This is my first video I made using my cool pix camera. It was just a one night project.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Humble Beginninngs
Family time is something that I need to realize as precious. The moments we have with loved ones should never be taken for granted regardless of the fact that I may not have a perfect family; they are the ones I have been given and God decided that they were the best for me. There is no place like home. I've come to trust in the amazing fact that my family will do anything for me and like wise, I would too for them.
 |
| This holiday season I had a chance to visit my family in Northern California. We had a chance to stop by Napa Valley and do a little wine tasting and picnicing with them. |
 |
| Like Father, Like son |
Continually building
~Kristof
Monday, January 17, 2011
Surfing the Nations
It's day number 7 for us at Surfing the Nations where Kristof and I are doing our three-month internship. Some may be curious as to what this means for us and some may wonder, does Lizzie even surf? Well, yes, but not very well, but that's not really the point, exactly.
Surfing the Nations is a registered non-profit, humanitarian organization whose occupants and volunteers are mostly of the Christian variety. Its focus is, for lack of a better all-encompassing phrase, essentially to meet the basic physical and spirtual needs of our fellow man in a way that's truly impacting for both giver and receiver. It's pretty simple, but we believe, also effective. These "things" include being a Hawaii Food Bank distribution point here in Wahiawa and in Kalihi. There's a surfing instruction program for the youth at a homeless shelter in Waianae, an after school tutoring/mentoring prgram on base here, collection and distribution of donation items & several other things that we're still learning about.
In any case, when we stepped off the plane, it was a whirlwind getting settled here. But now that we finally feel like we have a functioning place to live for the next few months, the real work begins. Today also marks the first Monday of "fasting".
It's been a long time since I've fasted the Biblical way of "no food". In fact, I can't really the remember the last time I did it. Perhaps I am reminded of the trama from when I was a kid growing up in our cult church eeking my way through another, painful, yet dutiful Day of Atonement; no food no water. I don't know about you but, I don't know very many 7-year olds that would take to kindly to that. In fact, I remember my sister and I would sneak nacho Doritos (maybe 2 or 3 chips?) into our secret hiding places to munch on. I always remember feeling super guilty about not having the will power to resist. But of course, with hindsight intact, I see the sticky, ugly fingers of legalism all over that and no longer have to acknowledge it as true fasting. My heart was not in it and I wasn't even sure what I was doing it for.
Here, we get to determine for ourselves what type of fasting we do. Biblically speaking it generally means a "no" to all foods (I'm going to assume solids here) so I'll be drinking water today...until 5pm that is. The idea though is to determine, through prayer, what I should be fasting for; which makes sense. I mean, why would I do this without a purpose? So, I've just decided what I'm fasting for and will leave it up to God. I would love to share it here but there's just this sense that this time, it's just between God and I for now.
I wonder how I'll be feeling at 3 o'clock today? Phew, feels like a long time from now. We'll see!
Aloha aʻe ana mākou i ke ehu wāwae o ka lani,
<translated: "We remember fondly, the footsteps of THE King"...Jesus>,
~Lizzie
Surfing the Nations is a registered non-profit, humanitarian organization whose occupants and volunteers are mostly of the Christian variety. Its focus is, for lack of a better all-encompassing phrase, essentially to meet the basic physical and spirtual needs of our fellow man in a way that's truly impacting for both giver and receiver. It's pretty simple, but we believe, also effective. These "things" include being a Hawaii Food Bank distribution point here in Wahiawa and in Kalihi. There's a surfing instruction program for the youth at a homeless shelter in Waianae, an after school tutoring/mentoring prgram on base here, collection and distribution of donation items & several other things that we're still learning about.
In any case, when we stepped off the plane, it was a whirlwind getting settled here. But now that we finally feel like we have a functioning place to live for the next few months, the real work begins. Today also marks the first Monday of "fasting".
It's been a long time since I've fasted the Biblical way of "no food". In fact, I can't really the remember the last time I did it. Perhaps I am reminded of the trama from when I was a kid growing up in our cult church eeking my way through another, painful, yet dutiful Day of Atonement; no food no water. I don't know about you but, I don't know very many 7-year olds that would take to kindly to that. In fact, I remember my sister and I would sneak nacho Doritos (maybe 2 or 3 chips?) into our secret hiding places to munch on. I always remember feeling super guilty about not having the will power to resist. But of course, with hindsight intact, I see the sticky, ugly fingers of legalism all over that and no longer have to acknowledge it as true fasting. My heart was not in it and I wasn't even sure what I was doing it for.
Here, we get to determine for ourselves what type of fasting we do. Biblically speaking it generally means a "no" to all foods (I'm going to assume solids here) so I'll be drinking water today...until 5pm that is. The idea though is to determine, through prayer, what I should be fasting for; which makes sense. I mean, why would I do this without a purpose? So, I've just decided what I'm fasting for and will leave it up to God. I would love to share it here but there's just this sense that this time, it's just between God and I for now.
I wonder how I'll be feeling at 3 o'clock today? Phew, feels like a long time from now. We'll see!
Aloha aʻe ana mākou i ke ehu wāwae o ka lani,
<translated: "We remember fondly, the footsteps of THE King"...Jesus>,
~Lizzie
2010 lessons & Cali rewards
Hey friends and family,
I'm never sure of how many people have actually seen this blog, but it's comforting to know that this is a place where Kristof and I can capture and reflect upon our recent travels.
Sometimes it's hard to imagine that we've already been on the road for over a month. It's the first time we've traveled like this together but it's been really fun and definitely an opportunity I would have never passed up. Here are a few things I've picked up/learned/treasured on the road:
1) Little luxuries come in the form of free dinners, extra discounts and unexpected flight upgrades.
2) There is nothing more spirtually enhancing than a warm comfortable bed and a hot shower.
3) Friends & family make the journey worthwhile.
I'm never sure of how many people have actually seen this blog, but it's comforting to know that this is a place where Kristof and I can capture and reflect upon our recent travels.
Sometimes it's hard to imagine that we've already been on the road for over a month. It's the first time we've traveled like this together but it's been really fun and definitely an opportunity I would have never passed up. Here are a few things I've picked up/learned/treasured on the road:
1) Little luxuries come in the form of free dinners, extra discounts and unexpected flight upgrades.
3) Friends & family make the journey worthwhile.
Thank you Jesus! It's been fun :->!!!
With love,
Lizzie
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Ozzie Ozzie Ozzie Oye Oye oYe
Thank you Jesus that your grace is sufficient,
Kristof
The People you meet along the journey
Kristof
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ozzie days
We are finally in Australia and settling in but, it's a little busy as Kristof had to start teaching a bit earlier due the school's scheduling. Thankfully we got here on Wednesday afternoon instead of just the afternoon before class began. So, day on 4, Kristof and I are finally a little less jet-lagged. But the first two mornings, we woke up at the ungodly hour of 4am and couldn't go back to sleep. Thankfully, yesterday, our third day, we got up at a more acceptable 6am.
We've not been too good at keeping this blog updated because internet connection is a bit of a headache here. I didn't know this but, in (many) other countries (New Zealand, Australia included), the amount of internet traffic is limited in the amount of MB or GB you can use online. Like, you have to pay up the wazzoo to download videos, programs, etc. online. This is something we didn't even think to recognize overseas. So, basically, the more online TV or YouTube you use, the more expensive it is. In fact, one of the school base leaders was telling us that they recently got a $4,000 bill (!!!) on top of their usual internet usage bill for excess internet use/traffic. So, America...count your blessings! Lesson learned? It is quite the luxury to have unlimited access to the internet, even in a "free" nation like Australia.
In other business, the AES (Art Evangelism School) class is nice and small but most of the students seem eager to learn what Kristof is teaching. There are 4 staff and 7 students. They are in their final weeks of actual "class" time and will finish the course with an additional 12 weeks of "Outreach" in Mexico City. But, right now, most of them are still raising money for this part of the course. If you feel at all a pull in your heart to donate to these students, you can check out YWAM Perth at https://www.ywamperth.org.au/007/payonline.asp. You can donate to : Art Evangelists School. It's a great 'cause and all monies are tax deductible :->. I really wish we didn't need to worry about money but, unfortunately, it is what it is.It'll be exciting to see what part of the class content they will take with them. Kristof is hoping that, in stead of doing a mural, they will do an "Ambush" style art gallery (an impromptu gallery). Should be exciting to see what they can put together.
Kristof has also been enjoying getting reaquainted with all the people he's come to know and gain friendships with when he lived her in 2003. It's been nice to meet more people and see a bit more of his life here before there was an "us" :-). Last night, one of Kristof's former classmembers and her husband had a little dinner party at their house. For those of you that know Kristof, he usually likes to take pictures the food but, we forgot the camera at home. But, believe me, it was yummy!
Anway, here's some pics from Oz for now:
We've not been too good at keeping this blog updated because internet connection is a bit of a headache here. I didn't know this but, in (many) other countries (New Zealand, Australia included), the amount of internet traffic is limited in the amount of MB or GB you can use online. Like, you have to pay up the wazzoo to download videos, programs, etc. online. This is something we didn't even think to recognize overseas. So, basically, the more online TV or YouTube you use, the more expensive it is. In fact, one of the school base leaders was telling us that they recently got a $4,000 bill (!!!) on top of their usual internet usage bill for excess internet use/traffic. So, America...count your blessings! Lesson learned? It is quite the luxury to have unlimited access to the internet, even in a "free" nation like Australia.
In other business, the AES (Art Evangelism School) class is nice and small but most of the students seem eager to learn what Kristof is teaching. There are 4 staff and 7 students. They are in their final weeks of actual "class" time and will finish the course with an additional 12 weeks of "Outreach" in Mexico City. But, right now, most of them are still raising money for this part of the course. If you feel at all a pull in your heart to donate to these students, you can check out YWAM Perth at https://www.ywamperth.org.au/007/payonline.asp. You can donate to : Art Evangelists School. It's a great 'cause and all monies are tax deductible :->. I really wish we didn't need to worry about money but, unfortunately, it is what it is.It'll be exciting to see what part of the class content they will take with them. Kristof is hoping that, in stead of doing a mural, they will do an "Ambush" style art gallery (an impromptu gallery). Should be exciting to see what they can put together.
Kristof has also been enjoying getting reaquainted with all the people he's come to know and gain friendships with when he lived her in 2003. It's been nice to meet more people and see a bit more of his life here before there was an "us" :-). Last night, one of Kristof's former classmembers and her husband had a little dinner party at their house. For those of you that know Kristof, he usually likes to take pictures the food but, we forgot the camera at home. But, believe me, it was yummy!
Anway, here's some pics from Oz for now:
 |
| Our room at 60 Bulwer St. |
 |
| Welcome dinner |
 |
| Heidi (one of the other course leaders) and Liz at Carols by Candlelight at Hyde Park in Perth. |
 |
| Emma (AES school leader) and son, Winston with Kristof at Carols by Candlelight, an annual community carol singing festival at Hyde Park in Perth. |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)