Yearbook Nearing Completion!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to let you know that the Yearbook is nearing completion! However, we are seeing many great photos on Facebook that we would love to use but can't, as the originals were never given to us, and Facebook photos are too low resolution to use in the book. If you have any great originals that you are holding out on, today is the day to email them to me (even if you have to attach one per email) - jimbadke at gmail dot com. We especially need:

• Church ministry photos (youth group, etc.)
• Ministry team overnights photos (Mystic Beach, Ucluelet, Victoria)
• Missions Fest
• Grad (baptism, ceremony, banquet, randoms)

Thanks for your help! Things did slow down on the Yearbook as we were moving out of our house, and now we are in Ucluelet and spending most days on the beach. But we are close to being done, and hope to have them in the mail to you soon. Thanks for your patience and prayers!

Miss you all very much! Please don't be hesitant to contact us - we love to hear from you! Pretty picture from today, near the beach:

HUUUUUGE ANSWER TO PRAYER

Hey guys, remember Alec? My friend that I randomly mentioned during my testimony, and that broke both of his legs and told me as soon as I got back from Kaleo? For the longest time he's just really been on my heart as a friend that I've really needed to stay close to and share Jesus with because he's always been more or less going on the opposite path. I felt lead and decided to stay back from going to advanced crew at Qwanoes before my surgery just to spend more time with him because of this.

Anyways, I'm at camp now, and Alec randomly texted me and gave me a bit of a shock. He told me that he's suddenly had the realization that he has been on the wrong path his whole life, and wants to get closer to the people that actually care about him and with God because I'm his only friend that has shown genuine care for him while he's been injured. Even the friends that were with him and somewhat caused his accident didn't come visit him. It's crazy that it's just been through the fact that I felt led to stay home for longer and spend time with him that this has all actually happened. We had a really good conversation about it and he's had a huge change of heart and it can only be credited to the work of God in his heart.

I straight up told him that this was all an answer to prayer, and he said he knew I was praying for him and that it meant more than I could know. I also told him that some of you guys were praying for him when I asked for it after he broke his legs, and he was completely blown away. He said that was awesome and he wants to experience real relationships with people like I do with you guys, and wanted me to thank everyone. Thanks a lot for your prayer for him, all of you who did.

I'll still need to talk with him a lot when I get home, but this is an amazing start and I'm so glad that it's happening.

Love you guys,
Steve

PS. If anyone wants to be on my prayer team for this summer at Qwanoes I'd appreciate it so much. I'm not doing the best right now so any prayer is appreciated. Let me know

A Mom and Dadke Update

Well, we have started our adventure! Plans have shifted and changed, and will continue to do so, but such is the nature of the best of adventures. At the moment, we are staying in Ucluelet for a couple of weeks, and we "happened" to have been blessed with the best weather so far this year. I like the evenings best:



I can't say that I have relaxed yet. The last few weeks have been endless packing and cleaning (huge thanks to those who came and helped, especially Janet!), and so this is the first time since the end of Kaleo that we have actually slowed down.

I am not even sure how we feel. Pain seems predominant, as my shoulder problem has turned chronic and it will take much therapy and exercise to get it back in shape, and Sarah is awaiting a surgery date sometime in mid-July. I watch the surfers with envy. The other feeling is sadness, catching up with us from the great amount of loss we have experienced this year. But there is also a feeling of hope, trusting that God's vague but sure words to us about our future can be trusted.

What's next? As I said, plans are shifting. After Ucluelet we will return to Crofton to finish signing all the papers for the house, then go to the Mainland (a night at Holly's - come join us!) and head out to Kelowna for a bit to see my mom, go to a family wedding and stay with Kristie. From there, we may wander a bit in BC or the US for a while, but we have put off plans for the across-Canada trip until late August. While Sarah gets her surgery and recovers, we may be in Victoria for a few weeks. Then we will start the cross-Canada trip in Halifax and drive back this way. So some of you may be back home or in college when we come through your area. We will definitely need to spend a day or two at Briercrest! That will take us to early October, and if we still don't know what we are doing or need more rest time, we may travel overseas somewhere. But of course, this can all change.

We miss you greatly, have loved visits and conversations with some of you, and we want to assure you that it is more than okay to contact us - we hope you will! And we hope to see many of you in our travels. Please pray that we will move into rest with grace and avoid the pitfalls the enemy has waiting for us. And may God show his faithfulness to you in continuing the good work he started in you to completion!

Okay, Heids. Out Loud...

So I check this blog almost everyday, if not everyday, yet it's been a while since I've posted. I'm so glad to see how you are all doing. I miss you guys a lot. I know that it's good that Kaleo's over, but I miss my Kaleo family.

That being said, life is so good. I love being home. I've connected to my small group here and my best friend, Alanna, and I shared our testimonies much like we did at Kaleo (and for her, Quest) so that by encouraging vulnerability we can foster community. And it's working! They've embraced the idea and another one of our friends will be sharing his story the week after next! I'm so stoked on what God is doing here and how He's using us to grow each other.

I have an incredible group of friends (and boyfriend). This transition has been relatively easy. Not too many concerns or feelings of not having a place here. I'm excited to see what this next year brings!

Also, I am heading back to ARGENTINA!!! So crazy how God brought it all together, but I still have to raise money so if you could possibly help out at all (even 5 bucks is appreciated!), I would be so appreciative. The Lord is providing money in some pretty cool ways, but yeah. I'm gone from July 1st- July 15th and I'm headed back to the Rendles' and Buenos Aires. I'm so so excited!

Argentina has had a lasting effect on me. I realized just how much I love Spanish so next year, I am headed to UBC Vancouver for a Spanish major with a minor in International Relations! As well, I discovered my love for youth ministry so I am now youth leading at my church (usually, you're supposed to have a gap year before working with high schoolers, but they needed someone and called me in!) I'm also hoping to one day do youth ministry abroad as a missionary.

As well, my dad and I have been talking on the phone and it's been so good! He is really supportive of my plans for next year and beyond and it's just a really good situation right now!


Please pray that all the money for Argentina will come in and that God will have His hand on this trip!

If you want to donate, please message or email me: h dot bishu at gmail dot com (except actually put in the symbols that are typed and no spaces)

Love you all!!

Holly

Crooked Souls Trying To Stay Up Straight

Hey guys!

Well to say the least life has been somewhat normal. I went to YC Alberta as a "youth leader" this last weekend. To be honest, I think I am past the stage of really enjoying YC but I found some of the workshops really good and informational and seeing some of our youth kids excitement was very encouraging and exciting to me. I think of how Paul talks about spiritual milk, that is what YC mostly is, and I don't need spiritual milk anymore, I need something more nourishing for my stage. Speaking of the workshops.... for you who don't know Bobby Bailey is one of the co-founders of Invisible Children, an non-profit organization. He did a workshop and... I actually got to meet and talk with him a little! It was so exciting for me, so I guess that makes me a social justice geek, haha.

In other news, for those who were wondering my first social justice night went really well I may even say a success. 13 people came, but from barely any advertising and from a church of 50 people, I think it was a really good turn-out. It was also a wide age range, which was also so encouraging and wonderful. I plan on doing another this coming sunday. Keep praying!

Love you all so much,

Lynnea

P.S. Bret and Joje, I saw/heard Jon Foreman sing Shadow Proves the Sunshine, made me think of you two.

Bry-guy gets dunked!

As you all know, Bryan got baptized yesterday. Before the service started, he turns to me and goes "So you're videotaping, right? And posting it on the blog?" So that's what I did/am doing!

Without further ado, here's Bryan getting dunked.

Well, maybe a little more ado: since this is a post about Bryan, might as well say HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRY-BRY! WE LOVE YOU LOTS!

Getting There!

Hey! I love reading everything that shows up here! Please keep it coming. The Yearbook is nearing its first draft. Quick question: Does anyone have photos from the Ministry Trip Overnights we did (Mystic Beach, Ucluelet, Victoria)? Also, any photos from your church ministry? And, we could use a few more photos from grad. Anything you have (full-size originals, please), can be emailed to me. Thanks! Once we are away from here, I will give you a full update on us!

Michael...why are you skiing??

Ok, so do we all remember the beautiful time at Mount Washington when we discovered that Michael has a twin? Well, as I was walking downtown in Victoria, I looked across the street, and right in front of me was the Michael Bayus lookalike!!! So of course I followed him... and tried to take a picture on my phone. But I only managed to get the back of his head. Wow, i'm really creepy... but anyways! . Ahahaha. It made me laugh, and I thought I'd share it with you guys!

Love you all so much!!

Out Loud

My dear Kaléo family,

Well, I’m just going to pretend like this is one of those great chapels after reading break or Christmas break or the mission trips when we all sat together and shared stories of the happenings of our lives and the great things that God has been doing. Over the past few weeks I have often thought of writing a post, but have evidently continued to be silent on the blog, thinking of everything I want to tell you guys in my head but failing to express it… haha, it’s like in chapel when Jim would ask us a question or want us to share or pray and there would be those first few silent moments when many of us had something we could share, but just continued to sit there. That’s me and the lack of blog posts. But I have just remembered Jim’s famous words: “out loud.” :) Oh. Right.

My time since being home has been different than I expected in several ways. First, it took far longer than I had hoped to get a job… about four weeks and nearly 40 resumes/applications. It was pretty discouraging at times, as I knew the summer was short and I desperately need the money for school in the fall. However, the Lord had a plan even in this. Because I wasn’t working yet, I was able to go on a short spontaneous trip to Medicine Hat with my older brother to pick up the rest of his things from his apartment. I was able to have a most delightful dinner with Joce and Lynnea, which was SUCH a blessing. Also, my cousin Kathleen from Edmonton came back with us and spent a few days here, which I desperately needed, as “hanging out with friends” has become nearly a foreign concept to me here at home. And, in His perfect timing, the Lord was faithful to provide work for me. I began a week and a half ago at Mark’s Work Wearhouse here in Vernon. I really enjoy the job- and, praise the Lord, my manager is a strong believer in Christ! There are three of us who are Christians at work- so we’re praying for the other twelve! Due to Mark’s being part-time, I am looking for a full-time job to add on top so I can save up more money for school. I’ve been reading through James the last couple of weeks and the Lord placed James 2:18 as a sort of theme verse for me at work: “I will show you my faith by what I do.” I want to work as unto the Lord, even in retail… and I pray that people will see Christ in me. Already, I’ve received a lot of comments about people seeing something different in me- I just pray that, through conversations and my actions, their eyes will be pointed towards Christ.

Friends-wise, things have been difficult. As someone who was homeschooled and attends a small church, I really had one core group of friends here in Vernon. There were four of us from church who would hang out almost every Sunday together and often during the week as well. My parents considered all three of them an adopted part of our family. However, due to a girlfriend, Bible school, and other circumstances, I don’t have that (though, praise the Lord, Sandra comes home today from Bible school and will be home for a couple of weeks before heading off to camp for the entire summer). I haven’t checked out any young adults Bible study groups yet, which is entirely my fault. It’s hard, as I have no connections with other churches and know that I may not be able to commit to another evening thing if I am working two jobs.

I’ve been attending/helping lead our very small youth group (eesh. That reminds me- I need to plan tomorrow night’s event!). This is really the only “social” thing outside of work I do all week. Pretty pathetic, I know. And everyone there is in grade 11 or younger. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to/made the effort to do the mentoring outside of youth that I was hoping to do; hopefully that will happen soon.

Even in all of this, the Lord has blessed me in an incredible way: He has given me an amazing family that I love to spend time with. As Meghan pointed out to me in a recent phone call when I was complaining about my severe lack of community, my family is my community. Honestly, I am so blessed. I hoped coming home for the summer that I would build deeper relationships with my family and this is happening. I’ve been able to have long theological discussions with my daddy or go sit on his lap (yeah… I still do that) after work and tell him about my day. I’ve been able to cook and pray with my mom and I just love talking to her about what’s going on. I’ve been able to go on walks and out for breakfast and on a road trip with my older brother. My younger brother and I have made it a habit of going on walks together when we both have time – this is our “deep brother-sister talk” time. We’ve also been able to sing and play piano/guitar together. Whenever I get discouraged about how I literally have no life outside of my home, I praise the Lord that I have my family inside my home. I love them so much.

I want to leave you guys with some verses from Hebrews: “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for He who promised is faithful. Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Pursue Christ, my Kaléo family. I’ve been experiencing too how tough that can be at home. And I know it’s a struggle to hold onto what we’ve learned this past year rather than slipping back into old habits and mindsets. It’s a battle raging. Christ is the giver of strength and life. We desperately need to pursue Him. And… as a family, we need to be like Moses’ friends and hold one another’s arms up when they are too weary to fight.

So, my dear brothers and sisters, I have to apologize for not being very good at keeping in touch. I regularly check the blog…haha, maybe too regularly. And I do read all of what’s been going on in your lives and, as I read, I share in the joys and tears and frustrations you have experienced since being home. Kaleos, I do miss you dearly. Thank you for being more faithful than me at updating us on life! And for those of you who, like me, feel like you don’t really have anything too amazing or important to share… SHARE! Write a blog post. Although you may feel like what you have to say isn’t important and nobody cares, we most definitely do… so… if you have some time right now, start writing:)

I love you all!

Brents Epic Adventure

Hey everybody! I pray that you all are doing well, and have transitioned from Kaleo smoothly! This next week for me is a huge transition for me, into.. Africa! Whoop whoop! Never thought i would be going there.. anyways, I will be going to missionary school at an orphanage. Its kinda like an apprenticeship for missionaries. Get a big pot and throw in bucket showers, hole-in-ground-toilet, hand wash laundry, dancing, worship, heidi baker, and 250 people from around the world- and you have Harvest School! Anyways, I would appreciate your prayers, as this will be a growing period for me, as well as it could be my door into full time missions (not sure yet..).

And, if you are curious, check out my blog at authenticloveneverfails.blogspot.com which I will try to update while I am down there! Thanks, love yall! -Brent