Philippines Update

Hey!! I only have time for a short update, but ti sum things up, everything is going amazing! We have loved every minute here-the people, the country, and one another! Our team is working so well together and we are laughing constantly and the guys played really well together on the court. We just finished up the basketball part of this trip. The guys played 2 games a day Monday-Thursday. The played in some very hot and hard conditions. The courts were outside, but covered, and were normally very slippery which made things difficult at times. We joined a team of high school MK boys from all over, mainly from Taiwan which gave our guys some nice breaks during the games. All the guys on our team got an opportunity to share their testimonies at at least one of the half times. They were very powerful and the gospel was definitely spoken. We had some great responses at many of the games and are praying that once they get connected with churches around them that their faith will continue to be strengthened. Us wives decided to stay with the guys since all days we traveled about an hour from Manila and we wanted to see as much of the country as we could. We also got to talk with the people-the many people- who came out to watch the games and follow up after the testimonies were shared.

Tomorrow early morning we head out for Boracay-an amazing beach here- that we are so excited about! It will be a great time to relax-especially for the guys- and enjoy the most beautiful part of the Philippines from what we hear.

God has been teaching Brandon and I some really neat things and we can't wait to come home and continue to digest everything we have learned and seen and see where the Lord will take us. I can tell you that we will be very anxious to come back!

Can't wait to post picture when we return!
Thank you for your prayers. We are so thankful that we have all stayed healthy and safe-especially the guys with no injuries!!
Thank you! We love you!

Headin' Out

Well we are off to the Philippines! We are taking off in a couple hours and will return Monday night July 26th. We are incredible excited for many reasons. One is that this is the first overseas trip we have taken as a married couple, and another is that this our means of witnessing is different than what we have done before. The guys will be playing basketball which couldn't be more perfect for Brandon! The guys on out team will be playing several basketball games a day against teams from the country. During half time one of the guys from our team will share their testimony with hopes that God will use it to teach something new and that His truth will be known. Us girls have several options during the day including tutoring children, working in the nursery, and giving swim lessons! We can't wait to get started!

Please be praying for:

• health and safety
• that the Lord will greatly use our testimonies to share His truth and grace
• that relationships will be formed and deep conversations will be had
• strength for the guys as they will be playing basketball daily

Thank you for lifting us up!

We will try to update our blog a couple times!

Love you all!

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it

is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . ."

Romans 1:16

Kristi's Homecoming Weekend!

Kristi came home from her 6 week study abroad program in South Africa this weekend! She thought that Brandon and I were picking her up from the airport but really Mom and Kevin were there too!! So, since she didn't come in until Sunday, we (Mom, Kevin, Brandon, and I) decided to make a little vacation and have some fun during the weekend!

It started with a fun filled day with our good friend Salem in Hollywood! This was Kevin's first trip to Hollywood so we were excited to show him all the cool sights. Unfortunately Brandon had to work so he was not able to join us this day.

This is Kevin looking cool as he looks over downtown LA and Hollywood.
We were at this awesome place called Greystone Mansion.
We had an amazing lunch at a restaurant called Toast!
We enjoyed lounging on some couches as we ate.

Then on Saturday we went to Corona Del Mar with Blake and Chase and the Varcie family!

Rylan got buried!

Uncles and Carsten!

Unfortunately is was cloudy all day! But we still had fun!

I always love when my hubby and I get to spend an entire day together!

Rylan bonded well with Mom over their fun game of share the sucker!

Then on Sunday we went and got Kristi!!

Surprise!! They both cried like babies!

Kristi was deprived without a Starbucks for 6 weeks so we of course had to stop there!

Kristi was so generous and brought us all home some really neat gifts! We especially loved this African painting to hang in out culture room!

We enjoyed such great time as a family. It is rare that we get to be together with one another for extended times like this. Kristi had an amazing trip and had so many neat stories to share. We are so happy to have her home but so glad she had such an incredible experience in S. Africa!

"Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous works among all the peoples!

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;

he is to be feared above all gods."

Psalm 96:3-4

Summer. . . ahh. . .Yosemite!!

One of the many things that got me through the last couple weeks of the school year was knowing that our family trip to Yosemite was coming up! I haven't been to Yosemite in years and couldn't wait for some quality time with Brandon and the Burns family, especially Brandon's sister Ashley and her family who are only here for a short summer, and some fresh air!

We got there late Sunday evening, and spent Monday just settling in and enjoying our surroundings. Then on Tuesday we took an incredible 14 mile hike! Neither Brandon or I have done a hike like this before. We climbed 3200 f. in 4 miles. If I would have known what this hike really was I probably would have said no to it, but I am SO glad I went. I definitely struggled through it but it was so great for Brandon and I to be able to complete it together; he was so encouraging.

We have never experienced God's beauty like we did there. Realizing that His hand created everything we saw was truly breath taking. What an amazing God we serve!

Here are some pictures of the beautiful views!

This was at the top of Nevada Falls.

Ya that was the mountain we hiked up!

A stream along the way.


Tough mountain men. Jeff was with us too!
This is the top of Glacier point, which was one of the tops of the hike. It was an incredible view of the valley!

Can you see the rainbow?! This was one of my favorite spots.

Yosemite Falls is what we faced going up the mountain. It was amazing! We even saw hang-gliders!

We hiked to the top of both of those waterfalls!

We also had the opportunity to float down the river! We all did this a couple time. We enjoyed a great view the whole time!

Even little Ry enjoyed a couple boat rides!

This time with family was precious. All 9 of us -including the babies- fit in the trailor! I am so thankful that I can now call this family mine and that we get to enjoy so many great times with them!
These 2 just stole our hearts the whole time. Our time with the Varcie family was especially special because we don't get to see them often!

Brandon and I decided that a trip to Yosemite needs to be an annual thing. And our next goal. . . Half Dome!!!

"Give thanks to the Lord of Lords,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who alone does great wonders,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who by understanding made the heavens,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who spread out the earth above the waters,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

to him who made the great lights,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

the sun to rule over the day,

for his steadfast love endures forever;

the moon and the stars to rule over the night,

for his steadfast love endures forever;"

Psalm 136: 3-8