Update

Sorry I haven’t been updating this lately.  I’ve wanted to write and share more about my experiences in Kenya.  I will try to do some of that here in the next few days.  The only bummer is that I won’t be able to share a lot of the pictures that I took while on the HOA (Horn of Africa) refugee retreat.  Many of the people that I met were fearful that pictures  of them would end up on the internet and could be found by other family members or friends who don’t know that they are Christians.  Many of the people that I met feared persecution if it was known they followed Christ.  It’s a fear that I can’t really understand living in the U.S.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.  It was an amazing trip and I look forward to sharing more over the next few days.

 

_Andy

Kenya Day 3

Today we finally got to meet part of IT Kenya.   We met Jack and Lorna.  It was a great morning being to hear there stories about how they came to faith in Christ and the many challenges and joys they have being missionaries in Kenya.  We also worked along side them to help with finally details for the HOA refugee retreat which starts tomorrow and goes through Sunday.  

I’m really looking forward to being at the retreat and meeting new people and hearing their stories.  I pray that our team can be an encouragement to the IT team here as well as the refugees.  I’m sure it’s going to be a powerful few days where we’ll get to see God doing amazing things!  

I hope to update and share more on Sunday evening.  Have a great few days!

-Andy

Kenya Day 1 & 2

Hello all my readers!  I arrived in Kenya last night after traveling 20 hours to get here.  16 hours of that being a plane.  Sleep didn’t come easy, so I was happy to set foot in Kenya.  We were picked up at the airport by our friend Dotun and he brought us the place where we are staying with here.  Once we got here about 10pm we all were in bed and asleep pretty fast.  

This morning we woke up to beautiful weather and birds singing.  I’m sorry to all my MN readers, but it is also about 75 degrees and sunny!  Our team had a nice morning having breakfast, Kenyan Chai tea and learning more about each other.  This afternoon we talked about the next couple of weeks and the different things that we’ll be doing. 

It has also been really fun meeting the many people who work here at Brackenhurst where we staying and talking with them.  They have been helping us with our swahili and are very friendly.

Tomorrow our team will meet the IT Kenya team to discuss the Somali retreat we’re helping with later this week.  I will try to post more tomorrow.  Thank you everyone for your prayers and kind words!  

 

-Andy

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Wow!  I see that it has been over two months since I’ve last blogged.  I sometimes forget that I have one and that one or two people might actually read it.  Anyway…I’m on my way to Kenya in a few hours.  I’m really looking forward to being over there again and working with refugees.   If you’re the praying type, I would covet your prayers for me and the team that will be serving in Kenya.  Pray for good health, team unity and that we would have servant’s hearts to serve some of Kenya’s refugees each day.  

I’ll try to post as often as I can along with some pictures of what our team is up to.  Thank you everyone for your prayers and support!

A long weekend on Jekyll Island

Last weekend Missi and I traveled to Jekyll Island, Georgia.  Neither of us had ever been there and I had never even heard of the place.  Apparently it is very well known down in the southern parts of the U.S and has quite the history.  Jekyll Island was recommended to us by Missi’s boss who was there for a wedding this past summer.  Jeykll Island is along the Georgia coast between Jacksonville, Florida and Savannah, Georgia.

Our trip started out pretty early on Thursday morning since we had a 7:45 flight to Atlanta.  How Missi got up for that flight is still a mystery.  We had a short layover in Atlanta before our next flight to Jacksonville.  During this time Missi decided that she wanted some Chick-Fil-A.  So…Missi had to run to concourse A while we were at the end of concourse B and made me a little nervous since they were calling final boarding.  We both made it but I was a little stressed out.  Once we got into Jacksonville we picked up our rental car which was a Ford Mustang.  That was kind of fun since most of the time I rent a car it is a Ford Focus

 We stayed at the Jekyll Island Club Hotel (pictured above) which was a private club for the mega rich around the turn of the twentieth century.  Members included JP Morgan, Pulitzer, Vanderbilt and many more.  It is believed that the idea for the Federal Reserve was set up at this hotel.  Lot’s of neat history which I thought was kind of neat.  Our room was pretty nice.  It faced the front of the property overlooking the croquet lawn.  We also had a nice porch where we could sit as well.

Friday we awoke to heavy rains which was kind of a bummer.  However, we were prepared and had scheduled our in-room massages for Friday morning.  What a great way to start your day!  Because of the weather we decided to stay indoors for most of the day and watch season 4 of 24.  Nothing like Jack Bauer to help pass the time.

Saturday Missi and I took a tour of the Jekyll Island historical district.  We learned about the history of the island and got to go into a couple of the old cottages and see how the rich people lived back in the day.  After the tour, we decided to drive around the island.  We got a couple of time to walk around on the beach or to check out the cool oak trees draped in spanish moss.  Later in the afternoon, Missi and I went on a horseback ride.  It was labeled as a “sunset beach ride” but tide was high so we didn’t get too much beach riding in.  However, it was a blast and a highlight of the trip for us! 

I woke up early on Sunday so I could go watch the sunrise and take some pictures.  What a beautiful sunrise I experienced.  It is neat to be on the beach and watch the waves on the ocean riste and fall as the sun comes up.  Once I got back we started to pack and get ready to leave.  However, we couldn’t leave until we had the Sunday Brunch that everyone was raving about all weekend.  Missi and I were not disappointed.  We ate like kings and queens! 

Missi and I had a great weekend relaxing, eating way too well, laughing and just enjoying each other’s company!  I look forward to another getaway with Missi soon!

Fall Fun with Missi

A couple weeks back Missi and I decided to go for a walk near our apartment to check out some of the leaves that had changed color.  Being the amateur photographers we are, we brought along our cameras.  I took a ton of pictures of Mis sitting in the leaves and throwing them up in the air.  Most of them didn’t turn out, but it was a fun afternoon and I loved seeing my beautiful wife smile!

Music Builds Tour

 

In early October, Missi and I went to the Music Builds Tour featuring Jars of Clay, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Switchfoot and Third Day.  It was a really fun night with friends and family.  We had incredible seats and were really close to the stage.  The only down side to the seats we had was that we were right under the speakers.  That goodness my mom brought extra ear plugs!  I’m a fan of all the bands but had never seen Robert Randolph or Switchfoot live.  

Jars of Clay played first and there set was pretty short at a half and hour.  I really like Jars, but they didn’t impress me too much on this night.  They played a couple of new songs and donned all white outfits.  Missi and I got a good laugh out of the lead singer and one of the guitar players who was mouthing “watermelon” on singing part he didn’t remember.

Robert Randolph played second and were AMAZING!  Randolph plays a mean steel guitar and it knocks your socks off!  Seriously!  They are more of a bluesy jam band so the songs get a tad long, but you don’t really notice it.  What you do notice is that his music makes you want to dance.  My nephew Jake LOVED this band.  He was dancing all over the place.  The neatest part of his set was when all the band members start switching instruments in the middle of the song.  They all can play the steel guitar, bass and drums.  It was fun to watch.

Switcfoot played third and they were really, really good!  Having never seen them before, I wasn’t really sure what to expect.  They are a great live band!  Tons of energy and they just sounded amazing!

Third Day was last to play and as usual they were good.  I’m not the biggest Third Day fan, but I think they put on an entertaining show.  

The night ended when all the bands cam out and played Jars of Clay’s “I’ll fly Away” and the U2’s “When Love Came to Town.”  Both covers were good, but the U2 cover was stellar!  A great way to finish a fun night of music with good friends.

 

UPDATE:

Here is a YouTube clip of Robert Randolph playing “Good Times.”  It really gets good at about the 3 minute mark.

A series of Recaps is coming!

So it’s been forever since I’ve posted anything on this blog.  Life has been very busy lately.  The McKown calendar was and still is a bit out of control.  Many nights are filled and weekends have been completely booked with things to do.  Ever since Missi and I have started going to Northwood, our lives and schedules haven’t been the same.  We are SUPER involved which has been great.  But, there is always something going on.  For example, Missi and I are leading a couples small group.  I’m helping out on the worship team playing guitar.  I’m on another advisory team and I’m going to Kenya in January.  Missi is part of the Outreach team, the baby ministry and has been asked to help with the women’s ministry.  I say all this as a lame excuse as to why I haven’t blogged.

Okay…so here are pictures and brief descriptions of some of the other things that I’ve been up to the past month. 

Since I missed Missi’s Birthday while I was hiking the Grand Canyon, we celebrated with my family the first weekend in October.  We headed to my parent’s place for lunch and then went to Minnetonka Orchards with my rents, my sister and her family and Missi’s mom joined us too!  We had fun being outside and enjoying the great weather!  Over the next few days I took a few more pictures of the autumn foliage with is so beautiful during the month of October.

 

Something to chew on

Saw this quote today and thought I would share.

“It’s extraordinary to me that the United States can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can’t find $25 billion dollars to save 25,000 children who die every day from preventable diseases.”

-Bono

5 days….until “Death March” 2008

On Thursday I’ll be flying to Phoenix with my friends Jay and Rachel Olson.  It’s hard to believe that this trip is already here.  The end of September seemed so far off when we bought the airfare back in March or April.  I had aspirations of losing 30 pounds and being in amazing shape for our hike into the Grand Canyon.  Maybe I was thinking I was going in September 2009…because I didn’t lose 30 pounds and I could be in better shape.  Oh, well!

Having lived in Arizona for three years, I’m excited to go back.  I haven’t been there since my dad’s retirement party in June of 2006.  It will be fun to show Jay and Rachel around a little bit.  Upon our arrival our first stop will be at a In N’ Out Burger.  We are all HUGE fans and have been craving a meal since we first discussed the trip.  I seriously think that Jay could eat there about 5 times while we’re in the Phoenix area.

Friday we’re starting our drive to the Grand Canyon.  We’re planning on stopping in Sedona to check out the vortexes and the mystical stuff.  We need some for our hike.  Totally kidding.  Sedona is a bit odd, but beautiful and it’s something that need to be seen at least once.  Hopefully we’ll get to the south rim by early afternoon, get settled and get a good night’s rest.

Saturday = DEATH MARCH 2008!!!!

Down the South Kaibab Trail and up the Bright Angel Trail.  IN ONE DAY!!

Here are a couple pictures of the South Kaibab Trail

T

Here is a picture of the elevation up the Bright Angel Trail and a picture half way up at Indian Gardens.

So…if you are the praying type, I’d love some prayer on Saturday.  Pray for safety from injuries and sickness, wisdom to listen and take care of our bodies and prayer we’d enjoy God’s beautiful creation.

I’ll also be bringing my camera and I hope to be able to share some great shots with you sometime next week!

Cheers!