Reflections and Refractions

In an Email sent 7/11/08:

“Wow its been a long time. I know, I know… totally my fault. And I accept all the blame. BUT (yes, here come the “but”) I have been prett-y bus-y. Not too busy too write an update letter of course, but too busy to feel like writing one. I know it will be that way on the field, so I guess I better get used to it huh? Perhaps I will have some help in writing my update letters though. Oh I don’t know, a gorgeous girl, with long flowing blond hair, auburn eyes, amazing intelligence, and a dear Love for the Lord. That sounds like a pretty good update letter writing helper! Well, she may not help me write all my update letters, but she will be my cherished wife! Yes, I am Engaged to the lovely Renae King. And I am happy happy.

(so the reflection and refraction part refers to the diamond… but you knew that I am sure… however, you didn’t know that it also refers to solar panels)

Yes, solar panels. That keeps me busy when I am not burning up the roads to see Renae. I am working at the New Tribes Missionary Training Center (same place I go to school) this summer in what is called the “Tech Center.” We provide technical support for missionaries living on the field. We design and build our own solar electric systems to send to the field pre assembled and provide trouble-shooting and support for most missionary technology. Currently we are designing a new system that is easier to set up and maintain, and we are also working on some projects like building super energy efficient DC ceiling fans, etc. I am volunteering/apprenticing there all summer (40 hours a week, except for the long weekends I take to see Renae, and those are getting more and more frequent;)) in order to train and learn how to service missionary technology on the field. That is currently the area I feel the Lord is calling me to. I would live on a central base and provide support by phone, email, and fly in visits to install and maintain missionary equipment.

So that’s all for now.

I would be humbled to be in your prayers regarding these things,

Thank you so much,

kevin”

——

Follow up pictures:

Follow up info:

We were engaged on June 29th

We plan to Marry on September 27 in Sabetha Ks.

Jungle Camp

A friend and I embark on an adventure, trying our hand at building a cabin out of raw material in the woods with nothing but a chainsaw… the videos are cheesy, but……

phonetics and phonemics class

Notice all the paper and coffee….

when there is no doctor

this week training involves learning what to do when there is no doctor around. So, of course that will involve giving some shots and maybe taking some blood pressure.

taking blood pressure, pretty simple, low stress

Learning how to give a subcutaneous injection, not quite as easy or as stress free.

jungle camp

Spring seems to be slowly breaking through up here in Missouri.  We have a few nice days, and then a few really cold days.  But the cold days are becoming more and more mild and some of the trees have begun to bloom.

Spring is here just in time for our “Jungle Camp.”  Now Jungle Camp used to be a campus wide class that required students to build and live for six weeks in little shelters that they would make from trees and plastic.  That class has been indefinitely cancelled as of this year.  This came as a huge disappointment to me!  I was imagining that was going to be the best part of the training!

Well, my friend Shrift and I decided to take matters in to our own hands, and build our own little cabin out in the woods to live in for a couple weeks.  We will still be attending classes of course and we sorta have permission to do all this J.  

But that is what has been taking up most of my spare time over the past few week, besides a short trip home for Easter which was very nice.  For those of you in Louisiana, I would encourage you to visit the Acadiana Zoo (whether its for the first time or you have been before), it was a fun little visit, especially in the Spring.

 

 

Here are some pictures of the current progression of Jungle camp.

My trusty old truck has had a lot of fun with this project

after the first 8 hours

getting ready to lay the roof… which is now on, but no pictures.  More pictures later this week.  I doubt you are as nearly as excited about this little project as us, But I am quite  proud of how our little cabin is coming along!

The Missionary training center in Roach Missouri

my favorite part is about 3/4 of the way through... dont be afraid to FF  ;) 

Classes Begin!

The first day of class greeted us with 12 volt batteries, wires, clips and tools sitting on our tables.

This is a sample from our Phonetics class.

Snow!!

 

They are predicting a half foot of snow,

1 week of classes left…

I guess it is a bit bittersweet. It’ll be nice to take a break, see some family, and earn a little money, but I will miss my family here. This is such a neat setting. I have never built such deep relationships as have been developed here.

I think of my friend Dave, married and father of 4 boys (all under 4). This family is a rock of encouragement to me. I can show up at their door at any time and just hang out and talk for a while. It has been a huge encouragement to be their neighbors for the last 3 years (Up the hill here in MO, and across the hall in MI). The Lord has taught me much about life and relationships through this relationship; things along the line of generosity, encouragement, openness, kindness, prayer, empathy… to be vague.

I also think of my friend Shrift. Another single guy like myself, who grew up on the mission field in Brazil. His perspective on life and Non Americanized outlook on fun has led to many great talks and adventures. To be able to take on the world, shoulder to shoulder with a brother in Christ, and have sincere non-surface dialogue with another child of God, there is no substitute.
The Body of Christ is an indispensable part of the Christian walk. We were made to be part of a community, reborn into a living body made up of many parts, and are not meant to function apart from this.

I fear that American culture is starting to become arthritic to the American church. Privacy and individuality are prized and precious in this country. I grew up with these values and hold tightly to them, but they have been challenged during my time here.

As a little side note, these are not global values. They are VERY American.

What do you think? Do you think the American Church looks like the early church found in Acts and the Epistles? Does it make sense at all that our own culture has the ability to divide and separate these “joints and ligaments?” “…holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God. (Col 2:19)

The relationships I have developed are by circumstance temporary. All these friends will be 1000’s of miles away within 2 years. At that point, as our communication is limited to ephemeral avenues like letters, emails, and websites, friendships will begin to atrophy. My hope is that these relationships can stay strong. I hope that I will keep praying for these people until the last day, and they for me. But I guess my point is that even though I know these relationships cannot last forever, they still have Immeasurable Worth.

If I had the platform to encourage, I would preach Carpe Diem. This time of year seems to spawn hope and desire in these relationships, but it takes what, 10days, 3 weeks, or 2 months before we get “too busy” and allow these relationships to slip back into “La La, that would be nice land.”

Yep, guess I am probably preaching now. Don’t mean to, just wanting to share my heart. So…. sorry for preaching.

On That Note…

As the saying goes, “Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!