The Nomads Find a Home

It's been almost two years since the Krieg family returned from Russia, and only now are we putting stakes into the ground and calling one place home for awhile. That place is Austin, Texas! I was born here in 1972 but grew up in Montana. Kristen, being from Houston is so happy about being close to family and friends. I also have family down here. It's sooo nice to know that we can unpack for awhile. We'll be working with international students at the University of Texas. I'm not sure what to do with my blog. I may put this thing out of its misery. if anyone has any objections, by all means please let me know, but I think Kristen is doing a spectacular job keeping you all informed about our family on KRIEGSKIDDOS.BLOGSPOT.Com...

Ok, gotta go read stories to the little ones...

At home in TEJAS!!

WE arrived in Texas about a week ago. Kristen and the kids flew to Houston, while Charlie and I drove the minivan down. It was probably the best road trip I've ever had. (Although, it can't rival the danger of the Samara-Moscow road trip of summer of 2004). We saw some spectacular sights along the way: Mt Shasta, Mt. McLoughlin, California wine country, the Pacific ocean from Carlsbad, CA., and the harsh landscape from central California through El Paso. Wow! All very exotic and beautiful. It was also great to see family in Fullerton, CA. Van Horn, Texas was a treat as well. Interesting to note that along I-10 through Texas they are stopping traffic and doing vehicle searches for illegal immigrants...Portland felt like a long ways away from the views of Ciudad Juarez from I-10 through El Paso. Great time with the bro! Now we are in Texas. Feels good to be home with family, to have the sun everyday, and the prospect of exciting times of ministry ahead...

Rain Vent

Oh, so tired of the rain. Rain, rain, rain. Everything is wet. So so tired of the grey, cold, wet, rain. Wet streets, grey skies...UGH!!! Sometime soon I'm going to read about how the rain affects people here in Portland. On balance, it can't be good. There is probably some scientific data or a study somewhere that shows some ill affects. There are nice people in Portland. There are good people too. (btw, I don't think the two are necessarily the same...do you?) So, the effect of months of rain isn't something that JUMPS OUT at a person. I think its definitely a negative influence on the culture, just in a subtle kind of way. People do seem a bit more melancholy in comparison to people in say like southern California. I'm going to find a study. I really don't like this much rain. My soul is wet. Why did I post such nonsense? I have no idea!

The Unwasted Life

Another great charge by General Piper...

Brennan sings

Please go over to Kristen's blog and check out Brennan. He is learning to sing and its so fun!

www.kriegkiddos.blogspot.com

Also, I'd like to give a little shout-out to my brother today. Charlie has been working in China as the manager of operations at a golf course in Shanghai since last April. Quite an adventurous journey he's been on lately!! Happy Birthday BRO and welcome back to the U.S.!!

Valentines at the Kennedy School

Ok, if you're ever in the Portland area, you simply MUST go to the Kennedy School Theatre. It's an old school that they converted into a hotel/museum/theatre.

http://www.kennedyschool.com/index.php?loc=57

It's a great place especially for parents b/c you can do a movie and a meal at the same time. Kristen and I celebrated Valentines Day there on Friday. (strategically delayed it to avoid the crowds) They showed "Enchanted" which had both of us on the floor busting a gut. I can't remember the last time I laughed that hard. Maybe its just us, but "Enchanted" is truly funny...Happy Valentines Day friends!!

Back from Spain Conference

I'm still jet-lagged and groggy eyed from our Spain conference. Good time there. it was great to see the teams from around the Area of Affairs get encouraged and refreshed after months on the battlefield. I was encouraged to hear a lot of stories of young men and women coming to Christ in the heart of Old Europe. Many of us in the west have given up on Europe. But God is doing a new work there. Even in France there were encouraging stories of students coming to Christ and spiritually interested. Praise God! Nerja is a nice little place on the mediterranean sea. I had a haircut there by a man named Luis. I saw him several times throughout the week as I would walk back and forth from the hotel to the internet cafe where I would call Kristen. I really wish there could have been more time to chase down guys like Luis and the cab driver I rode in with. I forget the cab drivers name but he played on the national soccer team for Uruguay against Pele some 30-35 years ago. Very interesting man. I left him a gospel track as we departed into the hotel. I'm praying he will read it...So we're back in Portland and getting into the groove...