...it is by grace you have been saved...

Ephesians 2
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

You mean, I don't have to do it on my own?

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In Colorado Again...

It's vacation time again. We're in Boulder, CO. There's nothing more to say.

_Lane

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I guess we forgot to say...

YES, we made it home safely! We pulled in at about 3pm to our house on Saturday, August 2nd. It was a long drive, but we broke it up by stopping in Amarillo to stay with Krista's Aunt Yvonnne. We're glad to be back, but we do not like the heat! That's all we'll say about that.

Monday the 4th, I (Lane) began my job hunt. I got an interview on Tuesday with a company called Compressco. (At the beginning of the summer I spoke with a guy there about a job when I got back, so the hunt wasn't too hard.) I was offered the job and I'll start tomorrow morning, August 12th.

I know you're all wondering... what is Compressco? and what will you do? One question at a time, please.
First, Compressco, Inc., a TETRA Technologies Company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma is a leading manufacturer of Production Enhancement Solutions for Marginal and Low Pressure Oil and Gas Wells. (see compressco.com and NO, I didn't write that.) Basically, they sell compressors, called Gas Jack's, that are installed over the top of slow producing or plugged oil wells to get a few more years of oil out of them. Each compressor is portable and affordable.

Second, I will be working with their Inventory Controller (and hopefully be an actual "Inventory Controller" soon) I will be tracking inventory and entering it in the computer and contacting vendors to order more parts. It's a great job with room to go up. The best part is, I can leave all work at work. This would leave me time to work with Compass Wilderness on the weekends and volunteer at a church. So, I'll be working a job and doing ministry at the same time.

Krista has begun work in her school room. It's a little overwhelming, but she's gaining on it! Krista reports on the 18th and school starts on the 21st.

Now, you're up-to-date on the lives of Lane and Krista.

_Lane

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The group from Hays, Kansas...

We just had a group from Hays, KS this week. They were awesome!! I loved my girls. The whole group just seemed to get it. They were here to grow spiritually and they did. They asked God to do great things, and He did. They got it. I just love it when groups are like this one!

I promised my girls that the next time we go to Boulder we would stop by and say "hi" to the group. They told me that they would email me and keep me updated on what God is doing in their lives and how their faith is growing. I can't wait to hear from them!

Our group next week is from Alma, AR. Its a pretty big group: 50. We are camping this week. So, we are trying to get all of our stuff packed this weekend so all we have to do on Thursday is load up and leave. I'm getting so excited to go home. I was telling Lane yesterday that I've always known that we would be going home, but it never really seemed real until now. I just want my own comfy bed and I'll be wanting it even more after a week of sleeping on the ground. :-) I'm excited to see family and friends and puppies. Can you tell its time to go home? :-)

Tonight Lance is taking all of us out to eat at a Mongolian restaurant. It should be good. Its the kind where you pick out what you want in a dish and they cook it for you. I think its all you can eat, too.

I'm excited to go to the River Church tomorrow, but I'm sad that it will be our last time. I have really loved attending the River Church this summer. I know I told my parents this, but I don't think I shared with anyone else, that the pastor and his wife are in the process of adopting their second child from China. They are such neat people. I hope we can find a church like this one when we get home and start the search.

If any of you all would like to pray for us, please pray that our last week goes well. I'm afraid its going to be too easy to get so wrapped up in going home that we won't give it our all. I don't want to give these kids anything but 100%. Also pray for safety for the drive home. We are driving to Amarillo on Thursday and staying the night with my family. I'm excited to see them, its been a while. Then we are finishing the trek on Friday. I wonder if Abby and Zoe will remember us. :-) I hope so. They've probably long given up hope that we were returning. Please pray that Lane is able to find a job quickly when we return home and that I have enough time to get all my school stuff done before we start up the year again. Thanks to all of you who have been checking up on us. We miss all of you and are looking forward to seeing you soon.

Love,
Krista

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A summer closing....and climbing

Before you read this blog post, you need to know a few climbing facts. All climbs are rated on a scale from 5.0 to 5.15 . 5.0 would be like climbing a ladder and 5.15 is like climbing a glass window. The hardest climb I (Lane) have ever done would be a 5.5 or 5.6 . This concludes our climbing facts for the day.

On Monday morning, before our groups got to Durango, our staff set out to climb at X-Rock (a local, natural rock, climbing spot). We set up 2 climbs; a 5.7 and a 5.9.
POP QUIZ: which climb is harder, the 5.7 or the 5.9?
(If you guessed 5.9, give yourself an A for the day.)
I was very skeptical about these climbs. I wondered if I would even get 3 inches off the ground. Krista and I watched a few of the staff climb and tried to memorize their routes. My turn came and the only climb open was the 5.9. So, I gave into the pressure of the 5.9 looming over me and started to climb.

It was definitely (and obviously) the hardest route I've ever been on! It took me 15-20 minutes, with several breaks, but I came out victorious!

Krista was up next on the 5.7. (Which was the hardest climb she'd ever been on.) She overcame the hardest part of the route, 3/4 of the way up, before we had to bring her down. It was time for us to prepare for the arrival of the groups.

All-in-all, it was a successful day of climbing!

Right now, it's Tuesday night. We've got a group of 18 from Hays, Kansas. Since we are short staffed, Krista and I have been put in charge of this group. (The rest of the remaining staff is with our other 2 groups. There are a total of 3 groups here this week, so we're stretched fairly thin.) We feel honored that Lance and Courtney (the bosses) trust us to lead this group. It's definitely a learning experience.

Anyway...We'll be home in less than 2 weeks! We can't wait to see all of you! Until then...

_Lane

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Bad News

Hello all.
Well, I'm sorry to say that our camera is broken. The zoom stays out and won't go back in when we turn it off. As a result it won't let us take pictures. Its very frustrating. We are going to try to see if someplace in town might be able to fix it.

On a better note, Lane and I celebrated our 3rd year anniversary on Wednesday, July 16th. We've decided to go for another three years. Lane gave me a gray/blue tea pot with a loose-leaf strainer inside. I have him a cool coffee mug and some guitar shaped ice trays. They are kind of a neat novelty gift.

The summer is getting close to wrapping up. We've got two more weeks and then we head home. We've had four staff leave already. Two more leave next Friday and the rest of us are staying until the end.

I have learned two new games this summer...Catan and Nerts. Its been fun! Well, I'm out of things to say.

Later,

Krista

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Camping Week in Chris Park

Well... it was a great week. Our group was from Colorado Springs. I had three girls in my small group, so as you might guess, I got to know them pretty well. They were sweet girls and I think by the end of the week they became much closer friends. I have to agree with Lane that it is such an honor to be used by God to accomplish His work. Its been a joy.

What wasn't a joy, was sleeping on the hard ground. I only had an egg crate foam pad and it didn't make the ground much softer. The third and fourth night I borrowed a Thermarest air pad and it was amazing. I slept great. I'm going to have to get over the fact that they are ridiculously expensive for a thin pad you blow up and just get one. ( I mean, seriously, a queen sized air mattress is cheaper.) I think they charge so much because they know how miserable it is to sleep for 10-15 minute increments at a time on the hard ground, and they know people will pay to keep from going through that.

Anyway, one of our staffers left today. That makes two who have left for the summer. Our small staff is getting smaller by the week. So sad.

As Lane said, we are excited to see Todd and Darise. They are bringing fresh veggies from our garden at home. Yeah! I'm so excited to taste the fruits (veggies, really) of our labor. I asked them to bring Abby, too. I'm not so sure they were sold on the idea. :-) I guess we'll see when they get here if there is a hyper puppy with them. She could hang out with Happy (Shane's dog) all weekend. It'd be great!

Well, that's all I've got. Stay tuned for more in the days to come.

Krista

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