Moms Helping Moms

anuary is an interesting month for most people its the start of new resolutions, the end of holiday gatherings which can be a let down for some, and getting back into the groove of everyday life after a month of special celebrations and lots to do. That's why I call January the Get in the Groove month. After being in the States with my crazy but fun family and friends it's taken awhile to adjust back to life in little Denmark from the big USA. Kristian and I had the worst jet lag this past trip. For the first time I could actually watch a movie before 10:30pm and NOT fall asleep. My friend Lina was glad estatic about that. But it was wonderful being with my family that's why its so hard to say goodbye. Like C.S. Lewis says, In order to enjoy the happiness of love you have to endure the saddness as well. Its so true. (CHECK OUT PICTURES FROM CHRISTMAS HERE:
http://www.ringo.com/profile/kylene78.html)
Most of these were taken with our new digital camera!
We were able to share what God has been doing in our ministry and share video from our wedding.This gave my family and friends a chance to be a part of our story.

Getting in the groove has been a month long process of depending on God. It was tough coming back this time but praise God for His Strenght and the loving embrace of my husband! The day we came back i went to the church to see everyone and was overwhelmed with their warm welcomes. We had worhisp rehearsal that night as well and let me tell you it was exactly where I needed to be! Even though my heart was hurting going to the place where I know God has placed me brought joy to my heart. Worshipping with song that night was EXACTLY what i needed. Singing praise to God because His goodness NEVER changes no matter how I feel. There IS definitely power in praise!
We praise God for what He IS doing here and now so can you:
I praise God for the way He answered some specific requests for the girls in my small group. For Hannah who had a calm, conflict free Christmas with her family and Mialinn she was able to spend New Years with Mette. Mialinn is mettes big sister in the mentor program we began in the fall. I know that meant a lot to Mette who needed a friend that night. Before Christmas a group of girls were able to visit 12 homes of some elderly folks that are unable to come to church. Their tears of joy and thankfulness that we came still warms my heart. I praise God for the girls desire to learn about what is means to be a leader and wanted to study 1 Tim. Its been a huge blessing and challenge to me as well. The last praise I want to share is for Morton who has decided to read through the Bible this year and meet with Kristian and another guy to talk about what they read. This is a huge step of growth for him. All Praise to Our God! He is moving and active all the time but am I seeing it. Are you?
PRAYER NEEDS:
* Filing for a Visa renewal- we have decided to stay until June 2008 when my position here will end.
*COLLISION - Feb. 21-24 this is a winter camp for the students in Northern Denmark. Pray we find a woship band and that the students coming will really desire to put God at the center of their lives that changes their everyday life.
*for Kristian as he continues to search for a job
*for me as I teach 1 Tim. that i would discern and teach God's Word accurately. and that i would keep seeing how to encourage and spur on the girls to grow

For more frequent updates please check out the following sites:
padutchgirl.blogspot.com or facebook.com ( a great way to stay current with long lost friends)

gifts from God on a monday morning
glisenting first snow that puts a smile on my face and joy to my heart
a cup of hot coffee with toffee nut creamer
a picture of us sister with my dad healthy and back to himself
the corny humor of an old movie seven brides for seven brothers
days off
sleeping late
renewed longing for gems from Gods Word
Amos 8:11 "I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD." Jer. 15:16 " Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."
quality heart to hearts with one of the girls
remembering Gods goodness in my life

this morning i got up late for church because of a late night of conversation with my loving husband. being committed to not letting the sun go down upon our wrath causes this newly married couple some nights of sleep but its always worth it in the end and i am thankful we can talk through things and that i have a husband that keeps breaking down my walls. the result of the conversation came down to this i was believing old lies the enemy likes to discourage me with that can send me on a downward spiral of worry and mistrust. i praise God for Kristian and the ability God gave him to speak truth into my life and be the voice of God to me. But then this morning His voice came again through our pastor here.

the words of Isaiah 62: 1-5 i know this is long but really powerful
For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, And for Jerusalem's sake I will not keep quiet. Until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a torch that is burning.
And the nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you will be called by a new name. Which the mouth of the LORD will designate.
You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD. And a royal diadem in the hand of your God. It will no longer be said to you, "Forsaken", Nor to your land will it any longer be said, "Desolate". But you will be called,"My delight is in her," And your land "Married" For the LORD delights in you, And to Him your land will be married.
For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons will marry you, And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So your God will rejoice over you!

Now I have not done an in depth study of these verses but the part that stuck out to me is the new name God gave Israel and the new name He gives us when we become His. but at times we lose sight of this and we walk around with these name tags of FORSAKEN and DESOLATE instead of the name tags God has given us of MY DELIGHT IS IN HER and CROWN OF BEAUTY.
that happens when we take our eyes off of the truth of who God says we are and look elsewhere for who we are. last night it was the voice of my darling husband who reminded me of who I was and this morning it was the voice of my loving caring God using His word to remind me that His Delight is in Me and a Crown of Beauty in His Hand.

What name will you go by today? Its a choice either believe the lie or believe the truth!

Does anyone reading this know how to get a picture on the profile section. I have tried so so many times but get frustrated and it never works. any suggestions?

i know its been sooo an eternity since i have written but i am determined this week to write a more detailed whats been going on. at the moment i am sitting with 3 guys and the end of the colts ravens playoff game. kristian loves football so being the supportive wife i am i sit by his side. hopefully we will head home soon but the down pouring rain on the window i can hear right now does not really motivate me to get on my bike and ride home. but that is life in the big city of Aalborg.i have updated my myspace.com website if anyone is interested in seeing pictures of our home for christmas in PA. but i will try and add more pictures this week. ok time to hit the cycle and learn what it means to be thankful in all circumstances and do everything without complaining.lets see how it goes...

it may be odd for a newlywed like myself to have need to be romanced by God but it proves that even when your married sometimes its not enough. but why is it not enough because God is the ultimate romancer of our hearts that knows us better then even our mate. He is the only one who knows our thoughts unlike our husbands, who we sometimes expect to know our thoughts and read our minds. but we are so privileged to have a God that knows us inside out and all our needs and even wants. And today i really experienced that when i went for my morning walk down by the harbor as the sun danced on the water. After walking briskly i was captivated by the stillness of the water and the calmness God brought to my heart simply by sitting. I am learning alot about that right now what it means to sit with God like in Eph. 2 and from "Sit,Walk,Stand" by Watchman Nee Its seemed that God uses nature so often with me to remind me of His greatness and once again it happened again my heart was so gitty today just by the thought that God was romancing my with this beautiful sight of the sun dancing on the calm so still waters. then tonight i recieved a gift and a bouquet of beautiful wildflowers from a group of ladies that I talked with tonight just for coming to share about my life to them, what a cool blessing and a God that knows how to bring joy small joys to our hearts. It causes me to rejoice in the great God we have. Have you been in need for some romance lately? Why not give it to God He will amaze you in ways that are specific to you.

A week ago the sun was shining beautifully, the birds were singing, and I walked down the path of a gorgeous park in Aalborg, Denmark arm in arm with my Dad to my very handsome prince that was awaiting my entrance while the song Will You Be There by Skillet played in the background. People passing by had chance to be invited to our wedding even if we didnt know them. For us we just wanted as many people that could to hear the gospel and the gospel went out that is for sure. Even the drunk men that sat in their usual places in the park. It was the perfect day everything as we dreamed of for the past year. But the greatest was standing there hand in hand praising God with our worship and singing at the top of our lungs giving praise to our Father above because He is the center of it all. I wish all of you could have been there to join in the celebration with us but I know there is a small ocean of water that may make it a bit challenging. We will be sure to get some pictures on here once we get them back from our friend Lina that took our pictures. But today i am finally after two years Mrs. Kylene Michelle Bak and have a husband so wonderful and handsome, kind, generous and completely suited just for me. I am praising God for His most perfect design of marriage and I know i am still on my honeymoon but to wake up with Krisitan by my side is just amazing and to pray together before we go to bed. I love it and would definitely recommend taking the plunge into marital bliss. Now i know that some of you have yet to find the one God has for you but wait it is worth it because only God could have brought a girl from New Tripoli, PA and a guy from Aalborg, DK together to make a dynamic team for him to set hearts free. Like in the song i wrote for my beloved hubby, A cord of three may we always be surrendered to the One who made us free, A cord of three may we always be God our Father you and me.
We have an amazing God and He deserves all the praise and glory. How truly GREAT is our God!

i have officially passed my danish written exam after two years of studying this uniquely complicated lovey language. i got a 10 on the reading comprehension and an 8 on the essay part. that is on a scale of 13 being like a 100+ and a 6 being passing. so i was very much satisfied. so now on to the oral exam on the 14.june......

i have officially passed my danish written exam after two years of studying this uniquely complicated lovey language. i got a 10 on the reading comprehension and an 8 on the essay part. that is on a scale of 13 being like a 100+ and a 6 being passing. so i was very much satisfied. so now on to the oral exam on the 14.june......

today is a holiday in Denmark so no school, or work. the sun is shining briliantly around. Johnny Cash is singing about the house of worship in folsom prison and how God has a place there. i just love johnny cash. and lee, kasper and kristian are moving around and reorganizing their apartment. we had to take pictures of this because this was the first time i have seen all these guys in this bachelor pad clean together. what a sight! but it got me to thinking how its good to mix things up sometimes in our lives and change things around by simply moving furniture, taking a back road home from work, ordering the new drink at starbucks versus the regular toffee nut latte, something to mix up the ordinary routine. sometimes i need to be reminded of that in my time with God too. its so easy to get stuck in a rut and not move, change or grow. but what a blessing He puts people in our life to make us think or in relationships that remind you constantly how selfish we can be sometimes. do you have need to stir things up a bit, get out of the ordinary, move the furniture, talk a walk with God, do something today to keep your relationships with God and the people you love the most FRESH!

A little update on me. this week we got our wedding rings from Isreal. We decided we wanted something truly unique. So we had the verse from Ecc. A three cord strand is not easily broken, enscribed on the outside of our rings. They are so beautiful. And today on the day off i just finished printing our invitaitons so now its off to work on putting them together. So little by little things are coming together. Last night I had one of the girls over to my house for dinner, it was really cozy to have some good conversation with her. She really needs some prayer though and wisdom how to relate to her mom who has some psychological problems. And one other thing please keep praying for Kristian to find a job where God would give him opportunities to make a differencea and help support us. He is getting a little tired now of the waiting but pray for perserverance for him through this waiting time.
ya all have a great day

A heartfelt thanks goes out to all of you that have been praying for my Dad and Mom too. He came home this past Sunday afternoon, which was a bit rough the first couple of days. But after a switch in medication he is recovering with more ease. My mom also had her staples removed yesterday, I believe that went well. Please continue to pray for both of them my Dad as he steadily recovers and for my Mom as she takes care of him. They are so precious to me and I know they would appreciate your prayers.

On other life stuff I am pleased to announce that Spring has arrived in Aalborg,DK. I was actually walking around with no socks on today, basking in the rays as Heidi one of the girls and I read through the first chapter of Ruth. It was fantastic reading the Word and soaking the rays what could be better? oh and sippin the cola light (diet coke) And Krisitan and I went down to the council hall and filled out our paper work to get our marriage license. Pretty exciting stuff the days are counting down.
Gotta jet for now more to come..

I just spoke with my mom, who seemed to be in good spirits despite the fact that she is now in the emergency room waiting to get stitches because she fell getting out of the elevator on my dads floor at the hospital. At least praise the Lord she was as a good place. But now my sister Amy is on the way to be with her. Please just pray for them and that she wouldnt have to wait a long time. this is getting a little more difficult now being here with all of this happening to say the least. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

Praise the Lord yesterday they moved my Dad out of Intensive Care. He is progressing hopefully I will talk to him today. Please pray that I dont cry too much, I am expecting it to kind of be an emotional conversation. But thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers and emails. I am amazed and so genuinely thankful for the power there is in the body of Christ. And the network of strength we can give each other even oceans apart. This morning I was reading from Romans 8 about how all things work together for good and how NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. Would you please also pray for me tonight as I speak to the teens about What it means to be a disciple of Christ in suffering. Pray God would teach them through what He is doing in my life to help them as they face difficult times. Especially Casper the guy who has his mom in the hospital recovering from acomma. Thank you that I can call on you to pray and support me as we reach just one more for Him.

Dearest Friends, well this may actually work today. But the last I heard about my dad is that the bleeding had stopped and that hopefully today he could be moved out of intensive care. Please pray that the swelling stops around the contusion. My Mom was in very good spirits yesterday even using her punchy humor as some of us call it. Truly God is her strength and giving her laughter and joy in the midst of this. My dad was actually eating a hamburger yesterday so that is good and my mom said he looked more fresh and alert than the other day. But by the end of yesterday my brother said he was pretty tired. Understandable. Thank you for your prayers the are so meaningful and incredibly powerful. We have an amazing God!

sitting in the midst of a planning meeting about Vild i Varm our kids summer camp, i recieved a phone call from my brother Bryan. i knew he would not call me there if something was not seriously wrong. so my mind began to race and sitting there it was finally happening the one thing i feared the most since moving to Denmark. it finally happened one of my biggest fears that one of my parents would be hospitalized. it is the weirdest feeling sitting listening to news that your Dad fell at the autobody shop and now has a fractured skull and bruised brain and in intensive care and i cannot do a thing about it. it was as if time stood still, the thought has crossed my mind many many times what would i do, would i be totally crushed with sadness, would i be strong enough to carry on, would i believe that God was in control when i could not be? and i write you today standing, trusting, worshipping, confident in my God, strengthened by a strength that can only come from my Abba Father. Held in His strong arms and comforted by His love. this i cannot explain but God is giving me the faith to stand and to bow down and worship Him. His voice is loud and clear like the words written by my dad earlier this year with our family verse from Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear for I AM with you. Do not anxiously look about you, for I AM your God. I WILL strengthen you, surely I WILL help you. Surely I WILL uphold you with my righteous right hand." Even in the midst of you feared the most Kylene I WILL strengthen you, I WILL help you I WILL uphold you, I WILL be enough for you, I WILL be with your mom and give her strength as she sits by her beloved Ray, I WILL give Amy, Annette, and Bryan and their families peace and confidence that I am in control, I WILL be the one that gives you the faith to fall on your face and worship me as you listen to "Its Just you and me here now" , I WILL be the one that will be by the side of all of those you wish you could be with right now, you cant be there now but I WILL, and I WILL give you a joy and peace that you could have never thought possible to experience through it all. And I WILL open your heart to hear my voice even though you choose others before me at times, even though you get too busy, even though you choose yourself over me. And why my daughter because I love you and I died for you and you are precious to me.
And than i think to myself how could i not fall on my face and worship you. Its sad that it takes these times to put life quickly into perspective but i am thankful for it. I am thankful that we have a God like this that intimately loves us and gives us strength when we dont deserve it, he sustains us when we dont know what else to do, he is the only reason why i can worship and not question. The voice of the Lord is powerful. David in Ps.29 makes all these statements about the voice of the Lord how he hews out flames of fire, shakes the wilderness, makes deers to calve, strips forests bare. And yet the Lord sat as King at the flood, He sits as King forever. And at the end of this chapter explaining all that the voice of the Lord can do he closes with The LORD WILL give strength to His people; The LORD WILL bless His people with peace. The voice of the LORD can shake the wilderness but He can also give strength and peace to His people and that is just as majestic and powerful. And I can say that because i am living that right now this very moment in time experiencing it first hand. i am not in despair, my world is not falling apart, i am not desolate, yes i am hurting but i am not hopeless. My hope is in my Father the one who never fails or dissappoints me.

There is power in prayer and that is why i write. Please pray that some person would come to know God through this, i know this is the prayer of my mom and the rest of my family. Pray that we would keep trusting in God and that our hope would be in Him so we could show Christ to those around us watching us go through this.
And that my Dad would come out of this with no permanent physical hindrances. That God would heal his skull and brain and that he would be overwhelmed with the worth of His life.
Thank you so much for prayin with us. i will keep you posted. he will be in intensive care for the next few days so they can monitor him but thankfully he is progressing.
trusting and safe in His arms, kylene