The KUMPEL FAMILY Blog

Hitting the road headed west...

2008-08-31T21:43:00.022-04:00

Texas sunrise! Thank you Jesus for your love displayed in nature!

After all the packing, cleaning, and crying (sad good-byes), we were ready for probably one of the craziest trips of our lives. I'd have to call our crazy cross-country trek a whirlwind trip. Going almost 3,000 miles in 4 driving days was insane, but it was very memorable! I must say that the boys were excellent cross country travellers. We got to sleep on all kinds of beds, stay in all different places, eat all kinds of food (definitely loved the vegan home-cooking the best), see all kinds of scenery and people. But definitely the best part of our trip was seeing family and friends... I would even have to say it was worth the drive (all 2,800+ miles of it). We thank the Lord for His protection during our entire trip (especially from the semi that almost side-swiped us in Tennessee). We also thank Him for blessing us with such special family and friends like you!

Eating on the go!

Thanks Jas for the yummy food...especially loved the vegan pot pie!

Where in the U.S. is there a metallic pyramid?

Pit stop in Texas.

Kids back together again...after almost 3 yrs!

Petting the friendly donkey neighbors

Gotta have the boots.

Tired and hot...even the dogs.

Enoch loved Samson the kitty.

Two buddies--they're so much alike!

Enjoyed the Sabbath rest...including the rest from driving;-)

Feeding the goats.

Hanging out with the goats.

"Papa, can we take this one home?"

Josiah trying to look like a goat

Enoch's a little suspicious about the origin of the foul odor...

RELAXIN'

Giant Saguaros at 80mph!

Finally in Cali! Enoch taking a break from the travelling to cut some bushes.

Enoch's favorite tool--chain saw!

Hulda Crooks Park in Loma Linda, CA.

" What's my goofy cousin doing?"

"I take my chain saw everywhere."

Go Josiah!

"Auntie Gigi always takes good care of me."

Go Enoch!

"Maybe I'm not ready for a scooter yet."

Thank you Gigi, Evy, and Marcellinho for all your love.

Ahhh...brother and sister together again.

Just like old times.

What an awesome friend!

... My one and only fruit-pickin', vegetable-growin' ex-neighbor.

Daniel knows I am not mum Ester!

Uncle Udo is just way too much fun!

Yay!

Playing with more cousins.

Ian and Isabelle love blocks and legos, too.

Uncle Junior: "I remember when I used to change your diapers!"

Two Juniors.

Junior and Jeanine

Mini family reunion with Sandra and family.

Thanks Sonia, Ronnie, and kiddos for all your hospitality.

Boys with big cousin Eric.

Enoch with Uncle Fernando and cousin Michael.

Love you Fernando, Maribel, and boys.

Thanks Eric and Michael for giving up your bunkbed for the night!

Does Enoch look like Einstein?

Josiah looks like....?

At LAX. Almost home!

Hawaiian Airlines

Boys are anxious to ride the big plane.

Mama is tired and hungry. What a trip...and it's not over yet!

About 2,600 miles more....then I can collapse!

Farewell Virginia! Farewell Dear Friends!

2008-07-09T03:32:00.019-04:00

For quite a while, we had been dreading the inevitable... the day when we would have to say goodbye to all our friends and loved ones in Virginia. But with the arrival of the end of May this day did finally come - all too soon it did. This parting experience was especially difficult as we were truly blessed to have met some wonderful people over the last 2 1/2 years or so. These have become life-long friends and we will treasure all the memories we have shared.

Junior with some of his Junior Sabbath-school class

Our dear lay pastor and his wife

A wonderful family... viva Romania!

More like family than friends...

What a wonderful church family at HRSDA

A solid sister, keep up the good work at the nursing home!

Thanks for coming out to see us off!

Amongst friends...

You were there from day one... we will miss you. Keep up the good work!

Amongst Word lovers - the "Word of Life"

Kiddos hanging out on our last Sabbath (that includes you Uncle Damian :)

Last Sabbath fellowship continued...

In Enoch's eyes, there can never be a replacement for "Uncle Dami"!

What a nice gathering of young families!

Good-bye! Almost...

Children being children... always finding some way to enjoy themselves

Some Junior Sabbath-school class members preparing to sing with their teacher, Mr. Junior

What a nice send-off. Thanks you two!

Words could not express what was felt in the heart...

Couldn't leave Virginia without riding in the back of Uncle Dave's truck!

More like sisters

Looking forward to seeing you all again!

It was hard to let go!

We look forward to that great reunion-day when our Lord shall appear and take us all
to our true, eternal homes. May we each keep following the Good Shepherd until then...

We miss you all dearly... We love you all.

Tornado hits close to home

2008-05-02T06:25:00.020-04:00

As most of you probably know, our region was recently hit by a very strong tornado. We are very grateful to God for His protection during this storm. Other than a downed tree, we escaped damage or harm.

I was working at the hospital when the tornado struck. Nicole and the boys were at home at the time, watching a nature dvd. Oddly enough, they did not become aware of the events transpiring in the area until after the storm passed, when I called to check up on them.

We were initially unaware of how close this activity was to us. What we realized the following day, from our neighbors and then from online video posts, was that the tornado came very close to our house/neighborhood. Apparently, after striking the areas where most of the damage occurred, the tornado dissipated temporarily as the storm front traveled in a northeasternly direction - right towards us!

The interesting thing was that as the storm reached our neighborhood, the winds once again strengthened and funnel clouds reformed. We have seen footage of the funnel clouds reforming right over our neighborhood. These seem to indicate that the funnel clouds started forcefully swirling right above where we live and then touched down over the water just next to our house/neighborhood, kicking up water along the way. It then made its way to Craney Island (just 1/2 - 3/4 mile across the James River from us) and beyond.

We know that God had his hand over us, keeping us safe from this dangerous storm! We thank Him for loving kindness and watchful care!
____________________________________________________________________

The following 2 clips show the funnel clouds/tornado reforming right over our neighborhood. It was filmed from about 3/4 mile south from us, from an adjacent neighborhood. The camera is looking in our direction - north. When the man in the footage speaks of "it must be right over the school", thats the school we sometimes walk to 1/4 mile south from us and let the kids play on the playground. When he says "right near the water" - that would be us!!!

The following is a short clip of the winds starting to pick up close to where we live.

That funnel cloud is very close to us! (taken from ~3/4 mile south of us looking towards where we live)

I have included some pics of us in the backyard as we were clearing the debris of the fallen tree. Our neighbor provided some added help and, to Josiah's delight, a chainsaw!

The following was taken from across the bay looking towards us. The tornado was over the water, thus a "water spout".

Some miscellaneous pictures...

These are some interesting clips from the tornado...

This map shows the path of the tornado as is headed northeast. All the devastation occurred where the 1st and 2nd markers (from the bottom moving up) are. We live very close to the 3rd marker.

View Larger Map

"Magila" Gorilla

2008-04-12T22:20:00.010-04:00

Of late, Enoch has taken a liking to a certain stocky little fella we have affectionately named, "Magila" Gorilla. This little buddy of his is a stuffed gorilla that he likes to carry around the house and play with. The pictures included in this post demonstrate this newfound friendship... :)

The Indestructible Book

2008-04-09T12:59:00.009-04:00

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path..."

-Psalm 119:105

How blessed we are in this present age to have so conveniently at our disposal the Holy Scriptures. Hard to imagine a time when this wasn't so, but take a look back in history and we quickly see a much different reality - a time when the Word was hidden away from the common people, who suffered greatly for lack of spiritual understanding. During these dark ages, many noble men and women sacrificed all things earthly that they might attain, and propagate, a knowledge of God through His Word. Some of these even paid the price with their own blood and became martyrs for God.

Let us remember how blessed we are today to have the Bible so readily available.

We have recently gained a blessing learning about this epic struggle to maintain the Word of God alive and available to all in the dvd entitled, "The Indestructible Book." It is one of Josiah's favorite programs.

The following clip shows the little ones singing the song "Thy Word" at church recently - hope you enjoy...

God bless you and may we all spend time daily in God's Word - the "indestructible" book.

156,972 birds in our backyard!

2008-04-04T02:16:00.003-04:00

The above was an interesting happening caught on video - all of North America's red-winged blackbirds suddenly decided to descend upon our backyard. As you can hear in the background, Enoch was fairly excited, and Kalei, well... let's just say that she knew something was up in "her" backyard :)

Farewell, Friends

2008-03-19T20:32:00.003-04:00

Today we said farewell to some animal friends. Aspiring pastor Mr. Josiah conducted his first funeral service for....the squished snake he found on the road and the dead bird he found in our front yard. He had buried them a few days ago after digging a deep hole in the dirt. He covered the deceased with dirt and stone markers and then decorated the gravesite with dandelions. His sermonette basically was about how in heaven there will be no more sickness and death...not even for the animals. Amen!

Hawaiian Sunshine In Winter

2008-03-11T13:52:00.018-04:00

It's been awhile since my parents left...but the happy memories are still with us. I must admit that they brought some Hawaiian sunshine to Virginia (even though Hawaii had flooding during the time they were here).

We cannot go on to other, more recent, happenings without sharing just a few of the times we shared with Grandpa and Grandma! There is definitely nothing like seeing grandparents enjoying spending time with their grandchildren....and vice versa! I must admit that we ALL enjoyed our sweet times together...for they are not just parents/grandparents to us...they are our FRIENDS.

"I will praise You with all my heart, O Lord!"

Two brothers in Christ

Next to impossible to get a nice family picture

Having a quiet moment together on the steps

Twin Day

"Am I cool like Grandpa, now?"

My not-so-little explorer

The best parents in the world

Breathe Enoch!

Don't fall in

Beautiful Koi

The only way to get Josiah to stay still...

get Grandpa to give him a BEAR HUG!

"Isn't this the trail?"

What a trailblazer!

Nope, we're not in Japan!

My hubby and me...he's truly a blessing from above;-)

Winter picnic...thank you Lord for a gorgeous day!
Thanks Mom for making the delicious homemade vegan burgers!

Of course Mama is the last one to finish eating

Three super special men in my life:-)

"I'm coming to get ya!"

Harley dad

Let's go for a walk

Josiah lives in these

Happy Sabbath!

Do you like my 'do?

Just like a bride on her wedding day!

(P.S. Congratulations Ish...and soon-to-be bride Mel)

Wait for me!

2008-02-03T07:23:00.000-05:00

Recently, before heading out on another family excursion, Josiah's ants in his pants compelled him to excitedly request grandpa, "Let's go jogging!" The following pictures and video offer a short glimpse into what ensued...

Enoch shouting, "Hey, wait for me!"

Ukulele playing session with Grandpa

2008-02-02T23:23:00.000-05:00

Oh boy oh boy was it ever a surprise to our little ones when, this past Wednesday morning, their grandparents arrived in Virginia and in our home! It's hard to believe we were ever able to keep this "mega-event" hidden from the curious inquisitions of our oldest little one - Mr. Josiah. Josiah kept saying that he was so happy and excited, he thought he was dreaming!

Needless to say, joy and happiness has been "a bublin' over" these past few days in the Kumpel household as we enjoy each others company. It's sometimes hard to keep up with these youthful "grandparents" :)

Thankfully, just as they arrived, so did the warmer weather - mostly 50's and even 60's of late, amazing considering it had been in the 20's to low 40's for a while. Apparently, grandpa and grandpa have brought with them a little of the Hawaiian aloha sunshine!

We have enjoyed all sorts of activities with them, here's a little glimpse of one such enjoyable moment -the boys and grandpa bringing out the ukulele's for a little christian gospel "jam session"! :)

The last few weeks in pictures

2008-01-29T22:38:00.000-05:00

Homeschooling basics... Cooking 101

Art 101

Favorite "Homework Assignment"... Have fun with brother!

Lot's to smile about in the great outdoors!

Boy's favorite class... "Nature 101"

Can't you tell they love it :)

Silliness 101 - Another favorite class...

Hanging out with a cool Uncle - Uncle Dami!

Nice brisk hike on cold day at Hoeffler Creek Wildlife Preserve

Singing for Jesus

2008-01-06T22:14:00.000-05:00

Recently, many of the children at our church participated in the Sabbath school program by singing a couple of songs - Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Silent Night. Josiah had the privilage of participating. We have included a picture as well as a video clip... being quite the active boy, we were very pleased to see Josiah stay fairly still up there :)

Thanksgiving - always?

2007-11-23T09:35:00.000-05:00

This past week I have been thinking about the concept of beeing thankful... We many times compare ourselves to others less fortunate and think of how blessed we are in comparison to them. Thus, the misfortunes of others sometimes serve as reminders of our fortunes...

What happens though when life deals us the worst of blows, when devastating life circumstances arise unexpectedly - thrusting us into the midst of fiery storms? When all material things are taken from us, when deprived of our loved ones prematurely, when stricken with fatal illness, when all that seems of value to us on this earth is swept away - what then? Where is thanksgiving to be found then?

There is a lot of misfortune that I see in the hospital unit where I work - a Burn/Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Just in the past week, I helped care for young men faced with a future much different from what they expected. The loss of limbs, the inability to move or feel below the chest - shattered plans for the future, drastically altered life trajectories. When seeing such devastation, it is easy to say, "How lucky we are to have all our limbs" or "How thankful we should be that we have healthy,strong bodies." As I pondered the life circumstances of these young men, the thought came to my mind - can there be thanksgiving in the midst of such suffering? According the God's Word, there can...

"For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

According to this verse, when walking in the Lord, we are to be content not only in all the joys of life, but in all the hardships as well. "Whatsoever state" encompasses all things, even the extreme experince of Job. How? Why?

"And be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

Herein is the secret to peace, joy, contentment. The secret to a spirit of thanksgiving no matter the outward circumstance - the abiding favor and love of God for His children. No life circumstance can steal away from us this blessed truth of God's favor for us. He loves us, even when we are in the rage of the storm. The heart of the great and all-powerful God of the universe longingly yearns for close, intimate proximity to our hearts - even in the midst of our life's toughest trials. Oh blessed thought this is! Life may beat us down. Satan may seek to break our bodies and spirit. But throw at us what they may, our life circumstances cannot separate us from the love of God!

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35,38-39.

And oh how we should be thankful for the love and favor of God towards us! To think that He who reigns the universe; the source of all majesty, power and glory, wants to restore us into His eternal kingdom is indescribable and should fill us with joy. In the end, what really matters is that the love and favor of God for us remains. Our health may wane, our possessions may dwindle, we may have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but whatever happens, the love of God remains. As such, there is always a reason to be thankful :)

Papa's little helper

2007-11-08T06:02:00.000-05:00

Look at this contraption we devised so that Josiah could help me clear the road in front of our house of all the pine needles. He was able to do pretty much all of the work! It was his idea to pull the rake with his bike, I simply helped him tie it to the frame.

He is quite the helper!

"Come see what I made..."

2007-11-08T04:05:00.001-05:00

Whether with wood blocks, lincoln logs, legos, household furniture, boxes, or any matter that occupies three dimensional space, our two little inventive men love to build. It is interesting to see how creative young minds can be. This being said, one can imagine how the words contained in the title of this post are often heard in our household. Yes, "come see what I made" is now a saying firmly etched in our minds by repeated utterance. What a joy it brings to Josiah and Enoch to have moma and papa come and see what they have made. The look of admiration on our faces, the words of praise from our lips (not the sort to build pride in self but to encourage them in the simplicity of their innocent enjoyment), seem to them like all the world. Just to know that the people they love most, moma and papa, are pleased with what they have done is such a comfort and reassurance to them...

In pondering this, I thought of our Heavenly Father who likewise calls to us excitedly, "Come see what I made." What he has "made" and beckons us partake of is life eternal, restoration of man to God, victory over sin and death, everlasting fullness of joy, bliss beyond compare - all of this and much, much more he longs for us to enjoy with Him. As we hear God's excited call "come see what I made" what has been our response? Would we dare break the heart of our children in response to their calls and not respond? Would we dare be so cruel as to, in viewing the work of their hands, crush their spirit by turning away without a word of admiration or approval, no loving words, or maybe even words of scorn and rebuke. I am sure that we would not... but are we doing this to our Heavenly Father? Are we refusing to answer His call to our hearts to see and experience for ourselves what He has made? Or have we already answered His call and seen of that inheritance He has for us but by our backsliding make daily choices that seemlingly say "I have no interest in what you have made!"

Let us not bruise the heart of God, let us excitedly answer His call, "Come see what I made."

___________________________________________________________________

Another thought came to mind, just as a child longs for the approval of his Father, may there burn in our hearts a desire to receive the approving glance of our Heavenly Father. That we would long to hear those words of affirmation from Him, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant."

Enoch defying laws of physics by buiding upwards... and sideways!

One of those come and see what I made moments...

"Herzlichen Glckwunsch zum Geburtstag!" (Happy Birthday!)

2007-10-27T21:56:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to utilize this platform to wish my own "papa" a happy birthday all the way down in the south of Brazil. He is the one whose name I carry... he is the "senior", I am the "junior".

He was born to German-Brazilian parents, Frederick Ferdinand Kümpel and Delila Renck Kümpel, in the small town of Nao-Me-Toque (translated "do not touch me"), Brazil in October, 1940. Quite the inquisitive mind, he is the jack of all trades. In his endeavors, whether whitecollar or bluecollar, academic or physical - he is quick to display aptitude and competence...
____________________________________________________________________

Dad, you are in our thoughts and prayers. We are thinking of you... We love you.
Happy birthday from all of us!

Grandpa enjoying his newborn grandson...

"Grandpa" during his visit to California in 2005

The boys took to him very quickly :)

Entering the Baptismal Waters...

2007-10-27T20:46:00.000-04:00

Earlier today one of our nephews/cousins, Eric , entered the baptismal waters and publically expressed his desire to enlist in God's endtime army of spiritual soldiers. The event ocurred at approximately 1120 am at his home church in California. Although we were not able to be with him, our thoughts and our prayers were, and continue to be, with him. We were gladenned to hear that his uncles, aunties, grandparents, and many cousins were there to support him and witness this special occasion.

As you have entered the watery grave and risen in the newness of Christ's life, we pray that His empowering grace may sustain and strengthen you daily. A great work lies ahead for you. His dreams for your life are great... Trust and abide in Him, commit your ways to Him moment by moment and He shall use you mightily....

"Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest." Joshua 1:9

We love you very much dear Eric,
Your uncle, auntie, and two cousins...

Ever helpful, Eric picking some oranges for Grandma Cida

A gifted musician

Eric with dad, grandpa, and brother

The last 6 weeks... in pictures

2007-10-22T14:41:00.000-04:00

Josiah proudly

displays birthday

card he received

from Grandma

& Grandpa

Mama reads to

a very attentive

audience...

Josiah enjoys a

little "special

somethin' "

"After extensive and

exhaustive taste-testing,

I highly recommend

Vegan Cupcakes Take Over

the World! "

"Would you care

for some carob

fudge cupcakes?

These are delightful!"

"I sure do love

my grandparents!"

Josiah showing Enoch cool light Grandpa Lionel

included in the Aloha package received from Hawaii.

Such resourcefulness is refreshing!

"Yes, this hat will do just fine!"

Josiah, walking stick, trail - a familiar view for moma and papa...

Hiking can be tiring...

A well-deserved break.

"Measure me Papa!"

"Josiah, you're nealy half the height of this tree."

"Enoch, well, you're nearly half the height of your brother."

Under a bridge as we go

from Southern Lake

to Northern Lake at

Waller Mill Park,

Williamsburg, VA

Being on the water

is always a blast!

Always within

reach of each other...

With friends at Hartland Institute near Rapidan, Virginia

What a blessing it was to see these friends again!

My good friend Mr. Kinjo, one of a kind...

The Kumpel, Kinjo, and Acosta troop makes its way through a Hartland neighborhood

Josiah enjoying his friends and the steam bath machine...

Enoch just had to join in the steam bath fun!

Enoch impressing the girls with his piano playing... wishful thinking papa!

Maybe a few years from now... :)

Papa wondering, "When's lunch?"

Can you spot Moma and Enoch in the middle of the picture?

Way atop a mountain in Shenandoah National Park... hold on tight, it's quite a fall!

The boys enjoying hanging out with "Luping" (Erica)

Josiah and the gals hanging out in the Kinjo "Cross-Country" Trailer

Hanging out in a 15 passenger van - fun times, good memories...

We will treasure the times shared with the Kinjo and Acosta families...

Josiah and his "bestest friend" Luping (Erica)

That's all folks... Until next time!

A Wonderfully Busy Month

2007-10-15T11:51:00.000-04:00

The weeks are just flying by! It's been a month since our last post, but so many wonderful and challenging things have been taking place in our lives during our absence. Just a few of the highlights include Josiah's 5th birthday, Enoch's potty-training, Kalei's surgery, Junior's finishing his orientation at work, our family going to Hartland to visit with special friends we haven't seen for a few years....The list goes on. We will try to post some pictures very soon.

During this time Enoch has really "blossomed". He is no longer that shy little guy. He is becoming more and more outgoing every day. He still is our little snuggler, but he is definitely learning independence quickly. It's a little sad to think that our little baby is no longer a little baby...but yet that's life and we are glad to see him growing in his language and motor skills every day.

Also, the past month has been such a spiritual blessing for our family as we continue to learn more about our rich Adventist heritage. I (unlike Junior) was never very fond of history in school, but Christian history (most notably the Reformation) and Adventist history is a totally different story. As I learn more about the great reformers like the Waldenses, Wycliffe, Huss, Calvin, Luther, Tyndale; and as I learn about the great advent preachers and missionaries like Wolff, Miller, Bates, Loughborough, Edson, Andrews, James & Ellen White my heart is inspired to live like these great men and women. Their love for God's truth, as found in the inspired pages of the Bible, led them to give their all. Money, reputation, even their lives was of little importance when compared to eternal life in heaven with their Savior. They desired that all would be there and share in the riches of glory. Our earnest prayer not only for us, but for you as our loving family and special friends is that we may "count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord" Philippians 3:7. Please continue to pray for our family. You are always in our prayers! We love you all very much!

Grady Get-Together

2007-09-13T22:18:00.000-04:00

Say, "Cheese!" (Josiah and Enoch say, "Cheese-less!")

Children are so special! You can't help but love their joy and innocence. We enjoyed getting all the kids together at the Grady's for their informal house warming gathering.

Pass the crusts to me, please!

The brothers

Never too big for zooming around.

YEEEEHHAAAAWWWW!!!!

Let's jump together!

No training wheels...
Brenda, you're such a patient mom ! :-)
Almost got it!

Day at the Rappahannock River

2007-09-11T20:24:00.000-04:00

We had such a wonderful time with the Ware's at their cottage by the river. The drive was beautiful as we drove through farmlands. We saw rows and rows of corn...which we were able to eat (actually, devour) for lunch.

It was a gorgeous day--light breeze blowing, just warm enough to go swimming, and no pesky, biting bugs. The boys could not resist getting wet. While the boys were swimming and "fishing", Mama got to hang out with Josiah's Sabbath-school teacher - "Teacher Harriett" ( as she is affectionately called by Josiah). All I can say is that I hope I have half as much energy and spunk as she does when I am her age. I love talking with her about homeschooling, vegan cooking, and everything else. She's hilarious!...And she's an excellent cook.

Lunch was scrumptuous. Everything tasted "fresh from the garden". Roasted potatoes, corn, green beans, ratatouille (eggplant stew), and sliced white peaches for dessert. The yummy lunch increased my desire to live on a farm and grow all my own fruits and vegetables!

We weren't able to ride on the boat after lunch because the water was choppier, but maybe another time. However, we were taken on a little tour of the town where Dr. Ware grew up...lots of history.

Enoch Kamali'i - Master Conductor

2007-08-30T22:16:00.000-04:00

Just thought we'd try the new video feature available on Blogger...

Sorry this clip is not the most recent - from this past February 2007,

but it is a classic. Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

5-Star Camping

2007-08-26T08:50:00.000-04:00

Junior found out that he had 3 days off so we decided to go camping. While the 2 munchkins were sound asleep we packed up, and when the sun was rising we woke them up and put them in the car. They were very surprised! Spontaneous is always more exciting! We headed off to Sherando Lake in the George Washington National Forest. The scenery is gorgeous, and the accomodations are definitely 5-star!

We're used to primitive camping where there are no showers, you have to dig a hole for a toilet, you have to bring in all your water, and your campsite is anywhere you choose. Camping at Sherando Lake is like resort-style camping. The facilities are extremely clean. They have flushing toilets, hot showers, water pumps with cool, potable spring water, and cute campsites with everything you need (table, fire pit, etc.).

From sunrise to sunset there was always something new to do and to explore. We could go swimming, rafting, hiking,....or napping (for Mama and Enoch)! It was wonderful being out in nature all day; continually seeing evidences of God's big and beautiful love for us. It was definitely re-creation for our souls--true recreation!

Beachfront at Sherando Lake

Now THAT looks fun!

Training Josiah in the art of starting a campfire

Papa's little shadow

Breakfast under the trees

Our forest home for a few days.

Mealtime is always a happy time...

Just a couple of gentle steps up to the outhouse...

Just kidding! Something much better -

a beautiful lake and mountain view.

Josiah leading our explorative forest expedition

A nice rock for a short rest

Can you name this lizard?

Look Papa, an Eastern Box Turtle!

Nothing like resting in Papa's arms after a good hike!

Refreshing dip to cool off after hiking...

What are they all looking at ???

Josiah growing much more comfortable in the water

Mama and Josiah after swimming to the island

The captain and his crew ready for the journey...

Kalei ever happy to be with the "whole gang"

Josiah ...ever at the helm of the ship

Love this site!

2007-08-16T22:35:00.000-04:00

Today we listened to a wonderful true mission story on http://pathlightsjr.com/. My good friend Jasmine told me about it some time ago, and we've enjoyed this sight ever since. They have Bible, nature, mission, character-building, history stories, as well as arts and activity ideas. They are continually adding more resources so keep checking. It seems like they're adding a lot of audio mp3 stories. This site is useful especially for homeschooling parents who are looking for solid educational resources, but even if you don't have children I think you'll enjoy this sight. You can also order some inexpensive books, CDs, etc. Check it out!

What's dat?!

2007-08-07T11:56:00.000-04:00

I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works;

and that my soul knoweth right well.

-Psalm 139:14

The "little bear" Enoch is very talkative these days. His main question is: What's dat? Usually he's referring to a hair strand that ended up in his mouth or hand, a clump of dust he found on the floor, or a little bug. But other times he's curious about other things....

During the spring and summer we find many animals in our backyard and on our excursions. Here are just a few of the many creatures that God has marvellously made.

What's dat?

It's a teeny weeny orange frog we found hopping in our trail as we walked. Isn't he cute!

What's dat?

A mother duck and her growing ducklings following closely behind her. I wish my little ones stayed that close behind me!

What's dat?

A "hot dog" (who thinks she's a person) swinging with her "brothers".

What's dat?

Don't know....but when I get home I'll look it up. I think it's an alligator snapping turtle. You don't want to swim in there, li'l bear.

What's dat?

She's our bunny friend who lives in our garden. Yes, our garden is for feeding the wildlife.

What's dat?

Another diner in the Kumpel garden. I think it's some kind of muskrat or nutria or groundhog.

Simply beautiful.

Miss Giggly saying, "Cheese!"

Enoch pondering the deeper issues of life--What's for lunch?

Josiah's "treasure"! He's a boy alright!

That's all folks. Time to head on home.

Happy Birthday to a special friend, wife, and "moma".

2007-07-22T03:22:00.000-04:00

A sincere prayer from Papa, Josiah, and Enoch...

Dear Heavenly Father,

What a blessing it is that you have given us mama to share our lives together... your child, the daughter you love so much. We thank you with all our hearts for this most precious gift.

She is SO special to us, more than our feeble words could ever say.
We thank you for your watchful care over her - for leading and guiding her, for holding her hand each step of the way. Please continue to keep her close to your heart... embrace her and never let her go. We love her just too much to wish it any other way.

Thank you dear Father...

It's Good To Be Seen!

2007-07-19T19:56:00.000-04:00

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Some of the children singing on promotion Sabbath. How precious they are!

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"But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant."
--Matthew 23:11

After preparing the hot food, filling the paper bags with sandwiches and other goodies, getting the juice and water in the coolers, and loading everything up in the cars, we hold hands to have prayer. The prayers are not only for the people that we are going to minister to, but for the privilege we have to serve our fellow man.

We jump into our vehicles and head to our first of four stops in the downtown area. When we pull up to the side of the street there doesn't seem to be much activity; only a few loiterers are hanging out by a vacant lot and small building. But oftentimes in less than a minute a crowd gathers. They were waiting for us. A lookout person was waiting for us, and when he saw the familiar cars and people he signaled the rest who were probably taking shelter from the elements.

Before the tables and food are setup, many of the people gather around Millie's "goodies". Dedicated to helping the less fortunate she has made it her personal ministry for the past 8 or 9 years (ever since this ministry began) to gather used clothes and shoes from family members and friends for "Friends Serving Friends" Sunday. The clothing is sometimes even more popular than the food!

The food table is all setup. We offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the food and for our friends, and some uplifting scripture verses are read. All heads are bowed. Then the food is distributed. Josiah tries to help as much as he can, usually getting the drinks and carrying supplies (with Papa's patient guidance). Since I have Enoch I can't do too much of the physical work, but I enjoy talking with the people. I saw a man I recognized from last month named Chuck. I asked him where his friend John was because we had talked at length in June. Chuck said he didn't see John that day. I told Chuck that we were glad to see him. And then he said something so profound (he probably didn't even mean it in this way) that his words have been stuck in my mind for the past week and a half. He replied, "It's good to be seen!" as he smiled a big smile showing he had a number of teeth missing.

"It's good to be seen!". I've been thinking about his response over and over in my mind. How many times have I not wanted to see them--the poor, destitute, homeless, mentally ill, addicts? How many times have I tried not to see those people holding signs asking for food or hands open for money? My reasoning for dismissing them may be valid: "They may use the money for drugs or alcohol", "People can't be trusted today", "I don't have the time or money right now", "They made some wrong choices in life".

Then I think about my lovely Jesus and how He has so mercifully dealt with me--a sinner! Do I deserve His mercy and grace? Do I deserve salvation and the hope of eternal life? Do I deserve to be seen by Him? No way! Just because I may go to church every Sabbath, study my Bible, participate in ministries, pray every morning and evening...do these things make me any more worthy of God's love? No. I am still an unworthy sinner. God could've turned his back on me and forgotten about me, but instead He actively displayed such tender compassion. Jeremiah 31:3 says, "Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Oh, how I am glad that my God sees poor, helpless sinners like me and draws me to Him with cords of love! It's so good to be seen.

If God sees and loves a sinner like me, shouldn't I see and love the poor and the homeless? Yes, Chuck, it is so good to see you. What a blessing it is to call you friend.

"The Lord saw that it was essential for us to be surrounded with the poor, who in their helplessness and need would lay claim to our ministration. They would be an aid to us in perfecting Christian character; for in providing food for their tables and clothing for their bodies, we would cultivate the attributes of the character of Christ. If we had not the poor among us, we would lose much; for in order to perfect Christian character, we must deny self."

--Our High Calling, p. 198

6 Years Together With My Best Friend

2007-07-11T13:12:00.000-04:00

Once again I am playing "catch up" with my posts! Is anyone else out there the same as me? It seems as if I'm always writing about something that happened 1-2 weeks ago. Oh well...I know you all understand!

Junior and I celebrated a very special day -- July 1--our anniversary! It's been six years since we committed our lives to each other on a gorgeous day in Hilo, HI. If you don't know Hilo, let me just tell you...it rains OFTEN! However, when it's not raining it is BEAUTIFUL....actually the rain is BEAUTIFUL, too, just not on your wedding day! Our wedding day was perfect.

I remember Junior sweating in his tux while we were taking pictures. I think people asked him if he was nervous! He said no, but he was just hot. And then during the actual church ceremony it looked (from the pictures) that Junior was wiping tears with his handkerchief, but he was actually just wiping sweat from his forehead (since there's no A/C in most churches in Hawaii). We always laugh together about his sweaty wedding day! Thankfully I was cool!

I am privileged to be married to Junior. He is not only a wonderfully kind and gentle husband, but also a wonderfully fun and devoted father and friend. We've shared very special times together. For me, I enjoy the simple things that we do as a family or as a couple. I enjoy watching him work outside in the backyard and garden with the boys while I wash dishes. I enjoy going for family walks around the neighborhood or hikes out in nature. I enjoy cooking Sunday brunch (our favorite meal) together. I enjoy our "nights in" when we have our cafe in our kitchen and talk about everything, as we sip our postum (a non-caffeinated, veggie version of coffee)...yep, I admit we are an "old married couple"!:-)

For our 6th anniversary, we decided to go to First Landing State Park since we had never been there before. The park is located at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, close to the spot that Captain John Smith landed in 1607 before establishing the first permanent English settlement at Jamestown. We had so much fun! The boys loved the beach! We were able to walk through a short trail after the beach. Spanish moss was hanging all over the place and we got to walk over some swampy areas enabling us to get a different perspective of this very unique environment. A definite plus was that there weren't many mosquitoes either!

I Am The Good Shepherd

2007-06-25T22:50:00.000-04:00

I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

--John 10:11

Being a mother of 2 boys who love "reading books" (i.e. having Mama read to them) I have the privilege of learning so many things from children's books. I'm learning things that I never knew before, or understanding things better that I already knew. I've learned so much about God's Word, plants, animals, nature, cultures, farming, and even trucks! Lately we've been enjoying going through the "I AM" scripture memorization book for pre-schoolers, and last night we learned the above verse. The boys (and I!) loved it. Even Enoch is repeating this verse (of course in his own way)!

The good shepherd guides his sheep to green pastures and cool waters. He protects them from wolves and lions and any other harmful animals and situations. He actively seeks after any lost sheep--even if that means getting hurt in the process. I could see in Josiah's and Enoch's eyes that in their own way as children they were understanding that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Jesus guides His children to just the right place where they will receive all that they need (not only physically, but more importantly spiritually). Jesus protects us from Satan's evil attacks and temptations. And the part that especially touched our hearts is that Jesus actively seeks for His lost children so that they can return to the fold and be safe. Jesus sought so desperately for His lost "sheep" that He gave the ultimate sacrifice--His own life! At the end of the lesson it asks the question, "Have you asked Jesus to be your Shepherd?" Josiah said YES! Enoch didn't say anything, but as he grows older I pray that he may whole-heartedly say YES as well.

Jesus surely is the Good Shepherd. Sometimes I think He is too good to me. Often I find myself the recipient of his many blessings, and yet I am guilty of not thanking Him for them. Here are just a couple of the many blessings that I want to acknowledge and thank my Good Shepherd for.

I'm thankful for Grandma Cida and her wonderful influence in our home and family. It is so beautiful to see a grandmother that is so devoted to the Lord influencing her grandchildren to follow the Lord, too. Josiah loved hearing voluminous mission stories and character-building stories from Grandma Cida's memory. He also enjoyed holding her hand on walks and praying with her in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Nothing brings a mother more joy than seeing her child imitate a devoted Christian. I am grateful that Grandma Cida is safely back in So. Cal. after her wonderfully memorable 3-day train ride. Soon she'll be headed back to Brazil where there is a lot of Bible work to be done in the city of Praia Grande. Please keep her and the people down there in your prayers!

I also want to praise the Lord for holding my Grandma Lucy (Golden Grams) in his hands over the past couple of months. She had been feeling very bad, but by God's grace what could've been the beginnings of Alzheimers along with other complications turned out to be something else. It was still life-threatening, but since it was caught in time and since she has a truly loving and caring ohana (family in Hawaiian) she is doing very well. Many tears were seen and prayers heard, and the Lord in his tender mercy answered in such a remarkable way! Jesus surely is THE BEST SHEPHERD!

Here are more pics (not in order) from the past month.

Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you!

Jesus loves you, Dear Enoch. Happy Birthday to you!

We love you very much, lil' guy!

Grandma Cida and Josiah with Pastor Dan and wife Lillie.

May we all be able to say... YES!

Josiah wonders... "Hmmm, how can I smile with food in my mouth?"

Zoom!

Let's go over there!

Grandma Cida having fun with the boys...

Tickle, tickle, tickle!

Josiah picked Grandma Cida a lily to put in her hair.

Enjoying Papa's Day together...

Wishing Grandpa Lionel and Grandpa Alipio a Happy Fathers Day, too!

Enoch turns 2, Grandma Cida turns... :-)

2007-06-11T20:42:00.000-04:00

It's been awhile since we last posted, but even though this is more than a week late I couldn't let two special occasions go by without letting y'all know. June 2nd marked Grandma Cida's birthday, and just two days later Enoch turned the big 2!

Time has surely flown by! I still remember walking and walking so Mr. Enoch would come out, and finally giving birth to my little bundle of joy a week late on the Sabbath of June 4, 2005 at 11:01 a.m. My first impressions of him were--"He's very blue!" and "He looks just like Josiah!". However, time surely changes many things. He no longer is blue (thankfully!) and he does not look "just like" his big brother. The consensus is that he has taken more after Mama's side of the family--wider nose, wide Hawaiian feet, shorter, stockier, and there's something about his stare that is reminiscent of me when I was his age. (We still aren't sure where Enoch got his wavy/curly hair.) The only person that thought Enoch looked like Papa was "Grandpa" Cesar. He drove down from Richmond to celebrate with us and to visit with us after being away in Brazil for almost a year.

We had planned on having a picnic, but the weather didn't permit that. Also, Enoch had a fever and was sleeping much of the day... so we instead opted to have a late brunch-like meal at our house that, in keeping with "Brazilian - Hawaiian time", turned out more like "linner". We had a wonderful time catching up. We praise the Lord for His abundant goodness towards Grandma Cida and Enoch. Another year of life is truly a blessing that many in developing countries never get to see.

OOOHHH... AHHHH... WOW!

"All the festivities are tiring me out..."

Celebrating Enoch and Grandma Cida's Special Day

Welcome Vovo Cida!

2007-05-23T21:14:00.000-04:00

Sweet repose after 1.5 miles hiked to Northwest River

We are now privileged to have grandma (vovo in portuguese) Cida with us for a few weeks in Viginia. We are very glad to see her after her long absence from the US for the last ~ 2 1/2 years. We have been enjoying our time together, making the best of these moments knowing she will soon have to part and return to Brazil and her work there for the Lord.

This past Tuesday we made our way to Northwest River Park, which afforded Josiah his first opportunity to ride in a paddle boat - and Grandma was there to witness this momentous occasion! Both boys are fond of water, although in different ways. Enoch loves to be in water, Josiah loves to be on top of water (i.e., BOATS of any shape or size :) They both enjoyed the ride very much and would have continued on it the whole day, if possible. It was nice to be surrounded by the beauty of God's creation as we walked the ~ 2.5 miles out to the river and back. Grandma Cida really enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere that allowed us time to talk and fellowship together. As always, the boys loved every moment at the park - Enoch Kamali'i wanting to stop at every puddle to throw rocks in and Mr. Adenosine Triphosphate Josiah Imipono running circles around us all on the trail. We had a blast and will treasure the memories!

Enoch Kamali'i, Mama, Vovo Cida, and Josiah Imipono

Got sticks?

You betcha!

A moment for pictures along the trail...

"Look grandma, I'm in a paddle boat!"

The Kumpel Family: Nicole, Josiah, Enoch, and Papa

Admiring a friendly bear...

Three Special Mothers

2007-05-13T00:05:00.000-04:00

Honour thy father and thy mother:
that thy days may be long upon the land
which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
--Exodus 20:12

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
but a woman that feareth the Lord,
she shall be praised.
--Proverbs 31:30

The Lord has blessed us immensely by giving us wonderful mothers. Here are the three special women in our lives:

Nicole's Mom

Mom in the kitchen cooking up something yummy!

The most influential person in my life is my mom. She has taught me, and is still teaching me, by word and example what it means to be a Christian mother -- allowing God's love be the generating force of everything done and said. She is very devoted to her family, always thinking of our happiness before her own. The seemingly "little things" that she does go a long way to show just how much she cares. Whether it be sending a card, giving someone a call, sharing fruits, or sharing her yummy cooking, love in action is displayed in her life.

Undeterred by even the most unfriendly-looking person, she easily strikes up conversation with anyone--while on the plane, walking at the park, shopping at the store, or worshipping at church...anywhere! She exemplifies what it means in Proverbs 18:24: "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly...". She "introduced" herself and "started a conversation" with me about 29 years ago and we've been best friends ever since!!!

I love her with all my heart. And the longer I am a mother myself I grow to love her even more as I understand all that she tried to give to and instill in her three children. Love you mom! You're beautiful inside and out!

Junior's Mom

While in Brazil, mom has her family close to her heart.

This very special young lady above is my mom. Born in the little town of Santo Antonio da Patrulha in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, she was born into a large family that was to comprise 8 children. At the age of 19, shortly after marrying my father, they moved to California where she was to reside until 2004. She is the mother of 5 children: Fernando, Sonia, Sandra, Gigi, and myself - Junior. She is a grandmother to 11 little ones now ranging in age from 1 to 17.

She is a wonderful, tender-hearted mother that has recently come to know the Lord in a special way. She has dedicated herself to doing His work and has been working with the people of her native land of Brazil for the last 1.5 - 2 years - going door-to-door, giving bible studies, preaching, and airing an almost-daily 30 minute truth-filled program on the local radio station in the city of Praia Grande. My siblings and I now have the privilege of spending some time with her as she is currently visiting in the United States.

It makes me SO happy to see my mom walking ever closer to Christ. I couldn't ask for a better gift than to see my mom safe in His embrace. May the Lord continue to richly bless and lead you as you seek to serve Him, leading others to our eternal home...

Nicole's Grandma

"Golden Grams" and Nicole hanging out at the park.

My grandma has got the kindest heart, especially when it comes to her family. My brothers and I used to call her "Golden Grams" because it sounded like the cereal called Golden Grahams. However, there is no better name for her because she is golden! Actually, she is worth more than gold...she is priceless!

So long Bernard!

2007-05-09T22:05:00.000-04:00

We recently suffered the loss of our faithful friend Bernard, an Eastern Box turtle that lived in our backyard for the last year or so. It appears that he has wandered away from our yard to greener pastures beyond. We had grown quite fond of this little fellow and will miss him greatly. We only pray that he may be safe and in good health wherever he may be. So long dear friend...

Josiah fascinated as he watches his little friend.

Bernard trailing behind Josiah and Enoch...

Isn't he handsome?

Old buddies "shooting the breeze"...

Living the life of Eden

2007-05-04T07:34:00.000-04:00

The Sabbath and the family were alike instituted in Eden, and in God's purpose they are indissolubly linked together. On this day more than on any other, it is possible for us to live the life of Eden....In His [God's] own day He preserves for the family opportunity for communion with Him, with nature, and with one another.

--Child Guidance, p. 535, 536

What would it be like to live the life of Eden? What did sinless Adam and Eve experience while abiding in their new garden home? It seems incomprehensible to fallen man the unsurpassing peace and joy that pervaded their very existence of blissful perfection as they walked and talked with God, and joyously worked side-by-side cultivating the land and caring for the animals.

Wonderfully, though, we are promised that on the Sabbath, God's holy day, the family can unite together in a special way drawing closer to it's Maker and to living the life of Eden. The family and the Sabbath, two instituions created at the beginning of this world, although being attacked relentlessly today by the very one who tempted the first couple, are the very means by which we can experience here on a sin-filled earth a little of the life of Eden, the earthly garden before evil.

As a family we enjoy the Sabbath very much. Guarding the precious hours from sunset to sunset and dedicating them to spending them in a special way with our Creator sends our thoughts and spirits heavenward. We, oftentimes, spend a part of the Sabbath afternoon in nature where we see the handiwork of God in the magnificent trees, delicate flowers, and unique animals. For the children, especially, after spending the morning hours sitting still in church, a hike balances the day with a chance to release ATP (energy) while exploring God's works!!! For us parents, as well, a hike is the perfect time to commune heart-to-heart with God.

Last Sabbath we had perfect weather in the afternoon for hiking on one of our favorite trails--The Noland Trail. The sun's rays peaked through the openings in the canopy, casting patches of light on the foliage underneath. Tiny flowers along the trail were treasures for Josiah among all the greenery. The newly opened leaves of bright spring green reminded us of the new life in Christ. The Father's tender mercies were displayed as we observed the turtles, ducks, and geese, and witnessed how He watches and cares for them, too. All nature testified to our hearts of God's great love for us.

What would it be like to live the life of Eden? What will it be like to live in Eden restored? I can't wait to find out! But for now I love the glimpses of what it will be like as I spend the Sabbath together with family communing with my Heavenly Father while walking in His creation!

Getting started.

Patches of light filter through the leaves onto the forest floor.

Mama, Josiah, Enoch, and Kalei as seen from a distance.

Can you see what Josiah spotted on the edge of this log? Yes, it's a turtle...

"Wait for me brother!"

At home amongst the trees...

Josiah's Listening Pleasures...

2007-05-01T02:37:00.000-04:00

We received something in the mail this past Friday that thoroughly absorbed Josiah's interest and attention. It's a CD from "Keep the Faith for Kids" and includes character building stories along with songs for children. Josiah was glued to the radio and wanted to hear the story again and again!

We would highly encourage any young ones out there to subscribe to this free CD...

You can do so by e-mail at subscription@ktfministry.org or by calling (540) 672-3553. CD's are sent out occasionally, as they are released. You can also visit http://www.ktfministry.org to request previous CD's.

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Let us all be careful with what we allow our little ones to see and hear - especially through the powerfully seductive influence of worldly media. We have gained a blessing from a very selective use of media materials... things such as scripture memorization CD's (http://www.thywordcreations.com/) as well as downloadable MP3 books (Christ Our Saviour, etc.) and MP3 sermons for kids. We have also occasionally utilized nature DVD's on our computer to foster a love for God's creation. Interestingly, Josiah enjoys Mission Spotlight DVD's that highlight God's work in all of our SDA world divisions.

We are looking at getting a couple of DVD series for occasional viewing entitled Keeper's of the Flame (Adventist Church history, see below) and THE SEVENTH DAY: Revelations From The Lost Pages of History (see below). We think that these will be a blessing to Josiah's curious and inquisitive mind.

Christian music that is uplifting and free of the world's influences (syncopation and beats) are wonderful for maintaining a heavenly atmosphere around us. Scripture songs (http://www.scripturesongs.com/) are one such example. But there are countless others covering a wide spectrum of music categories. For a sound, extensive collection of sacred music, see Orion Publishing at: http://www.orion-publishing.org/store/listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=94

We would encourage all to prayerfully consider the influences around our children. There is sufficient selfishness and evil present in our own hearts to earnestly war against that we don't need the additional exposure that Hollywood gladly provides...

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Keeper's of the Flame

In a vivid way to learn or teach Adventist Church history, Dr. Allen Lindsay takes you to locations in Europe, North America and Australia, to retell the great stories of controversy and faith that have led to the emergence of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Through each of the eight episodes, dramatic vignettes capture the greatest moments of Martin Luther, the Waldenses, Calvin, Zwingli, and John Knox. The light of truth has shone through time and is pointing to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Documentary and drama combine to reveal the early life of Ellen White. What she saw in an 1863 vision gave members of the church a lasting advantage in matters of health and medicine. You see the guiding influence of the prophetic gift in her own actions and in the early history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Dr. Lindsay examines the biblical basis for prophecy and the role of the church as the great controversy moves toward its climax. (Contains English, German, Spanish, and Polish languages.)

THE SEVENTH DAY: Revelations From The Lost Pages of History

This five-part documentary series traces the history of the Sabbath across the centuries and around the world.

Above available at http://www.tagnet.org/llt/products.shtml

"Go bike-ride"

2007-04-30T20:31:00.000-04:00

Yes, you probably guessed right. This expression, "Go bike ride", is attributable to our littlest Kumpel family member (Enoch) and has now become a part of his everyday vernacular.

This past friday, Mr. Josiah Imipono and his faithful companion Mr. Enoch Kamali'i went on a little biking excursion through a nearby neighborhood. The little ones are quite expert in their riding, with Josiah approximating the speed of sound on his bicycle and Enoch instinctively applying the laws of physics on his tricycle via the now perfected "Enoch scoot" - inspired by his handicap of not yet being able to reach the pedals! Although Mr. Enoch could have continued another 15 or so hours in this pleasurous endeavor, we decided to turn back after about 40 minutes and head back for a stop at the local school playground. We have included some pictures for your viewing enjoyment :)

Enoch spots something of interest and notifies us of his finding...

Josiah and Enoch approaching Mach 1 speeds

Innocent fun on the swing...

"You and me... we're in this thing called 'life' together. You got my back and I got yours..."

April 23, 2007--Congratulations Mom & Dad on 39 years together!

2007-04-26T20:23:00.000-04:00

This past Monday marked a very special milestone for my parents, and I couldn't let this opportunity go by without sharing with all of you these two very special people on this very special occasion.

They were married in Fresno, CA where they had met while attending Cal State Fresno. Through the Lord's leading they were baptized into the Seventh-day Adventist Church after receiving Bible studies from some Bible workers. After completing law school at UC Davis, a few years later, Dad managed to get Mom to leave her home state to live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Even though it is "The Big Island" I'm sure it seemed a little small for her coming from California! Somehow, though, Mom has become a kama'aina (local) and can't imagine living anywhere else. The Big Island has been their home ever since. Although they have varied hobbies and interests they both enjoy staying very active--in church and at the gym! They love to stay spiritually and physically fit!

It seems that the years only seem to bring them closer, and this is due largely to their faith in Christ. There's so much that can be said about how through their marriage they have blessed and are continuing to bless others...but we'll save that for next year and the big 40th anniversary celebration! Just wanted everyone to know these are 2 VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE and I am blessed to call them MOM & DAD! Congratulations and I love you! May the Lord continue to be at the center of your marriage.

Your daughter,
Nicole

P.S. Junior, Josiah, Enoch, and Kalei (our Hawaiian dachshund) send their love, too.

We are NOT in Brazil :)

2007-04-26T16:09:00.000-04:00

Apparently, there may have been some confusion due to an earlier post. WE ARE NOT IN BRAZIL :) Our friends (the De Senna family) are. We simply posted excerpts of their newsletter on our site to publicize their efforts there. We plan to post their newsletters as we receive them. We (the Kumpel family) are located in southeast Virginia.

Three Angels' Chorale

2007-04-25T22:08:00.000-04:00

We had the privilege of having Hartland's 3 Angels Chorale (http://www.3angelschorale.com/)
at our church this past Sabbath. They sounded wonderful and we look forward to this time next year when they will be back! Hartland Institute (http://www.hartland.edu/) is a self-supporting college for SDA's that seeks to provide a strong Bible and SOP-based curriculum in order to rightly train young men and women for harvesting souls for God's kingdom. The school is located near Rapidan, VA and is about 2.5-3 hours away from us.

The potluck meal afterwards was especially yummy (Nicole contributed 2 delicious vegan meals :)
Maybe she can share some of her specialties soon...

After lunch we headed off to meet some friends at GrandView Nature Preserve (2+ miles of protected beach) , where the quiet walk along the water is always a welcomed retreat. The kiddo's especially enjoy walking along the beach, finding all sorts of interesting things along the way (rocks of all shapes and colors, shells, blue crabs, horseshoe crabs, etc.).

Our Friends Aluisio de Senna & Family Launch Revelation 14 Ministries... Now Serving as Missionaries in the Amazon!

2007-04-19T08:08:00.000-04:00

Excerpts from a newsletter sent to us by our friends Aluisio, Sandy, Juliana, and Joshua de Senna...
______________________________________________

The following are excerpts from Aluisio's First Newsletter...

GREETINGS FROM THE AMAZON!

We safely arrived in Manaus, Brazil, in the beginning of December,2006. The Lord has been blessing us tremendously and giving us many opportunities to spread the message of PresentTruth, putting us to work immediately upon our arrival.We are presently staying with Aluisio’s sister and brother-in-law at the 7thDay Adventist Agro-Industrial boarding school one hour outside ofManaus, while we are developing the land the Lord provided us with and preparing to build our house. Our goal is to be living in our own house by the summer.We are in the process of building greenhouses on part of our property to supply much-needed vegetables to Manaus and surrounding communities. A lot of work is involved, as most of the land is undeveloped.

Much time was spent in clearing the area we chose for the greenhouses and cutting down trees to use for construction. We also plan to plant groves of orange trees and acres of sod, also filling a niche in the market. In this way, we will be self-sufficient and able to carry on the Lord’s work without financial burdens. The Lord has been guiding and blessing us in this endeavor. We have had the opportunity to preach in several churches, do a week of prayer, teach Sabbath School lessons, and do 1-1 bible studies.

WEEK OF PRAYER: JANUARY 27-FEBRUARY 3

We recently had the privilege of presenting a Week of Prayer in one of the community churches: Topics covered were:

Origin and purpose ofthe 7th Day Adventist Church
3 Angels’ Messages
What is PresentTruth?
The Sealing of God’s People
The Shaking
Isaiah 58
Psalm 91
Sabbath Reform

WORK WITH THE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY

God has opened up a door we never imagined we would enter when we first made plans to move here. Since our arrival, we have become very involved in the Indian reservation located nearby. There is a handful of believers from various tribes living on the reservation desperately wanting to reach out to their "parentes", or fellow tribemates, and to the local community.The needs of the reservation are great, as they struggle with the meeting of basic needs, such as adequate housing, food, and clothes. The band of believers is in the process of building a church, native-style, but receiving little help from the conference. It is about half-way done, but work has stopped as funds are not available topurchase supplies. They are so anxious to complete building to be able to hold services and Sabbath School in their own church rather than depend on the reservation’s multi-purpose meeting place. We are seeking to assist them to raise funds to finish purchasing the materials they need. As I write, many of the Indians of the reservation are battling hunger. During the rainy season, food is harder to come by, as fish and other game become more scarce, and most of theIndians do not work outside the reservation but depend on hunting to provide for their families. It is not unusual for whole families to go for days or even weeks with nothing to eat but "farinha" (ground manioc root), which fills the belly but provides little nutritional value. Aluisio met a family today with two girls– a teenager and a young girl about 7 or 8, that was preparing farinha for tomorrow, but had nothing to eat today. We do what we can to help those families in great need, but are seeking to help the entire reservation in the long term, by guiding them to self-sufficiency. We are encouraging them to build a dam on the property and raise fish. We will help them in developing a plan so they can receive financial support from FUNAI. They also plan to plant more fruit trees. For immediate sustenance this season, they may raise chickens to eat and also to sell. We would very much like to teach them how to garden and grow their own vegetables, but lack the time. Perhaps the Lord will impress someone’s heart to come down and spend a couple of weeks, all day and everyday, to get them started.

SABBATH SCHOOL AND CHURCH, NATIVE STYLE

From the first Sabbath since we arrived here, Sandy has been teaching the children’s Sabbath School at the reservation under the tree-tops. The children run to meet us when we drive into the reservation and thoroughly enjoy the lessons. They are working hard to learn their memory verses to song, and are doing wonderfully. Aluisio often preaches at the reservation church and holds a Sabbath afternoon study focusing on Sabbath reform. The band of believers faithfully attend, as they are truly searching for truth and do not have the resources to study Spirit of Prophecy. They have been applying readily what they have been learning. During this meeting, Sandy holds a meeting with the children, exploring the 8 laws of health.

We are the De Senna family. The Lord called us out of the city to establish an outpost in Manaus, Brazil, to spread the Three Angels’ Messages and facilitate revival and reformation in Seventh Day Adventist churches in Northern Brazil. Please feel free to share this newsletter with anyone you feel it would interest, and responses are more than welcome! Presently, our access to e-mail is limited, so a response may take a few days or longer to be read. May the Lord bless you.

Present mailing address:

Aluisio De Senna

Instituto Adventista Agro-Industrial

Caixa Postal, 211

Manaus-Amazonas

69.011-970-Brasil

desennaint@yahoo.com

The 2 Buddies Coloring Together

2007-04-18T07:07:00.000-04:00

Enoch and Josiah having a little coloring time together. Wherever one is, the other is close by - even as they sleep. Recently, Enoch has started really enjoying walking while holding Josiah's hand. I wish I had a picture to share of the 3 Kumpel Men (Papa, Josiah, and Enoch) all holding hands walking up and down the large isle of Wal-Mart yesterday as we waited for mama to finish some purchases. Maybe we'll post a picture soon showing such a hand-holding bonanza!

Enoch in Sabbath School

2007-04-18T03:33:00.000-04:00

Enoch really enjoys his Sabbath school class. He does very well and loves all the structured routine (singing time, putting up felts, story time, etc.). One thing about Enoch that we have noticed from early on is that he loves music - singing, listening, playing instruments. He loves to play our ukulele, his brothers guitar, and our piano keyboard. One of the pictures above shows him playing an instrument during singing time.

We have lift off!

2007-04-13T17:56:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our new Kumpel Family site! We are Junior (papa), Nicole (mama), Josiah, and Enoch Kumpel and are excited to finally be orbiting the earth's blogosphere - a meeting place for family and friends regardless of physical distance. We look forward to using this medium to better stay in touch with our loved ones, sharing our experiences and our insights as we seek to encourage and uplift one another.