I don't know what to title this....

Hi Again,

Ahh the habits I am picking up here at Kaleo….something along the lines of I no longer keep track of how many times I shower during the week, I no longer like shoes and I am starting to have some rather strange hair that quite frankly would repulse those from home seeing how I have not actually washed it in a month. Do not worry though I still brush my hair. I think this will last until Christmas when I believe that my sisters will force upon me the grooming standards that the world seems to find acceptable, where as this place is just instilling in me more of the need to move away from the things that society seems to think is right (even in the grooming department, I wear a lot of hats now). I think I have grossed you out enough now though, don’t worry I’m still a clean person, I do my laundry and I shower at least three times a week...I think……

So this week was fairly uneventful, I spent five days from 9-4:30 sitting at a table learning about Hermeneutics it was a little dry but fun. I learned lots on how to read the Bible and to get more out of it. I must say I am a pretty big fan of Merrill Dyck; he is a excellent professor.

That is all I’m going to say about that.

Went to youth on Friday it was a little more of a serious then what it has been over the past few weeks. The topic was doubt, George (the youth leader) gave a talk about what doubt and asked a series of questions one of them being if we had ever doubted God. He told us a few experiences in his life about when he had doubted God but how he came through in the end. It was really good getting to know the youth on a more serious level. I ask that you pray for them still having talked with a few, some come from a not very stable home life, I just would ask you to pray from them, just that God would strength them while they are at home. I feel so encouraged by this group all coming from different back grounds some hard ones and others not a trying but their hunger for the Lord is in each and every one of them. I was placed in this church for a reason and I am excited to find out why, I hope that I will be able to help them along their quest to be closer to God.

Church today was very interesting, a man name Ian Green came and talked to us he is the head of a mission that plants churches all over Europe, I do not remember what it is call unfortunately, but he talked about generosity. I like it, it reminded me how lucky I am to be born in Canada and to be able to afford the things I can afford, sometimes I get caught up in the world a materialism, but there are people who get along with far less then what I have, I left there being far more grateful for the things I have.

Sorry it’s so short this week, but that is all I have to report, or at least all I can think of. My mind has turned to a sort of mush from writing my paper for Spiritual Formation, and I must pack to go surfing.

Be well and thanks for reading

Abby

Creepy Crawlies.

Hello my fuzzy little friends (with the exceptions of those who are bald),

There was no youth this week so I do not have anything to report on that. Please continue to pray for the youth I work with and that they continue to seek God out and continue to live their lives for him.

So to my grad disappointment the surfing trip to Tofino was cancelled due to weather. I know, so sad, but dry your tears dear friends for the adventures that were in store for me were marvelous. On Tuesday we went spelunking! Yes you heard me SPELUNKING!! Caves are a wonderful things full of spiders and creepy crawlies that will never be seen in the light. I got muddy and fit my not so dainty self into a small hole. We turned the headlamps off and stood in the darkness, and when I say darkness I mean darkness, I mean it was like closing your eyes and trying to see your hand. Well you can imagine how I felt about that seeing how I have a small yet still somewhat crippling fear of the dark…I made them turn the lights back on. After we went shopping in a place called Coombs where there are goats on a roof….literally goats living on a roof. CRAZY!! Swimming was after that. I was swept away by the small current that pulled people around a small island in the middle of the pool, wonderful. I love water, weather it is a pool, fresh water or the ocean, if I can swim in it I love it!

Thursday and Friday was DTG (Ditch the Guys). We (the ladies) went to a senior’s home in Crofton and visited with the elderly, some of them were quiet lively for their advanced years, they were lovely women. I wonder what I will be like when I am old….hmmm food for thought, probably paranoid and cynical and maybe a little eccentric. After we had tea in a little touristy town just down the highway, we also walked in some small shops. We had dinner at Kristi’s (our student life leader) house and hung out. It was really swell getting to know the girls and just chilling out. I liked watching them all interact with each other, because that is what I do, I watch. Each one of them amazes me with there capacity to love one another, I am sure I will learn something from each. I feel so blessed to be placed here amongst these amazing women.

Understanding. Compassion. Love. A Dash Of Cynicism.

Abby

Sailing and Thanksgiving

Hello Dear Ones!!!

Ok lots happened this week so I am going to dive right in and tell you all about it get ready to read all about my oh so thrilling life!!! AHHH!!

Monday was a magical day! Want to know why?? Well it was the first day of our trip with S.A.L.T.S the first day of five days of sailing in a real sailboat!! It was so muchfun I’m pretty much in love with it. The crew was amazing I learned lots about boats and about my fellow students seeing how there was no escaping them cause we were on a boat…. Oh the memories I have with these very special people. It was a fun experience no showering for five days and the toilet had to actually be pumped thirty times before you could flush it. The sights were amazing and I loved just sitting and watching the waves with the nice cool wind blowing my hair around. Some people went swimming but I am not going to lie I found it way to cold to actually even entertain the thought of entering the water. At one point they actually let me steer the boat can you please just imagine how stressed I was the first few minutes I did it? It was a fantastic time and I have realized my love for being on the water goes much deeper then I thought.

So we got off the boat Friday at like 3:30 and had to rush back to camp to get to youth but the little thing called traffic held us up so we did not get back to camp until 5:30 and youth started at 6 meaning no shower for us we had to eat and run. Emma and I got to our girls night all smelly and sweaty and a little tipsy from the sea legs. The night was fun; it was really great getting to know some of the girls. We had banana splits and talked about friendships and popularity and how much one would sacrifice to get either and if the sacrifices would be worth it. It was amazing to see how much these young women seek out God in all they do; they truly have a heart for him and wish to become women of God. It is really encouraging to see this I hope that they continue on this path and continue to ask questions. I’d say it was a pretty good night considering it was two of the girls that planned it and ran the entire show. If you could it would be a great help I think if you would pray for these girls, they are trying so hard to be the women God has called them to be, I think we all know how hard it can be especially in their age. I ask that you pray that they continue to make God their pillar of strength and that they continue to grow and that maybe Emma and I will be able to help them along their journey.

Today a family from Bethel had us over for Thanksgiving dinner; it was so much fun meeting the Kulhawy family. They were very welcoming and very curious about Kaleo, I had a great time hanging out with them and getting to know them. I’m not going to lie the food was so good, homemade pumpkin pie. That’s all I have to say.

That’s all for now mon amies, Happy Thanksgiving!!

Abby

First Two Youth Groups

Hello Friends,

A bit has happened since I last talked to you; let me fill you in on the events….

I went to my first two youth groups. The first one was a concert in Nanaimo and it was wonderful a band called Revolution played. It was pretty swell I really liked their music and the kids in the youth are CRAZY!! I swear they all have ADD or something. There were quite a few churches there and in the end a total of about 15 youth ended up making a commitment to the Lord and got hooked up with some churches it was pretty amazing. The second was this past Friday in which we had a Rock Band battle of the bands contest….meaning we dressed up and played Rock Band for like 2 hours. Needless to say Bo, Emma, Nate and I lost that one. It was cool meeting more of the kids though we did not really do much except chill out. George the youth leader is going to be trying to get us more involved as time goes on and I am looking forward to it quite a bit.

I mentioned in the first post that I wanted to work with the little kids and I had a chance to experience what that on Wednesday. I had a really good time, we played games on that involved sticking cotton balls to someone’s face and then split up into small groups and had some bible studies. We went over the Christmas story (the theme for the night was Christmas) it was so cute teaching them and listening to their answers to questions. I had a great time with the precious little fetuses but I don’t think working with them is for me, I think I shall stick with the youth.

AHHH after being here for what 2 weeks the first class started Spiritual Formation with Dr. Marv Penner. It was a wonderful class and I learned so much on how to build my spiritual life, I can not say enough good things about Marv he is a stellar fella that one is, a real prince. I learned so much from him. I look forward to writing my paper for him.

Today our pastor had us over for lunch, we just talked and had fellowship with each other. It was nice getting to know him and his family (we also practiced our Rock Band skills after getting spanked on Friday night).

Next on the agenda would be the S.A.L.T.S sailing trip which I leave for tomorrow morning and am gone or 5 days, I am so pumped to be out on the water for that long!!

Alas my chums I must sign off I must pack for my adventure, I will update you soon!!

Peace and Love

Abby