Hi hi!

Okay, I'll try not to make it too long...
Camp is AMAZING! I'm home on staff break right now till Wed afternoon. So I'm pretty exhausted! But God is doing sooooo much!! I've cabin led 3 weeks, and each week God has placed amazing, fun, awesome girls in my cabin! Wow...ya, I'm always scared that I'll get girls that I totally can't relate to, and who won't like me...but God plans better than that! God has blessed me so far with having no homesickness, division...etc. in my cabins - which is something I delt with a lot two summers ago at camp, so I am still in shock! Also each of my cabins have LOVED cabin devotion time! It's weird, frankly! And God is so faithful, because I go in with nothing (cabin devotions is a struggle for me because I'm not really good with words, I feel I can relate a bit to Moses in that regard!) yet God brings words and scripture to me - it's really cool - God's strength is made perfect in my weakness. And the girls are so hungry for Truth, and have so many questions and theyre so smart! God has been changing so may hearts at Eagle Bay - honestly it's incredible to sit at Friday's campfire and hear so many young people stand up and say that they have decided to follow Christ! WOW YAY GOD! Anyways, the staff is amazing too! I love them! Such an honour to be chosen by God to work with this group! Also my friend Maria is at camp too, and I've been getting to know her better and we have great talks - practicing my vulnerability! I've been learning sooo much too!
- I have a lot of fears that are not from God, and I believe lies about myself and i live in them because they are comfortable. so one girl encouraged me to write out my fears/lies specifically, find scripture that 'counter-acts' that lie, and write the verses in red OVER the lie/fear, then memorize the scripture. It's pretty cool so far, but takes a lot of time, so I'm still really working on that!
- I've been learning about prayer - like in Daniel when he is burdened to pray, but he doesnt hear from God for like 3 weeks, then the angel comes and tells Daniel that he set out on day one to answer Daniel, but he was attacked and engaged in battle for the three weeks until Michael came to help out! And the whole time Daniel kept praying. What wouldve happened if Daniel gave up and left? How many times do I give up and leave?
- This summer God has taken away a burden that I held on to for almost 2 years, and in that healed a friendship, which is so awesome!
- God has also been impressing on my heart the importance of knowing His Word in my mind and heart. It's hard for me to memorize scripture, but this Truth is a double edged sword - I need it for the battle! After all, when Jesus was tempted by Satan, it was scripture He used, and the Truth always wins over lies!
sigh theres so much more...we've been reading a book as a staff called "Waking the Dead" and it says that the glory of God is revealed in man fully alive. If I could get to the place of surrender so that I could leave the worldly "life" behind and be fully alive in the life Christ has given me - what a difference there would be! What if I really lived in eternity today? Also I've been thinking about joy. the joy of the Lord. It's an interesting thing to mull over! And I think God has let me experience His joy at times too, which is kinda new for me! wow i love camp. also ive been working on the climbing tower all summer - so much fun! and i was able to get my certification, and its super awesome! i see a new hobby in sight!
Okay, so I do have a prayer request!
- I'm going to be cabin leading three weeks in a row - the 7th onwards...usually they only let us do two weeks consecutive, then a week out of a cabin...but not this time! So i KNOW that there is NO WAY that I can give my all on the third week - i will be utterly exhausted, however i DO know that God can give me the strength, endurance, love, patience and all that IF I surrender myself to Him and let Him! Oh I'm scared I won't let Him! So please pray that God will 'take from me my life when I don't have the strength to give it away to [him]' (thats a song, thats why its in brackets)

So yes...I hope this made sense! So Im tired...so ta ta!
love you all!
Kailyn

The Most Amazing Day!

Well folks, I had the most amazing day today, and I thought you'd all like to hear about it! I've been having a tough week here at UP, feeling discouraged and frustrated. It seemed like the kids weren't getting anything I was trying to teach in Bible class, and I was getting very frustrated with their behaviour.

Then, to top things off, just as I reached the height of my frustration, I was supposed to be planning a lesson about Satan. I really just wanted to give up and skip the lesson altogether (coincidence? I think not). Thankfully, I have some great friends here who helped me to plan, and encouraged me to persevere. I spent much of this morning on my knees in prayer, and I was very much humbled by some of the things God revealed to me. He sure took care of any pride that had snuck up on me over the summer! I was brought back to the place where I knew that I could do nothing without God, and that the lesson was in His hands.

Of course, this morning's classes were by far the best I've had yet. The kids were attentive, asked great questions, and kept wanting to talk to me more all throughout the day. So cool to see what God does when we let Him take over!!!

And here's the part I really wanted to share with you:
This afternoon I was hanging out with one of my favourite kids (pictured above) at the park. He was in a kind of thoughtful mood (somewhat uncommon for him - he was the only child in either class this morning that wouldn't listen to a word I said) and as a car drove by he looked at me and asked, "have you ever heard about a car getting out of control?" Random question, I know, but it opened the door for me to talk to him about Britt. When I mentioned the fact that I knew she was in heaven, a discussion began that covered pretty much all the material he refused to listen to in Bible class earlier. God is so fun, and I love how He continues to work through Britt's death, even months afterwards.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know a little about the joy that I'm experiencing here this summer. I hope and pray that you are all seeing God's hands at work in the things around you this summer...I will never cease to be amazed at the things He does.




I love my job!!!

Comin' Home

Hey Kaleo! Hard to believe that we have just over a week before we arrive back in Canada (August 3). As soon as we get back we are doing the Strathcona trip with Ben and Danny and their friends Matt and Chris (Matt will be a Kaléo student this fall, so he’s getting a sneak preview). We will finish off the sabbatical with a trip to the Okanagan and a wedding (Sandy and Brita Colero). The last three weeks of the summer will be Kaléo 05/06 prep, and then off to Dave & Janine’s wedding. Speaking of which, we still have a couple of seats left in our van - let me know if you would like to fill them and share the cost and driving.

So how am I doing? The other day as we were walking on sand dunes high above big breakers on the north tip of New Zealand, Sarah asked me if this brought me joy. I had to say that though the day made me very happy, joy has been a longer journey, based on more than fun and sunshine. One thing I’m gaining and one thing I am losing - which contributes to joy in my life: I’m gaining an appreciation of my salvation, which I have taken for granted; and I am losing my intensity, which I have allowed to rob me of the here and now. I think I’m on the mend.

I held a penguin! We were tramping to the end of a long point and saw what looked like a rock in the middle of the beach. But the rock started to move and we realized it was a bird, acting rather strangely. Instead of walking or flying off, it pushed itself along on its stomach with its feet, and not very effectively. I didn’t know penguins lived this far north in NZ, but I guess they do.


As good Canadians we decided to leave it, but when we came back an hour later it was still struggling to get to the water, nearly a hundred meters away. I tried to pick it up and it tried to bite me! Finally I grabbed it under the wings and it flopped and hissed for a few moments and then gave up and enjoyed the ride. I waded into the waves and let it go, and it very cheerfully swam away, nibbling stuff in the water as it was likely starving. I’m a penguin hero!

Sand dunes are amazing – kinda like walking in warm powder snow. Except snow melts and dries up, and sand just gets everywhere and shows up for days in places you don’t expect. We hung out with a couple of young Brits (we meet Germans, Aussies, Canadians, South Africans, but rarely a Kiwi in these places) who were sandboarding (think boogey board down very steep sand dunes), but after watching them nearly kill themselves we were content with jumping down dunes five meters at a time.

These dunes were like small mountains, and some of the slopes were as high as Pacific Woods is from the water. I think we need to import some dunes to Qwanoes.

We continue to pray for you, and would love to hear more specifically how we can do so. We will see some of you in action at Qwanoes, others at the wedding and the rest I’m not sure when. But you always have a room to sleep in at our house, and a warm fuzzy place in our hearts. Miss you tons.

Adventures in Africa

Hello to all you Kaleoers -

So i finally logged on to this site for the first time the other day - its great! Thought I would post a quick note for those of you that don't know what I have been up to . . .

Right now I am on Zanzibar in Tanzania, about 7 hours south of where Richard and Shaleah have been (I am hoping to visit them next month). The history here is incredible (look it up - slave trade and spices and rich muslim tradition).

Spending a few days here, then heading into Northern Tanzania. Gotta run, but will write more later. Hope all of you are doing well, and that God is keeping you safe and you are focusing on Him in all you do!!

lisa

CREATION

I'M GOING TO CREATION FESTIVAL!
YIPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!
SOO MANY GOOD BANDS GOING!!!!!!!
YIPPEEEEE!!!!

adventures in the bible

Hey all if you are looking for what to read next in your bibles check out the book of acts! its exciting! there are narrow escapes, demons, shipwrecks, jail breaks, filling of the holy spirit... the list goes on! its so cool and I highly recommend it.
oh and there is a really cool verse in romans that i just read and it was a bit of a kick in the pants, I have a feeling thats going to happen throughout the whole book of romans though. but here it is:
3Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too? 4Don't you realize how kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Or don't you care? Can't you see how kind he has been in giving you time to turn from your sin?
romans 2:3-4

it may not be too exciting to you but it applies to me at this point and it made me think again about Gods mercy and of course kindness. oh and he is talking about sinful acts it might help to read it in context :)
Then! i went to my friend's wedding and the pastor said the 1 corinthians 13:4-7 verse and then he said it again but replaced the word love with God and that is such a cool reminder, and I read the whole section on love and I did that and there is one part where it says: but have not love, I am nothing... its so cool just say it again if I have not GOD I am nothing.
well thanks for bearing through my little bible study hehe
I hope it encourages you and brightens your day like it did mine
love ya'll

Check, check, check...

Hi it's me...

Well I'm finally and officially onboard with this blogging thing. I must admitt, I too have been a reader and not a participator. But that has changed now that I know how to sign in...woo hoo! So it's been so good to read about how some of you are doing...and for all you other readers/non participators, it's really not that hard.

So just a quick word on how I'm doing and what I'm up to. Okay, there's nothing quick about this. But to spare you all details at this point I'm living at home in Winkler for the summer working at Country 1570 CKMW and The Eagle 93.5FM (Two local radio stations) as a summer events coordinator. Basically I travel small town Manitoba stopping in at every little country fair, festival and BBQ. And I eat a lot of hot dogs! And if that isn't exciting enough, I'm working at Tim Horton's on the side. I thought someone needed to carry on Britt's fastfood ministries, and although I don't think I'm quite doing her justice, I am amazed and excited about how much oppertunity there is with my co-workers there.

So that's my life in a nutshell at the moment. And now that I know how to use this fancy little blog maybe you'll be hearing a little more of me!

And seriously guys...who's going to Dave's wedding and how y'all getting there. It looks like there is a slim chance I might be in BC around that time and am wondering what it would take to get a little road trip together. Let's keep that thought on the back burner...

Miss you all,

Julia

Jesus is Stinking Amazing!

Hey!
So my friend shared me with this the other night. It was a suckey night and it totaly lifted me up. It's a paraphrase from Isiah 61 1-3
"God has sent me on a mission.  I have some great news for
you.  God has sent me to restore and release something.  And that
something is you.  I am here to give you back your heart and set you
free.  I am furious at the Enemy who did this to you, and I will fight
against him.  Let me comfort you.  For, dear one, I will bestow beauty
upon you where you have known only devastation.  Joy, in the
places of your deep sorrow and greif.  And I will robe your heart in
thankful praise in exchange for your resignation and despair."

Wow! I was blown away-The beauty and healing and love and comfort God desires for us is amazing!

Be Blessed!

~Dotto~

kaitie's prayer requests

Hey guys,
I hope everyone is doing ok this summer, I just went to my good friend's wedding last weekend and it was soo nice to see her and all my friends and family. Along with all the positive stuff that has been happening to me in the past few weeks I have also had some negative experiences too. Right now my family is dealing with a big issue that involves a friend of our's broken relationship, my mom and dad are really close to the people involved and they have a huge job of being there and saying the right words and admonishing and such so please pray for my parents as they are feeling like they dont have the words to say and they are in a place where they can really make a difference. (I hope that made sense)
I also havent had a chance to talk to Jillian about the salts trip she went on and I am really praying that it made some sort of difference in her life.
I have been struggling lately with going out and partying with my friends and right now I am trying to rise above the guilt and the dissapointment in myself. I have seen my witness to my friends dissolve over the past week and I thought that I was finished with drinking and that I was doing ok and now Im back where I started. Thank goodness for my roommate and my mom who have been talking me through this. I've learned that even when I think Im doing ok I still need God (I know it sounds like an easy lesson to learn) I was so proud of myself and so self sufficient and that is when I listened to the devil's lies. After all this mess that I have made thank goodness God actually wants me back and thank goodness that I still have some sense left in me to want to continue following him. Drinking is so empty and confusing and I hate it and who I am with it. Please pray for me as I am making some big changes, pray that I stay committed to following God and seeking his will in my life.
On a lighter note I have finally FINALLY found a church and I am so excited about it I cant wait to plug myself into a ministry and meet all the people in it.
I hope that you guys are all having great summers, Im praying for you and I hope I can see some of you in the near future.
We really need a reunion!!
miss you all soo much
love Kaitie

Pink blog anyone?

Hey Jordan can you make the blog pink for a while?? I think it would be splendid hehe.

Wedding?

Hey is anyone going to Dave Horton's Wedding? I am! We should make a road trip out of it! Well Yah- good times, e-mail me and we''ll see if wee can organise something!

...

So Melissa told me to post something...Ummm...I am at camp and having good times. Hope everyone is doing well...later gator

Loving Life!

Hello all! It's been a while since I've talked to many of you, but that's because I have officially started my summer of craziness! It's a lot different than Qwanoes, but not a whole lot less busy. For those who don't know, I'm working at UrbanPromise day camps for the next six weeks and I am SO PUMPED! My summer role is much different than what I was doing all year, as I am now assistant director for a camp with 101 kids and 30 teenaged leaders. It's really fun getting to put my leadership skills into practice as well as having lots of time to hang with cute kids. I love the way that UP runs their camps, with lots of activities, but also a great emphasis on relationship time. In addition to assisting Tracy (the director) I get to teach Bible classes to the two youngest groups (aged 5-8ish), which is a challenge, but also unbelievably rewarding. One of the groups has this incredible thirst for God and I can hardly get through my lesson before they are asking me questions about anything and everything to do with God. Amazing, considering there were at least 6-8 kids in the class who had never even heard the name of Jesus on Monday. I'm so thankful for all that God is doing already...and we're only three days in! Praise God for what He's doing here!! You guys can still pray for me as I have some things I'm struggling with personally, but God is really good and He's not letting that affect my ministry. Also, pray that I'll have the wisdom to be able to answer my kids' questions and the humility to admit to them that I don't know everything. I am so excited to see what God has for these kids this summer! Hoorah! I miss you guys all a ton and I'd love to hear what you're all up to and how I can pray for you...in the past couple of weeks I've been frequently reminded of the HUGE impact prayer has...it's easy to forget that sometimes. I hope you're all doing well!

Summer!

Life @ qwanoes...........well I can tell you there are a lot of dishes to do! Sometimes I hate my job cuz I am i dish pit all day and I miss hanging out with and loving on all the kids and working in the challenge course ect. But than I smarten up and remember I'm not at camp for my puropses but to serve and than I love dish Pit again. lol-Today we finished lunch dishes in 2 hours! a new record! Woho!
Lot's of people have been by qwanoes to visit. Aaron was here for a week. That was fun. Jordan C, me and aaron went to see the Tall ships festival in Victoria, IT WAS AWESOME! there was a ship from Mexico and some other far away place. Oh and off of one of the ships we heard spanish opera...Sooo cool!
Bryce and Andre also stopped by on their way to a surfingtrip!
Ummm....n thing else to say..........ummmmmmm......nope that's about my life right now!
Hope you all are having an amazing summer!
god Bless ya tons!
~Melissa~Dotto~

Hey all

I hope you all had a good Canada day! Did you guys get to see fireworks?? this weekend was really cool cuz my sister came down to go on her salts trip so I got to visit with her. by the way Im sooo excited that she is going on this trip it will be so good for her. I have been praying for her alot since she signed up. now that she is on the trip could you all just pray that she will really open up and deepen her relationship with God. I really think this will be a lifechanging experience for her and her non-christian friend on board so your prayers would be much appreciated.
On Friday my brother came with his girlfriend and a bunch of our friends went down to see the fireworks it was fun.
Im so tired today for work though hehe.
well I hope everyone is doin ok I miss you all and Im prayin for you
come and visit me soon
from Kait

Happy Canada Day!

Just wanted to drop a quick note to hope you all a great and safe Canada Day!

I hope to go into Sylvan Lake and watch their fireworks. It should be a great time.

Well I must get back to work!

Talk to ya'll soon!

Jordan