Bay Area Pics

 

Here are some of the pictures of our new home area.

Enjoy and write!

 

The Haanpää Adventure Continues…

 

Well, it has been several months since we added to this blog and frankly although life has been filled with lots of goodies and ups and downs – nothing was all that exceptional or interesting to be posting on this blog.

However, you all may be interested to learn of this new chapter in the continuing adventures of the Haanpää family. Kathleen and I have just moved again –wow! What a surprise! Yes, because I was unemployed again for an exceptionally long time and work prospects in Reno, NV were so poor I started searching out of the area again. A German company, Wincor-Nixdorf, found my resume online and contacted me. To shorten things up a bit –they hired me as a Field Engineer in the East-North Bay area of San Francisco. For those not familiar with the area the region includes Vallejo, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Napa, Sonoma, and the North Coast, Bodega Bay, Fort Brag, and other little cities along the way. We have leased an apartment in Vallejo as that was the most central area according to my new boss. We have to pause a moment and tell you though that this is not just an ordinary apartment that we have been blessed with. The apartment itself is not what is so extraordinary – it’s the view. We sit on our little porch overlooking the Carquinez Strait of the Pacific Ocean and watch the ships, boats, and ferries come and go all day and night. We can only gives thanks to Jehovah constantly as we are able to enjoy this little respite and truly enjoy his coastal creations. The next post will include some of the pictures we have been taking of our surroundings. We hope reigniting this blog will inspire all our friends in all the places that we have served to write us and let us know what is going on in YOUR lives! Even if we have not been in contact in awhile – please be assured you are always in our thoughts – and many times in our prayers as we think back with fondness on our times together and how Jehovah has enriched our live by knowing you and serving along side you in this system – we hope Jehovah preserves such memories for us forever!

As an additional pieza de noticia – Tiffany and Cassandra have decided to go on their own again – Tiffany at least for now. She will be joining us down here in 6 months or so to find work and get integrated here and then get her own place. Cassandra – well, we just don’t know yet what she is going to do in 6 months. She had indicated she wants to stay in Reno at the moment – so that is where they will be for awhile.

Until next post -

Kevin

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