i refuse to let an entire month go by before updating my blog! i keep resolving to be a better blogger, but time still somehow gets away from me... well here's another attempt. :)

Christmas was wonderful! Christmas with the Conway's (sounds like a movie title, hey?) was sweeter than i anticipated. i mean, the conway family is absolutely wonderful, but i was anxious about being away from family and being with someone else's family. i couldn't have felt more like i belonged than if i actually was a conway. they were SO hospitable to kim and me; even had tons of gifts under the tree! we had lunch that day with some other families too and stayed into the night. what joyous holiday it was! praise God for providing family. "God sets the lonely in families..." Psalm 68:6

and throughout the rest of the holiday i read, relaxed, and caught up with some old friends: mostly old youth group kids who were home for the holidays. how sweet it is for me to observe how my friendships with these kids have grown. i greatly value those young men and women and am truly blessed to be a part of their story.

some of this years' seniors with two really silly college guys. "bed head" on the far right is actually about to graduate with a degree in construction management and has a serious girlfriend. my, how they grow up! and he's no longer got constant bed head :(

ringing in the new year with loads of kids: high school and college party combined

things are quickly picking up their pace around here now. if i was at all bored or restless during the holidays i am already sorely regretting those feelings. i feel like the next few months of my life are quickly coming and will soon pass.

my days are currently filled with...

planting a garden - hurray! this is project kim and i started over the holidays, but requires daily attention. i'm stoked about this new venture. i've never done this before and i'm excited about learning the ins and outs of gardening. i'm NOT excited about my stupid puppies (sorry puppies) who like to break down the little fence and dig in the dirt.

beginning the garden project

current garden status. notice there are no plants yet.

reading harry potter - yep, maybe i'm a couple of 6 years behind the bandwagon, but i'm loving it. haha! i'd like to be up to speed before the final movie premiers.

learning to sew - first project was a very small and crooked placemat. but SO COOL to be able to actually make something. and i love my teachers. there are like 5 of them and they all give input and are impressed with how quick i am. haha! they must not have had many students.

youth group and student stuff - there are only a few weeks (SERIOUSLY?!!) left in this school year, between spring break, school field trips, easter break, senior trip, exams... ok, really there are a few months, but it all goes too fast these days. pray that we'll make the most of our time together and i will seek God's wisdom as i lead these teenagers. and that i'll be attentive to what i'm learning from them. we had a very productive dinner meeting a few nights ago where we planned talks and activities through the end of the school year. ALSO, we (a few students and i) have recently begun a Bible study for students at another school. this is a HUGE answer to prayer. i mean, like 5 years of prayer. we met on wednesday last week and it was so great! love love love the girls. looking forward to meeting again this week. please be in prayer about this too.

CAMP - camp bluesky 2011 will be here SOON!!! i already have nearly all the staff we need and am close to settling on a theme. pray pray PRAY! for campers and smooth logistics. lukenya has fired and rehired entire new staff once again. looks like we'll have another "first time" for everything this summer. yea! (pray also that i'll have a good attitude)

states - i'm planning to be Stateside 17 February - 6 March and will mostly be around GA. i would love to speak at your church, missions committee, or small group. i'm still looking for a few staffers, financial support for camp, and personal financial support. camp needs to get $20-30,000 annually and i need to gain a few more supporters. i am trying to procure a few engagements to build partners with this ministry. do you know of anyone or any groups? pray that me and those financial supporters will find each other. :)

i also want to visit friends and family while i'm there. so i'd like to see you in that manner as well.

our team - after all these other things, we're getting lots of new staff! i'm so thankful and excited. this week we'll be receiving stephen, jason, and emily. two weeks later, lexi. and returning from States will me will be Michelle. and then later in the year we'll get the preston family, greg, and possibly a few more! wow, some big things must be coming up! i still can't believe all these people are moving here! let's pray for their transition and for our team. much of my time in the next few weeks will be spent orienting and helping transition them into their roles and into life here.

oh, yeah, and i also climbed mt. kenya with some high school students...

just before embarking on our mt kenya climb. clean, in good humor, and full of energy.

this is all of us the night before we summitted. we were killing time until dinner. we're really cold and tired, but couldn't go to sleep till we ate. then had to wake at 2:15 a.m. to begin the climb to the top. painful, but sweet.

at the summit! so tired and FREEZING! but really happy.

view of the mountain on the way down. this is from the (dang it i forgot the name already) valley. see how small that person is in the bottom right corner? wow. beauty. i already wanna go back. for clarification, we actually walked to the hiker's peak. in this picture it's the flat part on the smaller peak on the left. you should still be impressed. it wasn't easy.

neonuna on a recent visit with Kim to Rehema in Western. isn't she beautiful! i didn't imagine i'd still have regular contact with her when i met her as a barely walking baby who fell asleep in my arms several years ago. anyone remember that? she and i both had a coke and we toasted a few times... wow. she's in school and speaks very good english, although she's almost too shy to talk to you so you wouldn't really know. :) we went just before Christmas to give the sponsored kids some gifts from their sponsors. we also got to visit all the kids who were still in the dorms and give away some Christmas sweets. so much fun! and it's always good to visit with Bishop Edwin and those pastors. there are still many orphans at Rehema without a sponsor. if you're interested in sponsoring one of them please let me know and i'll point you in the appropriate direction. there's more information there. these children are so sweet and beautiful and the school is doing a fantastic job on their education. please consider joining us in supporting them so their needs can continue to be met.

thanks for sticking with me through this long post! i know, i know: if i'd write more often they wouldn't be so long... i'll keep trying.

happy MLK day, you Americans! enjoy your day off! (AGAIN, for everyone in the southeast with all your snow days... i won't rub it in that it's currently sunny and 70 at my house)