"Hello," said You.

Thank you, one and all. A creative bunch, you are. I like birthdays. Thank you for humoring my weird birthday wish. I will continue to post any new photos as you email them to me. Look at all these beautiful people!

***Update: New transatlantic photos at the bottom!

Mama and Papa in Maryland (photo in Hawaii)

Baby Drake (standing in/sleeping in for Joy)

Pam and friends (Arusha, Tanzania)
(Sweet "Hello" in Swahili-ness!)

Morgan, Emily, Bruce, Allison, and Ziggy the Cat (Altadena, CA)
(I live in their house.)


Mack (Altadena, CA)
(I also live in her house.
It's the same house. Big happy family.)

Melissa (South Carolina)

Lisa (Arusha, Tanzania)

Cari (Santa Barbara - but her heart is in the Pacific NW)

Sweet Jane and Tilly (Prague, Czech Republic)

Heather (Arusha, Tanzania)

Byron (a.k.a. Captain Borgan), Chai, and Chapatis! (Some nice breakfast table in Tanzania)

Bill and Tina (Porto, Portugal via East Africa)

Colin (Arusha, Tanzania)


Dan and Sue (Altadena, CA)
(Mama and Papa of the Klein house)

Arianna (Santa Barbara, CA)

Oh, Oh My!

Things That Caused Me to Feel Terribly Loved. This Weekend In Review:

1. Getting to hug dear Elise, Sarah, and Katrina as they drove up to Pasadena from Westmont.
2. Seeing Trevor B. leap out of Sarah's trunk to surprise me with more huggies. (Embraces, not diapers.) The sneaker boy!
3. Sue Klein's chocolate chip banana bread. Served warm with butter.
4. Lucky Boy's breakfast burritos the size of small infants.
5. Riding next to Trevor on the train back to Santa Barbara.
6. Arianna welcoming me with a handful of orchids! I've never received orchids! I must say, they are most perfumalovely.
7. When some aeroplane drew me a big heart in the morning Montecito sky.
8. Taking a nap on Carpinteria's ("world's safest") Beach.
9. The dolphins that played in the super-shallow Pacific waves.
10. Experiencing the 21st annual Avocado Festival.
11. Watching my brothers Jesse and Trevor do the wild eagle dance at the drum circle on Santa Barbara's beach.
12. Artful coffee with Cari, Northwest java connoisseur.
13. A wild African dinner party of 20 at Carly's. Cooked by Jesse!
14. Me learning how to make chapatis at said party!
15. The hysterical post-dinner dance party, and dance-off.
16. Arriving back at the Klein house into the running-to-me hugs of little Bruce and Emily.

I think that Arianna's photo on the side of (an excitedly-painted) truck says it best. Oh, oh my. We are blessed!

Streams for Sunday :: Gratitude, Run.

This is a healthy practice. I will try to make a tradition out of it.

Maybe you should, too.

Golf is Fun

Today I played in a golf tournament to benefit Young Life. It was my first time out all season. I was happy to make a couple of birdies and 20 footers. (I hit some real duffs and embarrasing putts, too.) I won the long drive competetition for both the men and women. That was fun. I like winning stuff.

On the way home I realized that I've played in one golf tourney every year for the last 3 years (two in Portugal), and at each of the 3 tourneys I've won the long drive. If only I had a short game, I would be money.

(Look out kids! My pride is spilling all over the blog page.) That photo above is me at 3.5 years, showing my I-think-I'm-so-fantastic face.

I don't really understand this golf thing. I feel like God gave me the ability to play just to help me pay for part of my college education. (And I'm very thankful for that.) But since then, I don't really know what to do with it. I'm not insane about the game. But I do enjoy it from time to time. It's just so dang expensive.

Sometimes I just get nervous with all of those don't-you-bury-your-talents parables.

Today at the tourney I played on a team with my Daddy and we came in third. I was able to buy a sweet 80 liter hikers' pack with the Sporting Goods giftcards we won. That will make traveling much easier. Thank you, Jesus.

A School House

I had a pleasant trip up north to see Mates of State. Wish I could've encouraged the crowd at Messiah College to bounce a little more, though. (Maybe they think Jesus doesn't dance. I dunno.) Turns out the show was a benefit for Invisible Children in Uganda. That made me happy.

Since I was in Baltimore this afternoon I had the chance see my longtime friend, Kristin. It was so nice to hold her handsome newborn baby, Brendan. Kristin was a mentor and older sister to me all throughout college. It worked out fine that she was in grad school for counseling all the while I was the wreck of the Titanic and needed her to counsel me. Kris is one of the most excellent listeners on the planet. She taught me how to not be such a "strong girl," and to learn how to feel all over again. It's nice to hold her babies now that she's all grown up.

I got pretty teary tonight as I asked Jesus to bless Kristin real good. I realized all at once how much of her I've brought with me into my friendships. She left me a path of clear footprints to try to follow, particularly in the shape of learning to listen to people, and in some basic counseling skills.

Friendships are such nice school houses to sit in. The notes on the chalkboard get written all over our manners and memories, sometimes without us even noticing.

(Photo: "Following")

Grazie, Tino; 107

The sun is setting on another American Thanksgiving. The infamous "Black Friday" is approaching. (For all of our dear non-American friends, tomorrow is the day in the States when hoards of shopper-bugs descend on shopping malls and stores to get the most tasty Christmas sales. Some even camp out on the streets in the bitter cold to be the first in the door at 6am. Insane consumerism, at our best.) Tonight, my mind is in Italy. I'm remembering Tino from Milan. And I can't stop reading Psalm one oh seven. The one with this four-pronged refrain:

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! (NKJV)

This summer I did a three-week mission in Italy with a team from 24-7 Prayer. We prayed through the cities, met with different churches, and helped set up some 24-7 prayer rooms. We met Tino on our first stop in Milan. He worked at the church and lived a beautifully simple life.

What I remember about Tino is that he called me "Gina." (A rough Italian equivalent of "Jenelle"?). And I remember that he rode his bike 20 km both to and from work everyday, because he didn't have a car. I remember how his mobile phone would ring non-stop during dinner, and how he'd refuse to answer it. In Tino's Italy, meals are sacred.

Most of all I remember how Tino always bowed his head to humbly say a "thank you" prayer both before and after our meal. I wish I caught every word of his Italian, but for the most part I got it. He was pausing to tell God thanks for being God. (And at the end of his meal, no less! Who does that?)

When I read Psalm 107, I hear Tino waving his work-worn hands at me, urging me as a Psalmist: "Oh, that you would give thanks to the Lord for his goodness, and his wonderful works towards you..."

I'm Not A Big Old Adult

(This is Part 2 of the following post: Career Day at the Middle School)

It's official. I may be 27, but, I'm not a big old adult.

This week I received a thick envelope from Piccowaxen Middle School. Inside I found 28 full-paged letters from students saying, "thank you" for coming to their school to share about my "career." They were all from kids aged 10-13. Here are some of my favorite excerpts:

-I am extremely happy that you came...I am glad that you acted like our friend and not like a big old adult. Your friend, Bradley
-You inspired me to keep my hope towards being a youth director someday...I appreciate how you came in and the first thing you said was that your best friend's name was Jesus. Sincerely, Micaela
-I used to want to be a youth pastor, but I thought I would get bored with it. But when I found out you could travel to different countries and spread the Word, I thought that was really cool. Sincerely, Michelle
-I thought it was amazing when you taught us to speak Portuguese. Sincerely, Katelyn
-I've been trying since the 5th grade to tell my best friend about God, but she doesn't seem to get it. Hopefully she will know and love God...Hopefully soon. Sincerely, Taylor
-Thank you for coming in and sharing about your best friend, Jesus. Sincerely, Chris
-In my opinion, you had the best job...I've always wanted to have a job like you. Sincerely, Samantha
-I never knew or even heard of a Youth Pastor until last Friday. Now I know that there are people like you that watch over kids like us. Sincerely, John
-We really enjoyed you. Sincerely, Brittany
-After your presentation, I am definitely considering becoming a youth pastor as my future job...You are a true inspiration to me. A new friend, Timber
-It seemed pretty cool that by the time you are 13 in Portugal you know at least 2 languages...that shocked me! -Sincerely, Cheryl
-Your job could be hard because you have to build friendships with teens that might not be too nice. Thank you, Brett
-Your presentation was my favorite because while listening to you I learned how to be a great person...And as you know, I loved your hair. Sincerely, Monica

These thank you notes were the best birthday present ever. Jesus loves me, this I know.