live58 & Compassion International

About a year and a half ago, Southeast hosted a Compassion Weekend. Hundreds of packets sat on tables in the Lobby that Saturday and Sunday. Peter Habyarimana, a Ugandan graduate himself of the Compassion sponsorship program, spoke in all the services about the impact child sponsorship has on the life of a child who only knows poverty.

I stood out in the Lobby and looked at those packets. I looked at those faces. And all I could think of is,  "How do you choose?" Plus, at the time, Jody was in his last year of seminary, and I knew our plates were full. It was not the right time. Nonetheless, the weekend had an impact on me, and I knew that I truly wanted to sponsor a child. For keeps. 

Then, a few months ago I watched a video called live58 (live58.org), which is a global initiative to end extreme poverty by living out Isaiah 58. In the video, Wess Stafford - the president of Compassion International - quotes the chapter from Scripture at various points during the movie. 

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry 

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter —
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, 

and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. 

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. 

- Isaiah 58

I continued to feel the Lord tugging on my heart, and I knew that He was calling me to do what I could to act upon this very clear command of Scripture. Also, I had had several years to observe the work of Compassion, and I was very impressed. Everything they do with excellence. Everything is in Jesus' name and for His glory. Highly rated for integrity and wise use of resources. I decided that - if I'm going to send funds to any organization - it would be Compassion.

As we entered a new year at Southeast, Steve and I talked about hosting another Compassion Weekend, but nothing worked with the church schedule. Then, we got a call from Compassion. They had a new 'event' coming. It was called "Change the Story: The Compassion Experience," and it would be traveling around the country, stopping at churches and allowing people to step into the life of a child.  

Steve jumped on the opportunity, and the first weekend in August, they came to Southeast. It was awesome. I wouldn't be exaggerating if I were to say it was life-changing. 

I had the opportunity to walk through the "lives" of 3 different Compassion children. I got to help the 'Change the Story' staff during their brief stay at Southeast, filling in as they needed and meeting some incredible staff and volunteers along the way. One night I convinced Jody to come and check it out.

And in the end, we decided to sponsor a little girl.

Her name is Tujare (pronounced TWO-yah-ray); she's 6 years old, and she's from Ethiopia. In fact, she is from the Gojo region of Ethiopia, where we are currently working at through the church-planting ministry of Petros Network. 

We are so excited. And that little frame on our living room table that has been empty for five years (since Mrs. Kim gave me all those frames as a wedding present in Korea)... 

Yeah, she gets that honored spot!

Welcome to our family, Tujare! We are praying God's blessings on your life. Praying that you know how very loved you are. How precious you are in the eyes of God. And that 'you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you' (Phil 4:13).

Glimpses of God's Bigger Plan

Do you ever wonder what God is up to, and if He really knows what He's doing? I know I have. I like to say that sometimes I've got some really great ideas about how things should turn out, and that maybe He should listen to me. (Ha!) But usually those plans end up biting me in the butt, and I am reminded that God is on the throne; He knows what He's doing, and He really does have a 'Big Plan' that He's working out. Sometimes He even allows me glimpses of what He's doing behind the scenes. And - in the meantime - I must exercise faith and wait upon Him and His timing.

2007
When Jody and I returned to Korea in 2007 as a newly married couple, we settled in an international church called LifeChurch at the time that met at in international school in Suwon. The founding pastor of the church, Jack Reid had also founded an organization called MountainChild that serves the unreached people groups of the Himalayas. At the time, Korea served as his home base, and several teams from LifeChurch went on trips to Nepal to work alongside the organization. The church - now called The Nations International Church is still alive and kicking. Several of our friends still go there (We miss y'all!) 

But I digress... Back to MountainChild. So, a couple whose lives often intersected with ours in Korea - John and Soyon Thompson - ended up moving to Kathmandu and serving with MountainChild full time. The backstory on our friendship with them is here.

Fast forward a few years....

2010

I had been working at Southeast Christian Church, in Parker, CO for a few years, and I begin to see that the driving force of Missions here at Southeast seemed to align quite well with the work of MountainChild. I asked John and Soyon to send me some promotional materials for the work of MountainChild. They did, and those materials sat on my desk for probably a year, as I waited for the right time to present them to my boss Steve as a potential partnering organization for Southeast.

2011
Last fall, I finally felt peaceful about handing those promotional materials to Steve, praying that if it was right, God would make it clear if MountainChild would be a good fit.

2012
Jack and his family were in Denver for a short spell, and I was able to connect him with Steve and two young men in the church who are interested in the work of MountainChild.We had lunch and were able to hear from Jack all about the work that MC does in the Himalayas.

This November we're sending a small team to check it out. Yay!

I am excited and humbled that God would use me to intersect lives and ministries in His Kingdom. We'll see if it goes anywhere... but in the meantime, I am excited and slightly jealous. So wish I could go, too! :)

The Compassion Experience: Change the Story

IF YOU LIVE IN THE DENVER METRO AREA:

Compassion International has just launched a mobile 'display' called 'Change the Story' that will be travelling around the country, and after Heaven Fest it will be coming to Southeast Christian Church!

Two 18 wheelers will be driving up in the parking lot Wednesday, August 1st. The display will be open for tours August 2-5, and anyone will have the opportunity to walk through the "homes" and daily lives of three children in poverty whose lives have been transformed.

 Walk-ins are welcome; however, due to the space limitations of the mobile display and to help orchestrate the flow of traffic during peak times, we are encouraging everyone to go online to compassion.com/change/ in order to reserve your spot to take the roughly 20 minute tour. The hours the display will be open while here at Southeast are:

·         Thursday, August 2^nd -  12-8pm

·         Friday, August 3^rd – 12-8pm

·         Saturday, August 4^th – 11am-7pm

·         Sunday, August 5^th – 9am-2pm

The Change the Story Experience is open to the community, so feel free to spread the word!

A Happy Day

Last Monday was such a wonderful day. It was Jody's birthday, and since the temperature here in Denver was over 100° and the fires all over Colorado had cast a heavy, cloudy, gritty haze over the city, we decided it would be wonderful to go rest in a safe part of the mountains. As Jody said, he wanted to ease gracefully into old age. Ha!

We decided on Pine Valley Ranch, near Pine, CO. Very family-friendly with all kinds of amenities we're not used to when backpacking, the Open Space was great for a low-key afternoon! Bathrooms, picnic benches, trash cans, clearly marked pathways. Almost luxury!

We found a spot out of the intense heat (even in the mountains it was around 90) under some huge pines and next to a cool, rushing river. We 'tethered' the pups and hung our hammocks up. It was awesome. We read, slept and just listened to the sound of the water. The pups behaved fairly well, too. Since the flies were pretty bad low to the ground, I felt so badly for them and brought them up to be with me in my hammock. I think they were so relieved to be away from the flies that they slept and lounged in my lap pretty contentedly most of the afternoon after that. I was so proud of them!

Since going out to eat is a pretty special occasion in Jo's world, he decided he wanted to celebrate his birthday in true Texas style. And so, after heading home and cleaning up a bit, to Texas Roadhouse we went! In the car, I mentioned the fact that it was so strange that the boots he won in the February Anderson Bean "Bean My Valentine" boot contest had not arrived yet... though it had been four months and my free boots had arrived several months ago. I told Jo I might call AB and see if something had happened. So, after dinner we came home and, lo and behold... what was on our porch?

Jody's FREE BOOTS!

So excited!

Perfect timing, Anderson Bean!

Smelling that wonderful leather smell

Had to get the full shot. :)

Our FREE and beautiful boots!

Many of you asked for a picture of our contest prizes, so I wanted to oblige you. While I make no claim to being a cowgirl, it was so much fun to win the contest with everyone's help. Thank you, to everyone who made this possible!

And it really was the perfect end to Jody's birthday. Happy Birthday, my love!

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Since discovering that I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis, I have attempted to make gradual adjustments to my diet and lifestyle. One goal of mine is to move more and more to natural home products. Or at least home-made ones that can cut costs and don't require a midnight run to the grocery store.

About a month ago I happened upon a friend's blog post about homemade laundry detergent, and I decided to print out her recipe. Jody bought the ingredients, and we made our first batch.

The verdict: It works!

If you are interested in trying it yourself, here's Kelly's blog posting: @ kellycain.com : Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent!

Observations, a month in:

1. The ingredients are right next to each other on the cleaning aisle in Walmart. Easy to find. Maybe $7.50 for all three.
2. Easy to make. Very easy.
3. The detergent does separate, so it takes a good stir before using.
4. The consistency depends on room/outside temperature. As it's gotten warmer outside, I've noticed the consistency of the detergent thins and pours more easily.
5. It seems to get the job done. No fragrance or perfume to irritate skin, but it gets the dirt out of our clothes, linens, etc. I'm a happy woman!

My next goals: homemade soap and deodorant.

Bittersweet Goodbyes

Three and a half years ago, Jody and I first moved to Colorado and began to prepare for the arduous task of completing a degree at Denver Seminary. And though I was born in Colorado and spent the first few years of my life here, it is a completely different experience as an adult, forging your own way 'in the world' and establishing lasting friendships out of nothing.

We moved to Littleton after returning to the States from Korea, spending two months with my family in Virginia and two months with Jo's family in Texas. It was so nice to finally settle down. I changed my name officially to 'Been,' updated my license to an official Colorado one, got our plates registered. Every little piece made us feel more at home. Still, we knew no one. No church home. No connections other than my parents' friends from when they lived here back in the 70s and 80s. 

After using the first few weeks of our time in Colorado to adjust, it was time for Jo to get everything prepared for his first semester of graduate school. He registered for classes and got his books. The next step to preparing for school was to attend the New Student Orientation.

The day of, we drove to the seminary, parked and walked into the building that houses the chapel. There were round tables throughout the room, and so we picked our seats off to the southern side and began to chat with those around us. Then we noticed a couple walk in, and there wasn't a place for them to sit at any of the tables.

I remember it - as clear as day. "Hey, come join us!" Jody and I urged them.

We pulled up a few chairs next to us, and they sat down.

Three and a half years later, I miss them like crazy.

Sam and Britt became our buds all through seminary. California natives, from Day #1 I knew they would be returning to their beloved state. I just knew it was inevitable. But I still am so thankful for the time that we had together!

Their wiener dog Rustie convinced me that I wanted a miniature dachshund for myself. They went with us out to the home in Elizabeth where we picked up Eu-mi as an 8 week old pup from a litter of eight.

We had doggie play dates.

Worked out together.

Ate meals together composed of whatever was in our refrigerators at the time.

"You have carrots? Oh, great! I'll bring the lettuce and tomatoes."

"Game night? Sweet! I'll bring Settlers. Wanna bake some of your amazing cookies?"

We discussed the stresses of seminary together. Its' effect on our health, our marriages, our finances. Oh, what a blessing to have someone who could relate!

We played outside together... had snowball fights. Went biking in the mountains.

When they got another pup, Roxy, Jo and I decided that we'd need to get another wiener dog, too! I mean, imagine the play dates with not two - BUT FOUR - wiener dogs!

Yup! All 4 of them!

Even when Britt and I were working, Sam and Jo were always up to some mischief. Brewing beer. Debating Calvinism vs. Arminianism. Talking about life in ministry.

When Jo graduated in December, Sam and Britt were there to celebrate with us.

It just wouldn't have been the same without them.

I used to think that 'bosom friends' (as Anne Shirley puts it) were impossible to find. Now I know that they're not impossible to find... but they are rare and to be treasured.

Sam got a job at a church in northern California, and they moved last month. Before they left, they came over and dropped off all the food in their pantry.

Because that's what friends do.

We got take-out Panda Express, sat in the living room and talked about the future. And how they need to find us a job in California, so we can keep hanging out.

Dear Parsons,
We are so grateful for you guys. 
We miss and love you so much, and we pray God's blessings on your lives. 
Keep a room open for us in Cali! We just might have to come visit!!
Love,
The Beens

A goal

Now that Jody has finished seminary, we are loving the freedom and flexibility that one less commitment brings to our schedule. For Jo, it means that he's not always reading, writing and stressing about the next deadline. And for me, it means that Jo is mentally, emotionally and physically more available to help me. Ha! It's a beautiful thing. 

But there was a bit of a tragedy to being out of seminary, as well. We lost our discount to the gym at Arapahoe Community College just down the street from Denver Seminary. As a seminary student (and family), there is a significant discount available; without it we would not have been able to afford a gym membership really anywhere in the area. I am so thankful we had the ACC discount and I was able to stay sane - especially during the cold winter months when the sun goes behind the mountains at 4:30, as I'm driving home and have had no time to burn off some calories (and stress). 

So a few months post-seminary went by, and I decided I was going crazy without gym access. I began to hunt, and lo and behold, I found Ballys. We had actually visited it when we were originally looking for a gym, and I think it was about $30/month per person at the time. Standard pricing, perhaps, but more than we could handle on a seminary budget. Well, this go-round I found the pricing to be awesome: $17.99 for one person and $12.99 for any 'add-on'. For Jo and me it would come to $31/month. Woop! We signed up immediately. And I'm loving it. It's 5 minutes away from home; the hours are totally flexible; and there's always a machine available. 

I am so thankful. My goal is to get back in post-college shape before Sarah's wedding. That's four months. I can do it!

And as I begin this process, I am realizing how strong I must be in saying 'no' to food I truly don't need. Especially because I love food. I love buying new and fun foods. I love making food. Cooking. Baking. And I love eating. Ha! I know it's probably not the most lady-like thing to say, but it's true. Yet, I am realizing how little I really do need to function well on a daily basis. And it feels strangely good to say, "no" to myself and to food that I truly don't need and that won't help me in the long run. I am reminded once again of Paul's words in Corinthians:

But I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.   - 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NASB)

The Message says it slightly differently, but I like the wording:

I don't know about you, but I'm running hard for the finish line. I'm giving it everything I've got. No sloppy living for me! I'm staying alert and in top condition. I'm not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

It reminds me that my body is subject to my spirit and not the other way around. So, here's to some self-denial, hopefully yielding the fruit of self-control in my life. 

You'll see the fruit of my endeavors come September 29th. Thanks for the motivation your wedding provides, Sarah! :)

Again?

I can't believe I'm writing this, but I have laryngitis again. In fact, it's been two weeks now, and as anyone who has known me well knows that there is no time limit to this struggle. The only thing is... it's been 4 years. I thought I beat this!

I woke up one morning two weeks ago with a slight sore throat and post-nasal drip. I have no idea where it came from, but I guess it doesn't really matter. It could have been allergies (though I don't have allergies), or as I've come to believe, it could just be stress.

What I find interesting this 'go-round' is that I am not anxious about it. I am - for the most part - at peace with the situation. I guess I have finally realized that there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. I am trusting the Lord to heal me completely in His own good time. 

To those of you who are new to my blog, this isn't the first time I’ve struggled with laryngitis. I actually have quite the history with it, starting when I lost my voice for 3 weeks in 10th grade. Then in college for 10 weeks. In Korea I lost it twice - each time for a significant period of time. Here’s an account from my blog 5 years ago… The following posts chronicle (one of) my struggles with laryngitis when I was in Korea.

it's spring...

the minor prophets

still resting

where is may going?

...waiting on God...

a decision reached

I am thankful that - regardless of how long I lose my voice - God uses each time to draw me to Himself, show me areas that I need to work on, and remind me of my incredible need to depend on Him and set clear boundaries for myself. Boundaries - one of my favorite books! :)

I am also thankful because now I know why I lose my voice so often. The simple reason really is stress. The longer explanations of my health discoveries can be found here and here (blog postings from 2010 and 2011, as I've learned more about my health the past few years). I must say that knowing the cause of this makes it so much less stressful enduring the unknown 'how long?' question.   

Please pray for me, though! I still have to work, and life marches on.

Big Stuff Going on!

I am so excited these days. Big things are happening! The biggest event happened over the weekend. My younger sister Sarah graduated from Christopher Newport University (CNU) in  with a Major in Communication Studies, a Minor in Leadership and a Minor in Psychology. I'm so proud of her! It is the culmination of a lot of hard work, and I know she's earned every bit of that degree. 

Receiving her diploma!

Sarah with her awesome roommate, Rachel

The next big changes on the horizon in Sarah's life are startin her new job as an Assistant Manager at a Target in the Hampton Roads area.... AND GETTING MARRIED!! :) 

The lucky dude is named Justin Ferry (who took our awesome family photos), and I just couldn't be happier for this event to take place. Justin and Sarah have been dating for a couple of years, and it only took me a few hours to figure out how well they complement one another and spur each other on to love and serve the Lord more effectively. 

The sweet couple

The wedding date is set for September 29th and will take place out in the lovely Amelia county. I cannot wait for Jody and I to be there to celebrate with them on this life-changing, covenant-making day!

Congratulations, Sarah. I pray the Lord leads and guides you both all the days of your lives, and that your marriage is an awesome example of the relationship between Christ and His Church. I love you very, very much.

Beans for Beens!

Unbeknownst to me, way back in February, Jody decided that I needed a pair of cowboy boots. I already own a beat-up, old pair that are probably from the '70s and oh-so comfortable. But Jody wanted me to have a pair that could kinda match his Anderson Bean boots. And he knew just how he was going to get them for me.

A Texas-based cowboy boot company called Anderson Bean has a Facebook page, which Jody "liked" and so subscribed to all their updates since he bought a pair of AB boots last year. (SEE THEIR WEBSITE here.) Occasionally, the company will host a contest. This past February, there was a contest called the '2012 AB "BEAN" My Valentine Contest' that was purely run on Facebook. The story and rules of this contest were as follows:


Every boot has a story and we want to see why you love your Anderson Beans. Whether you won your first buckle or met the love of your life in Anderson Beans, we want to hear why you love your boots! 


1) Submit a picture with the pair of boots that you love to contest@andersonbean.com. All entries must be received by February 12, 2012.
2) The photos will be posted in the “Bean” my Valentine album on the Anderson Bean Face Book Page on February 13th for our fans to go vote on. By showing that they “Like” a photo a vote will be cast for it.
3) The contest will end February 29th at 5:00 pm

Grand Prize
The photo with the most “Likes” will be selected as the Grand Prize winner and will receive a “Couples” pair of Anderson Bean stock non-exotic boots, a pair of Anderson Bean T-Shirts and a set of Anderson bean Koozies. The photo will also be featured on the Anderson Bean website and Facebook page.

Runner-Up
We will select the runner up for the contest by having our staff choose their favorite submission. The Runner-Up will receive a set of Anderson Bean T-Shirts and matching Anderson Bean Koozies. That photo will also be featured on the Anderson Bean website and Facebook page.

GOOD LUCK! We can’t wait to see all of your loved boots. Will you “Bean” my Valentine?

So, Jody decided that he would send in a picture of ours as a submission to the contest (what?!). The picture Jo sent in was one that my sister's fiance, Justin Ferry took during a photoshoot while we were in VA (see more pictures from the photoshoot here), and it was one of many great shots that Justin captured. We had, however, never intended for it to be used for anything beyond perhaps a collage on our wall at home. 

When Jody sent it in to Anderson Bean, he included this description, which was attached to the Facebook page for everyone to read:

My boots are in memory of my brother. He passed away just over a year ago, January 25th. I bought them shortly after that as a little way to remember him everywhere I go. My boots mean more to me than I can ever express. Secondly, my wife has an old pair of boots and would love to see Mrs. Been (yes, that's our last name!) in a new pair of Beans. She is an amazing woman and has supported me through a very hard year. We have little money, but she deserves the world. I would love to see her blessed this way.

So, the contest began. There were 59 submissions, several of them great stories and excellent photos. Most were far more "legit" than ours. I mean, some of these people actually use the boots for what they are intended. Imagine that! Suburbanite that I am, I just like them 'cause they're fun. Ha! 

Anyway (I digress), the contest began, and so Jody and I began to spread the word that we needed people to go to the contest page, find our picture and "like" it. We jumped out ahead immediately and crossed the 150 mark. We thought we had it in the bag. But then we scrolled through the pictures, and we saw another submission had - out of nowhere - jumped ahead of us. What?! 

This young lady you see to the left became our stiff competition for the next week. Back and forth we fought for first place. Two hundred. Three hundred. Four. Five. Six. Seven. It was intense. I began enlisting my sisters' help from their college friends. I even asked Charlie, Southeast's youth pastor if he would pitch it to the youth group. Ridiculousness. Meanwhile, the young lady, Anne Marie and Jody began corresponding via Facebook. They practically became best buds through this process. A nice young lady. But we had to win! Even my mother went on Facebook and "liked" the page (GO, MOMMIE!). I was so proud. 

In the end, Jody and I prevailed. The final score was: 

The Beens: 792

Anne Marie: 604 

Rarely have more beautiful words been seen!

 And the WINNER of the AB "Bean My Valentine" Contest is.....

First place: Mr. and Mrs. Been with an outstanding 792 "likes" on their beautiful picture. Congrats!

As a result, Jody and I began to do some shopping. After all, free boots are serious business. After much deliberation and discussion, Jody decided on the 'Tangerine Marfalous' Distressed American Bison boots (the orange ones). Pretty awesome, huh? And I decided that I needed a pair that was as equally awesome. And since I love green - lime green, in particular - I decided that I needed to go all the way. I decided on the 'Kiwi Marfalous' Geronimo Bison boots.

Oh yes, I did.

Since my boots have been in stock for quite a while, the company shipped mine quickly. Jody's style, however, is new and still in production, so we are still holding out for them. I hope to have some pictures up when they do come in. A follow-up picture of both our prizes, you understand. To all of you who have begged for a picture, I promise... It's coming. I'll let you know when his boots arrive. :)

Next on the list, Jody says, are some dresses and skirts for me to get all 'dolled up' in so I can show off my boots. Ha! Five years ago, I would have never imagined....

 Thank you to everyone who helped us win these boots! We love and appreciate you!!!

Moral of the Story

A few weeks ago, our Keurig began acting up.

Now, for those of you who have spent any amount of time with me in the last year, you know how much I love our Keurig. I even wrote a blog about it here because, for Jo and I, the Keurig is perfect. Jo can have his caffeinated coffee, and I can have my decaf. It's a beautiful thing.

But back to my story. So a few weeks ago, I began to notice the Keurig was not pulling water from its reservoir consistently. Instead it would hum constantly without doing anything. When this had happened three or four times consecutively, I began to think something was seriously wrong with our beloved Keurig! And I thought, "When did we register the product online? How long is the warranty again? It's been almost a year, right?"


When we checked online, we saw that the 1 year warranty ended in two days. TWO days. I called Keurig and explained the problem. The customer service representative encouraged us to try a few ways to clean out the system. We did. It didn't work.

Our new Keurig shipped out a day or two later and arrived at our doorstep within a week.

Moral of the Story #1: God loves us so much.
Moral of the Story #2: Always register your appliances. You never know when you'll need to call in and have them send you a brand new one!

Pups Photoshoot

The days and weeks are flying by. Penny is already 4 1/2 months old. She is just one vaccination shy of being fully up-to-date and has already graduated to a "big dog" crate. :)

In other news, the dogs are finally at peace with one another. There is the obvious disparity in age between the pups that comes out during play time. Eu-mi is usually fast asleep on her bed when Penny gets the puppy urge to run and clobber her. Poor Eu-mi. She tolerates Penny's puppy energy with more grace and dignity than I probably would, but even she reaches the end of her limits and will start to growl. When Penny doesn't "get it" usually Eu-mi will just run away and try to find a spot out of Penny's reach. Haha. But then there are other times when they play happily together and then curl up next to one another on the bed and fall fast asleep. It's the most precious thing ever!

Anyway, before another day passes, I wanted to post a few pictures of the little ladies, so you can see how Penny's growing and how the two interact. The pictures at the bottom turned out so well, and they sat so nicely for us, that I've decided to call it their 'Puppy Photoshoot'! :)

Enjoy!

Eu-mi yawning... and Penny laying on top of Eu-mi (as usual)

Eu-mi - ever curious

Fast asleep

Penny in a winter shirt that Eu-mi quickly outgrew

Basking in the morning sunshine

Penny's first walk outside!

The pups chilling on the new Poang (Yay, Ikea!)

Our pretty girls!

So stinkin' cute!