One More Step Towards Africa

So I received my flight information today! I will be flying out of Seattle on July 9th and Lord willing I will return on the 6th of August. I am growing increasingly excited and passionate about going and what God will do in and thru me while I serve Him there. I will be serving with Rafiki Africa Ministries at their orphanage and among the nearby villages.

I know I have a long ways to be prepared this trip financially and mentally and having all the details worked out but I am eagerly looking forward to it. I know it's gonna be a long time away from home and family but I know when I am doing God's will, when I'm living out my passion for Him nothing else in this life could make me more content, happy and thrilled.

I cannot wait to see these sweet kiddos and wrap my arms them. I cannot wait to worship, teach, love on and spread the gospel in Uganda. Below are the sweet faces of some of the many children at the orphanage. More have been added since these pictures were taken. Love them already <3

God's Uganda Children

I have not been blogging much lately and hope to try to be better at it. So our BFF (Bitterroot Family Fellowship) kids made and decorated Christmas cards to send to the kids that I will be working with in Uganda. It was a special time to see God working in the hearts of our kids here for missions. It also brought me in for another reality check. Those kids, their faces, their names, the ones who those cards will be delivered to... they are the ones Lord willing I will be hugging, holding, teaching... in 6 months... it is soo real. There is nothing in the world, in all the time I have been alive that I have been more passionate about then teaching kids, loving kids, going to serve with kids, learn from kids, leading kids here at home and far away.. even when I am exhausted from long weeks and tired from the struggles in life this is what is really important, this is what fuels me, excites me, motivates me. It's the children of God. There is no other place that I would rather serve God then with the kiddos he has placed in my life.

I am excited for the new year and the changes it has. For all the new stuff that will come together with our BFF kiddos and how they will be able to connect more and learn more about kids in other places. Other children of God living in completely different culture and lifestyle. I ask prayers for these special kids and am in continuous prayer for them and their walk with God not just on Sundays but throughout the week as well.

And as I make all the preparations that will get me down to Uganda I ask prayers for that as well as for all the people I will be in contact with as I make the trip to Uganda and while I stay there. I should be getting my flight schedule within the next week or two. It looks like I will be gone about July 10th thru the first week in August. If you would like to make a financial donation it goes straight to the costs of helping me get there and be able to stay there for a month to serve as I will not be able to work during that time and will have expenses while there. You can do that at the link below. If you have any questions about my trip or what God is doing please feel free to message me. I encourage you to ask God where He wants you in life. Where He wants you to serve, whether it be at home or across the globe. I encourage you to be passionate and put your whole heart into it. May the glory be all to the Father, forever and always! ~Kriss


Hope for the Orphans! You Caring Fundraiser Site

What About Mama?

So quite a few times I've been asked the question, "You talk about your dad all the time. Are you just as close with your mom?"

My beautiful Mama

My answer is yes. Yes indeed. But I guess I find it a little bit harder to try and find words that truly describe my feelings, my love, the overwhelming emotions I feel for her. How do you describe somebody so beautiful,  loving, accepting, patient, humble... somebody who is there to listen, or cook your favorite meal, to be so patient as you learn to be loved, who can be gentle yet firm, whose arms are there to hold you when you need to cry, the one who would stay up in the night with you cause you are having nightmares and she doesn't want you to be alone. How do you describe somebody who would take in a troubled teenager and love her as her own child? Who would help her grow into a godly woman by teaching, loving and setting an example to follow... she's the one who has been such a big part of my growth in every way. And it's all the little moments that pass by during the day that are precious and dear to my heart that she doesn't even know about. It can be the kind touch of her hand or her mama bear side when she thinks somebody is messing with me. I hope someday I grow up to be just half the mom that she never had to be. And to express in words what she means to me would take more than all the words in the dictionary. I am so blessed to have her, God sure knew what He was doing when He made her a mama.



   

God Answers Prayers Even in the Most Desperate Times

So Monday morning at 5:00am we headed out to hike 11 miles to Ingomar Lake up Sawtooth Creek. Our plan was to camp at the lake Monday and Tuesday night and come back late Wednesday or early Thursday afternoon. We got a good start. Sawtooth trail was better maintained then we thought it would be. We made fairly good time considering we were carrying 40 lb backpacks. By the time we crossed the third creek crossing it was nearing 3:00. We took a break and pushed on the the spot another mile and a half or so up where we cut off trail crossed the creek and begun the several hour ascent up to what we thought was going to be Ingomar Lake. The downfall was worse than we thought. It took us awhile trying lots of different paths over the rough terrain, all the downed trees, rocks and bushes. Some places it was impossible to get through especially with our heavy packs that we had to move towards and alternate route. Josh was worried about getting too far right and missing the lake, I was worried about going too far left and running into dead fall that would be impossible to get through. We were pushing it to get to the top by dark. As we neared the top we realized we were not where we thought we were. Looking at the map we realized we were actually on the left side of the lake with a cliff in between us. We decided that the best thing would be to set up a makeshift camp where we were kind of at the top of the really steep stuff at a kind of flat area. We started a fire and set up our sleeping bags. We figured we'd stay the night there and in the morning we would head down around the west cliff and find the lake. That was about 7:45pm and it was completely dark by then. My stomach had started to hurt and I thought it was probably because I hadn't eaten enough to compensate for the calories I burned. So I ate some high calorie food and we sat by the fire for awhile, Josh cooked hamburgers and I tried to not focus on the pain. Around 9:30ish I decided I needed to take acetaminophen and try to sleep it off cause it was steadily getting worse. The next few hours I tossed and turned trying to lay in a position where it wouldn't hurt as much. Around 11:00 or 12:00 Josh asked if he should start a fire if maybe it would help if I sat up. I didn't know. He got up and started a fire and I decided I could take more pain killer but by the time he got it out of my pack the pain was so intense I was throwing up and knew it wouldn't help if I couldn't keep it down. Josh really started getting worried then and we sat for a little bit trying to decide whether it was more dangerous to try to head down through all that dead fall in the dark or to stay and do nothing. We decided we needed to try to head down the mountain. I sat by the fire while he packed up. He took some of the heavier items out of my pack and put them in his to make mine lighter. By the time we left camp it was 2:00 in the morning. It was really slow going because I needed to stop every ten feet or so because it hurt so much. I think we made it about 45 minutes before I laid down against a rock and was throwing up again. I told Josh I didn't think I could do this. He was really scared by then I could tell though he was trying to keep his cool. That's when we started playing our options out. Josh could go for search and rescue, but to get a signal to call out would be at least an hour and a half down through the dead fall and eight miles back down the trail. By the time search and rescue would be able to find me up there it might be too late. We had no idea how serious this was. So the decision we made at that point in time was to ditch a bunch of our gear so Josh could take both of our backpacks and see if we could make it down to the trail if I didn't have my pack. Where he could carry me out. We stayed at that place for a little bit while he figured out what we needed to take and what we could leave and I tried to catch my breath from the pain and get a little bit of energy to move. Josh asked me if there was anything I wanted. All I could think of is I wanted the pain to stop and I wanted Ken, I just wanted to feel my dad's arms around me one more time and feel like everything was gonna be okay. Neither of those could he give me though. At that point lying on that rock it hurt so bad and I felt so completely weak that the thought crossed my mind that dying would be okay because I didn't think we were gonna make it back and I just wanted the pain to stop. I asked Josh to give me my Bible which held a picture of Gavin I put in there the day before we left. I held it against me and thought about my family at home. At that moment I felt so overwhelmed with the power of their love for me that I knew we had to get out. We pushed on towards the cliff to the east knowing that if he needed to go out for help it would be easier to find me again if I was near there. We got into a rock field and went a little while across that. It was raining and it made the rocks slippery and twice as hard. I sat down on a rock and told Josh that I couldn't go further. We were both just sitting there crying out to God. Asking for His protection and mercy, for the pain to stop and to make it out alive. There was no way I could go farther. It would be hours before we even got down to the trail. The pain eased up a little while I was sitting there so we decided to put our sleeping bags under a tree and try to rest before moving on. I clutched the picture of Gavin close and lay there listening to the rain fall on the tarp over the top of us. I prayed until I fell asleep at some point. When we woke up the pain was gone. We continued down the mountain and had a fire at the trail to dry everything out and then headed the 10 miles out to the truck. When we got in cell service I called home and talked to Dale. Hearing a voice from home gave me the energy to go on the last five miles and I wanted to make sure they weren't worrying too much and knew that we were on our way out. I have never been so happy to see the truck as I was Tuesday night as we got to the trail head and it was turning dusk. We have not found out why I had the pain but I know God has His reasons. He protected us and answered our prayers. It's in times like that, when you are way out in the middle of nowhere, think you might be dying that God can show Himself most powerful. I am continually thankful that He got us out and was blessed to be in the arms of my family last night. Makes me want to never, ever take them for granted. And then while we were sitting around the kitchen table and I was telling them what happened Ken told me what was going on at home while I was out there...

"Monday evening (8 o'clock ish) I began to feel unsettled. Sometime between 9 and 9:30 pm Dale and I heard three loud knocks at the front door. Dale asked if we were expecting anyone. (Which is kind of interesting because it's not odd for somebody to show up at that time) I opened the door but no one was there. At the same time I had a very strong growth feeling that something was wrong and went downstairs and told Elli that we needed to pray. As we prayed the feeling slowly passed." ~Ken         

I was blown away by that. God told Ken to pray. Josh and I were praying. God answered our prayers. I don't know what happened up there or how life-threatening the situation was but I truly believe even more now that God answers prayers and that he provided protection for us. Maybe there is some reason we weren't supposed to get to the lake because before we left there were many people who expressed deep concern to me about us going and that isn't normal when we go out. And then we ended up in the wrong spot. Then when we thought we could get there the next morning I got the stomach pain. That's the only thing that would have kept us from continuing on. Either way. Whatever happened up there I know a couple things for sure. God is deeply involved in our lives. He is almighty and powerful. He cares for His children. And I am deeply loved. I see that now more than ever before. When we pray God works. I am just amazed by his presence and the way he works in our lives. May all glory and honor forever be His and His alone. Thank You God. ~Kriss

I held this picture the whole time. It gave me a reason to keep going.

 

This is what we were hiking in when we left the trail. This is what we were trying to come 

down through at 2:00am in the dark and snowy/rain. 

They Chose Me

I just wanted to write a little post about these two amazing people. Because they are a huge part of who I am today. God has used them in so many ways to bring me to where I am at in life, in relationships, in my walk with Christ.... God bringing them into my life was nothing short of a miracle. I haven't known them for a long time but because of the time we have spent together sometimes it feels like forever. In the time I've known them I went from being very withdrawn and distrusting after some life circumstances, I was scared to death to love for fear of being rejected once again. They have always been patient, loving, gentle and kind. Reminding me over and over and over again for the eight millionth time that they love me. You can see the love that flows between them for each other and for Jesus. The love that overflows to their kids and to others. The beautiful picture of Christ's love they represent by choosing a crazy bunch of kids who needed a home, adopting them as sons and daughters and loving them as their own. They haven't done anything big by the worlds standards but it's all the little things that make them heroes in my eyes. It's the things like being sent to work with homemade chocolate chip cookies, and story time by the campfire, dinner with the family around the table, hugs that mean "I really care", all the nights they spent listening and holding me while my heart is breaking, encouraging me to follow Christ, there are so many little things that I could never list them all. But the thing that makes me love them the most is because they looked at me, a teenager who didn't want to live, they believed in me, they loved me when I couldn't love myself and they saw something in me worth investing in. They chose me to love, to be part of an amazing family. I don't know what they saw but I am ever thankful and blessed to have them as parents, mentors, friends, teachers and role models. They are supportive and encouraging. They have been there every step of the way, never backing out when things got tough, never too busy when I need to sit and talk or cry or simply have somebody be there. No matter where I go in this world, in this life, in struggles or victories I always know that I have a safe place, a family, a home to come back to when I need it. As hard as it is to leave them to go into other parts of the world to do God's work I know I have their support and love with me every step of the way and it makes me even more grateful for the time I get to spend with them. I treasure every moment, I never want to forget a single one. This is a story I love to tell, because it's not really about Ken and Elli at all. It's about what God does through us for other people to bring them closer to him. It's a testimony of God's greatness and one I am glad to be able to share. All because one spring day I was given a hug and told that I was loved. <3 ~Kriss

Who will go? Will you?

So when I was called to go on mission to Peru this past summer I knew that would be the first of many mission trips. It turns out next year I will be serving at an orphanage in Uganda for a month. Still working out the details on who I'm going with etc but getting it narrowed down and hopefully have an answer in the next couple weeks. I am thankful for the amazing support of my adoptive parents who have been really awesome in encouraging my walk with Christ. I want to ask you all for prayers as this is another big step of faith for me, a lot of details to be worked out and money to be raised and I am a little nervous about being away from my family for a whole month. But I know that my strength comes from God and that with him I can do anything. I am so very grateful and blessed to be able to serve among our brothers and sisters in other countries, spreading the gospel and kingdom of Christ. I also want to encourage you all to pray about where God might want to send you. Please be in prayer, he will use the willing heart. Can't wait to see how God will use this for his plan. And how it will help my walk of faith grow. I am so excited! ~Kriss

A Friend Is A Beautiful Thing

Shalyn - A Child of God

A true friend is a gift from God and rare to find. In the short time I have gotten to know this girl and watch her grow I have seen a girl with a beautiful heart, a love deep down that cares about others, someone who is always there to help. She is quick to lift others up and give an encouraging word. I am very blessed to have met her and to be able to do life together with her. Thinking of her puts a smile on my face and I am so excited for all the new life experiences that I will get to go through with her. I have to say I'm really proud of this girl for the direction in life she is taking and for her steps in following Christ Jesus. I love you Shay and you are a very beautiful young woman from the inside out. I couldn't be more proud of you if you were my own sister. God connects hearts together and wherever our lives take us whether near or far apart, you will always have a place in mine. Thank you for your friendship, thank you for being you. Never let anybody convince you to be anything less
then the special, unique, amazing person God created you to be! You rock!
                                                                                             
                                                          Your sister in Jesus Christ ~ Kriss

Should Safety be an Issue?

So within my recent declaration of the fact that I feel God is leading me to go to Uganda next summer and spend some time serving and ministering to and alongside an orphanage down there I have already had many people asking me questions. Please feel free to ask them. Here is my answer and thoughts to one of the most popular questions I receive. The question goes something along the lines of this.

 

Uganda? Is it safe?

Africa is where the Ebola virus is. It's not safe.

Why go to Africa? Why not a safer place?

Do you really want to risk exposing yourself to an Ebola epidemic?

Ebola is a deadly disease. What if you brought it back to America?

 

Here is my answer. First of all... I'm not sure that Uganda is any less safe than anywhere else. It's all in what you believe to be danger. I look at it this way. I am a daughter of the One True King. I am a servant following my Master's calling. He is telling me to go to Uganda. The issue of whether or not it it "safe" has nothing to do with it. The question is am I going to obey the calling of God. And my answer is yes. Will I pray for protection. Sure I will and I will ask others to pray with me. Let me make a couple points here which is why I think safety should never be an issue of whether or not to follow God's leading.

Let's take Jesus for example, when he came to do the Father's will here on earth did he inquire about whether it was safe or not? When he was faced with the ones who beat him, who tortured him and put him on the cross... did he back out? No. He carried through with the Father's plan so we could be redeemed from our sin. It's his blood and life that he gave so we could be bought back from the path of destruction and adopted into the family of God. He took upon our sin so we could be covered in his righteousness. He never considered if it was safe. Can I or we do any less for him? I think not. 

 

I questioned myself about this when I left for Peru. Even if I knew at this point that I would leave for another country, to follow God's calling, and run into some unforeseen circumstance and die before returning home would I still go? It's a kind of scary thought sometimes but one I believe we must think upon. After some thought and soul searching my answer was "Yes. and I pray to God that in any circumstance that my answer would not waver" To die doing God's work, serving him would be an honor. 

 

I know many ask this or have concerns because they love me and I fully understand that. I have yet for one of my near, and dear ones to travel out of the country into some foreign land and pray when the time comes nothing I do or say will hold them back and that I will leave their lives in God's capable hands. I trust my life in His hands, whether I live or die, I will be with Christ Jesus, and wherever I may be I pray I will always serve him to the depths of my being. So there is my thought on the safety of Uganda. God would not send me where he did not want me to go. I shall not question his judgement or plan on where he sends me. ~Kriss

Serving God: A Bruden or a Blessing?

Do you consider it a burden or a blessing? During my devotion time over the past few days I have been humbled about the thought of how grateful we should be to be honored to serve God. Here in this world we would consider it a privilege to be able to work and serve someone with such authority, love, power and greatness. Do we feel the same about the one true King? I think about this as we are going to be continuing what has hopefully been our own personal worship with God by gathering together with other believers this evening. Some will be preaching, others will be leading singing, running sound and lyric slides, setting up tables, preparing food, transporting people to the building we meet at, putting out signs, getting ready for children's church, greeting people, caring for the kids in nursery.... the list goes on. Why do you serve? I will leave that between you and God.

But if we do not realize to the full extent how much we should be grateful and honored that our Father in heaven allows us to serve him and be included in his plan.. until we really get this we do not receive the entire blessing. No matter what you do serving God, with your church or in daily life, we should feel it a great honor to be allowed to serve and do it with joy and passion for the One we are doing it for. So as you serve today remember, serving is a blessing, not a burden. We all need to remember this sometimes. Have a blessed Sunday! Glory to the Father in the highest! ~Kriss #PrayerDevotion #ServingGod