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Even So, Lord Jesus

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Last night, I heard the saddest news.  A church member (from Ann Arbor) just lost her unborn baby last week.  It would be a little easier to handle if she was in her first trimester, but she was in her 8th month and the baby was due around Thanksgiving time.  In the morning, she felt her baby girl kicking, and by that afternoon, when she went in for her routine check-up, the doctors failed to find a heartbeat.  The baby had passed away.  They induced her a few days later and after a long labor, she gave birth to their stillborn child. 


While these things are difficult to understand, we have to have faith that God knows what He’s doing.  This situation has caused me to put myself in her shoes and wonder how I would handle it.  It reminded me of Ellen White who actually prayed that God would take her children if living on would cause them to lose their salvation.  In times like these, it’s so comforting to know that there exists a God who loves us so much and is willing to do whatever it takes to save us.  Through the eyes of faith and against our carnal nature, we know that even situations like this somehow work together for good to them that love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose. 


Please keep this family in your prayers… 

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Go Fiber!

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My teacher in-service was great.  I’m so inspired to eat healthier…and to eat more fiber!  I’m not sure if I mentioned this before, but my OB looked at the pictures of the ultra-sound visit and because of the baby’s size, she thinks I’m only at 20 weeks now, rather than 22 weeks which was the original dating.  There is a possibility that the baby is just smaller too.  Kerri read that Asian women tend to have smaller babies, regardless of the husband’s size.  So anyway, my due date has officially been changed in the system, from February 24th to March 4th, 2006.  Just about everything else is going well.  Okay, I need to get going.  Hope all of you are doing well!     

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CAMPUS Musings

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Alanna and I are the only ones in the office.  I made it in before
everyone even though I missed the exit.  Dr. Pipim had a meeting
yesterday with the Secretary of the GC whom he calls “The Cardinal” (I
thought that was so funny).  Anyhow, he got in at 5 am and slept
in even though we had a staff meeting today.  I don’t know WHERE
IN THE WORLD JUSTIN is even though I just got off the phone with
him.  But he’s late too.  Even Randy isn’t here yet.  I
think he forgot we had a meeting.  Or he might just be out of town.

Even though Alanna is present with the flesh, she’s absent in the
spirit.  I have no idea where in the office she is!  I’m
starting to get freaked out.  Was there a secret rapture that I
missed?

Judy is at an inservice today.  It’s on health or diet or
something.  Dr. Griffin, MI Conference Health & Temperance
Director,  is going to be there.  Which is so funny because
last night I dreamed that we were on a flight with her.  Judy and
I totally moved everything around in the house.  It was so
impulsive.  Oh man!  Justin and Dr. P just got in.  I
better go before the doc reads our xanga!

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True Colors

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So we’re (Jen, David, Justin, Alanna, Judy, and IR) playing “True
Colors” at Jen’s place in Berrien Springs.  Have you heard of that
game?  There are a bunch of question cards.  You choose to
ask one of them from the pile and you get to vote which person fits the
question the most.  The name of the game is to guess what others
think about you.

One of the questions was: “Who would you rather be for 24 hours?” 
More surprising than the person with the most votes was Judy winning
2nd place!  SHE’S PREGNANT!

So I’m like “JUDY!  Who would want to be Judy!”  I thought
for sure that Jen would have the most votes.  I mean no one wants
to be a pastor, teacher, or CAMPUS worker!

And then Justin Kim is like “I mean, it’s not every day that a man can
experience pregancny.”  And it took a while for me to process that
a man…would…want…to…be…pregnant.

BTW, he’s sleeping right now…on the job.  But he just woke up.

Today’s Alanna Knapp’s B-day.  She’s 26.  All the CAMPUS men,
IR, Justin, Doc, and Bro. Randy took her out to eat…quite an
interesting group of people eating.  Dr. Pipim wore his striped
polo shirt.  Colors: orange, black, and white.  It looked
very “festive.”  Justin’s pizza had chicken, and mine had bacon
(CPK).  I think I might have eaten some of it too!

Judy’s sick…again.  I think she got what I had in SA.  Jen is over though.  She’s taking care of her right now.

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B-Day Thanks!

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Thanks for all of the “happy birthday”(s)!  I had a great day yesterday.  I think the biggest surprise, apart from the “Israel-behind-the-door-surprise”, was that Jen drove all the way from Berrien Springs to come see me!  She even brought over Sam’s chick’n…YUM (although, I didn’t feel too “YUM” after eating so much for dinner)!  Thanks to all of you who remembered me and/or came out to spend time with me…especially my lil bro who had to take an Orgo exam right after we ate dinner!  It was a long, but fun evening chilling with you guys.  I feel so blessed to have such great friends like all of you.  It is my prayer that we will be faithful to Jesus always!  He is coming soon.         

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Half-way Surprise

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Yesterday, I came home from school at around 5:45pm and after pulling into my driveway, I ran into the house without even bringing my bag in because Bentley hadn’t gone potty since I took him out in the morning before school.  So, I burst into the house and my kitties, as always, came to say hello, and as I’m taking off my shoes, I hear a deep “hello” coming from behind the door.  I look and there is a tall figure standing there.  Out of shock, I screamed bloody murder as my pregnant body momentarily convulsed…IT WAS ISRAEL!!!  He was supposed to come home TODAY at around noon, but he decided to surprise me by changing his flight a day early!  Some surprise…I almost fainted!  It was nice– after I recovered.  He shared story after story about his experiences there with Chester and Shaun.  He definitely had a great time hanging out with them.   

He bought me a bouquet of stargazer lilies from Amsterdam and some nice “curiosos” (souvenirs) from S. Africa.  Israel keeps on insisting that the flowers are tulips because in Holland, “they were only selling tulips and roses”.  HAHAHA.  Israel, if you read this, google “stargazer lily” and what you’ll behold is the species of flowers that are at home.  I win the bet.  Flower identification was never his forte. 

Pregnancy is going much better…for some days.  I could use some help gaining weight and I’m still waiting in anticipation for the day when I get a craving.  Hopefully that will come in time.  This Friday I’ll be 20 weeks…half way there!   

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Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard

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I’m still alive!  The reason why I didn’t write you back, Israel, was because on Friday, we went to Wiard’s Orchard and went apple/pumpkin picking with the students so I didn’t check email all day.  SORRY!  I did pick a pumpkin for you from the patch, though…if that is any consolation.  It’s a cute one…and perhaps if I see Jen this weekend, we’ll make a pumpkin pie with it!  That will be fun. 

Happenings at home…

So, Bentley is sick too now.  If he wasn’t a boy and neutered, I’d suspect he was pregnant.  He barfed up all of his dinner in three separate installments, around different parts of our house.  Lucky me, I got to clean it up!  He’s been a little down lately…(except for when Alanna came over last night!!!)  Hopefully he doesn’t have anything serious.  He seemed very sleepy last night and this morning. 

Well, all of you guys should come visit us sometime, for real.  We’d love to have you over.  Is it?  YES! 

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Crash Course on S. African Lingo

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I thought I’d write something so that people would quit talking about Egypt…

Chester and I are in South Africa looking for Mandela so that we can take a picture with him.  No success in finding him yet.  But we did visit the union office where he used to work.  And during our trips to the mall we read a lot about him so that I feel like I know him personally.
We are here to explore the opportunities available for starting a GYC South Africa.  So far we’ve met with Conference officials in the Southern African Union.  We’ve also been able to make presentations to churches, youth leaders, and families.  Good times.  Keep us in prayer because both of us will have to preach at two different churches this Sabbath. 
During our free time we’ve eaten a lot.  But I think I’m actually losing weight.  Too bad Shaun, our South African-now-American host, can’t say that 🙂  He’s had quite a lot of lunch/dinner invites…and boy can you tell.
We are having an excellent time with him.  We visited Cape Point, where the Indian and Atlantic Oceans meet…supposedly.  It was a nice climb though.  We were able to see South African Penguins too.  For more information and pictures about our trip, check out Chester’s page.  My camera battery died and I haven’t taken cool pictures like Chester since like the 2nd day we arrived.
We meet with our good friend Gerda today!  And plan to check out the Cape Town International Convention Center.  Gotta run!
Everyone, pray for Judy…she’s sick…and her birthday is coming up on the 4th 10.4!  That’s the day I get in!  So write her some nice cards and email them to her at jnamm@misda.org…no junk mail or group mail or non personal mail stuff please…and NO FORWARDS!
Power.
Israel
PS.  Here are some new South African words I’ve learned:

1.  Is it?  Mostly used instead of American word “really”
EXAMPLE
Israel: I’m going to go see the penguins now.
Shaun: Is it?

2.  Shame.  Used frequently for no particular reason.
EXAMPLE:
Israel: I hate tomatoes
Shaun: Shame

3.  Sorted.  Used instead of fixed
EXAMPLE:
Shaun: Let’s get this sorted out

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Okay, okay, okay…

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That was so much fun!  Okay, okay, we’ll have to make this thing public before our house gets TPed and we start getting hate mail.  We’re having a BOY!!  I know many of you wanted a girl…but I hope you still love the baby just as same.  🙂  Israel is very happy because as most of you know, he preferred a boy.  Now I will be the only female living with 6 males (Bentley (puppy), Aroe & Chance (kitties), Nehemiah, aka: Nemo (fish), Papa Israel, and baby)!!  I’m so under-represented!    That’s okay, though.  I guess God knew I needed another male in my life.  Well, I hope all of you are doing well.  Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers!!  Until next time… 

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1st Ultra-sound!

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So, we went to the Briarwood UM Radiology Building on Monday 2pm for our ultra-sound.  For the pictures to turn out, the mom’s bladder needs to be full, so I had to drink a bunch of water an hour before our appointment, and not pee until afterwards!  Anyhow, we went and we had the most calm tech do our ultra-sound.  She was so unenthusiastic it was hilarious.  (Ladies, just to warn you, the gel that they use on your tummy is like super-hot!)  I thought I was being burned for a second when the doppler with the gross gel stuff touched my tummy.  So, we saw the baby right away and it was so funny because Israel kept on asking a bunch of questions.  “Is that the baby?”  “Is the baby moving now?”  “Can you tell if it’s a boy or a girl?”  “Will it move into the right position?”  “Is that the baby’s hand?”  “Is the baby sucking its thumb?”  And then he started making comments.  “Man, it has a nice shaped head!”  “It’s moving around a lot!”  “Whoa, look at its spine!”  And the tech lady would just answer him with like one word answers.  HAHAHA.  Anyhow, finally she got to the “lower area” and she told us the gender of the baby!  Are you ready for this??  She told us that it’s a     !!!!!!!   Isn’t that crazy?  It was so weird to find out, finally, what it was!  Well, I need to get going.  Keep us in prayer!  We love you all… 

In Virum Perfectum