Shreddin the Gnar

Hello from beautiful Canada!

This week has been nothing but fun and business. We left at 5:45 A.m. (aahh) on Mpnday for Mt. Washington to go snowboarding, skiing for others. We got there around 8:30 and we started our snowboarding lessons right away. I stunk! I couldn't do it for the life of me. The teachers probably thought I was the most hilarious person they have ever taught. I could hardly stand and fell about every 5 feet. I was very discouraged and didn't go for the rest of the day. That night Jim asked me about my day and I said it was ok and that I didn't really do good. So he decided to take it upon himself to teach me how to snowboard. I was not up for this. Tuesday morning I didn't go out. I staid behind and wandered the woods and read my Bible. It was wonderful and so relaxing. But that afternoon Jim MADE me go out and practice, which I am glad he did. I ended up learning how to do it and loving it. Jumped off a few jumps, you know, all the things a pro does...NOT! I didn't even want to go down the hill backwards. But the rest of the week I just loved snowboarding. I didn't carve, I was scared, but I still enjoyed flying down the hill. As i went down, just me and my board, I couldn't help but sing songs to my amazing God who created the beautiful mountains I was on.

People probably thought I was a wacko when they passed me. When I would be getting stuck or slowing down I would talk to my board, "come on baby! You can do it! come on, come on!" and then I would realize I was talking out loud and that people were giving me odd looks. But I am sure they have done the same thing...

The lodge we were staying at was gorgeous. There was a guys side and a girls side. Each side had two bathrooms, a kitchen and BEDS! We had beds! We didn't have to sleep on the floor or in sleeping bags, what a treat. They also had 3 hot tubs. I loved the lodge, I would have hung out in there the whole time. It was the perfect place to get a good book, wrap up in a blanket and just read. The lodge had a huge chunk of snow on the side of it, so some of us built a fort and a slide! It was the coolest thing ever! We even ran out in the snow with our swim suits on and then jumped back into the hot tubs!

Wednesday most of us went snowshoeing. One of the best days ever! We went up the mountain on the ski lift, which was interesting because we had to run off of it. Which if you have ever seen me in snowshoes, it isn't pretty. I was quite worried I would be trampled, but thankfully I did fine and I didn't even fall over. We got to run down cliffs and build caves in the snow, which was my favorite part! It was such a wonderful day and going through the trees was beautiful. God's beauty was shown everywhere.

The chapels were amazing. We all gave each other names that described us best and what God would most likely name us. Everyone decided on the name Delight for me. What an honor it was to be called a delight. We then had a night of just confessing sins and praying. The night was wonderful. We had a worship time after and my heart was just overflowing with joy! I love singing praise to my King.

Well, we finally went to youth group for the first time being back. It was interesting but fun. The kids are so old. They are only in junior high, well most of them, and they act as though they are so much older. We played the same games as we always do, pictionary, mouse and cat, and knights and something. Such fun invigorating games. But the kids are always wanting to play them. It was fun, maybe it was because I was slap happy and laughed at everything. Sometimes I think the kids just hate me, but then they will come up and give me a hug. Then another minute they will ignore me and think I am weird, but the next minute they will want to be my partner for the next game. I don't understand but all I can do is love them. These kids need a good role model and that is what I am there for. I am there to love them and teach them about God.

Well, the Sunday school teacher came and apologized to Kaitie, Ben and I for blowing up at us last week. Last week she told us we were not responsible, thought we were adults but was wrong and that she will have to look over us more carefully. But this week she came up and apologized for what she had said. But she still implied that she will have to talk to Jim to find out what is expected of us, even though we told her it was. She says she is in charge of us, but really she isn't. But she hasn't given us a schedule so we don't know what we are doing. Oh well, we will just do our best and try to please her.

Do you ever wonder what God has in store for you? That is what I am wondering right now. What does He want me to do once Kaleo is done? Am I suppose to be working at the camp in the summer? What do I do after that? Is Briercrest in my future or is it some other school? Or what about the present, what is He trying to teach me? And what will He be teaching me through this new name that I have been given. How can I glorify Him through it? The questions just keep on coming.

Prayer requests: please pray for Haiti, pray for the students here, that we will be focused on God and that we will be looking to God for guidance. And that I will be a "delight" to the kids at my church. I really want to make an impact in their lives. Pray that I will let God work through me. Thank you!

Back into the swing of things

The first week back at good ol' Camp Qwanoes and it has been wonderful. The day I got back everyone came running out and gave me a great big group hug! It was wonderful seeing everyone again and catching up on everyone's time back at home. The first three days home were quite fun. We all hung and had crazy times, but we also worked on school at the last minute =D. Monday we had Theology of Mission with Tim Stabell. It was an interesting class, but not one of my favorites. We watched these amazing movies about missionaries in Africa. Ee-TAOW!!! that is one of the names of the movies, which now all the boys run around saying it and jumping around like monkeys. I have to say I didn't learn that much in the class, but I loved learning stories in the Bible and comparing passages with other passages. Tim gave me different perspectives on passages, things that I never thought of before. I have found that I have such a thirst to know more stories in the Bible and just read it more whenever I have time. Sometimes I read the Bible instead of doing school, which is better then school right? I feel that this semester is going to be more of a growing time then last semester. I love hearing people's views on passages. But there are times when I feel like such a bad Christian. I feel as though I don't know anything about the Bible and am not adequate to tell people about Christ when I know so little about Him myself. But He has been teaching me more each day and I love it!

We went to Vancouver for a mission conference last week end, which was ok. I have to say I didn't like it as much as the last conference we went to. I felt claustrophobic with all the people there. Every time you tried to walk and sit someone was always there around you! There was no place in that building where you could walk without walking into someone. I felt as though I could have screamed! My favorite speaker that week end was Will Graham, Billy Graham's grandson. He was amazing. He has a southern accent and I was compared to him. Everyone here says that I sound like a southerner, which I do not think I do. I don't know what these crazy Canadians are thinking (just kidding). I get made fun of each day with out fail about my accent. But that is ok, they are just jealous of me, but what is new?

Lately we have been having great talks. We have been getting deeper with our talks and I feel like I am getting to know some people on a deeper level. Oh, and I have been told I don't go deep in my blogs, so I hope that I am going a little bit deeper in this one. I will try to keep up the deep stuff, even though I am not good at it =D. We have only had one chapel which was nice. I like having chapel time. Even though I never really talk, but I like listening to everyone else. I am going to try and talk more though, it will be terribly hard, but I am going to push myself to share my feelings!

Well, this week end Justin, Marissa, Jim and Kristie are all leaving... P-A-R-T-Y!!! haha Nikki Parker and Tyler are coming to babysit. Our parents believe that when they come back and the place is not burned down they will be surprised. But I don't know what they are talking about. We are responsible young things, we won't be bad at all. But Jeremiah ( who has adopted me as his younger sis and I have adopted him as my older bro) might come and then things might get a little crazy! But I am stoked for this week end. Nikki Parker is staying in my room, lucky us! She is one of the most amazing people I know. Her walk with God is such an inspiration to me. She cares about everyone so deeply and is just a blast to be with.

Well, I hope this was somewhat deep.. I am still new on this so please don't judge. I will be working on it and please let me know how I am doing.

One last little note before I go and stuff myself with food, is please pray that youth group goes well (first time going since we have come back) and that our trip snowboarding will be good and safe. Pray that no one breaks any bones, mostly me. Well, I am signing out hoping that Tim's birthday pie is almost ready! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIMO!