Victoria, Oceanview, Youth, and the Men's Retreat

Last Friday at youth we made Christmas presents. There were 4 different stations; there was tree ornament painting, and the making of cards, chocolate truffles, and also beeswax candles. As Kaleo guys we were in charge of the candles. And it went surprisingly well, especially based on the amount of experience the 3 of us had in candle making. Nevertheless, it was a really fun time and a bunch of candles were made, but much more importantly we got to hang out with a whole bunch of kids. Its so fun getting to know the youth and to see their passion for life. It’s a very fulfilling and rewarding time, and the 3 of us involved in youth comment on the fact that we love this ministry and look forward to is each week!

This past week I, with Kaleo, have also went to Victoria to meet homeless people and also visited a Care home for Alzheimer patients.
The Victoria trip we stretching for sure. I had heard stories from the group who went to day before, and so was excited about meeting interesting people and hearing their stories, but as I was on the street looking for people to talk to it was not quite as I had hoped. There were definitely people around once we found the right place, but many of them although friendly, were not overly willing to talk. I enjoyed hearing about the others experiences and the people they met, but I myself did not get to have the same experiences. Also though, this type of ministry (handing out stuff they need and talking to them) is not my cup of tea. I don’t make conversation easily, I don’t really like to come in for a moment and then be gone again. It was a great thing to do, but not very easy for me.

Oceanview on the other hand was a much more enjoyable experience for me. I was able to talk with several of the ladies, and we even played with a beach ball. It was just really fun to be with them, cuz they are so relaxed. One woman during tea time commented that it was too hot but then she said “If I sit here long enough then it will be cool enough”. This is a very basic and true statement, but one that speaks to me. This place is so free of the busyness of the world. It is a very refreshing experience to be there, both because of this lack of busyness, but also because of the joy we can bring to the residents if even just for a short time.

I also helped out at the camp with the men’s retreat this weekend. This had me working in the kitchen and also working at the challenge course.

So, that's the past week, it was busy but good and I hope to visit Oceanview more often This week is our Church Ministry class and with that comes a fair amount of work. Other than that, it is nearing the Christmas break, and it even snowed today!

Spaghetti!

This past Friday was the annual Fundraising Spaghetti Dinner/ Auction for the youth group, and it was a huge success raising $6400.00! It was a great time of the youth working along side the leaders and serving the people of the church. The sanctuary was transformed into a pasta palace with servers in aprons and everything. I myself worked in the kitchen doing what needed to get done. At first I was at a lost, not knowing to do because it was my first dinner at the church, but as soon as things got going I was in there stirring stuff, running around, and washing dishes! It was a very fun time! The youth were amazing too, working super hard with out complaint! Even when it got down to the final cleaning, they were there!

Then, today we had a joint lunch at the church with the Capernwray Students and people from the church. It was a really sweet time of getting to know everyone. Our schooling programs are in some ways very different from each other, but it’s neat, because we are all going to something we want to go to.

"God Party"

This week has been fairly full as I was working on Saturday for the camp during a retreat, and then youth on Friday too.
Youth on Friday was amazing, it was a swet "God Party". We had it in an old hall and the basic premise of the night was hang out time, praise and worship, a leaders testimony, and then stations set up for the youth. Each station was based on a psalm and involved a different way to worship. It was super crazy, because the kids have lots of energy, and are often everywhere, but tonight they were really into the singing and jumping around. And throughout the night they were listening, then when it came time for the stations, they all got right too it.
I was praying with Joel for them and it was great. As I was praying, if I looked around at them, I felt that it was not working, that they were not getting anything out of it. But when I prayed without looking, my heart KNEW God was there in a huge way. I found it really interesting how the spiritual world can work that way, Satan tried to get me down, and unfocused, but my heart knew better. Later talking about it, we as leaders were stoked, cuz we had kids praying and crying and trying new ways to worship God. It was truly amazing.
Also, this weekend I worked in the kitchen, did dishes, and helped make biscotti and peppermint patties. It was a pretty sweet time! I also was hall patrol Saturday morning, and so I go to hang out with all the guys and try to prevent random pillow fights and such, but it too was a good time.

Please pray for:
Leaders of youth, that we can help stretch the youth in their relationships with God
Us Kaleo students, that our time with God would not be only be in our academics, but as a relationship still.