Finishing . . . .

Packing up an office. . . . a lifetime. . . a classroom. . . .

Early morning coffee with friends we won't see for a many months or years. . . .

Late evening conferences with parents we've come to love as family. . . .

Tears almost every day--sad ones, happy ones. . . .

A final concert in the bar formerly known as "The Rabbit Hole. . . ."

Little girls walking across a rickety stage with their preschool "diplomas" in hand. . . .

A week full of goodbyes and "thank yous" and many more things that fall short of words here.

To all our friends and loved ones at Trinity, and to all the Kindergarten parents and children--THANK YOU.

Your care for us and obvious sorrow to see us go is a painful joy--painful that we are loved so much, joyful that you will remember us and pray for us and support us.

If we could leave you with only one thing, it would be this: That there is a strong and powerful Guide for us, a Counselor, a Comfortor, and He will lead you--and us--into all Truth. And isn't Truth what we're all looking for, deep at the core of our hearts?

Peace be with you. As the Father is sending us, so He is sending you. Listen to His voice through the Spirit, and you will find adventure around every corner, in your workplace, maybe in your own backyard. . . . even greater: you might be found by Him. A scary and delightful experience!

From our hearts to yours--Peace!

Dust and Jan, Lil' and Zo'

PS. Can someone leave and not be gone?

We sat today at a memorial service, and celebrated the Grace of Jesus in the life of Irene Rubin, sang out our hearts, and remembered our beloved organist and friend who--after 77 years--moved on to greener pastures. . . . and it felt like any moment she might walk in and take over for Earlene on the organ. I caught myself thinking that she just might, and then getting angry that she wasn't. And yet, the greater truth dawns that this is not goodbye--a farewell, a "see you later," but not goodbye.

Can someone remain close--even if it's on the other side of death, or on the other side of the world? We trust that inside of the Son, it can be so.

As for us, we refuse to say goodbye. We'll say, "see you later" instead.

Pomp and circumstance at graduation 2005. . . . 

Zoe and best friend "Wisabella" (Isabella) share a giggle! 

So this is what you do with that piece of paper. . . . 

Zoe poses. . . 

The Preschool Graduating Class of 2005! 

Potato Face, Horse Face Zoe (her favorite self-made "knock knock" joke) 

Lily poses (one of 5 million) 

Sisters on vacation in 2004 

Jacob Peter, Jenni Hope, and Suzie Q! 

Mama J and Jenni 

Fam Christmas Pic! 

Brothers and Sister at Adeline's Baptism in January 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! 

Another favorite youth pic from WhiteWater. This was a great trip you guys! 

Who IS that guy?! (the promo picture for my concert flyers) 

One picture for all the memories of WhiteWater. We love you guys! 

The Ladies are sad its over. . . . 

This is deeelightful tea! 

Miss Lily's 5th Birthday TeaParty 

A Wedding, A Farewell, and a Party!

What a weekend! We helped sister Karalyn get married to Danny Walker on Saturday, did a HUGE farewell party at Trinity, planned and led our next to last WhiteWater Youth Event, and planned and set up a surprise party for brother Kris and sister-in-law Sara for completing their Seminary training and Masters in Youth Development--all this in one weekend!

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE WEDDING:

Flower shopping with Karalyn who arranged all her flowers for her wedding. Kara is a florist par excellence and has the "in" with the flower wholesellers, and it was a treat for her brothers and father to tag along and watch her in action. She used the the whole refrigerated unit (size of small house) as her palette, and picked and chose quickly with a clear eye on everything. Dad said something like, "Wow, I just got introduced to a whole new culture!" And anyone who knows Dad knows that made his day:)

Watching Karalyn walk down the aisle glowing and shining and putting her flower arrangements to shame (they were good Kara, but not as beautiful as you!).

Watching Dad get misty-eyed as he walked her down. Yay Dad! You never cry, so that was quite the sight. Good for you.

Visiting with the Great Grandmothers and watching them dandle the little ones on their knee.

Seeing Darren and Phil make it to the wedding with a few hours to spare, driving all night from Montana.

A short but amazing visit with Aunt Irene who has the gift of sitting with people who are dying and being the presence of God to them. I'm so glad to see God showing up in your life in his powerful and unique way!

Listening to G.G. Almeda tell about walking 2 miles to school with a lunch bucket and a jug of water (in South-Eastern Montana) when she was five. Reading the school dictionary when she was bored and memorizing the times-tables on the board--to this day Great Grandma does all her math in her head. No calculators for her!

Watching Karalyn's face and knowing that Dan will do good by her.

Listening to G.G. Almeda tell me that she remembers that Mom and Dad left with me for Africa the very first time back on July 5th, 1973--and now we're preparing to fly out on the same date, July 5th. Could it get any more weird. For one thing I had no idea. I was a baby, and can't remember dates anyway. And can you believe Grandma still remembers a date from 1973? (insert sounds of awe here)

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FAREWELL AT TRINITY:

Little Brian Shrode telling me in front of the whole congregation how much I meant to him.

Cards and speeches filled with deeply-thought words of encouragement and prayers.

An incredible powerpoint slide show of our years at Trinity.

Leading the Body of Christ in singing "Spirit" on the day of Pentecost, and getting to hear the choir sing "Nyame Odoh"--a Ghanaian song I introduced to them a couple of years ago.

Holding my wife's hand as she cried, and realizing how thankful I am that my best friend and partner in adventure is so soft with love and able to let her feelings out.

Smiles, hugs, well-wishes, and more hugs and tears.

Having Mel Buscher come up to me and say, "you're not just grafted into the vine. (he was referring to the sermon) You're more like a potted plant, moving where you're sent. Getting picked up and taken where He wants you." I thought maybe he knew my history, but no. . . . it was the Spirit speaking through him (many do not know that my friends, roomates in college, and partners in pranksterness were known collectively as "the potted plants.")

HIGHLIGHTS FROM KRIS AND SARA'S PARTY:

The look on Sara's face when she walked in to all of us singing "pomp and circumstance" and clapping our hands. Her jaw dropped, and she had to walk away and come back.

Friends coming from all over to celebrate with them.

A quiet night at the end of it all, with good friends taking the time to listen and encourage us in the midst of this tremendous change--thanks Phil and Patti.

There's one word to sum all of this up, and it can be found in Karalyn's middle name: "Joy." Not happiness, although there was plenty of that. But Joy--because in the midst of changes of names, and commitments, and farewells, Joy stands strong, rooted in God's sure Love.

Sisters get ready for Aunt Kari's Wedding 

Unky Kunky and Goddaughter/Niece Adeline "Addie" 

Latest Kunkel News. . . .

Or. . . how I found out the connection between yoghurt, robins, worms, and passports. . . .

Matt scolded me today for not updating our blog latelely, and coincidentally, today's a good day for an update for a variety of reasons:

1. I have 10 minutes of free time!
2. A lot happened today

So. . . . in the last two weeks we have moved from one set of friends to our new digs for the month of May at Phil and Patti's, while nursing nasty colds (Dustin had a sinus infection that needed antibiotic horse pills), and wondering if we were going to be "okayed" for a student entry clearance visa by the British Consulate. Nail biting time.

By the way, when they say that antibiotics kill everything in your system, they're not kidding. My stomach has felt like someone poured draino down it and its slowly working its way out. I hear yoghurt helps.

[A short tangent to say something about/to Paul and Nancy who hosted us for the month of April--what an incredibly gracious, beautiful, and gregarious couple you are! Thank you for being Jesus to us. What a joy to visit with you in the evenings over vermouth and ice cream, a combination I have now grown to like! What a peace we received while living with you.

And God has quite the timing doesn't He? You're preparing to move too, and I think that we were able to listen to one another and do that mutual Body of Christ thing that people talk about but don't often experience.

Besides, you put up with people running through the house like little savages, screaming and playing with things they never should have touched. Not to mention Lily and Zoe. Thanks, Paul and Nancy. You are saints.]

And today, here's what happened:

First, I found out with a call to my retirement people that it takes 5 years for me to be "vested" in the retirement fund (I've worked 4) and so I walk away with nothing--even though I have over $2,000 accrued.

After the call, I sat and looked out my office window. The sun had broken through the Oregon grey and the grass still had hints of dew. Someone had cut it yesterday and there were little hedgerows of clippings in severe lines up and down the church lawn.

A robin landed in front of me, not 10 feet away, and started pulling at something in the grass. A worm the size of a small snake came screaming from the earth and lost his life with a single gulp of the robin's tipped back head. My conversation with God had been going something like this,

"Life sucks."

silence.

"Are You listening? I said that this life, the life You have given me, sucks."

silence.

"ARE YOU LISTENING?!"

And then the robin came along, and I lost myself watching him at what he most certainly found to be the most amazing and fun adventure of his life.

". . . . consider the birds of the air, they do not harvest or reap. . . . yet your Father cares for them. . . ."

Okay, I get it. I'll shut up and be thankful. Money, after all, has little to do with the things that matter.

Then Fed Ex came.

It was from the British Consulate in Los Angeles. No Way!

My experience with bureaucracy is that you turn in some paperwork and then you wait and wait for weeks. Then you call and are put on hold for 30 minutes. Then you hang up because you're disgusted. Then you can't wait any longer and call again. And they route you to so-and-so, the director of insufficient remembrances and idle reoccurences in the department of silly walks--who knows nothing but will get back to you. And then you wait some more.

I had resigned myself to going through just this.

We sent the paperwork off last thursday by express mail. We got it this tuesday.

I looked at the envelope with fear. I hefted it. For the student entry clearance you have to show proof of a place to stay and proof that you can pay for your full education. I had given them a fax from the accomodations people saying we were in line for married student housing, and another fax from the financial aid office saying that my student loan was "in process." Not exactly the hard details they were looking for.

I walked down to Janette's classroom and held it up and grimaced. We stood over the envelope like two animists who have found the lost family idol. I grimaced again, and said a prayer to the Triune God, who seems to have a funny sense of timing, and opened the package.

We received the student entry clearance on all our passports. HUGE!!!

And then, we got an email from our first real contact in Edinburgh today. A friend of a friend who's husband works at the University. A chance to make connections and have someone we know there. And she was very sweet in her email, offering to help in any way she can.

And I haven't even mentioned that our God-daughter, Dawn, got her license today, which is HUGE family news too! Portland drivers, beware.

Hows that for an update?

Dust