I guess...

So. Due to pressure from people who shall remain nameless but share in likeness the visual attire and face shapes with the individual Matthew Newton. I shall post. I guess.

Hello there. All you peeps on the other end reading this message must be sitting at home stumped and torquing your faces in strange shapes wondering "why oh why have the people who haven't posted, not posted?" Its a simple answer really, its not that i don't trust yeall or the fact that we are posting quite personal and individual information on a public internet site. I am really fine with all those things. i just, haven't felt the drive to smear my fingers across this keyboard pouring out my life to you. To be quite frank, there is not much going on over on this end. It is really quite low key... in a sense. I guess ill start back a few months ago.

When i returned home, i really did return to the home i always knew. It was an empty and hollow place. On the night, or morning however, of my arrival i knew what i was stepping back into and i was immediately broken upon my return. My heart shattered within minutes of being in the house, although it was a pleasant and quite joyful ride, the illusion of "the norm" didn't fool me for no more than 5 minutes. My house and family were broken. I got home around midnight, after a day filled with driving and my good Buddy Joel was waiting at my house for me to arrive. Instead of crashing after i had a slight breakdown by myself, me and joel around two drove into the countryside, found a field and we sat on his car and talked. I don't remember what about, but it was great catchup time. The stars were incredible that morning and it was just what i needed to help me relax. The next day i was able to unpack, move in and run into town to get what i needed for work because it started the next day.

Work though, as always, has been a love hate relationship. i need the money for college and i love the feeling of being financially secure and more importantly i love doing physical activity, being outside and working with Joel. But what i Hate is the Kind of person it brings out in me. it is only at work that my humour slumps to the lowest areas and my language is slacked off like a loose tree in a hurricane. Not much i say is edifying or Holy for that matter but what i see and experience when i get lost in the sky or landscape is still God and His presence is known to me. And what doesn't help at all is quite a few of the people working there are christians. And their speech and behaviour is much like mine. As an added thing to work, i find myself spontaneously getting stressed. and not just mildly. in some cases i feel stretched and pounded, much like pizza dough. But most times what i find myself fretting over are things not worth fretting about. You see, all my life, since having the father i do and given the impression that nothing i ever did growing up was ever good enough, i carry the same disposition i have to my Dad to other men, and then i have an easy time believing they will get mad at me over nothing and so i have a hard time passing my trust to them. It is a working progress to push this way of thinking out of my mind and when i do work most of the time i enjoy being there but get swarmed by spontaneous waves of stress. But thats enough about work home life is a different story.

It is a bummer to be home for the summer and not be able to be at camp. Olivia is there... again and Im stuck doing crummy work haha but things will be cool in the fall because Olivia is going to the college in lethbridge and is renting a house with a bunch of girlfriends, and some buddies of mine were thinking about renting the basement and since i have my courses registered for college, i think it would be pretty cool if i got in the basement too and out of the house. But life home is hard. i fly easily under the radar because i have already talked to my paster and my buddy Brock's Dad about him and My Dad knows i have done these things so he avoids direct confrontation with me but he still abuses my mother with his words and actions. It is as though she walks on glass around him but each step she takes she bears the pain knowing that what happens does not go unnoticed by our Almighty Father and it is by his Judgement, not Hers, that my dad will be delt with if he doesn't repent. I try to spend as much time with my Mom as possible. I try to help her where i can with house chores and on sundays we make a special breakfast such as scones (pronounced SSSK-O-ns, where the "O" makes the same sound as the "O" in Orange) Banana Muffins, and tomorrow eggs Benedict. Oh and we have also joined a running club in town that runs mondays at 6:30. I Love her Deeply and wish to let her know she's not alone in her marriage.

Since i have been home i had the chance to go on a sick fishing trip in northern Saskatchewan with Joel, his dad and brothers. it was a huge lake all to ourselves and we were just goons the whole time we were there. i felt compelled to include a pic so. heres one on the lake.

Spiritually i try to keep myself occupied by things such as reading to keep myself from slipping back into old temptations and cycles. i try to make my goal of reading one book a week. Currently i am reading mere christianity by C.S. Lewis and its going great, almost done and if anyone has book suggestions just throw them my way. But on My struggles it has been a roller coaster ride since i have been home. I would say right now i have been on a high point and pray that HE continues to hold me up to where HE desires. I am not doing any racing this year because i cannot afford it at all but do enjoy casual riding with my buddy Brock from time to time, me and him are like Matthew is to James. We both like making videos, Just not music remix..is?. But we are going to be making another riding video and in the mix is a snowboarding one next winter.

I miss You all Quite a lot, some more than others, Lets be Honest here hahaha i miss you all on a basic starting level, but there are some who may be a little above that level. nothing personal. But if anyone gets offended just stick to the "I miss you all" part and we will be good. and Like trent i frown upon being bested by a puppy so i decided to drop a line... or letters. And look forward to a time where i may see you again (all of you not just some of you haha)

Boyds

Who cares about titles anyways?

Kaleofolk,

Well, finally I have a weekend with absolutely nothing to do! All my friends are gone and my grandparents (The ones that I’m working for / living with) are gone for my cousins grad ceremony. Now I actually have time to exercise my competitive nature and try to beat Jim’s new puppy for number of posts on the blog. I believe this one puts us at a tie. Haha just kidding. I can’t really remember how much I have said about my current situation so I’ll give a recap. My uncle, who is my foreman, is really tough on me at work. He rarely, if ever says something positive about my work. He always finds something to complain about or some way to insult me. He is a Christian man but I do not see many fruits of the spirit coming from him. I have been praying much about our relationship until one day when I was totally fed up and discontent with how we interact. I mean really, we are both Christian men we should be encouraging each other and not tearing each other to bits. So at that climax of my discontentment I fell on my knees (literally fell, while I was having a shower) and prayed that God would bring this to an end. The very next day, my uncle said we needed to chat so we did and he offered me an apology for the way he had been treating me and for the unreasonable expectations that he had of me. I noticed a difference in his behavior right away. He would actually take time to explain things to me rather than assuming that I know exactly what he is thinking. But ever since it has been hard to talk on an open and honest level with him. Please be praying that God would give me patience as I have been relying on my own patience which is quickly running out.

I am also quite discontent with the whole concept of life. I have a huge desire to completely forsake everything that American culture has ever fed me. I don’t want to get a job and work for the rest of my life because I don’t want to miss out on why I was put here in the first place. In my current situation, I have hardly any time or opportunities for ministry (at least to my eyes). I desire to serve God but it doesn’t seem like I am doing very much for him right now. All I do is work, sleep, devotions, guitar and eat… and it’s driving me crazy! Please pray.

(btw Jade, it’s not a guitar modulator, it’s an astable multivibrator.)

Masterpiece

A Little Excitement On My End

So I want all of you to imagine that you are in the lounge of PWL. Alright, you are doing homework, the room is totally silent. The book you are reading for David Ernst's course is just getting good then.....BAM!! Nick VanSnick just happens to run into the glass door window with his face pressed against it in an excited fit. Ok so now that the stage is set I'm going to give you guys some sweet deets on what's so exciting. :)
Now I want all of you to go back to one of our last chapel's that we shared together. During this chapel I shared that I was going to begin to formulate some sort of plan for my Big Journey ahead of me. So that's exactly what I started when I got home. I looked into crossing the Atlantic by boat, then was looking into what kind of route I would be taking. I played with a few ideas but they all started with ministry in England (because I have a contact there). After I did some research on England a bit, I thought I would try and figure out a second leg for my Journey. So I looked about going through a bit of Europe but was leaning on spending more time traveling through Turkey and down through into Israel (mainly to experience some of the places Paul did). Then I came through Israel into Egypt. That's when I thought to myself, "Self, I wouldn't mind making Egypt my second big (planned) ministry stop." But I had to leave my thoughts about that where they were because I thought it might be more important to look into contacts for in England and then along the way to Egypt. That's when it happened. Less than a week after my initial thoughts about Egypt came to me I got an email from my pastor who had something forwarded to him about an opportunity to go to Egypt on a short term mission trip with Samaritan's Purse (SP) this summer. I stared at my computer for 10 minutes because I couldn't believe this opportunity so randomly came to me.
So immediately I tried to seek some counsel about this endeavor and at the end of things I want you to know that.... I'M GOING TO EGYPT!! Is there enough excitement in that last sentence :P From July 23-Aug 5 I will be in in Egypt mainly Cairo and a small community somewhere south of Cairo. We don't have many details on the trip, partly because we are the first team to do this with SP and also that Egypt is a Muslim country. Some of the stuff we are going to be doing is possibly a health clinic in the Dead City, perhaps a few things in Garbage City, and (Kristie you will be glad to know) some playing with children. We are going to be mainly focusing on building relationships with the people as well as coming alongside the churches that are there to support them in any way we can.
Now comes the part of the show in which I ask you to partner with me. I would mostly ask for you to please pray for the team that we can be effective. Like I said we are going to mostly be building relationships with the people. Also pray for the health of all of us. I would also ask if it's possible for you to donate $5 or $10 towards this it would be greatly appreciated. I understand that money is tight with school and all so please don't feel obliged. This is a link to where you can print off a donation form and send it in (Click Here).
Well I've probably written way too much but this is going to be a very valuable experience for me to make some contacts in Egypt to partner with later on in my Journey. Thanks so much for listening guys, I Love you guys so much and miss you all. May God allow us to see each other again.
Blessings and Much Love,
Nick 'Pilgrim' VanSnick

Just wanted to make sure that everyone was...

CHEERING FOR GERMANY IN THE FIFA 2010 WORLD CUP!!



Hey dudes,
Really need your prayers.

I'm working two jobs and playing soccer close to every night of the week. I know God has placed me at these various places for a reason but I'm having a hard time seeing why and I'm having trouble being bold. I feel I do not have as much patience with people as I should and I have trouble focusing and making good decision because I always feel tired. I am having a lot of trouble resting and sleeping. When I get to bed, I can't seem to fall asleep. I always find myself waking up far before my alarm in the morning, still not able to sleep. I am also struggling to find Christian friends and hanging out with some of my old ones is not what I want to continue as it is hurting me. Also, your prayers that God would provide me the funds needed to attended Briercrest in the fall are needed. Praise the Lord, my relationship and friendship with my mom is better than ever. She encourages me every day and I do not know what I'd do if God had not of blessed me with her. She is incredible.

I appreciate each one of you so much and think of you often.
I love you guys like crazy.
Blessings to each one of you!

I miss you a lot.

My Sister

Hey everyone, quick prayer request going out for my sister. Her name is Lauren and she is going into her fourth year of post-secondary. As I said in my last post, life here on PEI is hard and finding a place on this island is a very difficult thing to do. My sister has had trouble finding a job and finding a group of people she feels comfortable with. I have been praying for her but I need some help. She feels like she has no place in the world, there is really nowhere she wants to be. Pray that she finds a job, friends and is given a dream that she can pursue. She is a believer but she is lost in doubt right now. Pray that I could be bold and gentle and wise to help her in anyway I can. She would probably stop talking to me if she knew I posted this so please don't let this be a subject of conversation but one of prayer. I know that this could cause more damage if handled the wrong way but I know that your prayers can really help her so please be careful with this cause I love her dearly. (I am really covering my tracks here) Thanks so much for your prayers, we know the power of our prayer because we have seen it. That's what I am seeking now. Love you all and we need to some posts from Trent, Nate, Bob, Johnny, and Mattmyles (all one word). That's not a complete list, so no one is off the hook. Cheers.

HEYKALEO

And now it's time for Embarrassing Video Updates, the part of the show where Jade comes out and does an update.
I ditto Ben by saying watch this after you read the blogs before it!



And Happy Father's Day to you fathers out there.... So I guess that would be directed to Jim.

The JC Unit!

First off if you are only going to read one blog post, read the one below mine by abby. if you have time to read two, read hers, I really enjoyed reading it.

So, our team the JC unit did camp this past week, and i wanted to let you know more about this ministry. One it is extremely exhausting. there is absolutely no down time. this past week we had two camps a day, which means we unpack, run camp, tear down, drive, unpack, setup and run another camp (6:40am-10:30pm). Sportslife Camps is all about no down time, or waiting around, we always have the kids singing silly songs, playing games, or doing something. we are always preparing for the next activity. It has been great so far, we did have a blast (literally, we had camp during a tornado), and we are impacting these young kids' lives.

My teammates are sweet, the other guy on the team is so excited about just about everything, he's great. and the other two girls are just amazing. They are super fun to run camp with.

hopefully i'll be able to talk with some of you guys sometime this week because we only have one camp a day, and the house we are staying at is baller ( hot tub, heated floors in the bathroom, 60" flat screen, etc) so i will (hopefully) have more down time after camp. I have mentioned you guys a lot to my teammates, and I have told them so many stories about you guys.

well i don't know what else to post...

oh I know, the church i attended had a baptism today...for a baby. BAPTISM! WOOHOO!

-DJ Jammin', woodsman Ben, the prophet and Gentle Ben. whew! the names are piling up!

Swim Until You Can't See Land

Well I have talked to a few of you the past few months and I have really, really enjoyed it. It is so amazing to talk to people that have impacted my life in such an amazing way. I love each and every one of you so much and words cannot describe how much you guys mean to me. I am trying hard to remember the love I felt for people right now and how it was a love that was not something I could feel on my own, it was something I felt because God allowed me to. Those that I have talked to I have told you how good life is going but I have refused to actually tell you of my struggles. So I guess maybe I will try and be honest with all of you as well as myself as I have been suppressing these thoughts hoping that maybe if I don’t think them then they are not actually real.

Moving back in with my parents after being away from them for four years was hard. But over the past few months it has gotten really good, I am learning what it is to respect your parents and learning the things from them that I should have learned in high school as well as becoming friends with my parents. I am getting along with my sister Care better then ever. My sister Brooke is looking at houses with her husband Bill now as they are thinking of moving back in together and giving their marriage another shot. Brooke and I even have a much healthier relationship then we ever have had. Dale and Galen are in the process of finalizing the adoption of a little native baby girl and are thinking about moving back to Ontario. I even got the long awaited job as a counselor at a day camp on my rez. And have taken some rather large strides for schooling next year.

All these things are happening and it makes me happy, it really does. But I guess the thing that is bothering me is the fact that through this none of it tastes as sweet as it should, even though they are all answers to prayer. I feel horrible, it is a feeling I have gotten all to used to having know, the first time this was experienced was when I quit hockey, the second time was the last few months of Kaleo when I could not decide if living a life for God was something I wanted to do or not. It starts a nudging in the back of my mind, a little voice that is always present. It is a restless feeling, one that encourages me to ask question and seek answers everywhere but in God.

I am struggling maintaining a consistent amount of time in the word, maybe five or ten minutes total for the week. Prayer has been rather non-existent over the past little while. I can feel the lack of intimacy with God changing the person that was formed within me over the year. It scares me. I am not sure what the nagging is this time, and where it is pulling me. It is unsettling at how familiar this feeling is, and how comfortable it has become. How the little voice in my head has been a constant companion over the past while that I don’t think twice when it starts to talk to me.

I recently got a package from Kristie in the mail and the words she wrote to me reminded me that it is ok to ask question but to keep seeking the answers in Jesus. The only problem is I am not sure what my questions are, and if I do not know what my question is how can I find the answer in Jesus? I know people say God wants to meet me where I am at, but I have no idea how to meet with God where I am. Maybe this is my question. How can I make myself want to meet God where I am?

I have been pondering the world for a while now. Remember how our first surf trip I told you guys why I loved the ocean and what I appreciated about it. I loved how it could be so harsh and unforgiving at times, but it could also be so calm and beautiful. I liked how the ocean reminded me so much of God, in beauty and in power. The ocean to me is the best illustration of God. Well now I feel as if I am drowning. Perhaps God has brought me to this place to face the tide. As I swim between all things I know and believe to be true about God and his character and between the voice in my head that tells me to go against all the things God would desire of me. The world hardens and it numbs, it makes you feel as if you are comfortable in a state of slow decay, it tricks you into thinking that you are truly living. I don’t want that life, but I don’t know where to meet God, I don’t know how to meet him where I am, so honestly I think I might have stopped trying. So I guess what I am going to do is swim until I can no longer see land. Perhaps the beloved ocean of my God will pull me to the place where I am able to meet with him, and am able to silence the voice that is constantly hissing in my ear. Or perhaps I will be engulfed by the cruel waters because I have found I am not nearly as strong a swimmer as I thought.

Either way, I would appreciate your prayers.

Wazzup

Hey guys, it's been a while and I hope to put something up here soon. In the meantime, I've been thinking about all of you and just wanted to say, Wazzup.

Check this out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL_qGMfbtAk&feature=channel

Cheers

IF your in calgary for any reason on sunday.

If your in calgary on sunday for some reason... give me a shout! We can go to some PRO MOTOCROSS RACING!!!

I have a five day break and a little access to a very slow computer, thus...

A MESSAGE FROM MARK GUENTHER

Greetings family,

I am still in Northern BC, planting trees, living out of a tent, making more then minimum wage through intense labour.
We have just finished our first contract with the second company. Five days from now we will be beginning our third and final contract, starting in Tumbler Ridge and finishing off in Chetwynd. Overhearing some of the talk that goes around - last summer Nata Reforestation had a 45 day planting season which is a shorter season but the owners said they would hire few planters for this summer to offer a longer planting season. This did not end up being the case and we will probably have an even shorter season this summer. We have planted for 24 days so far which probably leaves us just past the half way point in this terribly frustrating job. Even so, Nata still has one of the longest planting seasons of most planting companies in B.C. We are fortunate in this way. The time out here just feels so long and stretched out due to the days off and breaks that always come. I feel I've been out here longer than I actually have which presents the mind with a small dread to think we're only half done.
I mentioned that this job has been frustrating, these are my present thoughts on my situation: First, I do, I really do want to finish out this season. I am not obligated to ever return but it would be a huge disappointment for me not to reach the end of this crazy journey. With that said, I do not feel that my body is adequately equipped for this job. Due to mostly my scoliosis and the changes is forced within my body, mainly never providing much cardiovascular endurance and strength, it is very difficult for me to excel. Tree planting is about making as much money as possible, not just a little above minimum wage. For the seclusion and work that goes in to the entirety of planting, making just above minimum wage is not worth it. I have not thrown what time can strengthen and equip out the window, but it is a difficult mindset to be sloshing around in at this time. This next contract will be more difficult as well-more green undergrowth to hide trees, bigger and heavier tree to plant, a not as nice campsite, more insane driving insects, possible nasty weather, worst land, etc. I am on the best crew with the best vets with the best rookies in the entire camp. This has allowed me to be a better planter than if I was on any other crew but it is disheartening when there is a decent sized gap between you and the next slowest guy on your crew. The other rookies on my crew are stronger, faster, better at planting trees than I am and it makes being out here all the more difficult.
They say the worst part of tree planting is planting trees, so, other than that I have had an interesting and pretty good time. I have been selecting epistles and reading them over and over and over again, usually a chapter every night, until I can catch a theme or idea to that book. It was first Galatians, then Phillipians, and now Ephesians. I have always love the epistle to the Phillipians but this last time struck me with someting new, you've always got to love that. In chapter one when Paul talks about how his time in jail has been such a blessing in advancing the gospel to the jailers and his co-prisoners, it proded my heart to how I can not just live like Christ in the place God places me but to preach the gospel wherever I am BY using words, like Paul. I have struggled with this, what it means and looks like for me here ever since I was first struck with this thought. Mainly, how do I advance the gospel to someone who says they follow Christ but shows not the slightest hint of Christ in their lives, who forces himself to live a completely non-transparent life, and finds his joy and delight not in the Lord but in the world? I have caught glimpses of this answer here and there, from time to time, in several conversation and continuing to read the Word but I still seek. I have also been reading through Desiering God in the small amounts of time that come. The combonation of Scripture every night and Desiering God once in a while has brought me much joy and most definitely helped get me through this month in B.C. I have VERY much enjoyed the four letters that have come and will VERY much enjoy any more. Matthew: Your package of printed kaleo blog post could not have been any better or arrived at a more perfect time. I received it the very morning that we drove 5 hourse from Prince George to Tumbler Ridge and so I had something to read during the drive. We have had and probably will have more access to the internet and so I have been able to keep up with what is going on in the world of K7. Facebook does not work and has not worked for me at all way out here (except once in PG) so if I have been given messages, I know not what they are. You guys could reply to this or send me an email an I should usually see it within a week at most. I don't know how often I will be able to get into town during these five days seeing as all but one member of my crew has left Northern B.C. and without the possible ride from someone else, it's a two hour walk from camp. I would love to hear from any of you if not all of you K7ers. My email address is still markguenther15@gmail.com. My mail address is still the one to Chetwynd. I've usually been receiving mail two weeks from when it was sent.

Please pray that I may finish this race with strength from the One who has an abundance. For clarity of mind and focus. To continue in seeking out glorifying joy, and an open mouth and open life to share the love, grace, and mercy of Him who sent me here. Praise be to the Father.

I love and am praying for you all.

Brother Mark

sunny days

Hello fellow students, it's I your best friend. Katieee DOIROONN.

How are ya all doin beautiful people of the forest, well I miss you, oww that's me in pain. no really though you guys are expectational ..creme of the crop kinda people, who i love!! your all amazing..
so I'm just really excited to tell you all how God has been working in my life.
so recently i have discovered this foreign concept of loving people, working at camp is a lot of work but i love it, so thanks for praying for me. I've recently had many opportunities to just spend quality time and words with people and is so fun pouring out to people.

Anyway i think I'm finally adjusted to being home and finding a balance of it all. Finding a lot of reliance on our God.
just a word of encouragement to you all .. keep going, you'll be amazed at what God can do in your life if you trust in Him.<--( never heard that before eh).. but seriously.
o and i really like you all .i think i already said that. God bless

A real post, finally.

I'm sorry that my posts have been so vague and lacking in substance. Right now it's pretty hard to talk about anything so lately I've just packed my schedule so full that I don't have time to think.

I don't really know how to start, so I'm just gonna jump right in.

This last month has been a pretty brutal one. I started using Cocaine again, started drinking heavily, partying about 4-5 nights a week, and hanging out with alot of boys. I started seeing my ex again, but cheated on him with his best friend... so we broke up. He took me back, but it hasn't been going well at all, and we fight alot now. This past week I worked tuesday till sunday, drank thursday till monday, and slept about 9 hours between wednesday and sunday.

I haven't seen my mom for more then 5 minutes in almost a month now, and I haven't said more then a sentance to my dad. I spend maybe one night a week in my own bed, and alot of nights at random houses or sleeping in Kat's (my best friend) car.

I feel like the only thing I have control over right now is what I eat, so I haven't been eating. I eat about one meal a day right now, and exercise daily.

Basically my days include... work, tan, drink, boys, sleep.

I don't really know what else to tell you, pray if you want to, but I've pretty much forgotten about God. Please don't tell me how I'm worth more then all of this and God wants to meet me where I am... etc, etc. I've heard these speeches a thousand times. I know it all, it still means nothing to me.

I love you all, and wish I could hug you.

Slowly losing it, but still...

Hopeful.

P.S. in case no one reads Emma's FB wall... Those slippers that have been through everything with me... got demolished by the dog I was dog-sitting last weekend. Un-Impressed!

School newss

I just wanted to let my dear K-fam know....... I'M GOING TO REDEEMER!

Home is where the heart is. I mean camp is where the heart is.

ok Tim, I'm posting something. You should be happy.

So I am sitting on the back porch of the long house at camp Widjitiiwin just enjoying being here. I moved in to my new cabin for the summer yesterday. I love being in a cabin surrounded by trees. It makes me feel like I am interacting a little more with Gods creation. I'm getting my roof redone tomorrow too. Soon I will be settled in completely to my little home. The spring is flying by. As the summer is getting closer I'm getting more and more pumped for campers to come. I feel like my heart is in a better place this summer with camp ministry then it ever has been before. I would love if you guys could continue to pray that I will be able to live off Gods strength this summer and that i will continue to "recklessly abandon myself" (off my jone's soda bottle) and leave behind all fear. I want this summer to be drive on love. I know that God loves me so much and it is my prayer that I can give that love back to God by serving his people. I want also to learn more about how big God is. Well I can thank you guys enough for continuing to pray. I love that. I really want to get more in the habit of praying constantly.

hey here (up top) are some picture of camp so you have an idea of where I am staying. There is a picture of the longhouse (for chapel, meals, rock climbing, and a bunch of stuff) and the waterfront.

I love you all very much by the way. I think it is important that you know that.

love you 310 lady, Nicole

Post Stuff!

SO there are some of you who haven't posted anything for a very long time or haven't posted anything at all. Just to put it into perspective for you, those people are being beaten by Jim's new puppy in posts and it hasn't even been alive as long as this blog has existed! I miss you and want to hear from you and so does everyone else, so post something. If you don't want to, then get over it, cause we love you. Have a nice day! Cheers.

Don't Forget to Tell Her How Good Looking She Is

Happy Birthday Katie my Sista!

19 BABY!

IN A WORLD… WHERE MUSCLE AND MERRIMENT COLLIDE,
WHERE ZOMBIE ATTACKS ARE JUST AN AVERAGE SUNDAY,
AND SHOULDER DANCING IS A WAY OF LIFE.
ONE MAN. ONE BIRTHDAY.
ARE YOU READY?
STARRING JOHN, BIG DOME, JOHNNY BOY, JLAN, JONO, and DENZEL WASHINGTON.
IN THEATERS TODAY.

Happy Birthday Bruh!

Hands and Feet

Ahh sweet memories. Tim you definitely brought back many!

I thought I was doing ok, but every time I find myself looking at pictures or just thinking about Kaleo... which turns out to be a lot, my heart seems to explode all over again. I miss all of you so much it’s crazy... I’m going crazy! Hah. This last week, I felt like running far away from everyone and everything, just like Katie loved to leave notes about her never returning! I will be honest, I have not had a good week at all. My heart seems to be shifting, I don’t know exactly what’s going on inside of me but it feels raw and in some ways wrong. There have been times this week where I felt like I wanted to close myself off and shut everyone out, I am writing this in an intentional step against that. I KNOW that is what the enemy would love for me to do. I have felt under attack most of the week in ways like what I just mentioned. Things that remind me of my old self, my cold heart, surround me and Satan is trying to make them appear appealing to me. My thoughts are not as centered on Christ and there have been days this week where I don’t know why I’m even trying. Am I really making a difference? In my workplace? At home? Or am I just another ordinary person living in this world? Do others really see Christ in me? In the way I treat others, the way I live? Is my true character pleasing to God? Not who I am when everything is fine, but who I am when treated unfairly or blamed for something I did not do. Is all of this pleasing God? How can I be real but yet show others my love for Christ?

These are only a few of the many things I am questioning and feeling out. I am feeling extremely frustrated and hopeless. Please pray for a renewed hope. For my heart to be brought close to God’s and softened over and over again. For an overwhelming love for those around me, for a desire to encourage them.

I am learning a bit more of what it means to be devoted to God. I’m realizing that it is going to take lots of effort and energy. It will not come easy, it means being intentional. I realize that the world and my sinful heart are both eagerly pulling me away from my Saviour! That without God, life would be dull and suck in soooo many ways, that there would be no point. It would be a struggle. And with God there is so much fulfillment and true joy, however, there is struggle and suffering involved as well. It pays to struggle with a purpose, to struggle to stay near to God... to fight! This is where endurance kicks in during this race. I figure it’s like the plank, you have to hold it longer than you think you can, longer than you previously did. Just focus on breathing. Otherwise you will do all of this sweating and hurting for nothing because you will not become stronger unless you push to the absolute limit and then some, it’s not going to kill you, you just think it will.

I would love to see with ‘new eyes’ the hope and joy that comes with this life of being a disciple of Jesus.

So a bit of what my life has looked like these past could weeks...

As many of you already know, I had a big race out of province a few weeks ago and ended up winning! It was incredible how God worked everything out. I wasn’t even going to go, because I felt really out of shape coming off of school (Don’t laugh!! I know some of you are. That is how I felt!). My friends’ mom came up to me a few days before they left and asked me if she could sponsor me for the race... pay my whole way. She is a believer! I had previously been praying and asking God wether or not I should be going to this race or if he even wanted me racing at all this summer. I decided to roll with it and accepted. It was hard spending the weekend with most of the developmental team. Let’s just say the environment isn’t the purest or uplifting. I found it hard to make time for God as we did everything together. In the end it was very fun despite the psycho winds and pelting rain. The win all came together so perfectly! Racing for Jesus ROCKS! haha, I still have much to learn!



I am working at a restaurant that is part of a golf course as a waitress. The people there seem to be pretty nice, but it is hard getting to know people... I think it will be good though once I do. I work mostly evenings fairly late (I am up later than I ever was in Kaleo, I don’t like it) but it is nice because I have all day to spend training, reading and doing odd jobs.

I still am not connected in a church. I am finding it really difficult because of races that take place some sundays, and work. I tried to find a cell group or someway of getting connected in the only church that offers saturday services in Steiner, but they did not have any that suited my odd and crazy schedule. So I am feeling really isolated and alone a lot of the time.
This church though has a sweet prayer room, it’s just like ours except on drugs! I love going there... except it doesn’t feel as cozy and free as ours did.

There are a LOT of days that I still miss my Gramps very deeply. My heart goes out to my mom and my Granny. I clean for my Granny every other week and am doing what I can to take care of her. It brings so much heart ache to clean his half of their room, I don’t know how my Granny does it.

I feel as though so many people have been torn away from me all at once.
I know that I have been so blessed to have every one of them, every one of YOU in my life, but it doesn’t make things easier.

2 Peter 1:3-11 Check it out!

~ Hales ~

Two things: I love you all and I am confused but they are not related topics

So today in church my pastor said that we all have people with whom we are brothers and sisters, whether we are biologically related or not. This got me thinking of Kaleo and the life we shared for eight months. It got me thinking about how much you all meant to me. How great it was to go down to the office and hear the latest hilariously controversial thing that Nate just said or to walk in on Abby punching someone out of pure joy or to be sitting and reading or just chilling my computer and have Katie come over and ask me the deepest and most personal questions she could think of. I miss walking into my room and hearing what new genre of music Bo had discovered and was now obsessed with or walking out into the hallway to see the new way Bob had modified his appearance. I really miss walking into the office and hearing great conversations about the stuff we were learning, or hear JL and Claire and James practicing Greek. I miss hearing borderline but not quite cursing from Matthew as he played dutch blitz or even seeing Johnny wandering around in his boxers outside his room strutting his stuff for the whole hallway. I miss Jeremy's random side flips and his great one liners that always seem to last for months after. I miss walking into the library to see Nick studiously pouring over his recent essay and yet he would always to turn to smile and ask what you were up to. He would also always stop working if you needed help, as if he was already done his essay when he wasn't. I miss sitting in the office and having Kristie randomly ask me some question that I had never thought of and then watch it devolve into relentless sarcasm. I miss Jimbad always sitting in the corner giving advice and wisdom to those of us who were struggling with questions of life and love and why for our essays. I miss worship sessions with Emma who always sang at the feet of her King or Kaitlyn who always prayed in reverence and with bold confidence for every occasion. I miss Mark coming home from Church and telling me how thankful he was for the graciousness of God that day in providing the most simple and pure pleasures like a good meal or a solid conversation. I miss Haley and Nicole arguing about who beats the other more and trying to justify their early morning laughing that disrupts their brother room directly below. I miss Ben's taste for terrible jokes and always wanting to do something fun. I miss how Rivs would never give a serious answer to a question the first time, she always threw out some sarcastic response then would answer seriously as if she hadn't just made a joke. I miss having Marrissa crocheting (spelling???) constantly as she talked with people in the lounge. I miss Trent always whipping past the lounge window on his bike, just playing around having fun. I miss Jenna's laugh (enough said) and I miss how she would completely destroy people in soccer. I miss how Ellie and Jess were always dancing when ever a hip hop beat was being played. I miss Bria's smile (again, enough said). I miss finding out that Jaderade and I loved even more of the same songs and I miss laughing at the hilarious thing that Caroline just said by accident. I miss eating MacDonalds with Matt at every opportunity regardless of location or time of day. I miss Josh period.

I miss hearing all your hearts and having sweet adventures and struggling through pain and suffering together and praying together and learning together. And while some of this stuff still happens thanks to God graciously keeping in contact with one another, it isn't the same now that we are all over the continent. I am not bitter that we had to leave, I am thankful that we had the time we did and that God made a family out of us. Praise Him from whom all blessing flow. To me that means praise God for all of you flowed into my life from Him and out of his grace and his mercy and his steadfast love.

Now the confused part. To be blunt, I feel out of place here on PEI. Lately I have been feeling very much so that I do not want to be here for a whole year. The summer seems long enough as it is. I have some thoughts on where to go but nothing solid. Even still I don't know if I am supposed to stick out the year or leave sooner. I feel like God is keeping me from taking steps to a more permanent life here on PEI. I am trying to discern my place in the fall, where I should be heading. Just any prayers/encouragements/thoughts at all would be greatly welcome.

I love you all very much family, I love you because you loved me and you are all wonderfully made and because I see our Father living in each of you. Grace and peace be with you all. Cheers.

I'm Off!

So since this will be my last chance to post and/or comment on this blog for a while, I thought I would say something.

First my job consists of me and three other people traveling around MN, Iowa and Illinois putting on day camps for churches. I am heading up the soccer/Ultimate part of it. We will be working with elementary-middle school aged kids. Our team is already coming together, we've talked, facebooked, and emailed each other, I am not worried about coming together, especially when we all have the same goals in mind. We have a team verse picked out, Romans 15:5-6, and we all picked an individual verse, I kept running with our Olympic verse, Col. 4:2-6. Anyhow, if you guys could pray for energy for our team, that would be awesome because we have a freakin' 6:30am wake up time! I think they are underestimating how long it takes for me to get ready. this is going to be ridiculous. getting up early and pouring into the kids' lives each day is going to drain us both physically and spiritually.

That's kinda my job. Me personally, I am doing very well. I have not been keeping in my daily reading as much as I would like, but I have been more honest with my friends about what Kaleo was and why I am continuing on to B crest, and just other things.

One thing I do want to share with you is what I've been learning. I have been making my way through the psalms (1/3 of the way done!) and have realized the amazing amount it talks about God as a Shield, Rock, Salvation, Strength, Fortress, and most frequently a Refuge. I am still learning what God as my refuge means, but it is something I am discovering about God. It has definitely affected and shaped my prayers.

well that's about it, oh wait, what do you call a fish that has to ski? (check the comments)

-Gentle Ben

Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

Wow, I'm sitting here just in awe of what God's been doing in my life this week. I can't get over how he's continued to bless me past kaleo. Nicole talked in her post about this past weekend that I went up to a work weekend at Camp Widjiitiwin (The camp that I'm going to be working at this summer). It was a really good time of meeting new people, seeing old friends, and getting stoked on summer ministry oporrtunities that God's going to be giving us in the months to come.

On the way home from camp I stopped at my friends house for bible study. There are five of us who meet every Sunday night before we meet with all the youth on Wednesday night. We were in Phillipians and were reading the part where Paul says, "To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain!" These words rattled us as we looked at them and really examined our lives and what these words lived out would look like. I was reminded of the mindset we all had going into the olympics and realized that I still wasn't considering my work a mission field as much as just a job. We all prayed for boldness, love and new and God honoring perspective.

Tuesday felt kinda like the day after the "little kid paddling a canoe without going anywhere" speech. I had such an awesome opportunity to share the gospel with someone I was working with. It was so freeing to step up and speak about things I loved without fear of being thought less of. Less of me is a good thing anyway right?

Today we had bible study at church with all the youth and we talked in our groups about some of the same stuff we had talked about on Sunday night. The night ended with a time of worship, prayer and reflection. God is definitley working in the hearts of the youth at my Church.

Pray that God would continue to pour out blessings and bring hope into a church that hasn't seen much of it lately. Also pray that I would continue to see everything that's going on as what it is, a gift from God, not anything I've done.

What do you have that you did not recieve? If then you recieved it why do you boast as if you did not recieve it? 1 cor 4:7

From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amem rom. 11:36