Hello from the Windy City!

So I checked to see if this was up and running and sure enough it still is haha. Even after 4 years apart, I still think of you guys from time to time. There are always different situations that remind me of my time in Kaleo. And one of those situations happened last Saturday night. First I'll give a lil bit of context! 

For my final semester (FINALLY) I've been living in Chicago for the semester doing an internship with a nonprofit that works with low-income seniors within the city of Chicago. I've been learning lots and have been taking it all in. Pretty crazy to have this as a final semester. Even crazier that getting my undergrad has taken me from Hamilton, Ontario to Crofton, BC to Sioux Center, Iowa to Chicago, Illinois. 4 cities. 1 undergrad. Haven't met to many people who have done that. Also don't ask me what I'm going to do after because I have no clue. It'll just be the life of a post-college student. 

Thats just a brief summary. There is lots more, but everyone of us has a long story since Kaleo ended back in 2011. 

Okay, so why am I writing this and how was I reminded of you guys? So last Saturday the band Judah & the Lion played a show in Chicago. Great band for those who haven't heard of them. Anyways, noone on the program wanted to go with me so I met up with some random college students that I got hooked up with through a mutual friend. I had no idea what to expect going there. They were having a little shindig before the show started. There were over 20ish people there and we ended up breaking into small groups before the show. It was a chance to get to know some new people and every group prayed for one another. This is what really reminded me of Kaleo. It reminded me of when each of us shared our stories and had community pray for us. If there was one thing for me to take away from Kaleo, it was the times we did that as a community. I'll always cherish those moments.

I just thought I would share that with anyone who reads this. I  hope everyone is doing well!

I'm married!

One kaleo buddy made it to my wedding and I thought you'd like to see! Congrats to sweet Mary Baines as well!

You're Invited!!!

Hey so I too have been thinking of a Kaleo reunion  too, and what better way than to invite ya'll to my wedding!!! You don't have to feel obligated to come but if you are around on the Island at that time please feel free to join me in the celebrations. It will be super chill potluck style at my parent's house in Duncan on July 12th at 4:00pm. If you would like a formal invite just comment with your address and I can mail one to you. Also Taylor and I bought a house with some property so if you need cheep accommodations we can arrange a tent city in my yard for those who don't want to pay for a hotel. If you have any other questions and if you are able to make it just message me on facebook!
Love you all and hope you are doing great.
Mary

Redeemed and Transformed!!

Hey everyone

Sooo once again I have not posted on here for like a year. I totally forgot about this blog until I was reminded about it this morning. As most of you know I have been at a Christian rehab program here in London called Teen Challenge. I entered the program in January of 2013 and graduated in January of 2014. I am now working there as an intern for 6 months! God is so good I don't even know where to start. Before I came into the program my life was going downhill very fast. After Kaleo I started partying again and I was getting worse and worse until I finally hit rock bottom. I was getting involved with some heavy drugs again and this time I had so much guilt and shame because I knew God was real and that there was a better life for me but for some reason the overwhelming pull of drugs kept dragging me down. I cried out to God in December of 2012 and told him if I don't get out now that I will either be dead and in jail within a few months. I have no doubt that one of those two would of taken place if God did not rescue me from the pit I was in. I re-dedicated my life to God right then and for the next 5 weeks I was able to stay sober before entering the Teen Challenge program. The first few months of TC was extremely hard. I felt like I knew a lot more about God and his word than any other student here and satan used that against me. I had quick easy answers for everything and therefore looked like I had it all together. It wasn't until month 3 when I realized that I was helpless on my own strength and that I needed to surrender everything over to God and let him take control of my life. This is when REAL change started taking place. God started chiseling away old habits and thought patterns and replaced them with love for his word and his children. It's amazing to look back over my life and see how God was always there trying to direct my path and I didn't even realize it or if I did how I just ignored it. After month 5 I became a mentor. Meaning I had my own room (usually you are in a room with 15-20 other men and you sleep in bunk beds :P) and when a new student came into the program he would bunk with me for the first two weeks to learn about the program and ultimately about God. That's when I first saw the changes that were happening in my life and the first time in a long time that I started to enjoy life again. God has been molding me into the image of his son this whole time in Teen Challenge but I did not start realizing it until month 5. Being a mentor helped me to mature a lot and helped me to be a leader in this program. It's awesome how God can use someone like me with my past to now help others here in the program. I have had the privilege to be in the Teen Challenge choir for 10 months of my program as well. It has been an amazing experience going to different churches every Sunday around Southwestern Ontario to share my testimony through song and through spoken word. God has increased my boldness to share like never before. I have been given a couple opportunities already to share my testimony at youth groups and on the streets of London during our evangelism course. Teen Challenge is not just a rehab centre but also a discipleship program. One part of the program is going to the streets of London( many places I have been in the past using or selling drugs) and sharing the gospel with the homeless. WHAT A PRIVILEGE! I am in awe that God would not only save me from myself and my destructive lifestyle, but now is allowing me the strength to go back to my old areas and share the gospel with people who are hurting just like I was. AMAZING! The last few months of the program was a transitioning time for me. Getting ready to go back to society with new disciplines and a change of heart. That's also a big reason why I decided to do an internship. It's another 6 months where I can give back to the ministry but also continue my own personal growth here as well. After my internship is done I am looking into various bible colleges including Briercrest, Redeemer, Tyndale, and EBC. I am praying that God will lead me to the right one (as I know He will) and looking forward for what he has in store for me now! I will leave you guys with two big things that I have learned here at TC. First is that Jesus is much more a savior than  I am a sinner. I hope by my little testimony here you guys can be encouraged that no matter what we do, God has already forgiven you for it! The second thing is that we can be somebody's breakthrough! People all around us are wondering if God is real, and we have a short time on earth to leave a legacy of what a man or woman possessed by God really looks like. A SHORT TIME. I am now realizing how short life really is and that our mission here on earth is to be the light in this dark world. To share the gospel and to ultimately just love on others. I always thought I needed to be on a missions trip to be sharing the gospel. I can't believe I thought like that! Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, that is out mission field. Who knows if you were called to work for this job or go to this school at just a time as this? :) God bless you guys and I miss all of you!


Nate

An Outrageous Proposal

So...
I am going to propose a wild idea here...
All of the K8 from Briercrest are graduating this year (except me.... my bad) so if anyone is interested you should come to the grad ceremony so we can have a mini reunion! Or come to YQ! Just a thought, the K8s here at lil' ol' Caronport were talking about it last semester a little bit. We would love to see you guys again!
That is all :)