Kevin…Kathleen…Craig

BuzzNet Tags: Adventures with Craig and the Haanpaa's

Good Morning!  Well we are 4 days into our care of our friend Craig, and all is well.  There was a funny story from the other day.  He likes to sneak up on you and go BOO!  Well it was early morning and I was not out of bed yet and Kevin was in the bathroom when for some reason I decided to open my eyes and there was Craig “sneaking” like an army commando on elbows and knees next to my bed to scare the poop out of me.  It worked.  We now have a Big sign on the door “No Sneaking !  Knock first!”  He is a funny guy and we are all adjusting well.  Kevin treated the 3 of us to lunch at Subway and I looked back at the two of them walking, Kevin is 5’10 and Craig is 4’11.  They have a few things in common and pal up against me when necessary, like putting lotion on his face… or stinky sanitizer stuff so…I am out numbered.

The girls have the other apartment to themselves for the next 40 days.  I don't see them complaining one bit.  Cassie has taken over our room and that leaves the Living room accommodations for insomniac Tiffany to enjoy.  Tiffany’s Job at the Hospital is downsizing,,,,so she is now looking again for work.  Cassie just got a job at a Lawyers office as a girl Friday.  9-2 M-F so she can still go in service.  Their famous POJ car is constantly giving us family drama.  We had to call Luiz in Kentucky to verify Clutch parts to this rogue mechanic we used, He was surprised when he called him and made him be accountable for his repair.  It was after meeting Luiz’s time and he took care of all this long distance while driving home from E-town to Louisville.  I love this brother! 

Marlene and Jerry Haanpaa (Kevin's parents) are moving into the same apartment complex as us, and this will enable them to fully retire as his health is not so good.  It will be very nice as when we go to meetings or service we can easily car pool.  Jerry is an elder in the same congregation, so when there is elder meetings Marlene and I wont be stuck there but can skedaddle out.

The weather is fine.  We are thinking of tanning next week…smile.  It really is a beautiful area here.

The congregation is growing by leaps and bounds.  We seem to have come at the beginning of it.  We now have 2 more elders = 10 in total 10 pioneers 5 mini servants. for 100 publishers..but that is not all the ASL group is now assigned to our congregation too.  They have more elders and mini servants and lots of pioneers too.  40 publishers.  soon we will be looking for more spiritual work!

That our news.  Hope you all are doing well, it is spring time so things must be looking up …right?

Love you

Kathleen

Tiffany at Reno, Nevada

I know I am a liar but you cant see the persons face soooo….

 

Hello everyone, I thought I would be good and do the personal emails, but I find I have the same problems as when in Costa Rica.  No internet no access or no time.  Kevin signed up for internet here at our apartment so we are hoping that it continues. 

Here is a Haanpaa update…

We now have our own apartment!  Funny how happy it can make a girl to put a pink table cloth on the table or orange towels in the bathroom!  I was content with our temporary housing, but I think this is fun too.  It is a big one bedroom one bathroom with hard wood floors (like the ones Brad and Chad put in our home in Louisville.)  It is galley shaped so the kitchen is on one side, all stainless steel counter and sink.  It came with a built in microwave, and 2 electric burners, but no oven.  We have a gorgeous view of the Truckee river where there are people walking, or kayaking and since we are on the 4th floor we also see the Gotham like buildings lighted up at night some green others pink it is fabulous.

Some have mentioned that they feel sorry for us all 4 living in a one bedroom, funny but every one of us feel like it is a treat and more than we deserve.  We have a new wooden futon bed for the girls in the living room and my Dad and Karen gave us their queen size bed,(they upgraded to a king)  I have newly painted wicker chairs from Karen that we rescued from thier storage, and 2 sturdy wooden chairs.  We got laundry basket, garbage can, silver ware linens and blankets from Marlene and Jerry (Kevin's parents)  Don't knock the little stuff, it awesome not to have to go and buy the necessary things.

Jennifer (my step sister) also cleaned out some of her extra things and I inherited a convection oven !!!!! two end tables.  A sister in the congregation gave us her old to.v that she had been advertising on craigslist for free boy was Cassie happy.  We have all utilities paid, free local phone (like a hotel) free basic cable.  There is an excellent exercise room….which we have only visited on the walk through.  a private courtyard in the middle of the building and get this….it is a non smoking complex!  I am sure some cheat but you don't smell smoke when you walk through the halls.  There is a clean 2 washer 2 dryer laundry on each floor (5 floors).  We can make a mean cup of Joe and had our first guest Sandy Anderson, who came bearing awesome stainless steel pans.  we started with nothing ….now I have to be careful not to over load.  Funny story for my girls in Ohio, I was out in EMS with Cassie and brother Richard Demangate (50’s single very zealous for the ministry) I saw a small round wood table beside the trash at  one of the apartment buildings we were leaving magazines at I yelled Stop!  he did and I went and looked at it…would you believe he helped me put it in his car squashing cassie with no room and brought it to meeting for field service so Kevin could transfer it to his big work truck!  My new best friend, Kevin however looked like a bear, but softened up when he realized the brother doesn't know me well.  Now we are using this lovely table in our dining room in front of a lovely window overlooking Reno.  And he is happy we got it.

We just had the C.O. visit.  It was lovely till we got to Friday evening, Tifka was sick but then all of us girls got sick with a violent flu virus..I spare you the details.  We missed the pioneer meeting and his final talk on Sunday…ughhhh.  well we hope to follow him to his next place.

the congregation here has been very loving and welcoming.  I get hugs now and then and always a smile.  I haven't latched on to anyone specific yet, but it is more than likely to happen.  With us there are now 10 pioneers where just last year they had one.  Jesus is paying attention to this congregation mightily.  allot of inactive or previously interested ones in the territory.  Honestly there are still new bible studies but we see more of the former.  Kevin is working as a service overseer, and he is quite challenged with the territory maps, Jehovah bless his heart figuring them out.

Kevin is employed still, ATM support, Tifka is a Valet at the hospital part time, and Cassie will be starting the 2010 census in April, 6th.  I am still stubbornly unemployed.  Gives me free time for special projects.  We will be taking care of a mentally challenged man for 3 weeks in May.  Kevin and me.  In thier home here in Reno. His mom is in the Chinese group and will be gong to China for a vacation then to southern California for the Chinese assembly.  He is a year older than us but acts 15, has health problems. But can care for his own bathroom needs and wants to sweep the whole United States.  His mom lets him sweep the neighbors driveway and down the road.  She is a faithful sister who doesn't get a break often, last time was 5 years ago.  We are looking forward to this little adventure.  She also partakes at the memorial, but that is not why we are dong it.

Well I am getting worn out from typing, you are welcome to note the blog or send an email.  I think of you often , please take care

Love

Kathleen

THE END…

of the blog…we will keep on writing only by personal emails.  we had a lovely time in Kentucky saying hi and goodbye to our friends here.

We are leaving Saturday am at 7 am and our goal is to get 600 miles a day so we will see.

Love you all lots and see some of you soon!

Katalena

LAST NIGHT IN COSTA RICA

It is Monday night and we are packed and ready to leave by 10 am tomorrow.

we have been so welcomed and cared for and had so much fun in the last 4 days that it truly makes me melancholy to leave.  Friday we were treated to Samira (our Lebanese sister) and her delicious chicken with cinnamon and allspice and rice. Then Saturday she had a party of 25 brothers and sisters including 2 visiting Beth élites from NY and we danced all of us! well of course not Tifka she had a excuse with  her swollen foot and stayed the night at Ida’s (convenient wasn't it).  Kevin even danced with Cassie!  It was a blast.  Tried to do the Arabic dance and costarican and salsa.  When Samira started the belly dance we waited on the side lines and cheered her on, she had instructed 2 other sisters and they all put on a lovely graceful program.(not sexy at all).

Sunday we had pancakes with flower pattern of apples on the bottom with real maple syrup from Canada!  the meeting was great all came up and gave us hugs and encouragement and just made us- not feel like losers.  wonderful hugs all around!  Sunday we switched camps over to Ida and Nicole's, but first had a treat of eating real southern food at Karin Shickners, Tacos and green beans with yummy bacon.  We ate like pigs!  she also has a house in Texas and gave us permission to stay on our way through the states to Reno.  Wow!  It really is raining blessings, and we don't deserve even one of them,,, but I will take them non the less.  Now the girls are downstairs with Ida, Nicky, Carolina, playing card and laughing like goons.  Kevin and are the old ones upstairs being lazy and updating the blog…someone has to act like a grown up around here!  You would never know Ida has a couple of years on us she is more fun that the girls, she thinks of all the fun stuff  to do, and she constantly has people stopping by or calling on the phone.  She is quite loveable.

 

I tried to make a to do list today, since getting here it has been impossible cause your life changes every second and you really have no control of it, but I think we are going to Chicago, then renting a cheep car to Louisville, then pick up our car at Vivian's work, then run to the thrift store for a few necessary things we couldn't bring (one suitcase each) then crash for the night at Abel and Vivian as, next days the evil day of sorting through our old stuff and seeing what else we can get rid of, visit with our friends in-between, then off to Reno on Saturday, and Kevin thinks we should head through the southern way cause of all the weather.  My hope is to be in Reno by 27th of December.  we will see if it goes that way.

So that our itinerary…next blog will be back in the good old usa

Love you all-and see you Norte Americanos muy pronto!

Katalena

leaving Tamarindos

just a quick update…we are getting a ride to Flamingo Beach to catch the bus back to San Jose, and will be staying with Samira for the next couple of days.

Ida is letting us use her house to sell Kevin's computer, and ….Tifkas massage table, and his little tool bag the girls brought with them.  Tifka went through a lot of drama packing and hauling that computer here, but the airline is allowing only one bag per person, and will not allow us to buy extra space for them (something to do with the holidays).

Sin embargo this is good for us as we can use the profit for costs in the states!  Thank goodness for Craigslist.com!

See ya soon

Katalena

If only…

I could follow my heart and live where ever I chose.

I think I have learned that it is not the location but the locals that make my living enjoyable.

Tracey, I love you and can easily picture myself taking over your attic room and stuffing your fridge full of our junk food, and double pots of coffee every morning.  And sitting on your largest chair, like chanchos, reading the newspaper.

The Job situation seems to dictate a lot in my life.  And now a lot of my friends life too.  We had to leave Ohio cause of lack of work, not lack of love for my friends.  Same with Kentucky.  I have tried to guilt, coerce, sell, and bribe my dear friends into hoping on the Haanpaa wagon where ever it may take us… including Costa Rica.  Sometimes I think you are better off not being on it.  In the mean time, what an awesome privilege it is to have such friends as you.  I don”t have any “letters of recommendation” from our service efforts, but somehow I think that your friendship is equal to that.

Thanks for always letting us know we have many safe houses. 

Your friend

Katalena

p.s. we vote for Alaska next……cassie  (smile)

serious changes ahead

Love,

Katalena