Reading Break

Relaxing. Yes, that is my goal for this reading break! While spending some time at my Mom’s cousins house in Victoria, I was able to acquire some much needed rest. Even with the unending mounds of homework that never cease to diminish no matter how hard or fast I work, I have managed to escape and just enjoy some time with the extended family. The other day we went for a nice walk along the water and ended up eating lunch at a cute little cafe in Ogden Point. And then proceeded to shop for soy yogurt. I did not know there was such a thing! Apparently there is, so my crêpes this morning tasted extra delicious.

Sorry for the shortness of this post, but as I have not much else to tell at this moment and as I have determined this to be a relaxing time...I think I may just head to bed shortly.

Much love,
Kylie

Hannah and I on our walk

Spring Sun

Every once in a while, the weekend stretches before us with not much to attend to...no retreats, no urgent homework, no major activities. This past weekend seemed to follow such a pattern. Often when this is the case, the wonderful kitchen lets us sleep in, holding off on the breakfast meal and producing an amazing brunch. As the picture portrays, some of us girls took advantage of it being valentine’s day, corresponding colours to match the colour scheme of the day:). Oh, and the most exciting news of the day...one of the Kaleo girls spent the day on a huge scavenger hunt with her boyfriend; and the end result...engagement! soooo exciting!

Today was the most beautiful, sunny, warm day (well as warm as it can be for spring...I wore short though so it was warm enough for that!). I could not resist the sun, consequently spending the majority of the afternoon curled up in a blanket reading in the sun. hmm...completing some homework while being outside, I would not have had it any other way!..well, except if I did not have any homework to do in the first place, but that is besides the point. And then before dinner a bunch of us played a little Ultimate Frisbee, so much fun!

Thursday night the girls had the opportunity to once again, hangout together, vacating the premises of our normal home, getting away from the boys, eating food, telling secrets, encouraging each other, sleeping in real beds at the camp guesthouse and just enjoying a girly night together. Said in plain language, we had another Girl’s Night. I have come to really appreciate, enjoy and look forward to these nights. It is not often that all the girls are together in the same room without the opposite gender.

Solid Rock Cafe opened again this past Friday Night. Some youth who can rarely find rides to youth managed to come which was really exciting. They did a really great job of connecting with some of the homeless people who attended. During our reading break coming up (February 19-25) the youth group is heading down to Victoria to help the homeless. They are handing out some bags of food and clothes we have been putting together over the semester. It’s too bad we will not be there with them, but I’m sure we will hear all about it upon our return.

At the beginning of this post I was thinking, not much happened this week. But it turns out, I was thinking wrong. There is much more I could talk about but should probably get ready for tomorrow; another day of snowboarding on Mt. Washington! Yup, that’s right. So I need to go unpack my snow gear from the storage room and head to bed soon...we leave at the unearthly hour of 5 in the morning. That’s okay though, I’m sure the boarding will make up for it. By the way, the movie we (being the whole Kaleo group) put together for our Old Testament Literature class is up on the Kaleo blog if you want to check it out: http://kaleosix.blogspot.com/ . Pull up a chair, grab some popcorn, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

Much love,
Kylie

Ice Cream.

Ok, I know you are thinking, “but Kylie, you cannot have ice cream!” and this is true..but that did not keep St. John’s Youth Group from filling a trough full, supplying bowls of toppings and sauce and giving the youth spoons...you can envision the rest! (but if you cannot, here are a few pictures to help:)

As the year progresses, I am finding myself increasingly appreciating and enjoying the smallness of our youth group. Because of the small numbers, we can do things like the trough of ice cream and many other fun activities that would not work with a bigger group. On Friday, the boys amused themselves with StarWars Monopoly while the girls talked over a game of Clue. For the last two youth groups, one of the girls has started bringing a friend. This girl is not a believer, but seems very interested. During the study on Friday, I was able to talk with her a bit about God. Could you keep this girl in your prayers? Pray that God would soften her heart and open her ears to hear the word of God. In addition, one of the girls Grandpa just died on Saturday morning. Please keep this family in your prayers.


Yesterday (Saturday) the Vancouver Mission Trip Team travelled to Nanaimo to meet with Aaron and Julie, who are running the day-camp we are helping with for the second half of our trip. Listening to him talk about the mission and camp and how we would be helping, brought great excitement and anticipation of our weeks spend in Ucluelet and Copper Island. God has been giving me peace about this trip. At first I was quite hesitant and even stubbornly refusing to accept where he placed me. But after spending the night with Inner Hope while at Mission Fest and now meeting with Aaron, I feel totally at peace with where I am. After the meeting, Jim took us to a little park where we had a little photo shoot:) below are a few of the pictures. In addition, we decided on a name for our team. After some thought and brainstorming, a unanimous agreement decided on the name ‘Epic mission’: Energetically, Praying, In, Community. Please pray for us as we prepare for this mission.

(Aaron, Kylie, Deborah, Malayne)

Oh ya...this past week we had class! (Old Testament Literature) hmm. So I really enjoyed this professor. Many sword-drills, parts of class delivered outside to change up the scenery, napping breaks, drawing, knitting lessons and delicious snacks made by his wife, movie making, and many other great things. Most of all, he installed in me a renewed passion for the Old Testament. I could tell you so much more, but should probably start studying for the exam on Monday. It is crazy to think that we will have learned the whole course and had the exam within 8 days!

Much love, Kylie

Mission Fest

Where to start...
This past week has been very challenging. I was trying to think of another way to put it, but that is the best and most accurate way I could think of; especially with the state of my brain at the moment. Monday and Tuesday morning we had Theology class. Rather quickly, I have been realizing how little I know, how much I want to know more and how much I have been challenged in what I do know. Our Professor has a way about him; he questions much of what I thought was truth, and he is not ‘nice’ about it. He does not try to make it easy for us, there is no dressing up or dummying down, he says it the way it is. It has been refreshing having someone openly challenge what I believe and help build biblical truth into my life. I am not saying I have not had biblical truth the rest of my life, I’m just saying it has been good to be challenged in what I do believe, challenged to know why I believe what I do.

The second half of this week began with Mission Fest in Vancouver. To be honest, I’m not sure what to say. This is the part of the week where my brain started to fry. It was already loaded with information from our class earlier in the week, and then came the weekend...
I’m still trying to process everything I heard and learned this past weekend. First off, a fun thing I discovered with three others is how much fun it is going into stores and trying on fun, crazy, beautiful, ridiculous dresses, just because. This happened on Thursday ...then came Friday. In the morning, we visited a Muslim Mosque and a Hindu Temple. I have wanted to visit both for a while so it was neat having that opportunity. The Imam (kind of like the priest of pastor) of the Mosque presented the main ideas of Islam thoroughly and confidently. Hearing about Islam made me realized how similar and yet completely different it is to Christianity. Many of the morals and actions are the same, but the pivotal truth in Christianity, that Jesus is God’s son and our saviour, discriminates between the two. At the Hindu temple I could barely understand what the man was saying, so cannot really say I learned a whole lot more about the Hindu religion. What I do know is that they can make very tasty Samosa’s; a snack they proceeded to present us with after their presentation.

Friday night we listened to a session with Tony Campolo. He had many great point and ideas and I still need to process much of what he talked about; but one area where he really challenged me was in regards to ‘stuff’. One day everything I have will be taken away. He challenged me to keep my belongings where they should be on my list of priorities – at the bottom. God needs to take the top. I could say more, but I feel like any more words would take away from the fact...Jesus comes first!

Throughout the weekend, I had the opportunity to visit and talk with many people at the various booths advertising and displaying their school, mission organization, camp etc. I brought home many different brochures. After Nursing, I have no idea where God wants me. Wandering through the booths, he showed me many different organizations and countries where they need Nurses. I’m excited to see where God takes me once I have a degree! Could you pray that I would be patient, open-minded and willing when he does reveal where he wants me.

There is so much more I could talk about, but I feel as though it would be repeating much of what I already said. Could you please pray as I continue to process much of what I heard this weekend. Pray that I will seek God’s truth and direction in everything.

Even with my brain the state it is...life goes on. We have another week of class starting tomorrow morning. This time around we are being bombarded with the topic of Old Testament Literature. I have heard many rumours about this being a great Prof. and one of the best courses all year...so I have high hopes for this week. Pray for focus and an excitement to learn. I really want to learn everything I can from this course. Thanks for all the prayers. Until next week

Much love from this one,
Kylie

Enjoying the wind and view atop the ferry

Kristy, Miranda and I

Trying to imitate the face of the fish in the window :)

Our shopping crew..

Standing with the 2010 Olympic sign

Entering the Muslim Mosque

Inside the Hindu Temple

Going out for Lunch.