When you Guata go...

Hello readers! I am on my way to Guatemala!

Have I told you that I'm going to Guatemala? Well I am. Tonight.

I'll be down there with a team of about 20 people for about 10 days. For the majority of that time, we'll be staying and serving at a girls' orphanage in Monjas. Activities should include teaching English and Bible classes, construction, VBS, doing hair, playing with stickers, a lot of soccer, and singing.

Almost the entire team is comprised of return-trippers. They've been before and are itching to get back. Some of the guys have been down five or six times. As a newbie, I'm excited to see what has them so excited.

If you are a friend of the praying variety, I'd appreciate your prayers for this trip. I don't know what will be accomplished in the lives of the Guatemalans or the lives of our American team, but I know that it will be exactly what the Lord has planned.

Please pray especially for the song that I'm going to try to teach the girls down there - the books of the Bible.

In Spanish.

With a dance.

I know that my pronunciation is going to be whack, but I hope they think I'm funny and not a doofus. Or at least a funny doofus.

Praise God for the global church and the power of the Gospel!!

Adios.

Winter Solstice - and not a moment too soon.

John Donne called the winter solstice "the year's midnight." So now we wait for the dawn.
It's been snowing in Anchorage for the past few days - our first real winter storm. The snow is airy and abundant and slick - the kind that falls into your car when you open the door and fluffs over the tops of your boots as you scuff across the cul-de-sac. My brothers have shoveled me out three times in a spirit that a friend of mine termed "competitively helpful." Hey, I'll take it.
Daylight and snow are increasing. Snow machines and skiis and sled dogs are being primed all over the city.

Life is good in AK.

A difference of opinion.

The Bud and I both went on vacation this fall. I'll let you draw your own conclusions as to who went where.

And I hear it kills 99.9% of all germs, too.

Listerine is my new favorite.


Tonight I had a revelation. I realized (after several weeks of increased Listerine usage) that I do NOT have to pour the mouthwash into the little cap before partaking. I realized that I could drink DIRECTLY FROM THE BOTTLE. That's right.

Who knows how much is four ounces? I do, that's who.

Who am I sharing this fine bottle of Listerine with? That's right, the germs that are annihilated are mine and mine alone.

It saves a whole step in the morning AND I get to feel like a rebel.

Just don't tell my mom.

*******
Hmm. Addendum. Now that I think about it, I don't think that four ounces is really the serving size. I mean, that's a lot of Listerine. Unfortunately, when I tried to look at the directions again they had stuck together (one of those blasted peel away labels). If anyone has a bottle at home and would care to clue me in to appropriate serving size, my mouth and I would be greatly appreciative.

Cannot Post.

Reading.

More later.

Vocabulary kills.

Let’s face it. Christianity has been around for a while. So it only stands to reason that over the millennia certain ideas and thought structures would be codified into a wonderful little system we like to call…vernacular.

A friend of mine recently asked me if I was “born again.”

“Well, yes,” I said, a little awkwardly.

“What does that mean?” she asked.

Twenty-three years into my faith, one would think that I would have an appropriate response. But how do you answer that simple, important question without unleashing a steady stream of incomprehensible jargon? Depravity? Redeemed? Saved? Grace? Repentance? Sanctification? Holiness? Glory?

Christian Vocabulary.

It is easy for me because I have grown up in it. I’ve gone to schools where my homework was to understand the meaning behind these words. But I find myself ill-equipped when I face a person who has genuine questions about the fundamentals of my faith. My mother tongue is Christianese and I get timid when I have to speak in Layman’s about things of the faith.

The message does not have to be complicated. Christ certainly seemed to pull it off. John and Paul and Luke were able to relate to their audiences, to spell out the meaning of redemption and the price of grace. But now we have this lingo that we have worked so hard to establish, so the meaning should be clear, right?

I am constantly tempted to hide behind the smoke-screen of jargon. I convince myself that having sufficient knowledge of words means I have sufficient knowledge of the truth.

But if I cannot explain to my friend what it means to be born again, then why am I even here?

Some pictures of Beth's neice

Being an aunt is the best (especially when it comes to delivery). Here are some pictures of Beth's neice (also of my neice).

Jill is apparently comfortable with her newfound freedom.
Jess and Jill
Callie Jane and Jill Lorraine

She's Here!

I am happy to announce that Jill Lorraine Gates has made her way into the scene. JR, Rachel, Callie, and Jill are all doing fine.

8 lbs. 7 oz. (holy cow!)

Pictures to come (I'm still at the hospital!)

I thought I'd never make it.

Oh the heights that have been attained!

Living in twilight

Sunrise: 10:00 am
Sunset: 3:45 pm

5 hours and 45 minutes of daylight.

Come quickly, winter solstice! I'm ready to be on the upswing of this bell curve.

You are not alone.

The Way to Go Kevin! craze is sweeping the nation.

Or at least, some of my friends occasionally say it to me.

Here are some other famous phrases that involve the name of a person that nobody really remembers:

1. Bob's your uncle
2. Kiss me quick and call me Kate
3. Rob Peter to pay Paul (is that one actually 3?)
4. Simon says
5. Charlie horse
6. Where in the Sam Hill have you been?
(alternative: what in the Sam Hill are you doing?)
7. The "john"
8. Heavens to Betsy!

Society obviously accepts the first-name catchphrase.

So don't be afraid!

And when people look at you funny just say, "Yeah. You haven't heard that? Geez Louise!"

Confession time.

You may have noticed, dear readers, that the posts of the past week have been a little heavy on the images and a little shy on prose.

“Jessi!” you may well have protested, “We thought that you wanted to be a writer. That you were going to use this corner of the world wide web to hone your craft and entertain the masses with your turn of phrase and cheeky humor! Yet all we see are photo captions, the poor man’s post. Shame.”

Well I have a good excuse which I will share with you now.

I must first admit to you all that occasionally I am irresistibly drawn to that fickle mistress, the “Next Blog” button. Usually I find myself in the world of Linux How-to, or the high times of Cindy Sorority at Party U. Normally I glance at the page and I move on to something more interesting, like cleaning the bathroom or shoveling the driveway.

But a few weeks ago I came across a good one and now I’ve been too busy to write because I’m reading about the life of Katrina S., a stranger who lives in Idaho. She is funny and heartfelt and an excellent blogger who makes purse shopping entertaining and scrapbooking non-distasteful. So during the midnight hours when I used to compose my posts, I have been clicking through the months of her life, starting in September 2005. I wish that she lived next door to me.

I left her a comment to that effect (I believe the words “best friends” may have been used), but she hasn’t responded. Perhaps my reputation has preceded me.

The great thing is that if she evades me here, we shall meet in the here-after. That’s right, folks, she’s a sister (in Christ, that is).

There's no getting around it, Katrina S., you can’t run away forever.

So here’s a shout out to cool people who are Christians and random blog addicitions.

Way to go, Kevin!

The Annual Gates Family Tree Trek

Here's a few pics of the tree trek.

Waiting at Mom and Dad's. We never get out on time.

Ty and The Bud

Suiting up.

The Papa Tree. Yes, that's what Christmas trees look like up here.

JR and Callie found a tree.

Me too. Laura and I have an impeccable sense of winter fashion.

Zach cut my tree down for me.

Annual ornament earrings.

Annual ornament juggling.

Ahh, finished product.

In context.

I love the tree trek.

It is becoming imperative that I learn flickr.

New York City - Asian Style!

Hanging out with Jenni is the best. She never makes fun of me when I try to eat Korean Barbeque. I love it, but I'm clumsy. Here's how it works.

First you have to decide what you want.
Then you wrap it up in a piece of rice cake or thin radish or lettuce leaf.
Then you have to use your chopsticks to get the food from plate to palate.
Or you can just use your fingers.
Now you're ready for round 2!

Brilliant. Here's to you, Jenni Kim, and your peoples' most excellent barbeque.

Mango

If I saw a mango in a fir tree,
I'd start evaluating my state of mind.

But who knows?

Maybe squirrels like mangos.

So, these might be a let down.

After so much hype, I'm afraid that the pictures are not going to live up to your anticipation. Keep in mind that more will follow (especially when I get on the flicker train).


Times Square


Jenni and me in the Met (notice VanGogh's cyprus behind us)


A mosaic that I didn't like

This is a filler post.

Okay guys, so pictures are coming soon. I was planning on posting a few last night, but I had a run-in with my internet connection and he won. Like always.

It’s been snowing all night and all morning, so we should have a nice white Christmas. It’s also warmed up to the twenties, which makes a person happier to be alive.

Rachel and JR’s c-section has been scheduled! By noon on December 10th I hope to be holding my new niece. That is, if I get a turn.

Okay, well anyway I just wanted to post something so the blog wouldn’t feel neglected. This post will soon be replaced with a marvelous multimedia extravaganza.

So stay tuned.

What's better than a Broadway show?

TWO Broadway shows! There is this fantastic loophole in the Broadway system called the "lottery." If you don't have anything to do on a given night, you can show up a few hours before the show and put your name into a drawing. Selection of your name equals two tickets on the very (and I mean very) front row for twenty-five dollars apiece. It was actually Jenni's name that was selcted, so I'm glad that we are friends.
We got to see Hairspray, which is about as far from Les Mis as they come. Set in the sixties with a lot of bop-shoo-bop and very big hair (that was actually kind of a theme). It wasn't stirring, but it was so, so fun. The actors were distracted by the overly tall girl in the front row with the dopey smile on her face. I could see sweat run down their cheeks and I almost got beaned by a hot dog cart. Awesome.

Today was long and packed. Here's a quick rundown:
1. Got up at five and into the City by seven to get SNL tickets. The show wasn't taping today. Blast. Jenni and the NBC security guards and I had a good chuckle over that one.
2. Breakfast with child prodigy in the neighboring table:
Father: "Daniel, I know that you are only a child of two and a half at the most, but can you spell 'quench'?"
Daniel: "Father, as you know I am wearying of your paternal prodding and would perfer to play with my Thomas the train. But rather than resist, I choose to grow bitter and resentful over the many years of my youth and explode in a fury of rebellion when I drop out of Harvard to grow weed. Q-U-E-N-C-H."
3. Walk through Central Park. Jenni took a nap in the sunshine and I watched a very sweet father/daughter scene.
4. Tour of CNN studios
5. Korean barbeque for dinner
6. Hairspray on the cheap!

I was torn between making this post a record of my Saturday happenings or writing something a bit more introspective. As you have probably guessed, I went with the first choice.

I also know that I've only been talking about the good things I've seen and have said nothing of the sad/scary/disappointing experiences I've had. I just don't know how much post is too much post (although I sense I'm pushing the envelope).

So all that to say, I have more to tell you and hope to disseminate the information when I get home and am no longer doing anything interesting.

Tomorrow:
Brooklyn - the bridge and the tabernacle
SoHo and the East Village

Les Miserables? Les Happyrables!

This post will be short because it is late, but I just wanted to record my thoughts while they were still fresh (and they're fresh, let me tell you. Don't let any children read this blog).

My NYC friend (let's just call her Jenni) and I went to brunch in Chelsea and walked through art galleries in the Meatpacking District (which is known for its art, its nightlife, and its refrigerated hanging carcasses), spent a teeny amount of time in the Met (saw van Gogh, Monet, Degas, and Picasso), went to dinner at one of the best Italian restaurants I've patronized (called Pomodoro) and capped the evening off by attending a little play.

What do you think about Broadway? I'm for it.

Les Mis was at the Broadhurst Theatre (a legendary theatre I know nothing about), which was actually quite small. Way smaller than the Atwood Theatre at home. Unlike the Atwood performances, all seats are good and all the notes were on key. Refreshing. Jean Valjean was played by a swarthy character of medium height with an unbelievable range. Javert was black, elegant, and cold. Perfect.

The story makes me sad, but the performance made me happy.

Jenni said it best, "I have to admit, it was much more than I expected."

Tomorrow: Empire State Building and SNL (i hope, i hope)

I Heart NY

You know, Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood. They'll hop a flight to Miami Beach or to Hollywood.

But I'm taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line.

Because I'm in a New York state of mind.

Although, technically, I'm in New Jersey.

Hello everyone. I'm visiting a friend of mine over Thanksgiving and am just rounding out my first 24 hours in NYC. I've been having a great time. Here are some things I have noticed about New York during my brief tenure:
1. Even the children wear great shoes
2. People are actually pretty nice
3. The sanitary conditions of public restrooms are never reliable, even if they are in a Starbucks (ew)
4. Umbrellas flip inside out when used under windy conditions (it seems like this problem should have been addressed by now)
5. New York restaurants make their stuffing very salty (or at least one does)

Today: Macy's Parade
Tomorrow: Les Mis