Kanakuk Kamp fun!

Parker was at K-West this year. Kamp for Parker just keeps getting better and better. Every year we come to pick him up, it has been the best kamp experience ever! Can't beat that. He bunked with his best buddy Cole (friends since 2yr old) and 2 guys from the Ecuador mission trip were at Kamp the same term. He was also able to hook up with Sparky and a few of his favorite past counselors, Wes, Matt, Mickey at K-Kountry and serve one evening as a junior counselor for the Around the World party. He was with Wes in Africa, dressed up and speaking Amharic! Wish I had a video of that!

Parker and Paeton were at kamp for the last 2 weeks of July. Paeton was at K-Kountry, it was her last year on the country side as it is for kampers 7-11 yrs old. She made it into "The Real Deal" aka Barn 12. This is special for the kampers who have attended kamp the longest. She was also honored and chosen as the Kickapoo mini-princess and she won the medal for best all around Kayaker, she chose to Kayak for her sport.

After we picked up the BIG P's from Kamp we headed to the laundry mat in Springfield, MO. After throwing away what was not salvageable (kamp laundry. . . YUCK!) I managed to fit the rest into 8 washers/dryers and we then drove south to Branson, MO once again. Now we arrived at Kanakuk's family Kamp, K- Kauai for the first week in August. Jamie has served 3 kamps for 3 years as their Kamp Dr. We stay at K-Kauai as a family while he serves. This was the twins 2nd year and the BIG P's 1st at family Kamp. We usually serve the 2nd week the BIG P's are at kamp but this year they stayed the full 2 weeks at kamp w/o seeing us and then we all got to experience family kamp together. We had a blast! The big's and Jamie did the Diamond Head ropes course, zip line, screamer (a swing you are harnessed into and drops) and this death drop free fall (again harness and you fall 4 stories straight down and just before the second you die, splattered all over the pavement, a small fan-like devise stops you on your feet). I chose not to participate in these exciting activities but joined in pool side and for the canoe trip down the Taneycommo River. Not the family bonding experience we were paddling after, but we made it safe and sound back to dry shore 3 miles later.

Kanakuk is an amazing place, the kamp staff just pour the love and promises of the Lord into your kids while at kamp, the amazing staff are so cool and on fire for the Lord your kids just want to follow hard after the example of these cool kids and they reinforce the values we have spent a lifetime teaching them. Family kamp is a blast, it is a terrific family vacation where you all grow closer together and to the Lord. If you have not been you have to try it out!

I met an AMAZING and driven mom there who is my new friend and partner in bringing clean water to villages in Ethiopia. Julie, has 2 adopted sons from Ethiopia, the southern Sidama region. We have both been researching maps and believe our boys were from areas less that 50 miles away from eachother. She has recently returned from Ethiopia where she and other AMAZING, driven aka makin' things happen mommas were researching clean water projects, medical missions, and visiting with family and friends in Ethiopia just waiting for the Lord to reveal His plan to them. Please visit www.teamalexander.blogspot.com to learn all about the amazing experiences God gave them.

So Julie and her family are at Kauai for the week and we get to talking and she reveals her heart for bringing clean water (safe drinking water, you know the kind we take for granted) to the village one of her sons Grandmother lives in. She committed to raising $50K for Glimmer of Hope who does the incredible job of hiring local village men/WOMEN (don't you love that part) to manage the water project after they have done the work to tap into the source. The reason I believe with all of my heart God ordained this meeting is because my prayer for the last 6 months has been, Lord where do you want me to serve? Lord, what do you want me to do? Use me, send me. I knew it was in Africa, there are so many worthy and desperate cause, my heart is in Ethiopia where 2 loves of my life were born and don't you know, my Jesus, my best friend introduced me to Julie, whom He'd made a plan with. He just opened the doors for me and made this path illuminate so I could not miss this opportunity to join Him and Julie in His work. At the top of this page you will find a video from Glimmer of Hope, please watch it, I will be posting more about His plan to provide clean water for Ethiopia.

Long post. . . so much good, or should I say God stuff to share. I will leave you with a few pictures from family kamp..

Parker was voted the best dressed "Techie" aka Geek. We were so proud!

Phisher loved the pool at K-Kauai!

Phelix had a blast playing in the small water fountains!