Simplicity.

A sterilized place doesn't grow anything bad, but it doesn't grow anything good either.
What kind of Christianity are you living?

uh, oh....

New Kitten!

He doesnt have a name yet, but ISN'T HE JUST THE CUTEST THING EVER!?!?
He is a 5 month old manx cat, which means he has no tail. *sigh* I love him.

He loves to cuddle and is super curious. :D

De-piling

Or maybe it is just re-piling, but regaurdless, it is the goal of the day. I feel a tad overwhelmed with all the parts of... well... me... lying around everywhere. There are stacks of RA forms to fill out and stacks to turn in; lists of assignments to do and papers to start; piles of clothes, and mail, and trash, and STUFF laying all over my room; and still more unmentioned things piling in the back of my head waiting to burst out.

Jesus, give me strength to sift through this messiness of life and the will to prioritize as you see fit.

Unit Dinner OUT!

Some of our unit at La Charreada. MMMMMmmmmm!

Big Weekend

Last weekend was a wonderful and fun filled weekend. Friday was grandparent's day here at IWU and of course, grandma and pawpaw were more than happy to come. After a day here on campus, I went back to Ft. Wayne with them and my family met us up there. Saturday we were able to go to the Johnny Appleseed Festival and Celebrate grandma and pawpaw's upcoming birthdays!

Res Life

Last week was Resident's Life Week. I was so proud of the participation of our unit in the events; Luau, Lodge ball, and of course, the Bowman Boat race.

Sarah winning 1st in the limbo!

Lodge Ball!

Ine built and sailed our cardboad boat!

Introducing....

The ladies of Kem 3 East! I love them so much. This week has been a great first week. It has been packed full of classes, new friends, meetings, and school events. While exhausting, I think we would all agree that it has been both fun and rewarding. I love these girls to pieces...

Roomie

I am so happy to have Tay (and my suitemates Amy and Sarah) back at school with me. The past few weeks have been so... empty without them. They are the greatest. :)

Concepcion Prayer Update [from my mom]

Hi, Everyone,

Just wanted to send you an update on the Honduran political situation. I got the note below a few days ago from Sally at the Cornerstone home office and just haven't had a chance to pass it along to you until now. Sounds like things are heating up again, so please keep the nation of Honduras and it's current and rightful leaders in your prayers. I believe ex-President Zalaya's meeting with Hilary Clinton is happening today. Read Sally's note below for more details...

Also, keep praying for Ronnie. He's still having the same health issues, but not getting too many questions answered. He's back in the barracks on base in Germany, but not supposed to be doing too much physically...much to the dismay (and disregard) of some of his superiors. He had some more tests last week and is still waiting on results. The doctors feel they have ruled out many of the more obvious possibilities - heart problems, stroke, aneurism, etc. - but are still perplexed by his symptoms. They have been trying to rule out other serious neurological problems. His primary physician seems to think at least part of the problem may be due to costochondritis, an inflammation of the cartilage between the sternum and the ribs brought on by excessive upper body exercise. It can cause severe chest pain that can mimic a heart attack. This doesn't explain all of his symptoms, but may be a start. Please pray for healing and that the Lord will work out the specifics of his circumstances for his best and for God's glory.

As a praise report, I was very excited to hear from our friend, Heidi Merritt in Honduras the other night. She and I worked together on getting the "Creating Positive Relationships" abstinence-based sex education program up and running in the local schools in the area surrounding the hospital this past year. She hosted an official CPR training event at the hospital last weekend for potential teachers. There were two Spanish-speaking trainers from Nicaragua and another gal from the main office here in Indianapolis who flew in to lead the 3-day event. Heidi reports that God really showed up in a big way - the material was not only well-received, it turned into a revival of sorts, with many people joining the group late just to sit and listen to the biblical basis for saving sex for marriage! When all was said and done, thirty-one people were certified to be teachers - 25 Hondurans and 6 more of the Loma de Luz missionaries! Many of the trainees caught the vision in a big way and are chomping at the bit wanting to take it out into the community as soon as possible all up and down the Caribbean coast of Honduras! This is a huge answer to prayer and confirmation of the vision that the Lord gave us over a year ago when we named our organization "CPR- Honduras North Coast". It's exciting to see the way the Lord is taking our meager efforts and multiplying them already. Many have already asked if the training could be repeated again soon, and the CPR main office here is considering sending the trainers back as early as next Spring to do it again. Praise the Lord with us for this awesome answer to prayer and please continue praying for this vital ministry that is so needed in that little corner of the world.

One more important thing, I wanted to let you know that we received our July financial report from LAM last week and our accounts are all in the black after all of our final expenses were paid! We are praising the Lord for seeing us through the last 4 years and providing more than we could have asked or imagined in every possible way. Thanks so much to all of you who prayed and contributed financially...we are so grateful for your investment in our ministry!! If you have been having your monthly donations automatically withdrawn, please remember to stop those payments, or have them redesignated to another LAM missionary (Drs. Shaw and Sharon Yount and their 2 daughters are with LAM and currently serving at Hospital Loma de Luz). And please remember that even though we're no longer physically there, the work at Hospital Loma de Luz continues and is still in need of your prayers. Be sure to check their website periodically for updates on the work and the needs there at www.crstone.org.

Thanks for praying,

Margo, for all of us

Dear Cornertone Friends--

Your renewed intensity of prayer is needed. Things are looking worse for Honduras now. The USA is instituting a freeze on visas for all Hondurans, and Sec. of State Hillary Clinton's staff is recommending that she sign a determination which would finally officially classify Honduras's actions in June as a "coup"; if she signs this document, it will trigger suspension of $215 million in US aid, which would be devastating for Honduras, especially with the OAS also angrily against Honduras.

In the midst of all this something happened which has profoundly arrested my attention. As the United States and the OAS walked out of talks recently, angry with Honduras and intimating that these actions will soon take place, here is what President Micheletti had to say: “Now they have sent us their messages, but we have faith in the Supreme Creator that he will not leave us alone, We have faith in God that the position of our country is simply defending democracy, not distorting it.”

I thank God for the courage and the deep commitment of Honduras to do what's right. The way of looking at the world, at human nature, and at freedom, which our own founding fathers had has been abandoned by our government because the faith of our founders was abandoned first. Once you abandoned God, that worldview that sees human life and liberty as sacred while also recognizing the fallen nature of humanity and taking measures to account for it, will disappear and be replaced by other views--views which all lead eventually to repression, misery, and destruction. No, our current leaders do not boldly "with a firm reliance on Divine Providence" pledge their lives, their property, and their sacred honor for the cause of liberty. Yet in tiny Honduras, a spark of this amazing boldness and commitment to defend democracy and freedom and to resist tyranny has bravely appeared. And it has appeared because as a whole, right now, Honduras has the faith in God our founders had. They are bravely stepping out alone because they believe they can "with a firm reliance" trust their Creator to not leave them alone. What a difference true faith in God makes. Take that faith and go to your Lord and Creator with prayers for Honduras. The Honduran people have been fasting and praying. Let's renew our determination to join them.

--Sally for Cornerstone

Update on My Boy

Just as a quick update, Ronnie is still about the same. He has been having "episodes" every few days. He had one this afternoon [bringing his total to 10]. He was in his room (again) and fell (again). He had a bunch of lab work done a couple weeks ago so we are waiting to hear the results and see if he get an "official" diagnosis. Please keep him in your prayers. :)

*exhale*

The past couple weeks have been packed full of.... stuff... RA Training has been virtually non-stop through the days while staff meetings, hall decorating, and paper work have managed to fill the rest of my time. I have pulled many late nights and consequently feel rather drained and exhausted. I know that in the end it will all be worth it, but for now.... I CAN NOT WAIT TO SLEEP IN TOMORROW!

[me and melissa, the other RA on my floor.]

Staff Day Away

Saturday, the Kem staff took a day off just to spend time as a family. We headed to Indy and started our afternoon with a picnic by the canal and some fun pictures [promise to post them when i get copies]. Next we headed to the Indianapolis Museum of Art, a first for me. It was quite fun to see the exhibits, especially the modern art ones. After the museum, we went had coffee at the Creation Cafe before having dinner at CHIPOTLE (love that place). It was a fun, and also very relaxing day. :)