The weather has finally turned warm (at least for a little while) so we got off campus to enjoy some of the great parks that are nearby. We hiked up a series of small waterfalls called Helen Hunt falls, a nice hike with some pretty good views. We found a great place for lunch by the stream that feeds the falls. Tim scrambled around the mountain until he reached the top while Kasey enjoyed a quiet time on a nice slab of granite that bordered the stream. We then drove to the top of the mountain and found a couple of dirt access roads. Tim of course chose the "high road" which was a winding dirt road that went to the top of the mountain. The views were amazing, although Kasey didn't really like being that close to the edge of the mountain.

Helen Hunt falls (named after the 19th century author, not the actress)

Where we ate lunch.

At Inspiration Point (aka make-out alley to the locals.) Really cool views both day and night.

Stream in Manitou Springs

Outreach Location!

We will spend our outreach in Pune, India. Pune is located near Mumbai on the western coast of India. It is the eighth largest city by population (3.5 million people) and is known for its educational facilities, having more than a hundred educational institutes and nine universities. It is also an industrial center where several multinational corporations have large manufacturing sites. While the city contains a significant percentage of Brahmins (highest class in the caste system comprised of lawmakers, scholars, Hindu priests, and educators), nearly 40% of the population lives in slums. Hinduism is the most commonly practiced religion. We are excited to learn more about this fascinating country. Tim lived in Singapore for three years and never made it to India. It's fun to think that 20 years after he left South East Asia, he is finally returning. We can't wait to see what God has in store for us there.

Father Heart of God

This has probably been one of the more challenging weeks emotionally and yet one of the most fun. Our speaker was Claude Bonjour who is the Swiss version of our friend Jack Kody (minus the beard). He lives to share the Father’s heart and we became fast friends with him. The class spent a lot of time on forgiveness, which was surprisingly difficult. Tim found that forgiving himself was the most difficult task. Kasey learned a lot from Claude’s teaching that “it’s not what happens to us in life, but our response to what happens to us that is important.”

It was an incredible week that opened our eyes even more to how much God loves us. Seriously, He REALLY loves us. Not because He has to, but because He WANTS to. As humans, often times our image of God is colored by our relationship, or lack thereof, with our earthly fathers. We make God into our image and likeness when in reality we were made in His image and likeness. God is perfectly loving. He is perfectly just. There is absolutely nothing we can do to make Him love us more or less. NOTHING. (Romans 5:8). We couldn’t ask for or even dream of a better Father.

Delawhere?

Last weekend (April 23-25) we flew back to Tim's old hometown of Chadds Ford, PA (near Wilmington, Delaware). I (Tim) was in a wedding for one of my oldest friends, Aaron. It was great to be back in the area where I have so many fond memories of my adolescent years. Kasey was gracious enough to let me walk down memory lane as we visited the houses I grew up in, my old school's, and even a few of my favorite spots to hang out. We didn't get a chance to go to the Charcoal Pit (best milk shakes in the world), but we did get a chance to wander around the amazing grounds of Longwood Gardens. Here are some more pics:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=91126&id=545691244&l=46b4bab838

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=91128&id=545691244&l=3527311902