Almost 2012

Merry Christmas card....
Surprise baby shower at the church I work for.
Suzanne Chapuis took some maternity pictures...
My two beautiful cousins on Christmas, Perrin Thompson and Kate Childrey.

Christmas has come and gone and we are now awaiting our baby boy. It has been an exciting season for us but still unbelievable that we've imagined to "settle" so quickly. We started off 2011 in Guatemala, then to Richmond for a month, then back to Montana for 3 months, then to the Outer Banks for a month, and ending up in Richmond in August. Now a baby is coming and he's been with us through it all!

Brenden has been working for a Chevrolet dealership here in Richmond for 5 months now. He is enjoying his job and looking towards the future to gain more experience and knowledge to eventually become a "master mechanic". I have stopped working for the time being with the after-school program and am now trying to stay busy and rest all at the same time while waiting for this baby to come. I think in the last week I have really come to terms with being pregnant and am ready for this baby to be in my arms.

One thing that we are experiencing in this time of anticipation is a deeper level of trust and faith. We are learning to get by on very little, something our time in YWAM has taught us, and to cherish the simple things in life. I can honestly say that there is nothing that compares. The less you have the less you need, and really the less you want. It's a very freeing feeling to learn to trust God in very literal ways on a daily basis. You start to thank God for little things and realize it is actually Him providing constantly instead of assuming we deserve a certain level of comfort. Also we are so grateful for the friends and family that have been there for us in this time. I can't tell you how much it has meant to us to have people remind us that everything will be fine and their excitement for baby K. We are blessed and privileged to be having our son in this time of our lives. We hope he can be part of a bigger story and we look forward to all the new adventures we'll have with him!

Newlywed's New Home

A few weekends ago a dear friend got married and her mom asked that I do a painting of the newlywed's new home. I'd never painted a house before but it turned out to be one of my favorites.

The Allen's House

11x14 oil on canvas

A Nursery for a Studio

Brenden and I have moved into a little apartment in Richmond, VA and are trying to "settle down" a bit after this last year of traveling and transitioning. However, we have decided that the term "settle down" does not mean we have to become boring:) Brenden is working as a lube technician at a Chevrolet dealership and I am working in the afternoons with an after-school program at Gayton Baptist Church. I am also on the substitute list for 2 local preschools, so in the mornings when I am not there I am trying to paint as much as I can.

It has been quite a change from living in a vibrant community of missionaries in the Big Sky country to being back in Richmond. We have loved living by the ocean and in the mountains where life revolves around the weather and the land, where it matters which direction the wind blows and how much snow will cover the roads. Richmond is a different story. However, we are liking it so far and trying to get involved at Hope Church as well as meet some new friends. We are learning daily to trust God with our lives and provision as we move into this next phase of life- jobs, parenthood, etc. We will not forget what He has done and of His faithfulness to us.

We have two bedrooms and for now I am using the baby's room as my art studio. As I work in there I come up with ideas for his room, Christmas gifts and hopefully some more art to sell in the future. I knew I wouldn't want a traditional nursery so instead I decided to cover his room with art and photography. Nothing makes me feel more peaceful than the turquoise sea. Hopefully he'll feel the same?!

"Sailboat at Sea"

24x24 oil on canvas

The beginnings of a nursery....Mom and Dad above the crib. Ha!

"Treasure Cay Walk"

36x48 oil on canvas

Back on the Back Porch

It's been over a month since we last posted. A lot has happened. Brenden and I spent our last week in Montana with our good friends, Suzanne and John, who flew out from D.C.
Despite the unpredictable Montana weather, we still managed to do some day hikes and show them a glimpse of the beauty of Big Sky country. As they prepared to head back east, we prepared to make the 3 day drive back to Richmond to watch my youngest brother John graduate. Then, our plan was to make our way to the beach in search of a new life.


...Oh yeah, how could I forget?

We are having a baby!! Brenden and I found out towards the beginning of May that we were pregnant. Shock and fear filled our minds but we were quickly overwhelmed by extreme excitement-and still are. January 9th 2012 we will welcome Baby Koenig into the world!

Ok so yes, we went to graduation, visited with the Thompson's for a few days then made our way down to the Outer Banks. Long story short- it didn't work out. Despite our initial hope that jobs were abundant in the auto mechanic field, weeks went by and through a chain of events realized that this place was not as promising for a year round job as we hoped for. Brenden had already started working for a Jeep dealership when a week later his boss came to him panicked about his business. He mentioned that he most likely wouldn't have work for him in the fall. After hours of discussion, some prayer and advice from my parents, we decided to move back to Richmond and make a life for ourselves there. We have been through a whirlwind this past year traveling, living in other people's places, moving and transitioning- what's one more move? Not to mention, we decided it was best to deal with the stress of moving and finding jobs now than later when the baby is almost here.

So we are back in Richmond. Brenden found a job at a Chevrolet dealership and he is starting out as a lube technician. The goal is to gain experience, knowledge, and training so he can eventually become a certified technician. He loves it. He is happy when he gets to spend his days using his hands, getting dirty and helping to make a car better.

I think the stress of these past few months has finally hit me and the tiredness of pregnancy has set in. Otherwise, I am feeling good and could not be more excited to meet this little guy or girl. Brenden always says "Who's in there?!?". It is such a mystery and miracle to think of a tiny person growing inside that will one day have a life full of joy and pain. Since being pregnant my maternal instincts have kicked in. There is a strange desire to do all I can for the baby, make sure it's safe, and worry about it's future or health. (FYI- stay away from obsessively reading on the internet- you'll just freak yourself out for no reason!)
All of these things are normal and yet I know that without God's grace and security He gives, I could not do it. It's just the beginning...

We are back home. Above is a little painting I did for my mom while sitting outside yesterday of her back porch. Next is a photo from a 7 week ultrasound- we could actually see that little blob's heart flickering! Then, a family photo from John's graduation and last, Suzanne and I on top of Blacktail Mountain- still a ton of snow!

Everything Must Come to an End

Since I have been posting all of my paintings I haven't been updating you all with what's been going on here in Montana. So, I'll give you a brief rundown of what's been happening with Brenden and I over the last few months.

We arrived here in mid- March to snow still on the ground and cold, cold rainy, windy weather. I think we had to remember we basically missed two months of winter by being in sunny Guatemala so we must pay our dues by not having a typical spring. In fact, not until last week has it become "warm" and "spring like". Thankfully though, it did eventually happen and the cherry trees are blooming!

Brenden has been working as a Mission Builder which is basically a full-time volunteer on the YWAM base. He spends 40 hours a week in their full-service auto shop doing anything from servicing the base's 15 passenger vans to changing oil to fixing someones brakes. Missionaries don't exactly have the best functioning cars so there is always a need! These past months have been such a blessing for him because he is actually doing what he loves full time. We were both curious to see how he'd still love mechanics after the "honeymoon stage" was over and I can honestly say that I've never met someone so excited and eager to do auto mechanics. Brenden would take it upon himself to help people out on the base by fixing their cars even on the weekends and evenings. Ultimately, we can say that he has definitely found his "calling" in life.

When I came out here I was originally going to work on base like Brenden, mosty in the cafeteria or housekeeping department. However, we were given the opportunity to stay in some friend's apartment while they were leading a team to Turkey. The timing worked out perfectly and so I was able to be an artist full time. Over these last months I have acquired quite a collection of paintings. I was amazed at myself how quickly I could work and how motivated I'd become when suddenly there was no other pressures from the outside. Not only have I been painting my brains out but I've had opportunities to use my gifts on the base. I got to teach a painting session to some current students and i've led worship on the base as well as at a local church. Not only have I been immersed in the music and art scene but I've been volunteering with a 3rd grade math class at Lakeside Elementary School once a week. I will have to say- it made me go home and relearn long division!! Also, I've been having a lot of fun working with a local youth group here in Lakeside. I've never worked with middle schoolers before so it's been quite an adventure to say the least. It's amazing though how God has just put me in these situations just because I've been willing. I seriously don't have tactics and skills and previous experience with some of this stuff and yet God has somehow used us in these kids lives!

As the end of May approaches we are nearer to the end of our time here. Originally Brenden and I were going to stay here in Montana for the summer. However, after a lot of thought and prayer we feel it's best that we head back to the east coast and kind of start our lives again. It was just about a year ago that we left our jobs at the schools in Cape Hatteras and started this crazy adventure. It has been one of the best years of our lives and we have so many memories and lessons learned. We are grateful and satisfied with this time of travel and exploration and getting to share all of this together. We will always look back on this time in our lives and say "remember when.."

Thanks to all of you who have helped us along the way. Your gifts, friendship, encouragement and support has kept us going this long! We look forward to seeing you back on the east coast!

"Self Portrait from Mirror"

18x18 oil on canvas

This was my first attempt to do a self portrait from real life. I've done one from a photo before but it was quite a challenge to look back and forth at yourself and the canvas and try to paint what you see. Although it slightly resembles me, I hope to try a few more versions in the future!

"Red Barn on the Flathead Lake"

16x20 oil on canvas

"Notch Bottom Barn"

28x22 oil on canvas

"Rainbow Trout"

18x18 oil on canvas
commission work- sold

"Abaco Colors"

18x18 oil on canvas

"Guatemalan Girl"

10x10 oil on foamcore

"Man and Horse"

8x10 oil on canvas

"Barn and Fall Trees"

11x14 oil/acrylic on canvas

"Night Life in Abaco"

12x16 oil on canvas

"Still Life in the Kitchen"

10x10 oil on foamcore

"Montana Field"

12x12 oil on canvas

"Lakeside Chapel in the Winter"

12x16 oil on canvas

Stormy Sky and Hay Bales"

18x24 oil on canvas
commission work- sold

"Poplar Trees in the Fall"

18x18 oil on canvas

"Surfer Girl"

8x10 oil on canvas board

"Morro Bay, California"

24x10 oil on canvas

"Dusk at the Lake"

18x24 oil on canvas

"Dusky the Dog"

8x10 oil on canvas
commission piece- sold

"Checking the Surf"

12x12 oil on canvas

"La Gonave, Haiti"

11x14 oil on canvas
not for sale

"After the Hurricane"

8x10 oil on canvas

"Storm Over the Bridge"

6x6 oil on canvas

"Wave"

11x14 acrylic on masonite

Last Best Week

If I have learned anything over this past 2 months here in Guatemala, I have learned it in this last week.

We spent the first couple of days helping paint a new building at a campus called "Casa Alleluya". This school houses 350 kids from age 0-18 who have been abused, neglected or court ordered to be away from their homes. This 25 acre campus has facilities to house all of the kids, educate them and give them skills to succeed and move off of the campus and be an asset to the community. They also have full time welders, carpenters, nurses and counselors to help with all kinds of needs.

The next days we spent time at a school for the mentally and physically handicapped children. This school is rooted in one of the poorest towns just outside of Antigua and thanks to many people's donations, God has blessed this school with even its own elevator (one of the few in all of Guatemala). Most kids who are handicapped are not educated and the Guatemalans don't necessarily feel they even need an education. This school is a light in the darkness.

Next, we stopped at an orphanage/school for a day and played games with these joyful and most polite kids. They were so thankful and appreciative for us being there just to play games with them in the street and tell them silly stories. Guatemalans are a very gracious people.

To finish out the week a few of us spent the afternoon at "Casa Jackson", a home to 14 malnourished kids, all under the age of 3. They have a full-time nurse, 24 hours a day and a great staff as well as a constant flow of volunteers. I learned today that Guatemala is the 4th most malnourished country in all of the world, 2nd on the western side of the hemisphere. 49% of the children are malnourished and part of the reason they are a small people group is due to generations of malnourishment. Parents are uneducated and too poor to provide new babies with proper nutrition. Women often drink pots of coffee and only corn all day long, in turn, the breast milk has no nutrients combined with excessive caffeine. Or, they boil corn to eat and think that there are nutrients in the "corn water" and only feed their babies water. Some of the kids struggled to suck on the bottles because they had never really been fed before and their bodies had a hard time even digesting real food.

Today we got to play a vital role in these new babies lives by getting to hold them, feed them and help change them. If only for a day, it was the best day ever. The staff said that these kids who come to "Casa Jackson" leave fairly quickly, to a now-educated family, because of all the physical affection and attention they get all day long. God has made us to be loved. Here are some photos from the week. Just to give you an idea...the little baby girl in the yellow was 4 months old and weighed only 5.6 lbs.

1 week from today we fly back to Montana. We are all pretty excited to finally get back home, share stories and see our friends and family.

Coming to an End

Jackie:

We have just about two weeks left here in Guatemala. It's hard to believe our two months here is actually coming to an end. If I'm being completely honest, both Brenden and I are eager to return back to the States. We have greatly enjoyed this experience and just being completely immersed in another lifestyle for a short period of our lives. However, ideas, plans and desires for our future are ready to be played out in this next season of our lives. If anything, being a part of YWAM has taught me two things.

First, truly following Jesus has a cost. Often times I find myself holding onto areas of my life that I am unwilling to give over to God. I still struggle with this everyday. I have an idea of what I want for my life and what is best, not necessarily considering what God might think about it. Being almost 26 there are things I am facing now that I wouldn't think about a few years ago.. Starting a family, career, a home, etc. These are all things I am learning to daily trust God with.

Secondly, and the hope to our worries and concerns for following Jesus is that it IS worth it. Throughout this 6 minus we have visibly seen God provide for us over and over and over again. Even just quitting our secure jobs, moving and essentially having no income has been a true challenge for me. Everything I know that makes me feel secure has been left for now. God is good and a perfect friend to trust. The cost is worth it and He absolutely cares about the smallest of things in our lives.

February 4th we fly back ... Until then we will love and live as well as we can.

10 Days at Lake Atitlan

Jackie:
Our team just got back from spending 10 days with Pastor Antonio and his family in Lake Atitlan. We were so fortunate to stay at his home at the top of a large hill in San Pedro, one of the small water towns that surrounds the lake. There we helped build a house for a family in a nearby village, led church services, helped families pick coffee, prayed for some people who were sick and I even had a chance to sing my own song on a public radio station there. It was such a great time to get out of the city and really experience a different lifestyle. There is a strong Myan influence and the people speak primarily Tzutujil. The women all dress in traditional skirts and blouses full of color and its very common to see the old men wearing cowboy hats, colorful capri pants and carrying large machetes by their side. We also got the opportunity to take a crazy ferry boat ride, jump of rocks into the lake and dig a large, large hole to help for the house. (the guys on the team were obsessed).

Mizata, El Salvador

Brenden and I were so excited when our friend Carlos asked us if we wanted to go to the beach with him in El Salvador for the weekend. He and Brenden got talking about the beach, surfing and the coast and since he was from El Salvador and knew friends through Christian Surfers on the coast..he had great connections. We rode down with a few of Carlos' friends, spent the night in Sonsonate (about 30 mins from the coast) with another friend, Madrid, headed to the beach at 6am the next morning. We spent the day swimming, exploring and Brenden surfing some of the best waves of his life. The sand is black there from lava rock and the water is green and warm. Palm trees and grass shacks scatter along this small beach town called Mizata. We took naps, met new friends and ate eggs and beans. We stayed the night at a ministry house there on the beach. Basically a room with a mattress, bathroom, spiders and chickens and stray dogs roaming around in the yard filled with fallen coconuts.

Not having been to the ocean since August, Brenden and I had joyful hearts. We spent time talking about our love for the coastal lifestyle and reminiscing about the last 3 years we spent in the Outer Banks. Sunday we came back to Antigua on the chicken bus. Needless to say, this was quite an experience. These old school buses that travel around the country are packed like sardines. People are 3 deep on the benches and stuffed all throughout the aisles. This 3 hour ride was filled to the max with birds, mothers breast feeding in the aisles and sweat dripping like you've never felt before. Adventure is an understatement for this past weekend..too many stories to even write on this blog. However, we were glad to have met new friends and feel the salt water again!