To Infinity and Beyond!

South Africa, May 2008

Photo taken by Taryn Kent

Last night, Corrie and I enjoyed a fun night away and saw Toy Story 3. Without spoiling anything, the movie was a great reminder of the importance of the imagination and the joy-filled wonder of being a kid. While we were watching, we started getting text messages with the words centimeters, dilation, pushing and crowning. My sister Sarah was going into labor and they wanted the world to know (my family has no filter when it comes to these sort of things ... I apologize). Since I was wearing 3D glasses, all the texts were jumping off my phone (well, not really, but I'm sure that will be the next tech revolution). After a relatively brief time at the hospital, my sister delivered a beautiful baby girl, Beatrice Bärbel Diane Greule (can you tell her dad has German roots?). If this wasn't exciting enough, I have also been completely OBSESSED with the World Cup. I'm not going to write a lot about this except to say that it took Toy Story and the birth of a new human being to pull me out of a deep pit of despair and depression yesterday. I guess that's better than a bottle of Jack!


So all of this has got me thinking.

Many of you know that since 2002, I have been blessed to visit the continent of Africa eight different times. Over the years, God has been stirring my imagination as I've gotten to experience numerous adventures and meet some incredible people who have forever changed my life. I have gotten to feed displaced peoples in a war torn region of northern Uganda. I have witnessed hundreds experience life changing hope in the slums of Nairobi. And I have helped launch a new and innovative church in the capital city of Malawi.

My dreams of what could be have been expanded beyond comprehension, simply because I chose to live my life on mission with Jesus.

This August, I will be sadly leaving Corrie and Eva for three weeks, as I take another momentous trip back to Malawi (with their unwavering support of course!). Not only will I be serving a thriving young church plant, I will also be stepping out in faith to pursue human rights work. Utilizing Corrie's legal background and expertise, we are in the beginning stages of investigating the top human rights abuses in the country and attempting to create a relatively sustainable and empowering short term model for outsiders to work with locals to bring about justice for those in need.

Just writing these words is making my pits sweaty, as I am anxious about what is in store for me, my family and my church in the next few years. But with the courage of Buzz Lightyear, the love of a parent with a newborn, and the thrill of global wins and defeats in the World Cup inside me, I can't wait for what's in store!

I am trying to raise $3500 for my trip to Malawi. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible contribution please email me at adam.klekowski@gmail.com and I'll share all the details.

Beatrice Bärbel Diane Greule

June 26, 2010

I Love Daddy!

Eva has commissioned me to ghost write a Father’s Day blog post for her. She would have written this herself, but you know how busy she gets this time of year.

If Eva could write she would tell you about how good her Daddy is at making her laugh. How he also is good at calming her down when something scares her. She also might tell you that she finds his chest hair fascinating.

What she wouldn’t tell you, because she probably doesn’t realize it now, and maybe never will, is how much he sacrifices to care for her. How he wakes up early everyday to change her diaper and put her down for her nap. How he stays up late to give medicine to her. How he spends all his “free” time taking care of her.

This father’s day leaves me grateful that Eva has a father that loves her so much and strives to do his best for her. Adam is seriously the engine that keeps this home running. Seriously. Because of him, we stay afloat and I stay sane. I could not do this without him.

I am also grateful that Eva has a father whose character I would be proud for her to emulate. I am grateful she has a father who will challenge her daily to really see the world around her, to seek God, and to love others.

Happy Father’s Day. I love you, babe.

P.S. Photo is of Eva after being fed blueberries by Daddy.

Mainland

We are back from an incredible week in Kauai with my family. It was relaxing, adventurous, and rejuvenating.

Some highlights: a beautiful hike Adam and I took the baby on; hanging out and laughing with the family; long sun drenched days at the beach; sleeping in (thanks Mom and Dad for watching the crazy baby!); a exhilarating helicopter ride; and generally just relaxing and enjoying the sun.

We hired a babysitter one night and went out to a great dinner with all the adults. The sitter was hired through an agency on the island, so we didn’t know who they would send. When she arrived she was wearing a long flowing skirt and a bikini with a loose tank top over it. Her hair was in wild beach tumbled waves. She was carrying an eastern meditation book and had large tufts of armpit hair sticking out from under her tank top. (!!!!!.)

Despite the hairy pits she was great with the baby. Eva quickly stole her car keys and slobbered all over them while the nanny told Adam and I about her life. She worked and lived on an organic farm on the island. She grew up in the Midwest then moved to Kauai a decade or so back. She told us that “the island life takes you over.” It had definitely taken her.

Part of me leaves a place like Kauai wishing that I could let it take me over... that I could give up the daily grind of life on the mainland to live in a permanent daze of Mai Tais and Ahi Poke. It seems romantic, idyllic, and divine. But then we come home and I find myself so glad to be home. Its comforting, its familiar, its...deep restful exhale... home. Home sweet home.

Normal life may not be as glamorous or breezy as vacation life, but normal life is more me. With all the crazy responsibilities I tack onto my life comes also a sense of calm and peace. It may be chaotic and at times exhausting, but my mainland life, right now seems right where I should be.