Kaleo 2011

I have officially been back in Bixby, Oklahoma for two days now. Kaleo has come to an end. And just as everyone said it would be it really was, the summer of my life.

The last week at Kaleo was one of the funnest weeks ever. It’s called back-to-campus week and its basically just about planning your ministry in the fall. This was a little scary to do, but so good to do just to have a solid look at the way I hope to live out my sophomore year. I have been hearing about starting a ministry for so long this summer I think this week was just really the last little push I needed, I am ready to stop hearing and start doing. We sang a song alot during worship this summer that said, “fill us up and send us out”. These words are so true. This whole summer we have been filled up and I literally feel like I am overflowing and now it is time to be sent out. I can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store this year.

Another one of my favorite parts of back-to-campus week was just the fact that I got to spend so much time with the other people at my project. We had campus time, beach time, and  a campus dinner. I have seriously met some of the most amazing and encouraging people this summer. I am so blessed to have met them.

You know, I was trying to think of a main take away from this summer that I could share with all of you but there really isnt just one that I can pick. I literally have never been stretched, convicted, or grown so much in my entire life. Everyday was a challenge and I never thought I would say this but I am so thankful that this summer was hard. I am so thankful that I was uncomfortable alot of the time, that I went not really knowing alot of people, that I had to share my faith, that I had to get up and work eight hours a day, that I had to learn that if I didnt get up every morning and do my quiet time that I would be crabby the whole day, that I had to plan my ministry, that I had to learn to manage my time and money, and that this whole summer was not just a church camp experience (not that those are bad) but it was a life expereince. I am so thankful I had this oppurtunity to learn to be a laborer.

Laborer is a word that they used many times throughout Kaleo. I never really understood what it meant until the last week. To labor means to fight, toil, train, strain, and give all that you have. This is what we were trained and equipped for. This is what God calls us to do. And I couldnt be more excited about it.

In the beginning the staff told us that only about half of the people at Kaleo would have a life change from this summer. I have been constantly praying that this would be the year that wouldnt be true. That there would be 100% of people from Kaleo that have a life change, that we would be laborers for Him. And as I head into next semester that is still my prayer and I would appreciate it if you would also pray for that, for me, and for everyone else at Kaleo.

Although Kaleo was the summer of my life, I learned that it shouldnt be THE peak of my spiritual walk. True, it was a peak. But not the peak. I pray that I will keep growing in my walk, that until my heart stops beating I will strive to grow more in Him. I am so thankful for the summer that I had. I really am. Thank you for everyone who supported me. Financially and in prayer. It means so much to me. Fun fact: At the end of the summer I only had to pay Kaleo $300. After all my worry, the Lord provided for me more than I could have ever imagined. He is faithful. Also, God willing, I hope that this is not my last time at Kaleo. I don’t know what the future holds but I would love to return. And have the summer of my life, PART TWO!!!!

So, once again I waited way to long to update this thing. So now this might be really long, sorry in adnvance.

Well here we go with the updates,

 Last week, my parents and sister got to be here in Florida! Which was so fun just getting to spend time with them and having a little piece of home here in Florida. It was nice to just relax and lay on the beach, go shopping, and just get to talk. Also me and my sister went parasailing! Which was the experience of a lifetime! Being 600 feet up above the ocean is definitly something that I would recommend.

Also, last week was the Fourth of July! All of the projects go to a little town called Seaside! Which was seriously a blast. One of the most fun nights I have had so far at Kaleo. Just getting to see everyone from all the other projects, seeing some of my friends parents, having good fellowship, good fireworks, and AWESOME fireworks! It was so great!

Now fastforward to this week. This week we had missions conference which was absolutley life changing. First off once again we got to be with ALL the projects which was amazing just hearing about how four years ago there were only 100 people from all the projects at the mission conference and this year there was 500. So encouraging to see. Also, since we did have all the projects in Destin we got to have people stay the night with the Destin projects! In our bungalow which usually holds 8, we had 16 girls. It was a little bit crazy, but so fun! And I loved making some new UCO friends. But anyways, at the conference we had a StuMo India team leader fly all the way back to the United States to talk to us. It was so amazing just to hear about his life in India and how normal and abnormal it is all at the same time. I learned from this conference that everything that God did, everything that he made is to show his glory and to get glory. Which is a little hard for me to wrap my head around that I am made for the sole purpose to give God glory. Sure I knew that I was supposed to give God glory, but, that is my SOLE purpose. Everything I do should revolve around that. I feel like everytime I am getting a little tiny glimpse of who God is He just comes along and blows my mind even more. His ways are so much higher than my own and my view of Him will never be enough. So crazy! But I also learned that there are different parts of missions there is praying, discipling, giving, welcoming, and going. I am so excited to incorperate most if not all of these into my life. I also learned that the mission field is not just an experience it is a career. Basically all in all, I learned a ton at this conference. But my two big take away’s were probably the importance of praying for the nations (which I am beginning to experience daily how powerful prayer really is) and the need to be a laborer. Being a laborer is not a word that I had really thought much about but that is what I want to be, I don’t want to just be someone who goes to church and lives the American dream but I want to be someone who laborers for the Kingdom of God with all of my might, I want to never stop trying to bring God glory. This is now my greatest desire.

Well I officially have less than two weeks left here at Kaleo. And all those seven other weeks are beginning to catch up to me. These are the two weeks that everyone at the beginning of the summer warned me about. These are the tired weeks. And I am feeling it! But I love it here SO much and dont want to waste any time here so I am really just trying to find my rest in the Lord. But, if you guys could pray for energy for me that would be wonderful! This is also my last week of work so please pray for energy for that and that I would just really be able to find strength through that and be able to spend quality time with my co-workers. Thanks so much, and please let me know if any of you have prayer requests!

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.    Matthew 11:28.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I know we have all heard this verse, probably numerous times. Most of us have all heard sermons preached on it which all end in a conviction to do mission work. I am not saying that is wrong at all but I am saying that just recently I have gotten something different out of the verse.

Breakdown:

Go- Strong’s Number: G4198: To follow one or to lead or order ones life.

Make disciples- Strong’s Number: G3100: To be a disciple of one, or to make a disciple.  

Both are verbs, both have to do with making disciples, incase ya didnt get that.

We had our discipleship conference with Kennon Vaughan this past week who is from Downline Ministries. It was seriously amazing. I had never realized the importance of making disciples before. When he explained this verse during the confrence and kept saying the key is to make disciples, make disciples, make disciples it was like a lightbulb went on! I had never thought of it that way. This isnt to say that we shouldn’t go to the nations but as you go, make disciples. he stressed the importance of letting the person you disciple into your life and really just doing life on life with them. He also explained the multiplication principle which is basically talking about someone discipling you, you discipling someone, that someone discipling someone else, and so on. Just think how fast the world would hear the good news this way! This lesson is not a new one, Jesus did it. That is who we learn from. I am also reading the Master Plan of Evangalism and in the book it talks about how Jesus poured his life into the disciples they did LIFE with him (which is awesome, just sayin) so that when he left they could continue on. This is a command, we must do life with people, pour into them, flow with them as Kennon would say, in order to make disciples.

This was such an awesome learning experience and  also just got me really excited about next fall. Excited to continue to be discipled by an amazing woman of God and also to be able to pour into other girls, do life with them, disciple them. I seriously cant wait!

Other than that, everyone here in good old Destin has been preparing for the Fourth of July! The Gap has been pretty busy with all these tourists which is definitly good! And with Kaleo we get to go to Seaside on Monday which is this precious little beach town and we get to cook out and watch fireworks! Plus, my parents and sister will be here tomorrow! I am SO EXCITED!!! Can’t wait to see a familiar face and have mommy cook me some good home cooked meals.

Also, the staff left about a week ago, so now Kaleo is being run by a bunch of crazy kids. Kidding, kind of. But I guess this is kind of the winding down time when everyone starts taking on more responsibilities, the participants get to start leading bible studies, and so on!

I am still loving it here. Seriously, it is such a growing experience. This is the part of the summer though where everyone starts getting pretty tired, SO prayers for energy would be much appreciated! We all want to finish strong!

I’ll continue to keep you updated and please let me know if you have any prayer requests. I would love to pray for you.

So, I’m not the greatest at keeping up with this blog thing. But, I really am trying. This post may be a bit on the long side so bear with me.

I have now been here at Kaleo for a little longer than a month. A whole month. It seriously feels like a week, time has been flying by . Looking back on the past month it is so crazy to see the way that the Lord has used me and grown me. I find my mind being changed from the way that it used to be, the way that it always has been. I see relationships differently. I understand what it means to have a healthy friendship, relationship, and even marriage. I see the media differently. I realize that even though I say it doesnt bad music, movies, and TV shows effect and me and my thoughts. Which in turn effects my walk in the Lord. I have learned how to effectivley study the Word, and have become consistent in doing a quiet time. Better than that though, I have learned to LOVE studying His Word. Every time I open the bible, I learn something new. I have started to have a heart for the world and for the lost. I have learned about different religions and their beliefs. I have practiced and become a little more comfortable with sharing my faith. I have questioned my faith, and found the Lord to remain faithful even when I am faithless. I have made new friends. I have begun to let go of my old sin which kept me down for so long and have began to fully realize the Lord’s grace. I have begun to make changes in my life. Difficult ones and easy ones. But every decision has drawn me closer in to Him. In short, the past month has been phenominal.

This past weekend was d-group weekend. My d-group and the other d-group that we live with went to St. Augustine! St. Augustine is the oldest city in America! It was so fun and pretty! We went to an old fort, climbed to the top of a lighthouse, went shopping, drank from the fountain of youth, celebrated Julies 21st birthday, and of course ate lots of great food and saw tons of great sites! And it was the perfect oppurtunity for my d-group to bond. Which 10 hours in the car will definitly do that to you! I loved it!

The Gap is still going really well, I love what I do and I love working with the people I work with. But, there havent many oppurtunities for spiritual conversations. If you could pray for oppurtunities to arise that would be wonderful!

Other than that, nothing else to really report. This place is starting to feel like home. And I love it more and more everyday. Best decision I may have ever made.

Also just realized that after today, I will only have a month left here. This realization has been hitting me pretty hard the last couple days. Have I really been taking advantage of my time here? Sure I have learned a ton, but have I learned everything the Lord had intended me to learn this summer? Have I been grown in the areas I need to be grown in? Am I ready to go back to school? Not really sure all the answers to this are yes. I would deffinitly say there is still much left to be done, and there always will be. But, I trust in the Lord’s timing.

Prayers for my last month here would be wonderful. I cannot wait to see what the Lord does and how he continues to transform me! I’ll be sure and keep you updated.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:12

Week two at Kaleo, actually more like two and a half or three. Actually, I honestly couldnt tell you what week it is because I’m losing track of the days. But, to me thats a good sign.

Ok so I am basically going to give you guys a run down of Kaleo, because some people have been asking. Readers digest version, for real.

Ok so there are basically five basic things that happen each week: Evangalism training, evangalism, D-group bible study, TVT (in depth workshop on how to study the bible), StuMo, and World Prayer.

Other minor things: Church ( I go to Grace Luthren!), Work, D-group dinner, D-group dates, and socials!

So thats a super quick run through, not going in detail at all but if you want to know more feel free to ask :)

I love it here. I really do. I’m not going to lie, some days I’m homesick or miss my friends, wish they were here with me. But the little bit of homesickness I feel, is worth it. The Lord has blessed me so much here. With just getting me here in the first place, and then how he continues to be faithful here. I can feel myself growing, learning, and wanting to break out of the complacency in which I always put myself. I know the Lord wants more of me, and finally I want more too. More in what ways? I don’t know. But, I trust the Lord to grow me exactly where I need to be grown. 

Anyways, basically what I have been learning this week and wanted to share has just been how holy God really is. We are reading a book called Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer. I reccomend it! But anyways, this book is blowing my mind. It talks about how God is full of mercy but is still just all at the same time. How God isnt loving, HE IS love.  How no human words and no human mind can even understand God really. It seriously is incredible. And I have just been completely humbled by this realization, I mean we serve a BIG God. Really, really, really, big. Yet, he loves us enough to get close to Him, to talk to him, worship him, spend time with him. I honestly just can’t even comprehend it, it is seriously for lack of a better word, amazing.

By the way, just wanted to throw this in here. I love my job. D-group. People I live with. My new friends. The people that got me to come here. That includes my financial and prayer supporters. The beach. Kaleo in general, all of it.

Well, I feel like I have jumped around alot and not really made any real point in this but hey I worked eight hours today (never again will I bug my parents when they say they are tired from work, it really is tiring. But also rewarding). So before this gets any longer and anymore random I am going to end it.

But, I do have some prayer requests:

- Bold Faith. To be able to have spiritual conversations and Godly relationships with everyone I meet but ecspecially my co-workers.

- The rest of my support to be raised.

- ENERGY. I am so tired all the time but definitly don’t want to waste my time here. 5 hour energy shots are sounding really good all the time.

- My friends at home, at other summer projects, camps, and anywhere else.

- Perseverence. I am attempting to memorize a ton of things this summer including the whole book of second Timothy.

- Everyone here at Kaleo to continue to consecrate themselves everyday for the Lord and go strong for the whole rest of the summer!

If there is anything I can pray about for you guys, please let me know.

So I have officially been at Kaleo for one whole week!!! Not going to lie, in the beginning it was kind of hard being here just not knowing anyone, being in a different state, adjusting to change and all of that. But of course, God is so faithful. He keeps showing me more and more that I am exactly where I need to be.

In only one week I never thought that I could learn so much. Friends, Kaleo is not a joke. It is LEGIT. I have learned different ways to look at bible passages and different ways to study the bible. I have been challenged to memorize the book of 2nd Timothy (wish me luck). I have gotten to share my faith. I have made new friends. I have started working at The Gap. I have become obsessed with my d-group already. I have gone to the beach as much as possible. I have learned what it truly means to give God my all everyday. And, I have been continually been blessed by the Lord everyday.

My favorite part of Kaleo so far was our first night of StuMo. Our speaker talked about different ways to grow during the summer. The last thing we talked about was consecrating ourselves. Giving our hands, minds, eyes, tounge, feet, and heart all over to the Lord. Allowing Him to use these important parts of our body, and really every part of our body for his glory. The speaker had us look down at our hands asked the question, “what have your hands been doing in the past month?” Thinking back my hands had been doing alot of studying, eating, meeting, fun stuff, and so on but hadnt been doing alot for His kingdom. My prayer is that at the end of the summer I would be able to look down at my hands and be able to truthfully say that everything my hands did in the past 63 days was for the glory of our Lord.

Keep praying please. I’ll try to keep ya’ll updated as much as possible!

Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you. Joshua 3:5 :)

BELIEVE IT.

Its time to really try this blogging thing out.

I have been home for not even a week yet and in five days I will be leaving for the sunny sands of Destin, Florida. I know this week will be challenging. Trying to find time to see my friends, spend time with my family, unpack from college and then repack for Kaleo, and doing all those last minute home town things that I always want to do. Up until this morning I had been kind of sad about this, wanting more time at home. Wanting more time to prepare myself physically and mentally for this amazing summer I am going to have. Then it hit me, IT IS TIME TO GO.

A good friend of mine once told me that not sharing God’s love is like knowing where a river is in a very dry desert and not telling anyone about it. God is what gives life just as water gives life to us. And not just life, but abundent life. …I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full. John 10:10. Who would’nt want that?! And if I have this, why wouldnt I have an urgency to share it with the whole wide world?!

I would. And I do. So it is time to go.

KALEO 2011….I AM SO EXCITED TO MEET YOU :)

So, I am not exactly sure what to do with this. I am not artsy or super wise or anything like that but here I am blogging.

I want to do this so people can be informed and be able to share in what goes on this summer. In case you havent heard.. I AM GOING TO KALEO!

I am so excited to see how God is going to work this summer and cant wait to share it with all of you!

Well, thats basically it. Just a post to introduce what I am going to do with this blog. So…yeah. I feel weird blogging so don’t judge me for it.

Oh and if someone can help me with how to use tumblr it would be much appreciated.