The Alps

Hello,
Sorry for the lack of blogging this past week we were busy on reading break and I totally forgot about it. So to back track in order to catch up on all I missed talking about, I'll start with the trip to Victoria with the homeless that I said I'd share about. As I had mentioned before half of our school went to Victoria on Monday with backpacks full of both food, socks, sweaters, mitts, and toques in order to minister to the homeless. When we got there we separated into different teams of 3 and were given a different street to go on for the day. I was in a group with Jesse (a girl who I actually knew prior to coming to Kaleo as she counselled at Luseland one summer) and Paul. We started out journey down one of the main streets being very anxious to get into a good conversation with some of the homeless. As we began we first passed a homeless guy carrying a sign saying "Homeless, anything you can give will help." We walked by as we had no idea what to say but then turned around and asked him how he was and if he needed anything. He talked a bit but when we asked him if he needed any of the items we had he said he was fine so we continued on. It seemed like he was sort of surprise that we stopped to say hello. The second person we came across was outside some of the stores on the other side of the street so we walked up to him hoping for better luck and we found it. I forget what his name was however we talked to him for quite a bit and explained that we were walking around seeing if we could meet some peoples needs. His face lit up entirely, he was so happy to see us. He kept on asking whether it was Christmas. You could tell he was thrilled that we actually stopped to talk to him and then when we mentioned that we had some stuff the word he kept on saying was that he was overwhelmed. It almost looked like he was about to cry, to see the excitement on his face was so heart-warming. We gave him some socks, a blanket, and some work gloves that we had bought just earlier that day. He was so happy that he tried giving us his $11 bread that he was given earlier in return for the clothing. For the rest of the day we were able to help and talk to about 6-7 others. It felt so good to actually stop and say hello to them and meet some of their needs. For the last part of our day we had the choice to either go shop for the last half hour or to go out again and we decided to go out again and am I ever glad we did. The last few people we talked to were walking together and it was a couple who was pushing their dog in a shopping cart full of blankets and both of them were cold and looked like they were in their mid 40's. Then there was also another guy who was walking near them so when we stopped to talk to them he also stopped. We started talking about their dog and then soon we were able to just talk about life. We mentioned that we had some items to give away and they were so grateful. Me and the women whose name was Christine talked and I was able to give her a sweater, some socks, a blanket etc. They mentioned how they were sick and how they don't stay in shelters because they don't want to be split apart and none of the shelters let dogs stay there. Both Christine and the man she was with had been living on the streets together for 6 years. It was unbelievable to see how they could be doing the same thing for six years of their lives together. One thing we really noticed not only with them but also with the others we had encountered was how important family and friends ranked for them. When there were a few of them together when we were passing out things they would say "o here, you need this more than me" and they would be sure that the others needs were met and they wouldn't hoard it for themselves. It was such a eye-opening experience talking to them and leaving all our preconceptions behind. For the rest of the week we went caving on Tuesday and the other half went to Victoria then we had free time as well as a Camp Ministry course. For the weekend I was able to counsel here at Qwanoes which was a good experience. It is always interesting going to different camps and see how they run the program and the different pro's and con's to it. I was a co-leader with a youth pastor named Kim and we had 7 girls in our cabin. It was cool as there were 4 friends who came and some of them hadn't been at camp before so it was nice to be apart of their camp experience yet at the same time it did because of the lack of time. Kim came with her youth group so 3 of the girls she already knew so she was always with them so I didn't have much time with them as well as it was a Jr. High weekend so they don't think spending time with their counselors is cool anyways. haha. But overall it was a good week and hopefully a good first experience of camp as for some of our cabin it was their first time. Well onto this past week...Reading Break. 5 friends and myself went on a road trip to both Victoria and Duncan for a few days which was so relaxing. It was such a good time of bonding. We were able to go shopping, hit up the IMAX (we went to the show the Alps hence the post name), see the Salmon Run on our way to Duncan and go bowling after a nice dinner. We arrived back on Wednesday and the rets of my week was spent on working on both our group presentation for Camp Ministry as well as finishing up my Hermeneutics paper. This weekend was also the Sr. High Retreat and one of our youth girls (yet again the same one I have been mentioning) came so I was able to see and talk with her a bit. On Friday was youth group and we basically did the same old. We played some games and were able to hang out a bit. I feel way more comfortable there now and familiar with the people at youth which is nice. I think as far as our groups church ministry goes what we are in need of prayer for is for more connections at church. It still sort of feels like we are strangers and don't know anyone at the church. It is a small church but even yet we only really know Sherri and Michelle (the youth leaders who did kaleo last year) so it would be cool to be more involved in the church. I think one of the struggles we are faced with is the distance between camp and church as it is a 45 minute drive. So it is hard for us to come out unless its a Friday. Hopefully sometime we'll be able to go for a Saturday whent the church has work days etc. in order to serve them in that way. So far it has felt like we have been served or haven't been doing much (or at least thats how I have been feeling). Some other prayer requests is this coming week is our 24/7 week of prayer. It is a whole week dedicated to praying and I'm so excited for it. So if I could ask you to be keeping us in prayer as we are learning more about God through prayer this week that would be great. Well sorry for this long email but I hope that now we have caught up on all the things that are going on in my life. I have really been enjoying it here and have been so blessed with incredible friends. If you could also pray that I would also not let the community overpower my focus here at Kaleo but that God would take the first priority that would also be very appreciated. Thanks once again for all your support!