Robbed by a Gringo

The other day, Sydney and Sammy Ward accompanied Ronnie and I to the beach. Since it is jellyfish season, we didnt get into the ocean, but we did find our way down to the fresh water spring. We had a good time hiking back under the bridge, chasing the waves as they washed up on the shore, and taking pictures. At one point in the afternoon, Sydney noticed a couple of guys walking further down on the beach close to where our towels and shoes were sitting. She asked if our stuff was in any danger. Ronnie and I quickly said no and Ronnie even added that the two looked like gringos (Americans) so our stuff was in no danger. 45 minutes or so later, We walked back to the place we had left our stuff to find nothing. Everything was gone! We couldnt believe it! Ronnie ran about 1/2 mile down the beach to see if he could find anyone who knew who took our stuff. just about the time he got 1/4 mile away, Mr. Ward walked up behind me and the girls carrying all of our stuff. He and Mr. McKenney had seen it but hadnt seen us so they had "done us a favor" by picking it up for us. The exhausted Ronnie came back only to find that his run had been in vain. LOL poor Ronnie. :)

TACA Airlines

Finals are finally over and I'm here safe and sound in Honduras yet again (and finally caught up on sleep). I spent last Wed afternoon through Fri with my second fam (the McCullough's) in Indy. the kids helped me shop for all the last minute things on mom's list and Jeanne helped me pack up my suitcases so everything would get here in one piece. I always have a blast with them.

On Friday afternoon, I set out on my long chain of flights. I made it out of Indy and into Miami just fine, but once I got there, the trauma began. I arrived in Miami via American Airlines and was scheduled to leave 6 hours later at midnight via TACA Airlines. I had to leave the secured area and recheck in. I walked for more than 20 minutes--No joke, from concourse A to concourse J. When I finally reached the TACA counter, I was stunned to find that it was closed and completely deserted. The not so kind people at the counter next door told me TACA never opens before 3 am. I told them that was impossible as I had a flight scheduled to leave at midnight. They directed me toward a TACA sign that stated the last flight left at 3:30pm. Next they told me to visit the TACA office on the 3rd floor. That also was closed. At that point I had had it. I tried to call my parents but their phone lines were down. I didnt know what to do. So i called my second mom Jeanne. She calmed me at least out of my tears before telling me to call the airlines. I called TACA headquarters and they said the airline would open around 8pm. Of course, it would be too easy if they were right.... the airline finally opened around 9:30pm. I was at the front of the line and first in the waiting area. What a night. From there it was pretty smooth sailing. I got on board the plane to San Pedro Sula with our family friends the Wards and made it (with baggage it is worthy to note) to Honduras. We stayed in a hotel overnight before heading to La Ceiba (I flew, the Ward's drove) where i was reunited with my family and my wonderful boyfriend. :D

I think that is enough for one post.

TACA= Take A Chance Airlines

Prayer Request

Well, the semester is rolling to a close. It has flown by so fast. Finals are this week. I have 3 before I get out on Wednesday and head to Honduras on Friday.

Monday- Biology
Tuesday- Gen Stats Final and Chapter Test
Wednesday- Gen Chem

Prayer would be very much appreciated. Thanks!

First real snow!!

I so love snow. I was so excited to spend this special day with my special boy. :)

Black Friday

Ronnie and i decided to be brave and try out shopping on black friday. We had shopped the day before too and thought we could get our prices adjusted while we were out. PawPaw, Bobby, and Ronnie bet that I couldnt be ready by 7:30 AM with shoes on purse ready. At 7:20, Ronnie came to check if I was up. I was not. So he hopped in the shower. Five more minutes went by and I decided to go ahead and win the bet. I jumped out of bed, threw on a seatshirt and put my hear in a ponytail before banging on the bathroom door to tell Ronnie he had one minute to win the bet. It was hilarious. I so won.

Anyways, ronnie and I went shopping.... We got our prices adjusted at Kohls but couldnt bring ourselves to buy anything in fear of staning for hours in the check out line that wrapped clear around the store. We went to several places. It was really rather frustrating...

Our plan for next year: Shop the day before and then go get the prices adjusted... it's the shorter of the lines.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving with the Fam. :)

Elegant Date

On Tueday, Ronnie and I headed to Ft. Wayne after my last morning class before Thanksgiving break. I knew that Ronnie had planned an elegant evening out with the help of my grandma, but I had no idea what was really in store. All I knew was "dress up." So I dressed up in my formal dress and Ronnie in a suit. We headed out to the mall where we shopped around and Ronnie bought me some slippers. We then headed to a restaurant. Ronnie told me to close my eyes once we got close. He helped my out of the car as I begged him to let me open my eyes. Once I opened them I saw Eddie Merlot's. It is a beautiful restaurant with towering pillars, twinkling candlelight and dazling stained glass. The lady took my coat and seated us in our reserved table. It was beautiful. We ordered desserts (which were splendid by the way) and sat and talked. I have the most amazing boyfriend!

Got Service?

Weekend in Indy

Ronnie and I spent his first weekend in town with the McCullough's, my second family. We had a great time!

Sun and Snow

Yesterday was a beautiful day. It was cold yet sunny and the snow gently floated down in big fluffy flakes all around campus. Of course, I didnt even notice. I was too busy thinking of all the stuff that I HAD to get done before I could go to Indy for the weekend to hang out with my second family and my amazing boyfriend. As I was in line for a quick lunch after chapel, I felt my phone buzz (NON STOP) in my pocket. I finally dropped all of my lunch onto a table and set down my backpack. I called Ronnie back.

"I cant really talk right now. What do you need."
"Um, where's 92nd st?"
"I dont know.... why?"
"never mind. are you wearing a polka-dot snow hat?"
"What?" I quickly looked around.

Yup, Ronnie was standing right behind me. It was an amazing surprise. I was swept off my feet and forced out of my business mode. It has been a great weekend :)

Anni

Yesterday was the 8 month anniversary of when Ronnie and I started dating. I cannot believe how fast 8 months has flown by. It feels like so recently we were in Honduras sharing our first few days as a couple taking walks to the beach and up to the water tower. *sigh*

Thank you, Ronnie for an amazing 8 months.

I'm Officially....

OLD!!!
Yup, I'm now 20.... the big 2-0.... no longer a teen... *sigh*

But on a happier note, My birthday was a blast! It was jam packed full of things to do (most not birthday related) and lots of friends. My suite came into my room at midnight on the 12th to sing me a wild and crazy loud version of "Happy Birthday." Nope, I wasnt asleep yet...

I had three classes on my birthday; bio, chem, and world changers. I know, I know, i should have taken the whole day off but duty calls. I also had a Kem Hall meeting, a unit meeting, and a chem study session. :-P We had a unit dinner too! Home cooked by Katy Bullman, our RA. It was delicious but I couldnt eat with them because of my chem study session (test the next day to study for).

I got lots of surprises for my birthday! The girls in my suite got icecream for us all to enjoy and i got presents from a few friends and packages from my parents and aunt. My new bed set from gma and pawpaw even came in the mail. It was thrilling. :-D

Here are just a few pics from the big day...

Update from Honduras-- Urgent Need

Hello, Everyone,

Just wanted to give you an update on what's been happening here. After 4 days of heavy rain, flooding, and power outages our electricity was restored on Friday night. Local people walked miles in the pouring rain and crossed rivers at flood stage in order to work together with the power company crew and one of our own missionaries to get new poles and wires up. Even so, the hope was to have it back on by today. But incredibly, even in the midst of a heavy downpour and well after dark on Friday night, it was restored and has stayed on despite the nasty weather since then. We are rejoicing to be able to wash our wet and muddy clothes, cook, and keep refrigerated food at home again.

We've had many maintenance issues at the hospital and in the homes with water leaks, mudslides threatening the stability of our roads, bursting pipes due to too much pressure from flowing rain water, lack of fresh water supply in some homes and the Children's Center, etc, but nothing compared with what the local people are suffering in their villages. There has been much flooding, the worst of which was in Balfate where the hydroelectric dam opened their gates all at once and without warning, sending a wall of water down river, as I described in my previous e-mail. Four people drowned as a result of that event. All the local people are still dealing with lots of water and mud in their homes, no clean dry clothes to put on, no dry blankets with which to warm themselves, and now, lack of food. The rain hasn't let up long enough for the crews to even think about coming in and beginning to make needed repairs to roads or bridges, therefore food is in short supply. We hear that it may be another week or more before there's enough dry dirt to repair the bridges. Fortunately, it was fairly dry for the better part of the day today, which allowed government helicopters to fly food in to some of the more remote areas. They were flying back and forth overhead all day delivering packages of rice, beans, and corn, but unfortunately none were dropped in Balfate or the other towns around the hospital who also desperately need it.

Local church leaders are calling and asking for help, but we have very limited resources with which to respond. The hospital is already low on food for our patients and Children's Center, however we are doing what we can to meet the most pressing needs, especially for our Honduran staff members and their families. Today the hospital brought in 200 pounds each of rice, beans, and Maseca (used to make corn tortillas), as well as 100 bars of soap for washing clothes, which were transported across the rivers by canoe and by foot. Once at the hospital, it was all measured out into 5 pound allotments and these were put into the hands of the local schools and churches for distribution to the neediest families. Our desire is to do much more in the days and weeks ahead, but that will only be possible if we have others willing to stand with us and help in this effort.

We have been told that the Hospital finances are extremely limited right now and that we will only be able to make this response if there are sufficient funds being offered to Cornerstone to cover the costs the hospital will incur in purchasing these supplies. We have been asked to call on our home churches, friends, and families to help in this relief effort. If you are willing and able to help, please send donations directly to the Cornerstone Foundation office as soon as possible, and designate them for the "flood relief effort". Your money will go directly to help many of our neighbors and friends who are in great need.

The address is as follows:

Cornerstone Foundation

18384 W, Lake Dr.

Saucier, MS 39574

On a more personal note, the Concepcions (and Katy, too!) are all doing fine. With rainy season approaching we were already stocked up with plenty of food in the pantry and freezer for such a time as this. The missionary community has really pulled together and pooled food and resources where needed, and is working together to make necessary repairs to the hospital property and homes. But our main concern is to try to meet the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves. That's why we're asking for your help at this time. Thanks for your prayers and notes of encouragement. They are keeping us going!

For the only cause that matters,

Margo, for all of us

The Concepcions are serving with Latin America Mission at Hospital Loma de Luz in Balfate, Honduras

"However, I consider my life nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Field Address:
La Familia Concepcion
Apartado 94
La Ceiba, Honduras
Central America

www.LAM.org www.crstone.org

Support for the Concepcions may be sent to:
Latin America Mission
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami, FL 33152-7900

**Please enclose a note designating the funds for the "Concepcion support account". Our names should not appear on the check itself for tax purposes. Thanks!

Honduras Update

Just wanted to give everyone a quick update. From what I know, Balfate, Honduras has electricity again but the bridges are still out. Supplies such as food have been air lifted into the community and left for the hospital to distribute. Clean up has been the main focus in spite of the continuing rain. Many homes have been flooded with up to 4 feet of muddy water causing damage to not only the home, but furniture, appliances, and other belongings. Please pray for the displaced people of the community and for the safety of those who reach out to them.The Catholic Church in the center of townFlooded roads

Urgent Prayer Request from Honduras

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to update you on a situation that has arisen here on the north coast of Honduras. Although there has been much rain and flooding in the interior of Honduras for the last 2 weeks associated with Tropical storm 16, up until last night our area hadn't experienced much of a problem. We've had rain almost everyday, but nothing like the interior. Well, all of that changed last night. The rain started around 7 pm, and it rained heavily and steadily with lots of wind all night long and all day today. The result has been lots of flooding, washed out roads and bridges, and widespread power outages. The town of Balfate was under water for most of the day, with many homes overwhelmed by the flood, including the homes of 2 of our own missionary families. Two bridges along the road on our route to the city have been washed out, leaving 30 foot gaps between where the road ends and the concrete bridge begins. In the other direction, the rivers are not crossable, so we'll be cut off for awhile. Probably the worst of it for us is that around 300 feet of power lines were washed out near the rivers along with the bridges. This means we may be without power for up to a week until crews can get out here and fix the bridges, then the power lines. This afternoon, with a little break in the rain, we've been able to get back online temporarily with our satellite internet connection which is allowing us communication with you. We're using what's left of the daylight to move freezers and refrigerators to the hospital where we have a large diesel generator which has about 500 gallons of fuel in in, enough to last for quite awhile (it runs about an hour per gallon of fuel). That will help to preserve our perishable food supply. We're also working to clean up some of the destruction in Balfate before the sun sets (between 5 and 5:30 pm) and the rains start again. Rain is predicted to continue for the next several days, so please pray for the storm to divert and go back out to sea, and that we'll be able to get crews out quickly to repair the bridges and restore power. Also, we only have 2 inpatients right now, but one is a pregnant woman having complications. Her hematocrit is dropping and she needs to get to the big hospital in the city for more advanced medical care. We're doing what we can for her, but she needs your prayers.

The reports here in Honduras are saying that the flooding and destruction from this tropical storm has been even worse than that caused by Hurricane Mitch, several years back. Some of our friends who live in the mountains in the interior of the country have attested to the widespread destruction, sense of loss, and hopelessness. At least 5 more days of rain are predicted in those areas as well, so please pray!

Thanks so much for holding our community and all of Honduras up in prayer with us during this crisis.

Margo, for all of us

Coffee!

My littlest sister Cori emailed me today and was very excited to tell me that she now likes coffee. Apparently it has been a lifelong dream of hers.

The whole thing reminded me of the other day. I will preface the story by saying that I don't really like coffee....

It has been REALLY cold here lately. So the other day I had a huge craving for some nice, warm coffee. So, I went to McConn Coffee and bought a cup. With every sip, i cringed. It was awful, but for some odd reason i couldn't help but drink it. I drank the whole cup of nasty stuff, loving and hating every drop. I don't know if it was the caffeine that kept me going or the warmth. hmmm....

Ronnie's Visit to Indy!

A picture is worth a thousand words, so here are a few to express just how much fun we had. :)

MY FIRST PACKAGE!!!!

Thanks José and Melanie!
You guys are so sweet!

Pumpkins!

Ronnie came into town for fall break this past week. We spent the weekend in Ft. Wayne with my grandparents. It was a blast! We hung out, shopped, and even carved a pumpkin! I think carving the pumpkin was my favorite part :D

Cardboard Confessions

Today we had an all worship chapel service. In it, many students did a personal version of the cardboard confessions. It was very powerful. I had seen a great video of it last week and was deeply moved so i decided to share it with you here. The original link I watched is no longer available but here is another one. I encourage you all to think about it.

Do you walk what you talk?

I am taking a class called UNV 180 World Changers. I really like it because it makes me think a lot about what i believe and WHY i believe it. We went through a short section on the apostles creed and how it has been "adapted" and changed to fit todays world. While we may not SAY it differently we sure do live it out in our lives differently. The following clip is a great (and Hilarious) example. :)

Jon McLaughlin Concert

IWU Homecoming

Kaity, Emily, and I (plus everyone else crammed into the front of Lucky Arena) had an amazing time at the Jon McLaughlin concert (He is totally a HOOSIER!). We were so close to the front!!! He has an amazing voice, obvious passion, and lyrics that could melt even the hardest of hearts. Wow. That is all i can say.

So which is better? Live or Recorded? You decide.



OR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q39XH3D0R9o

Suite Date!

My Suitmates and i decided to get all of us together (minus 1 *tear*), dress up, and head to a local mexican restaurant. MMMmmmm It was fun :-D

K2W Campout!

My unit, Kem 2 West, had a blast this past Friday night (and well, every night). We had a UnIt CaMpOuT! Yea, be jealous. Complete with fire, Ivanhoe's Ice Cream, and tents.

"2 Seniors and 1 Freshman"~ PawPaw

Friday was grandparent's day here at IWU. I feel so blessed to have my Grandma and PawPaw Meyers living only 45 minutes away in Ft. Wayne. They came for the day and were able to enjoy Friday morning chapel, lunch here on campus (IWU actually has GOOD food; my grands can attest to that), a tour of my dorm and classes, and a small variety show while i was in class, and even got to meet some of my new friends, classmates, and room/suite mates. It was such a blessing to share "my world" with them. I am so thankful to live so close to them. :-)

Freshman Initiation

Late Thursday night, around midnight, our Kem Hall leadership came into our room urging us all to QUICKLY come to the hallway exactly as we were; wet hair, P.J.s, tired eyes.... We were all escorted downstairs and out the front door. We were not alone however. not by a long shot. Our suite of 9 freshman girls was joined by every other freshman girl in Kem. We waited outside (well after our curfew) with anticipation for directions. Soon we saw the RA for each floor standing quietly in black dresses holding candles. We quietly walked to our R.A., Katie and followed her to the Student Commons. There we all given a light snack and punch. The object of the night? A quiet, subtle reminder that we are now women, beautiful women, even at midnight. It was a cute quiet little ceremony in that candle lit room so elegantly decorated. Our leader prayed for each one of us and handed us each a rose while quietly whispering, "YOU are beautiful." The night was unexpected, but lovely and God certainly used it to speak to the hearts of each young woman of Kem Hall.

Of course, what is a freshman initiation with out a little fun??? So we ran around brother dorm Scripture twice while yelling as loud as we could. LOL :-)

OvEr LoAd!!!

So we all know that Homework is a fact of college life, but JEEZE! This week seems to be in fast forward. I have had so much homework and so many other things going on (Yay for Grandparent's Day tomorrow) that I get to feeling a bit overwhelmed. In reality I know that I am still a few days ahead, but it is still very stressful. I am constantly reminded to keep "first things first."

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Meet Suite 201

My apologies for not having a pic of Gabbi. :(

Summit- A Challenge to Surrender all

This week has been a Spiritual Emphasis week here at IWU called Summit. While all the messages this week have been wonderful, tonight's message was very powerful and impactful. The speaker, Dave Ward, spoke on the passage 1 Thessalonians 4. It is God's will that we as Christians be SANCTIFIED. What does that mean? Well Sanctification does not mean that we are flawless, free of temptations, resistant to sin, free from unintentional sin, or fully mature Christians. It does mean though that there is hope. We are called to life PURE life. When we sin in a particular area, we are then more vulnerable to that sin in the future; it is a "chink" in your armor so to speak. Secondly, the passage calls us to learn to love naturally. Instead of or inherant bent toward sin, we should allow God to bend us towards his love for ALL.

All this seems a little overwhelming and even impossible. But, as 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 says, the one who is calling us to be pure will make us pure.

What are you willing to sacrifice for sanctification; for the purity of Christ? What are you laying on the alter? Is it a relationship of present or past? Is it a habit, addiction, or willful sin? Whatever it is, GOD CAN FREE US OF IT.

Will you surrender all?

La Semana Pasada

It is safe to assume that I have successfully survived my first week of school. I am adjusting very easily to life here on the IWU campus. I love my Suite in Kem hall [shout to 2West] and all nine of my suitemates. I am trying hard to memorize names and to find enough time in my schedule to eat a sit down meal in Baldwin dining hall. I have 5 classes this semestar; General Statistics, Principles of Biology, General Chemistry I, Gen Chem Lab, and Freshman World Changers. So far so good! Pics to come soon!

Send mail!

Want to send me mail???? I know you do! Here is my new IWU Address:

Kristyn Concepcion
IWU
552 Student Center
Marion, IN 46953

Move in!

The last few days have been long and packed with new places, faces, and information. I moved into my IWU dorm in Kem hall on Friday morning. So far, this is what it looks like. :)

Goodbyes Coming Soon

IWU Freshman move in is tomorrow [eeeek!] and my fam leaves for Honduras on Tuesday. Now, anyone who can do basic math knows that PACKING x 5= CHAOS! Right now our little condo looks like a tornado blew through. *sigh*
(this is just a small bit of my lovely, condensed packing...)

Feeding Swans

Think Small

As I finish up the book "The Irresistible Revolution," I find it hard to pick just one of the hundreds of quotes and topics I have highlighted throughout the book for a discussion. the whole book is really very discussional. Mom says it is because i have to say exactly what i'm thinking in order to process it (she thinks i talk too much...imagine that). Regardless, i have a lot to say and very little space (ok, not true. I will probably write more later....limitless space on the internet...). So here goes just one of the many thoughts rolling around in my head (thank you, shane claiborne).


"It is easy to fall in love with the great things..."
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne

How often do the big things catch our eye? The grand house at the corner of the ritzy neighborhood, the suped up sports car cruising by your own car, the colorful new gadgets lining store shelves, the superstar athletes winning the shiny gold... All the time. As humans we rarely notice something that is not "big," "in-your-face," "wow." We forget to stop, take a breath and notice the greatness all around us in the small and simple things of life. Greatness often comes in small packages. In the smile of a small child, the cheeriness of a ladybug, the gratitude of a struggling beggar, in the simplicity of a stable.... Claiborne says it best:

• We have a God who enters the world through smallness-- a baby refugee, a homeless rabbi, the lilies and the sparrows. We have a God who values the little offering of a couple of coins from a widow over the mega charity of millionaires. We have a God who speaks through little people-- a stuttering spokesman names Moses; the stubborn donkey of Balaam; a lying brothel owner named Rahab; an adulterous kind named David; a ragtag bunch of disciples who betrayed, doubted, and denied; and a converted terrorist named Paul.

Dont forget the small people and the small but beautiful details in the creation all around you. God uses it all for HIS glory. See them all through HIS eyes. Don't miss it.

Treasured Times

Thursday, August 7th - Saturday, August 16th

My boyfriend Ronnie and his eleven-year-old brother Jake were able to make their very first trip to Indiana last week. It was a wonderful but very busy week packed with trips, activities, and family. It had been over two months since I had seen Ronnie so I was quite anxious to see him.

My family and I picked up Ronnie and Jake on Thursday afternoon. From the airport, we headed off to our first great adventure; McCormick's Creek. My family has spent time at McCormick's Creek every summer for as long as I can remember. It was exciting to share the experience with Ronnie and also give him time to bond with my family and my "second family" the McCullough's. And he did. He fit in like he had been there all along and so did Jake. While Jake, Cori, and the McCullough kids were off riding bikes and playing games, Ronnie and I were able to hang out and catch up with the family. We all had a wonderful weekend staying in the McCormick's Creek "Family Cabins," hiking, swimming, and hanging out as one big family.

Things didn't slow down after a weekend at McCormick's Creek. We were back in Indianapolis for a few days from Saturday to Tuesday. I made it a point to show Ronnie my world as he had done with me in Oklahoma. We stopped by my old house and school and attended my home church on Sunday morning. We met up with Alex, a friend of Ronnie and I from Honduras too. Shopping, movies, ice cream, and swimming were at the top of our to-do list in Indy which was quite a bit to pack into so few days. Of course, we managed just fine. J

Ronnie has clicked with my family from the very beginning and Jake was no exception. The true test would be meeting much of my mother’s family in Ft. Wayne. And of course, my social, charming boyfriend and his cute, quirky brother had no problems. Ronnie and my grandpa clicked especially well. My grandpa loved having someone to show off his collections too as they two shared many of the same interests. Grandma loved having someone else volunteer to cook for a change (Ronnie and I made a big breakfast for everyone one morning). Our time in Ft. Wayne was coincidently a reunion of sorts as many relatives from out of town were in Ft. Wayne visiting my grandparents. While others were occupied with family history, Ronnie, our siblings, and I (along with Grandpa and Dad) amused ourselves by feeding the swans and ducks and watching movies.

The end of Ronnie’s stay came far too quickly. Before we knew it, we were saying our sad goodbyes yet again. We still don’t know how long it will be until we see each other again. Hopefully not too long! J For now, school is our priority as we both realize it is where God has placed us.

I am so glad I was able to spend some time with my Ronnie and Jake before school starts. What a wonderful end to my already wonderful summer!

McCormick's Creek

Indianapolis

Ft. Wayne

Striving

I don’t know about you, but my family and I have been keeping up with the Beijing Olympics. Whether it’s watching Michael Phelps swim for his 8^th gold or seeing Shawn Johnson’s flawless gymnastics performance on the balance beam, I stand in awe of the world’s greatest competitors. I cannot even imagine the time and preparation it must take to compete at such a level. I see the tiny Chinese girls flipping through the air and the muscular Jamaicans running faster than I could ever dream. But isn’t that the point—to go beyond your dreams; beyond what is humanly possible? To do something the world will remember you for? Perfection? Of course it is. No matter what nation you come from or what religion, the ultimate goal is the same; perfection.

What is perfection? Is it possible? Ask any athlete if they have achieved complete and total perfection and I can guarantee that they will say “no” (well, if they don’t say “no,” they are lying…). But why? Because perfection is impossible for everyone… except Christ. Christ stands alone on the Gold-Medal Podium and no one else even comes close.

So why compete? Shouldn’t we all just give up and go about our pitiful little lives as the “spiritual losers” we really are? NO! Christ is our example. He gives us something to strive towards, something worth fighting for. He gives us hope for something beyond our lives and a dream and vision to chase after with all of our hearts. He gives us the coaching we need to get through all of life’s hurtles. He gives us something worth remembering; something perfect. It’s worth fighting for. Are you willing to fight for it?

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

(more verses: James 5:11, Hebrews 10:36, 2 Peter 1:6, Romans 5:3-4)

Family Fun and Favorite Food

Aren't road trips fun!?!? Well I think they are, even if I do sleep for the majority of the car rides. The fam and I traveled up north last week to visit family and friends. Our first stop was near Rockford, IL to see friends Mr. and Mrs. Davis. The friendly couple recently made the move from Indy, North when Mr. Davis got a new job. We have known then for many years from our church and also from a small church group that met in our home.

Next stop, Oshkosh, Wisconsin to visit Mom's Aunt Suzy and Great Grandma Charlotte. Swapping stories with Aunt Suzy, dinner with Great Grandma, shopping (of course), and a trip to the EAA Airplane Museum filled up our 3 day stay. Then we were off North again.

Visiting Uncle Erwin, Aunt Janette, and cousins Lindsay and Hailey in Minnesota took up the majority of our trip. We stayed in Minnesota for a total of 5 days. We, of course, made time for shopping at Mall of America and IKEA (my favorite!). We also experienced a neat dog show at the Lumber Jack Festival. Hahaha, that sounds so....wood-sey. It was fun though. On Thursday, we went to a park called Taylor's Falls. It was on the St. Croix river and had walkways all around massive "pot holes" I had never seen anything quite like these pools carved into huge rocks. We hiked around a bit managing to get ourselves lots at a point. Obviously We made it back. LOL. Some of my Aunt's friends invited us all over to their house on the St. Croix on Saturday. The house was a hundred year old river cabin with a beautiful view. We canoed around played in the clay for quite some time. It was a very peaceful getaway.

And what would a family trip be without a Concepcion FRY FEST?!?! Nothing, that's what it would be. So we had a fry fest complete with Dad's arrepas, Uncle Erwin's almojabanos (my favorite food in the whole world), and Aunt Janette's grilled chicken. :-) Then our trip was complete and we could drive the 10 hour trip home with full tummies. I cant wait until the next family road trip to see my amazing northern family!

The Irresistible Revolution

Lately, I have been reading a book called “The irresistible Revolution, Living as an Ordinary Radical” by Shane Claiborne. The book is a mandatory summer read before I start at IWU this fall. It has a wonderful message and has been very thought provoking. I agree with the heart and motive of this book (caring for, living among, and sharing with the poor) but often wonder if Claiborne’s philosophy of “living in community with the poor” and living a lifestyle of a community untouched by the world is slightly unobtainable here on earth and [dare I say] communistic? Community money pools, rejecting all foreign made clothing, bartering hours of work instead of money, rejecting government help…. It is all a little bit far out and perhaps unnecessary. I don’t mean to sound as though I am “slamming” Claiborne’s book. His heart for the poor and Jesus is beautiful, passionate, and genuine. His insights and experiences are testimony to the works God is doing all around the world. I am learning a lot from this book, both through the typed words and through thinking beyond the pages.

I decided to share a few of my favorite quotes so far from this book. Some are sad truths, some are very wisely worded. Ponder them. There will be more to come, I am sure.

Rich [Mullins] stood up in chapel and said, “You guys are all into that born again thing, which is great. We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy named Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell everything you have and give it to the poor, because Jesus said that to one guy too… [and he paused in the awkward silence.] But I guess that’s why God invented highlighters, so we can highlight the parts we like and ignore the rest.”

In our culture of “seeker sensitivity” and radical inclusivity, the great temptation is to compromise the cost of discipleship in order to draw a larger crowd. With the most sincere hearts, we do not want to see anyone walk away from Jesus because of the discomfort of his cross, so we clip the claws on the Lion a little, we clean up a bit the bloody Passion we are called to follow.

…everyone can be a Christian but no one knows what a Christian is anymore.

“God comforts the disturbed and disturbs the comfortable.”

I learned a powerful lesson: We can admire and worship Jesus without doing what he did. We can applaud what he preached and stood for without caring about the same things. We can adore his cross without taking up ours. I had come to see that the great tragedy in the church is not that rich Christians do not care about the poor but that rich Christians do not know the poor.

We are just one little cell within the body, very full of life but only a small part of the whole. Cells are born and cells die, but the body lives forever.

Gerd Theissen calls the two groups the “wandering charismatics” and the local sympathizers.” The wanderers were traveling apostles and relied on the support of the sympathizers. Both shaped the early church. They did not look down on each other. They sympathizers did not write the wanderers off as radicals or freaks, and the wanderers did not judge the sympathizers as sellouts. They loved and supported one another.

There are Matthews who encounter Jesus and sell everything. But then there are also the Zacchaeuses who meet Jesus and redefine their careers. So not everyone responds in the same way, but we must respond. We must seek our vocation listening to the voice of God and the voices of our suffering neighbors.

We need converts in the best sense of the word, people marked by the renewing of their minds and imaginations, who no longer conform to the pattern that is destroying our world. Otherwise, we have only believers, and believers are a dime-a-dozen nowadays.

Thank You!

"If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself--begin to have spiritual discernment...” from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers

Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you so much for your love, prayers, support, letters and encouragement to me these past two years as I followed the Lord to the unknown waters of Georgia. RAD Ministries has certainly rocked my boat. God has used situations both fabricated by RAD and also through life circumstances to teach me more about himself and also more about myself. I have learned not only my strengths and weaknesses and seen myself in the most vulnerable of places, but have learned to live victoriously despite all that may or may not be around me. I do not claim to be “healed” or “fixed” as living for the Lord is a daily CHOICE that I am still learning to walk in. I do however feel equipped and ready for my next steps in life.

What exactly is next for me? At the moment, my family is reunited in Indiana for the summer. We are traveling around a little bit visiting family and friends. But the summer is floating steadily away and soon, I will be a freshman at Indiana Wesleyan University. School starts on September 2nd. I will be studying Medical Technology and Pre-Physical Therapy. I am very excited for this new step in my life as I know it is where God has specifically placed me. With it though, I know there will be new storms to weather, new people to meet, and new victories to win. My prayer is that I will be diligent in my studies, my devotion to the Father, my character, and in my social life bringing glory to my King.

As I begin this new phase in life, I am hoping to stay connected with my friends and “family” in Georgia and with RAD. I would like to ask for your continued prayers for the ministry as it begins the necessary preparations of office, finances, staff, and students for the coming year. Also, I am hoping to pay off the remainder of my RAD Internship Tuition before I start school in September. I still have a balance of $850 to be paid to RAD. If you are interested in supporting me in this area or would like to commit to praying for RAD on a regular basis, please let me know as soon as possible so I can send you more information. Thank you for enabling me to embark on such a great and fulfilling adventure of discipleship.Thank you all for blessing my life.

Sincerely,
Kristyn Concepción

The wedding we have been waiting for

The McCullough’s have been our closest family friends for as long as I can remember. When we heard that Danielle was getting married to Tomy Bruno, we knew we could not miss that wedding! And we didn’t. On July, 12^th, just four days after Dad and Shelby arrived in Indy from Honduras and after months of planning, weeks of shopping, and hours of invitation making, we all gathered in the beautiful courthouse for a perfect wedding. And a perfect wedding was what we witnesses.

Congratulations Danielle and Tomy Bruno!

IWU Registration

Yesterday, my mom and dad took me to IWU for my college registration. The whole day went very well. We were able to experience several aspects of college life including the GINORMOUS cafeteria and Evans dooms. The student building was simply amazing. It has a long hallway called the "Mall Way." It is set up to look like you are walking through the streets of Italy! How awesome is that (I have always wanted to go to Italy!). The Mall Way is filled with small stores, gathering areas, Cafés, Computers, an art gallery, and more. It was really cool. After and early breakfast, we went to the into in the Phillippe Theater before I started testing. I was SO nervouse about testing! They said some tests take 10 Min. and others almost an hour....it just depends on which one you get. My math test was only 12 min. long! When my score said 57, I about freaked out! I found out later that that was a good grade though.... not a percent. I also tested out of 4 levels of Spanish! After walking through all the booths in the Mall Way, I talked to my Administrator and got my schedule all set up (and my student ID made).

Major: Medical Technology (and Pre-Physical Therapy)

Classes the semester: 

General Statistics

Principles of Biology

General Chemistry

Biology Lab

Freshman's Leadership Class

plus 3 chapels a week

sounds very "mathematical" to me.... but I like math better than English any day. Hope it's not too hard!!!  

Several Other exciting things happened that Evening.  I was able to buy all [way too many] of my school books and Mom and Dad decided to use my student discount to buy a little mac book!  It came with a free printer and ipod touch too!  Feeling Jetson?!?!  I'm feeling a bit overloaded with technology, especially since we just hooked up our new wireless internet today too.  Yikes!