Breaking Ground

God gave us a year of fallow - you know, like the Israelites were told to do with their fields every seven years - one in which things grew as they wanted to rather than had to. It looked like this: wrapping up our time with Kaleo; selling and moving out of our 100 year old house; giving up both of our dogs; two weeks in Ucluelet; another two in Kelowna; a month housesitting in Duncan and another in Victoria; a trip across Canada visiting 90 Kaleo students; then 8000 km of travel around New Zealand; and finally a month of volunteering at another camp on the Island.

So, what's next? Friday evening, I was sitting in a kayak on the quiet waters of Cowichan Lake with the sun warming my back, and suddenly I knew what we should do. So yesterday, I accepted the position of the Director of Camp Imadene's Auxano program. This is a discipleship program for young adults of college age, focusing on biblical training and service, running from September to April. The goal for the fall is about 12 students (they had 5 as a trial run this year) and I will work alongside two other leaders (like Kaleo's interns), who are yet to be determined.

Right now we are living in Honeymoon Bay (see? I can be romantic!) in a beautiful waterfront home that belongs to friends. We never get tired of looking out the window.

Just wanted you to know: we are breaking up the fallow ground and getting ready to plant once again. Your prayers have been and will be appreciated. Miss you all!

Jim & Sarah on Tour at a Town Near You!

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!

Chilling on the Island

Okay, so I realize that since June 2009 I am the only one who has written on this blog. It may be dead or dying of old age. But just in case, and rather than writing 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. I am amazed at how often we still run into or hear about many of you (good to see you, Andre!), and hope our path will cross some of yours on our cross-Canada trip later this summer. May you go with the grace of God.

ParaKaleo Program

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.

An Intriguing Journey

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:

A decision was made by Qwanoes, and accepted by Jim Badke, Kaléo Leader, that Jim will continue to serve as the Kaleo Leader until the end of May, and he has agreed to train a new person during the year who will become the Kaleo Leader after that point.

Jim and Qwanoes hope to maintain a close relationship in the future, which could include working in cooperation for possible new opportunities.

This current Kaleo year will look similar and be run similar to past Kaleo years. One difference will be that Qwanoes will be seeking to hire a potential new Kaleo leader as soon as possible. The plan would be for that person to observe and learn, and gradually become more involved as the year progresses.

Both Jim and all the Qwanoes leadership look forward to this new Kaleo year and are excited about how God will work in the lives of these new students. Jim and the Qwanoes leadership see this year as an opportunity to model a good transition for all involved.

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.