Hey guys!!!

Hey! My names Chris...and I am definitely stoked for Kaleo!! Like oh man, I’ve been thinking that I would do it for a little while now (a year or 2) and now it’s actually coming and I’m accepted…WOW!! I’m so stoked that I feel God leading me so clearly and that it is to this program. From what I’ve seen, I don’t think there is a better way to start off than with the Kaleo program. So that’s my happy rant for the moment=) Me and God. So I have this amazing family, Mom, Dad, and older bro Matt who are all Christians…so the normal Christian fam, pretty sure I was at Sunday school the next Sunday after I was born! Being born into a Christian home, I accepted Jesus as my Saviour at a very young age that I can’t even really remember, probably around like 3 years old or something. Life was good and just normal, just doing the Christian kid thing of Sunday school and kid’s choir…then I hit gr 8 and youth group and playing on worship teams began. These gave me real opportunities to see other people living their faith, to be taught how to live my faith and to have older people like the pastors and leaders as role models. I’ve had amazing guys mentor me along the way from counselors to youth and worship pastors that have taken the time to hang out and share life with me. Then I went to Camp Qwanoes (It’s sounds kinda cliché to say it because Kaleo is at Qwanoes so it sounds like there’s just us camp kids going into Kaleo because it’s at our camp but it’s really not that so hear me out because it’s been an amazing place for me, and also somewhere that I’m very passionate about!!) I went as a camper and also got to be what we call a “staff kid” for a week or two a summer (my parents would help out for that time and I just got to hang out). So I got to not only be a camper and listen from the speaker and counselors and stuff but I also got to hang out with the staff and see the stuff they were going through their ministry and why they did what they did which was sweet! Then in 2005 I did the Counselor in Training program and I grew more and got to counsel for one week. Through that year 05/06 I was at camp lots on the weekends serving in different areas in the offseason…Then this past summer I did the Leader in Training program which was mostly junior counseling with some training which again helped me in becoming grounded in my faith and learning more about God and my relationship with Him. Through these years I was always involved in youth group and different worship teams which always helped me to grow. Then I must say even though there’s a lot of stuff that I did in those few years, I feel as though this past fall has been the most amazing in my walk with God. It’s like a line of connection has been opened up between us in a totally new way. He’s been teaching me things, about surrender and resting in His peace and so much more… and I’ve heard Him when like I read my Bible or do a devotion book and I hear what He’s saying to me and see Him in more things throughout the day. Like it feels like it’s been amazing….I’ve had definite downs this fall too but what God has been doing in me and teaching me is so amazing. So there’s me and God in pretty brief form! Hopefully it’s made sense, I’m recovering from my first ever all nighter that I did last night with my middle school youth group=) Well guys I hope more people are on here soon, can’t wait to hear from more and meet all of Kaleo 5…I’m praying for you guys!!