Don't know what to title this....

Hello, I am not sure what to say in this blog. This past week has been a blur, just like just every other week. This week we went white water kayaking, which I was not excited about. I have had a weird fear of kayaking since I could remember. But I decided to do it, even though I thought I just might pass out out of fear! We got these really cool dry suits, which were too big, but pretty cool. After we talked about hazards and things that could help us (I was listening very intently) we hopped in our kayaks and started going. I was freaked out, I thought that I just might wet my dry suit. We came upon our first rapid, which I am amazed I made it through. The water was rushing past me, throwing me up in the air, trying to get me out of my kayak, but I conquered. I screamed my way through and made it out alive. I think I even closed my eyes at one point. I have to say, it did not quite happen like that. I did scream and close my eyes, but the rapids were not that bad. They were the "calm" rapids, but for a beginner like me I thought they were huge. But as time went on I ended up loving it! We even got to get out of our kayaks and jump into a whirlpool, which was awesome! The current would just suck you down, twirl you around then spit you back out. What a ride it was!! Over all, my kayaking experience was a good one.

The rest of this week has consisted of me working my butt off in getting my school work done, which I did. I have finished all my school for the rest of Kaleo, which is a huge relief. I now have the rest of Kaleo to hang with the fam and chill. This is the last week of church. We had our last youth group and Sunday. Youth group was really good. And our last Sunday was good. It does seem like we are done going there, but we are... I am king of sad that I won't be seeing the kids again. it seems as though we were just getting through to them and now we are leaving. But some of them are coming in the summer which means I will see them. They are even going to ask me as a counselor, which would be really cool.

Prayer: If you could pray that our minds and heart will be prepared for leaving. And that we all will finish strong. Thank you

WHAT! KALEO IS ALMOST OVER!!!? NNNOOooooo....

Today's date, April 1st. I can't believe it! 16 more days of this life with my little family and then it all ends! I can't even fathom how fast this year has gone. People were right when they say things go faster when you become older. Everyone's mood has change. We are all anti school and are wishing we could just spend time with each other as much as we can. We use Jim's words whenever someone leaves to go to school, "Don't worry about school. Yes you need to do it, but when you have the opportunity to talk to someone and hang with someone then do it. There are only so many days that you can hang with these people". It is so true. Kaitlyn's sister gave her such wise words for these last few weeks. But the best part is that many of us, I believe about 10 of us are going to be at Briercrest! Which I am very excited about.

Things have been just flying by. I am not quite sure what has been going on. This past week we went surfing, which was exciting. I did a little bit better then what I did the last time we went. I actually stood up a little, but then a fell right back down in the crashing waves! I loved it! I think I am going to become a surfer, live on the beach in Florida and just surf all day long. What a way of life! =D I am highly considering this way of life. Soakin in the rays, surfing and I can preach to the people who I meet on the beach!

Man, as I think about me going into my second year of college it blows my mind away! I could never picture me in college, learning things for what I will be doing for the rest of my life. For those who may not know what I am doing let me explain. I will be attending Briercrest college which is in Saskatchewan and I will be doing the TESOL program. Which is Teaching English as a Second Language. I will be learning to teach and then go for, I believe a semester, and teach over seas. I am not sure where I will be going, but wherever it is I can't wait! Oh, and this summer I will be working here at Camp Qwanoes, which I am also excited about. I think it will be an amazing time, but it will be hard. It will be my first time counseling ( pray for the poor kids who are in my cabin! =/) but I think it will be good for what I am planning on doing. I am just going to be trusting the Lord and relying on Him to help me teach these kids! I am super excited to see where God is going to be taking me in my life. My hands are open and I am ready to go wherever He wants me to go.

As I think about leaving this wonderful, amazing, marvelous community it brings tears to my eyes every time. I can't imagine waking up and not having Claire, Jess and Katie in my room. Who am I going to wake up every morning? Who am I going to wave to across the room? Who is going to do all the little jokes and things that we have in our room with me? I am going to miss those three girls so much it hurts! We have grown so close over this past semester. Doing 8 minute abs, butt and arms every day. I have been so wonderfully blessed to be in a room with such amazing girls!

As I write this blog I realized how depressing it sounds. But I am not exactly depressed. Yes, I am very heart broken about leaving these people and not living with them again, but I am excited to move on. I am excited to see what God has for my life. I am excited to go off to college and learn more about God and make new friends. I also can't wait to share another year in the same room as Claire! What a joy that girl brings to everyone she meets. Even though I am not ready to leave the people, I am ready to go out in the world. I am ready to do the things that we have been preparing for. I am ready to go and preach the gospel on my little soap box, not really =D. I think the one thing that really changed my out look about leaving is the Olympics. It really showed me what it will be like when we leave Kaleo. We are in a bubble. We are in a Christian setting, and when we come out of this Christian bubble we are amazed at how this world is so lost. I think I am more aware of it then I was before. Going to the Olympics showed me what I should be doing everyday. I should be making an effort in starting a conversation with people and just showing them God's love. What a wonderful life we lead as Christians! We get to just go around and show people love and teach them about Christ. Sure it is hard at times but we have God, what more do we need?

As I sit here in the lobby thinking, I have come to realize that I am so content with life right now. I am doing God's will and I am happy. I have been content ever since I have come here. I find that when you are doing God's work there is this joy and satisfaction that you have. What a wonderful God we serve!

Please be praying that we will determine our time well. That we will have conversations with people when we need to, but also get our school done. Please pray that people stay healthy and that we will try to soak up as much as we can these last few weeks.

oh, and I just wanted to let you all know that I have a boyfriend. His name is Steven. I met him when I went and visited Capernway (another school like Kaleo), we have like we each since I visited and have been going out for a little bit...I never thought that I would ever have a boyfriend. But he is great guy! =D

APRIL FOOLS!!!!!!!!! I GOTCHA! I am just kidding about the boyfriend!!! There is no boyfriend nor is there a guy! =D hehehe

HOLY HAIR BATMAN!

It was a nice sunny/cloudy Sunday afternoon, I was sitting in my room thinking about the smell that was coming from the bathroom. I said to my roommates, "we need to clean our shower! It doesn't drain anymore". They all agreed and I decided to take on the task myself. I got my chop sticks and went over to the shower, hoping that the hair or whatever was in there would be easy to get out. I popped off the drain and looked in, I couldn't believe what I saw! I thought that something was growing in there! I tried pulling it out with my chop sticks but it wouldn't come. So I tried pliers but that didn't work either. So I finally got the idea of using a hanger and that did it. I hooked onto a huge chunk of hair and then "plunk", a huge hair ball came out! I have never seen a hair ball that big before! It was the high light of my Sunday, getting that out of the drain (yes, I know, its sad that was my highlight. Sundays aren't very eventful).

I can't believe so much time has past. The weeks have been just flying by. We had Gospels the other week, which was one of my favorite weeks. Wes was amazing! He did such a great job teaching us and helping us understand what we didn't get. I enojyed his class so much! I asked him if he would stay another week to keep teaching us, but sadly he said no. I would have loved to sit for another week listening to Wes compare Matthew and Mark. I am hoping though that I will be able to take one of his classes at Briercrest.

This past week we had DTG (Ditch the Genders) which is always interesting. The girls went to Safeway ( love that store!) and got some yummies then drove to a New Life church (where some of the K7s go) and sat in a little building and ate our snacks. After that we went to go do an aerobic dance workout. It was awesome! it was hard but it was really fun. The lady hard core! After we did our work out we went back to the guest house and ate, wrestled, had room competitions, ate some more and then ended the nigh with a nice little talk. I enjoy DTG, each time I feel as though the girls get closer. I love all the girls here, they are amazing!

Thursday we went to go shred the gnar! Which was so fun! I love snowboarding. Jim was trying to teach me how to crave, but it didn't go very well. Craving is where you go on your toes and lean so you are on the edge of your board. It helps you turn and it just makes riding easier, rather then leaning on your heels the whole time. But I just can't get myself to crave, it freaks me out! I have no control when I am on my toes, all I do is bail. So all morning long Jim would say, "Ok Ellie, this is it, try it. You can't go down the hill without trying it". Then I would say, "mmm... NO Jim, sorry! I can't do it! Its scary!!", that is how our conversations would go. But by the end of the day I told him I would try to do it, which I did. I made it but didn't do it quite as well as I would have liked.

Things have been just flying by. This week flew by without me even knowing it. We went surfing for a couple days, which was fun. Surfing is extremely hard but extremely fun. I enjoy it even if it takes everything out of you. I think I am going to move to the beach, live like a bum and just surf all day long. What a life!

I can't believe that I only have 3 weeks left of this amazing experience. But I will be here during the summer counseling and then off to Briercrest. I will be doing the TESOL (teaching english as a second language) program, which I am excited about! I can't wait to see what God has in plan for me.

If you could please pray that we will enough energy for our last class and that we will have the will power to keep working. We are getting tired and want to just hang with each other rather then work on school. Thanks for the prayers!

Good Bye Olympics

I can't believe it! Our trip is almost done. Today is Saturday and we are leaving tomorrow. I am quite happy about leaving and getting back, but at the same time I will miss it here. I will miss the people and just the whole experience.

I don't know if I told you but I almost wasn't able to come to the Olympics. We got here and we were signing up and when I went to go sign in they told me I wasn't able to, because I didn't have my passport. they told me at the beginnging that I could have my license so I just brought that. But when I got there they told me because I was from a different country I had to have my passport. I was overwhelmed, I didn't know what to do. I couldn't go back to get it, there was nothing to do other then to pray and talk to the people. I got Jim and we went to the helping center. The lady thought that I wouldn't be able to get in, but what I didn't understand was that they had all the information in the computer, but I still had to have it with me. She went to go and talk to the guy in charge of the whole thing and he said yes!! What an answer to prayer! Buy that time I was ready to break down and cry and I was praying so hard! I couldn't believe that I wouldn't be able to go, I would have been heart broken.

Anyway, It has been an amazing last few days here. I have loved it! I have had great talks with people and everything has been really well. One of my supervisors, Brad, loves us. He told me the other day that we made his trip out here. And that it was refreshing to work with us and that we were awesome. What an encouragement that was! Many people have told us that and are just impression with our group. They are amazed that after standing in the same spot for 7 hours we can still have a smile on and are happy. I am so proud to say that I am in this group of wonderful people. God has done amazing things here and is still working.

There is a man, Nixon, and God is really at work there. Jeremy and I were talking about him last night and we think that he maybe a Christian. We are not sure but he has all the right views and his theology is on the right track. He asked us to pray for enlightenment, and he also invited us to his house, which we might be going over reading break. I really hope we do. There are many people that have invited us to their homes or to come and visit.

Well, I had my birthday here at the Olympics! What an amazing thing to say that I had my birthday at the 2010 Olympics. It was a great day! I worked until 1 then I just hung out. I didn't think that we would be doing anything special. That night we had chapel just like every night and they were all acting weird. Chapel started and Jim asked me to go and get a paper from his desk upstairs, which was a hint that something was going on. I did and I thought that when I got back down there would be a party downstairs... but I was wrong! I went into the office and WHAM! I had a sleeping bag over my head! They put me in a chair and started to ask me questions (Justin and Jeremy in their "intimidating" voices). The only question I remember was "If you could swing dance with anyone here who would it be?" I couldn't think because I was still in shock, but they wouldn't let me go unless I answered, so I said Jeremy. (through this whole thing I was laughing uncontrollably.) They said that was wrong and picked me up, with the sleeping bag still over me, and carried me out to the van! We drove somewhere and while we were in the car they threatened my life!! haha (I was still laughing the whole time). They then took me out of the van with my hands and feet tied up they flung me over someone's shoulder and carried me somewhere. I have to say it was not very comfortable. I had just eaten and I warned them that someone was going to have a sleeping bag full of goodies if they didn't put me down. But they didn't and I thankfully didn't puke. They put me down and untied me, with flashlights shining in my eyes I stood there stunned and not quite sure what was going on. They put a head lamp on my head and a helmet, which made me really confused. They then gave me a bike and said I had three minutes to do this track and pushed me down the hill. I was screaming and trying to do this motocross track in the dark! The boys were following me yelling and pushing me up hills. I had no clue what I was doing, I looked like I had never rode a bike before. I finally finished the track and they tied me up again and put me in the van. We then drove to Boston Pizza and had a nice dessert. I thought it was all over and they were going to be nice to me, but no! They then told me that I had to swing dance in the middle of Boston Pizza with Jeremy! I was forced out onto the floor and started dancing. It ended up being really fun and we all ended up dancing in the middle of Boston Pizza! It was wonderful and I felt so loved! It was one of my favorite birthdays!!

The rest of the Olympics was wonderful! There was a day where everyone was tired (well we were always tired) and discouraged. But that night we had a big conversation about it and the next morning we were all so happy and ready to go! We couldn't wait, and after that day every day was great. It is amazing how God gives you energy when you are doing His work. We would all be feeling crappy in the morning but by the time we started work it was gone. We would have energy and people couldn't understand how we could be happy at 5:30 in the morning. I think our happiness was a big part of us standing out from everyone else. One day my team leader couldn't understand how I could be so happy when I stood in the same spot for 7 hours. 

It was sad leaving the Olympics. It was weird thinking that it was your last day and that you would never have to get up at 3:45 again tomorrow. We said goodbye to everyone and got emails from people. I really hope that we are able to stay in contact with certain people. We have planted seeds in some of these people and I hope that they will blossom! God did amazing things there and I am so thankful that I was able to be apart of it.

Coming back to camp was great! Monday we had a 4 hour debriefing time with both mission groups. It was really good hearing all the stories on what God has been doing. This week has been really relaxing and lazy, which is nice. Today we went to Mystic Beach, which was GOREOUS!! I loved it! I just sat on the beach in the sun reading my Bibes (That is what we call the Bible here. We shorten everything). It was such an extraordinary day.

Please be praying for people's health, we are all still resting up from our trip and we are getting a little sickly. Thank you for all your prayers while we were gone! We could see them being answered.

Welcome to Whistler Olympic Park, please get your tickets ready...

"Hi! Welcome to Whistler! Please get your tickets out and ready because they will be scanning them up ahead, thank you." I don't know how many times I have said that. Or how many times I have said "hello", "bonjour" (yes, I speak French now), "please stay to the right of the path...STAY TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE!!!" and so much more. Soon I will be waking up in the night yelling, "going to Longsdale? your bus will be numbers 17-20!." or maybe it will be, "Can I see your tag please?" or maybe, "I am sorry but you cannot come in here". Through this experience I have had many laughs. I love watching people, they are hilarious. There are many people who have come in with very interesting costumes and then there are some who are just weird. There were two guys who seemed to be drunk every time I saw them, but they knew me by name and took a picture with me every day they saw me. They were Italian and told me that they would always remember me and that I was just so nice and they will tell people, "this is Ellie, she is a nice girl". How flattering coming from two drunk guys who probably had no clue where they were.

Lately it has been hard to witness to these people. I haven't been feeling very delightful. I am getting worn out and am looking at it more like a job where I clock in and clock out rather then a mission trip. We talked about how we are having a different perspective and that we need to remember why we are here. I haven' been able to have any sweet talks with people lately just because of where I have been stationed at. But I am forming friendships with people all around the park, which is cool. But sometimes I have a hard time being nice to these people, sometimes they just push my buttons and I am ready to just tell them off. I haven't yet, I just pray like crazy when I feel like that. Yesterday was a hard day just because no one would listen. They didn't like listening to the little girl standing in the path telling them what to do, which is frustrating because I am just doing what I am told.

But I am feeling pretty frustrated and down lately. I am not having cool opportunities like other people and I am just... just frustrated. I am extremely worn out and am not having the energy to pour into these people's lives. How can I teach people about God when I know nothing about Him myself. I just feel incapable to help these people. Sometimes I don't even want to be here. I am getting frustrated with people and being around people all day just makes me feel as though I am going to go crazy! There is no where to go to be alone, but I am trying to keep my hope up and trust in God. It is hard and I am feeling like I am drowning and I just can't do it anymore.

Please pray that my last five days of working will be good. That I will be able to help these people and that they will see God in my life. And that I will be doing God's will and not mine. Sometimes I try to steer a conversation in a certain direction so that I can start "the talk", but I am praying that God will just give me boldness.

Thank you so much for all your prayers, I appreciate it and will try to keep you up dated.

Theology, homework, olympics, going insane....AH!

What a week! This week has been quite a heavy one. Monday we started our class with J.P. (Jim Paulson) who teaches Theology. I was quite excited about this class, but as the week went on that excitement left. I love Jim, he is a great guy but his teaching style was not necessarily my favorite. I had a hard time understanding what he was talking about and what exactly he was getting at. I was a little angry because I didn't do well on the quizzes, even if I did study my butt off. Some of the things he said I did not agree with and had many questions after each day of class. We didn't do much this week because of class and all the homework we had to work on. I was a little frustrated because no matter how much I studied for the quizzes I didn't do well, but at least I passed =D.

Well, it is day six here at the Olympics. What an AMAZING experience I am having! We got here last Wednesday and that was a gong show. We were on the go all day long. We got to go to the dress rehearsal for the opening of the Olympics, which was beyond explaining. It was wonderful! Watching it on T.V. is nothing like seeing it in person. We were also correcting things that they forgot or what the crowd was doing wrong =D. Friday, us at Whistler Park (W.O.P.) had our first day of work. We were just a little bit excited! The day was great! I had a great time working. The people i worked with were nice and I had a good time talking to all the spectators. The next day was even better. I had great supervisors and the day was just a good one. The next day I didn't have such a great day. I was tired and not really feelin like working. But it is amazing how God gives me energy when I feel like I don't have any. God gives me the energy to get out of bed.

Here is what a day of working at the Olympics looks like: Get up at 3:30 , get ready and eat. Leave for the bus at 4:25 (I think), the bus comes at.. I don't know what time but we get there at 5:30ish. We then go through security get our lunch ticket and our ticket of where we are going to be working (which changes every day). We start at 6:30 and work until 1 or 3:30 or sometimes 5. The only thing that I wouldn't mind changing is the one meal during our shift. For those who know me, know that I LOVE to eat and am always hungry. This one meal thing during sometimes an 8 hour shift just does work for me. The other day I almost passed out from not eating. I eat at 4:30 in the morning and then sometimes I don't get to eat until about 1. But I have been bringing snacks which helps a little.

God has given me great opportunities to talk to people. I usually have a good conversation each day with a person. I have been able to tell people that I am at Bible college and what we do. They think it is very cool that I am doing that, but some people just stop talking to you when they hear it. I was working with a kid named Patrick and I was able to tell him about Theology and what it was and what we were doing for or our paper. I am becoming more bold and being able to start a conversation with people, which was always hard for me. It is still hard, but God has been giving me the ability to talk with people. When I see how much I put myself out to these people, I realized that I should be living like this everyday. That I need to be talking to people and reaching out to them everywhere I go. I have met many Americans which is awesome! There was a fam from Chicago the other day and then another fam who said they would root for me! It was nice meeting people from home. From being so far away it is a great way to be able to tell them why I am here in Canada, which brings up the subject that I am in Bible school. One of the girls I told that I was in Bible school asked me if I was very religious, I was a little taken back wasn't quite such what I should say so I just said, "you could say that I guess".

It is amazing because people can tell who we are. They say that we have a "joy", a "spirit" and an "energy" about us. They will say to me, "you are part of that group aren't you?" I love being able to say yes to that question. Being able to say yes I am in a group that makes such a big impression on people and that people can tell us apart from the others. I have been seeing God working so much on this trip, and I am loving it!

Please pray for energy and that we will all stay healthy. We are already getting very tired and exhausted, and some are getting sick. We have crazy schedules and are on the go all the time. Thank you for all your prayers! We see prayers being answered every day here! What an amazing God we have!!

Where did January go???

Well, January has flown by extremely fast! I can't believe it has been a month since I have been back. Life is slipping threw my fingers and I don't know if I like that. This past week was kind of relaxing, but kind of hectic at the same time. We had Jim's class on Tuesday and Thursday, which went well. It is amazing how quickly a week can pass, I don't even remember what I did. I always have to look back to the schedule to have everything come back to me. Monday was the day after we got back from the Mt. Washington trip, we just had chapel, hung out, and did homework. But we have been doing worship on Monday nights which have been amazing. We go to Club Coco and just sit around and worship. It is one of my favorite nights of the week. I love to go and sit in a corner open my Bible and read and to listen to the music and sing to my God. I find my heart is constantly over flowing with love for Him.

Class was good, but we have this group project, which I am not too excited about. My group, Kaitie, Rivs, Nicole, Jader and Abby are awesome though. We are never too focused on what we are suppose to be doing but some how we always get it done. Our project is on how we can make the waterfront for camp better. We have amazing ideas. If anyone needs help in that area, we are here, got a couple ideas that we could sell you. Just give my agent a call and we will get together sometime and chat.

On Friday, everyone's youth group came to camp. Which I didn't know until the day before, but what is new? Nothing has changed, I still never know what is going on. I personally thought that it was going to fail and that it wasn't going to turn out very good, but I was wrong. I didn't think that we would have a lot of kids, but we had over a hundred come. It was a very fun night. We played a game, again didn't know what was going on, felt lost as I was playing the game because I didn't know how to play. But it was fun running around with my youth group kids and just having a fun time. I am glad that I have at least three kids that like me, otherwise I would be depressed. One of the girls, April, just gives me a death stare every time she sees me and doesn't talk to me. I try, but she just won't. She likes Katie, but me, she would rather not have anything to do with. There are a couple girls like that, who don't like Kaitie or I , but we just still love on them. That is what we are there for, right? I find it hard though, loving on kids who don't like you. Oh well, I just pray and try to be a good example for them, which is something I think they need.

Well, I can't think of anything else that has been happening here. It hasn't been very eventful, but in a way it has been. Some how I feel as though I have had no time at all but when I think about it I don't know what I have been so busy with.

please pray for us as we prepare ourselves for the Olympics. Pray that our hearts will be ready and that we will have lots of energy for this busy next three weeks! Thank you.