A Looonnnggg Update

So, once upon a time I used to be really good at blogging on a regular basis.  Then, I went to Atlanta, Nashville, India and Nepal, and somewhere in there I forgot how to blog.   Sooo....I'm going to fill you in really quickly about the last 6 months of my life, and then hopefully I will be able to blog a little more regularly.

So, around spring break time I had the chance to go to Nashville and Atlanta and catch up with college, Northlake and NCS friends.  It was wonderful to see everyone, and meet many new babies!  I also got to spend some time talking with the folks who make up Ubuntu Village.  It was fun to dream with them as they seek what the Lord has in store for their community.  I also got to visit a Nepali friend who used to live in Kansas City, and moved to one of the apartment communities the folks from Ubuntu Village live in.  Small world.

When I got back to Kansas City it was time to celebrate Easter, and then the end of the the Spring trimester.  We had a wonderful Easter celebration at Mission Adelante with many of our friends from the community.  I even had the chance to make a flower carpet to decorate.  Pookalams are used for decoration, and they are soo beautiful.  We also had a great End of Trimester Party, and the folks from Christ Community Church EVC rocked out a super fun kids program complete with amazing face painting!

About a week after the End of Trimester Party we left for Nepal and India.  It was an amazing journey.  The Lord taught me so much about myself and ministry in just two short weeks.  My eyes were opened to two beautiful countries, and He provided for us new family in both places.  It is way too much to write about in this post, so if you want to hear about my trip, please ask me!

When we got back from Nepal and India we jumped straight in to the summer trimester.  It's been wonderful.  We had 3 great Kids Camps hosted by our friends at Christ Church Anglican, Shoal Creek Community Church and Emmanuel Baptist Church.  We had our biggest turnouts for Kids Camps ever, with 110 kids one night!  Crazy.  These three churches did wonderful jobs!

We also had two great summer interns, who were TONS of help with the Kids Camps and loved the kids so well this summer.  Tomorrow is their last day, and we are all pretty sad to see them go.  They were great sports, even when they had to have a pie eating contest during one of the Kids Camps!

Our friend Noel Castellanos from CCDA came and visited and shared with us the vision and values of CCDA.  He even got to share a meal with some of our friends.

We've also had lots of fun at Kids Club this summer.  Last week was a highlight because it was BACKPACK week, everyone's favorite week of the year.  Who doesn't like a bag full of new supplies?

Tomorrow is our Summer End of Trimester party.  It is crazy how fast time flies.  It is hard to believe that my nephews go back to school soon.  I can't believe that the older one starts Kindergarten Wednesday.  We got to have a lot of good quality time this summer, as their mom spent a month on bed rest before the newest brother was born!  And my moms whole side of the family got to meet little Brody as they came up to visit just a few weeks after he was born.  It was a joy to have everyone together.  

It has been a busy and crazy past 6 months.  I wouldn't trade it for anything.  And though I love summer more than any other season, I am getting excited for the fall and the launch of our afterschool leadership development program, Leaders in Training.  I am almost giddy about the idea of spending 3 afternoons, and Tuesday night with these cool kids!  It's going to be a blast, and hopefully will inspire me to blog a little more often! :-)