Our Story in Photos
1994
When people ask us when we first met, we tell them, "Oh, about 14 years ago!"
When both our families lived in Washington state, we got to know each other
in a homeschool group and children's choir that we participated in. (Daniel is behind Kristina, on the back row.)
We had fun hiking the mountains with all our friends back then.
(We're both in this picture, too: Daniel, left, next to mother; Kristina, first girl on left, second row.) Daniel's family moved away a couple years later, and we had little contact for seven years.
In Kristina's windowsill, this Creeping Charlie was growing, and over the coming years it came to symbolize our friendship.
1996
Kristina and her family were still living in Washington state. She enjoyed homeschooling under her parents and was enthralled with the world of nature--observing the birds, flowers, and other wildlife on their country property. She also began working in her parent's optometry office, started her little bread business, and helped care for her Grandfather, who continued to live with them for four years.
Kristina's family home in Washington (still their current location).
Daniel and his family lived in Canada for a while, and then later moved to a country home in Kentucky. Daniel was homeschooled under his parents, and had much opportunity to observe wildlife and be out in nature. He and his brothers had their own little bakery business for several years, providing skills in cooking, baking and business management.
The wilderness home in Canada where Daniel's family lived.
Daniel's family home in Kentucky.
1998
Daniel was baptized on June 27, along with his brother Timothy, and dedicated his life to God's service.
He became more actively involved in his local church, and began thinking about ministry--how he could be used to draw others closer to Christ.
Another of Daniel's hobbies was growing as well: computer programing. He taught himself Turbo Pascal and Visual Basic programing, and wrote a number of fun little programs. His favorites included several programs he wrote to generate fractal images, such as this fractal fern.
1999
Kristina, age 16 was still at home and learning more every day. She had picked up an interest in computers, and was now teaching herself how to use programs like Power Point, Photoshop, Word, Print Music, Pagemaker, etc. It was during this year that her family went to a youth Bible camp and she had her first training and experience at colporteuring (going door to door with Christian literature). This changed her life and gave her a new direction as she prayed about her future work for God. It was only a year later, at age 17, that she dedicated her whole life to full time mission work.
Kristina backpacking with her family in the mountains.
Daniel was still schooling at home and thoroughly enjoying the outdoors--canoeing, caving, camping, hiking, and exploring. He also still loved computers. He had already written a few programs, and seriously contemplated getting a degree in computers once he got to college.
One of Daniel's favorite activities has always been canoing in the calm waters of a quiet lake or stream.
For many years Daniel and his family have been active gardeners. Corn grows well in the warm summers of Kentucky.
2001
Kristina at her first summer canvassing program, in Piscataway, NJ. She canvassed in a program led by Eugene Prewitt, and had the privilege of working with both her mother and brother all summer too!
Shortly after canvassing that summer, Kristina was baptized at William's Lake,
near Colville WA. It was 42° and pouring down rain--the water was frigid,
but hearts were warm as nearly a hundred people gathered under umbrellas
to watch along the lake's edge.
2002
Kristina graduated from highschool and enjoyed her last few months at home before heading off to New Jersey for another summer of canvassing. From there she went to OHC (Ouachita Hills College) for her Associates in Personal Ministries. It was a little adjustment to be in a school setting for the first time, but she quickly adjusted and had a wonderful time learning and being with other young people who were also on fire for God. It provided the encouragement and atmosphere she needed to prepare for service in God's work
2003
Daniel finished his highschool studies and started working on his Associates Degree in Information Technology at Somerset Community College, where his Dad was teaching. Going to a classes at college was a bit different from homeschool, but provided opportunities to witness to teachers and classmates, while still living at home. He rapidly excelled in his studies, and enjoyed earning some extra money designing customized database software for the Somerset Oil Refinery, a job he had started while still in highschool.
Kristina had a busy summer after her first year of college, helping with homeschool seminars around the USA. Her last seminar was in Virginia, just before school started up again, so she decided to drive out for it, then drive down to Arkansas for college. On her way to school after the seminar, she needed a place to stay in Kentucky, and remembered the McFeeters. It was the first time we had seen or talked to each other in seven years!
2004
Daniel purchased his first "nice" car, after finding that his old van was not very economical. He was spending more time considering the direction that his life would take, and his interest in mission service was growing. Also, his computer programming hobby had expanded into a new business, FiForms Solutions. He had many opportunities to witness as he continued contract work at the Somerset Oil Refinery.
A window into Daniel's world of fractals, Linux, and computer programming.
A visit home from college found Kristina back in her element, too, with her deer friends out in nature.
By now a seasoned colporteur, Kristina shows her book display as she had all summer while big booking (colporteuring) in Michigan.
2005
In the spring, Daniel had his first opportunity to go overseas! He spent two weeks in Cuba, helping with evangelistic meetings and working with the local people during the week. He came back less shy and even more excited about working for God!
Kristina's graduating class, from Ouachita Hills College. Those three years were challenging, but "By Faith We Conquer" was her aim, and God blessed with her successful completion of the course!
Kristina spent the summer and fall doing what she loved most--teaching a week of colporteuring at a local youth Bible camp, doing two weekend nature seminars in Arkansas, helping friends and relatives with weddings, traveling, and being with her family in Washington. All the while, however, she was praying specifically for God to show her what to do with her life.
During the summer, Daniel drove to Michigan for student missionary training with Adventist Frontier Missions. He spent the rest of the summer traveling from church to church fundraising so he could go to Africa in January. God truly blessed and the experience helped him get used to speaking up front and doing sermons, as well as reaching out and meeting people he didn't know. Praise, God, the funds came in, his visa came through, and he was able to go!
God had been answering Kristina's prayer for guidance, and by
fall of 2005, she knew God was calling her to share the treasures of the Bible and nature
with even more people.
One by one, the doors were opening, and God was calling her into a new ministry.
When Kristina shared the ministry idea with Daniel, he got excited too!
With the help of Kristina's parents and a couple friends, we hit on the name:
Discovering
His Treasures. Daniel volunteered to help Kristina learn HTML so she
could set up a website for Discovering His Treasures, and after that it was just
one miracle after another. Family, friends, and church members rallied in
support. God provided us with a server so we could host the website inexpensively.
Kristina learned quickly, and in three weeks, www.discoveringhistreasures.com was up and running!
Our communication about the ministry and website during the fall of 2005 was our
first time to really get acquainted. At GYC 2005, in Chatanooga, TN, we saw each
other for the second time since Daniel's family left Washington state. Daniel, his
brother, and a couple friends carpooled from Kentucky and picked up Kristina at
the airport along the way.
Despite the full meeting schedule, we found a few free moments to swap computer files.
2006
The next year found us far apart in miles, with Daniel going as a
student missionary to Namibia, a country in the south-west part of Africa.
With a love for nature and photography, Daniel couldn't pass up an opportunity to see Victoria Falls.
The spectacular falls, canyons, mists, and rainbows made a photographer's wonderland, but Daniel is convinced that
photographs can't do justice to the experience of being in one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
To a nature enthusiast like Kristina, Washington state provided its own wonderland of mountains, meadows, and
gourgeous rainbows. It turns out that this one was best viewed from the top of Kristina's Toyota Tercel.
Kristina continued working in the Discovering His Treasures ministry, and
was head leader for a Review and Herald youth canvassing program. She led a 10-week summer colporteur team in Columbus, Ohio.
Daniel returned home in November, just a few weeks before Kristina came to Kentucky on a Discovering His Treasures speaking tour, which had been scheduled by a couple of her colporteur students.
We enjoyed honing our hacking skills together and working more on the website--in person for once!
What a blessing and encouragement to end another year at GYC.
2007
Kristina doing nature meetings at a campmeeting in North Carolina. Discovering His Treasures ministry is expanding!
Daniel's brother, Timothy, was a great help at the materials table, too!
For Daniel, a summer job in Washington state was a great way to get
re-acquainted with Kristina's family and friends.
Kayaking in British Columbia was an unexpected treat!
Kristina, on the other hand, had a long but rewarding summer as a head leader for the Review and Herald. She led another 10-week summer colporteur team, this time in Rochester, New York.
A few wheels won't slow us down... GYC '07 was a blast--literally!
The encouragement of meeting up with old friends, and the fun of spending time together again, far outweighs the sadness of saying goodbye.
2008
But, goodbye was not forever. The seed of love was silently growing,
and the beginning of spring brought the beginning of a new
direction in our lives--on a path of uniting together, forever, in following God's call.
Continue on to Our Engagement Photos
Return to Photo Gallery.
Site and contents copyright © 2008 by Daniel McFeeters
and Kristina Reeve. All rights reserved.
Find out more about Daniel and Kristina and the
Discovering His Treasures Ministry at
www.discoveringhistreasures.com.
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