring/Amman%20Jordan/

hectic weekend

It was a pretty crazy weekend...we had people over every evening but it was heaps of fun too. Friday morning the team had a big meeting so I watched all of the kids along with another girl who is almost 14. That went really long and was pretty exhausting so we came home and took naps because Friday evening we had a family over who is actually from Jordan...well the husband is from Israel...so that was really cool to interact with them some. They all pretty much spoke a little bit of English...Jay is helping him with his English. Saturday we were preparing most of the day for the Passover dinner that we were guna have that night. That was really awesome cuz I have never participated in anything like that. Some of Kim's classmates came over who live in Israel and have celebrated this before (some were Jews believers I think). I really enjoyed that however I found myself wishing that the night would end because I had begun to get a soar throat and my head was hurting due to a lot of noise from the kids and just all of the activity. It was still fun though. Also, right now the team's head guy and his wife are out because the team is trying to get things finalized on a building they are trying to create and just different things that require everyone to be here in person....so Sunday night we had them over for dinner and they didn't leave till pretty late as well. So it was crazy but still good all in all! I have enjoyed watching the boys while Jay and Kim have had company that they don't necessarily want interruptions happening every 5 minutes, hehe. It has been great having two little brothers around and they seem to like me and listen to me well so that is encouraging :) Just the other day I played "SpiderBat" while Justice was "SuperCrush" and Salem was "SuperMan"...haha it was Awesome. The boys love to wear costumes and Salem is in them more than regular clothes pretty much. Well we couldn't really find one to fit me exactly so I had the spiderman costume tied around my neck and the batman head mask/cape on my head. I looked pretty rad I must say. This week should slow down a little bit here pretty soon but with the things the way they are in regards to the project it may be a bit before it is really normal...and then again who knows if that'll even happen with baby Aden coming!!!!!!! I can't wait!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Ancient Ruins

Jet Lag kicked in last night and I barely slept so this is guna be short because I am pretty tired but I just had to get out that I saw my first ancient ruins today!! We went to see what is left of the Temple of Hercules which is the same site where it is said that Uriah was sent when David sent him to basically be killed during the battle. It was SO awesome!!!! The view of Amman from that mountain top was incredible as well and it was just so cool to get a better glimpse of the city as a whole. There was a pretty cool museum there as well that had the original bronze plates that were found with the Dead Sea Scrolls that are treasure maps. It was crazy and I kept having to tell myself that it was real. Afterwards they told me that that was the least coolest of the things that I will be able to see so I am pretty flippin excited to see everything else! Kim and Jay are so awesome and I am loving being here with them...and of course the boys too :)...whenever they come home they ask if I am there and it makes me smile :)
K well I am guna get some rest now....it's hard to believe that I have only been here like 4 or 5 days now

here is a few pics!

http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x228/jmkettenring/Amman%20Jordan/

In Jordan

I AM HERE!!!!!!! Yay!!!!! I arrived early this morning at about 12:30...everything went really smoothly. The first flight I slept a lot and watched P.S. I Love You :)..I love that movie...I love Gerard Butler, hehe. There was a kids/younger teen dance group from Scotland that sat in some seats near me and I LOVED listening to them talk...it was hilarious! I definitely need to go there someday. Anyways, changing flights in London went smoothly also it just took forever to see what gate we needed to be at. Then that flight seemed to take forever...I'm not really sure why it just seemed to drag on. When we finally landed, going through customs was actually really easy and I found my luggage right away then went through bag check and headed towards the exit where I saw Jay immediately.
The apartment is really nice, I like it a lot. My room is actually bigger than I thought it would be which is nice. The internet is really great..they have there own connection that I am now hooked up to so it should be working all the time. They did say that it cuts out every once in a while but that is shouldn't be too much of a problem.
The boys are adorable. Salem just turned 3 and Justice is 5. Justice goes to school 5 days a week and Salem goes to like a daycare place 4 days I think. Kim does language school as well 5 days a week. They are all so sweet and really easy to get along with as I knew they would be. I am really excited about the things that they have talked about doing. Kim is and has been the only girl around the house for a long time so I am happy to be a friend and smiling face for her.
Well I am pretty tired and think I am going to take a nap now. Please continue to pray :)
XOXOXOXOXOX

5 more days

Well It has been pretty busy this past week. I have been helping around the house a lot and helping out the Seniors at TJ's school. They are doing fundraisers and things to raise money for their senior trip and Coletta and James help them out as much they can so I get to as well...they are all really fun. It has been really great to get to know them all. The Women's study at the school has also been really really great. I am loving the study and the women are really fun and encouraging as well. It makes me think of the ladies in our church and how every time they get together or have an event they are always FULL of cackling and laughter. While these women aren't quite as lively it still is a fun group.
The family went and spent the day at the beach yesterday. It was absolutely incredible. The place we went was about 2 hours away but it was way worth it. The area is really kind of a more wealthier area and the houses are absolutely gorgeous and there are trees and mountains everywhere. It was SO awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! The water was freezing though haha.
Tonight we have an Easter outreach event. They are having this choir come and sing and then having like a little snack time/fellowship afterwards. It should be a lot of fun. It will be weird being so far away from my church family this Easter but It is cool to experience something new like this. I pray that the service over in good old Anaheim goes really well and the Holy Spirit works in everyone's hearts.
It is weird to think that I leave this Thursday. You become so use to your little lifestyles and habits after a while. It will be hard to leave the family and really difficult to leave TJ as we have become really good friends. Please keep me in prayer that everything will go smoothly and I wont have any problems. When I arrive at LAX on Friday I leave very shortly after for Tennessee so prayer for all of that would be great too.
Love and miss you all! Have an AMAZING time worshiping our Lord and Savior that is alive and SO active in our lives!

I hate these title things

The Internet has been down a lot lately making it very difficult to keep these updated :/ but it is working now so that makes me happy. Thank you so much for all of your positive feedback on my last blog. It encouraged my heart even more from all of your support and comments. It was really strange to look back and read over what I wrote because I didn't even really remember saying all that I said. I meant every word, no doubt, but it was like the words were just flowing out of me and then I was blessed even more later by all of you. God works in mysterious and crazy ways. I love that about Him. Just some follow up...He really has been trying to focus my heart and mind on loving others and how we are to do that and following Christ's example in that area. I am reading Blue Like Jazz and it has talked about that a lot lately and a message that I was re-listening to by Louie Giglio talked about loving others despite everything that may be wrong or out of ordinary or just weird to us. I started thinking about all of the times I have looked at others and the immediate thoughts that come into my head sometimes. I hate it so much. He tells us not to judge or we will be judged. In meditating on that I can't even imagine the number of times I have been judged and how crappy that leaves you feeling. We do it so often in our world today and don't hardly think twice about it many times. Even with our own brothers and sisters in Christ. If we are supposed to be living like Christ....I can guarantee you that He never looked upon another with jealousy or prejudices or thoughts about what they must be like. He focused on the fact that they were created by God and therefore deserved the same loving that we, as God's children, receive. In fact...we should be even more cautious about how we are with others. So often in this world you find heaps of people who have a tainted view on Christianity from bad experiences or the way it has been portrayed in the media. I hate that...and then we go out and get frustrated because we have to wait a little longer at a restaurant or our food isn't prepared exactly to our liking or someone made you upset while driving so we show our frustrations so that the people will see it...how dumb is that. Christ never would have taken that approach. He was himself with everyone, no matter who He was with and loved everyone as though they were his best friend in the world. Man I would love to be able to that. Ok I don't know how this happens but I didn't intend to write all of that again :/ sorry bout that.
To give you a little update on what has been going on...Last Sunday was my birthday and the family surprised me and took me to a nicer and more updated zoo because I love animals so much :) It was wonderful! Coly also prepared a delicious lunch and blackberry pie!!!!!! It was REALLY good!
These past couple of weeks I have been doing things around the house...cleaning and such as the tasks come up. Dusting, cleaning the bathroom, dishes, cleaning windows...all of that good stuff that they don't have time to do when it needs to be done. I also have still been helping out with the children Sunday mornings. They are adorable and the teachers are really sweet...most speak a little English so that helps. This Sunday, however, Coly said that we will probably sit towards the back of church and she will translate the message for me as best she can so that I can get some more biblical teaching. Also Wednesday mornings there is a Bible study for women that is starting at TJ's school (which is an English school) and the first meeting was last Wednesday. I am really excited because it gives me an opportunity to fellowship with other believers again which is a TOTAL answer to prayer. God is good :)
Well I better wrap this up before it becomes another novel, hehe. Hope everyone is doing well!!! May God bless you throughout your day! oh yea and to those of you at Calvary...really listen to and take advantage of that awesome preacher that ya'll have. It's not everyday that you get a guy like him.....seriously!!!!!!
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX (that's a lot of hugs and kisses hehe)

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARY and DEBBIE!!!!!!!!

Forgive and Love

I had a question answered this morning that I have been having for a little while now...(understatement)...Do I need to actually love someone that has betrayed me so deeply that I sometimes felt like just shutting my mind off so I wouldn't have to think about them or completely shut my eyes because I look around and think that I see them which stirs fear and anger in my heart....or can I just forgive them. In the back of my mind I felt like I knew the answer but I have never searched for the actual true fact. Today I read in Matthew 5:43 about loving your enemies...right away that came to mind and while the term "enemies" is mostly referring to those that persecute you and think ill of you for some reason, I believe that enemies has a little more than one meaning. For further confirmation I went to the good old Internet and typed in the words "biblical loving your enemies" and this woman's XANGA site came up that had a little one line sentence talking about how Jesus loved his disciples...even his betrayer...Judas. He sat there with him with a calm heart and actually washed his feet, knowing that Judas would betray Him......Talk about an example to follow! Easy? Nope. But with God's help, all things are possible, right?
So today, I pray that God will bless the one who has hurt me (and those that I love) more deeply than I thought possible. I pray that he will find the right way through God and His word. I pray that I will be able to love them just as Christ loved his betrayer and I pray that mine and their hearts will grow and be healed of all that has taken place and that God's will will triumph in the lives of all involved.

"When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blessed assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul."

May God truly bless your day

Rafting

Yesterday we went white water rafting through the mountains for TJ's birthday....it was really cool and really fun!!!!! The water was freezing but we had to wear wetsuits and windbreakers and a life jacket so by the time you had all of that on it wasn't soo bad. I had never done that before so I was excited and it all went so well. It was great :). Pretty soon here things will start to get more serious than they have been. TJ is goin back to school tomorrow and things will get back to normal with the church so life is guna be a bit different I think than what I have been used to lately. Last Sunday James spoke at another church...much smaller than the Morsey's. The family of the church is the Mitchel's, the same people that we went and played games with at their house a while ago...we went over to their house again afterwards and had lunch and dinner and played games again...it was really fun! Nothin much else is goin on right now I don't think. I miss everyone so much. It is weird to think that I only have one more month left. Keep praying for the language thing. Everyone is pretty used to the fact that I can't speak it but sometimes they will forget and try and speak to me and I'll just be like...uhhhh what? haha it is actually pretty funny but anyways, hugs and kisses!




here's some photos
http://s182.photobucket.com/albums/x228/jmkettenring/Chile/

Valpo and Vina (the coast)

Sorry I have been away for a while. I just spent the last week at the coast. I only expected to be there a few days but I ended up staying 4 more days....it was really beautiful and it was so good to be at the beach again. I am finally getting my tan back, hehe, and loving every moment of it. The sunsets were absolutely beautiful and the days were clear and perfect. 6 of us stayed the first few days in a little apartment about 10 minutes from the water and then James and Coly went home Thursday and the guys stayed at the apartment and the girls rented a room in a Hostal that was like a 10 minute walk from the beach. We stayed till Monday evening and then came home on a nice bus. I stayed with 2 other girls in the Hostal...one that speaks english really well and one that doesn't speak it at all. So we had a bit of interpreting going on, lol. It was actually really great to be able to get to know them a bit more. Still really difficult, however, to understand all that was going on and what they were talking about and stuff. It is really difficult not to feel lost sometimes but they do a pretty good job of trying to make me feel included no matter what is going on...but there is only so much they can do ya know. All in all though that was a really awesome trip.
We are painting the house today and doing the edges and really difficult stuff tomorrow...we already did the main things but we may need to go over it again so we will see. It is actually kind of fun except when you have to get into really awkward positions to get difficult spots and stuff. One of TJ's really good friends came over and helped us too so that made it go faster.
It is TJ's b-day on the 25th and the parents are planning a little trip for that too. It is a surprise...i'm excited...I love birthdays!
I miss everyone alot! I was really struggling last week cuz it was Amy's birthday and I couldn't be there and that really sucked. I had to force myself not to think about it too much on the way to the coast otherwise I would have lost it completely, haha. Such a girl :)...I also really wanted my big brother hug...actually still do. It is hard bein away from the youth group as well and everyone there. Since it is difficult to connect with lots of people here in the church I am way more aware of how far away everyone is and that can be very saddening but no matter what I try to keep my spirits up and just remember that this is where God wants me and He has a reason for me being here! And I am enjoying so don't get me wrong there :) Well I better go, we are heading to the church soon to go swimming. Love and miss everyone SOOOOOOOOOOO much! XOXOXOXOX

Hiking

I went Hiking with the family and some other guys from church today and had an absolute blast!!! The mountains are so gorgeous and it was so incredible to be reminded of God's awesome and indescribable glory. The whole thing was about a 7 mile hike: uphill on the way to a small lake thing but downhill on the way back. As I said before...it was incredible. I was kinda tired after though.
Sunday's are proving to be a bit difficult. I love the people..they are really nice and welcoming but I really want to be able to talk to them and understand them and that simply isnt possible without going through someone who know english and even then it is limited on how much you can actually connect and get to know a person like that. It is really frustrating for me cuz i am such a talker and want to get to know everyone but when I am in a group or something I am forced to be quiet because I dont know what is going on nor would they if i said something. So that is the most difficult part of my journey right now. If you could pray for my strength in that area i would greatly appreciate it. We leave for the beach tomorrow for a couple of days!! I am WAY excited!!!
Love and miss you all!!!

My pinky hurts :(

ok i can't type much cuz i jammed my pinky this morning when i was running and fell so just a little update...1st 'sunday service was good....very interesting seeing as how i understood absolutely nothing of what any of them were saying...but that is ok. It was still good to see people worshipping God in a different culture. And everyone was super nice to me and wanted to come up and meet me cuz i was new...and when i went to help in the children's room one little girl was desperately trying to talk to me and stuff but it was really difficult because she didnt speak english :(.
We are just kind of hanging out this week and tackling tasks as they come up...Working at the church a bit with organizing Awana stuff and cleaning up the house little by little....sorry i cant right more. Hope everyone is doing well....Thanks SOOOO much for the comments!! i LOVE them! Ciao for now! (hehe that rhymes)

God is Good

Well, it has definitely been an eventful first couple of days. My first day here some of TJ's (the son) friends came over to plan their senior trip and afterwards we all went over to the Morsey's church and went swimming. He goes to a missionary school so they all speak english and are all from the states which was really nice for me. It was really crazy however to go from wearing coat and genes the day before and then to be in a swimsuit soaking up the sun. It was AWESOME! His friends were all really nice and fun to hang around too. God has definitely answered my prayers about the family. I have not found it difficult to fit in at all and am getting along really well with them actually. They are a really wonderful family but I was a little worried that it would be awkward with TJ but it totally isn't and we get along great. Yesterday was soooo busy and full...we left in the morning and took the Metro to downtown Santiago where we met up with another missionary family that is here and walked around the city all morning and afternoon. It was soooo cool to see another part of the world and the different cultures again and stuff like that. They have some really cool older looking buildings in the city that are really awesome. While there we climbed this little mountain/large hill that once you reach the top you can see all of the city...it was really cool. So after that we came home for a bit of a power nap and then headed off to the Mitchel's house, the same missionary family that we were just with for dinner and games. That was SOOOOO much fun. They have 2 sons, one TJ's age and one 2 years younger but just as fun, and then they had their neice staying with them for a couple of weeks and she is in her 20's. So yea that was a blast and by the end of it my stomach hurt from laughing so much. I am so thankful to God for how great He is and how faithful He always is. Tonight we will go to another B-B-Q with another 3 families but these ones are actually from Chile so it will be interesting to see how this all works out. I think some of the kids speak english but not the parents. Anyways, thanks for the comments they are ALWAYS grealty appreciated!!! Hugs and Kisses to all!!!

CHILE!!!

Well, I am here and safe! My flight went well....it was a total of 10 and a half hours and I'm pretty sure that I slept most of it. But when I wasn't sleeping I was talking to man from Switzerland that sat next to me. He was such a talker which was fine with me cuz I like to talk and it passed the time so that was actually really nice. The food was alright..they served us a dinner and a breakfast and they had movies that you could watch if you wanted but I didn't have time to between sleeping and talking hehe. When I arrived at the airport I went to Customs but no one was around to help or tell me what to do so I ended up having to go through a different line to pay a tax fee of $131 to get into the Country and then I had to go through the customs line again but they didn't tell me that I had to fill out a slip of paper for my Visa or something there so I had to go and do that and then came back and was finally alright to pass through. Then I had to ask someone what baggage claim matched with my flight number because it wasn't marked very well. But I found my baggage and went through security where they asked me about the peanut butter I brought and no one knew what it was so they just let me pass, hehe. Peanut butter must just be a huge U.S. thing. So I got through all right and then met up with the Morsey's. We drove back to the house and I got situated and then slept :). They are a very sweet family and I think I will fit in nicely here...not too different than what I am used to as far as they go. I have already seen a dog running along the streets by himself so I think that is going to be a struggle for me :/ but the house is very small, as well as the rooms, but its nice.
I had to reset my password for this thing cuz I could not figure out for the life of me what it was, hehe. But owell it is working :) Love and miss you all!