Renee's Two Cents

I, Renee', wanted to add some comments.  You might want to first read Dan's blog below this one first :) 

Experiencing the Korean church last Sunday was incredible!  It was such a blessing.  Most of the songs they sang were familiar to us, but it is amazing how hard it is to remember the English words while everyone around you is singing in Korean. They gave themselves completely to their singing, including the 8 voice choir, complete with their choir robes that looked just like ours.  The passion in their voices as they prayed, the joy they expressed in welcoming us and other visitors, the delight and respect they expressed to "Pastor!" when they met Dan, their desire to meet Bekkah sometime and the well wishes and hugs when we left were very moving.  I could have cried the whole time we were there, it touched my heart so.  They were delighted to serve us dinner, the meat was cooked in a wok at our table.  Efficient serving women put rice on our plates for us and dished up the bulgogi and demonstrated how to eat it.  They were concerned about the sauce that we might find too spicy.  But it was delicious, I fully intend to make bulgogi at home and serve it to family and friends.  If this is a small taste of what is ahead when we travel to Korea it will be wonderful, emotional, exhilerating and exhausting all at once!
     On Wednesday we shared lunch, (and prayer) with Vanessa as she traveled through Denver to Estes Park.  She did arrive safely.  She has shared with us that her living arrangements are much like a dorm room.  She has 2 roommates in her little room.  But she is thankful, especially for the tiny bathroom and 3 pronged outlets for her computer, since she learned that the other rooms are without them.  The orientation included warnings of the dangerous mountain lions, the bears (mom and 3 babies that are causing havoc in town and been sighted on the grounds), numerous elk, flash floods (because of the cool spring temps and above normal snowfall) and the additional diseases the plentiful mountain ticks carry. But she is excited that she is having opportunities to use the sign language that she learned this year with a roommate and a number of friends.  She would cherish your prayers for her experience this summer.
     Dan shared with you about our worship experience this morning.  It was no accident that Dan chose that church to attend today.  What we thought was a random choice was not random to God.  Here are some of the main points that I took note of:  That conflict is a constant this side of heaven; that Unity is a choice for us to make; Spiritual maturity and unity fuel each other; Unity enhances worship.  The pastor spoke of unity in marriages, families and congregations.  God obviously had His Hand in our worship experience today.
     As Dan also shared, we have arrived at Glen Erie where our surroundings and views are inspirational.  This is the perfect location for a week to process and use the tools we learned at Quiet Waters.  We have exercises to do and books to read that will work to build unity in our relationship with God and each other.  We also plan to 'play' and build joyful memories (which is also included in the growth plan that we worked up with our counselor) as we hike, rest, do light reading, and explore God's creation here.  With every glance out our window, from a variety of benches and every step of the roaming paths, we see breathe taking rock formations that are enchantingly uplifting and awe inspiring.  These views continue to change as passing clouds and the angle of the sun paint variety.  Our God is an awesome God!