We bought a house!

The biggest thing that's happened in the past 4 months since we've posted last is that we are the new owners of a 2-story, 3 bedroom home here in Des Moines. We are set to move in March 26th and we couldn't be more excited. The house is just about everything we wanted with the exception that it only has a one car garage instead of two. Besides that we have been continuing to work hard at our current jobs. I have now been at Vatterott College for 6 months and Kristine has been at Hallmark for 5 months.

Our future plans include a trip to Eugene in June to go see graduation at EBC. It will probably be a 3 day trip in Eugene, and about 4 or 5 up in Kennewick, WA for my uncle's wedding. It will be good to be be back and see the people that are still around. I can't believe its almost been an entire year since we ventured out here to Iowa. Time flies, but the memories never fade.

On a less positive note, I just wanted to ask that anyone who feels led, will you please pray for Kristine's parents as they are going through some very difficult times right now. Life is very interesting at times, flat out hard at others. Jesus is the only way we can make it through this life, so let us always seek His face and rely on His strength to make it through our sojourn here on this little speck known as earth. Heaven awaits, and all I can say is come Lord Jesus!

****Thought for this blog: Is the truth always the best way to go? For example, if someone very special to you asks you if you like how he/she looks and it really isn't that good, do you tell a "white lie" and say they look good or do you be flat our honest and say what you really think? From a fleshly standpoint I say a white lie is ok, from God's perspective a lie is a lie? Therefore honesty is the only way to go. Any thoughts or comments?

New developments in Iowa

A lot has happened in the last month so I better get this updated. I don't know if anyone is actually reading these updates or not, but please feel free to email me at ryanandkristine@earthlink.net if you want to stay in better contact. First off, Kristine and I have been really settling in at our church. I am helping out working the slide show and lighting for services and Kristine is teaching sunday school to pre-schoolers with her mom. She also is a greeter once a month and is continuing to be involved with INSTE, a womens prayer group, and also a small group. So now on to the big news of the month. Both Kristine and I were promoted within a couple weeks of each other. I am now the Financial Aid Director for the school I work at and Kristine is now in charge of the Hallmark merchandise at Hallmark. Both of us are very happy with our promotions and we were both very shocked by them to say the least. Neithor of us had any idea we were even being considered for a new position. Kristine loves her new job and is so glad to get the position. She feels kind of bad though because there are people who worked there for over a year and she's only worked there for a month or so. They really like her and I can see her becoming an assistant manager in the not so distant future. I feel like I am almost over my head because there is so much responsibility in financial aid and now I have to answer for everything that goes on in our office. Oh yeah, I am someones boss! How crazy is that. The guy is 35ish and we've become pretty good friends. Its weird I think for him to have someone who is over a decade younger than him as his superior. Obviously I don't treat him any differently, but it still is weird for him to ask me what to do. Things are pretty stressful right now. I have continually working 8:30am-7:30pm shifts for nearly a month now and I really don't know if I can physically keep going much longer. It is such a stressful job and to be working in excess of 45-50 hours a week just is tough. The one really nice thing is that we just recently moved our office from a tiny dump to a bigger not-so-bad room. We really do like the new office and think it is going to help make our office run much smoother.

Both Kristine and I hope that all our friends across the western seaboard are doing great and having a blast. Life can get in the way of the joy that is found in Jesus, but we must all find a way to free ourselves of the burdens that swamp our days and just melt away into his presense. God is good and nothing can compare to His free gift of eternal salvation. No job, family, vacation, or any other experience could ever compare to the cleansing of a stained soul. Until next time, have a blessed day, week, month, year, decade, or century. Hopefully Jesus will be back before those last couple of time periods, but nevertheless, have a great day.

September 20

Its been a long last couple of weeks. Kristine has been working 30 hours a week, and I've been up around 45-50. My partner in the financial aid office was out of town for a conference so I had to handle everything and believe me, it is definately a 2-person job. I even worked 8 hours on Saturday, plus my normal 40 during the week. Yuk. I've been getting a lot of compliments lately, both from students and those in management. My Director even gave me a compliment which just doesn't happen, so I felt very good about that. God has definately had His hand on me. It seems taht wherever I go, I have favor. It reminds me of Joseph and Daniel. I am certainly not changing nations, but I am working in a secular environment and succeeding. People see that, but then see my humility and sincere love for people and they have no choice but to ask whats going on. Obviously its my faith and love for Jesus Christ that compels me to love those that He loves, and died for. There is lady in the Student Accounts office that seems a little hard hearted. She shows signs here and there of compassion. She seems really up tight and angry most of the time though. Well anyways she has a horrible keyboard at her computer that she has to use one finger at a time because she has to press really hard to make the keys work (you can hear her typing all the way down the hall). So I went out and bought her a new keyboard. I brought in to her and she was absolutely floored. Why would anyone do something like that. She kept insisting I fill out a requisition form to get my money back for it but I refused and said it was a gift for her. She has definately softened up, at least around me, since then. That was pretty cool.

Kristine's parents are currently in Yukuska, Japan. They are visiting David, Kristine's brother. He's in the Navy, recently got married and had a son named Brody. We are all jealous that they got to go see Brody and David, not to mention Miku (Davids wife). Their trip is 10 days long so it was impossible for me and Kristine to go since we both have fairly new jobs. Oh yeah, and it costs a lot of money to fly around the world. They are due to get back this Thursday, so it will be quite interesting to hear all about Brody and Miku, as well as the tourist stuff they did. We instructed them to have their cameras ready at all times and use up all the available space on their digital camera (I sent them with about 600 MB worth as memory).

Now that Kristine and I are pretty solid in our finances, we are looking at next summer as the possible date for buying a house. I'm looking into christian mortgage companies. We are looking into homes between 80,000-110,000. Nice starter homes, nothing extravagent. We just want simple and something that costs just a little more than apartments. We are pretty confident we can find the perfect place for us by then. I love our apartment so I have no problem staying here until then. This place really feels like home and Snowflake definately likes all the different rooms to sleep in.

EBC starts its new term shortly and I'm not there. This feels so weird. I'm so used to being at the registration and working long hours in preparation for it since I worked in teh financial aid office. It doesn't feel like I graduated, but I have a degree to prove it. What a weird feeling it is not to have homework or required reading. I love it. Kristine and I have been reading a lot since we moved here. Its very relaxing when you aren't having to study. Kristine has been reading a lot of historical fiction books (set in the times of Aaron and Moses, during the Civil War, during the Dark Ages, etc). They've been a very powerful influence for her. She also is doing INSTE. I've been reading a lot of fiction as well, except for I just finished "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel. What a powerful book. Anyone who has doubts about the authenticity of the existence of Jesus should read it. Let me modify that actually, everyone should read it because it dives into all the tough questions regarding the historicity and authenticity of scripture, proof for the ressurection, proof that Jesus was an actual historical figure and that he was Divine. Very powerful, a must read.

Our life in Iowa

We have now lived here in Des Moines, Iowa for 2 months! Time has flown by and we are more excited everyday for the things God is doing here. About 4 weeks ago I got a job working at Vatterott College here in Des Moines. Its a technical college with about 170 students presently. That number is a bit low, but only because this branch campus was opened in 1997 and has been steadily growing each year. I currently have a partner, Craig, who has the same title as me in the office, and then a director who oversees our office but not usually involved in the actual work. Thusfar it has turned out to be a great ministry opportunity. Craig and I have become very good friends and he has confided a lot in me. He has known I was a christian from day 1 but that has not deterred him from getting to know me. I've done my best to be a friend while never compromising any of my morals or values. Its been tough at times because he cusses a lot, drinks, is promiscous, and gets high once in a great while. He is about 38 years old, but acts like an 18 year old. I feel like I'm more mature than him, and I'm not joking about that. Its tough to be around the joking and making fun of less fortunate people, which we see everyday in our office. This place is definately not a bible college but I am so glad to be here. Its great to be in a place where I can really be a light and not just be around christians everyday like I was at EBC. I treasure the time I was at EBC, but I was so secluded from the world. Now I have been thrust back into the world and am loving the opportunities. For anyone reading this, please be in prayer for Craig as he is battling to find faith. God is using me to really bring about conviction and making Craig think about things of spiritual significance. The other part of the job thats great is the other guys who work at the school have taken a liking to me, but are a bit cautious of whether I am a "bible-thumper" or not. They even have gone to Craig to find out. Craig greatly respects the fact that I haven't shoved the bible down his throat but at the same time have demonstrated Christian qualities that you don't see very often. The guys want to take me out drinking soon. I will go with them but will not drink. That will in itself raise some questions in which I will be able to share a little about my faith. I love being able to truly witness to these people and go to the places they are comfortable. I must be on guard when I go to the bars and such, but taking a stand for Jesus in those locations can be very powerful. Jesus spent his time with prostitutes, drunks, disabled, and the scum of society. He didn't just spend his time with his followers. At the same time, he never compromised himself. I've got to find the right balance.

In other news, Kristine recently got a job at Hallmark. She really likes it and they are giving her pretty good hours (33 in her 3rd week). The only problem is that they also own a Halloween store. She has to work there 3 times next week and shes kind of scared. I told her to use it as a ministry tool and just pray for every single person that comes through the doors. If she feels to surrounded by evil, then we'll try to get her not to have to work at that store. But the Hallmark store is great and she's caught on very fast with their merchandising system.

We are getting involved at our church. I'm not able to do most of the ministries that the church does because of my hours at work, but I am looking into working the powerpoint, lights, and video for sundays worship service. I checked it out this sunday and in two sundays I will actually get training on it. Kristine on the other hand has a loaded schedule. She and her mom are going to be teaching a sunday school class for preschoolers. They are involved in a womens prayer group and also a small group. Kristine is in her 1st week of INSTE which is a college level bible education through the church. Theres something else, but I can't remember off the top of my head.

Things are going great here, but we do miss all our friends so much. We've been so busy with work and church that we haven't been able to really make any close connections with people. Hopefully that will come soon. But yes things are great and we are excited to see what God has in store for us next.