We made it...

*Tiny wormy disclaimer---This post has and will not be edited. It’s from the heart and right off of the top of the dome.
**Feel free to comment and add some words of encouragement…

Caden and I are finally settled into our hotel for the duration of our stay.  Our flights were great!  I enjoyed the views, especially when we were leaving DC... we saw this beautiful rainbow.

Rainbow over DC

View over Istanbul, Turkey

We also experienced some great views flying into Istanbul, Turkey for our layover. We met up with our group E3partners in Istanbul.  They all flew in from California.  I know you all are wondering how did I get connected with them. The short answer: On the internet.  For the longest, I felt like the girl on this State Farm Commercial .  Prior to meeting up, we did have several conference calls etc. which eased my fears some.  Our group leaders are Katie and Pastor J.T. Katie has been to Ethiopia 13 times.  The others in our group range from ages 13-22 and for most of them, this is their 2nd or 3rd time coming to Ethiopia. It's amazing to me the love that they have for the people here and their desire to do God's work.  When I was 13-22, Ethiopia was no where on my mind. 

We arrived to our hotel in Addis Ababa around 2am and left early for our 6-9 hour bumpy drive to Arba Minch.   We all piled in three vans with our luggage strapped to the top.  Our hosts/drivers, Pastor Samuel and Solomon are amazing! On another note, I've never seen so many goats, chickens, cows, donkeys on "main roads" ever in my life. Very interesting.  Caden was definitely in awe.  There were so many people smiling, waving and dancing as we passed by.  They seem to labor continuously.  Caden and I rode in the van with Pastor Samuel, Kevin (20), Jonathan (19), Sidney (19) and Pastor Samuel. During our ride, we all shared our testimonies of how we came to know Christ. That was truly something special and allowed Caden and I to get to know some of the group a little better. It was also great to hear about their previous missions in Ethiopia and Honduras. 

The hotel we stayed in in Addis Ababa was very nice! I had high hopes for our Arba Minch hotel :(  I have to keep reminding myself of why I'm here. God has definitely removed me from my comfort zone. Caden has adjusted much better than I have. Kids are so resilient.  As I type this message, I am sitting on my twin sized bed covered with a mosquito net and Caden is snoring away in his bed.  We've been trying new foods. Caden is a picky eater and he's been doing very well.  We eat breakfast and dinner at the hotel everyday, but we had to bring things over to pack our lunches. My proudest accomplishments so far are these two loaves of bread that were tucked into a shoe box in my luggage.  If nothing else, Caden and I will be able to enjoy us some yummy PBJ sandwiches.

Tomorrow, we will meet with our translators and complete some Priceless Cube training and go over some do's/don'ts etc.

Ministry starts on Monday!

Thanks again to everyone who has donated and is praying with us!


Here are a few more pics and a video....

Ethiopia in less than 48 hours...

It's been almost three whole years since I've written a blog post, but there is no better time than right now to do so. In a little less than 48 hours, Caden and I will be headed to Arba Minch, Ethiopia Read more about why here...

Thanks to everyone who has donated and who are praying with us. We are excited, nervous etc.  Please keep us and the 25+ others that will be traveling with us in your prayers.  Also, please subscribe/follow our blog by adding your email address at the top of the page or click here to keep updated on our work there. Feel free to comment as well.  We look forward to keeping you all updated and hearing from you all during this mission.

Until the whole world hears... Peace, love and blessings...

Kem and Caden





*Tiny wormy disclaimer---This post has and will not be edited. It’s from the heart and right off of the top of the dome.
**Feel free to comment and add some words of encouragement…

Birthday Babble...Bathroom Prayer...

I started this blog with the intent to keep it updated regularly. FAIL!

My thoughts:

-If I have time to blog, I have time to do more editing on my dissertation… *sigh*

-If I have time to blog, I have time to catch up on some “leisure” reading

-If I have time to blog, I have time to teach my son to ride his bike…. Done! #happy face

-If I have time to blog, I have time to …uhhh?…yeah, you get the point.

I’m reflecting on this past year and I can definitely say that it hasn’t been the worse, but I can be real and transparent enough to admit that I’m not happy and I’m not where I’d thought I’d be at 30. Hard on myself? Totally!  I’m ok with accepting God’s plan and staying within His will and all….I’ve tried boxing with God and my arms are waaaaay too short. So I really don’t have a choice.   Lately, I have had some very low moments, but who would know that? I don’t really talk about that stuff.  I admit, I put on a great game face. I mean, it’s really good!  I need a SAG card.  However, during these “low”  times, I mediate/pray …(I wonder if God ever gets tired of me talking to Him…) I’m starting to understand and see that God is getting me ready for greatness, and the greater my upcoming blessings, the more I must be tested in preparation for them.  I’m human! I DO NOT like the tests, but I LOVE the BLESSINGS!  

Things I’m reflecting on:

I have to admit, having faith and conquering fear are by biggest obstacles. I keep asking myself why I do I constantly struggle with those two so much. Let me introduce you the third “F” word, *gasp* failure!  (and the fourth “F” word…F*%& it! *gasp..again*) I have to constantly remind myself that I’ve already failed when I haven’t properly exercised my faith and given in to fear.  I’m great at supporting and encouraging everyone else to go after their dreams, but I really suck at taking my own advice. Where in the hell are my mentors and advisors? Sheesh!  Anyway…I won’t start my birthday by complaining, because I do have so much to be thankful for. I’m thankful for the intangible blessings and for being able to release all of the “crap” that I’ve been through up until this point…

On my very first day of working as the Acting Head of School of a private Jewish school, I was introduced to the Asher yasher benediction. I have posted the Hebrew and English translation below:

(stay with me…I’m going somewhere with this)…

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu  Me-lech  Ha-o-lam, a-sher  kid-sha-nu  b'mitz-vo-tav v'tzi-va-nu al  n'ti-lat  ya-da-yim.

Blessed are You, HaShem, our God, King of the Universe, who sanctifies us through His commandments and commanded us concerning the elevation of the hands.

Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai, Elo-hei-nu,  me-lech  l'o-lam, A-sher  ya-tsar et  ha-a-dam  b'choch-mah, u-va-ra  vo n'ka-vim  n'ka-vim, cha-lu-lim  cha-lu-lim, ga-lu  v'ya-du-a lif-nei  chi-sei  ch'vo-de-cha she-im  yi-pa-tei-ach  e-chad  mei-hem o  yi-sa-teim  e-chad  mei-hem, i  ef-shar  l'hit-ka-yeim v'la-a-mod  l'fa-ne-cha [a-fi-lu  sha-ah  e-chat]. Ba-ruch  a-tah  A-do-nai, ro-fei  chawl  ba-sar u-maf-li  la-a-sot.

Blessed are You, HaShem, Our God, Sovereign of Space-Time, Who formed Adam with wisdom and created within him many openings and many cavities. It is obvious and known before Your Throne of Glory that if one of them were to be ruptured or if one them were to be blocked it would be impossible to survive and to stand before You [for even one hour]. Blessed are You, HaShem, Who heals all flesh and acts wondrously.

The wisdom that lay behind this blessing that was composed by Abayei, a fourth-century Babylonian rabbi. Abayei's blessing is contained in the Talmud, an encyclopedic work of Jewish law and lore that was written over the first five centuries of the common era. The Jewish religion is chock-full of these blessings, or brachot, as they are called in Hebrew…
In all of this rambling. This asher yasher benediction reminds me to:

1)      Obey God’s commandments

2)      Worship Him

3)      Thank God for my “openings” and “cavities” (including my eyes, ears, mouth, rectum, etc)

4)      Thank God that there are “thorns”, but no blockage, for blockage in some areas would cause me to “die”.

To me, fear is a form of blockage….faith is an opening.

I’m thankful for ALL of my “cavities” and “openings”.  I’m releasing my past failures, hurts, illnesses, failure, depression, fear, discouragement, defeat, any and everything that is not of God’s will over my life….
Do you smell that??? *flushes toilet* 

Ready to FULLY exercise my faith and allow God to use me as He sees fit…
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

*Tiny wormy disclaimer---This post has and will not be edited. It’s from the heart and right off of the top of the dome.
**Feel free to comment and add some words of encouragement…

The beginning...a few life goals and counting.

                It has been a goal of mine for quite sometime to begin to write more.  I’ve made more than enough excuses, (work, school, this and that).  I made the decision on yesterday that I would start now. I’ve always wanted to start a blog and even write a book.  This is my opportunity to write freely about whatever I want without even thinking about APA guidelines and without having to worry about grammatical errors and sentence structure. So here’s the beginning…

 Welcome to my Blog, F.I.T.S. of Kem, or Faith Is The Substance of Kem.  I decided to use F.I.T.S. as the title of my blog, because it is taken from one of my favorite scriptures; Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) says, “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”  Without faith, I know that I can’t do anything.  Faith has been the substance of everything that I am and everything that I aspire to be (or do).  I’ve noticed that when I lack faith, I lack confidence, I over analyze and fail to even start what it was that I originally sought out to accomplish. 

Yesterday, my pastor, Shaun King began his 100 Life Goal series… again.  I was there the first time he preached it *sigh*. During that time, I made a short list of goals, typed them up and saved them on my lap-top. Not long after I had typed my goals up and threw away the original, my laptop was stolen when my home was burglarized. Great! (so I thought). I had yet another excuse to not ever look at those goals again.  They were gone.  I hardly even remembered what I had written anyway. I did manage to think about them from time to time and even managed to reach one of them; I completed my first 10k road race on the 4^th of July.  Only 99 more goals to go. So…

This time around, I am creating an even better list. I’m going to do everything I can to attain them.  No excuses.  Pastor Shaun recommends using Mark Batterson’s guidelines (http://www.sermoncentral.com/scdownloads/10steps.pdf ) for creating your 100 Life Goal list.

There are 5 categories:

1)      Family goals

2)      Travel goals

3)      Physical goals

4)      Experience goals

5)      Influence goals

I have started making my list… again. One of my goals was to start a blog. I’m praying that blogging will be my preparation for writing my book.  I’ve began to make a short list of some goals, but I have not placed them into categories yet and they are not listed in order of importance. So far my goals are to:

1)      Be debt free (lingering student loans)

2)      Write a book and have it published (not sure about the topic yet)

3)      Learn to play piano

4)      Live overseas for 2-3 years

5)      Become more fluent in Spanish

6)      Feed 10,000 people

7)      Help 7 people achieve one or more of their life goals

8)      Go on a vacation with my parents, son, brother, sister-in-law and nephews and niece

9)      Help my son to become bilingual

I still have a long way to go. I plan to add to them and keep this blog updated with my progress.

I’m one of those people who believes that my life has a soundtrack J I can think of a song for almost any situation or circumstance. Music is therapeutic for me. I will more than likely have a song at the end of each blog posting.   With that said, a couple of weeks ago, I received this e-mail from my dad:

Kemberly,
Our band had to do this song request at a wedding this past weekend. Upon first hearing the song, it made and makes me think of my hope in you. I put the attached lyrics in a poem form and included the YouTube link.
 I Love you and am so proud of you! 
Dad 

"I Hope You Dance" - Lee Ann Womack

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV-Z1YwaOiw

I Hope You Dance – Lee Ann Womack

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder.
You get your fill to eat, but always keep that hunger.
May you never take one single breath for granted.
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed.

I hope you still feel small when you stand by the ocean.
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens.
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance.
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance,

I hope you dance! I hope you dance!

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance.
Never settle for the path of least resistance.
Living might mean taking chances, but they're worth taking.
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth making.

Don't let some hell-bent heart leave you bitter.
When you come close to selling out, reconsider.
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance.
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance! I hope you dance!

Time is a real and constant motion,

Always rolling us along.
Tell me who wants to look back on their youth and wonder,
Where those years have gone.

I hope you dance! I hope you dance!

I hope that I can encourage many of you to “dance”!

Let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you.