The Hot Sun's Last Chance

Jackie:

As I mentioned before, Grandma Koenig passed away last week. Brenden and I decided it would be just as easy to drive from Montana to Arizona as it would to get a flight. Mainly, I hate flying, airports and all that it involves and would much rather be confined to the ground.

Today, Wednesday, was the funeral and it was very beautiful to get to be there with everyone and to put Grandma head to head with her husband, reunited for eternity.

YESTERDAY was quite a different day. Dad Koenig and his brother decide we should go to a famous place called "Heart Attack Grill". We get to this white building with ambulances parked out front and realize what we're about to get into. The servers are dressed as doctors and scandalous nurses tend to the bar, which has a mirror below for the bending-over view of their rears. Luckily we were with my sister-in-law, Sister Mary Ark of the Covenant, to make sure we could vigorously pray against the despicableness of this place. Just kidding. But, we did have an undercover-nun with us!

After we ate pure lard fries, burgers and buttermilk shakes we (Brenden, Sr. Mary and I) decide to go on a hike in the Arizona heat of the day. With our "bypass surgery" wrist bands on, we made it to the top of the rocky CamelBack mountain. I'm confident to say that I think we might have burned off all the fat we ate earlier that day.

And we're off- en route to Montana to get ready to start school at the YWAM base.

Notch Bottom

Here's some photos from southwestern Montana.



Jackie:

Before we head to northern Montana we stayed with my aunt and uncle for about a week. Unfortunately, we had to make a detour-drive to Phoenix, AZ to attend a funeral for Brenden's 91 year old grandmother who just passed away. So here we are in AZ. We started out yesterday morning chipping the ice off the Saturn and ended up here in Phoenix 20 hours later with the palm trees swaying and the sunshine shining.

Rocky Mountain High Colorado

Jackie:

Thanks Kathleen McCormack for letting us stay in your rad old mountain house and for being an excellent driver.

Brenden:

Last year in the middle of the summer Jackie and I drove around the country in our little Saturn. It was filled to the brim with crap we didn't need. Two things included a tent and stove. Our plan was to camp out at a few different destinations like my parents used to do on their ridiculous odyssey road trips. Unfortunately we discovered it was much different then we had anticipated. The camp sites we stayed at were always considerably lonely, beautiful, but lonely. It didn't have anything to do with the environment or layout of the camp. It had to do with people or lack there of. We discovered that often it was very difficult to start relationships with people at a campsites. Typically we were arriving late and leaving early and we didn't spend more than a night at one site. Even if we had, we didn't expect our neighbors to do the same so we always felt like a relationship might be hard to foster.

Before driving out to Montana this time, we tossed the tent. Our goal was to be anything but non social. I am not saying that staying at a campsite does not give you the ability to make relationships. Some people flourish in an environment like that. But we wanted to actually stay with people. Our line of thinking was that when someone invites you into their home there has to be some kind of investment made on both ends. We didn't want to force that but we believed that relationships can be more accessible when both sides are already willing to commit to some level of discomfort. It is amazing to see how generous everyone has been. Truly though it has been a far richer experience this time around.

In the end, I don't necessarily believe it has anything to do with how much time you spend with an individual it has to do with the quality of that time. Since driving out here we have had the privilege of staying with many different types of people, all unique but all equally great people. We have also had the opportunity to meet people who are friends of a friend, which is at times the best thing because eventually they become our friends as well. And finally we have met the randoms on the street corner who have offered to give us a piece of their life if only for a few seconds to have a small conversation. This country we live in is beautiful and God has made an incredible creation, but in the end we see that the beauty is something to be shared. Thank you to all those we have stayed with and the relationships we have made along the way. We are truly thankful for you guys.

OK-lahoma!

Oklahoma Where the Wind Comes Sweepin' Down the Plains

We left Nashville around 7 a.m and headed slightly south west to stay with our good friend Suzanne for a few days in Oklahoma. We made it to Tulsa Tuesday night just in time for a nice home cooked meal made by Mrs. Bartley. Suzanne's two older sisters, Karen and Tricia came over that night too. We also got to have the pleasure of meeting Tricia's little girl, Emma, who is 2 1/2. She's quite the entertainer.

I always love to see people I love in the context of their family and it was a treat to see all the Bartleys in action! Great family.

We got to be there for Suzanne and John's engagement party Wednesday night and Thursday Mr. Chapuis took us out on his boat to one of the lakes in Oklahoma. John showed us his moves on the wakeboard while we tubed and water skied. Those Oklahomans have to find fun somehow so I guess the lakes will have to do. Watch out for the 600 lb catfish lurking below.

A special thanks to Pat for her meals, hospitality and especially her famous road trip goodie bag full of all you could ever dream of! Thanks Pat!!

Roadtrip Tip: If you ever travel through Oklahoma make sure to have a pot of gold- the tolls will empty you. Total Toll Count- 13.

Goodbye East Coast (Earl-simmer down!)

1st Leg: Richmond --->Nashville

We finished packing everything Sunday night at about midnight. I think we both kind of avoided the reality that we had to pack for 6 months so last minute seemed to work best for both of us. Monday morning it was hard to leave home. Good things (doing YWAM) are often hard things (leaving home, knowing I won't see my family until February).

Thanks to Tommy and Elizabeth Verna, we hooked up with some of their friends who live in Nashville. This couldn't have worked out better. We got in town around 6:00 and ended up at some Honkey Tonk bar for a drink and a bite to eat. We walked around the super-touristy area of Nashville and really enjoyed the fact that in every bar or restaurant there was a band playing. Everywhere we walked there was someone walking by with a guitar.

After a little taste of the Country Music Capitol we went back to the Goodsell's house and spent the evening getting to know them, exchanging music and stories. Earlier in the night we had gone into a country music record store and almost bought a random cd since we didn't have much music for the road. He didn't realize that our music collection was completely lame and almost non-existent but our new friend Rusty ended up burning us 7 mix CDs for our road trip. Rusty- if you are reading this, thanks for getting us through Arkansas.

Farewell

Jackie:

Saturday night we had our Farewell Party and it was an excellent turn out. We want to thank everyone who came out and helped support us. There were so many emotions involved in seeing so many people from different parts of our lives. We were so grateful for all the kind words and genuine concern. It was encouraging to see a group of people who not only love and support our adventure with YWAM but our family in general. Brenden and I couldn't imagine a better Saturday night before we hit the road.

Sunday was Brenden's birthday so we spent the day with both sets of parents, Brenden's brother Jeremy, and his 2 little ones.

Thanks mom for running around preparing the house and food, also for the silent auction idea.

Thanks dad for playing guitar with me and always reminding me that a gift is to be shared.

Brenden:

We left the Outer banks on Sunday evening. Jackie and I spent the day going to different spots up and down the beach mostly talking with some good friends about the next step in our lives. I kept not thinking about the end of the day. I knew it was going to be hard. I didn't realize how difficult it was until we were actually walking away from the beach.

Jackie and I were talking in our bed in Richmond that night. We were talking about why it had been so emotional that afternoon. It surprised me that I was so attached. I remember times when we would walk next to the ocean on a cold winter evening just because we could. I guess I thought I was ready to leave. I thought I was ready to move on to something else, but I didn't realize how much of a constant thing it had been for so long. Good or bad, the ocean was always there. From the beautiful clear beach days surfing and hanging out to the February windswept gray day, it had always been there.

The similarity then occurred to me. We love the ocean because it reminds us of God. Just knowing that the ocean was there even if the world was falling around us was a comfort. I started thinking about how no matter what Jackie and I had going on in our life we were always able to go to it and see something different about it but at the same time feel comforted by its existence. Not being able to understand the vastness of its entirety but still taken back by its beauty, seeing how peaceful and gentle the small waves are lapping against a still beach and respecting the awesome power of thirty foot waves were His characteristics. It was God in that ocean, a perfect picture, something Jackie and I could understand without having any understanding of it at all, something we could touch, feel, and get lost in.

The Last Feast and Wave

Jackie:

Friday night was officially our last crab feast of 2010. We had more crabs than we could eat, jumbo sized ones too. I told Brenden that I am glad to be a Koenig because they have taught me their ways, as far as seafood goes. I have such good memories of us spending the evening at the table covered in newspaper, bowls with concoctions to dip your crab meat in, wooden knockers, some good tunes and a mound of crabs in the center. I knew that it would be a while before we all sat at the table together with some freshly caught crustaceans.

But it didn't set it in until 4:30 yesterday afternoon. We'd spent longer at the beach than expected with some good friends. The skies were clear, the water was warm and the waves were perfect. A storm was far off in the distance but no one noticed it until it was time to leave. Brenden and I had both gone out surfing that afternoon but then realized we should go out one more time since it would be the last for a while. I wanted to make sure I had one solid ride on the long board... one I could feel satisfied with as I paddled in back to shore. One is never enough, but sometimes one ride is all the time you have for.

Thankful.

Stick in the Eye

Jackie:

It's 9:30 a.m and Brenden and I have just begun working in Wanda's yard. Her property lies on quite a steep hill so I am working at the base of the hill while Brenden is using the chainsaw taking out small, dead trees mid-way up the hill. After about 15 minutes in I hear him yell (previously said scream, it was more a yell than a scream, -brenden). My first thought was "chainsaw" but thankfully the chainsaw was not in sight and was covering his eye, yelling.

Before continuing on, I must inform you that there have been many little things that have just been going wrong lately. Not anything major or actually important in light of eternity...just annoying things that tend to get you down. So, when I heard Brenden yell like that I knew something was wrong.

I calmly walked up the hill asking him what had happened. He explained that he was carrying a dead tree trunk and the limb snapped and flew back into his eye. All I could see was a bleeding cut on the top of his nose and a shut eye. We calmly walked up to the house, he sat down and I brought him a wet paper towel to hold over it. At this point I didn't know if the branch had just wacked his nose really hard and got near the eye or if it actually hit his eye ball.

The only people home at the time were Wanda, 86 and her great grand-son Josh, 11. The last thing we wanted to do was scare or worry either of them. I was fine, assisting my husband as I should until suddenly I felt my heart beat faster and my stomach get twisted up. I went to the bathroom thinking I was going to puke but couldn't. I informed Brenden that I was feeling light headed and it was getting worse. Brenden, being angry at the situation and in pain, said "you're fine just get it together". I explained that it was getting worse. I tried drinking water and sitting down for a bit but then soon realized if I needed to take him to the doctor there was no way I could drive. So, I walked down the porch steps to the truck to get my cell phone. I was going to call my father-in-law to come pick us up and take us to Urgent Care.

Before I knew it my vision became highly blurred and I could hear Brenden's voice but it seemed like he was 30 feet away. I was on the verge of passing out. I stumbled, literally, up the stairs, tripping and eventually kind of just plopped down on the deck, ripping off my shirt. I lay there on my back yelling for the 11 year old kid, "Josh! Josh!" I knew that in a moment I would be passed out and Brenden would be left alone in pain and this kid would probably need to help us. He comes out, confused, and Brenden says "don't worry man, she's fine". Meanwhile he's saying, "Jackie, get it together, come on, seriously, you're fine!!". My husband is in pain and here I am on the ground making him nurse me back to life. He goes inside and gets a wet rag to put over my head and thankfully I make it through. Poor Wanda walks out on the porch and sees a blood shot eye and a half dressed girl laying on the ground. Even thinking about the situation can make me laugh.

I drive Brenden home thinking his dad will be there to look at the eye and assess the situation. Since we have applied for a different type of insurance for YWAM, I knew that we probably couldn't afford to go to the emergency room if this was something serious. Dad wasn't home. We called a few doctors and they said they couldn't tell us anything w/o looking at the eye. If the actual eyeball was scratched it can be very serious. I finally convinced Brenden go to.

We drive to the Urgent Care center right here in Kitty Hawk while I'm praying in the car. We walk in and there are over 50 people in the waiting room, some keeled over in pain. I knew we would be there for at least 2 hours and we couldn't wait that long. A lady working in another building tells us where an eye doctor is. We walk in and the secretary sees Brenden holding his eye, nose bleeding and can tell he is in pain. She immediately gets the doctor and sends him back. I am in the lobby trying to fill out our insurance information but leaving most of it blank b/c we've just applied for it so we have no information at this point. I hear Brenden and this lady in the back room talking about YWAM and missions and church. I immediately knew that God had taken care of us. I come to find out the doctor has been going to the same church we've been going to all summer and had recently been to Mexico on a medical missions trip. Crazy. We pay out of pocket what was far less than I thought we'd have to pay and leave. As I'm walking out the door the secretary tells me "walk by faith not by sight". Ironically, we were there for an eye injury. It almost made me cry when she said it because I was so certain that God had heard my prayers. It was one of those moments where you get chills because you just know God is real and so interactive in all our lives, whether or not we acknowledge it. We didn't deserve this to happen to us- we could have had to wait in the Urgent Care for hours and paid hundreds of dollars just for them to tell us we need to go to the eye doctor but no, God had another plan.

Brenden is fine now. He did have quite an abrasion to his eyeball and the doctor did have to clean out some debris that was embedded in the cuts. Thankfully we did go get it checked out or it might have gotten gnarly.

Conclusions...

1.Even when you poke your eye, walking by faith and not our own sight is still better.

2.Throughout the morning I realized we are blessed to have doctors at our fingertips, unlike so many people all over the world and we don't deserve it any more than anyone else.

3. If you are with me in a traumatic situation....I will be of no help and probably just pass out.

Brenden:

I hit my self in the eye with a stick. Serious ramifications ensued. I now put burning sulfur solution in my eye twice a day.