Stretching in Progress

Hey,
So this past week has been quite a relaxing yet stressful one. Thanksgiving was so amazing, the meal was delicious. For the rest of the week we had a camp ministry course, a girls night out, and then for the weekend I helped work at a Women's Retreat that was held here at Qwanoes. The girls night out was so good, I felt so bombarded with homework but it was a good time away to stop thinking about all that stress to do with all these deadlines coming up and to just bond with just us girls. We started our time out with going to Nanaimo for Indian food, then we went to Parksville where we stayed the night at one of the board members of the camps house. During our time there we had a worship and a sharing session which was very icebreaking. We were given the chance to open up on some of our struggles and hurts and it was a good step for many on the road of healing. We were able to come alongside eachother and pray for one another. We also enjoyed good food. The next morning we had lunch and then went to the mall for some shopping. Now at Kaleo we don't get much time away from Camp especially overnight (unless we're camping). So it felt so good to stay somewhere with a bathroom and a place to cook your food in a kitchen. Very nice! One way that I was stretched this past week was my joy. This past week I felt so drained from everything going on that I was having a hard time having joy and enjoying my time. Especially at the end of the week, just when Women's Retreat started. Each semester we are to pick about 4 retreats to help out at. 2 full weekends and 2 half weekends, well this past weekend I was on for a full weekend. It consisted of working in the kitchen from 7pm-11:45 where here I thought it'd go till 9 so I'd have the chance to do some work. Then the next day I was up for 10a.m. in the kitchen and worked at that until about 2 where I went to the Guest House to help out at the "spa". They had foot baths, manicures, massages, and makeovers for the women there and I ended up giving manicures. This part was so much fun, I really enjoyed being with the ladies and socializing with them, but once my shift was done I was headed to dinner at 5:30 and the head cook saw me and got me to go into the kitchen. I was so stressed and tired and during the whole week I was just so drained and here I had to work more time then I thought I was supposed to. I eventually was done at 7:45p.m. which killed. The whole time I was just praying for that joy and for a servants heart. I now understand why they put us in those situations of internship at the church as well as helping at the retreats. It was so stretching to have that joyful face even though I dreaded being there. The next morning I also was up for 8a.m. but they let us go to church as they didn't have a whole lot to do. After church we were able to go to Sherri and Michelle's house (the youth leaders) for lunch. It was great to get to know them better and feel a bit more comfortable around them. So that was basically my whole weekend. Today was a day off which was so nice, I was able to relax yet also stress out more about my homework (I wish this stress would motivate me to work but so far that hasn't been happening). Today we had chapel though and were able to hear a testimony of one of my new friends Jake which was super cool. Then tonight we had a group worship session which was amazing. I've felt that since being here it's been so hard to really spend time with God and learn about Him. It just feels like I have so much homework about God that I've almost lost the meaning behind all the work. Tonight I was thinking more about it and our theme verse from camp came up, Jeremiah 29:13-14 "and you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart I will be found in you" declares the Lord." This was a major hit, here all summer I was talking about this verse yet here at Kaleo I forgot all about it and meaning of it. Its definitely something that I need to get into the habit of, not necessarily a habit even but I want to fall deeper in my relationship with Christ that searching for Him will become second hand and nothing else will take priority. That's why I was not joyful this week, I was trying to do it all on my own strength and wasn't relying on God or finding my energy and joy in Him. So that is one way in which you can pray for me. Both that I would grow more in my love for Christ that would compel me to yearn to know more about Him, as well as that I would "Be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thess. 5:16-17. Another prayer request would be for our brother Jonathan (one of the students who is on our church intern team). This past week his grandfather passed away so he is now back at home. The funeral will be held on Friday so if you could lift both him and his family up in your prayers that would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!