Melissa's throughts...

The Kaleo Report on the best, worst weekend ever,

This is an up-date of God's work in manitoba for all of you who were
un-able to make it out to this past weekend, and a reminder of God's
work for all of you who were. It seems kinda long but it actualy only
takes like 5 min. to read. It's written kinda journal style:

God was powerfuly at work changing lives in the wake of Britt's
death. For me personaly I saw the evidance of that as soon as I
stepped on the plane to departed for manitoba. As you all know I am
terrified of planed! As I was boarding the plane I noticed someone
looking @ me out of the corner of my eye. As I looked back I saw a
firmilar face. It was Sharon! Britt and Julia's old youth pastor and
friend. She was on the same plane as me heading out to manitoba and
she was sitting right next to me too. (This is amazing as there were
maby a total of 20 people on this flight that had room for like a
hundred!) What an amazxing confort, to have someone to talk to who
loves jesus and loved britt. I wasn't scared at all the whole plane
ride!

Than 1/2 of Kaleo was at the airport to greet me and pam ,(who
arrived on a plane 10 min. after me) And seriously that was so
amazing. For us to all be together again, we remembered the love and
the bonds that had been formed during Kaleo and because they were
centered in Christ thoes bonds were just as strong as they ever were.
That is also the first time I met Jon. But there will be more on that
later on! They had been together for a day or two already. Kristi,
Amber, James, Colin, Jon and Julia and Jordan I believe. The previous
day they had gotten prayed over by Ty and had gone to Britt's house to
visit the Fehr's. Hahah funny story about that, When Ty was praying
over Amber he saw a Red blow-up microphone. Does that ring a bell to
anyone? heheh Lol- We think it was my pink microphone that britt
air-banded with.......But you'll have to ask amber to find out what it
ment to her.

That night at Julia's house was cool. I had a tru Manitoban evening!
I got to have real farmers sausage,hear Aaron and Julia's dad discuss
grian and there was snow outside, It was awsome! It was flat! IT WAS
WINKLER! Julia's family was AMAZING! and seriously the biggest
blessing ever to all of us! We got to meet Ty, and some of Britt's
other friends. We all got along really well. That night we must have
stayed up till 3:00 am ish watching all of amber's video tapes from
ALL of kaleo. Our eyes eagerly searching out parts with Britt in
them. We laughed at the memories of that night, yet were pained
because the body we saw so full of life on the video was no longer
with us. I had been "strong" and numb up to this point.So numb
infact that I hadn't even cried yet. Yet as we watched the video's I
cried. Amber interviewed Britt at the end of Kaleo. Britt talked
about me and Aaron on the video. She said she loved me and - Wosh - I
was lost in a wave of tears. He death all of a sudden became real to
me and it hurt!

The following morning we woke up in the afternoon(not even joking)
and got to work preparing stuff for the memorial. Amber and Colin
spent most of the day peicing together a video of britt and Aaron and
Jordan joined in on the efforts later on in the afternoon. That night
was the memorial. Britt and Jordan were at the front of the room.
The majority of us could not go up and look at her yet, it was still
to hard. However from my seat I could see britt's face and her hair.
It was no longer in
Dreadlocks. Her dad said that she had taken them out for Mexico!

The memorial it's self was beautiful! It was close friends and
family that attended. Wonderful stories were shared about Jordan and
Britt and it was clear to anyone in the room, from the friends
speaking and the parents words that Britt and Jordan loved Christ Pam
shared a beautiful letter (that I hope she will send out or post up or
something) and Julia shared some good memories!. There was a lot of
sorrow but a lot of hope! Jon was one of these people who noticed the
hope. When I got up, I talked about britt. I talked about her being
a friend, a prayer/worship warrior and a Missionary (even if it wasn't
in africa or China) I talked about the huge impact she had on my
family thru her countless overnight stays at our house and the spring
break and other week-long stays! I talked about how I couldn't
believe that God would choose to bless me with such a good friend and
than allow me to stay in contact with her up to her last days, I
talked about how much she loved God and people and how she showed it
over and over to me! Even if it was just a little one line e-mail
(which I often got) that said "Meliss! I LOVE YOU!" she gave love
away so freely! (Julia said in her Eulogy "Britt believed that the
bestway to hold onto love was by giving it away") but anywayse
...........................THAN I went to sit down but half way down
the row I quickly turned back and hopped back to the front! Ralph
(Britt's dad) was already up front to share and he laughed at me and
handed me back the mike (if people didn't hink I was crazzy before
when I shared they definately did now!) So with everyone's eyes on me
I went off, with: "Oh man Britt would kill me if I didn't say this,
Now if you knew britt and noticed something different in her know that
difference was Christ, If you miss britt and wish you could of gotten
to know her better get to know Christ and if you see the amazing hope
we all have in this ropom and you yourself don not feel that hope,
hget to know it, Britt strongly desired everying to know her best
friend.......... I went off on some tangent like that" I ALMOST did
an alter call and than decided I didn't feel the spirit leading me to
do one..........yet. But I did
look in Jon's direction a lot when sharring!
After them memorial we got to talk more to britt's friends and
family. It was amazing to talk to Briitt's family. Even in all their
sorrow and greif they were able to muster up enough stregnth to share
stories about Britt with us and encourage us! They know all about us!
Kristen was eager to meet amber and searched her out. Jocelyn and
Ralph remembered Pam and treasured the picture that she had painted
for britt! They were so glad that Aaron could make it out (oh that's
a cool story too! more on that later!). Kristen even mensioned to me
that many times over she had recieved a letter from britt written @ my
house with request in in for prayers for my family. After talking for
a bit a realisation came to me. Even thogh Britt didn't got to go to
China on her mission trip, she was a missionary. Everywhere she went
was her own personal missions feild! Weather it be my house, A&W or
where ever she was!
That night we went out to Tim Horton's with Britt's friends. We
talked to Ty a lot! Man, you got the sence How much we were loved by
britt by how much she talked about all of us. Ty had heard a lot of
our stories. Britt even made shure that Ty was praying every day for
my family! He said that he felt like he already knew me because of
the stories Britt would tell, he followed it up with, "So what exactly
is this "sound" you make" lol! If it wern't for Britt in his life he
said he would of been way different! (not in a good way) Britt had
such a powerful ministry to all her friends. We all be came
immediate friends. Britt tied us all together and we all desired to
get to know oneanother, almost in attempt to get to know Britt better.

The next day was her funeral. We got there and there were seriously a
million perple (even hutterite people came) We got treated with a lot
of love at the funeral! It was encouraging to see the body of Christ
all loving and supporting one another! Before the funeral we walked
by Britt's open Casket. Ahh it was surreal! To look at her body, her
hands that made so many beautiful cards, her lips that spoke
encouraging words into our lives her arms that gave us extra-long
britt hugs and were always raised up in worship, it was all lying
there lifeless. I don't know how long I stayed there just looking at
her. But I eventualy pulled myself away......or maby someone pulled
me away, I don't really remember. I think I gave Aaron possibly the
longest hug of my life and that we all walked into the sancuary and
sat in the third row from the front which they had saved for us. I
don't remember much from the funeral except that by the power of God
Julia delievered a beautiful Eulogy!( the Eulogy was kinda all thanks
to Kristi, she had asked Julia about it that night before and Julia
was like "I dodn't know about this!) The Eulogy was a funy story
because Julia didn't know till the night before that she was supposed
to deliver it so all saturday morning was spent for her in the
computer room wrighting it. She did the majority of it and when she
could not articulate her words amber and I popped in to write a line
or two. It was done in true Guesthouse style. A group effort done
Last minuit.....Well still mostly Julia.

After the funeral when we were putting Britt in the ground. The
family had flowers to lay on the casket. Britt's uncle came up to me
and gave me 2 flowers to put on the casket(All be it the flowers were
carnations.......Britt hated thoes, she thought they were a waste of a
flower, But I'm shure she can deal with it, she has much more
importantthings to concern her time with now than worrying about the
flowers on her Casket. Things like hanging out with Jesus, Praising
Jesus, Punking out to Spoken with Jesus ect ect ect!). He had been
looking for me as apparently the family wanted to make shure that
Aaron and I were given flowers to pay our last respects to britt with
and that we were up near the front to be able to see them(this ment me
standing in the mud, I was ok with that.........., however I was
wearing Kristi's shoes............so I'm not shure how she felt.
lol-Thanks Kristi!). I was so blown away. The family in so much greif
was looking out for us, concerned that we get the chance to greive and
caring or us enough to seek us out! Amber and Julia were also given
the chance to pay their last respects to britt in a very privladge
way, when they served as paul barrers (I'm not shure how to spell it
but they guided Britt in and out of the service) It was beautiful as
they walked down the row accompaning Britt's Casket!
After that we went back to the church for NACHO'S! The fehr's made
shure that we took home flowers. Jocelyn told me "Make shure you
Aaron amber and Julia get some flowers and whoever else wants
some!...........Heck a whole bunch!!......but please don't be afaird
and take the small ones, TAKE THE BIG ONES" haha I laughted it was
said exactly as britt would of said it! Than we left for a fun night
in memory of Britt. This included a trip to The Springs (a church
service- HUGE!) than to the Cassino to spend 2$ (as that is what
britt would do) and than out for supper. We went with All of Britt's
friends. Ty, T.J. , Mike, Dana, ect. ect.ect. It was really fun!
Aaron told me stories about how much Britt loved the Cassino and how'
she's spend like 2$ This is where we said bye to Kristi as she had to
get back to school.

Wow this is long, maby I should call it a chapter book insterad of a
letter ! Now before I can tell what happened at the Springs with Jon
I'll tell you his history-

Chapter 2: JON'S STORY!
Jon met Britt when He was in Canmore. He had only 10 dollars left and
decided to go spend the last of it on food @ the A&W. Britt served
him. Even in that breif moment of interaction Britt gave Jon hope. He
noticed something different in her. So with that new found hope he
redidly got a job @.............A&W! From there on Britt built a
relationship with him and loved and poured into him! Before Britt
left she gave Jon a Bible! Jon said @ the memorial service that Britt
taught him a lot about Christ and that he hoped for Britt''s sake to
continue learning.

So that night at the Springs, The speaker was talking about loss and
living for Christ and stuff. Honestly I fell asleep half way thru
aswe had hardly slept but 3 hours the night before and the night
before than and the night before that( hahah but to Jon it must have
looked like I was praying because I had my hands folded and my face in
them-Lol-). But I guess the message touched Jon and at the end when
the pastor invited people to follow him in a prayer of giving your
life to Christ Jon rose his hand and boldly prayed and made a personal
Comittment to CHRIST!!!!!! It was so amazing to be satnding next to
him , hear him pray and than give him a big hug (which by the way I am
good at now! I've been practicing!)

When we went to the fehr's the next morning they were overjoyed
to hear about Jon comming to Christ so soon after britt's death. Her
life and story was already reaping fruits for the kingdom! Jocelys
said "Oh this is so exciting! We have to pray right now!" and we
prayed a passionate, hopeful, and TRIUMPHANT prayers praising God and
thanking him!" TRIUMPHANT was probably the best word ever to describe
the mood in the room. Ralph than took me down stairs to see Britt's
room and Jordan's room. It was amazing and I will post pictures
later! THey showed me the stuff from the crash. Jordan's Guitar was
in a million peices as was everything else in the Bags that I looked
thru, they hadn't looked thru all the bags yet. But the amazing thing
that ralph told me that the RCMP Officer that found them immediately
know what kind of kids they were because right after she found their
Bibles completely in contact and right by them in the Car. When they
went to the Hospital Jordan had his Bible right next to him on the
stretcher! Ralph than told me about Britt's Prayer Journal. I was
planning on asking him about it anywase. He told me that my family was
in it a lot (as I believe Kristi and Amber told me before when they
read it.....Or actualy I don't really remember who told me
it.............actualy I think everyone Britt ever knew was in that
little book!) and that In the future it will be ok for me to photocopy
it and show it to my parents in hopes that that will be a step in them
comming to Christ! I could not get over the whole Fehr's family's
imense stregnth hand in hand withtheir imense sorrow.

Than on my way to the Airport it started snowing! A true Prarie Experience!

Now for me personaly what has this ment? Well @ first I was just
angry....I'm notreally shure at what, I guess just at the fact that
Britt and I would never get to go to Africa on our adventure and that
she would never get her brand new sleeping bag (that was actualy warm)
for her birthday ect. ect. ect But that's just me being selfish and
wnating more time with her. I don't have a right to more time with
her, I have been cheated out of time with Britt, I've been blessed
with time with Britt (even though I may in my human mind not consider
it time enough)

All in all what have I learned. Well somehow I am more assured of
Britt's salvation than my own. I know she is in all Christ's Glory
right now. So that encourages me, The reality of Eternity is
starting to be made known to me and it's the most beautiful
realisation EVER! I realise one day I too will be with Chirst and I
am beging to love and even long for that time! Death isn't so scary
anymore! Christ is preparing a place for us to
go...............Christ is preparing a place for us to go! It's kinda
like going to a party at your best friends house when they are the
only person you know. You look foreward to it and stuff but your
still a little scared to go. But If you knew one of your other good
friends was going to be there that it wouldn't be so scarry and you'd
look foreward to going more. That what heaven is to me now. My Best
friend (Jesus)'s party with other friends(Britt who I know will be
there to show me around!) all praising and worshiping God together.
I have realised that God is in control and honestly is he could of
done things another way he would of, But he didn't and we and out
little inferior minds can't understand it, BUT that's OK cuz if we
could we wouldn't need faith! Jesus Christ is the Only thing that
lasts! All that being said..............It still all totaly sucks!
I miss Britt! There is no cure for this kind of pain. Life can never
go back to "normal" the best we can do is find a new normal. However
and it says in Job
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,

and naked I will depart.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;

may the name of the LORD be praised."

Another verse that stood out to me, after Job's kids have dies his
wife confronts him:

His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity?
Curse God and die!"
He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. SHALL WE ACCEPT
GOOD FROM GOD AND NOT TROUBLE" (I put the capitals in to emphasise
it, it;s not like that in the bible!)

So Yah- Praise God for the Life of Britt!



Melissa Dotto