NEW BLOG ON WEBSITE

MY NEW BLOG IS NOW ON

WWW.CHRISTIANISAKSON.COM

THIS BLOG WILL NO LONGER HAVE MY POSTS.

JUST LETTING YOU KNOW!!!!!

Quick Update

I am so thankful to God for introducing me to the Ameena Project.

Still trying to wrap my head around the time I spent in Kenya.  As I work on the video being prepared I reflect on all the people that made it possible for me to go. Farmington Gardens-my great sponsor, and friends-thank you, thank you, thank you. I am forever blessed to be on your team and feel honored you consider my passion important.  Ian and Anne, thank you for including me and welcoming me into the Ameena Project family. Shari thanks for introducing me to Ian and Anne and the vision they have to not forget the forgotten.

Rhonda, Evelyn and Ian...I don't know where to start, but with you I will always finish.  My other great sponsors-The Athletes Lounge, Orbea, Vuelta, Polar, Living Fuel--Thank you for helping me and equipping me to race so ultimately I can reach others. 

I have stories to share and details to relay-which I will get to very soon (promise!), but--I hope if you are able, please come and see Chris Lieto and I discuss the Ameena Project and More than Sport throughout the Portland metro area the weekend of April 4,5,6.

Friday April 4/ 9AM -Channel 2 KATU/AM Northwest appearance.
Friday April 4/5:30PM-We will be at the Athletes Lounge.  Showing a short video, and ansering questions about our projects and sport.
Saturday-April 5/ 3-5PM Fundraiser at Farmington gardens.  Food/Drinks will be available along with another Video presentation/discussion/meet and greet.
Sunday- April 6/10AM We'll be sharing at West Valley community Church.

Busy, and packed, but all is well and I feel blessed to be a part of it. I look forward to spending a few days with Chris and dreaming.

I'm also in talks with a possible new sponsor!!! I have to wait to share. (so sorry) Yes, it's exciting, I am stoked, and wish I could tell you..but, you'll have to wait and see.

On a similar note I want to say thanks to Adidas for helping me out.  They were kind enough to meet and talk with me.  I am proud to say I will be back home in Adidas and I am super stoked.

On March 29th I will be teaching another food/nutrition class at Farmington Gardens.

I was happy to announce today my first race on the calender for 2014. The Leadman in Bend, Oregon.  I want to personally thank them for being cool to talk with and look forward to racing in September.  I will also be releasing my other races soon and how the rest of my schedule will unfold. 

Invites and social media blasts coming soon for all the events with exact locations!! Stay tuned!!!!

The shift-Part 1

Part of me dreads starting this…the other part knows I must.  The likelihood that I convey the fullness of what I’ve experienced during this trip is impossible.  It’s almost an insult really.  I say this with all truth-I’ve been changed, again. “Shifted” as I was told in the village of Kiang'ombe—moved.  It’s more a feeling of being altered.

Even as I reread this opening—I sigh and chuckle though my tears, “Just start writing”, I tell my self-start.

As I sit in Nairobi I wait….Five hours before my flight to Dubai—in Eldoret with Ted just an hour ago—my heart hurting to say farewell to he and Brenda.  I stay tonight in Dubai, travel to LA, then home.  As much as I want to see Rhonda and my children, my stomach hurts with the thought of leaving.

I don’t want to go. 

Talking with Ted & Brenda last night…feels like I’ve been punched in the face-repeatedly, and then, stopping for a moment—I hear only a whisper….

”You see? Now? You see??  OK…get to work”.

I recall & think of a single task completed with Ted yesterday that took only an hour…it will far out weigh any “work” I’ll do over the next days…weeks….whatever.  That’s harsh-I know..but, I don’t care.  Amazing what happens when serious, serious, real need is placed in front of my face—What I think is of importance…is forgotten. Totally.  I phone updates, clean socks, clean water, fresh veggies, toys, shoes, bikes, a bed, a toilet, a job, a book, the next U2 album, a picture of what I am eating to show everyone how ‘healthy’ I am-(I ate goat at a Muslims home and never felt more full, or loved in my life),  a picture of me swimming, running, appearing very “together”…whatever..the list goes on. This is the struggle.

What a blessing it’s been to re-evaluate and see where I am straying.  I felt selfish-and in my Western bias, coming to help—I still “took” from those who worry about the next meal, and where it is coming from.  I carefully extracted form the Kenyan man, woman, and child…what happiness ‘is’, not just ‘looks like’.  What work feels like and how the meaningless and monotony is nothing when the focus is placed on Jesus. I have story, after story, after story, after story, of biting my cheek to keep the tears down, not only because of sadness for what I see-but, sadness at what I still need to have God remove.  Stubbornness of my need for comfort-and why I continue to pull the wool over my eyes.

No one lies to me more than me. It’s true.

I felt Shame over these days. Despite the happiness I had, the feeling of fulfilling my design, my wiring, my talents, my gifts..the shame was the first nudge….


I’m leaving home in a sense, and foundations of my life are “Shifting”. I’ve seen, a bit of my future.  Much in the same way I felt when I first put eyes on Rhonda over 25 years ago….”Woah…uh what is this feeling?-and, what do I do to keep it?”
Ian and Ann told me in the midst of the sadness, heaviness, and pain, what we are doing is only a drop in the ocean.  We still give-all of ourselves, rather than take. Even a drop.

I can’t wait to go back.

Plans are already in the works for a return trip very soon.

Part 2 this week....

From Nairobi

Day 1-As I sit in Nairobi and drink my coffee I have a lot of stuff to get set for my trip to Thika. 30 hours of travel will mess with your head-and though I have had little sleep, I feel refreshed. (my ADD is my secret weapon).

The trip here was flawless.  I feel content and useful, like when I am racing. I know that is a stretch, but, all racing would mean nothing if I was not here and ready to head to the Ameena project and see for myself what can be done to make a difference.  I will update as much as I can.

I wrote this to Rhonda yesterday on the plane-Hope it's cool babe that I am sharing!

More soon-

9-

Flying below Iceland at 630 mph I feel the sting of missing you.

Just finishing up the latest episode of Downton and pumping the "Oblivion" soundtrack in my ears does nothing to help.  Good thing its dark in the cabin- Downton brought tears--The good kind.

This feeling of empty is actually a good feeling.  Its what fills my empty the has ripples in our life.  I've learned over and over, and over.... it has to be Christ. Nothing else.
Running into David Crowder in Seattle was cool.  Only chatted for a moment and snapped a picture-I prayed for him.
.
Thus far it’s been an amazing trip.  I’ve so many to thank for this opportunity-and I will-as time passes. I bring you with me.  It us stepping off this plane.

I mean that.

If it’s me…

I’ll screw it up. Seriously…

Taking it each second with Psalm 91 on my mind.

Your Dad is awesome-not only for bringing you into this world, but sending that to me this morning before getting on the plane…thank him...

Sitting in London thinking of you ....and  the "LA's"...singing There she goes....There she goes again....racing through my brain…

ilu

invisible

“The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep.”
― W.C. Fields

Meeting with Ian and Ann from the Ameena Project a few days ago to talk about the final preparations before leaving for Kenya was a blessing.  I can feel the weight of this trip and I'm still days away from leaving.  It feels like something is shifting....

It's 3:30 AM as I write this. I woke an  hour ago thinking it was time for coffee. 

I was pissed it was so early.

Knowing Jimmy Fallon's first night on the Tonight Show was on demand-(U2, not Fallon or Will Smith, was waiting for me) I got up.  New U2 albums are like Christmas for me-and the new song is solid.  

Now I sit and watch the Olympics, flipping through the things I need to get done today and throughout the week before I leave. 

I'll be doing my best to update and post throughout my trip. The objective's are many and I'll go into detail later. I've got 30 hours of travel-big blog coming. 




Here is a save the date-Press release soon.

     



        

More than Sport founder,  multiple Ironman Champion, and Professional Triathlete Chris Lieto joins fellow endurance athlete Christian Isakson for a weekend of events in Portland Oregon,  April 2014.

Combining efforts of sport with passion for change, local Portlander Christian Isakson has a unique opportunity to be intimately involved in something simple and unquestionably good—Raising awareness and funds to support the Ameena Project.
Its focus: Bring the powerful combination of regular nourishment, academic instruction, and structured social activity—something most children in the western world enjoy—to children in extreme poverty.  Providing these three basic elements of healthy development is the focus of the Ameena Project.  

Christian and Chris will be discussing the Ameena Project and More Than Sport at three separate events.  The Goal:  Raise $80,000 for the Ameena Project in order to secure a plot of land for a school and future medical clinic, along with $20,000 for More Than Sport to ensure it’s growth, enabling athletes to make change around the world possible.

April 4th-See Chris and Christian on KATU 2/AM Northwest.

April 4th-Chris and Christian Will be at the Athletes Lounge-Recently voted into the top 10 triathlon retailers in the United States. Chris and Christian will discuss sport, training, and Christians Work in Kenya.  A short video will also be shown featuring Christian’s recent trip and work in Kenya.

April 5th- Chris and Christian will be at Farmington Gardens Nursery from 3-5 for a meet and greet, food, and fundraiser for the Ameena Project and More Than Sport.

April 6th-Chris and Christian will talk at West Valley Community Church.