Kaleo Ministry

The 24/7 week of prayer just ended. For almost the entire week I remained silent (with the exception of conversing with and singing to God). The week went pretty well. There were a lot of situations when I wanted to talk but shouldn't, and didn't.
In the prayer room I normally drew pictures of my prayers or knelt by the window meditating on God. The walls were covered with prayers written on multi-colored sheets of paper and pictures of all the Kaleo students and staff. I occasionally walked around the room and prayed for all the students, one at a time, but the majority of my prayers were for the people in India we would meet and the students and leaders heading up the trip.
The students at Cobble Hill baptist lead a service last week. In the morning I stammered out my testimony at the pulpit. It wasn't the best telling, but some people told me it went well and they probably have a better perspective on it! In the evening we arranged the chairs in a circle and had a camp-fire style service that worked pretty well. The whole service seemed more inviting and relaxed than it usually does.
This week, Lech was back from Poland, so we had the pleasure of hearing from him in the morning service. In the evening service, the students and youth at the church lead an all-hymn service which was really cool. I sang! Someone tell my gramma, I was in a five-person choir.
Other than that, school work has been fine. I hand in a lot of assignments late- but it doesn't bother me too much. I am thinking that when we come back after Christmas we will all know eachother well enough that we don't have to stay until 2am chatting, and instead we can stay up until 2am getting work done. Maybe pray for that, it will probably take a miracle.
I miss all you guys back home!
Lots of love,
Shalom.

Kaleo Ministry

Woops! Looks like I missed a week. That's what reading break does to you. I was buried in books the whole time.
Well honestly, not the whole time. I was camping for a couple days in the Carmanah Valley. I went with Tom and Aaron and a few people from Cobble Hill. I think that was the wettest camping trip I have ever been on. Also one of the most fun. I suppose when I am hanging out with people from Cobble Hill it counts as ministry, but its more like hanging out with family. We are encouraged to write about whether we were prepared for our ministry experiences, and I have to say -- I dont think I was. I was not at all prepared to gain more family! Friends, for sure, mentors, maybe, but family? What an amazing blessing.
Work at Qwanoes is really fun too. Tom and I cleaned out some treehouses. They were pretty gross what with the mats covered in rain water and spiders. Also there are hanging bridges which were extremely slippery and holey. Tom fell in one of the holes twice.
So far I seem to be the biggest trouble maker at Kaleo. Its not something im proud of but I dont want to provide a lopsided view of myself through this blog! First trouble was jumping off the dock at nighttime, into the ocean. The phosphorescence is beautiful but apparently thats no excuse for endangering the insurance prices of the camp. So that was kindof a bummer.
I also got in trouble for riding big pans from the kitchen down stairways. So yeah, remember to pray for God to discipline me because I need it.
In other news, I made it onto the India Team! I am not really surprised, but I am really thankful. A lot of people were told that they could not go because only ten can go. So also give praise to the Big Guy for that!
Love you all!

ps This is my only correspondence during my vow of silence. Remember to come visit me everyone!

Kaleo Ministry

Wowee what a week!
A huge assignment was due on Sunday, which I have to hand in late. Luckily my brother has helped me get started because I got totally muddled! The assignment was on the Book of Proverbs and what it says about the Heart.
Before that though, we finished Hermeneutics class with some presentations. Our group was up until 4:30 or so ironing out the wrinkles of the presentation. It went fairly well though. We had a jeopardy game where all the clues were trivia from the book of James.
As far as Cobble Hill goes, everything is happening smoothly. I am nervous about giving my testimony but I am sure it will be a good experience. If anyone who reads this can think of a time in my life where they saw a lot of outward change please let me know! I know where there was a lot of inward change but I am curious to see if those times match up with times of outward change. As for the youth, I love all those kids! I feel like I have a bunch of younger siblings.
As for life among the students here at Kaleo, I find new reasons to love these people every day. A bunch of us recently bough hammocks so last night we tied them up in our room and hung out. Here is a picture of them in the morning
We coated the floor in mattresses so that the other guys could lay around on the floor, and also so that if we fell out we would land on something soft.
And this picture is a little overdue,
credit to Philip Karklins, master sports-photographer.
Write me emails! I miss all of you!