Kaleo Ministry #3

Classes, worship, homework and youth group filled the week with excitement and thoughts. Looking back, there were many firsts for the year and even firsts ever:
First class
First paper due
First time of extended solitude with God
First Church luncheon
First 9-hour power outage
First shopping trip
First time being sick away from home
First fireside
First student led worship
First major wind storm
First whole month away from home
and many others. Firsts are exciting. I love experiencing things for the first time - it is an adventure.

Dr. Marv Penner arrived Sunday night and taught our Spiritual Formation course from Monday to Friday 9-4. By the end of the week, my brain felt as though it would explode with all the information and ideas he presented to us. One question that started during the week and continues to run repeatedly through my head is, “What does it mean to live finding my identity in Christ instead of in other people?” I am still not sure exactly what that means for me. Could you pray that God will reveal more of what that means in my life? I am excited to see what he will show me.

On Friday, the St. John’s Youth Group had a photo scavenger hunt. This was not a normal scavenger hunt though. Yes we did have the traditional “fun” pictures, like everyone in a phone booth or making a pyramid, but many of the tasks involved helping others. This year the focus of the studies at youth is serving and loving others as Christ loves you. For the past few weeks, we’ve been learning how God loves you. As the year progresses it will turn into loving others and possibly even some street ministry with the homeless in Victoria. So, one of our tasks was giving three different people we didn’t know bottles of water. I had no idea it would be so hard! At first we just asked random people if they wanted water. Wow, the hard words and stares people gave us were crazy! After a few tries I suggested to my group that maybe if we introduced ourselves and told them our name and what we are trying to accomplish they might react differently. The change in peoples’ reactions blew us away. The two girls in my group became confident and less afraid to ask people if we could help them. It brought joy to my heart seeing them asking many different strangers if we could pay for their cart, carry their groceries or give them water. Could you pray for these two girls, Rebecca and Cassie? They are the only two girls who regularly attend youth. Pray that I can be an example and build trusting relationships with them. They are great girls but hurting inside. Pray that God will give me opportunities to talk with them.

This week brings more new and exciting first adventures – surfing for three days in Tofino! Everyone is extremely excited. The waves forecast for Tuesday is 8 meters. If you are wondering...no, we will not surf the first day! We will watch the waves though. In addition to surfing, we are camping on a beach. It just sounds like an all round thrilling trip. Presently, I am recovering from a cold. Could you pray for health as I tackle the waves and cold water this coming week. I am excited for another adventure.

Thanks for all your prayers. I really miss the beautiful fall leaves that most of you are probably enjoying at the moment! If you have any pictures I would love to see them.
Love from the to be surfer!
Kylie

Rebecca, Cassie and I

Helping load groceries into a ladies car

Our victory stance for winning the Scavenger Hunt!