Pilgrimage

STA60074, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Here's a riddle:

What do you get when you take 5 men, add prayer, a walking/driving/ferry-riding journey, sleeping on hard ground, buckets of rain, biting midges, large amounts of cheese and sausage, probing questions, and an ancient holy site from the 6th century?

Pilgrimage.

Adam, Ben, Graham, Glenn, and Dust took a trip across the Isle of Mull to the Isle of Iona, where Celtic monks from Ireland first landed in the 6th century.

Pilgrimages are interesting organisms -- you never know how the Spirit will show up, and where He'll send you. . . . you are walking in the footsteps of others who have gone before, so you're not really exploring "new" ground. Yet, it IS new ground. . . . for the pilgrim. It is critical in this journey of faith to "walk in someone else's shoes" -- to gain a sense of context, history, and the "cloud of witnesses" who have gone before.

We learned that while much of the church rotted away in the 6th century, these crazy Celtic saints were crossing seas in cowhide coracles (small circular boats) and creating communities wherever they landed. They would set up a cross at springs where people came for water, would bless the spring in the name of Triune God, and share the good news that "God's love is a gift in His Son accessed through His Spirit." It enlarged our hearts, zapped our minds, and pushed us to consider whether our day and age require similar men of courage and compassion.

Iona is a tiny island far off the coast of Scotland. We had to take two ferries to get there. The picture above is the four guys on the top of Iona's largest hill. By the time the photo was taken, we had already visited the typical sites that most tourists visit: the abbey, the interpretive center, the village. . . . The rain started coming down in driving sheets, and we cinched our hoods tight and climbed the hill.

As we slipped and crawled up the hill, each man was caught in his own meditation. I know that I wondered if this wasn't closer to the original spirit of the men who pushed their coracles into the crashing North Atlantic surf. You can see the look on our faces after just reaching the top. Wet, cold, full of fire.

We walked down to a beach on the far side of the island and the older men prayed a blessing over the two young "lads" on some rocks that jutted into the surf. The sun came out and blinded us all. Imagine that!

There is so much more to share. . . . each man has his own stories. The key is that we didn't walk away with a "high" -- no, it was deeper and springier than that. A tensile blade of steel inserted in the spot where our backbones used to be.

We tasted the rough spray of wind-tossed sea and Spirit. It is a cliche, but still so true: we'll never be the same.

Receiving the Gift

STA60021, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

I told my friends a story last night about Lily receiving a much wanted -- but completely unexpected -- gift for her birthday. It's the boxed set of The Chronicles of Narnia. The look on her face (and her sister's!) says everything.

The gift of Life ("Zoe" in Greek) is free.

Receive it, open it, enjoy it!

Paris, Hamburg, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow -- on A 35-Year-Old Bike!

STA60006, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Adam and Ben, young men whom I have mentored for a few years, came over to the U.K. and Europe for an extended biking trip.

Look at the picture. Notice the age of the bikes. Notice the lack of gear, and the small paniers for a month's travel. Notice the look on their faces. . . . like "we're not comin' back until we do this thing."

I've been doing some reading in adventure education where recent research is claiming many Western young adults go on "packaged expeditions" with all the "right gear" so they can claim an adrenalin buzz and "veteran experience" with minimal risk. Trouble is, life's not like that. Sooner or later, real risk is involved in life. Safety nets are really only helpful in the circus.

I'm proud of Adam and Ben for doing something that will make them better men. It's not a mission trip. Its not a service trip. But it is a risky trip on old bikes with very little money. They'll have to think quickly and learn how to survive on almost nothing with hardly any gear except new helmets for their new noggins! And maybe along the way, they WILL serve, WILL share God's love, WILL salt the earth with a little daring and strength from their Father.

I submit to you what the world needs is not more men softened by the padding of their office chairs or a padding of a life lived without risk -- the world needs dangerous men hanging over the edge of eternity whose only safety net is the Almighty God and only strength is from the Master, Jesus, and for His loving purpose in the world.

I believe Adam and Ben are taking risks that will help them be this kind of man.

Pray for them during this coming month.

Pray for them on the pilgrimage when they return back to Scotland on July 6th and travel with me to Iona.

LILY HAS A PARTY!

STA60065, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Little girls and parties!

Does it get any better or more innocent and special?

Lily had a wonderful little party with a few friends at a "paint your own pottery" place. After painting their little ceramic animals, they ate cake and had their faces painted too!

Happy 6th Birthday Lily!

Daddy takes a Break for a Story

STA60001, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

I haven't written much on our site about what work is like for me these days. Now that the "taught" portion of classes are officially over, and I've turned in my last major paper, all that's left is the 20,000 word dissertation. . . . yeah, all that's left!

Janette goes to work and Lily goes to school and Zoe, well, Zoe stays home with Daddy. Nursery is done now, and Zoe actually stayed home for the last three weeks too. Partly because we travelled a bit, and partly because nursery fees were a bit steep.

So Zoe stays home with dad and does her own work and play. Every now and then, there'll be a little monkey climbing on my back begging for a story or a "buckin' bronco" ride.

And Dad stops writing about the hermeneutic process as an interpretational tool for listening to the stories young adults tell about their motivations for being summer camp staff and picks up "Where the Wild Things Are."

We read and talk and, if its a "good day," Dad gets a few more hours of study without interruption. Its just a fact of life, that dad's have to sometimes get things done, and they have to say "no, I can't do that right now." But for me, that isn't easy to do.

The other day, we were reading a picture book about Jesus and Zacheaus. We took our time -- really took our time and looked at the pictures and wondered what the people were thinking.

"What is Jesus thinking?" I would ask pointing to him walking in the crowd.

"What is he thinking?" Zoe asked, pointing to the little man climbing the tree.

"Good question, hon'." . . . . . . what IS he thinking?

I was the little man in the tree, I was the little man wishing and hoping for just a sight. Not a conversation, just a glimpse of compassion. I knew all the people in the crowd below, knew all their dirt. And they knew mine too. What a distance between us all. Like galaxies staring at one another through the wrong end of a telescope.

And he walks up and stops and looks right at me. And he wants to come to my house and eat dinner! I am the little man in the sycamore tree, I feel the smooth, peeled bark under my hands and the wind pushing through the leaves and I am really, really there stuck in that tree.

"Zacheaus, come down. I'm going to your house today."

"Daddy, why are you crying?"

"I don't know."

"Are you sad?"

"No, I'm not sad."

"But you have tears," she says, and touches my cheek.

"I guess they're happy tears."

"What are happy tears?"

"They come out of you when your heart is really full of happiness and you can't help it, so you cry."

"Daddy. . . . are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm okay. I'm more than okay."

Sometimes its the little stories, the ones we learned as kids, that come back to haunt. A tree, a crowd, a little man, a daddy and his little girl. And Jesus. Always Jesus.

Zoe "Graduates" from Nursery. . . . . WooHoo!

STA60033, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

Zoe had a wonderful little sending off at her nursery with her other classmates. There were little grad caps, parents all dressed up, smiling teachers (were they smiling because it was sunny or because they were done?), food and punch and cake!

What a joy Zoe has been in our lives, and how beautiful it is to watch her grow. Little did we know that her name "The Life that is Found only in God," would be so profoundly true about her.

She has a way with making people feel comfortable around her, she has a way of sharing life with others that doesn't wait for them to "get it all together."

Zoe prays for her cousin Addie every night--and sometimes during the day too! Will you keep Addie in your prayers as she lives up to her name "Hope" and keeps us hoping in the strength of the Master, Jesus?

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Of Mountains, Ecology, and Field Studies . . . Creation Bears Witness . . . .

DSC_0191, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

This is a picture taken by a friend of mine, Emily, on our final Environmental Ed. Module on the Island of Rum.

Rum is a nature reserve off the northwest coast of Scotland, and we were there all of last week. I left the fam in Greece, flew back and went to Rum at 5AM the following day! What a change!

Amazingly for the west coast, we had incredible weather. I must've brought it from Greece!

We were out in the field from 8AM to late night. . . freshwater, pond, seaside, bog, mountain, cultural history, tensions in environmental management. . . the list goes on and on.

There were a number of highlights: The picture here is from the day we climbed and traversed the 5 highest peaks on Rum. It was, shall we say, a good long day. At the end of it, tired and hot and dehydrated, some of the guys leapt into the sea. . . to emerge two seconds shaking off the icicles from parts that will remain unnamed.

There was a night up high on a mountain, sitting on a rock in the mist and dark, listening to the ghostly cries of Manx Shearwaters coming home to nest. There was another night, when three of us chose not to go to the folk music festival raging in a tent by the castle and instead forged off through hip-deep bog to find a deserted beach and a Celtic Christian standing stone from the 7th century. . . climbing up a cliff in the dark to enter the cave where the Celtic saint is reputed to have lived. . . . finding a pile of shells that have probably sat there since the 7th century when he had his meagre meal once a day. . . .

Thanks for praying for me.

I felt the prayers throughout the week. They strengthened me in my joy in the Lord, opened my heart to those around me who have not met Him yet. My hope is all these friends of mine meet HIM soon . . .

Again, thanks for the prayers.

To Saint Paul, The Apostle:

I just returned from a week away in the highlands doing ecology and field work studies (more on that later) and this is my first chance to reflect on our time in Greece.

I wrote a poem while in Athens, after we had climbed the Acropolis (Hill with all the Temples) and then walked the long hill down to the Areopagus (public meeting place and market). This same route was walked by the Apostle Paul, as narrated by Luke in Acts17:16-34.

The Parthenon at the top of temple hill was dedicated to Pallas Athene, the goddess of wisdom, who, according to legend, contended with Poseidon the god of the sea for the rights for the city. Considering that Greeks look for wisdom, as Paul says, and that we continue to wrestle today with the themes raised by the first Greek Philosophers, it is an aptly named city. (To see how God views Wisdom, read the first few chapters of Proverbs.)

The reference in the poem to "Alexander and the dog-man" is to a story about Alexander the Great visiting Diogenes "the cynic" which literally means the "dog-man" in Greek because he refused to leave the filthy hole on the edge of the city. Alexander reportedly asked him, "What can I do for you?" to which Diogenes replied, "Get out of my light."

However, as my poem laments, wisdom serves God and not man, but we usually don't get it.

To Saint Paul, The Apostle

Today I walked
up the knobby
thronging hill
and saw the remnant of the gods
you cried over --

I looked for the altar
"to the unknown god"
and found it
not among the ruins of ancient Greece,
found it
resting heavy and thick
with uncut stones
jumbled up and resting
like a cairn around my
dead heart.

Upon this altar did I pray,
weeping and crying
for all of us whose
idols now are portable,
who rode them and carried them
up this hill
to ask the ancient question
like Alexander to the dog-man --

I cried for wisdom.

And She came.

Pallas to her holy hill
and held me shaking
gently held me,
told me,
"I still stand on the corner
of First and Main and cry out,
giving wisdom to all who ask."

I begged her to stay,
and she said
"I never left,"
and took my hand pointing
to the white city of 5 million souls,
she said,
"I walk among them, will you?"

Paul, oh Paul,
I wept to see her face,
in helmet stern and joyous
with the dawn of the
very first morning.

We held hands
and walked down to the Agora
to hear you preach.

and finally, Paris!

This picture is of my mom and us at the tip top as high
as a person can go at the Eiffel Tower. We just left there this morning but it already seems so far away.
Highs
1. Crepes, Creme Brulee and Pastries
2. Notre Dame(even though we didn't find Quismodo--much to the girls' dismay!)
3.Have we mentioned the Crepes?
4. Going to the top of the Eiffel Tower
5. Beautiful buildings

Lows
1. The cost
2. Rain and lots of cold wind
3. Not a kid friendly place
4. Le Louvre is closed on Tuesdays which was our only full day there which we intended on spending at the Louvre.
5. All the elevators were shut down at the train station hence the joy of packing the kids and all our luggage down four flights of stairs into the bowels of Paris.

When we got into London (our Layover) we were thrilled to see that the earlier flight into Edinburgh had been delayed and the nice guy at the ticket counter got us home 4 hours early and we didn't have to sit in London for those four hours! In the taxi ride home I asked the girls what their favorite part of the whole trip was. Lily said "Pudding Lane (in London where the great fire of London took place, she just liked the name) and playing on the beach in Poros". Zoe says "that we are back in Scotland...and the swimming pool in Poros." I wonder what they will really remember from all of these journeys. My grandparents took all of us (5 ) grandchildren to Disneyland by motorhome when I was just four and I think "what were they thinking?" But I have such fun memories. If you need any suggestions about any of these three cities, I would be happy to offer up our opinions. If you are ever to travel to Greece, Poros is a great island and Zefi at Saga Hotel will treat you like family. Dustin will be home on Saturday and get all our pictures uploaded onto fliker. Until then, off to get the kids in bed and myself ready for work tomorrow. 

Pussy Cat Pussy Cat Where have you been?

We've been to London but we didn't see the Queen. She happened to be at the Windsor Castle when we popped in for tea.
Highs
1. Beautiful weather
2. Hyde Park
3. Great hotel room
4. Kennsington and Buckingham Palace
5. Visiting the Queen's Horses and stables
Lows
1. Missing the changing of the guard
2. Not riding the London Eye
3. Too short on time
4. The Trafalger Square Lions were all covered up for repairs.

Overall London was a great time! It was a bit easier since I knew my way around the city (Dustin and I spent our 10th anniversary there in January). The girls were a bit tired from traveling and the time difference and the stress from Greece but all in all it was really fun! 

Home at Last!

We have made it home from our two week travels with my (Janette) mom and the girls. There is so much from our trip that I will not be able to capture it all. I will try and give you the top 5 or so highs and lows of each place.
We started off our trip in Greece so I too will start there...
Highs
1. Warm weather
2. The Acropolis
3. Island time in Poros
4. Renting Quads and riding around Poros
5. People in Greece love kids!
Lows
1. Pollution
2. Picky kids who have a hard time eating Greek food
3. Not being able to flush any toilet paper down!
4. Leaving the island (see #5)
5. Being whisked away from the city because of riots in the square across from our hotel against Americans ("outlashing for starting the war") being forcecd to spend 10 hours at the airport waiting for our flight.

Even though we loved Greece and it's rich history, the ending made us fear for our lives and the girls (Dustin had already headed back to Scotland for school stuff). There were other Americans that had been attacked that day and we had to go through the riots to get to the train station. Thankfully we were all brave and got to London safely. If we were to go to Greece again, it would definately be to go to the islands and not the main land! 

Sailing in the Firth of Forth

STA60025, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

New Stuff!

We've changed the layout a little on the site!

Included in the right hand column is now a separate area for dust's special sites that he's created, as well as his personal mission statement. This has developed out of a year-long process of praying and listening to the Spirit give him a name, identity, and calling within the Body of Christ.

Remember, you can't "get it" without "getting into it!"

Ten Months in Edinburgh Scotland!

STA60007, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

This picture was taken this Easter as we celebrated God's love for us and His great care for us these ten months since we've been here.

Easter Miracle Needed!!

Urgent Prayers for Addie!! The following is what was posted on Addie's site Saturday morning. We are praying for an Easter miracle of healing and HOPE!

URGENT, URGENT NEED FOR PRAYER

Addie is in really bad shape today. Tougher shape than she has been in through this entire transplant process. She is having a very difficult time breathing and has needed more and more oxygen in order to breath. The docs are concerned that she has a viral infection in her lungs. VERY SCARY! We had originally thought it was from the pain from the surgery but they have never seen a child need so much oxygen to support pain. All in all, they don't know what is going on but feel that we need to act soon. Addie could end up on a ventilator (intubated) as she is having to work so hard to breath now.

As far as we have heard , she will be having a CT Scan of her chest done today and a risky procedure where they will shoot liquid into her lungs and pull it back out to see if there is any infection present.

We are all very scared. She has been worsening overnight and this is very serious.

Please pass on the word to pray for Addie. She is in more need for it now than she has ever been. OH LORD, please touch Addie with your healing hands - please perform a miracle!

Good Friday on Arthur's Seat

Good Friday on Arthur's Seat, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

The batteries were dying in the camera, so we got a single picture from the service on the top of Arthur's Seat, the highest hill in Edinburgh.

Lily, Zoe, and Dustin walked over from our place and climbed the hill with about 70 other people. Someone carried a cross up and tied it to the survey marker that rests on the crown.

It was a clear day, with clouds carried by the wind like racehorses chasing towards the ocean's horizon in the east. We stood or sat on the top, windblown and wearied from the climb, singing, "Jesus, remember me. . . when You come into Your kingdom."

Thank You for Your Sacrifice Lord.

No work for Janette!

Well, I spoke with the head boss today at work and he says that I can't come back to work until the doctor releases me. Unfortunately my doctor won't release me to go back to work until the 21st of April. I only had two weeks of sick leave and now I am going to have to take one week unpaid unless I can get the doctor to release me sooner. I will go back to the doctor on Thursday and hope she will change her mind. I would use some of my holiday time but it's all used for when my mom comes at the end of this month and takes us to Greece! We are thrilled to go to Greece with Grandma and have that opportunity that we normally wouldn't have unless she was coming! We are faithful that all will work out and God will meet all our needs--He always does.
In the meantime, I am getting in some really good quality time with Lily and Zoe and Dustin too. Thanks to all of you for praying for us!

Janette

Surprise, we were in the neighborhood!

It's not everyday that we pick up the phone at
8:30am and have someone from Oregon on the
other line saying "we were going to be in Edinburgh for the day and thought we might drop in". But this morning was a great surprise! The Stewart's--a family from Trinity--our church body in Oregon City--came by for a quick visit. Carlene and Norm Stewart are in the picture with grandaughter Cathy. Cathy was in our youth group and college group while we were at Trinity and Carlene was my (Janette) class room assistant one day a week. They were such a blessing to a gray rainy day in Scotland. So, if you are in the neighborhood, feel free to drop in. Oh, thanks Stewart's for the butterscotch chips and marshmallows--I know a little birdie named Nance that I am sure told you!! We are missing you all.

PS--I am healing quickly and being a better patient. Lily has the flu now and vomitting and so we are praying that I won't get it--can't imagine it would be too good on the tummy just yet! 

Doin' the Dishes

STA60007, originally uploaded by dustkunkel.

We love this picture, it says so much about Zoe, helping, loving, with that twinkle in her eye that says, "Watch Out!"