Dear Friends & Family:

I hope this letter finds you well.  As you are hopefully aware, my family and I recently moved back to Mesa, AZ from Seattle.  While we enjoyed a break from the heat while in the Northwest as well as the contrast in culture while living in a very cool city, we realized that Mesa is ‘home.’  Our close friendships are here along with the great connections we have at Central Christian Church of the East Valley.  Only two days after returning to Mesa, one of those friends challenged me to stretch my faith by participating in a Global Connection Trip with CCCEV.  While I was a bit unsure of the timing of the trip since we are still settling in after moving, I quickly became excited about the opportunity.  I certainly experienced a different way of life while in Seattle, but I am looking forward to expanding my worldview beyond the borders of our American culture.

I will be traveling in a group of six women to Egypt October 6-18th.  We will be partnering with Life in Abundance International.  The mission of LIA is to empower local churches to serve the poor using a holistic approach to transform the community by meeting their practical needs.  During our stay we will assist LIA as they put on a women’s conference for Sudanese refugees in Cairo.  The purpose of the conference is to lead and encourage the women in their walk with Jesus; to give them an opportunity to forgive, reconcile and unite as one family; and to experience God’s hand of healing.

I am writing with the hope that you will prayerfully consider joining in the partnership of this trip.  There are two ways for you to do so.  First of all, would you please be praying for this trip?  The trip’s success depends upon the prayers of our partners.  Second, to participate in this trip I must raise $2500 by October 3rd.  Would you consider a financial gift to help me reach that goal?  All gifts are tax deductible, online contributions may be made here.  Please be sure to make note of my name and trip #276 in the appropriate fields.

Again, I ask that you please keep me and my team: Jackie, Leslie, Marcia, Amy and Denyse in your prayers as we prepare for this trip as well as during the trip in October.  Please do not hesitate to comment or message me with any questions you may have.

Thanks,

Jen

As a kid I always wanted a brother. As a young husband considering being a father I really wanted a boy. I cried when Jackson was born, not just because he was my first kid, but in large part because I had accomplished having a son. With Ethan we found out in advance that we were having a boy and I showed the ultrasound pic of his penis all over my workplace, carried it with me for days and then placed it prominently in a frame in my office… My dreams of having boys and them having each other were being realized. To top God’s goodness and sense of perfection off, our 3rd and not quite planned son, Elias, was born on my birthday.

The last two years we have been blessed with incredible adventures and travels and I honestly believe it has brought the boys closer together as friends. They have shared some very close quarters together in our travel trailer and often woke each other up to chat. So this morning it was just really cool for me to see them instinctively yearn to be with each other talking in the morning. Jackson leaving his room to join the others. Ethan crawling out of the top bunk to join the other two on the floor. The small morning, sprawling, lazy huddle on the bedroom floor. I think that moment really captures the fact that you don’t need 1000’s of square feet to have a family.

[ryan]

Basic Pointers

• Start slow – Don’t get discouraged with your first few weeks… they are hard for everyone when they begin.
• Set reasonable goal - If this is your 1st attempt at 13 miles, aim for 10-12 minutes for each mile.
• Start with 30 min. of fast paced walking 3-4 days each week for 2 weeks. Initially it is ALL about getting out there
• Drink lots of water – Every day, especially the night before your workout, sip it gradually during your workout to avoid a bloated feeling.
• Then move to doing 30 min. alternating 5 min easy jog then 5 min. fast walk – 3-4 days each week for 2-3 weeks
• Progress to 30 min of easy jog for 30 min – 3-4 days per week.
• Somewhere between weeks 6-8 add in 1 longer day of walking/jogging. You want to increase this each week so that you can do 90-120 continuous minutes 2 weeks before your race date.
• Use a running plan calculator if you would like to get a more detailed running plans. Here are two GREAT websites and running plans. Definitely worth the reading time:

1. Runners World / Running plan tool - check it out as it is easy to use and easy to follow.
2. Hal Higdon’s Marathon Training Plan

By the end of the 6-9 week period you will be able to do a 5k in 30ish min. Here is a link that has a similar plan

This is a solid article has some basic & useful tips for getting started on running.

General Pointers

• Visit a running specific store and spend about $100 on a professional fitted pair of shoes. This makes a huge difference on how your knees, hips, back feel. For FREE they will analyze what type of shoe will work best for you. I highly recommend www.ROADRUNNERSPORTS.com for their VIP club which allows you to take back shoes within the first 6 weeks if they don’t feel great and get a full refund towards a different pair. Plus they have great analysis, selection and prices.
• Find an eating plan to go with the exercise if weight loss is a goal. — too many people think that lbs. will come of quick just by running or biking (I was one of those). Even basic modifications with diet can really make a difference when you add in 3-5x each week of exercise.
• I have always found having a training partner is a very motivational tool. Recruit someone who will do your target  race with you and work out with them 1x each week for accountability, motivation and inspiration.