You're Invited!

I wanted to invite YOU and all of your friends, neighbors, co-workers, starbucks barista's, and anyone else you know to...

***BRING ME HOPE'S BENEFIT ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH AT 7:00 PM!!!***

IT WILL BE HELD AT FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH IN MT. LAUREL, NEW JERSEY (

1520 Hainesport Road) AND THE NIGHT WILL INCLUDE DESSERT, THE BAND "UNSPOKEN" (www.myspace.com/unspokenmusic), A VENTRILOQUIST AND A CHANCE TO HEAR MORE ABOUT BRING ME HOPE.

EVERYBODY'S INVITED AND IT'S FREE! WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU!!! :D

~Kristen.

(kristen@bringmehope.org for more info)

(Here are some photos from our San Diego Benefit last week!)

Sara & me

Sara, my 8 year old roommate, cracks me up. She really makes me laugh...

Yesterday she was on the phone with someone talking about the evacuations, and I overheard part of her conversation...

"We're at home now until 'the worse comes to the worse'...We managed to get back home because we drove behind the policemen and they didn't even see us!" ;)

Grandpa (who is staying with us right now too) also made me laugh today when he told someone on the phone that, "We are fine, except the only thing is that we're out of marshmallows! And everyone else seems to be out of marshmallows too..." lol.

It's been good times in the midst of everything going on...It kinda feels like some sort of strange family vacation, with lots of eating, watching movies, and fort-making. Praise the Lord for keeping us safe.

~k.

CA Fire Update

Well, It has been an unexpected last few days, that's for sure! We're talking wildfires galore, evacuations, and hours of waiting...but, we are safe!

I've never been this close to a natural disaster before. There was a fire right through Fallbrook (and it's still lingering actually.) Yet we are doing fine, though the fires have affected so many friends out here, and some people I know have even lost their homes.

God has been really teaching me about not holding onto material things. All weekend long, my things have been temporarily taken away from me...my laptop was broken, my ipod was missing, and a bag of my things was left at a church after our benefit (which went great by the way! :) But all of that is replaceable.

Even as I was packing to leave yesterday, I realized that everything I own is not that important (thought I did go for my favorite books and journal first, so now I know how to answer the question, "What things would you grab if there was a fire. ;)

So thanks for your prayers and calls. It's always really encouraging to know you're thinking of me!

Love and hugs,

Kristen.

Southern Califronia Fires - Please Pray!

Since yesterday there have been growing wildfires in the area, and the Santa Ana winds are keeping firefighters from making much progress.

We tried to evacuate this afternoon, but the roads were so crowded that we turned back and came home. After dinner we're going to reassess how things are and decide if we should to relocate for the night.

Please pray for our safety. And also please pray for peace for all of us here too. It is hard for me to remember that God is in complete control, even when I see the images on TV or the smoke clouds in the sky. But the Lord reminded me that He is in control, and He will get me wherever He wants me no matter what.

It's also a great lesson that stuff is just stuff. As I was packing my bags in case we do leave, I realized everything I own is replaceable. (Though it was very revealing when the first thing I packed were my books ;) Anyway, amongst other things, what a great lesson that heaven is my real home.

All the same, please do pray. ;)

Love,
K.C.

Dead Sea Scroll Visit

On Tuesday, a group of us headed to the Museum of Natural History in San Diego for a really cool opportunity to see the Dead Sea Scrolls.

A picture of people matching together thousands of little pieces of the scrolls really hit me; It made me think of how God's word is preserved over time and that His truth has and will go forward no matter what. :)

And it was just amazing to see Scripture from a few thousand years ago. What a highlight to look at the scroll that had Psalm 121 written on it, and then to read those same verses in my own Bible later that day. How cool! :)

Hope you have a great day, and I'll try to write a post-report of our benefit dinner soon! Please pray for us if you think of it. :)

~K.

Showers of Blessings

One month ago I moved to California, and I can’t believe all that has happened since then!

Every day brings new joys, lessons, and ultimately experiences that have grown me so much already. In fact, just the other day I had a “learning opportunity” when I accidentally sent our electronic newsletter out before it was fully edited. Woops!

But life has been so encouraging! Just yesterday a few friends and I went to the infamous Yogurt Palace for an afternoon treat. Right before we left, I checked with my friend to see if he wanted us to bring anything back for him. He told us to just call him once we knew what the flavor of the day was. “It’s black cherry on Wednesdays,” I told him. “Wow, you know you’re really part of this town when you know the flavor’s of the day at Yogurt Palace,” my friends teased. ;)

God has been so kind in His provision to me, and I was thinking this morning about how much I love being able to walk so closely to Him. This month has also been full of new experiences, laughter, and joy.

I can really relate to Ezekiel 34:26 which says, “I will bless them…I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing!” That’s totally how I feel right now! Blessings seem to await me around every corner. Blessings of really meaningful work, new friends, and learning experiences. Wow, the Lord is just SO AMAZING!

Thank you so much for making this opportunity possible! Knowing y’all are behind me in this is such a huge encouragement, and people are already being touched by hearing about the orphans. Praise the Lord!

Love from CA,

Kristen.

Weekend Wedding

My host family's daughter got married this past weekend! It was such a beautiful ceremony and reception, so I wanted to share some photos I took with y'all.

Much love,
k.