Liz spent 4 days in California training with 3000 Celebrate Recovery leaders. Speakers included John Townsend, John Baker and Rick Warren.
Liz and her husband lived in Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia where Liz worked with trafficked women.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
2007 Aug 15 Liz at Saddleback
Liz spent 4 days in California training with 3000 Celebrate Recovery leaders. Speakers included John Townsend, John Baker and Rick Warren.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
2007Aug8 Liz speaks to 380+ in Chicago
Liz was invited to speak at the Pacific NW Covenant Women's luncheon in Chicago. But when she registered at the Triennial Covenant Women's Conference, a leader from the NW (Minnesota!) Covenant Women's luncheon asked her to speak at their luncheon also! And so, Liz got to speak to over 380 women at the two luncheons on the same day. Fortunately, friends from Grace Community Covenant (Olympia) made sure she got something to eat after her presentations!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
2007 June 27: Liz's CLL results
White cell count today is 18,900. One year ago it was practically the same! The normal range is 4,000 or less but it is NOT increasing. Good news. Thanks for your "requests" about Liz's health.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
2007 June 21: Commissioned
We joined 39 friends carrying 39 flags while a Calipso chorus played for 500+ people from all over the US & Canada.
We were officially commissioned in Portland, OR.
We were officially commissioned in Portland, OR.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
2000 August: First trip to Mongolia
In August 2000, five of us from River Ridge Covenant Church flew to Mongolia to see if we could help in some community. Liz & I never expected to return.
On the plane with us from Korea to Mongolia was Sandra Day O'Connor, one of the US Supreme Court Justices. She was invited to Mongolia to advise them on their new constitution. Craig sat next to Justice O'Connor's husband and talked with him about their plans in Mongolia.
Within 3 hours of landing in Ulaanbaator, we met deaf Mongolians (Liz is a sign language interpretor). Then we met staff from World Vision who invited us to meet with Mongolian foresters from their staff (Jim is a forester). Then we were invited to join a small group of women from USA who were touring World Vision projects in Mongolia. All within the first 3 hours!
We hired Boloroo to be our interpreter. She spoke Mongolian, English and Chinese. She has become a very good friend. She now heads a Mongolian adoption agency. Liz and "Bogie" like to practice their "British accents" when talking to each other.
On the plane with us from Korea to Mongolia was Sandra Day O'Connor, one of the US Supreme Court Justices. She was invited to Mongolia to advise them on their new constitution. Craig sat next to Justice O'Connor's husband and talked with him about their plans in Mongolia.
Within 3 hours of landing in Ulaanbaator, we met deaf Mongolians (Liz is a sign language interpretor). Then we met staff from World Vision who invited us to meet with Mongolian foresters from their staff (Jim is a forester). Then we were invited to join a small group of women from USA who were touring World Vision projects in Mongolia. All within the first 3 hours!
We hired Boloroo to be our interpreter. She spoke Mongolian, English and Chinese. She has become a very good friend. She now heads a Mongolian adoption agency. Liz and "Bogie" like to practice their "British accents" when talking to each other.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
2007June 4-8 Covenant training
We completed that last of our required training in Chicago! It was great to meet with 2 other couples and 3 single people preparing to go in the next year. Members of the class are planning to go to Guam, Cameroon, Burkino Faso & Spain (with us going to Mongolia).
Training went from 8:30-5 everyday. Three evenings we went to dinner together and reflected on the training. All the candidates are struggling (like us) to raise enough support.
We stayed with the retired Covenant friends from Congo. They had inspirational stories and open hearts.
We were all challenged to find mentors who would hold us accountable for spiritual growth and personal care. The most common serious problem for people working overseas is anger and accountability.
Training went from 8:30-5 everyday. Three evenings we went to dinner together and reflected on the training. All the candidates are struggling (like us) to raise enough support.
We stayed with the retired Covenant friends from Congo. They had inspirational stories and open hearts.
We were all challenged to find mentors who would hold us accountable for spiritual growth and personal care. The most common serious problem for people working overseas is anger and accountability.
2007 June 1: Danger in our Backyard!
The newspaper's version: The Olympian Friday, June 01, 2007
"Man arrested after car, bike, foot chase near Tumwater"
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who led them on a car chase for about 10 minutes before crashing into a pond and fleeing by bicycle and by foot for more than an hour.
Police said -----, 39, a transient, was arrested outside a residence at 2535 70th Ave. S.W. around 11 a.m. ----- faces charges of eluding and possibly others, Sgt. Alvin Griffin of the sheriff’s office said. He said police were still determining if ----- had outstanding warrants and reportedly found “suspected narcotics” in his car.
Griffin described the chase: ----- fled at about 9:10 a.m. after failing to stop at a stop sign at Littlerock Road and 123rd Avenue. He was driving a late 1970s or early ‘80s model Oldsmobile. ----- nearly crashed with a number of cars. He ended up on Jericho Lane, a dead-end street where he went through a back yard and crashed into a pond. ----- then fled on foot, took a bicycle and sped away. At about 10 a.m., ----- crashed the bike into a neighborhood fence, then fled again on foot. Officers found him at the 70th Avenue address, which is not where he lives.
Four police agencies were involved in the chase: Thurston County, Olympia, Tumwater and the Washington State Patrol.
Black Hills High School was locked down during the chase as a precautionary
Our version:
At about 9am, Rich ---, Olympic Realty realtor called Liz and told her to stay inside and lock the doors. Rich had heard on his radio scanner, a police call saying they were pursuing a person who was fleeing from them. The fleer was somewhere in our neighborhood.
Liz locked the doors and stayed inside for 30 minutes and then began hanging up the laundry in the backyard.
While Liz sat on the patio eating breakfast, this man ran his bicycle into our fence gate, breaking the gate, jumped over the gate, ran across our backyard, behind our shed, over our back fence and into Dick -----’s bushes.
When she hear the noise of the bicycle hitting our fence, Liz ran into the workroom, spilling her bowl of cereal and milk, and closed the door. Liz went to call 9-1-1, picked up the phone and then noticed WSP cars in our driveway.
Jim then called Liz, returning a page that Liz made 45 minutes earlier. Liz told Jim what was happening and he offered to come home. Liz protested and said she needed to talk to the WSP officer. She said she would call Jim back.
A WA State Patrol officer came into our backyard within a minute, gun raised, and ran toward the shed. He then came back to Liz and asked him which way the man went. Liz told the officer where he went and the officer left. Two more patrol cars parked in front of our house.
Meanwhile, Jim called Ed (neighbors) and got an answering machine. Next he called Dick ----- and got the wrong number. Jim then called Randy ----- (Bible study friend) and left a message asking him to check on Liz. Later Jim called Dick again and Dick was home and said he would go over and check on Liz.
Dick went into his backyard and talked with Liz over the fence. Randy ----- arrived shortly and came into the backyard and stayed with Liz until the WSP officers returned saying they caught the man in the trailer court where Randy lives.
Liz called Rich --- to thank him for warning her.
Jim came home a noon and listened to Liz retell the incident. Liz said it was scarier than the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.
Staying home is dangerous!
"Man arrested after car, bike, foot chase near Tumwater"
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man who led them on a car chase for about 10 minutes before crashing into a pond and fleeing by bicycle and by foot for more than an hour.
Police said -----, 39, a transient, was arrested outside a residence at 2535 70th Ave. S.W. around 11 a.m. ----- faces charges of eluding and possibly others, Sgt. Alvin Griffin of the sheriff’s office said. He said police were still determining if ----- had outstanding warrants and reportedly found “suspected narcotics” in his car.
Griffin described the chase: ----- fled at about 9:10 a.m. after failing to stop at a stop sign at Littlerock Road and 123rd Avenue. He was driving a late 1970s or early ‘80s model Oldsmobile. ----- nearly crashed with a number of cars. He ended up on Jericho Lane, a dead-end street where he went through a back yard and crashed into a pond. ----- then fled on foot, took a bicycle and sped away. At about 10 a.m., ----- crashed the bike into a neighborhood fence, then fled again on foot. Officers found him at the 70th Avenue address, which is not where he lives.
Four police agencies were involved in the chase: Thurston County, Olympia, Tumwater and the Washington State Patrol.
Black Hills High School was locked down during the chase as a precautionary
Our version:
At about 9am, Rich ---, Olympic Realty realtor called Liz and told her to stay inside and lock the doors. Rich had heard on his radio scanner, a police call saying they were pursuing a person who was fleeing from them. The fleer was somewhere in our neighborhood.
Liz locked the doors and stayed inside for 30 minutes and then began hanging up the laundry in the backyard.
While Liz sat on the patio eating breakfast, this man ran his bicycle into our fence gate, breaking the gate, jumped over the gate, ran across our backyard, behind our shed, over our back fence and into Dick -----’s bushes.
When she hear the noise of the bicycle hitting our fence, Liz ran into the workroom, spilling her bowl of cereal and milk, and closed the door. Liz went to call 9-1-1, picked up the phone and then noticed WSP cars in our driveway.
Jim then called Liz, returning a page that Liz made 45 minutes earlier. Liz told Jim what was happening and he offered to come home. Liz protested and said she needed to talk to the WSP officer. She said she would call Jim back.
A WA State Patrol officer came into our backyard within a minute, gun raised, and ran toward the shed. He then came back to Liz and asked him which way the man went. Liz told the officer where he went and the officer left. Two more patrol cars parked in front of our house.
Meanwhile, Jim called Ed (neighbors) and got an answering machine. Next he called Dick ----- and got the wrong number. Jim then called Randy ----- (Bible study friend) and left a message asking him to check on Liz. Later Jim called Dick again and Dick was home and said he would go over and check on Liz.
Dick went into his backyard and talked with Liz over the fence. Randy ----- arrived shortly and came into the backyard and stayed with Liz until the WSP officers returned saying they caught the man in the trailer court where Randy lives.
Liz called Rich --- to thank him for warning her.
Jim came home a noon and listened to Liz retell the incident. Liz said it was scarier than the 2001 Nisqually earthquake.
Staying home is dangerous!
Monday, April 30, 2007
2006 Aug 7: Hurdle or Roadblock?
Hurdle: Before our 2002 trip, I was arguing with God about serving long-term in Mongolia, complaining that I had never noticed birds there.
During that trip sparrows sang on our balcony each morning.
Hurdle: “But I like to kayak, I will never get to kayak in Mongolia, God.”
In 2005 our team paddled on the most pristine lake I’ve ever seen.
Hurdle: What about raising support?
“I’ll provide.”
Hurdle: What about leaving our families?
“I’ll take care of them.”
Hurdles: What about our comfort, food preferences, language??
“It will be worth it.”
ROADBLOCK: After a routine physical in July 2006, I was told that I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
In October, while in Mongolia, I sought God, longing to hear if He still wanted us to move there in the spring of 2008.
Through prayers and preaching of Mongolian friends, I heard:
“Go in the strength you have” Judges 6:14.
My health remains stable. We continue to make plans to go, now with more faith.
“I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power.” Exodus 9:16
Hurdles or Roadblocks – “For God, all things are possible.” Mark 10:27
Our desire is to bring faith, hope and sustainable forestry skills to Mongolian families.
If you would like to join us in this effort through prayer or finances,
contact us at LizardGym@ReachOne.com
During that trip sparrows sang on our balcony each morning.
Hurdle: “But I like to kayak, I will never get to kayak in Mongolia, God.”
In 2005 our team paddled on the most pristine lake I’ve ever seen.
Hurdle: What about raising support?
“I’ll provide.”
Hurdle: What about leaving our families?
“I’ll take care of them.”
Hurdles: What about our comfort, food preferences, language??
“It will be worth it.”
ROADBLOCK: After a routine physical in July 2006, I was told that I have Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.
In October, while in Mongolia, I sought God, longing to hear if He still wanted us to move there in the spring of 2008.
Through prayers and preaching of Mongolian friends, I heard:
“Go in the strength you have” Judges 6:14.
My health remains stable. We continue to make plans to go, now with more faith.
“I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power.” Exodus 9:16
Hurdles or Roadblocks – “For God, all things are possible.” Mark 10:27
Our desire is to bring faith, hope and sustainable forestry skills to Mongolian families.
If you would like to join us in this effort through prayer or finances,
contact us at LizardGym@ReachOne.com
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