Still Alive and Kicking :-)

Many people have been asking about Arielle's and I's health. We are both feeling well, Arielle has been to the doctors a couple of times and her doctor seems to be satisfied to just keep watching her. I just got back to Eugene and will go see my doctor today, but I'm sure he will say all is fine.

I'm back in Eugene now and am getting ready for the new school year to start. I miss all the children I work with and am excited to spend another year with them. Only now we are moving into Middle School!

I have also been working on getting enrolled to take a Spanish class up at the local community college. If ya all want to pray for me as I finish making that decision. If I do take the class it will be a lot of work and I could use your prayers. I have a really hard time with learning languages so yeah....

I have also hung out with family and friends. It is funny everyone has been talking about how this summer was extremely hot (I guess statistic back this), and how it is really hot this week like in the 90! I have been enjoying the cooler weather personally ;-)

Some friends and I went on a hike to Blue Pools. It was an easy, beautiful and enjoyable hike if anyone in the area wants to try it here is the link http://www.everytrail.com/guide/mckenzie-river-trail-hike-to-tamolitch-blue-pool. Once you hit the pool you can continue on the Mckenzie River trail or take one of the undefined trails and work you way over to the other side and there is a trail down to the waters edge.

It took us a little while to find the path down to the water since we were being good hikers and staying on the main trail but the trail was just taking us further and further away from the Blue Pool. Once we made it to the water, it was extremely cold. We all soaked our feet in the water. Lindsey went ahead and sat in the water I following true crazy Gercker fashion jumped in for a few seconds. It was a lovely spot, the pool was a deep blue and extremely deep.

Now contrast that water with the river from Mexico...

AHH Maria and Denise I sure miss them all :-(

If ya all would still like an adorable Sock Monkey or apron I still have some! Well actually I left them in Cali with the family but I will have them soon :-/

A Quick Update and a Few More Pictures

A Quick Update

                We arrived home last Friday, we had a safe and smooth drive home. Since being home we have slept, relaxed with the family, and taken Arielle to the doctors. Arielle is doing better, they are monitoring her and will decide if they need to do test next week. We both miss the children dearly and are extremely grateful for the time we got to spend in Mexico with these amazing people.

Doing hair one more time before taking off

Humana and Me

Two of the Children trying to stow away in the van as we left

Arielle after crossing the border

Me after crossing the border

The sock monkeys that they gave us at the party the night before

The Monkeys trying to drive the car home

They escaped the car!!! Oh wait don't worry Pink Elephant has them.

We made it to California, almost to the family

Helping to check the oil

Stacia and monkey happy and content to sleep on Arielle

The monkey picking threw Stacia's hair

You really have to keep an eye on these playful and fun monkeys ;-)

Arielle checking the oil for the first time

Yuki is not sure about the sock monkey

Nolan's Mexican Monkey chilling on his Japanese sword under the American flag

Zander's Monkey

Stacia's Monkey at home on her bed

And Arielle's mischievous Monkey doing her devotions 

If you would like your own Monkey or Apron let me know all the money goes to the orphanage!

10 Ways That God Moved in Our Lives

Ten Ways That God Moved in Our Lives

A quick note, God moved in many others lives as well. A lot of times when people get back from a mission trip they share about themselves and I hear a lot of people complaining that there not sharing how God used them. People then seem to think that the short termers just had a "spiritual vacation" that others paid for. I want you to know this is not the case for us. We both worked very hard to serve in the physical as well as the spiritual. I just don't like to share how God has used me in someone's life because that is their store to share not mine. However if you are concerned be assured that Arielle and I did touch many lives, with the help of Jesus, through service, devotions, prayer and just being silly.

God taught me the important of being dependent on Him. This point was really brought home by my lack of independents. I was really frustrated at first at not being able to just take off and do what I needed to do. (Krista)

I learned a lot about surrender and trusting God to take care of everything. I couldn’t control the situation and if I didn’t surrender to Him and what He wanted I would have gone crazy. (Krista)

God started walking me down the path of living a life of worship. God is talking to me about viewing everything I do as an act of worship. When cleaning dishes or throwing up if it is in line with God’s will it can be worship if done for Him. (Krista)

God is teaching me the importance of obedience to Him. Even if it seems stupid and pointless, if He has asked it I have to obey. (Krista)

As I watched a ministry that was faith based, God really has started challenging me on my level of faith/trust in Him with my material well being. As you have probably noticed there is a common theme in a lot of mine. I like to be independent and take care of myself. I don’t like not having a plan to get everything done and to pay all the bills. But as I watched as Lilia and Arturo continually would trust God and move forward in ministry not knowing how it was going to work out. I was really challenged in my lack of faith in Him to take care of me in the material world. I don’t have a problem trusting Him with my safety, but for some reason I have a hard time when it come to bills. (Krista)

I watched as girls my age worshipped God wholeheartedly, not caring what others might be thinking of them. I realized that I hadn’t been worshipping God completely because I was afraid of what others might think of me. Obviously, that’s not the best way to worship;) (Arielle)

 I was forced out of my comfort zone to teach a couple devotions, and learned more that way than I did listening. (Arielle)

I also learned a lot about trusting God, even when I have no idea what’s happening. (Arielle)

It was amazing to watch as God used me to comfort girls that had been through so much in life. (Arielle)

Sometimes God calls us to do silly stuff that we don’t want to do, but I made the most difference when I stopped trying to tell God what I should be doing and just did what he said I needed to do. (Arielle)

10 Habits to Break

Ten Habits to Break

10) Eating everything, except soup, with our hands

9) Not washing our hands

8) Sharing all meal related items (plates, bowls, cups, utensils if used)

7) Randomly picking through each other’s hair

6) Climbing up all objects

5) Randomly jumping into vehicle without seat belts

4) Throwing the toilet paper away

3) Throwing trash on the ground

2) Spitting (both in and outside)

1) Having private conversations in front of a crowd of people

Suprise!

August 5^th – Tuesday

                Almost everyone slept in today, so Arielle and I worked on preparing our room for tomorrow. We then went and sat with the three that were awake and played with the dirt, stickers, rocks and took a bike apart. As people woke up we helped a little with laundry and I think we figured out why everyone has been giving us funny looks or laughing at are laundry. Apparently you are suppose to use the tubs for rinsing and the sink for soaking and we have been doing it the other way.

                We then had a nice devotion time. Lilia told everyone about tomorrow and it was a sad thing. But it was still enjoyable to share my last devotion with them. They are all such amazing children, youth and adults. They have such a desire to know and please God.

                We then went to the grocery store to pick up some items. After groceries and lunch we started a picture project. The children/youth were making little scrapbook pages with themselves on it. Lilia headed this up, Arielle helped with cutting things out and I worked on finding pictures of a couple of the kids. Once I found the pictures I then set up the computer in the new computer lab so that we could print them.

                As this was wrapping up Arielle and I went outside and tried again to learn how to use the Rip Stick. We are getting a little better, as in if we hold someone’s hand we can actually move around. Some of them are extremely good at it.

                We noticed that everyone had left to take a shower which was unusual since it was before dinner. Arielle and I just puttered around for a little offering our services in the kitchen but everything was under control. Lilia told us the girls wanted to have dinner at their place tonight as a special treat. So we waited the designated time and then headed over.

                This is what we found….

                It was an amazing evening and we were able to talk a little with everyone, Lilia translated. We also played games and had an awesome time. Arielle said she almost started crying multiple times. We are going to miss these sweet and loving people so much! It has been a huge blessing to come and be a part of their family for the past 5 weeks.

Oh on a humorous note we showed up before they were done and they were slightly sad because it was suppose to be a surprise. So when everything was ready they turned off all the lights, and then turned them on and yelled "Surprise!" Arielle and I had the appropriate I'm so surprised reactions.

Oh, Oh they also gave us all the pictures they made earlier in the day! As well as two matching sock monkeys! But mine is the cuter twin!!!