Anxious for change

Hello Kaleo, It has brought me great joy reading all the posts as they come onto the blog. I’m still working at the pub in England. Its been such a fantastic experience, I’ve learned so much about good food, and how to match it up with the best beer, wine or spirit for a magical combination and divine dining experience. I still have a lot left to learn but these are the foundation stones of gifts that I can benefit from the rest of my life.

Been spending lots of time with a Christian family who have been such a blessing during a time where I never felt so far removed from everything and everyone I've ever known; especially the God I Love. Their love and support has been a God-send.

The last month has dragged my spirit down very low. The Pub has changed owners, things have gone missing, and trust is lost. Suspicion is high. During these uncertain and stressful times work has been transformed into low moral, put-downs, and blame culture.

I know I haven't stolen anything; I should just plug on and trust God to sort everything out. Five weeks and my visa will expire anyway and my time in England will terminate. Although that justification doesn’t stand its ground during the shift by shift, battles through frustration and discouragement. Its hard to press on when people are determined to make you feel your rubbish at what you do, and feel bad about who you are.

I live with a day to day anticipation for this fall and the 6-8 month long trek I will embark upon around Europe. I day dream of where I will go, what I will see, do and eat. It’s been a two year build up to this grand finale before I resume my studies in 2011. That’s my life at the moment; enduring through a rather unpleasant scenario; making the most of my last month with the loved ones I’ve made during my time here. (Outside of work)

Will be sure to keep you lot posted on how things progress over the next few months. They will be some exciting times.

I love you all and pray God will bless you all with adventure, of whatever nature.

Remember! “The Best Is Yet To Come”

Lets keep going

oh my goodness, hello there kaleo friends. Well Michelle it's great to her about your marriage, I would love to be out on the island and join in. It would be fantastic! Unfortunatly it is not going to work. Yes life sucks at times we can't do everything we want,can't be more than one person. I'm excited for you though! I like how your doing the hole hike thing. Hopefully I'll make it out to the west coast again sometime in life, as for now I'm on the east side currently in Canada.

I like Canada! How about you? Yeah...it has been good taking long treks on the bike to and from Hamilton and my home. I like the farm seen and its just alot more quiet, and not so closed in like the cities. Solo time seems a lot more doable. I'm on my vaction from NY and I've been part timing at a bike coop my friend started in Hamilton ON. Its been great fixing up these old bikes and bringing them back to life for mostly the poorer comunitee. But this won't last long I'm soon heading back to NY for their summer camp and then be rolling on into fall semester.

I'm so far not totally looking forward to going back. It's um difficult for me being in the city all the time. I'm also usually working with alot of females, so males you all know how that can be. Life has its series of highs and lows, and it gets frusterating and annoying at times trying to fight through it all and learn from it. Yeah I don't excatly feel all passionate and excited about going back to NY. But at the same time I do beleieve God wants me there and I do believe he continiues to teach me important things as I stay. Sometimes we really do have to tell ourselves to suck it up, and keep going.

Last semester I wanted to be a better man for the team, have integrity and get better at remebering kids names. I do thank God for what he has done, I've made alot of new connections on my site and grown in others already started. I think I have to remind myself that its not like I'll ever really "achieve" these goals or suddenly its like ok boom I have it now. First of all each day is a new test/chance /opportunity of it's own. You can do so well one day, and the next day totally blow it. And second of af all you can always learn more, improve more, grow more. But um, in all this I really want to try maintain myself, find my level of life and yet somehow walk in the spirit wich brings me behond myself, but then not burn myself out. To do all this work of the Lord with the Lord. I sometimes really wish it was easy, and wish it I could just get it, and understand. But...

Nothing great ever comes easy...so if it its easy it may not be that great.

Enjoy kaleo friends and whatever you are doing, don't give up. God help us!

YOUR INVITED!!!

So I.. I'm amazing at wedding planning! lol not really.. BUT your all invited to join Adam and I on our wedding day. I'm not sure who checks the blog.. but I'm going to face book you and tell you to!!!
So here are the deets!... read with care... and enjoy :) And as it turns out you cant copy and paste on to this silly blogg.. so i'll just have to type it all so i wont look as nice as it would have lol

Once upon a time...

Dave and Rani Anderson decided to have there last child,

They named her Michelle Diane.

Around the same time Bob and Leigh Hogstead

also decided to have their last child,

They named him Adam William.

During the course of time

and through a series of random events,

These two kids met,

and eventually,

He popped the question

She said yes... Crazy, I know!

So, You are hereby Formally Invited To the Wedding Of

Michelle Diane

&

Adam William

Grad your hiker and some sun screen,

(who am i kidding a warm coat too)
and join us

on Monday, September 6th 2010

At San Josef Bay

At 1:00pm

To witness this union that is about to happen.

Reception-ish thing to follow

(lunch will be provided)

Please RSVP by August 6th 2010
By email to: amhogstead@gmail.com

or by phone to: 250-956-4990

THE SKINNY, THE DEET'S, THE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
So read carefully, these thing must be considered!!

Location!!!

since this wedding is on the West coast of North Vancouver Island,

Dress warmly, layers are best.

The weather can change at any time.

There is NO alternative plan, Why would there be??

If you have not been to San Josef Bay before, Its a lovely hike,

and its a part of the Cape Scott Provincial Park.

The trail is about a 40 min hike and wheelchair accessible

(i can hike it in 20.. You will all be fine! lol)

Wearing Hikers or runners would be best.

Transportation!

The drive out to the trail head is about and hour and a half

leaving from Port McNeill, most of it is a logging road...

So a dirt road.. some times is not so nice. But i do know that cars make it

You just need to make sure you have a spare... Just in case!

If you don't what to take your car on the road,

there will be people meeting at the

Port McNeill Baptist Church to car pool.

Let me know when you RSVP if you will need a ride, OR

if you have a truck or a off road vehicle that will have empty seats!!

Meet there at 9:30 am leave by 10:00 am at the Latest!!


Accommodations!

There are a few camp sites in the area if you what to camp for the long weekend

Cluxew camp site

San Josef Bay camp site.

Lots more Check out the town web site

http://www.portmcneill.netéaccomodations.html/

Hotels:

The black bear resort

Mcneill inn

Haida-Way inn
and many B&Bs

check the web!

Hotels are also available in port hardy

Other randomness

Wedding gifts can be let at the church or put in a designated vehicle at the trail head

There will be no drunkenness at this wedding .. Or you will be

burned at the stake and feed to the sharks!!

(lol that's not what it really said in the one i sent out but i thought it was funny to put on here. Cuz non of you are going to boozers anyways! lol)

Michelle's handy-dandy Check list of Things not to forget!!!!

Hiking shoes or good runners

Bottle of water... More then one!

camping chair If you really want to carry it out there and sit on something other then log

Snacks for the trail (in and out)
rain coat or umbrella (Pray you will not need it!)

And YOU!... That's the important one!

So there you have it my dear dear family!!!!!...I hope to see you, Let me know if you can make it or not.. Its OK if you cant i know its a long way!!! and i know your hearts and prayers will be with me on that day

but if you can that awesome!

Much love,

Meesha

so in the hopes that people still read this every once in a while, i choose to write a little update.

in the midst of marriages and people in general moving on with life i really think it's important to shed a little light on what people are doing. it helps to know what you all are doing in terms of prayer and just general interest...

alright so once again i find myself resting in B.C. for a couple weeks before heading back to new york yet again, the place that really has my heart at the moment. it's a time of transition as the ministry has literally no money, people are leaving, new people are coming, and it's a cool time of being stretched myself. with people leaving comes new responsibility, new challenges and a position that i would have never ever seen myself in at all. the thought of being on stage preaching to kids still blows my mind, and this past semester or term here at Metro i've even been on stage during a saturday, leading games for 3,000 kids in the course of a day. incredible. in the course of the last six months or so i've also gotten my bus license, yeeeeah that's right i drive the bus. i've only taken off one mirror so far. with that responsibility comes a hefty pay raise of 15 bucks a week, causing me to hardly contain my joy. hahah i do love working there, i love the people there a lot, i love the kids there so much. they bring me joy. prayer for me could consist of being open to more stretching, more boldness, more desire and longing to become more like Him.

and that's as easy as it is folks. let us know where you are. what you do. and what's next on the horizon...we'd really like to know.

scotty.