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