handfuls

just a couple more days... then kathy will be here.
:)

been able to meet up with a handful of people so far and hope to meet up with many more yet.

it is sometimes just completely weird being here. maybe it is totally normal. i suppose it will hit me the last week here, just before flying out again. haha.. but though this place has been home for me for years upon years, i have noticed a change in my norm and am enjoying the feeling i have had again and again after and while visiting once upon a time homes.

the first 4 weeks have gone by so fast and i suspect the next ones will go even faster. good???
just trying to enjoy everyday.

after hanging at starbucks today, seeing some old friends, one joined me to check out a bike for sell and we split the cost for an older peugot 10 speed. it's mine for the next month then i am handing it off. :)

last sunday was spent ascending spire 5 (in the cathedral spires) and a multitude of other climbs before climbing one ridge by moonlight. a really great day. (pictures below)

to those i have visited already, it has been a blessing and i hope it is not the last time this trip.
to those whom i haven't yet... either pick up your phone or shoot me an email. ;)

much love and blessings to all and thank you for the prayers and interest!

israel

end of a week to the beginning

sorry straight up for no pics. no camera, no images. sorry!

tomorrow is the birthday of my niece! i am stoked to spend the day with her and the rest though she was rather frightened or maybe just in awe of my hairy face. hehehe.

friday i enjoyed going with a friend ryan down to colorado then to wyoming for the weekend to climb.
we spent the most of time at vedauwoo, wy climbing difficult cracks in sharp granit. since the place is around 8500 ft, my skin also suffered. sore yet, but doing well.

half of the reason for coming back, as most of you know, was to just be in the wilderness again. to be able to connect with some friends and just get out of civilization.
and though things don't always go as one plans, God has truly been blessing me with the ability of doing this over the last couple weeks.
the other reason is to connect with people again, family, friends, everyone.
so, for all i still haven't seen, please don't worry... as far as i know i am here til the end of july. and kathy should get here at the end of june.

a prayer request:
kathy is waiting on her passport still after changing her last name (ca. 3 weeks) and flies in 2 weeks. she still needs to get clearance to fly though the flight is already purchased.

other than that, praise God with us that He uses us all and may His love and presence grow ever stronger in us and shine through us.

gotta hit the hay! sleepy time before the big celebration tomorrow!

much love and hopefully soon!
israel

a perfect introduction back into the black hills

i don't ever remember having such a blast of a day hitchin as i did on sunday heading up to custer from scottsbluff Neb.
i got a late start due to church but the whole time i knew that it was right. it was really good to see lots of loved ones at MBC.

around 2:30 i got dropped off just north of scottsbluff outside of civilization... something i was very much looking foward to.
the first guy was a rancher named Chris. very neat guy and encouraging.
took me to the north of his land.

the next couple was from the area. we chatted. they love nebraska, the wide open space, being able to see as far as the eye can see.

the next couple, vance and kristie were a blast. we chatted about germany, the world, nebraska and so on.. they just might check out europe afterall....

then aaron came. cool chap who turned around to get me. thought, what the heck, why not. we talked about hiking and the granite by laramie.

then came rick. he flies life flight (the helicopter to save peoples lives). he actually already saw me earlier (two rides earlier) but didn't pick up. then as i opened the door he said, "you made it this far, so what the heck."
he took me all the way to the front door of my friends place in custer. we enjoyed really good conversation and it was a blessing of a time.

in all, 5 rides in a matter of a few hours. but i think life changing conversation for all of us.

yesterday was a perfect introduction back into the black hills.
i climbed with a guy named cragmaster.
first was a hairy spire that looks that it might fall apart. twas indeed sturdy. following was a long arete with longer run outs. it was my first lead (besides the spire) in the black hills and i quickly remembered how unique and mind boggling the climbing is here.
last was another arete that was made for climbing. 4 bolts and two pieces of protection later, we sat at the top (as we did on the others too) and really could feel the presence of the great King as we played in His backyard. what an amazing feeling.

thank You Lord so much for being our Papa and protecting us as well as using us for such glorious things.
i so look forward to seeing what God has for this time and the meetings of people that will yet happen.
thanks for the ability of being outside of rushed life and any city and being again in Your courtyard called the black hills in Your glorious Kingdom. may Your light shine through me and Kathy and all the people here. You are glorious!

wow, i really can't get that word glorious out of my head.

:)

much love,
israel

the valley is filled with grace from peak to peak

the peaks still have snow on them. it was glorious being up there... but the sunburns come easily.

with this sentence, i don't do due to what has happened over the last week of being in the states.

first impression, a bit of culture shock. it actually started in heidelberg where there are a lot of americans. it might be because i am not used to hearing so much english... or american english for that... but it was somehow just weird and just kept getting weirder as i entered the airport in frankfurt and landed hours later in the states.
needless to say, it is rad being here.
the main reasons for that being seeing the loved ones i have so far.

it started in spokane. tim and sal have been closer than family for me for years though we haven't seen each other over the past almost 3 years. we immediately picked up where we started off. i attempted connection with some older friends in the area and failed on more than one occasion but left it up to God that i saw who i should for this time.

i spent time with them til wednesday and drove with sal and her mom down to boise where the next part of the journey began. there sam and beth picked me up and i have been with them almost a week. on the weekend i joined them on a trek up a mountain to pray for the city and valley here. it was good! (understatement) pictures follow...

as they do staff training here, i continue to recover from a cold that attacked me and am getting as much sleep as possible to be fit for the remainder time in the states.

flights will hopefully be purchased soon for kathy and my return.
we found good ones, but are waiting for the transferred funds to come to my account here.

possibly friday i will be headed further east where the adventure will continue with some climbing, caving, camping and visiting family and friends. i greatly look forward to it but am enjoying each day as it comes. right now, i am thankful for being in a ywam community and the time with my best friend sam and his beth.

thank you for prayers and we shall see how it goes further with things here stateside.
enjoy the pictures... and praise God for His love and grace in this time!
much love, israel

and yet it remains today that i live in.

still a good two weeks away. 

still trying to remember how it feels to see streets made only from concrete and asphalt instead of stones and bricks.

still wondering how it will all play out.

still thinking that two weeks is a lot of time but goes by very fast.

still looking forward to being in the air again.

still enjoying kathys laugh and smiles when she notices that she did something worthy of it.

still imagining how maleaha will react when meeting her auntie and uncle for the first time.

still trying to prepare in some way or another.

still enjoying the taste of peanutbutter and honey on toast in my mouth.

still feeling the pain of holding granit crystals and i dance up the rock face.

still wanting the north face of harney.

still preparing an unpreparable lecture.

still wearing salmon colored pants.

still remembering the good memories and talks at 427 w. kiernan.

still haven't called.

still should.

still have a couple bikes.

still getting used to the new family and the idea of being here.

still like good coffee.

still have a scar.

still stoked.

still thanking Him.

still in my twenties.

still need to sweep.

still with much love,

israel

rabbit and the bear

neat how things develop... most of the time leaving or leading things in a different direction than we had originally planned.

...which i would say is more than likely better that way, leaving room for the unknown, for something we can expect, for miracles...?

as i wrote last time, the loans are paid off! YEP, that means, debt free... free to wander again...   not sure if it really means that.. but i feel definitely lighter without them. thank God for lifting that yoke!

i also wrote last time that i am coming back to the good 'ol usa.
at the time of writing it, there was still some uncertainty as of life here and how it is or was suppose to work out. to be honest, i was totally finished... beaten.. tired and dreary. but again and again talks lead to more truth and encouragment.
a couple days later, we talked with our marriage counselers and decided that 3 months be separated... again, was stupid and talked about other options.

over the last half a year, things have been harder with having the wrist operation, being unemployed (not being able to work), and not being able to visit family and friends again. i was pretty fed up with it all as was kathy.

we decided now that on the 25th of may, i will fly from Frankfurt to Spokane. the plan roughly includes staying there for a short but needed visit as well as seeing sam and beth in idaho before heading back to the black hills. i think it is best to leave the rough draft where it is... ready for change... ready for surprise... for adventure... and most of all, for trust.

kathy comes in july for the month and at the end, we fly back to germany together.

my ticket for america is bought. back is yet to come as well as kathys.

that leaves here just less than 3 weeks to get some things in order as well as to just enjoy and think again and again about what to pack. kinda hard when i don't know what i will be doing there. :)
next week is spent co-leading a seminary with moema (mamamöma) which i am excited for, followed then by a wedding, kathys b-day and then packing.

our cat is acting wierd the last day and we fear it may be the end times for her. particularly hard for kathy as we have grown so attached and have loved the mitzi katze. but oh so blessed we have been to share the last 10 months with her.

to end on a happier note. i am so excited for what God has in the next season to come... for the time in america and with dear ones as well as sharing those times with kathy.

email will stay the best way to reach me up to when i am in the states. then i would like to try and get a cell/sim card for the time there.

well.. til then loved ones!
let's meet up soon!


much love, israel

...and overcome we shall!

hey, this blog is rather a milestone than an update.

as of this morning after i made the bank transfer, i am officially debt free.

that means, the loans are completely paid off now!
i do not owe anyone money. what i earn are true earnings.

so, all praise be to God for this great feat!

as of lately, things have changed in a couple directions.

i started working at a café but was caught at a fork pulling me in a new direction.
so i quit the job and pursued a lead for teaching english.
i am, if i can really say this... hehe... an english teacher here as of lately.

there has been a lot of walls that my head has hit again and again and the time has come for a break.

we have decided that i am to go back to the states alone for about 4 months.

it is and was a drastic, or rather needed decision due to multiple reasons that i will spare for the time being.
but i am both eager and sad about it. but we are looking that kathy can visit around july.

this last year and a half has been filled with crazy moments.. both great and difficult, and the time has come for a bit of a refuel before tackling new business.

so... it is all still up in the air. i don't have a flight or money for a flight. the exact date is yet to be named but the time frame is at the end of may. living quarters are flexible but still unknown. where i may work is still up for grabs.. but to be completely honest about it all... i am totally fine with it!
i think i am suppose to fly to spokane first, see dear ones... then it is open for grace and trust.

thank You Papa for leading us and helping us through everything. i remember Jesus said that the world will be full of troubles. oh man, we have yet to really experience so much and can yet tell stories and times of troubles that we indeed have faced. but the key to it all.. or the best part is that Jesus has overcome the world. since we are to live and die in Christ, we too have been made to overcome. and overcome we shall!

so, thank you all for the prayers, support and encouragement in the long race to get rid of the loans. thank you too for the love and blessings i have been shown (i thank God for you). and though alone, i do look forward to see you all again. may God hook up the times and may we be open for it.

much much love and grace,

israel