Thanksgiving

Lord, thank You for Your love of art, for the colors of light and tint of the moon,
Fluffing the clouds and placing them so, and the layers of silk painted clearly at night;

For the orchestra of a golden field, bowing in rhythm at Thy perfect cue,
Swaying with joy, as the eager gazelle bounds across the stage;

For the way Your hand set into motion the sea, rising then crashing,
now resting,
Teaming with life both bold and demure, each serving its divine purpose;

For variety of lives strategically placed, using differences and alikes to bond and to frame,
Interacting by design, bringing glory to Your Most Holy name.

Lord, thank You for designing Your world with intricate detail,
Too sweet for understanding, too big for comprehension;

For inviting us into something larger than ourselves, yet holding us near,
Devoting Your life to a purpose greater than we'll fully grasp, yet significant enough there is no need.

You are amazing!
Thank You.



Show and Tell _ Sudan

It's the Small Things

A couple of weeks ago we got to swap photos with our team...what a fun time of reunion and such great photos capturing the oddities and candid moments!

Here are just a few random hightlights from the trip.

Harmony Joann - not liking her bath

Taxi ride to the hotel in Uganda ... luggage truck didn't show up so we just held it ourselves!

Nap time - wherever you think is comfortable 

Border Crossing - Independent South Sudan

Shower Snizard - We thought this little guy who lived in the shower was a snake, but by the end of the week had proof he was really a lizard (can you see his brown knees?).



Tickle Time!



Thankfulness - Veterans Day

. . .is what I long for.

Many of you may have seen the statement that floated around the social networking sites the last few months. It goes something like, "What if you woke up tomorrow with only those things you were thankful for today?" Akkk...convicting!!! Don't we take for granted all we have been given?

Often I think I'm very thankful, because I am truly grateful to have the people, job, physical and spiritual blessings that the Lord has given. But knowing you are blessed with something is not the same as being thankful. And it is a discipline of sorts, to actually express thanks for things, big and small.

Currently I'm LOVING all the thankfulness statuses on Facebook. I struggle with all the negativity that populates the networking avenues so often, and as much as I love quotes from famous people (and I do love them), it has been so refreshing to see the personal things my friends are thankful for. Very encouraging.
Thank you if you are one of them!

I missed the first couple of weeks to do it myself, and I'm kind of bummed. But I will tell you, I appreciate the reminders to be thankful in my own life. It's important to verbalize it, don't you think? And not just at Thanksgiving TIME, but always. In our families, in our workplaces and in our churches. It's easy to complain, compare, and critique, but so much more edifying to express thankfulness.

My personal challenge this week beginning today is going to be to try to express thanksgiving verbally to someone around me each day. It's always a good reminder to me to lift my praises to our Lord. As encouraging as they are to me, it must just make Him smile to know we realize our need of Him in our daily activities.

Today, I am thankful for girlfriends to hang out with, giggle with, and make holiday plans with :).

I'm also very thankful for veterans like my Grandpa Kihle and PawPaw and Grandpa Beeman, and brother Joe who gave so much of themselves to serve and protect our USA. THANK YOU, and happy Veterans Day to you and ALL the others too numerous to name here who served or are serving. I am thankful for you, your service, and am proud of you!!

Music to My Ears - Sudan

Worship: Every Nation, Tribe and Tongue

I've got a few of these sound recordings...should loop them and listen all morning.

Definitely one of the sweetest parts of the trip.

To Off Road, is to be On the Road - Sudan

Every Day is an Adventure
(Best Viewed in original Blog www.karijo-co.blogspot.com)
If you love back roads and country driving, you would enjoy the Sudan road trip.

Our village was 1 hour and 30 minutes from camp, and the land rover made good time of the dirt roads, 

mini lake pot holes,

"bridges,"  

and the occasional off-roading to bypass craters. The main portion of this road has not been maintained in 50 years and is not for those prone to the motion-sickness.


The strange thing is, once back in the states, it's hard not to miss the off-roading adventure that is an every day occurance in southern Sudan.


Justin told our team that in the states, off- roading is not allowed...you have to stay on the road! They thought itwas pretty funny.


Our first day out, the team member sitting in the front seat next to the driver reached for her seat belt and asked local ministry head D. Kaya if it worked.


He told her, "I don't recommend that thing." Bascially, the bumpy roads are more painful with the seatbelt than without...so that's how we rolled.

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Interestingly, after I planned this blog or today I came across this article revealing a plan to build roads in South Sudan. It shows how they plan to connect all 10 states of the country, how badly they are needed and why.  http://www.sudantribune.com/South-Sudan-minister-reveals,40642

Love - Language Without Words - Sudan

Soooo, we are back from Sudan!

We've gone and come, and been back in our little American world again for two full weeks. Amazing. I still think on our time in Africa every day, which I love. It's fresh and vulnerable. Still convicts and encourages, while at the same time, reminds me to pray for the people we met and the love of Christ that continues to grow and show itself powerful a midst the people of a very young country and church of Southern Sudan.

Sharing is difficult, as always. So much to say, yet it's hard to say it detailed enough to communicate the emotion and significance while keeping it concise enough for most people to listen. Makes trying to share, difficult, and the interest of those who want to know the nitty gritty very special and treasured.

I think the best way for now, that I can show and tell is with brief pictures, videos, and snippets of stories. As the Lord brings to mind the precious people and encounters of our last trip to Sudan, I'll try to post and share with you.

Today I am thinking about and missing terribly the little people. Three kids living at the compound where we stayed: Wani, Mercy, and Mike.

 

All about the same height and very close in age, these three could be considered the musketeers of camp. Likely they understand more English than they speak (which isn't much), their language is love, and they understand it no matter who speaks it. We played hard, tickled much, and communicated with each other with words: me in English, them in Bari-glish (Bari with a few English words mixed in :). I miss very much coming "home" every day and chasing them around the dirt yard, tickling Wani until I tired of it (I don't think he EVER would), and chasing Mercy around the yard as she taunted, "This one Wani" while pointing at herself. Mercy even taught me a hand clapping game, for which I was only able to learn some of the Bari words. Would love to play it with her right now.

Feels like Nephews and  Niece . . . that live very. Far. Away.

"Dreams of Mountains ... Brood on Things Eternal"

(Best viewed in original blog http://www.karijo-co.blogspot.com/)

Colorado Vacation In Pictures 

August 2011

Part I -Estes Park

Part II - Rocky Mountain National Park

(Below) We did see snow, just not allowed to touch it.

It's amazing how many colors God put in His creation: Greens...

Blues...

Browns...

(Above) This was before we hiked further up the mountain. 

The clouds are rolling in, and it's getting chilly.

(Below) Nearer the top it was windy, but beautiful.

(Above) It started to rain. Then the rain starting hurting, and we saw it bouncing off the ground. It was sleeting!!! Justin tried to catch some for the camera :)

Our run down the mountain was hilarious as we tried not to slip and fall, or step onto the "fragile ecosystem" which was the rocky grass terrain all along the path, which we were asked not to touch.

(Below) "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" Psalm 8:9

(Above) Uncle Ron and Aunt Laurie: Terrific tour guides and amazing hosts!

So thankful to get to visit them and cousin Rach ;)

(Above) These little guys were running all over the rocks at the edge of the cliff.

(Below) The lightning was so pretty (in a terrifying way for me...who doesn't believe you should be outside if you can hear thunder, let alone see lightning!) I only had patience to wait and catch this one bolt...

(Below) Dinner at Bienvenidos in Estes Park.

Gotta love some yummy Mexican

 (Even though they didn't have sweet tea or sour cream sauce :)

Part III - Denver Zoo

(Below) Loved all the animals of course, but this made me laugh.

...Happy Birthday?

Part IV- Colorado Springs Area

(Above) Air Force Academy Chapel 

(Below) Justin introducing himself to the founder of the Academy.

It was cordial despite the rigid appearance.

(Below) The Chapel itself is divided into multiple areas.

First is the Catholic Chapel

(Below) Second is the Jewish Chapel

(Below) Third is the Buddhist Chapel

(Below) The main portion of the chapel is on the second floor. It is the Protestant Chapel.

Here they have multiple services which include both traditional and contemporary.

(Below) The view out of the chapel window: God bless America!



(Below) I can't visit Colorado Springs and not stop in at Focus on the Family.

We spent most of our time perusing the book store and touring Odyssey :)

(Above) We did enjoy an amazing sundae at the Soda Shoppe.

(Below) Whit's office: I wonder which book holds the key to open the secret computer room?

(Below) We couldn't wait to visit Cave of the Winds. Justin tried to talk me into doing the lantern tour, but having never been in a cave, and knowing my cautious self (not to be confused with a worrisome self), I only committed to complete the normal tour. It was a blast, and now I know next time I would take the lantern tour.  

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(Above) Originally we thought we would do a zipline tour, but it required so much time we wouldn't have been able to do much else. So when we arrived at Cave of the Winds and they had this

 Ropes Course, we knew immediately we would participate! A little scarier than I thought it would be, I did make it across most of the ropes, even the ones on the far left which hangs over the edge of this:

(Below) On our way back down the mountain, we stopped in at the

Cliff Dwellings Museum.
While these are actual dwellings, they have been moved to this region to protect and preserve them, and were privately owned for many, many years.

(Bottom Right) We did find a solitary bat hanging from the ceiling in one of these rooms. I think he was in an Indian chant- induced coma, as his perch was right beside the genuine "Indian-Sony" speaker projecting prayers or chants in the native tongue.                                                     

(Below) What trip to the Springs would be complete without a trip to Garden of the Gods? The views are breathtaking and pictures never do justice. We were exhausted at the end of a long and exciting day, but managed to take a few pictures to prove our visit.

(Above) God has placed His evidence eveywhere: from the clouds in the upper atmosphere, to the top of the mountain, to the insides of the ground...He. Wants. To. Be. Known.

"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

Romans 1:19-20 

(Below) One of my favorite rock formations in the garden. It's a little like how I imagine God holds the earth in His hand: balanced perfectly to sustain His creation!

(Below) Good finish to the day, no?

(Below) Pretty much sums it up!

(Below) Headed Home. Not the fave part of vacation, but God's glory from the sky IS a breathtaking view. We are so thankful for our time with family and in the midst of His creation on our trip.

It was relaxing, inspiring, and exciting all wrapped up into one great adventure.