Mellow...yet Exciting

Laid-back, mellow, peaceful, relaxed, unconcerned...these words could all describe this past week. Nothing huge or extraordinary took place, but even so, many small adventures added together to create a monumental week.

On Tuesday, our minds were stretched and expanded on the topic of Christian Theology. This course runs once a week for 5 weeks. I’m eager to continue learning on this topic. As of yet, I’m still a little confused about the whole idea of theology. But our professor said something that has helped. “If I had only the bible and had to figure out how to live...how would I do it? You use theology!

Wednesday afternoon, everyone packed into the vans and headed out skating. For someone who skates all the time at home, going to a rink where there was a room full of rental skates was really weird! Why would people rent skates? but then I realized it is not part of the culture out here the same way it is back home. Especially since the weather is anything but cold enough to support outside rinks! In all, it was an exciting afternoon. A bunch of us started a hockey game at one end of the rink. It reminded me of playing hockey on our side-yard rink at homeJ

Thursday afternoon, we started our 24/4 week of prayer. Instead of being a whole week long, this time it is only four days. So far, being in that prayer room has been quite challenging. I have been struggling with being genuine in front of God. These times of pray have helped me wrestle through what it means and looks like to be authentic and real before God’s throne. Could you keep this in your prayers? - That I will continue to learn and experience open and honest time with God.

Youth this Friday night included a signature scavenger hunt. Running around town, asking people for signatures because they were ‘wearing a hat’, ‘pumping gas’, ‘over 80’, ‘buying something’, ‘a fire-fighter’, etc. brought many laughs and funny conversations. Learning from our last scavenger hunt, people willingly helped us complete our list when we fully explained our situation and goal. In all, it was a great night. Could you pray for my relationships with the youth. I have had some opportunities to connect with the girls there, but still feel like they are holding back.

And finally, to add the week, a few of us joined the Qwanoes staff last night and went curling! Another first for me...even amongst the wipe-outs and inexperienced shots, I am super glad we decided to go! Phil took some great photo’s too. You can find a few below.

Your prayers mean a lot to me! Here are a few things that have been on my mind and heart the past few weeks:
-I have applied to several Universities and Colleges. These past few days included working on a bunch of letters, forms etc. filling out information the Universities needed to compete my application. Could you pray that am able to complete everything I need to, and yet not become so distracted with these arrangements that I miss being here.
-Plans are coming together for all the Missions Trips, which we are heading out on in March. Could you pray for the Vancouver, New York and India teams? Pray that God will be readying our hearts and minds to do his word in those places.
-This semester is very busy. Could you please pray that I find balance between spending time with God, friends and working on school assignments.

Praise God as he continues to reveal himself to each of us in a special way!
Much love,
Kylie

Youth on Friday.

We decided to staighten Jordana's hair!

the Kaleo curling clan, minus Phil...taking the photo

"Sweep it HARD!"

I can officially kinda curl :)

Off to the Mountain...

This past week created memories never to be forgotten. In addition to many adventures, bruises, new accomplishments and trips to the hot tub, this week was filled with opportunities to grow in relationships with each other. From Monday to Friday, our Kaleo group packed our bags and resided in the WinterGreen Lodge, just a 15 second ski away from the Mt. Washington lifts. Everyday except Wednesday, we enjoyed the beautiful view and thrilling excitement of snowboarding down the slopes of Mt. Washington. On Wednesday, we had the choice of either going on a snowshoeing adventure up the mountain or cross-country skiing. For as long as I can remember, I have watched skate-skiers and wished to learn. Snowshoeing is exciting, but since I have many opportunities to at home, I decided to try something new. Erin, one of my roommates and two other boys, Jake and Paul joined in our adventure. In the morning, we had a great instructor who taught us the tricks of the art of skate-skiing and in the afternoon, we enjoyed the freedom of practicing our new-found skills on the many trails. In all, that day is one I will never forget. I could almost say it was my favourite day of the whole trip!

In the evenings, everyone gathered for chapel. This was another of my favourite parts of the week. I looked forward to the evenings when everyone was gathered together for worship and talking. Reflecting on the past semester and looking into the future, caused me to think a lot. I am really excited to see how God continues to grow everyone this semester and where God takes me next year. In addition, I am excited to continue growing in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Someone challenged me this week to be real with God. To talk and wrestle with Him as I would with an earthly friend: although I am nervous, it will be encouraging to see where that leads.

Almost immediately after returning and eating on Friday night, we headed off you youth group. I was really looking forward to this week because we were going to watch a few of the youth from our group who were in the Lake Cowichan High School’s production of the Steel Pier. Little did I/we know the content of the play...it saddens me to see young people acting and portraying characters completely inappropriate and immoral. Even with the questionable content, the school did a really great job of the production. Next week Kathryn said we would have a chat with the youth about the play. I’m excited to hear and talk with the youth more about what they thought and how they felt after watching.

This weekend holds much homework and more homework. Could you please pray for concentration and focus as I try to complete these many assignments, while continuing relationships with each other.

Much Love,
Kylie

Day 1. Ready for adventure

So beautiful. God's creation is so amazing!

Alivia and I boarding the Mountain together

Enjoying the hot-tub after a day of hard work...

On Wednesday we switched it up, a few of us learned how to Skate-ski!

Enjoying the view atop Mt. Washington

A few of us decided to take a lesson on day...it was so foggy


Even though it looks like snow, they are clouds...we were engulfed half way down the mount.


just for fun...

Enjoying the clear view of the valley below...and the friends of course:)

A New Year!

Dear friends,
The fact that a new year has come is hard to believe. Going home for Christmas made the past semester almost seem like a dream. But...second semester has officially started, bringing anticipation for new depth in learning, friendships and adventure, in addition to much work. I am really excited to see how God is going to work in everyone in the months to come.

Contrasting to September, this time around we jumped right into the books, starting our Theology of Missions course the day after returning to Camp Qwanoes. Successfully arriving at the other end of the week, I now realize how little I actually knew about mission. This past week immensely challenged me and helped paint a bigger picture of our mission as Christians.

Before leaving for Christmas break in December, St. John’s youth group started planning for the Solid Rock Cafe. This Cafe, run by the youth group and held in the church hall one Friday night a month, welcomes people from the community to the church for an evening of fellowship, food and games. The goal is to create a safe place for lower income families to enjoy an evening together. The first evening was after we left for Christmas break; this past Friday was the second. It was really great hanging out with the youth and seeing them work together preparing the food, visiting with the people who came and cleaning up after. I look forward to watching this ministry grow. Already the numbers doubled from the first evening.

And now the adventure...
Yes, classes at Kaleo can only last for so long before some exciting adventure rolls around. This time, leaving Monday morning at the early hour of 5:30, we are driving up to Mt. Washington to spend the week snowboarding, cross-country skiing, tubing, snowshoeing, hot-tubbing and just enjoying each other’s company. Could you pray for safety as we enjoy the snow and speed of the mountain slopes. Could you also pray that I make every opportunity to grow into deeper relationships with those around me. I am so excited to explore God’s beautiful creation for a whole week!

Much love
Kylie