Nate Proposes in Central Park

Nate Proposes in Central Park
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

So, for those of you who were not informed of the surprise months
ahead of me I wanted to share that a week ago Nathan Flood asked me
to be his wife!

It all started when we headed to Central Park after attending church
on Sunday. I thought we were just going to walk around so I really
was not prepared for much excitement. Then, when we found
Shakespeare's Garden that my friend was looking for. Not two minutes
later Nate surprised me by walking up to me in a suit. Here's my
expression as I finally recognized him.

The Question

The Question
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Notice the random guy walking by while we're having our special
moment!!!

The excitement

The excitement
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

I still couldn't believe it was happening. I was so surprised!!!
Imagine... ME.... speechless...

Nate and I had lost all time. We were alone together in that moment.
We had forgotten our friends and everyone else. We didn't even notice
that a crowd had gathered to watch. When we turned towards our
friends they yelled congratulations and a whole crowd of people
started clapping for us! It was so neat!

Don't we look great together!?!

Don't we look great together!?!
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Our Special Spot under the Magnolia Tree

My Henna

My Henna
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

So, like I said before, if I had known, I probably would not have
gotten henna done. But, I am glad I was so surprised and the henna
will be nice memory. The ring fit beautifully and felt like it
always had always belonged to me. The ring is beautiful! Nate did an
amazing job designing it, but my favorite part about it is that HE
gave it to me. A week later I am still looking at it wondering why
God has chosen to bless me with such an amazing man. I hope that
wonder never ends...

Very Happy Couple!!

Very Happy Couple!!
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

The accomplices

The accomplices
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Together at last!

Together at last!
Originally uploaded by dkoepke.

Jman poetry

Engagement story coming soon! But first:

This was written by a friend of mine in a "dry and thirsty land where
there is no water..." Very powerful:

This life here on earth continues to amaze me at how hard it can be. I
know that part of the curse of the fallen world is suffering and toil and
strife. And we all know that life is hard and all that jazz ( no one said
it would be an easy kind of thing) But it seems to be even more so here.
The ground is unyielding, with brown sand covering everything. The dry
sprigs of grass and browning trees always look thirsty. And the heat is
overbearing as you struggle to find some relief from the unrelenting sun.
Even in the shade, the sweat rolls down your body like rain drops and
steals the strength from your body. Even in the midst of this miserable
heat, I find a thin, frail man with a white cloth wrapped around himself
looking years older than his age, working hard at this task. Jobs
assigned to machines or animals in the west are lifelines of existence
here in a land of so many; so many barely surviving, so many struggling,
so many who live without hope. And so we fight the fights and join with
the battle for their souls. We set about the task of bringing them the
truth that can set them free. We seek to reveal the words of life and
promise and unveil their blinded eyes from the evil one's lies. We engage
in the battle...

When the temp changes 80 degrees, you notice.

So, here I am, waking up and having breakfast in Queens, New York. I
didn't get to blog before I left because we were too busy having fun
getting ready and saying goodbyes.

I am still in a state of denial that I'm actually leaving..even as I pack
and prepare to leave. This place and these people have become my home and
I eagerly look forward to the day that I return. A jman friend once wrote
that Gd is the Alpha and the Omega... and as sure as He called me to begin
this journey He has also given me clear direction that this is the end of
this portion of my journey. As He closes this door He is preparing the way
for another door to open in America. Yet still my heart longs to be here.
During the past several weeks I have really thought about why I want to
return to this region of the world. What is it that continues to draw me?

I don't know the answer to that question yet. It is one that I will be
praying through asa this next journey begins.

My last days in Niger were filled with many joyous times as my Bon Voyage
party was a true FIESTA. We made a giraffe-shaped pinata, had games about
fun memories that we shared, ate lots of mexican food and even danced a
little salsa and merengue. Tara and Seng threw a great party and I am so
thankful to my mission family and friends for coming and making it such a
special time.

Then, we didn't sleep because we needed to leave for the airport at 2 am.
So for the next 46 hours I was awake, in an airplane, airport, car,
subway, restaurant, and the Rockefeller center.

We spent our first night in America in 32 degree weather. That's an 80
degree drop in 48 hours. We went shopping for warm clothes, shoes and then
went into NYC to see the lights of the city from the Top of the Rock. It
was pretty amazing to see the lights of the city! We were freezing, but it
was still so worth it.

Today we are heading into the city again, ready to see some more sights
before I get to go home to Florida. As I type this my countdown says 31
hours. How exciting is that!!!!!!

Thank you for being with me through all my adventures. I would not be the
person I am without the Father's direction and your intercession.

Please lift our volunteers up in prayer

The heat saps all of our strength and especially short term teams
like from Bardstown who have not acclimated to the climate. That
makes travel all that much harder. I know they would appreciate
prayer for their journey home and their physical wellness while they
are here. Ministry in Niger requires grace from God for the many
physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges.

Will you stop right now and lift Dave, Carla, Janice and Anna up to
the Father?