Family and Fun

Family and Fun

July 11, 2009

The past two weeks have been full of family, fun, and late nights every single day. I’ve been blessed to be around immediate and extended family. From the five-day Keller campout celebrating life and love for my aunt Margie luau-style in Indiana, to remembering lives lost and beauty in Michigan, honoring my cousin Tyler after his recent graduation in Ohio, and interspersing of numerous other gatherings, I am left thankful but exhausted. And there is more to come.

It really is amazing at how my mother’s family, the Kellers, get along so well. My mom was one of 12 children, eleven of which are still alive. I have close to forty cousins on that side of the family, and I know them all rather well. Through the years the family has loved to get together to celebrate everything from weddings, births, graduations, holidays, and anniversaries. They sometimes just get together for the sheer enjoyment of one another’s company. I’m thankful to have Keller blood run through me, though I think I lack the Keller ability to stay up all night long. Over the past two weeks I think my average bedtime has been 1:30 am, and I was almost always the first person to go to bed!

The time with family has been great, but I have not settled into any type of routine. I always seem to do better with some routine in my life, as surprising as that may sound with all the traveling and transitions I have been part of. Today is the first day in two weeks where I have taken extended time to be alone and reflect. Despite my rather extroverted personality, I am more of an introverted extrovert. I need time alone to refuel and re-energize.

I will be in Ohio for another week, and then I am off to Colorado for five weeks of missionary training at Mission Training International, July 20-August 21. I am currently at 90% of my support-raising goal! If all goes well and I am able to partner with a few more supporters, I may be leaving in September or early October for Uganda!

Despite my often waxing and waning relationship skills when communing with the Lord, he has been so very good to me.

Luck

Luck

... finding four-leaf clovers…

June 25, 2009

I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, 
nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. -Ecclesiastes 9:11

Yesterday I was thinking about luck and chance. I used to find four-leaf clovers all the time. I’ve probably found over 300 in my life. One time I found 56 within a 30-minute span. I usually eat them when I find them, as I used to believe that the luck would stay with me if I ate them. I also like the taste of them.

Most of the four-leaf clovers I’ve discovered appeared when I was not really looking for them: bending over to tie my shoe, picking up something in the grass, stretching downward to touch my toes. Somehow the four-leaf clovers just “pop” out. Maybe I have four-leaf clover vision.

As I was thinking about this yesterday, I realized it has been a long time since I have found a four-leaf clover. So long in fact, that I don’t remember when I last found one.

I have always considered myself to be a lucky person, though I now contribute it more to blessing than luck or chance. I also believe that some of what we consider luck is the result of hard work, patience, and dedication.

It occurred to me yesterday, through the Lord’s prompting, that I don’t really need luck anymore. Not that I don’t wish for good things to happen, but I now realize that the Lord is the sole reason that anything good happens in my life. Yes, I still believe I need to work hard and persevere, but whether or not I ever find a four-leaf clover again the Lord is still going to bless me. Furthermore, whether I feel blessed or not, I need to praise the Lord.

So I decided that I don’t need four-leaf clovers anymore. Just because I have not found a four-leaf clover in a very long time does not mean my luck is any less. I have God. I am blessed.

Later in the day I bent down to tie my shoe and saw a four-leaf clover. I gave it away.

-Scott

Please Read

Attached below is a link to JD and Kevin Bartkovich's blog. They served as mentors and friends during my time in Uganda. The recent events in their lives are horrific, amazing, incredible, humbling, awe-inspiring, and faith-building. If you have a few moments, please do take the time to read their story.

Kwegesiya

Life Update

Thank you for your continued prayers and support! I finished my job in New Mexico, and I am currently in Baltimore. The link below is for my latest newsletter and more updates. I may be leaving for Uganda/Sudan as early as September!

May/June Newsletter

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs083/1102470515330/archive/1102608161209.html

-Scott

Kevin B.

I humbly bequeath you to lift Kevin Bartkovich and his family up in prayers. Kevin is married to JD and they have four children, the oldest being 10 years old. Kevin suffered sudden cardiac arrest yesterday while jogging near his home in North Carolina. See the Myhres blog for further details:

http://paradoxuganda.blogspot.com/

Kevin and JD served in Uganda for over ten years, founding Christ School. They were in Uganda during both of my stints in Bundibugyo. Their impact on the community, especially the school system and numerous former students, is vast.

-Scott

April Newsletter

Hello! I finally figured out how to post my monthly newsletter on the internet. This is my April newsletter, and the May version will be out soon. If you would like to be added to my monthly e-mail newsletter update list, please let me know. I would be happy to include you!

Have a wonderfully choatic and crazy-fun-in-every-way type of day!!!

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs083/1102470515330/archive/1102551571844.html

-Scott

me-

me-

Power. Freedom. A voice that can not be silenced.

Heart. Wisdom. A passion that will not die.

Rage. Terror. An anger that flares against injustice.

Silence. Confusion. A fear that lingers.

Desire. Intentions. A series of emotions that flood and fade.

This is me. Each in its due time, but all part of me.

I try to stay focused. I lose control.

What burns inside is sometimes freezing cold.

I am a man. I am a child. I am a person trying to make my way in this world.