Kaleo Life 07/08

The time is Bright

2011-12-18T19:40:00.000-08:00

My future is so bright I need to wear some sunglasses. Hopefully update in a bit but ah life is going very well and have a wonderful Christmas all you alls!

Movin' it up!!

2011-11-16T15:59:00.000-08:00

Hey Family!!

Just to let you know we have moved our date up to May 12,2o12. It makes waaay more sense!!! And we get to be married for longer!! So please either fb me or email me (sgeiger_19@hotmail.com) your address if you think you can come or just want an invite!! Ok love you all!!

~Sheri & Andrew

Surprise!!

2011-10-25T21:53:00.000-07:00

Hi All!!!
Or not such a surprise... who are we kidding... you've heard the rumour already!
Just to follow-up on the trend here after Sheri and Andrew, wanted to make sure that you all knew that you are most definitely invited to Alicia and I's wedding!!!! The wedding is this December 3rd, here on the island. Please e-mail, or contact me for further details if you think you might be able to come!! Above is the front of the wedding invites that we are mailing out! To save time and postage (we work at camp.... the time available to plan a wedding is very minimal...) we thought the quickest way to get this message out to you all was via the blog.

And since it's been so long since I've touched base with some of you... here is a lengthier update=) I first want to say that I get to see some of you every once in a while (especially those of you on the island) and it brings so much joy to me. I think it was honestly last Christmas, Christmas 2010 that I posted on here. What a year it has been! Last summer I applied for and was accepted as an Assistant Head Counselor at camp. What an adventure that was, with so much growing, and strengthening… it was amazing. In advance crew, a certain friendship that I had had for about 3 years began to develop and change into something more (this really started earlier that year but that’s a longer story for another time!). Just before summer I asked Alicia M. if she would date me… and she said yes! This launched a new chapter in the journey for me… now becoming us… and one that as been incredible. Alicia is the most incredible women. I love her very very much.

After summer, I went back to the mainland, to CBC and to working at my church as the Middle School Youth Assistant. Weekends were spent with Alicia, either her coming to the mainland or me going to the island. Those were good times. I was taking 19 credits that Fall and so my weekdays were spent from waking to sleeping on school work, and then weekends were times to forget all of that and rest. Alicia and I grew a lot during those weeks and months and continued to look to God for guidance and to learn what it means to enjoy the journey instead of wanting to get to the destination (which for us at that point was some far off time when we might actually live near each other). As December rolled around I started to pray about and look towards what God had for me after graduating that coming April. Discussions with Coquitlam Alliance revealed that they didn’t forsee having anything for me beyond the 8 hours a week I was presently at. God seemed to be working in me through this fact and many other things at church that it was almost time to move on and that I better prepare for this. After much prayer I stepped back from that ministry over the Christmas break and dedicated myself to finishing school well (that year I had to take a 19 credit semester and an 18 credit semester!) and to seeking out what ministry God would lead me to next.

December and January were full of e-mails, phone calls, meetings, and interviews with different denominations, churches, and camp ministries. Nothing seemed quite right. I felt like God wanted me back at Qwanoes, but there didn’t seem to be a position that fit (I was keen for working in the staffing office but their present search was for a Director of staffing who could start immediately). While I was getting further into the hiring process with a church, Scott called from camp with an idea/offer. It was a couple days later that I accepted with great excitement. Everything that I was hesitant or concerned about with the other ministries that I was in discussions with was answered in the proposal from Qwanoes! It was such an answer to prayer. I accepted a three year contract with the staffing office. I was the staffing assistant for this past summer (started immediately after my school ended at the end of April) and then stepped into the staff team coordinator position this past September! What an amazing time this has been and how faithful God has been in so many areas! Did I mention that Alicia is also the registrar at Qwanoes and so was already here year-round!

It was June 14th, when I planned a little picnic and hike out to the point from camp (a place Alicia and I had hiked to before)... we hadn't been out there long before I couldn't wait any longer and dropped on one knee to ask her to marry me... and she said yes=)

There is so much more to say, but for now I just ask that you pray for me, and for us. Pray for both of us individually, pray for us as we prepare for marriage and life together, pray also for us in our roles at camp. Pray that we would walk closer and closer with him as we rely on him for strength, wisdom, and perseverance.

Coming this Spring, Mr. & Mrs. Bertram :)

2011-10-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

Hello our family!!
I am so sorry that it has been so long since either one of us has blogged. Andrew has been super busy with school and Sheri was waiting for this special announcement!!
So as we are sure most of you know, we are engaged!!! Finally right:) Here is the story from Sheri's side!

I was suppose to be catching a ferry Wednesday night to Tswassen to meet up with Andrew so that we could leave for Saskatchewan in the morning for his cousins wedding... Michelle had spent the day with me and at supper time she informed me that Stevie G had forgotten his marriage certificate at camp and we had to go and get it quick and bring it back to Ladysmith so that my parents could take it with them to his wedding.
Once we got to camp Michelle started heading towards the stairs, we enjoyed the view for a moment and I could see something that kind of looked like fire at the end of the dock. She wanted to go down and see if someone down there had a key to the office. It made no sense to me so I argued with her that we should just go to the lodge and see if we could find someone; but Michelle being the stubborn girl that she is insisted that we go to the water. About half way down the stairs I started to suspect something, my knees became very weak and I started to think about what I would say if it was what I thought. The rest of the walk down was me trying not to fall over :P We got to the pier and Michelle was just smiling big, trying to play it cool, but then she started to cry... I asked her if it was what I thought and she tried so hard to not give it away:) I got to the end of the dock and Andrew popped out from behind a wakeboard rack and lead me to the top of a candle outlined heart, he proceeded to read me the sweetest note and at the end got down on one knee and asked me to marry him :D I of course screamed yes and then screamed some more!!

We are so excited and so happy and are so excited to finally start living our lives together united as one by the greatest lover, God!

The date is June 2, 2012 and we would love it if you would be there to celebrate with us (please fb or email me your address)!

So here is a quick update on us...
Andrew has started his schooling at CBC in Abby and is in the Counselling and Caregiving program and doing amazing. He loves what he is learning even though there is more than a ton of reading to do. He is one studious man;)

I am working at a farmers market in the Deli and really enjoying it, learning a lot about what it means to have a job to be with people rather than the work (ex, I am not a huge fan of slicing meat, but enjoy the people I work with!). I am also trying to get licenced to sell insurence, not really what I want to do forever, but know it willl help pay the bills :)

As far as prayer requests, please pray for us as we have started a new journey as an engaged couple. Pray that I wont get super stressed and that Andrew will know when to tell me to chill :P Also I have been having a really really hard time with eatting for about 6 months and it is a constant battle, please pray for wisdom for both of us as we are trying to figure out how to beat this!

So this is our news:D
We will see you in June if not before!!
~ Andrew & Sheri

Hey Guys!

2011-09-29T18:59:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. Hope you're all doin well. I just bought a bunch of new markers for school and I thought I'd test them out. This is what I did. I thought I'd share it with you all because, a) it's of one of our beloved friends, b) because I drew it from a picture that Michelle took (she's got such great talent), and c) I believe it captures Jon doing one of the things he loves best - modelling.

Love,

Matt Brown

Jim & Sarah on Tour at a Town Near You!

2011-08-16T20:22:00.000-07:00

A week from today, Sarah and I leave on a tour of Canada! We would love to see as many of you as we can manage, though of course we can't get to every community where you will be.

Here is what would be helpful: If you live in a place where a number of students could come for an evening or weekend afternoon, maybe you could arrange something and let us know, and you/we could invite people there from any of the years of Kaleo.

It would also be helpful - and especially fun - if you would be willing to let us park the truck (with a camper on it) in your driveway for a night or two. We are otherwise pretty self-contained.

We have no set schedule, but here is an idea of where we will be and when:

August 24 - arrive in Halifax, Cape Breton, PEI, maybe Newfoundland
Early September - New Brunswick
After Labour Day - Ontario
Mid/late September - Winnipeg, Caronport
Late September/early October - Edmonton, Calgary
Early/mid October - BC
Mid October - back to Victoria

You can text, FB or email us even while we are on the road. In the words of Paul, we "long to see you so that [we] may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and [we] may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith." See you soon!

To Team India

2011-08-10T10:32:00.001-07:00

Hey, I hope you don't mind if I just pass on a few words to Team India, and the other teams may be interested as well. First, our wonderful guide and leader N. and his wife will be on the Island next week, after the 15th, and is wondering who might be available to get together and when. Please let me know if you will be around and what times would work best for you.

Second, I want to remind you again of the opportunity to continue our involvement by helping send three children to the Moravian School for this school term. The funds need to be in by September, and the children are the oldest son and daughter of J. from Os. and their cousin. Kids going to school has been one of the best ways of drawing families to faith, and you can be part of it! Even if you can only contribute a small amount, it would help. If you would like to do so, please contact me. Those who have already contacted me, I will send you info soon on how to make your contribution.

Finally, there are a few people interested in a Kaleo Alumni trip in late April / early May of 2012. If you would like to be added to the list of those interested, please again, contact me and I will send you information.

Whether you went to India or any other place, please consider how you can continue to be a blessing and support to that ministry through your prayers, encouragement and giving!

God is good...

2011-07-27T07:07:00.000-07:00

Hello! Hello!! Hello!!! Hello!!!!

Where to begin? Well...life is good, God is good, things are just good! The past few years have been a little rocky, but I survived because that's what I do!

I still reside with my grandmother and my disabled aunt...which has been so hard, but so good. They are both getting older and sicker. We just bought my aunt a wheelchair as her body is slowly deteriorating, and my grandma seems to be getting smaller and weaker everyday. It's a lot of work taking care of someone who cannot care for themselves for 50+ years. And my grandmother would rather die than put her in a home. So, we get it done.

I quit my job at the greenhouse! I was so scared of putting my two weeks notice in after being there for so long, but it needed to be done. I prayed so hard that God would soften my bosses' hearts over this matter and not give me too hard of a time about it. God is so good and I was able to leave with no questions asked. I needed to quit because it just got to the point where thinking about that place made me want to cry. It was so emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually draining. They just have such narrow-minded doctrines and would quite often try to push and force their beliefs onto me. It would usually end in tears on my part because my heart would just break for them and there was never any discussion about it. It was them telling me that what I believe is wrong and they would tell me why. When I tried to have a conversation about it, they ended up attacking me...they didn't want to discuss, they wanted to fight. Because we would often hit heads on such matters, I was treated very poorly in comparison to employees who belong to their church. I was there for almost three years, so I think I gave it a fair shot. I would still be there though, if it was not for a dear friend and her husband. They are both members of my small group and September (yes, that's her name) and I are virtually inseperable and Nick just adores me! Anyways, they both knew how unhappy I was and just how "stuck" I felt, so Nick decided that he "needed" a temp for the summer. He created a job, presented it to his boss and told his boss that he had a person in mind that would be perfect and here I am, working as Nick's tax assistant. And it's ok if you guys laugh...I can't do math to save my life...I just make charts and send emails. I'm more of a personal assistant/his entertainment than anything else. We have a lot of fun here at the office!

Also, I'm going back to school in the fall! It has been a long time in the works; I just wanted to be sure about what I want to do for the rest of my life...so, here I go, back to school for the first time since Kaleo. It will be new, it will be different, but I have no doubt that it will good. There have just been so many times where I feel like I can't do it, or something goes wrong, but God is watching over and taking care of me. Anyways, I will be taking Early Childhood Education with the hope of opening my own daycare somewhere in this big, wide world! I just have such a huge desire to love little children and instil the love of Christ into their lives. I feel that a lot of children are forced to grow up too soon...I want to give them a safe place to be kids and learn that there is Someone far greater than anybody on this earth that looks out for them and cares for them.

Well, I think this has been a fairly detailed update. I will be at Camp Qwanoes from August 14-20 if anyone is kicking around the island and wants to stop in. Jenny and I will be there together for that week and I am so excited!

Dan and Katie...I'm sorry that I will miss your special day, but know that you are in my prayers as you embark on your new life together!

Now, everyone else...let's keep each other updated! No matter how detailed or brief, it would be absolutely delightful to know where you're all at.

Much love,

Trusting Jess*

Kurtis & Jon are planting

2011-07-09T19:34:00.000-07:00

Hey you lot! its Kurtis.
I got back from a winter of traveling in Europe at the end of April (I love Europe). Went to my brothers college grad, signed the licence for his elopement (don't ask). After which I headed to BC to put in another season of tree planting.
Many great things have come from my third excursion to the bush. Being reunited with old planting comrades as well as mates from the regular world that have made the trek out to pound in some trees. The most notable one being Jon Lafave. Having not seen him since the kaleo breakup it has been wonderful to catch up with him and go through the testing experience of planting together. Pray for safety from injury, mental breakdowns and particularly less bugs and better weather. My lifestyle is about to change greatly next month. God has called me to shelve my travel plans and be a family man. I'll be moving to Caronport with my family to support my mother and sister while me Dad spends long periods away from home doing long haul trucking. I'm terrified of what may become of it. Its all in Gods hands. Love you all

yoooo. this is now jon. sitting in kurts car. because well its raining. actually it just stopped which is rare because it has rained a lot here in alberta the last little while.
in april i graduated with all those other beautiful brothers in caronport and then took a quick road trip out west and got to prince george where we began planting at the beginning of may. kurt is a third year vet but im just a little rookie so this crazy job called tree planting has been quite the experience. its been amazing though and while difficult, our Father is teaching me some really amazing lessons. one of the hardest lessons but really good ones has been being in a place that is so driven to make money and excel and yet having circumstances at times that don't allow for it. i found myself so angry at times as i would be planting, whether at my partner or the people paying me what i thought was a ridiculous price per tree. and pretty early on into the season i believe God challenged me asking if i trusted him. if i trusted him to provide for me. that if i was to work hard and do my best, did i trust him with the rest. if all the money i made was taken away from me at the end of this season, would i trust him. would i focus on my numbers and money more then the people around me? and so these have been things i've wrestled with since starting, but it's been good. i know he is doing a work in my heart in making eternal things much more important and challenging areas that i hold to high. its good.
after tree planting which should be over at the end of the month, ill head home to just hang out before moving downtown in toronto where i'll start a 9 month internship at a church working with youth and the marginalized in toronto. the church is called Toronto Alliance and its incredible. its right downtown and gathers together in this really small upper room. it all happened pretty fast but when i was there a few times over the christmas break it was incredible, it's lively in there. im going to be moving into a house with some good friends and friends that are really passionate about similar things and are ultimately really wanting to follow Jesus in every aspect of life, im really excited.

hope you like the beard, it sucks when i drool as i sleep and i wake up with a wet beard to the right side of my lip.

i love you all lots.
a psalm that ive been reading a lot since being in the bush is psalm 16. despite crazy days and not ideal situations, in his presence, there really is fullness of joy. read it.
peeeeacce

p.s. one night in prince george over the break kurt and i went with his cousin to a worship night put on by ihop and it was incredible. such a blessing to be with this brother and to pray together,
its a cool thing to be a part and yet to come together with Jesus as the center, dang its good.

Chilling on the Island

2011-07-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

Scotty, I am amazed at the direction your life has taken these past years - who woulda thunk it during those first days of Kaleo when we were trying to pry a few words from you! We love reading anything that still shows up on this blog, and hope it will continue! Rather than write the same thing on every Kaleo Blog, may I direct you to the K8 Blog (not because I love them more - you are all my favorite year of Kaleo!) where I wrote an update on us. We love running into you, hearing from you, and hopefully we will visit with many of you on our cross-Canada trip later this summer. Fix your eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfector of this adventure!

booooom.

2011-06-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

Kaleo! bless your hearts. here's a newsletter i just sent out, sorry if you didn't get it, but be encouraged and get out to new york sometime it'll great!
Love you all. Scotty.

Dear Friends and Sponsors
A sermon that our senior pastor, Bill Wilson, preached during a staff meeting has stuck with most of the staff all semester. It stemmed from Nehemiah 6:3, where he is rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, says that he is doing a great work and cannot come down. When we follow Christ actively, we are doing a great work. The cost may be great, but we are doing a great work. No matter how difficult a day, it always seems that there is one kid that says “I love you”, with such desperation, wanting someone to say it back to them. One of the kids I visit was leaving to see his brother for the weekend, and before he left he said goodbye to me at least five times, telling me he was going to miss me and that I would see him the following week. They notice something, something different. They notice that you don’t yell at them, that you don’t curse, that you’re not mad all the time. I’ll never know what it meant to Brandon that I stopped to watch his baseball game. I don’t know how to react when Leah tells me she sees ghosts and demons after dark. There’s so much in this place that I don’t know how to react to, but the gifts I’ve been given have me placed here for a reason. We are doing a great work.

It seems like this whole semester there has been tragedy for the kids and people in the various areas we do ministry. A family was killed in a fire. A child was mauled by a dog. There have been 4 shootings right across the street from our office in the last two weeks. A teen from my area of the Bronx was stabbed 21 times over 10 dollars. And yet here we stand, still doing Sunday school, recognizing the urgency all the more. We are doing a great work. This isn’t said in a prideful way, as in this is the only great work, but nevertheless, it is a great work. The danger is, as in the case of Nehemiah, that there will always be people to come against that work. The devil will always plant seeds of doubt, using whichever vessel that is willing. As some of you know, I spent the majority of the semester waiting for a pending Visa to be approved, the source of income stopped, and an additional job of promotion to add to the pace of life. Plenty of reasons to come down from the wall. But I’m doing a great work. Again, not to sound proud of this or arrogant, but when God gives a job to be done, it is considered a great work. So be encouraged. The work here in New York is not taken lightly or the opportunity taken for granted. And the work that you are doing is to be taken with equal importance. You are doing a great work!
The summer brings a trip to Canada for me, and I’m bringing along Louisa for the trip, so in the end of August I’ll be around! Looking forward to connecting with you again!

“I have put My words in your mouth and covered you with the shadow of My hand”
- Isaiah 51:16
(Thanks to Mom for encouraging my team with this verse this semester!)

For the next few months if you could pray for:
Hunts Point (South Bronx), for deeper relationships with the kids, for an increased urgency in my heart, and for rest during the off-semester.

Honestly, I would feel so lost without you that support me in prayer and financially. And I know that the excuses run wild for me here with business and not enough time, but I really want to say thanks. You are taking resources of yours and investing them in me and I appreciate that a bunch. You are the best!
Blessings.
Scott.

It's My Life!

2011-06-05T18:12:00.001-07:00

Hello my dear family!
It has been quite a while and I would love to hear updates on all your lives! And it just so happens that we have this great blog that is just perfect for that very purpose!
Now for what is happening in my life:
I have now finished my 3rd year at Waterloo and only have one more year and I will be done my undergrad degree, which is a crazy thought, because I clearly remember the end of Kaleo and really not looking forward to university and thinking how 4 years would be forever. But the time has flown by and been great. At times that schoolwork can be overwhelming but for the most part I really enjoy what I am learning. I have also been blessed with a wonderful group of friends at school that make everything much more fun but are also a great support when that is needed as well in my faith and just life in general.
This summer I am also studying for my LSAT (Law School Admission Test) to write that in the fall in order to get into Law School after my undergrad. Though I am also considering taking a year to do something else, liking volunteering abroad or doing a masters or really anything before going to law school, so if anyone has suggestions for that year, I would love to hear them.
As for the summer, I am working in Timmins, which is in Northern Ontario, with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) with their Aboriginal Neighbours program for 4 months. I have been up here for about 1 month now. They do advocacy with First Nations and I am helping out with that, wherever the help is needed. So far I have been focusing on clean water, food sustainability and mining, which are areas of such concern that First Nations, especially in the Far North are facing. I am enjoying it so far and learning a lot about these issues and about partnering with the First Nations people. It is a huge challenge seeing the impacts of the past actions of the church done in Christ’s name, in the form of residential schools and understanding how to show God’s love to people that have been so hurt in the past. God is teaching me how to seek justice in his strength, though I still have a long way to go in figuring that one out. You can check out the work that MCC does up here in Timmins and what I am helping with:
http://ontario.mcc.org/aboriginal
While I am here I’m living with the parents of one of my roommates from school, which really is a blessing, since they have kind of just adopted me as their daughter for the summer.
In another area of life, I am dating a great young man, named Jesse. We have been dating for about 6 months now and it is really wonderful. Right now we are pretty far apart for 4 months because he is down in Waterloo area, which is less than ideal, but it is still going really well. We met at university back in first year and have been friends since then and it was quite a process to say the least but finally in December we decided to start dating. God really had his hand on the timing throughout the whole situation. So the past six months have been a learning experience in that area but also a great blessing.
I think that is all for now.
I love you all and think of you often.
Be Blessed,
Catherine

An Adventurous Summer!

2011-06-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!
So i've decide to change my path this summer. Instead of going along in my schedule work, church, youth, work church... oh yeah social life.....no.... work, youth, church. though i enjoy aspects of all of what i do, all together and so busy has not been good on my joy, anger, anxiety or motivation level. So, i quit my job! This summer i will be going to MOntreal with our Sr. high youth for a 14 day missions trip. Then craig and i will be going to my cabin for 7-10 days then its August. At the end of August i am going to help out with our Jr. youth day camp but in between i'm making plans! I would like to volunteer at Qwanoes or another camp for a week and i am open to all other adventurous things! So if you are going on an adventure or know of an opportunity let me know because i'm looking!!
I do ask for your prayers as i am trying not to be nervous about the fall when i have to find a job again but i know this is what God wants for me right now! And even in the fall i wont be doing too much instead i will be even more active in our youth Ministry as Ross Road which i'm very excited about!!!
Thanks everyone!

Jenny

crickets chirping

2011-05-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hello?
I guess I'll take this 2-month silence on the blog to say,
Hi everyone!

And I guess I'll fill you in on what I've been up to.

I'm just finishing up a year as an intern with UrbanPromise Vancouver. I have spent these past months hanging out with kids from East Vancouver, and it has been so good! Sure, these kids have attitude. I've seen more poopy underpants than I've wanted to. And man, is it hard to listen to a kid cry because they're frustrated they can't see their dad who is too high to do their weekend visit.
But that is why it is so good. Because we are there. To take their attitude without condemning them. To be someone who doesn't make fun of their "accidents." We are there to let them cry and vent, and have them know we listen and care. As hard as it is, we are there to be Jesus to them. To speak hope to hopelessness and share redemption with brokenness.
This neighborhood is weird. It's pretty quiet and full of pretty well-off young families. But amidst the affluence there are pockets of poverty and dispair. It's about 10 blocks away from East Hastings, and the pronounced problems of that area often creep up to the families here. So while it seems on the outside to be a beautiful, eco-friendly, car-sharing, urban-gardening, community-focused neighbourhood, it's far from perfect. That's what I've noticed most about working with kids. They can seem to have it pretty much together. Yet after a while, their turmoil begins to show. They are so good at hiding their problems. But once you spend enough time with them, you will begin to see how underneath a thick skin, they are dying inside.
Okay so I painted a pretty bleak picture, but it's really been quite fun. Yeah, it's been hard at times, but most days are pretty awesome. Yesterday we had a couple kids start a garden. We were digging and tilling the soil, and the kids saw some worms. It was like spotting an elephant in Africa! It's as if they had never seen a worm before! "Look! Worms! Ahhhh!!! Awesome!" So there went all our little helpers off to make (no joke) a worm daycare, where all the worms from the garden went. One kid came up to me afterwards and said, "I used to not like worms, but now worms are my friends."
The end to the school year is three and a half weeks off. After my time here, I'll be heading back to Manitoba for the summer and spending time with my family and hopefully getting a summer job. Then, I'm moving back to East Van and will be going to school at VanArts for photography. I'll also be working as the UrbanPromise house manager, which means I'll live with the interns in the house and, well, manage it.

Here is a picture which sums up the Vancouver weather this year.

Hope to hear from you guys soon!
Be Jesus to those you meet today!

Joel

Arlan again

2011-03-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

I vote for Jessica to be a volunteer at City Kidz!!! Anyone else?

India, reposted from Kaleo 4 blog

2011-03-13T13:14:00.000-07:00

Hello team India and everyone else! Rob has asked me to post this note from Blythe (K4) and Nicki...

~~~

india!

as you may or may not know, the kaleo eights are on their missions trips right now. the india team arrived in delhi in the middle of our night last night (narrowly escaping the earthquake that hit japan - praise god!) and are currently probably exploring the red fort and revelling in the bazaar (this could be way off; i'm really bad with time difference and its accompanying math).

i am calling on you brothers and sisters to partner with this team in prayer! god did a great work in and through us four years ago in india. that's where these students are at right now.

this has been an interesting year for kaleo. jim has consistently reinforced that this year's theme is one of incredible grace. both jim and janet are undertaking a lot in leading this team. everyone is tired going into this trip; everyone is feeling weak. the verse that has been given to this team repeatedly is II corinthians 12:9 - “my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

nicki and i are currently calling on all the past india teams to intercede on behalf of this present team as god does great work in and through them. nicki is currently strategizing how to get a 24/7 prayer thing going on that will involve past india teams aka US! please please please, if you want to sign up for a slot, go to our blog (http://kaleofour.blogspot.com/) where nicki will be shortly posting a more detailed description of how to get involved with this prayer initiative. or message me back privately and i'll give you more info!

i love you all dearly,
blythe (& nicki)

florida never felt so nice.

2011-03-09T12:03:00.001-08:00

greetings everyone, felt like this would be the perfect time to check in with you all, due to the fact that i'm in Miami with rob bancroft right now! feel free to be jealous of miami, but not the vicious sunburns already obtained after a day. miss you all, be safe, have fun. amen.
scotty T.

2011-03-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

hello friends!

Just wanted to quickly let you know that Steve K and I are now overseeing blog admin stuff, so if you are having any issues with posting, etc, let one of us know!

love you guys!
ellie

Its ARRRRRRLS, ARRLS, ARRUUUUUULS, sup Lafave

2011-02-28T17:32:00.000-08:00

Hey all my Kaleo friends. Its good to read about some of your lives. Kurtis you are all over the place and your going tree planting again this summer, that's awesome. Sometimes tree planting is a job where you can get so angry and hate your job while you plant and wonder, "Why did I ever decide to do this?" and yet at the end of the day, sigh, gulp back almost almost a liter of water and say, "That was a good day!" Remember to eat those carrots for good eyes.

Well friends my time has ended at Metro Ministries, it was probably one of the most difficult choices to make in life, and I guess I didn't make my choice too professionally, nevertheless I am back in CANADA! Yeah I like Canada, I'm currently working at the bike co-op in Hamilton again where we as Andrew (Staff) puts it, "Redeem old, abandoned and abused bikes". It has been great except for the lack of heat in the shop on these cold winter days.

I'm really excited for this summer, we plan to have a trike bike in the warmer months. It will basically be a mobile bike shop where we plan to bike around town and fix/maintain peoples bikes, show them how etc. We want to get involved with the Salvation Army Soup Van going to its 3 locations and provide our tools for the people on bikes there. We are also planing to get involved with some public schools for a after school program on bike fixing. It's exciting.

Also in Hamilton there is a program called City Kidz which does much like Metro in NY, so I am very excited to be a volunteer for them! I am also trying to get a part time job at a local bike shop so I can advance my mechanical skills on newer bikes.I'm pretty pumped about what I'm doing, now I just pray that God will bless it.

Oh on another note I was made aware of this really cool verse in the bible Heb 13 "Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels." I think its time we stop worrying about 'awkward moments' (which is way over rated by too many people!)step out of our comfort zones, start meeting and getting to know some strangers in our communities, letting God work through us and in so doing entertain the angels. Inspiring isn't it? I think so.

Dig Deeper Arlan

Sheri & Matt!

2011-02-11T10:23:00.005-08:00

Yo Geiger & Brown! Your lack of Facebook means I need to ask for your addresses here! Help me out?

-Katie :)

Sheri & Matt!

2011-02-11T10:23:00.003-08:00

Yo Geiger & Brown! Your lack of Facebook means I need to ask for your addresses here! Help me out?

-Katie :)

2011-01-28T15:03:00.000-08:00

Oops! Here it is...
www.danloveskatie.com

Our Wedding is on August 6th!

2011-01-28T15:01:00.000-08:00

We are so sorry about the delay everyone! It's been a busy couple months and we just haven't had a chance to keep you guys posted. However- we do have a website up with all the information regarding engagement, wedding, etc!

Take a look and miss you all!

-Katie and Dan

Growing through Growing

2011-01-20T10:52:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone! Here is just an update on what is all going on in my life these days.

I’m in my 3rd year of working at Winkler Bible Camp as the Kids Zone Director, and things are going wonderfully! KZ has been on a break since Dec 11 and only starts up again on March 5th, so it's been a nice change of pace. The big KZ news is that we're starting up in another town in March, so that's been a really exciting and challenging process. This means that I'll have a KZ Intern working for me to be the site director of the Winkler site while I lead the new site in Morden. Basically everything we do will just be doubled, so it's been fun to plan!

I'm also currently at Briercrest chilling with the dudes here and then on Sunday I’ll be representing my camp at the school’s “camp days” event.

Personally I'm also doing really well, I am loving my job and the opportunities it presents! I love connecting with so many youth and kids, as well as churches and other para-church organizations! I’ve been on holidays this week and last week, and so I've been reading, relaxing, and connecting with others, so it's sweet.

The past month or so has been a time of being challenged in my personal walk with God and me wanting to ramp it up even more. I’ve really been realizing that everyone is about LOVING GOD. If I truly love God, other things are going to work out and I’ll want to do everything I’m supposed to do. So let me end with that encouragement to you – Love God with all your heart, soul and mind (Matt 22:37) and spend time with him reading his word and praying. That is what I’ve been working on lately, and while I have not arrived at where I need to be, it’s been improving and I’m excited for that!

Love you all, let us know what you’re up to!

Revolutionary Steve

An a Roving a Roving a Roving I'll go

2011-01-19T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hello Family; once again it has been ages since I last posted. I'm Sorry. Here is an account of the last several months of an ever spiraling adventure.

My visa expired on September 7th to work in the U.K. By that point I was working a cash in hand job in London. Awful job, the governor was a right Irish tosser.

So I was well ready in mid-sept to leave and spend the rest of Sept. in Ireland. A fun month, I did a coach tour that circled the entire island. The best part of Ireland to me was the pub culture. There was always live music every night in every community; no matter how small. People would so enthusiastically dance and sing along. Anyone was encouraged to perform. Thus, there were occasions when my mates grassed me in and I would do a special number for the house.

I took a ferry from Ireland to France in the first week of October. I spent the rest of the month in France, made some memories, met some amazing people. Highlights include, watching a riot in Lyon, and dancing to gypsy music till 5Am at the soup festival in the Ceanne mountains.

I spent the first week of Nov. in Spain, making my way to Portugal, where I spent two weeks, mostly in Porto and Lisbon, the two main cities. Learned about the historical Port Wine trade. as well as got within 1 km of Stephen Harper, Barrock Obama, and all the other NATO leaders during the summit in Lisbon.

I returned to Spain for 3 weeks again after Portugal. Went to Salsa dancing in Seville, helped a brit rebuild the roof of his house at a run down farm in the Sierra Nevada mountains. Spent a night on the streets of Cordoba with two okes named Serra and Antonio.

On December 10th I flew out of Spain from Madrid to Winnipeg (It was a weird transition). I decided to use some of the insurance money form our families house burning to fly home and be with them. They have left the Ranch and are living in town, it was incredible to see how God is challenging and stretching each of them. Jessica is going to high school (that always stretches). Dad is learning to find his self worth in Christ. Not in being your own boss and owning loads of land. He drives truck and mechanics work for another farmer now. Everyday is a challenge for mom living with her manic depressive disorder. William joined us as well from bible school in Alberta. He's enduring the refiners fire that we all went through at Kaleo. Found himself a woman as well.

We've all grown up in many ways over the year and a half we were apart, nonetheless we all become very childish as soon as we are in the same room. We had a lot of fun over the X-mas and new year. I flew back to Madrid on January 1oth. From there I've continued my Europe itinerary. Seen Barcelona, Nice (France), Cinque Terra (Italy) and now I'm stopped in Florence.

I love exploring, meeting new people and seeing new sights. Every experience seems to lend me a slightly new perspective of God, life, the universe, and Everything.

I have bought a one-way ticket to Winnipeg from London on April 25th. That will be my final move and farewell from the U.K. Tree planting will be my welcome back to Canada. I'll be well in need of money by that point. After which; I'm not sure. Reckon I'd better get started on University really. We'll see!

Thats all for now, remember my freaky darlings. "The Best Is Yet To Come"

Liberated Kurt

IT WENT GOOD!!

2010-12-18T17:54:00.000-08:00

hey every one, just so you know my mom's surgery went good. They opened up 3 vein in her neck and didn't have to use any stints, She dosn't feel any different, and that not uncommon and we will see what happens in time, Pray for her recovery, I'm not sure what will come but I know if we pray with expectancy and Faith He can move mountains. and this disease is my mom mountain.

she went for a check up today I'm not sure how she doing to day i have not talked to them since last night. But They will be home on the 22, maybe i'll get a chance to post a bit more of and update later.

Thank you ALL so much for a prays and support! My parents feel so touch to know that there family is much bigger then they thought.

On sunday i gave them some cards from some of you and other family and friends and my dad said with his soft voice (meaning he was super moved and was trying not to cry) ' You know dear, You have some really Good friend.' I'm realizing more and more that people do normaly get the chance to build relationships like we did in our year of kaleo.

I love you all deeply and i think all of you randomly. I'm so thankful the extended family i have (thats you lol)

ITS ALMOST CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! Oh man like 7 days!!!!!!!!!!

We are going to adams parents for christmas, They live just out side of dunce in Junoa bay (i have no idea how to spell it), its not to far away from croften if you heading towards maple bay

It will be my first christmas with out my parents. But we are going up Mt Washington for 4 nights starting on the 27th to spend time with my side of the family.... I'M SO EXCITED FOR CHRISTMAS! I LOVE FAMILY!

Ok I'm going to go now

LOVE YOU

Meesha.

Hello my friends...

2010-12-05T16:35:00.000-08:00

Hey everybody,

just wanted to say hi. Life is difficult but God is so faithful. I've been really struggling with reaching out in community, I feel like all my close friends are far away and it's so hard to make new friends and develop relationships. Sometimes I feel like I hit a brick wall at my church, I know a lot of people on a shallow level but have very few actual deep relationships...I think a large part of this is because I am busy, very busy (because its hard to sit still, I don't like being alone) but perhaps I am not making enough time for people.

But God sees me, I know this, and he knows me, and he hears me. He brings me friends when I really, really need them (like this weekend I got to see Meesh and Adam!) I don't want to just talk about what community should be and complain when it isn't, I want to move toward creating and nurturing it. I just find it hard to step out of my comfortable place I guess.

And Christmas is going to be hard. My dad's birthday is on Christmas day so that adds to an already difficult day. But Lewis and I are going to Mexico with his family in a couple weeks and will miss spending the first Christmas day without dad with my mom and sister. But I am praying (and if you think of it, maybe you could join me in this) that this will be just what I (we) need.

Could you pray, my friends?

I love and miss you guys. Matt it is so good to hear a bit about what you're up to. And Dan and Katie, I am SO excited for you guys. Marriage is really fun and fabulous :)

I'm back on facebook again. Add me if you think of it!

And I've started another blog to help me process grief and emotions. I needed to start writing again. IF you want to check it out click here

Love you guys lots!

Ellie

Matt

2010-11-16T16:41:00.001-08:00

Hey I miss all you guys. It's been way too long. I'll have to let you know what's happening with me when I have some time but I'm crazy busy right now with a design project. I go to an art school in Halifax called NSCAD. Later everyone.

So if anyone is still living in NS or the maritimes at all. Dan Rob or Mark. We'll i know Mark's in Calgary. I've been hangin out with some people who know you Mark. They told me you were in Calgary to my dismay.

Let me know

Matt

how to pray for my heart at the moment.

2010-11-10T15:45:00.001-08:00

HEY FAMILY!...

KATIE AND DAN!!!! OH MY GOONESS I'M SO EXCITED FOR YOU GUYS!!!!... I have been so excited all day i may have weirded out some people. I'm so excited to hear the story from both sides :)

just a quick up date.

SO SUPER EXCITING NEWS!!!!! i dont know if you guys have herd much about this surgery for MS BUT its big news in my house Slash Family!!!

I dont know all the details But i know there is some doctor in europe some where or poland I don't know lol But what ever. He discovered that there is a vain in the neck in all ms patience is pinched or twisted and they do this unclogging thing that does not take long at all!!... a doctor can do 4 people a day or something like that.. SO my mom and dad have been looking at different places to go. They don't allow this in Canada for some reason. BUt there is a clinic in the US but they didn't open till sept. But my mom put her self on 2 waiting lists. AND THEY GOT A CALL not to long ago from a place in New York!! ... SO they are going in Dec. :) I'm so excited for this!!!.. we don't know what will really happen or if it will change anything at all. But Please Pray!!! I know God gave us Doctors for a reason! Its hard not to get my hopes up. SO pray for her heart, she is nervous and I thin a little scared. She dosnt want to Hope to much ... just in case nothing changes. i can understand this.. i feel some what the same. Your prayers and Much Needed and Much appreciate. They are paying for this out of there own pockets because metrical wont cover it .. Because its not an Approved procedure by canada medical.. I think that silly!! but what ever.. So i think my dad is stressing about that side of things. If you guys feel like helping with that to then Please do so!!!

Other news

My sister ,brother in law and the babs Are Hopefully leaving for Tibet!!! in Jan for 2 years!!!! well they hope in jan. If not then they will leave in August. But Pray that they are able to leave in Jan. They are going with Operation Mobilization! Pray for safety and guidance. i don't know much and i don't know how much i can write on the Web. I know if there are things to be prayed for our all knowing Father will give you the words.

Married life is going good! .. So much fun. I can hardly believe that i'm married! parts of me thought i would never be Lol!!! but then i happened to find some one just a weird as me. Thank you so much to those who were able to come for making the hike :) I loved having most of my family... Even though that day is such a Blur. I'm learning a lot of life things right now... Like how to be diligent with your money and responsible ... junk like that. I do almost feel like i'm still some what sitting in a waiting in a room.. waiting for God to tell us where to go and what to do. But i know that Just being right now is important to our marriage.

Andrew you should post that wedding vid on this thing ok. ok :)

Well that was probs longer then i thought.. but it still feels some what vag. SO you can call me or skype me for more deets of you like :) I LOVE ALL OF YOU!!!

SO MUCH

STINK KATIE AND DAN ARE GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHH OH MAN you guys make me smile!!!!!

Now DEETS PLEASE!!!!... i know your doing home work/normal work and planning a wedding and what not But please I'm dying to know the deets!!!

Love the ring by the way.. Good work dan!

WE'RE ENGAGED!

2010-11-09T18:40:00.000-08:00

Dan proposed about an hour ago! Thought you all should know!
Sorry Sheri and Andrew... I guess we won the race! Haha! And Kels- this means a reunion I hope!!

Love and miss you all!

we need to have a kaleo reunion... c'mon, someone get married already!

2010-11-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

hey guys!! I'm serious about the title, we need to have a reunion soon cuz I miss you guys a lot :( If you get married or something and are therefore the reason for our reunion then you are really taking one for the team and I'm sure we would all appreciate it very much!!

As far as an update on what's new.. in the summer I worked with a bunch of kids again doing those library programs where I read books and just kind of have fun. It was great! I was so grateful that I got to work at the same place as last year as well because then I was already familiar with the community there and the people I was working with, so that was awesome. In other news, I met a special someone last semester. We've been together now for just over 6 months and it's going wonderfully. His name is Joel. I definitely think that it has been God's idea from the start and He continues to be central in our relationship, bringing us through some tough conversations and keeping us together despite being somewhat long distance for a lot of the relationship so far.

Joel actually just went home from visiting me here in Germany for a couple of weeks. This semester I decided to leave the country again (I often wonder why), but this time to work instead of study. I've been here in Germany since the end of August, working at a kindergarten, taking German language classes and traveling around. It's been a good but challenging experience so far. There are a lot of cultural differences that have been tough to understand and work through, and the language has been challenging at times, especially with the strong accent they have here in eastern Germany (Dresden is the city I'm living in).
But working at the kindergarten, getting to know all these kids and the people I work with has been great. One of the guys I work with who is 23 had barely talked to me for the last couple months I'd been there, but the other day he opened up about how his mom had passed away 4 months ago and about how he believed there was a God but didn't have faith in him anymore because of the bad things he's experienced in his life. I didn't know what to say, so I just tried to listen and understand where he was coming from. Do you guys know of bible verses that relate to that? or of ways that I could talk to him about it all? I know that I can't relate to him about a lot of these things he's experienced in his life, and all I can do is pray for him, but at the same time, any advice?

Since being here in Germany, I haven't been to a church yet, but I also haven't tried very hard. On my way home from work yesterday though I passed a church and it looked like something was happening so I went in and talked to the people there. They were so friendly and welcoming and there is a lot they offer for the community, especially young families and kids, and I'm going to get to help out and I'm so excited for that! God is so good. I'm so grateful that he brings us back to him and never gives up on us, no matter how many times we are discouraged or afraid and don't go to church, or turn away from him from.

I often think about how grateful I am for that year we had together and how much you taught me about true friendship and support. Thanks for being wonderful like that, I greatly appreciate it and would love to be here to support you in whatever way I can. I love you guys!!

free Kelsey

p.s. Sheri and Bertram, now that I've realized you weren't tricking us again, I'm really happy for you :)

Myth Busters...

2010-10-12T22:44:00.001-07:00

Hi Kaleo Family, first of all we need to beg your forgiveness for leading you astray oh so many years ago...

However we have amazing news that we need to share with you... why? Because we love you!

This has been in the works for a while now, however now it's facebook book official - so that means it's official, so that means we want to share our good news with you...

We are dating: dating - as a way to define how God has brought our relationship into something amazing and so full of hope! Remember WAY back when we had that final chapel out on the dock? Remember when we gave ourselves new names? Remember that Sheri said Sheri Hope? Remember Andrew said Andrew Hope? Crazy Crazy Crazy hey? Who knew? (ps: it's true - you can read it on the blog)

So it's crazy, wonderful, amazing and we can't even begin to describe how God is working through this! His timing is surprising, but perfect!

It's a funny thing since after fostering our friendship long distance for 2 years (and a few days spent together at Michelle's wedding) we are starting this relationship long distance: as Sheri is away at YWAM (Colorado springs / over seas) for another 6 months.

We are excited and in some ways anxious to see how God is going to work in our lives both together, and within our own characters, but we carry on with the knowledge that God has blessed this, and has BIG plans for this!

You as our Kaleo family mean so much to us, so we were ecstatic to share the news with you. We also ask for your prayers as God continues to lead us, and that we would stay true to Him and keep him always at the centre of our relationship.

Blessings to you! And we look forward to hearing more about what is happening in your lives! (come guys, our blog is getting a little slow ;)

Love,

Andrew & Sheri

Ps. We really DID see a cougar!!

Pss. Dan & Katie, the race is on!

ParaKaleo Program

2010-09-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

Hey, check out the info on the opportunity to come alongside a Kaleo Eight student this year! Click here for all the details. We miss you, and would love to have you still involved in the ministry of Kaleo. Here is a way to do it! We hope to hear from you soon.

Oh... one more.

2010-09-27T20:09:00.001-07:00

Found one more...

Name That K5

2010-09-27T20:04:00.001-07:00

While I was enjoying some old memories I stumbled upon... I thought of a game...

Name That K5

An Intriguing Journey

2010-09-14T15:16:00.001-07:00

I am intrigued with what God is doing in Kaléo right now. A number of people have identified this coming year of Kaléo as “a year of grace.” I have a couple of news items for you, in which God’s grace will continue to show itself. First, this is the statement that was made to the Qwanoes staff team on Monday morning:

Just to clarify, it means that I will walk through this year with you as your Kaléo Leader, beginning to end. Someone, yet to be identified, will join us at some point and learn the role over the year, taking it up fully in the Summer of 2011. I will conclude my time at Qwanoes at the end of May, and move into whatever it is that God has next for me after a break this summer.

At the same time, we are currently without a Student Life Leader at this point. As you may have heard, the decision was made not to have Kristie Voth step back into the role this fall. We will start this year with two interns and myself, along with assistance from Jay Kennedy, the Assistant Director, and we will trust that a Student Life Leader will be found soon. Your prayers are appreciated in this year of grace.

What a great summer...

2010-08-31T15:20:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, I guess it’s blogging season now that there’s time after a fun adventure filled summer. Thanks to everyone for posting recently. It still amazes me that even 2 full years later there are still posts and people checking it so regularly.

Well, I’ve just completed another summer at Winkler Bible Camp and it was fantastic! I was the program director (so I planned everything) at one of the 3 WBC sites called Mission Point. This site is actually in Ontario about 3 hours from Winkler (cue Rob’s giggle) and it’s on a boat access only peninsula. It was a crazy amazing and stretching summer and I am grateful to have been given that opportunity. I have to say that last week was the best week of the summer, it was our teens week and involved things like the Refined/Undignified dance team from Briercrest coming out for the week, playing glow-in-the-dark night games, bucket ball in a legit mud pit, and having RU perform a full length show on Thursday night followed by an amazing time of P&W with God’s freedom and joy reigning in that place!

I’m now only 18 days away from launching the 4th funmester of Kids Zone in Winkler and am super excited for that, but wow there is a lot of work to do before then!

NY boys, I so badly want to come visit again, hopefully it works out yet. Briercrest boys, I hope to come by this fall! Everyone else…I’ll see you when I see you, and I hope it’s soon! Thank you for being such a valuable part of my life and for continuing to serve God with all your hearts, keep it up!

Oh, and CONGRATS Michelle!!!!!

God Bless,
Revolutionary Steve

I Miss You All!

2010-08-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hello friends!

First things first- I am truly sorry I haven't posted on this blog in over a year! I have been reading it consistently and your posts make me miss each of you even more. :)

Ellie- It makes me happy to hear of your and Lewis' life! I know he will make an amazing teacher. Continue to lean on Christ, my sweet friend, ok?

And Jon- thanks for the update. It's so exciting hearing the work that He is doing at your camp. On another note- you should be made aware that if you finish this year at B-Crest without coming to visit us in Calgary, there will be severe and painful consequences. Relay that message to the others, ok? (And I'm sure Al, Dan, Jay, and Mark are in full support of this threat.) :)

Anyway- I guess I should give a little update, eh? Well- as most of you know, I was living in Calgary this past year going to Ambrose, which was great. I came home for the summer but am heading back to Calgs again on Wednesday. I worked at a coffee shop all summer, which was good, but also challenging. The three women I work with are all very broken and are living lives that they resent. Each of them have a lot of pain involved in their families- I have been doing my best to lean on Christ as I listen and try to love them like Him.

More positively- Dan and I have been helping out with Young Life again this summer, and were able to go to camp with the kids. It was incredible- I had the privilege to gain three new sisters in Christ. Two of the girls that made a decision are moving to Calgary this fall, so I'm hoping to walk with them as they embark on this exciting adventure! Woohoo!

While at camp (as I'm sure many of you have seen on Facebook), Dan broke his nose playing some wide games. We still don't know if he needs surgery to realign it, but it's healing up pretty good. On the topic of ol' Danny boy- he will be attending Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary this fall for Information Technology- Computer Systems. So he is getting REALLY excited about that, as he starts this week! Things are going great with us- he takes such good care of me and is so patient. We are learning more and more all the time about each other and what it looks like to grow in Christ individually and as a team, which has been really good.

Jay and I are living together again (yay!), so know that all of you have a place to stay whenever you're in Calgary!

Love and miss all of you!

-Katie :)

2010-08-25T14:26:00.001-07:00

heyy!
it's been a long time since i have written, not as long as some other guys at briercrest but still long.
i write this as i continue to delay the packing process to go back to briercrest tomorrow morning for the final year. i have some really cool opportunities this year in the dorm and with profs and there are some really sweet classes offered which will be really good.
this summer has been unbelievable. i don't know if i wrote back in the fall about this summer or not but because of everything He was teaching me and continues to teach me about His fatherhood, I felt him inviting me to pursue a role at camp this summer as the section head for the 10-11 year old boys. there was a hope in me of having my heart and the counselors hearts in my section softened so that we would be gentle, loving, constant, forgiving, father figures for these kids. one of the sweetest things about the job is having some counselors in your section for the entire summer and getting to journey with them throughout the summer in good times and really difficult times. there was this one time or one session (two weeks) where we had one chalet where every kid was convinced he was the victim of bullying and yet was quite okay with bullying every other kid in the cabin. this summer i also didn't want to doubt His work in the lives of younger kids and so we asked Him daily to redeem this chalet and give them some sort of love for each other or for some of their hearts to be changed. after just about two weeks, i entered the prayer chapel on the final night dreading the closing camp fire and quite frustrated at the Lord's absence it seemed throughout the session in this chalet. one of the stories i got pretty excited about this summer was Abraham and Isaac and how it points to the cross in so many ways, and so we did the fire and I told that story and then gave opportunity for kids to stick around. everyone scattered back to their cabins except for this one kid in that chalet. one of our leadership team members got a chance to pray with that camper that night through tears, questions and concerns, to follow Jesus. not only was this kid's live changed, but his counsellor tasted God's faithfulness in this incredible way. there were moments like this throughout the summer where He let us taste His faithfulness, it was amazing.

alsso, not as exciting as michelle, but i've been dating a girl named caitlynn for about 4 1/2 months now. it has shattered all of my thoughts on dating and relationships and it has been one of the coolest things ever to work through difficult things and see difficult sides of each other and to really understand grace in a new light and what this idea of biblical love really is. it's one of the sweetest things ever and something i've never known, to walk together and pursue Him together. and i know its just a meesley old 4 1/2 months, but dang, He's doing something good, He's doing some really good things in my mind and calling me to fear no more and to trust Him. she is an incredible girl, like she really wants to know Him, she wants those whom the world has marginalized to know Him. it certainly is a gift in its truest meaning and i can't wait for you guys to meet her.

so this is an update on my life, nervous for this year, and yet continually amazed that He who calls is really is faithful and He will do it. He has been so faithful to take my fragile and wavering mind and continue to transform me, He's good, He really is.
michelle, i'm so excited for you and so sorry us b-crest brothers can't make it.
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."
Is 26:3
a wise wise man referred this verse to me once, this verse is freedom.

2010-08-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

hi everybody!

so after a lot, a LOT, too much, postponement, I am getting baptized this Sunday! It's at 8am at McAdam Park in Duncan, let me know if you will be around and want directions.

You might remember me posting like eons ago that I was planning on this, but long story short, my request got lost in the shuffle so that delayed things about a year... then like a week after I finally met with my pastor about it and then discussed dates... the ground caved in underneath me and the grief I had to face in losing dad was just way too much.

So it's time.

In other news, life is happening... Lewis and I are living in a really cute little house in Crofton with super cheap rent and love it (we've been here for a while)! We got a dog about 2 months ago, and let me tell you he is a handful! He's a Dutch Shepherd (like a german shepherd but a bit different) which is a breed typically trained for police work/search and rescue/protection but our little guy can be shy sometimes so he is just our baby. He actually got hit by a car the other night and ran away until the next morning... praise the Lord he is okay. His name is Riko and he would love to meet you guys if you are around these parts (he told me). :)

We also have another housemate.... some of you guys know Lauren Villines from camp... well yeah she's living with us! It's so good to have another girl around.

Plans for fall... Lewis is going back to school to become a teacher! (Note: I may not have ever posted on here that RCMP stuff didn't work out... not the right timing). It will be a few years until he's done obviously, but a super cool adventure and Lew is so excited to not be working with BRICKS anymore... bricks bricks bricks

I feel like I'm going through a weird stage of grief... just feeling kind of numb most of the time. I would try to describe more of what I'm feeling on this front but I just don't feel like I can. Maybe sometime soon.

Who is all going to Meesha's marriage day?

Well I have to get going... I deleted my facebook a couple months ago so if you guys are looking to write to me please email!!!
lewisandellie@gmail.com

Ellie

Anxious for change

2010-07-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-07-19T16:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-07-13T15:48:00.001-07:00

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.

Thailand, North and beyond!

2010-06-23T07:06:00.000-07:00

So I've promised a few of you that I would blog on here to tell you all about my trip to Thailand, so here it goes!
I recently returned from a month in Thailand, with an organization called MBMSI. It really is hard to describe this experience in words, I do alot better with telling stories about specific things, but I'll try anyways. So we (a team of six young women) were there working with missionaries who are church planting in the city of Phuket. They haven't been there for too long so right now they have only a handful of Thais, who are interested in learning more about Jesus. So a part of our role there was to make connections in the community to the missionaries and the ministry they have. We went into this not really knowing what to expect or what or day to day would look like but we soon found out! We taught English nearly everyday in different situations, something that no one on my team had ever done before or had any training in, so we had to learn pretty quickly! We taught in a highschool, a hospital and with a few different groups of kids, we even had a booth in a night market where people could come up and practice the English that they knew. Most Thai people are really eager to learn English and to have their kids learn it as well as the see it as the way to get ahead in life, particularly in a city where the main industry is tourism. Of course teaching the people that we interacted with was not the point of what we were doing but a venue to show them the love of Jesus and to create connections for them to continue to yes learn English but more importantly to learn about Jesus and the hope that he offers.
We were able to hang out with alot of kids who live in absolute poverty that broke my heart. It was an honour to just be able to play with them and love them, knowing that for the most part they don't recieve that attention from anyone else in their live. The simple joy they have in being tickled or playing with a parachute is truly amazing.
Thailand is beautiful nation with amazing and incredibly respectful people but it is also a place of a lot of brokenness and hopelessness. There is a very heavy spiritual atmosphere there, which I experienced specifically a couple of times, but despite that knew that God was always more powerful. We were told several times that even our presence there in Thailand was significant, regardless of if we did anything. Just being there and having the Holy Spirit in our lives was making a difference in the Spiritual realm. That was a pretty crazy concept to think about. One sweet story in that regard: our very last morning there we were up on a mountain praying over the city with some Thais and across the valley on another mountain you can see a huge statute of Buddha that overlooks the city. As we were praying a rainbow appeared in the sky and then it began to pour rain over the city, completely blocking the image of Buddha from site and all you could see was the rainbow and the rain. It was such a cool image of God's promise and the cleansing of the city from the spiritual strongholds there.
Another thing that I am sure many of you know about Thailand is that prostitution is huge there and there is a lot of sexual preversion. I won't really go into but it is an area that causes so much pain and bondage to both the women and men of Thailand. It is also an opportunity for Christ's love and compassion to be shown and transform the lives of the young women caught in this 'industry'. One thing that God taught me on this trip was such injustice and oppression and sin is so terrible because He is so holy and great. It is difficult to explain but, it is just so opposite to everything that God is and in light of that is so awful and requires action.
There are many more things that I could say about Thailand but I will leave it at that and if you want to know more just ask! Thank you so much for your prayers.

So now here I am back in Peterborough, my sister is getting married on Saturday, which is incredibly exciting and also hard to believe and then...
the morning after I am heading to Kingfisher Lake and Webequie in Northern Ontario, and I mean NORTH (google maps it), to live on an Aboriginal reserve for July and August and help the kids and youth in those communities to improve their literacy skills. I am going with Frontier College which is a literacy organization, but not a Christian one. I know that this time will be a challenge but also really great. I would LOVE your prayers for my time up there. I'm not exactly sure what I am getting into but I will find out soon enough!

2010-06-08T16:58:00.000-07:00

The wedding is on Sept. 6 2010 @ Sanjoe bay.. Its a lovely beach on the western time of this lovely island... Be ready for a bit of a hike... The trail is a nice trail though. My mom can do it in her RAD chair!! it can take 40 to 60 mins... depending on how fast you hike.
I hope you all can make it!! .. if not .. its all good I love you deeply! and i know your heart is with me on that Beautiful day!... Please say a quick prayer as you read this for the wether on that day.
OH MAN I"M SO PUMPED... This is super sureal!

89 DAYS!!!!

The time is unknown so far .. I'll keep you posted.. Its labour day monday. Get ready for a Day on the Beach!

the story

2010-06-06T02:22:00.000-07:00

So i didnt think i would be up this late since i have to get up early. But i am .. :) i'm just to pumped at the moment to sleep
SO this afternoon i got engaged!!!!
Adam and i have been talking about it for a bit, its kinda crazy!... But now its for real and even more CRAZY!!! if you had ever asked me if i would meet a man in prot mc neill i would be all "NO Pshhhffffha!" lol But i did!!!! crazy! so the story!

Well it turns out adam has had the ring for 2 weeks and has been trying really hard to talk to my dad... Who has been letting him suffer by not giving him the time... My dad thought it was funny! lol. Well last week Adam got a bullet from my dad... so funny! its my dads why of saying "your in" He had the bullet in a tin and put it on adams jeep and had carved on it "Adam the most important thing about michelle is her father" Except he spelt my name wrong lol ... Now you know where i get it from.

After a few Nots passed back and forth since my dad works nights and is never home when adam is. They finally met for coffee this morning (the 5th) and had a good long chat. Dad gave him the approval.

We had a youth leaders meeting at 10. then after that adam when to go "hang out" with tim our friend.. Whom flys helicopters. Then he called the house around 1 30 and said Hey you meet me at the hanger at 2. I was like Oh man he is totaly going to propose!We dont just got to the hangger and hang out.. This is it! Trying to keep my cool i showed up.. Beeming!!!

so we are flying around for a bit God gave us a sweet sunny clear day!!! you could see soo much the monitions were Beautiful!!!
So we fly up this side of the monition face and kinda turn a bit Tim is all like " So there is there used to be this supper sweet rock formation on the tip of the monition some guy hike up and built it right down there." I'm all like " where i cant see it" Then as i'm looking i see this

So he spelt it wrong... i didnt notice untill some one pointed it out. Lol we are vary alike in that seance!... We cant spell anything! lol But it makes for lots of laughter and thats wonderful!

SO i got engaged on the top of a monition!!!!!!!!And Had a sweet Helicopter ride with the man i am madly in love with!!!!!!!

So the wedding is on sept. 6 2010... Thats right in 3 months!!!! it will be at sanjo or is it sanjoe.... not sure how its spelt. But its a beautiful beach on the west coast of the island. One of our favorat place! A place that really sums up who we are as a cupple and as individuals There will be more deets to come once i have them lol. I love you all and would love to share this day with you!.. If you can make it to the north island on that day it would be Wonderful!

I'm going to try and sleep now!!! ... i have to be up in 4 1/2 hours lol But Oh well!

Prase God from whom all blessings flow!
Praise him all creatures here below
Praise him above ye heavenly hoasts
Praise father son and holy gost
Amen!
that just came in to my head.. and it reminds me of being on top on the montion in india sing to our loving father!
Peace out!!!

I'm Getting Married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010-06-05T23:19:00.000-07:00

This one time... I meet a boy named Adam.
and this one time He asked me to Marry him!
and this one time .. I said yes!

So I'm engaged!!!!!!!!!!!
FOR REAL!!!!!!!!!!!
this is nun of this sheri's just kidding business.. Its for rizo!!!!!!!!
I love all you and wanted to tell you before i posted on face book!!!
pictures and story to follow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i don't really have much time at the moment!!!!!

desperate for a new post... slash update to come

2010-06-04T14:43:00.001-07:00

Hey everybody, just wanted to let you know that I'm doing alright. I know so many of you have been messaging me on FB & sending me cards/notes the snail mail way, and I haven't responded to any of them I don't think! There are no words, mostly just tears.

But I am clinging to this, I know Jesus loves me and I know He's given me people who love me, and I will be alright.

Please pray that He would give me eyes to see His hand on my life, in my every moment. I feel so far from Him sometimes.

with faith that He won't leave me here,
Ellie

Who woulda guessed!

2010-05-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hey guys!!
So I have put off posting for a long time, mostly because I felt like I just posted, but the other day Joel was a little unhappy because I hadn't posted new happenings in my life, so I figure it is time!

Where to start oh my word...
Ok so this year has been crazy, I lived with my sister until the end of April. That was amazing! I never ever thought that I could/ would ever want to live with her again, but we had such a great time together. The Lord revealed the fruits of that to me this last weekend when I drove her to Kelowna where she is now living! She is truly my sister, not just by blood but also by choice!
So when I moved out of our place (lol that reminds me of the shelter in Vic.)I moved into Crofton to live with Kristie Voth (in Amanda's old place!). This has been an amazing time! I thought that the time of rest that the Lord had been calling me to was complete when I moved out of Ladysmith...pfft silly me trying to put a time limit on God. I am discovering that that was only the start of learning how to rest (to be honest it was actually a time of laziness). I am now learning what it looks like to rest, how to just be and enjoy. This place is so amazing it is a sanctuary and it is so refreshing to have Kristie living with me, she challenges me, and encourages me so much and we are just growing together (much like our tomato plant.. it is so cool!! )

The Lord has been teaching me so much this year. As much as I hate to admit it camp was a huge crutch and I think that I am learning more and more about who I am in my walk with him without temporary "highs", maybe I am just learning the reality of it all. There were quite a few months that I was just angry with God for taking so many of my hopes and dreams away (one of which included my brother and his wife losing their baby) . Throughout that God taught me that it is ok to be angry with him, it doesn't mean that I am any less saved, it just means that I am learning to be real with him, how to have a real relationship. Through that I also started to learn that I need to dream His dreams and not mine. I need to surrender my hopes and expectations to him. Man it is so hard when for so long they haven't been his hopes and dreams for me.
Another branch of this learning was about sin. I struggle a lot with judgment, but God has been showing me that someone elses sin that I percieve as a 10 on the "Sin rictor scale" is no greater than my 2 on the 'scale', I am just as much in need of his grace when I am speeding down the road, as does the person that commits murder. Now in saying that there was definitely a discouraging time of 'AHH I am such a failure' but God so graciously reminded me last week that he he just wants faithfulness not perfection. With Faithfulness the desires if my heart will be the desires of his.. It is one big circle!

Ok so time for the big news! I am getting MARRIED!!!!
lol jk, not really... Oh man I really hope that some of you just dropped your jaw... hahhaa i am actually laughing out loud. I am so funny!
Ok no actually. I am doing YWAM in September (who would have thunk hey). I am going to be going to Colorado Springs for 3 months for a justice and mercy DTS and then to somewhere in the 10/40 window (North Africa,Asia or India) for 3 months. All with the hopes to a) continue to feed this desire I have to love females that have been hurt and b) to go to Perth Australia next October to take a secondary course through YWAM called Foundations of Biblical counselling. I am so excited to be doing this. Stinkin' Jim suggested it to me after I found out that the India trip was not happening, so with a disappointed and reluctant heart I looked into it ( I should have known not to say no to both God and Jim... let me tell ya they are a team). I really have know idea how it happened from there, or even why Colorado Springs but I have never had so much peace about going into something especially something that I know very Little about!

So this is me, resident of Crofton; employee of Boys & Girls club, WFG (receptionist), and cleaning jobs; anticipator of YWAM , Faithful follower of Christ Jesus, and Hopeful!
My how times change!
Love you all
~Sher-Hope

Go East Young Woman!

2010-04-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

My dear Kaleo Family,
First of all I would like to remind you all just how much I value each of you, regardless of how often we talk and that God has used each of you to teach me in some way.
So my life right now. I just recently finished up my exams and so I am done my second year of University! As crazy as it may sound I love all my courses and the things that I am learning. I have been really blessed with the people around me, and how God is stretching and growing me even in everyday things.
As soon as I was done my exams I was able to head out to the island for a week to be with Ellie through this tough time. It was really good to be there. She is doing well but keep the prayers coming. God is faithful.
On another note I believe that last time I posted on here that I was considering whether or not to go on a missions trip to Thailand, well I decided that God was saying the answer was yes after a great deal of going back and forth over whether this was God or just me wanting an adventure. So now here I am several months later ready (well getting there) to head off. And that is God behind this has been confirmed through the incredible financial generosity and support that has come in to fund this trip. I have had my socks blessed off! Once again God is faithful.
I have a week of training here in Ontario first, starting on Friday and then will be flying out to Phuket, Thailand with 5 other young women from the church that I attend while I am at school. I’m going with Mennonite Brethren Mission Service International (MBMSI). We are going to be in Thailand for a month and while there working alongside long term missionaries, doing a variety of ministries, including doing VBS with street kids, teaching English to University students and Lord willing working with women who are coming out of prostitution. I would value your prayers for our time there so much. I’m really excited about this incredible opportunity but would be lying to say I wasn’t pretty nervous as well. This is much longer than I’ve spent in another culture and I know that I going to be challenged in huge ways. I don’t know if you have been following the news but there is a great deal of civil unrest in Thailand, specifically in Bangkok. As of a couple of days ago the Canadian embassy said that it was too dangerous to enter Bangkok, which is where our flight is into. Phuket, where we will be for the majority of the trip is in the south of the country, a fair distance from Bangkok, but the situation is still one of concern so prayers around that would be wonderfully appreciated! My team has a blog and so if you would like to follow along with what God is doing over there and specific ways you can pray please check it out: yasinthailand.blogspot.com (The ya stands for Young Adults, it took me a bit to get that so I thought I would help you out :)
Be blessed my friends,
Catherine

Go West Young Man

2010-04-20T23:51:00.000-07:00

Hello family!

I'm so excited about what's going on right now, I've got to tell you all. But first, let me catch you up on what's happened so far.

Last I wrote, I was working at a school with 'the tough kids'. That ended up going really well. I learned a lot, and felt like I was making an impact on these guy's lives just by hanging out with them (and making them do homework). There was a radical shift that took place in my life during that year. I went from being apathetic towards people, to really loving them, and believing a fool's love (in the best biblical sense) can change a person. My outlook on what I wanted to do with my future changed completely. Before, I wanted to do something that would make me feel good. But I began to realize that shouldn't be my goal if I wanted to serve Jesus. I needed to sacrifice what I wanted to do and rather think what I can do to serve Jesus and love others.

I began to search for ways that would allow me to fulfill Jesus' prayer of "thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven." I spent hours pouring over mission organization websites and programs that college age people can do. In the end, I found exactly what I was looking for, a way to express my love for Jesus in a practical way. But this was not before the "oh-no-what-am-I-doing-next-year!" panic struck and I enrolled at Briercrest.

(Intermission) [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwGFalTRHDA]

It was such a sick year! I think I learned a lot (I'll find out once the hype has passed and real life kicks in) and made some good friends. It feels like a blur, but a good blur. Now, here I am, finishing exams tomorrow. I go home for two weeks (and a 4 day stint in TO to visit my bro, anyone in that area want to hang out for a bit?), then rip out back to the Q to be the photographer again this summer.

I'm stoked for whats happening after summer the most though. It will be the hardest for sure, but it's what I want to do. Remember the organization I found right after I enrolled for B-crest? It's a small program called Urban Promise. [urbanpromise.ca] This is a Vancouver based not-for-profit organization trying to help those in need in inner-city Vancouver. Mostly it runs after school day camps for elementary kids, but it also does other things (which I'm not sure of yet until I get there). It kind of has the feel of Metro I think. So that should be fun, but I also don't know what I'm getting myself into. If any of you guys want to pray for me over this next year, that would be much appreciated.

So that's what I've been up to. Maybe I'll try to do more posts with less info-dumping in the future. I hope all you guys are doing well. Ellie, you and your family are still in my thoughts and prayers! I wish I could have come out.

Oh man! It's 1:30! I have an exam tomorrow! Night all...

Anticipating the future eagerly,
Joel

Don't you love these people?

2010-04-17T14:16:00.000-07:00

They are a little Crazy, but dearly loved! It was a great joy amidst a very sad day to get a bit of the K5 family together and we though you may enjoy this video we took waiting at Ellie's house.

And the funeral ......well Ellie has Christ in her! Everyone who went to the funeral encountered Christ that day, you couldn't miss Him, He was shinning, a sweet aroma out of Ellonora the Brave. It was a bit surreal to see Him show up that evidently! Let's continue to support her and bring her to the throne of Christ! That she may sit, rest, battle and heal there!

We love ya KALEO!

2010-04-12T19:45:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody. I've been preparing myself to post an update on here for probably a couple of weeks now. Little did I know that I would be sharing this news with you.

Most of you probably know already, by way of Sheri's updates, etc, but for those of you who don't... Saturday night my wonderful, sweet, troubled daddy took his own life.

I've had a hard time even saying those words: I've lost my father.

Sunday morning, at about 7:20am Lewis and I were woken up by the phone ringing and since we were slow, my mom started shouting into our answering machine: Ellie please pick up the phone, please pick up the phone.... so Lew ran to get it and my mom and sister were panicking on the other end, 'Please come here now, daddy's hurt himself, he's in the back shed"... So of course I try asking them if they've called the ambulance, and all that... She hung up before I could even get the full story of what happened. So Lew and I hurry out the door, thoughts running through our heads like he's had an accident with one of his tools, or something... so I called my brother (who lives in Surrey) and he picks up, turns out he is on the other line with my sister, and he said he would call me back. So it takes a couple of minutes for him to call back, and at this point I didn't know what happened fully yet (I had a gut feeling though) so I asked him and he told me.

We arrived at my parents house and there were cop cars outside, oh my goodness it was so surreal and ... just TRAUMA. The coroner arrived not too long after that as well as family members, had us all sit down & explained what the process looks like after someone commits suicide. That word... even... I keep seeing it in my head, that word spoken over my dad's life by the enemy. I kept thinking, this will be the most defining moment, the hardest thing I will ever go through in my life... and how do I live without my father? What will life look like now? For my mom, my sister, my brother, myself...

The last two days we have been surrounded by family, friends and PRAISE THE LORD His Church. We have stayed at this house, and I think it has been so good despite the fact that he did it here, the shed is still out back and everywhere we look we are reminded of him... but I think it has been really healing. It's been really hard for my sister though. Please pray that she would be comforted and feel peace as we prep for my mom and her to move to another home.

Last night was really hard. Everyone who slept here squeezed into my mom's room (three of us on a bed, two beds... that makes six) and just took turns comforting, weeping, sleeping...

What I find a bit of closure in is the fact that I know if my dad could turn back time, he wouldn't have done it. What it comes down to is that he made a bad choice - one that was greatly influenced by the lies of the enemy and feeling deep despair and hopelessness. He has been going through an extremely diffcult time for the last few months especially and admitted to being depressed but wouldn't reach out for help and didn't know how to get out of the pit. My mom had been struggling with this as well, feeling so burdened but also so unable to do anything to help him... the choice to get better had to come from him.

I think the hardest part in all this is accepting the finality of all of it. He made a choice in a moment of desperation and it is irreversible. While were sitting in the living room the first morning and watching all of this happen around us like in a movie, I kept thinking that maybe it was all a mistake, that he hadn't really died, that he had gotten really low but decided to come out of it... I don't know if that makes sense. I guess what I have really been struck with is the reality of our choices, that they can be so easily influenced by the enemy and that we must choose to seek the TRUTH spoken over our lives.

"Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth"

The funeral will be this Friday at New Life, I'm not sure about the time yet but I will keep you posted because thats kind of an important detail. You are all welcome.

Yeah I don't know what else to say except we so appreciate your prayer support. I love being carried by you guys during this time.

Love.... really... yeah

Ellanora the Brave

I found this and it made me smile!

2010-03-22T16:05:00.000-07:00

.....lot's

2010-03-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys,

Sorry if this seems a bit garbled, falling asleep while writting thi...zzzzz

So a bit about where I am at: So I'm almost done this semester, one week of exams left, then I'm done school for a while. I start full time working with elementary kids after they're done school after next week. Basicly I get paid to play with kindergarteners for 4 hours. I'm droping electrical engeneering and going into a math and physics program next September to go into teaching highschool math and physics. I've been fealing that this is where I'm supposed to be for a while, but couldn't have droped out of school earlier, I just missed the date to drop out without academic penalty by 2 weeks.

All this year I've been leading a grade 7 small group at my church full of hyper active boys that resemble a group of untrained puppies more than middle school boys. The group can range from a 5 to 18 but I've been leading it with 2 great guys, Ross Borden and Evan Hagerty. But even though the kids are crazy and hard to deal with. I'm loving it. They kids are really challenging at times (Not listening, randomly running out, taking off their shirts...) but there are times that remind me why I do it and why I come back every week when some weeks I go home and bang my head against the wall. Funny story: So most of my group goes to Pacific Christian School (Where I graduated from) and they had Pastors Day there a few weeks ago and the kids invited me to come, so me and the other lead Evan Hagerty went and we walked into their class room and they all cheered our names and ran and gave us hugs, it was really cool, then we skiped their class to play tag. If was awesome.

Now some prayer requests: So I got home from youth tonight and my dad told me that my grandpa had a mild heart attack down in Mexico. A few days ago he was hit by a car down there and was put in ICU and apparently he was complaining his chest was hurting today and he had a mild heart attack. Their flying him home in a few days (Don't know the details) and my parents are flying down there tomorrow morning to drive back up with my grandma. Its kind of hard having this all happen 2 countries away and not being able to go down there. I am really close with my grandparents. Its also really hard having it all happen just before exam week.
You're prayers are much apreciated.

Thanks Guys, miss you all greatly. If any of you find yourselves in Victoria give me a call.

Josh

The Dust has Settled

2010-03-15T17:21:00.001-07:00

Hello Everyone!
First off I want to apologize for the suspence suffered on your part. I dropped a big load with a large ? at the end and didn't utter a peep afterwards.
Although to be honest my experience hasn't been much better, "should I stay or should I go." One couldn't count how many times I thought that the last week.
My family is slowly but surely picking their lives up; one baby step at a time. Their was a small cabin in the Ranch yard that had been vacant for a couple of months. They will live there till the end of June, afterwhich they are moving away from the Ranch to begin a new life. A much fresher start than intended now that everything is gone.
Mom is stuck in a deep, deep, depression. She was a real packrat so loosing all her treasures has hit her hard. Mostly its her thousands of photos of us kids all through the years. Along with hours of home videos of us being goofy toddlers.
She will struggle, but at this point we don't think she will be going back into the hospital at all.
So I am staying; I will live in the U.K. until sept, and travel as intended. I'm relieved! I didn't want to loose the life I've established here. I live at a pub, I'm a barman and waiter. You can google it at The Queens Arms, Corton Denham, Somerset, U.K.
I have such a brilliant circle of mates in and around the village that are so good to me and take me out. I'm just me around them, and they love it. I love it when I feel comfortable to be myself. Like with you guys.
It is extremely dissapionting thinking of everything I left in MB that is now gone. All my souvenirs from all my travelling. I sent all the stuff I bought in Africa, "to be safe while I'm in Europe." Heh! Ironic eh. The journals I regret loosing the most, anyone on Team India knows how much time I wasted writting the bleedin stuff out.
Its been simply irritating trying to remeber all of my rubbish and how much it was all worth! Insurance ballocks! None the less, I think decades down the road our family will look back and laugh. My parents nearly broke-up three weeks before the blaze. The stress of money and plans for leaving the Ranch. Where were they going? what were they doing? It almost broke them!
Now all they have left is each other and us kids and they can't believe they were getting so worked up over so many daft things! I think God really does have a sense of humor in all of it. They new they needed to leave the ranch and start a new life. They'd hesitate, get scared, loose trust, fight, repeat cycle. I think God just went, poof! "There you go, if your not going to burn your bridges I'll do it for you."
Our entire family has been overrunned with prayer and e-mails, you lot included.
Its been emotional, yet I'm excited at how my family has and will grow through the experience.
Now, I'm absalutely shattered I've worked 36hrs in three days. Mothers Day weekend here. With gorgeous weather as well, holidays and good whether always mean a bombing for us in the catering buisness. Need to recover before my b-day bash on Wednesday.
I love you all so much, thanks for the prayers. We needed them
"THE SHOW MUST GO ON"

Heeeey Kaleeeeooooo

2010-03-14T20:48:00.001-07:00

Hey Kaleo...

So there've been a few developments that some of you know about, but some of you dont, and I figure this is the best way to tell you all about it! Plus, I'm a little bored, and Dotto compelled me to do this a few days ago.

First off, a brief synopsis of my year: Working for Cal MacFarlane = great, but time consuming. Working in the dorm as an RA = even greater, but more time consuming. It's been a real learning curve, but it's been a privilege. Taking 42 credit hours of classes this year = VERY time consuming, almost all-consuming. Truly an exercise in time-management, and learning to be faithful in the little things. At the moment, I'm in Winnipeg doing a practicum at the University here. I'm teaching Academic English to foreign exchange students, and it's been a very cool experience. It's involved a lot of alone time, which has been both refreshing and challenging.

This summer, I'll be tree planting again in BC, then flying to my brother's wedding in Newfoundland, and then flying to Kabul. I'll teach in Afghanistan for six weeks as a part of my program at Briercrest...I'm pretty excited about the opportunity; things have been lining up and the path is being made straight, and I'm kind of just following a little blindly but trusting that this will be part of God's work, in me and in others. Don't worry, it's a safe northern part of the country, I'll be fine...but some prayers would be swell.

Finally, may as well make it official and let you all know that I'm dating a cool girl named Keltie, who is currently backpacking in Australia with her brother. No, it isn't on my facebook status, but I like you guys and want you all to know about the important people in my life.

Things I'm learning, of varying importance:
Chinese. It's difficult.
Prayer sustains me. When Jesus is my center, I think I will be okay with not knowing precisely the details of his will for me.
Adverbial time clause subordinating conjunction is a complicated way to say "when."
Sometimes I'm motivated by pride instead of glorifying God, and I can fool myself to think it's okay.
Shockingly, I'm not always right.

I love you guys

Rob

ps. Kurt...update?

Team Vancouver!

2010-03-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

Check out this nice article on "Inner Hope"(go to the World Vision Article) also check out the sweet drawing int he article, "God Bless this house", on the art wall we put up............obviously done by a 5 year old right?

Disaster has struck the Hoff Household

2010-03-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

Hello, Kaleo family
I got up this morning and gon to work, rather tired having been up to the wee hours of the morning at a birthday party in the next village last night. My Nanna, (moms mom) left a message on the pub phone. It sounded urgent.
I Don't have mobile phone coverage in my flat, so I took me phone to the one window in the pub that gets one bar. there were six messages left on my phone stringing back over two days.
To cut it short, our families house has burned to the ground and everyting in it. I struggled to do my job properly for the lunch shift. I feared the worst. I've spoken to them now.
My mom was home alone sleeping when it lit, it started in the bathroom. We have an electric heater in there, so? We really need prayers right now. As you all know my mom had enough problems as it is with her mental illness. She was the only soul in the yard when she ran out into the manitoba winter in nothing but her PJs and a pair of socks on.
Her and Jessica are devastated at the loss. they are stayin next door with our cousins at the moment. Moms an emotional wreck. High as a kite one minute; glad to be alive and her family is fine. Next minute suicidal. William is arriving home tonight from Bible School in Camrose to render them support.
I am torn and frustrated, if I quite my job here and go home. All my hopes and asperations in europe will be over. Yet will I be of any help, their tight for space, theirs nothing left to go home to I may very well become just a nusance than any aid after a short while. Yet, this is a major obsticle for our family. I don't want this to be something that haunts me for abandoning my family in their time of need.
Dad and I agreed we will monitor mother closely, she may crumble into turmoil and need to be locked up in the institute. Or she may level out and be able to get through this experience.
I have a very big decision coming up within the next fort night. The biggest I have ever made.
I'm scared and uneasy, our belongings mean nothing. Just the emotional well being of my loved ones. Praise God Their all Alive. I need his guidance right now.

Still learning, still growing, still realizing that Jesus is enough!

2010-02-22T23:44:00.000-08:00

If you have a min. hop over to my blog (<-- click on "my blog" right over there <--- ) and check out my latest blog post. I really am amazed at how powerful a year we had at Kaleo, and how much I'm still learning from it and from you guys. I don't know about you guys, but so often I am reminded of you, I am reminded of the different ways I saw the Lord is you, His power in you and His hope in you! I am reminded of lessons I didn't even know I learned. And I hope you all are still learning, loving and following hard after God. I hope you have not forgotten how he showed himself to us and the lessons He allowed us to learn. I was reminded tonight as I was spilling my heart out a bit on my blog of you all and I want you to know I'm still praying for you, I'm excited to see the paths your all taking. As life continues and Kaleo get's farther and farther away in our memories God still brings me back to it, and to you guys! Can't wait to catch up with some of you soon....hopefully as our tour comes thru Alberta and B.C I'll get to see some of you wonderful people.!!! Anyone around Ablerta and B.C. April thru summer time? I hope so! I' love to catch up, give you a slightly violent hug and for you to meet my kids!

Love you guys!

Praying for you!

Thankful for you!

don't worry i haven't fallen of the side of the earth!

2010-02-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

Hello!!

If has been forveer since i have actuallly written anything i am sorry if you feel neglected my friends i just suck at communication tis all :)

SO.... welp i have recently moved into a quaint little farm house on the property of a couple from our church. Which is so fantastic!! we have a camp fire and i big yard i seriusly cannot wait to see what type of flowers come sprouting out fo the ground! And to play games in the yard this summer!

busy life over here though.Craig is the youth pator at our church fo those of you who did not know. So we have jr. youth on mondays our young marrieds small group on wednesdays and Sr. high youth on thursdays. Plus all the different social gatherings the church has all the time. but it has been good! i am really excited about starting to connect with my youth grils outside of youth even more. a few of my jr. youth girls go to school down the road from our house wso we are going to be having them over for lunch and they are soooo excited its fantastic!!!

I have gotten a chance to see some of you over the time we have all been apart which has been wonderful and please make sure even if you are remotely in the area i would love to try and connect with all of you :D I was suprised to see (but should not have been suprised) ellie andlewis and jim and chris at the youth worers convention here in vancoves and that was such a blessing indeed!!!!!

Well i'm not sure what else to say at the moment i do hope you will forgive my typos. :D

love you all to pieces

prayer requet from me would be for a full cup to pour out over others. sometimes its hard to keep it full in ministry.

Jenny

Learning, Loving, Leaving, Listening, and Laughing.

2010-02-01T12:21:00.000-08:00

So it's been a long time since I have posted on here. I am sorry. But know that I read your posts often and am very encouraged by what is happening within our community.

Where to begin.

AFRICA - was amazing. I had some major struggles and some major joys during that time. I learned sooo much about the character of God, just by my interactions with the children. I experienced first hand the "fatherly" love that God has for each and every one of us, and can finally wrap my head around how God can be a jealous God and still not contradict his perfect nature. That trip was truly a major blessing and I feel strengthened me so much in the areas of patience, and standing firm in my values. I can't lie and say that is was all easy and was the best time of my life. Some days I was like, "what am I doing here?" and so badly wanted to return to the security of home. But it is from those times that I see my greatest learning. So praise the Lord for that adventure.

SUMMER - another amazing summer of seeing God work in the lives of campers. I am just so astounded when I actually step away for a minute and think about the amazing work that God does through summer camps. The discipleship and the evangelism that happens is so evident of God's hand at work. I fills me with oodles of joy! This summer also found me and my friend Hannah photographing a few weddings for friends - the pics turned out so good, that people encouraged us to start a little business, it's been going well - we just kind of do it for fun but it's been really good, and one day it would be sweet if it took off.

ALASKA - THis is just a side note. At the end of the summer, me and 4 of my friends decided to just drive to Alaska and camp for a while, it was amazing. We had good fellowship and made some great memories. We of course had some tense moments as you might imagine with 5 people driving that much in a mini van, but it was such a great time all in all.

Oh NO! REALITY! - Ok this is when I got home from Alasaka, finished up at camp and then realized it was real world time. I moved back home and then started to look for places to rent with my little bro who just graduated. For a couple months there was like literally no where to rent in Melfort, so we figured - let's save some money and just stay at home. So that is where I still am right now. In the midst of all this (mid Oct.), my Dad graduated from his 12 month program at Teen Challenge and moved home and began looking for a job. It has been an adjustment having him back (a good one though) and if you think of it please pray for him as he is still trying to find work.

JOB(s) - K, so I am probably not the best employee, When I got home from camp I began looking for a job. I found a part time job working at an Italian restaurant (owned by a Greek family - go figure)- it was not bad, and kind of like working for the family from My Big Fat Greek Wedding. While I was there another job came up - A shipping Dock worker at a Meat Processing Plant. It was full time, and they had really good benefits (and a 4 day work week), it was a really good deal - and I eventually go the job through a couple of interviews. I had been working there for about 3 months when.........

HONDURAS - A Mission organization from Tisdale (a town near mine), asked me if I would be interested in traveling to Honduras with one of their teams to do promotional photography/video for their ministry (oh and they would pay for me to go!!!), So I thought and prayed about it for a while (although it didn't seem like a hard decision), and decided to quit my job and so I am leaving on Feb 5th to go to Honduras for about 2 weeks. !! Crazy!

RELATIONSHIP - Here is where most of your questions probably are. So this is a girl who I have kind of known for a while through camp, and who randomly decided to move to Melfort this year to work (from Calgary). She is one of the most spiritual discerning people I know, and we started meeting to talk about a similar idea we had to start a small prayer group that was really dedicated to accountability and working through things within our lives. It started with the two of us sharing our entire stories with each other, like everything, and it was so encouraging and we started praying about who else God would have to be part of this group. We started hanging out more and talking and eventually we started "dating", that was mid Nov. This was another period of learning as God tried to show me that I need to learn to sometimes just accept Love, the kind of agape Love that he created - that goes beyond our sins and our past. As of right now however we are not seeing each other anymore, as she decided that she still had things in her life that she would eventually want to to that didn't involve having a relationship, and we decided together that it was probably better that we take what we could from our time together and end our relationship now rather that later. It was tough, but I know that these things happen for a reason and that God is still teaching me through all of this.

So really the sum of all these things (and the reason it is first in the title), is that I have learned over the past year and a half - to LEARN. To take everything as what it is (a part of God's divine and perfect plan) and learn from it - soak in the wisdom that it offers. So I tell you all these things with a joyful heart; joyful because I am learning to learn and learning to see God in all that I do - allowing Him to take hold of my LIFE - and not confining Him to my "spiritual" life.

If I could ask for your prayers in one thing, it would be this -

My greatest struggle/fear at this time is that I don't know what I wan't to do with me life, sooooo many things come to mind, but none seem to take hold. I so often think like - I feel like I am not living the life I am supposed to living or doing what God wants me to be doing - but on the other hand, I don't have a clue what I am supposed to be doing. So I sometimes find myself feeling stuck - but like I said before, I am learning patience :)

Learning - there is always learning.

I miss you all Terribly!

Hopeful (and now - Learning)
Andrew.

to be a better man, integrity

2010-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

Hello K5, man Scotty T and I were talking the other day and we sure miss those kaleo days. It is good to hear from some of you and yes Michelle it is crazy to think about where we've all come from, where we are now, and where we are going.

Prayer is a very important thing, more than I know, everyone needs it and yet I kind of struggle to share concerns of mine. I guess cause there's a fear that you won't understand or care or get annoyed with the many concerns of people. I myself get annoyed and don't care...oh the ways of God, his love is impossible. At Metro we are making way into the 2010 spring semester and I have hopes for it to be awesome! Hopes that God moves in a way that I see and can praise him for it. I've been learning more about how I cannot trust myself and it is actually pretty scary when I do. Thank God for his grace!

In internship Mar 09 and last semester Sept09 I've lacked personal time alone with God, devotion. I knew that this is so important, yet I did not make the time for it. I felt I couldn't semester being so busy. I believe that because of this last semester was a struggle for me. My team scared from it also. I want to change, be a better man for my team, the kids. I suck at remembering names and that is a struggle because I know a kid sees more care if you know them by name. Anyways they have this thing called an encounter which I signed up for taking place March 4,5,6...pretty sure. I would ask for your prayers that God can really meet me, and that I could get close to him like never before. Pray that it will help and encourage me for personal time with God and the tasks ahead. I want to be a better man, INTEGRITY to intern bless others. Pray. And of course I shall return the favour for you (1 Tim 2).

Please Pray

2010-01-29T21:46:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I cant say too much but I just ask for prayer for my family, my brother and sister-in-law specifically. I trust that the Lord will guide your prayers. Once again we are being faced with is Jesus enough?
I am sorry this is so vague. Love you all
~Sheri

Back at home

2010-01-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

it’s wonderful to see everyone’s updates, and they have encouraged me to write one. I’ve just returned home (yesterday) from being on the road for 2 glorious weeks! It was a great pleasure to see as many of you as I did, thanks for making the time. I visited the guys at Briercrest, Kelsey in Edmonton, and then headed out to Vancouver and got to see Downey and Wall out there. All in all it was an awesome, refreshing time away from the regular routine.

But now I’m home and back at work and well… I love it! I’m working on planning the spring semester of Kids Zone and it’s so exciting! I can’t wait to be hanging out with all the volunteers and kids who are involved in it all. I simply love my job and must praise God everyday for being so good to me. He has truly blessed me beyond my imagination.
As good as it is, at the moment I do feel very inadequate, over my head, and scared about the task ahead of me. There is A LOT to do. But I’m ok with that though, cuz there’s no better way to get to turn to God for EVERYTHING than to feel like I’m not big enough. And I really am not big enough, but He is!

God is good, all the time and I’m just pumped about it. I hope you can say the same thing. I can’t wait to hear from all of you and hear about the things going on in your lives!

Love you all!
Revolutionary Steve

Ps. I love our blog title photo thing, it’s fantastic. Great work Joel!

Hello Sweet Children.

2010-01-25T09:02:00.001-08:00

I really think that people are going to appreciate this.

2010-01-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

i am home. all worries and doubts aside, this is where i belong for now. satan has a tricky way of messing with minds. thanks for prayers. God is good. ahh yes, it is good to be home.

blessings.
scotty.

2010-01-15T16:37:00.000-08:00

I just love you all very much and wanted to let you know!
That was all I was planning to write when I opened up this text box, which is so very true and I wanted to express that but then I thought that I should let you all know where I am at in my life and heart. I can really not remember the last time I wrote on here, even though I read it very regularly. So my life ...
I am in my second year now which is exciting. I am still really loving it. I genuinely love learning and I get excited sometimes thinking about how the time I am spending right now reading and writing papers (though mundane at parts) is preparing me for the life God has called me to (even though I don't know exactly what that is yet). I am now doing a double major in Legal Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies. I am trying to live everyday here not looking only towards the future, which is so much the focus in University but to realize that God has called me to life here and now and can serve those around me in little (and big) ways. I still live in residence, which is wonderful and I love it. It is a really great community that teaches and challenges me in so many ways.
There has been some difficult times lately as well. My Poppy (that's what I call my grandpa) passed away on New Year's Eve. It was a hard time. I stood by his bed watching as he took his last breathes. It hurt my heart but at the same time it was full of peace and joy knowing that he was sitting at the feet of His Saviour. In his last hour we read Scripture and sang hymns and it was truly beautiful. He was a good man who loved Jesus and lived his life for him. It was a blessing to see God's faithfulness through this.
On another vein, I am in the midst of trying to make so many decisions for the summer and coming year. It seems so far away but I need to make some concrete decisions in the near future. The problem is that my heart is anything but concrete at the moment. It is being pulled in so many directions. It comes down to that I want to serve God and his children but I have no way in what capacity to that. There are a lot of opportunities, so I am just seeking wisdom and waiting at this point, which to be honest I am not a huge fan of. But once again God is faithful and that is where I need to be.
Oh! My sister is getting married, which is very exciting news in my family. Her fiance is a great guy and I am really excited for them. The wedding is in June and it is going to be beautiful!

I feel like there is so much more that I could say but pretty much that is my life right now. If anyone wants to know more I would absolutely love to chat with you. Also I love writing letters, so if you would like one just get me your address!
I love you all and really appreciate reading about where you are at and praising God for each of you.

Be Blessed to be a blessing,
Saint Catherine (though I am so very far from being a saint)

A Wimba way.

2010-01-14T09:43:00.000-08:00

Hey all you fellow followers of Christ!! I have been loving reading all of the recent posts on here, and figure I should follow suit! I don’t remember the last time I blogged, but I will try and pick up from the midpoint last semester.
My first and foremost praise item is that this year my mom is back at work full time!! Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement, this has been such a reminder of God’s strength and his faithfulness in answering prayer. My mom got me a fabulous little devotional book a while ago, titled “Miracles”, and each devotional focuses on a miracle God performed in the bible, it has been so encouraging and refreshing to be studying God as a miracle worker!
Beginning this semester I feel.. a lot of hope. I am not sure hope for what, but it is what I feel. I graduate in April and I legitimately have no idea what will follow that. I have been looking through different missions opportunities in orphanages, teaching English, or working for IJM (International Justice Mission). Yet, a part of me wonders if I should finish school first? My parents are really encouraging me to finish my school first, and maybe if I get my education degree I would be more valuable overseas?? I would really appreciate if you guys could pray for direction for my next year!
For any of you who don't know I moved out of res at Ambrose this semester! Katie Lesyk and I are living together, with one other girl. I loooveeee having our own place, so far making my own food has been pretty sweet too! But I will admit last night I made chicken that looked good on the outside, buttt when I went to eat it the inside was flaming pink! I hope this finds you all well, pursuing Christ!! Love you K5!

just a quick lil update.... lol no promises

2010-01-14T00:08:00.000-08:00

I will try to make this quick .. try lol
So my last blogg was a bit of an emotional blogg... Necessary?.. i'm unsure of that yet. But what ever lol
So this last month has been a struggle for me But still the Lord is victorious! and will for ever be!!! the last week or so my heart has been lifted so much by Christ all around me its sweet! I have been tossing around the idea of leaving this town for a little bit.. I think that apart of it is longing to run away.. Partly because i feel stuck here and a little useless. So i've been chattin with God about it. What i have been getting is... don't go.. not yet... be here... You may not have a job... But your doing what i want you to do .. So stop having a pity party and do! Live it!
And THEN all of these small little opportunities have come up in just this last week.. Random conversations with girls in my youth, and some not in my youth group. He has provided me with time!.. time to spend with people and words to say! I LOVE HIM!! STINK!! Our God is SO COOL! He blows my mind right now just thinking about all of the ways that He is so evident in my days!!!! So i have started to see all of these little opportunities to serve him in a new way!! and its really rad! Knowing that I'm growing and i'm not who i was yesterday.. Because i grow more and more ever day and don't even stop to think about it some times. I thank you all so much for your prayers!!!! keep them up! i still feel like i need some sort of direction, some days i feel like i'm driving a car with no lights on.. in the dark... and i'm a little scared of the turns coming up.
I've been talking to YFC a lot lately!... I have fallen in love with that rad organisation and would love to one day be apart of that team!!! SO pray with me!
I love you all deeply and i'm so thankful for the time God gave us together!..And it pumps me up when i think about how much we all have grown.. How far we have all gone... It makes me feel apart of something much bigger then my self... like my heart is in 100 different places at once!
Know your in my prayers! and I think of all of you often!
Peace out mang!
Michelle
p.s I love that people still remember there names we got at the end of kaleo... well i know that scott and steve remember there's.. lol I have a crappy memory some times!.. k I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!

woooow.

2010-01-10T08:05:00.001-08:00

let me just start off by saying that this rapid influx of blogging done by the bulk of you has been incredibly encouraging....(annnnd my vocabulary points go up major by the use of 'influx'). let me also tell you that i miss you all...not even just saying it, it's really true! as i'm writing, i'm in the vancouver airport about 20 minutes away from heading back to new york. the new yorker in me is pumped to go back, to live in a big city, to see my kids. but another part is thinking whyyyy the heck do i go, and quite literally put my life out there...one white boy in a sea of black faces in the ghetto, when i clearly would have a good life back home. this time at home has been refreshing, but it reminds me of the comforts that i COULD have if i chose to stay. or if i chose to settle for something that i wasn't meant to settle for. it really has hit me today and yesterday...packing up, saying final goodbyes, and now, sitting in the airport. i know it's the right thing, this right here. but it doesn't make it any easier. and it's not like i hate where i'm going either! God has been good...and called me to a place where i love the people and those that i work with...but it's still tough to swallow when there is a comfort bubble at home. thanks for bearing with me, hearing me out...i know that if i was talking in a chapel to you there would be tears streaming down my face (but really...what else is new!). i know that when i get back, and i see my kids, and i see those that i'm close to...that it'll all be ok. there's just moments...moments of wishing that the basic, ordinary, safe life was for me. buuuut that's boring. so it's not.
love you all
come and visit me so i can introduce you to my 6 little sisters (possibly my favorite family...oops. did i say favorite? haha).

graceful scotty.
scotty grace.
take your pick.

That's Kind of Personal

2010-01-07T13:41:00.000-08:00

How many times have you found yourself wondering "Man, I wish I could hear Josh's voice again." or "Man, I wish I knew what Josh was doing this week."

Well now you can!

So as you may have seen on my Facebook status many times, me and Mr. Robin Zemek have started our own podcast called "That's Kind of Personal" and you can find us on iTunes or here on our blog

Basicly its about whatever we feel like talking about through the episode, from movies, to news, to vampires, to shoes, to girly magazine quizes...

So subscribe and tell your friends, I find it pretty funny at times.

Josh signing off!

I just want to Priase Jesus!!!

2010-01-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

Hey guys!!

So Michelle and I were talking the other day about the blog and how I usually post when things are not going to well, well that needs to change!!

Things are going amazing right now!!! ( haha I am watching Ellen and she is laughing really hard I think she is cry... It kind of expresses me right now... JOYFUL!!) So yes I am loving work so much I am gradually getting more hours and the kids bring me so much joy. I don't understand the love that I have for them, and when I talk to my co-workers about how great I think the kids are they don't quite understand either! I have been offered a job again and H&R Block this next season full time and good pay, however I can't stand to work for an organization that is so focused on money, but I just found out that my rent is going up this next month (from dirt cheap to cheap) and also that my sister and I are actually going to be moving out before April so I am going to try to get part time at both jobs. We will see what happens I know god will provide!! I stink speaking of I am going to India!!! It is not quite official yet but God has provided money for my plane ticket in like a month therefor I have lots of Faith that this will happen!!!

Living with my sister is amazing, we aren't Bff's or anything but we are definitely getting closer and enjoying living together, like i said though it does look like we will be parting soon, but I know that these months have been crucial for our relationship!

Church is going amazing!! I am cleaning the church once a week (it is also helping with India!) and actually am really enjoying it! We got a new Pastor this week and he is really cool I am very excited to see what God is going to do through him!!

I am in a ladies bible study (leading worship actually, don't know how that happened) and I am enjoying it, it has been very difficult though as I am struggling with being disciplined.

Oh my I am just going on and on!!

So this is pretty much me, the picture above I think says it all, driving in a crazy place, but having a blast!!!

I Love you all!!!

~Sheri

News From The Rover

2010-01-03T02:45:00.000-08:00

Hey Kaleo, its been a while again since I last posted. Much has been going on in my life, I've travelled alot of miles. On November 14th I left Canada for South Africa, didn't get there till the 16th. So many lay overs, such long flights. Needless to say I was welcomed with open arms by my mate Nick in the Jo-berg airport. The Next 6 weeks broadened my horizons in so many ways.
Four of us did a massive road trip, and had countless adventures.
Hiked to the end of the Cape of Good Hope, went on wine tastings, climbed table mountain on a clear day. A sunset sailing cruise in the evening. I jumped off the highest bungy jump in the world. Went horseback riding through indigenous forests along the garden route. Suffered 38celcious in the heart of the Karoo (desert).
Camped and went on Safari's in Kruger National Park; nearly caught Malaria on the Mozambique border. Got wet in the exotic bush of Byde River Canyon. Hawked at every corner by poor black people of all sexes and ages. Enjoyed the sun and luxury of Sun City Resort, once parcially owned by Michael Jackson.
All this was amazing, but it is stooped compared to the joy I experienced from the good company and genuine acceptance I recieved from the South Africans I spent time with. Everywhere I went, Nick and his friends and family welcomed me in as a brotehr in such a moving way. The crime and uncertainty that is South Africa causes friends and family to stand together in ways that you so rarely find in Our Western world.
As bizzare as it sounds I left the hot South African Summer just before X-mas and have been bumming around the U.K. all holidays. An old work college here, extended family there. Now I face the daunting task of finding a job and a place to call home in this Dog-eat-dog U.K. workforce. I must be patient, yet aggresive. The truth is God is going to have to guide me and open windows. Where the next step lies only he knows.
I don't miss Canada I love this sense of unknown and uncertainty; its like I'm time travelling. I spent a whole 4hours in a different Decade before even one K5 could potentially get there. You lot in BC were in a different Decade for eight hours. Wierd! Even though I don't miss the Canadian Cities and Landscapes, (except Mt. Wash) I really miss the people I love in Canada. I wish I could keep you all in my suitcase and share all my adventures with you all. Ah well, the blog will have to do.
Your Prayers are always needed
Love Kurt "The Best Is Yet To Come"

Doer Downey...

2009-12-26T15:39:00.000-08:00

Well it has been far too long since some of us have gotten to grab a coffee and have a good long chat about life... so why not grab a cup of coffee, put a splash of eggnog in it (chai will be allowed for you non-coffee drinkers) and continue reading=)
Where to begin... oh gosh, I guess I'm going all the way back to October and when I was in Israel. Wow it was incredible. Two weeks jammed full of everything imaginable. Started out around the Dead Sea, saw Masada, Qumran, En Gedi. Then headed up to the Sea of Galilee and saw everything around there, and then made our way into Jerusalem. It was crazy... we saw multiple 'sites' a day, learned all about the historical, archaeological facts of that place, and then my Pastor who leads the trips would do "life lessons" from that place and the people there. Some of the meatiest sermons I've heard, and we had multiple lessons per site we were at! We also did a fair bit of hiking around to the places, which added to the experience. I am sure that I learned far more in those two weeks than in four years of Bible college (Oh shoot was that out loud?). If you EVER get the chance to go to Israel, you need to go.

Needless to say, school has been pretty frustrating this Fall. To come back to sitting in a classroom after the kind of learning I experienced in Israel... not fun. Also with the busyness of stuff at church, I had some serious third year blues...but they've opened up some new programs, and so I am now going graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Biblical Studies and a Minor in Youth Work, which I am pretty stoked on!

As for the church side of things. I think I've talked before about how I became the Director of Middle School Youth this past April when the pastor I was assistant to ran in the provincial elections. It has been such an experience. Working with 70 middle school youth, and 25 leaders definitely has its challenges but also its many rewards. My leaders are so amazing, I have loved working with them, as well as the youth. I have been stretched and challenged in ways I could never imagine. Twenty years old and leading a youth ministry... God seems pretty crazy sometimes. When I started to be referred to as Pastor Chris it really hit me... but God began teaching me some lessons about two months ago. Overall it was the fact that I was too busy. I needed to realize that I (yes I, Chris Friggin Downey) have God-given limitations and that I cannot do everything. I had gotten so busy that it was actually starting to affect who I was. I did not have time for family, friends, exercising, even hardly any time for God. Not the best way of living. Stepping into THE lead role for middle school really weighed heavily on me. With the buck stopping at me, I could never focus on one thing or the other, either church stuff or schoolwork. We all have the choice to choose what is better, and that is to sit at the feet of Jesus. While things still need to get done and organized there is still the better option, which Mary chose as opposed to Martha. After much prayer and discussions with important people in my life I chatted with the lead pastors at church about this. So long story short, they have hired a new Middle School Youth Pastor (he was actually my roommate in Israel, yet again God working in mysterious ways!) and I will be stepping back into the Assistant position. I am honestly so stoked on this guys. God is so good and He has shown this once again by revealing to me that I was running towards the invisible brick wall of burnout. My prayer is that I would truly learn this lesson so that in the years of ministry to come, I would better be able to recognize the signs that I am getting close to the wall. Also that I would discern how to be Doer Doweny beacuse that is who I am, while still choosing what is best. Please join me in praying for this, as well as that all of our love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that we maybe able to discern what is best...(Philippians 1:9-11).

And finally... is your coffee cold? Need a break to top it up? Remember that trip to Mexico I did this past June with my church? Well upon coming back from that and having chats with Jim and Kristie all about what I did there, they wanted to see if we could make a Kaleo trip happen. Well it's happening and they've asked me to co-lead the trip! So freaking stoked on this one. Not only do I get to return to Mexico and serve alongside this ministry once again and continue to grow the relationships that were started when I was last there, but I get to lead a group of Kaleo students! We all know the huge part these missions trips can play in the kaleo experience!!! This is also a huge opportunity for me because I want to be leading short-term missions trips for students for the years to come in whatever ministry God places me.

God is so good. Even in this time of scary uncertainty for me as I somewhat shut the door on this amazing position and opportunity that was right in my lap with church, He opens other doors of opportunity like Mexico. If you would like more info on how you can support me, both financially and to get on the prayer list for Mexico let me know!

Love you guys. Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas Kaleo!

2009-12-25T21:19:00.000-08:00

I hope you are all well fed, surrounded by family and are loving Jesus more today than yesterday! Christmas day has just ended for me, I have tucked 23 beautiful little children into bed and and now reflecting on the day! Ahhh I wish I could hop a plane like Michelle and catch up with every one of you personally! I've told my kids about you all, they know all about Kaleo (cough cough.....and maybe some seed's are planted......just saying!) and they have even heard some stories about you guys in our devotional times! I am beyond in love with these kids, and the hope that's in them!

After I finish on tour with them I'm going to be...drumm roll please......making Little Dot's Booties again...but this time in Africa! The crazziest thing is that in Africa there are parents, wonderful mom's who have the desire, ability and heart to raise their children. The only thing they don't have is food! In North America, most of our mom's who can't raise their kids it's because they lack the parenting ability, struggle with addictions or what have you. But these mom's have the ability, the passion and the desire to raise their kids, just no food. So I'm hopping to create an African business, making the BOOTIES in Africa. Employing and educating local mom's to make them, equipping them to handle all the business and production and eventually take over the business!

In my heart I feel one of the solution to Africa's large number of orphans is already in the hearts of these African mothers! it's the most efficient way to care for these kids, equipping African mothers to do it! So that's my dream for the new year! Ahhhh I'm so excited for this!

I'll leave you with some Christmas pictures! I still haven't figured out ho to make a slide show.....but not many people are writing on this blog, so I think it's ok to take up some space!

.... TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!.. is a day.... THAT IS CHRISTMAS!!! .. i can not believe i'm the first to post.. COME ON PEOPLE

2009-12-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

so i was getting tired of waiting for people to post so i could read them as i sit at home. at the moment my mom is chatting to my Nana, Dayle and Andrew are playing N64 (YAHHH you read right N64).. my dad is stringing a guitar and i sit longing to hear from all of you on this day. Because today is a time for family and in my heart you are all still my family! and will always be... If we are 70 and you call me up(and i still remember who i am lol) I pray it will be like we were never apart.

I went to Calgary the other week and got to stay with Katie and jay in the dorms and got to see Al and Dan also. Its was wonderful. My cousin got married that is why i was in the land of the flat... But really it just gave me a sweet excuse to buy a plane ticket to see every one there.

These last few weeks have probably been the hardest of my walk with Christ. Its kinda scary. I felt my heart reverting back to the person i was just a few years ago. My self worth went down, my heart became lonely... longing for love. Not spending time in the word and with my Jesus the way i should did not help this situation. My guide was down and Satan stepped in. Instead of turing to my savour for the true honest love.. i sot out a boy.. one who made me feel beautiful and wanted... but does not love Jesus. I think i started making up excuses for my self to just hang out with him. Knowing the my heart had begun to hold on to him. My heart crossed some lines that i was not read to cross and told me self that i wouldn't for a long time. I laied(not a word Catherine i know lol) on my kitchen floor one night and thought about how i have been, and how my actions have been speaking WAY louder then my words. I prayed and prayed.. feeling nothing but just KNOWING i was in the wrong.. but my heart had not made that same connection. and then I got a text from Jesus.. It was beautiful!!... he chose to speak through a boy who desires not to be with him ... Its crazy how he does that!... Knowing this was a sing from God i told my self to be more careful.. well that never works!.. the strength i have been relying on has been my own... How silly of me! trying to carry the weight of the wold on my back when Christ is bagging me to pass the ball to him. Every time i try to speak out my heart I'm at also for the right words. SO I'm unsure of what picture all of this is painting for you.

My sister Dayle and i have been talking about Christmas and what it bring.... Hope... When Christ was born he brought hope for things yet to come... Now we LIVE IN THIS HOPE!... we are the thing that were to come so long ago.. We live in the Freedom and Love that Christ died to Give!.. Praise Jesus for the hope that people back then ... and praise him for the hope we have today!.. the hope that he saves, The hope that he loves, The hope that he will be back soon.
I do wish to hear you thoughts on what this beautiful day and brought you.
Jim, you shared and passage with Shannon psalms 32. Thank for that! it brought my heart much rest. Its crazy how the Lord told you to memories that knowing that it would not just speak to you!.. GOD IS SOO COOL!
So my christmas morning was grand! my rents gave me a wounderful new camera bag!.. I had my first paying photoshoot yesterday Prase the Lord! lol
I love you all deeply!!!
Peace out Home slices!!!
michelle

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-21T14:53:00.000-08:00

Hey Everyone!

I’m just letting you know that I’m heading West and I’d love to see you if it works out! I’m leaving Jan 12 from Winkler, MB, and need to be back at Briercrest by Jan 23. I have very loose plans right now, gotta hit up a few places, but am willing to go almost anywhere.

Hope to see you,

Steve

2009-12-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

http://www.avivacommunityfund.org/ideas/acf2111

yooo maybe you've seen this. this sweet opportunity for that hip hop crew me and kev were on last year to make some money to fund their ministry which can always use support.
wooooooooooooooooord.

quick side note...
He is Faithful.
at church this past Sunday...this really sweet church in downtown toronto. made up of just hipsters in toronto. its sweet. pastors are solid, really genuine brothers. annnyways..their old pastor spoke...he talked about isaiah 40. talked about how its frustrating how we just pull those verses out and put them on christmas cards cause we lose so much of what the israelites are going through. he talked about how crazy it was for God to say...comfort, comfort my people....in the circumstances they were in.
and then he really focused on the verse that talks about the shepherd drawing His sheep close to his heart. man it was so phenomenal, He talked about the problem with our gospel message of being a "sinner saved by grace" and while there is complete truth in that, dang, what a shame to stop there and not receive fully what God has done. We ARE NEW creations. He actually, like realllly, more then we know which is a problem because sometimes we stop pursuing it..but he reallly really, likes us. To say He loves us is difficult jsut cause we've heard it forever. But man he really likes us.
It's crazy how understanding who He is as our Father and because of what Christ did, how that affects how He sees us changes life. annyways this is about refined undignified and voting for them sooo hoppe life is good.

psalm 103

2009-11-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

Hello, my friends... I have been meaning to post something here for a few weeks now, but we don't have the net at our house so its hard to find the time! Enough excuses though, here goes!

Lew and I have been doing so well. God is so good, and so faithful. We've been busy working since the wedding... our jobs were so obviously His provision... it was crazy how it worked out! Lew is laying paving stone driveway, patios, stuff like that (its starting to slow down now, unfortunately, please pray!!) and I'm an admin assistant at a tax-prep/financial advisor's office. I get to dress up for work. Its fun :) And I am really loving it! The responsibility my boss has given me has just been such an encouragement and challenge. Basically I'm in charge of keeping him organized, making sure clients get contacted regularly, and come tax time I will be the main girl taking care of all things tax (besides actually doing them!)... Its a really good place for me to be right now.

On a slightly different note, I thought I would let you guys know that Lewis is applying for the RCMP! We submitted his application package a couple of days ago, and now we wait... for probably close to six months while they do background checks, interviews, etc, etc... its a very long process. I am so proud of him, and so excited, if he gets accepted, to see him in a profession where he can just help people. That's all he wants... which I admire him so much for. So, if all goes well, he will jet off to Regina for six months for training, and I will have to find something to do with myself to keep from missing him too much! The thought has crossed my mind... Bcrest? Who knows. And, that being said, in about a year we could very well end up in a community near you :) We will see what God has in store. But nothing is for sure yet.

Speaking of school, I have been taking a couple part-time courses at the university here... a poetry class and first year psychology. It was a rough start for me, to jump back into school mindset, especially since the last school I remember (kaleo) was so solidly biblical, and I have had to learn how to think critically again (not that I didn't before... its just a very different kind of critique)! It has been really tough, but my faith is being refined into something more sincere, or at least I hope so. I think that it is.

...
I've actually been struggling quite a bit, with my faith. This is where I am at... life is beautiful, it really is, but its been hard to reconcile my faith with what I see the church being, and what the people on the outside see when they look at it. I think the best way to sum things up is, now that I've thought about this a lot and had a lot of dark days where my husband didn't know what to do with me... I don't find myself questioning the God who wants to turn the world upside-down with His kingdom coming, the God who dwells among the poor and is with me even when I am in the midst of those dark days, the God who is HUGE and LOVES hugely... I doubt the God who has turned into a token, a small God who is associated with ideas, politics, north american culture... I hope this makes sense. So, with all of these things running around in my head, when I'm reading the Bible, I find myself questioning things a lot, thinking, okay, where did this idea, this doctrine, this interpretation come from? Its been the weirdest thing... but such a testimony to God's grace... even though I've been questioning the things that I read so much, its like at the same time I am SO DESPERATE to drink from it... its crazy that it gives life even when I'm preoccupied with dissecting it! And perhaps the hardest part in all of this is that I've felt like I can't really share this with anyone, for fear of exposing myself... but I've had a couple of really good talks with people who have, in short, told me that its okay to question things, to not be ashamed of where I'm at. And that has freed me up to lean in to Jesus in all of this.... and begin to be captured by His teaching and the story of His life (Sheri and I are doing a really incredible study right now by Beth Moore, all about the life of Jesus... couldn't have come at a better time).

So that is where I am, my friends. I love you all so much. If any of you are ever wanting to come visit, we have a spare room and I would love to cook and bake for you :o)

Ellanora the Brave

2009-11-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

So I was at the 7/11 and saw this and thought all of you would enjoy it.

Edit: copied the wrong link, oops. now you can enjoy it

Journey?

2009-11-06T14:34:00.000-08:00

man, been so long since i've talked personally to a lot of you, crazy.

think these updates are crucial and for us to have started something together, think its cool to continue sharing our journeys and struggles and also rejoicing when He delivers us.
so i put a question mark after journey because lately it's felt out of control and been kind of scary at time wondering where i was heading in my faith.
still going to school in toronto and really really loving the city. lol, possibly a little more then caronport, it would never compare to the commnity at the crest, but as far as location and opportunities, the city is amazing. and its just so cool, so many different people, ethnicities, man its sweet.
theres this church called "sanctuary", i actually read a book by the author on the way to kaleo a long time ago and was in tears almost on the plane and never thought id have the opportunity to experience the ministry. so it's been so sweet having dinner there thursday night and then going out with some friends and hanging out with them. its really incredible, and i may go as far as to say, neccessary for us, especially growing up in the luxury i did. it's made me question so much of what i consume and how i live my life. its cool.

um in that though, dang, reading the bible has never messed me up so much. there are some great passages in there, and i do believe it all works towards one story still, but im really struggling to put stuff together. like when luke writes his "woes", dang..how do i read that. in one of my classes called preaching, we have to, well, preach a few times and we had our passages assigned which is good except when you get a passage when Paul just talks of the significance and necessity of suffering for the gospel. and it's good..if i can say that, in the long run im sure, but its been pretty heavy trying to wrestle with the reality that i dont suffer for the gospel. i don't get persecuted. i go to school with christians. i may get persecuted for my eschatological view, but nothing in regards to who i serve. and so i actually listened to a speaker say that, that was a problem, not being persecuted by at least one person who hates me because of the gospel. dang. and so if someone was to come up to me right now and say ar eyou a christian, well, i dont no. do i believe in Jesus, that He's Lord. ya most definitely, do I believe only through Him can you be saved and live eternally in the new earth, for sure, do I believe we are to pursue holiness because He is holy, ya, but do i live a life like Paul? Do people hate me like they hated him? Didn't Jesus say they would hate me? If that's following Christ, is this the definition of being a christian...i dont no.

Anyways, these are my thoughts and struggles and it's just this point where I feel I'm standing before a really really big mountain and its kind of scary to think I could turn around and walk back. But He has to be worth it. I do believe this is being refined and would love your prayers. can't wait to see those who i get to be at school with next semester and can't wait to see those who live close to the crest soon.

I really would love to hear your guys thoughts and your journeys. can't tell you how amazing and uplifiting it has been to come on here and read stuff like downeys post or steves post or other posts that just are like, dripping with joy, writing about that joy does allow for us to rejoice and be joyful, so ya thanks for those.

on a side note, tomorrow afternoon im heading to the city to play a game of "red butt" at an this old elementary school in this old area of toronto. pretty sweet.

"In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while if necessary you have been distressed by various trials, knowing that your faith, being more precious then gold, which is perishable even though refined by fire, wil be found to result in honor, glory, and praise at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
1 peter 1

love you all. lots.
jon

My dear dear family

2009-10-29T00:12:00.000-07:00

So i have hit a new phase in my life, its a new one for me. I'm scared... I think I've finally come to terms with that fact.. BUT I'm stoked about it!!!!! what a grater way for Our faithful God to show his love,mercy,comfort and POWER!

So my prayer is that the lord will place my name on your heart and you would find yourself praying for me in my times of need. SO if you 'randomly' think of me at some point in time, please lift me up, ask the Him for words. I also do the same for you!...
I feel there is something big going down that i need to be apart of, The time and place i'm unsure. I feel my self getting a little worked up and scared about being used in a big way. My heart is willing my mind is scared.

You are all in my thoughts and stories often!.. for really i talk about all of you a lot... 'like This one time at bible college' (said in a girly, twinky way)Bahaha.
Ok not so much like that but similar. Mostly i say how much i love and miss you all. But I'm so pumped when i think about where you all are, and who you serve. Praise God!! He spread us ALL OVER!! its weird.. i never knew i could be so excited about not being with people i love!.. BUT I AM!!!
Love you lots
Peace out!
michelle

oh and the new word on the street is DODDY!.. its makes me laugh every time!!..say it as often as you can!..I do!!

Ohhh....P.S.

2009-10-20T21:47:00.000-07:00

I blog a lot over here

www.grand-adventures-of-the-dot.blogspot.com

Do any still blog? I love blogs! But not as much as I love you guys.....AND Jesus!

This is me!!

2009-10-20T21:18:00.000-07:00

Hey Family!!
I am so sorry that I have not given you guys an update in a long time, a lot has happened!
So this last summer was incredible!! I was working on the most amazing CIT team with Tyler Cassidy, Kristie Voth and the one and only Jim Badke!!! Working with the CITs was the most amazing thing ever. I was living out my passion; God blessed me so much with those guys and an incredible love for them, it was such a blessing to be able to Baptize one of the girls with Kristie!! I learned a lot of lesions (with the help of my team!), but the two biggest ones were finding joy and rest. I was incredibly tired for most of the summer and learned the difference between physical exhaustion and emotional. It is very hard to learn how to rest especially when you are a restless person, but God is patient and faithful and is still teaching me what it means!!
Before the summer started I applied to go to Birercrest this fall and by no surprise got accepted. This was definitely a huge step of faith as I had no idea what I was going to take or how I would get the money, or any details, but I knew that I needed to do it to almost (for lack of a better term) prove to myself and God that I trust him. But in contradiction to that I realized that I needed to be at home this fall and rebuild some relationships, rest (though I hate to admit it) and to re-establish home before I keep going (applying for Briercrest was what I needed to do, but I am not attending yet, if that makes sence.). So I started to really pray and figure out what that would look like. It started with a road trip to the Grand Canyon with 7 close friends before I came home. It was a dream if mine and somthing that I had been preying about for a long time So yeah the week after camp ended we headed down to LA via a 36 hour train ride and hit up Disney Land, Las Vegas ( I don't recommend it),and the Grand Canyon!!! It was incredible...I learned a lot about chillin out and letting other people take control and just about being... It was incredible and I very highly recommend it!!!
So since I have been home from the trip I have been looking for a job and just hanging out. I am having a very hard time finding a desire to do anything, I am not sure if I am just lazy or resting... I am trying to think of things to fill my time with like a hobby or something but realizing that I don't really have any. I am feeling like I am in a place where I have no passion or desire or focus for anything. But I also feel like this is just a short time, like the New Year God has some huge plans that I am going to be living out. It kind of makes it hard to commit to anything because I don't really want to ditch out on people, but I honestly don't know what to do...
I am realizing the hypocrisy in my life and trying to figure out how to rid that out of my life, but at the same time not spending the needed time in the word to be living after Christ's example. It is so weird, I am almost in a place of Apathy, since when am I, Sheri Geiger apathetic?? Or am I just at a stage where I need to rest and not think hard about anything? I am not too sure!
Anyways, I am living in a super cheep ( and colourful) condo with my sister right now, which is amazing, because our relationship needs lots of work and God has provided this as a sweet place to do it!!!
I am also attending LFBC again and love it so much!! I have never enjoyed that church, but am so blessed by it right now and though I am not involved in ministry right now am hoping to be on the missions committee as I am wanting to be doing missions....We will see!!
I do have a very part time job right now at the boys and girls club, and am hopefully getting another job at a coffee shop in Ladysmith it would be ideal for these two jobs to work out.
I am wanting to save up to go travelling to NZ and Auzzie, or to go to school (I once again am not sure at all!!)
So this is me I am sorry if it doesn’t make sense at all and if it is scatter brained. I am hesitant to write this stuff out because I can see how it could be portrayed as a sob story, but it is not that at all, I am so excited for what God has been doing and what he is doing and what he will be doing in my life! I love you all so much and miss you a lot!!!
~Sher Hope (lol how appropriate!!)
PSALMS 52 read it!!! It’s incredible!!!!

Speckled Trout

2009-10-14T23:10:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! It has been an awfully long time since I have wrote on the blog and why not do it while I'm feeling sentimental? Where to begin? Tonight our floor meeting actually prompted me to write this blog, that combined with spending the past weekend with Kev, Katie, Jord, Rob, Al and Dan put all of you on my heart.
For any of you who don't know I am back at Ambrose this year finishing my degree in Behavioral Sciences this year. The long term plan right now is to graduate this year, take next year off of school, possibly travel if I can find someone who wants (or can) go with me (consider that an open invitation!!) and then go back the next year for a two year masters program in education, butttt all of that is long term and the Lord can definitely change that at any time.
The fall has been... good. So different than I thought, but incredible in so many ways! I am doing 6 classes each semester this year so that I can graduate (unfortunately camp ministry just didn't transfer as a credit ;) ), and there are times I feel so overwhelmed.. Short term pain for long term gain is what I keep reminding myself.
Tonight at the end of our floor meeting,( which unfortunately I generally find pretty superficial) but at the end I really felt God prompt me to share with the floor about my moms illness last year and the incredible answer to prayer her regained strength has been! I also mentioned I feel that sharing what God is doing in our lives is a huge part of community (generally no one shares, our RA reads some scripture from the week) and then one of the girls shared she is currently being attacked by Satan and asked for prayer. Katie (who it has been amazing see her in Ambrose community, she's truly a huge blessing for us!) actually had us all go over to the girl and we as floor prayed for her right then and there which I hope will have broken down a lot of barriers on our floor, it is so powerful to pray together.
I am on "CPT" this year which is a planning committee for the Ambrose youth conference in March, and this has been the greatest source of my spiritual growth this year. I am definitely learning a lot about myself through this, as well as youth ministry, but the most incredible part has been the awe inspiring answers to prayer we as a team have been blessed with. When we were choosing our theme verse for the conference one guy read a verse, and it turned out one of the girls had shared the exact vision of that verse on our retreat, and another had journaled that verse earlier that day. Another time one of the guys on our team had torn his cornea and was unable to see and within an hour of the time we prayed for him he was healed. I am so thankful for the opportunity to be on this team.
I am so thankful to have Katie and Al here this year, and I am not just saying that because it seems likely they will eventually read this blog! Thanksgiving was an amazing time this year! It was incredible to have so many of you able to come to my home this Thanksgiving and meet my family. My parents this Thanksgiving truly blessed me! I think back to last year in the hospital and the pleading prayers that went with it, and to see my mom healthy this year was an amazing reminder that God answers prayer. As well just spending with my dad who somehow manages to relate every situation to an eternal perspective was so refreshing when I am feeling so overwhelmed with school.
I can't wait to hear how the rest of you are doing! I love each of you .

Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!
—Psalm 100:4

Reunited at Thanksgiving!

2009-10-13T16:24:00.001-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2009-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

Man, for some reason the quality of this vid stinks after posting it...Here's the story:

Jahnaya's dad comes home one day and tells us that there are hundreds of geese in a slough. I, naturally, cannot wait to hunt them. The group gets together after church on Sunday with bats, forks, spoons, and marshmellow roasting sticks in hand, ready to hunt a bird.

The slough was more like a lake. A frozen lake. "Don't worry" Jahnaya says,"It's only knee deep anyways." We proceed to go far out onto the ice, sketched out the whole time as we hear it cracking beneath us. Unfortunately you cannot see just how covered the sky is with crazy geese... but you should be able to hear them.

We get home after our adventure, sharing our story with Jahnaya's parents. It was then that we were informed that a five foot fence runs through that area, and is completely covered by the lake/ pond/ body of water. Sweet times when Jahnaya's misinformation nearly KILLS us! But we had a FUN time! Woot woot!

African Children Choir!

2009-10-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

I love Mac's and their built in camera's! I miss you guys and always check the blog for updates and forget to post on it! But You are all loved and missed and I'm so overjoyed to see the Lord continuing to lead and shape your lives! Please excuse my big head in this video, If I had a puppet I would use it, but as it is I can only fit so much in the 1 suitcase i'm allowed to have for the year on the road!

this may not have worked

2009-10-12T00:23:00.000-07:00

Reppin' K5 in Calg.

2009-10-03T00:53:00.000-07:00

Congrats Jen and Jordan!

2009-09-26T22:30:00.001-07:00

I stole these off of Kaleo 6's site! Congats you 2! Ahhhh so excited for you!

I'm confused and i don't understand

2009-09-26T11:32:00.000-07:00

I don't get it right now. I know my God is Good and Just and Faithful, And i know that some times we have to go through things that suck and are crappy. But what if those things make living every day life hard. Since when should drinking coffee, or brushing your one teeth become heard. I'm sitting here on the computer well my mom is struggling to even feed her self. I DONT UNDERSTAND! I'm on my knees, would you please join me.

If it is the lords will for her to slowly get worse, then so be it, But God give me strength! But I pray my faith is Bigger then a mustard seed That i may move this mountain. I'm unsure how to lift this up to you Father, But God would you bring me strength and may my hope rest in your hands.

I love you all deeply, and i praise God for the time we had together. As all of you walk the path that he has set out for you. It encourages me so deeply when i think of all of us spread out all over Canada. Praise God we have become his hands a feet!

2009-09-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

HEY!

I have no way of conveying the excitement and passion that I have for everything happening in my life. A quick recap of where I'm at, I’m working at Winkler Bible Camp full time and have been since last summer. I’m doing 2010 summer camp planning/prep and running/directing the Kids Zone program which we started last March.

The Kids Zone kick off was yesterday and it was fantastic! We had about 140 kids show up, and about 30 leaders. It was again a super fun time for the kids with a awesome time of teaching, asking the question of “Who are you living for?” I love it so much and am so pumped for the many ways it will continue to grow and change to become even more effective.

My summer was also amazing and I feel so blessed to have gotten to work with all the counselors and leadership staff that I did. God is so good, and he is always teaching me and preparing me for the next step to take.

One of those next steps is that I’m speaking at my church Jr. youth retreat in mid October. This will be my first speaking weekend, and I’m nervous, but very excited about this way for me to be stretched. I was also give the opportunity to speak in my church today and share my passion for ministry and I know that God is using me and other young passionate people to help bring change to the entire congregation and that excites me so much!

I’m also teaching Sunday school at my church and I have 5 (apparently trouble making) grade 6 boys, so I know we are going to have a blast! And I’m going camping next weekend with all our male summer staff as a way to connect!

So, as you can tell, I’m busy and excited about all of it! God is good, all the time and I want nothing other than to serve him with all my heart, time, money, strength etc.

I’m so excited to hear from all of you too, so keep those posts coming. God has blessed all of us that years after we have been apart, there is still this amazing community atmosphere between us! I love you all, keep doing what you’re doing and serving God!

Revolutionary Steve

P.S. I dont know much about blogs, but is there a way for us to have a "Post Blog" button on our blog, just to make in even more enticing and easy for people to post?

This is for Jim, I'm home safe.. no worries, i had a wounderful drive yes it was dark but there were no other cars on the road.

2009-09-20T01:06:00.001-07:00

Hello From The Vagabond

2009-09-18T20:46:00.000-07:00

Does anyone remember Kurtis Hoff (thats me) It may come as a shock to some of you but I am alive and kicking. I havn't been as diligent as I want to be in keeping touch with you all, I'm sorry I've been living a very busy life since Kaleo ended and it's not about to change.

Last winter I moved to the U.K. lived and worked in England, shared an apartment with a complete stranger from South Africa, and we became best mates. I moved back to Canada this spring for tree planting again, then worked in the fields for my Dad and now I'm helping my friends Dad harvest in Saskatchewan.

This winter again I will be traveling seeing amazeing things, learning history, culture, and street sense that no text book can possibly fringe upon.

On November 14th I fly for South Africa where I will be going on a nation wide road trip with Nick (former flat mate), and two other friends from England.
From there I will move back to the United Kingdom and work till my visa expires in Sept. 2010. After which I will spend the following winter of 2010-2011 backpacking Europe till the money runs out. I'm estimating it will last till May 2011; then I will move back to Canada and get a life, maybe.
If any of you wish to join me for any portion of my time in Europe, or simply just visit me on your way through please do.
I have alot of plans but nothing concrete, I'm relying alot on God to provide me with safe and rewarding travels, good jobs, fun experiences, exciting stories and most important of all friends to cherish the times with. He's been the best travel guide for me so far and never left me in need or unsatified.
I want to share all of this with you guys because 1. I love you all 2. I covet your prayers 3. You guys are the reason I am able to do this.
Well! God through you. the love and appreciation you guys gave me over our time together has blessed me with the confidense to step out alone (accept that cozzy feeling in my soul like someone is right there beside you), and unafraid, eager to see who and what is over the horizon.
I Promice to let you guys in on the details as the next year and a half of wondering plays out. I just want you all to know that everywhere I go I will be thinking about, loving and missing you all.

Hello Lovely People!!

2009-09-16T22:02:00.001-07:00

Oh how I miss all of you! Can't tell you how many times my heart has longed to see you all and hear all things the Lord is teaching you! Thanks so much for the wonderful updates that keep us involved in this wonderful community that God has used so powerfully in our hearts. You all are a blessing to each other and such a blessing to me...I love you.
Okay, so down to business...thought I would give you a bit of an update here...cannot believe what an amazing summer we had here at Qwanoes! I never expected to see the hand of God move the way that He did or so powerfully in the hearts of our staff. We saw so many foundations laid for incredible change! Praise the Lord! So many transformations that are foundational, not experiential...praise the Lord! Many staff have allowed the Lord to strip them of the grip the world has had on them and draw them to Himself and let Him rebuild them into the young men and women He is calling them to be. WOW!! So incredible! Time after time the Lord has answered our prayers for this summer...from the Spring when our team began to form, the Lord placed the desire on our hearts to see our summer shift from a focus on decision to a focus on discipleship. God spoke to our hearts and told us to back off trying to "do" this and get down on our knees...we watched Him powerfully sweep through this place and accomplish so much more "than we could ask or imagine." Praise the Lord!
As for me, the Lord has taught me so much about ministry; and though the past year was a difficult one at times, I would do it all again to see the fulfillment of what that time was for. Praise the Lord!
I thought I would let you know where the Lord has been leading me recently and ask you to pray with me into that...I got accepted into Moody Theological Seminary for a Master's in Spiritual Formation & Discipleship which begins in January! So incredible how the Lord has fashioned my heart for this and opened the doors to head this direction. I'm not sure how the next few years will play out as I would love to remain at Qwanoes while working on my MA. If you would pray with me into that I would appreciate it so much! I'm praying about a place to live right now...I have money for school but not housing and hoping that someone in Chicago would like to open their home! We'll see how it all plays out, but for now I'm excited to continue with Qwanoes through the Fall and then...CHICAGO!!!

Blessings,
Amanda

September Already!

2009-09-13T15:42:00.000-07:00

Wow, I'm not really sure where to start! I think the last time I posted was literally hours before I left for Mexico so let's go back to that. Mexico blew my mind. I've gotten to talk to some of you about it so I'll try to keep this short. Remember Theology of Mission and how we discussed the downfalls of short term mission trips, and then decided on the positives... this trip was everything positive and then some. Our church has a great relationship with the pastor there, and has been working with him for 5 years now. We did everything from work projects (dry-walling, tiling, cementing), to VBS, to building fish ponds, distributing food... it was the busiest two weeks imaginable! The hike was quite the experience... Albert Edward now looks like a walk in the park! What did this trip teach me? Well since many of you know I've done a lot before, right, so I was heading into this trip rather last minute, and in somewhat of a leadership role thinking that I was pretty ready for this... then on the third or fourth day we were handing out food to people that was supposed to last them a month. This blew my mind. Out of the experiences I have had, none of them have been quite like that. To see people that poor, that unwanted by their country and government, that controlled by the drug dealers... it's hard to wrap my own head around the memory of it. The other huge thing for me was working with, listening to, and watching the pastor and the people that work with him. Pastor Thomas has been working with the Tarahumaran people for 15 years now. It started with hearing about these people that live in the canyon about 15hours from where his church is, hearing of their need and that they are going extinct and now it is a full blown ministry. Food is distributed once a month, there is a farm where people are brought out of the canyon for a season and taught agricultural skills... it's amazing! They often don't know where they're going with the ministry, but they follow, and as they take giant leaps of faith, God meets them in HUGE ways. There are so many stories of encounters with drug dealers, roads being built, government doing unexpected things... it's so exciting to see. Pastor Thomas spoke to us a lot about passion and vision. Find what you are passionate about, and serve the Lord wholeheartedly in it... so simple right, but when someone actually rises up with total faith and does what God wants them to, big things are going to happen.

After Mexico I was at the church full time running the youth events. This was challenging as we did not get many youth out, and also because I haven't had a summer at home in years and now I was leading groups on outings and day trips to things that were new to me! Summer was good though, challenging and stretching, yet also a good change of pace. I managed to visit camps a bunch of times, which was great.

Well there's catch up and so now I'm back at Columbia Bible and am officially the Director of Middle School Youth at church. September is such a crazy time, having classes for the first time and trying to organize those, parent meetings, leader recruiting and training, kick-off. It's quite something. I was pretty nervous about the amount of things I would be doing this year and all of the pressures and responsibility I would have. Then this past week as I started school I got a cold. I think this was God's way of ensuring that I did in fact have no strength on my own and so was forced to lean on Him. Good way to start the year and to serve as a reminder for the rest of it! Needless to say I now see that this year will involve a lot of obedience to God's call, even through the extremely hard, busy times, as well as surrender and reliance on Him. The only way this year will be possible is by the grace of God. If you could keep me in your prayers about this because I need to be constantly plugged into God and not forsaking my first love as the church in Ephesus did (Revelations 2:4). I also need a lot of wisdom as I lead about 25 leaders and the many Middle School Youth who will be coming... Our vision this year is for the youth to encounter the real Jesus.

Oh right, almost forgot... in keeping with the theme of going traveling last minute... I'm going to Israel on October 18th for two weeks with my church!!!!! My pastor leads a teaching trip there. This is going to be amazing to walk the land, and learn. It's more than just 'seeing the sites', we get to experience the culture and learn eastern vs. western thinking. I'm so excited for this opportunity. It looks like Prairie Bible will give me credits, and then Columbia will accept the transfer (what fun figuring that out was). Now I just need to meet with my profs and discuss with them my leaving for two weeks! Keep this in your prayers as well please! I can't believe the opportunities and experiences that I have in this church. This is definitely where God wants me to be for now and I am extremely thankful that this is regularly made clear to me.
That's about it all... Keep in touch

Stink Bug!

2009-09-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

SO the title is meaning less ... sting bugs are just cool!.. I guess its kinda fitting in a way, Only Sheri and Kels and Kins would fully understand.

I'm trying to think of how to start, There are many ways.. One is Its been for ever and I'm trying to think of how to sum up all that has gone on in life, my brain, and My heart over this last .. For ever. lol

4 months ago i moved to camp and took on a leadership position that was perfect for me, Events Assistant (allstar), I had no idea what how God was going to use this position to grow me as a leader. During Advanced crew Jordan, who was to be my partner in crime took on a different position. So the Allstar Leaders were just Steve and I. I don't think it truly hit me on how much i would be stretched until the first day of camp. Every thing was planed it was just a matter of pulling it all off. Also well stepping in to this leadership position i also took another big step at the same time... A relationship. God gave me a Gift.. his name was/is Devon Dupont. I prayed about it ALOT and felt a lot of peace. God Used him to show me lots of things that I needed to work on in my life. He showed me that Yes relationships are not all like my last one. I realized how scared I was of letting him in. It was a Huge step of faith... because i was terrified!... In this relationship I saw how week i am still and how easy it would be for me to fall in to the person i was before and the in to the sin that ruled my life. I also realised how strong i was and am, now i stand firm on the Rock that is My Jesus, and I'm able to turn from such thing and run straight in to my fathers arms. My life is not easier, i would say harder.. But i hold in my heart Joy and Hope in days to come, This is Gods gift to me witch make all trials and temptations bearable. At the beginning of the summer i prayed against distraction knowing why I was at camp and not wanting Devon to distract me from my heart fully being in my call to serve my Jesus at camp.
My position taught me how to organise my self, my thought, and other people. God giving me responsibility and the fact that i need to be an example has stretched my heart by learning through trial and error. I feel like a all of the knowledge that god gave me over the past 2 years about leading through observing various people along the way I finally got to put to test. Over the summer I have been learning a lot about discipleship and how we are called to disciple by the example of our lives, So now i am learning to LIVE!
Half way through the summer I took my 3 days off and went home with Dev, Then the peace i had about our relationship was gone. I was confused, I didn't understand... I still don't.. I wanted to merry this dude, we fit so well together. But the thought of being disobedient again scared me and made me feel sick and the only thing to do was something that sucked and hurt.
God gave me a vision of my life. There is me in a dark place, but if i looked over my shoulder i could see all of these stones on witch i have stepped on. these stones were light up. A soft voice from the darkness kept telling me to take a step.. 'But i cant see where I'm going to step'... Michelle just do it... 'But what if i fall'... Trust me....'ok'. So i took a step, I still feel in the dark mostly, i still don't understand, if this was not a bad thing then why do i need to give it up. But. Through words that he gave Steve He confirmed that this was a good thing and in order for me to serve him fully giving up something that was so good and pure was necessary.

SO now the summer is over, and i miss it deeply. But i know that Port McNeil is where I am to be. Gods plans for my life here are still in the dark. He has changed the way I live, the way I lead, My Few on relationships, and i feel He has equipped me for something big (witch scares me...A Lot) I have been praying for opportunity here every day, and for the past 3 days he has been faithful on helping me see them. I went to the school to let them know my desire to coach.. Volleyball or soccer. They just called today about meeting with the girls tomorrow at noon. So that sweet. I have Gotten to do some follow up with some girls that attended camp this summer witch is SO RAD! and I'm starting to pick up some relationships where they left of since moving away. as for now I'm board.. I know the ball has started rolling, But i feel like i have much time to sit.. witch after camp is a weird thing to do. But i know i need to take advantage of this time to rest and reflect.
I pray For much change in this place, and when needed the Lord will place me and my home on your heart in times when prayer is much needed.

I'm sorry this is long, But i could not skip anything. I thank you all for your words of encouragement, and sharing your lives with me on this wonderful blog.
I think of all of you often and Smile, knowing that You are where God has called you and your lives are wonderful examples to every one around you.
Lots of love

Michelle

I just want you all to know that I love Spell Check!!!!.. if i did not have spell check i'm sure that non of you would understand what I'm trying to say.. I'm sure there are words in there that are not the right ones.. But they have not come out with a grammar check yet.. I hope they do soon!!

Kaleo Life 07/08

The time is Bright

Movin' it up!!

Surprise!!

Coming this Spring, Mr. & Mrs. Bertram :)

Hey Guys!

Jim & Sarah on Tour at a Town Near You!

To Team India

God is good...

Kurtis & Jon are planting

Chilling on the Island

booooom.

It's My Life!

An Adventurous Summer!

*crickets chirping*

Arlan again

India, reposted from Kaleo 4 blog

florida never felt so nice.

Its ARRRRRRLS, ARRLS, ARRUUUUUULS, sup Lafave

Sheri & Matt!

Sheri & Matt!

Our Wedding is on August 6th!

Growing through Growing

An a Roving a Roving a Roving I'll go

IT WENT GOOD!!

Hello my friends...

Matt

how to pray for my heart at the moment.

WE'RE ENGAGED!

we need to have a kaleo reunion... c'mon, someone get married already!

Myth Busters...

ParaKaleo Program

Oh... one more.

Name That K5

An Intriguing Journey

What a great summer...

I Miss You All!

Anxious for change

Lets keep going

Thailand, North and beyond!

the story

SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

desperate for a new post... slash update to come

Who woulda guessed!

Go East Young Woman!

Go West Young Man

Don't you love these people?

I found this and it made me smile!

The Dust has Settled

Heeeey Kaleeeeooooo

Team Vancouver!

Disaster has struck the Hoff Household

Still learning, still growing, still realizing that Jesus is enough!

don't worry i haven't fallen of the side of the earth!

Learning, Loving, Leaving, Listening, and Laughing.

to be a better man, integrity

Please Pray

Back at home

Hello Sweet Children.

A Wimba way.

just a quick lil update.... lol no promises

woooow.

That's Kind of Personal

I just want to Priase Jesus!!!

News From The Rover

Doer Downey...

Merry Christmas Kaleo!

.... TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!.. is a day.... THAT IS CHRISTMAS!!! .. i can not believe i'm the first to post.. COME ON PEOPLE

Merry Christmas!

Journey?

My dear dear family

Ohhh....P.S.

This is me!!

Speckled Trout

Reunited at Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

African Children Choir!

this may not have worked

Reppin' K5 in Calg.

Congrats Jen and Jordan!

crickets chirping