16 month Journey is over a week early

Hey K6,

Well, I decided to leave camp one week early due to some health stuff that has been going on inside of me. I depart tomorrow evening after the BBQ to head back home and begin moving into my new house, as well as going for a brain scan, and a bunch of other tests. I am not looking forward to the health aspect that is ahead, but I see that God has put me on a new path, which was to not finnish up the summer but to back out and move on. It's sad, cause I will be missing a great week ahead what with it being youth camp, but missing great food, a concert, and a banquet are worth it to go get my health checked out.

I ask that you would keep me in prayers as I have a bunch of tests run and as I move into my basement suit alone, and as I meet my birth mom in 21 days. Hope you are all doing well as you move on to new schools and towards a new future. I miss you all so much, and only wish I could spend another hour with you all together. Love you!

Leila

Eager, Nurture, Believe

Wait...What Did God Just Do?

Ok so it's been a while now since I've talked to any of you Kaleos but a lot has changed since the last time I've posted so I thought I'd update you guys. So first schooling and the internship is the first big change that I've gone through. So the last time I talked to you guys I had decided to do the Internship at Camp. Well things kinda fell through there. As of a fews weeks ago I found out that I will not be doing the internship at camp so that put me back on the path to finding what I'm going to do in the fall. Knowing that its too late to apply for any schools other then Briercrest and seen that God was clearly telling me that I was not to go to Briercrest I will be doing nothing in the fall. It will be that time that I need to sit back relax and figure out everything I'm still learning since Kaleo. Starting in January I hope to be going to Trinity Western which was the school I wanted to go to in the first place instead of Kaleo. So the thing that I asked myself as soon as I started to look into Trinity again was "Why God did you give me back the first thing that I wanted to do and make it seem like there were 5 different options" basically what I've been doing ever since finding out the I'm not interning is looking at different schools and getting feedback on them. And here I am in the same place I was in April of my grade 12 year, trying to make money to go to Trinity...yay for circles! going around and around in my plans has started to get frustrating and I'm hoping that this is where God wants me to be because I'm starting to run out of time to find out what to do next year. But I know that God's timing is perfect even if it seems to be last minute.

On top of all that school stuff, I have been focusing on the campers here at Qwanoes and getting really drained from everything that I need to pour into these campers. Don't get me wrong this summer has been amazing what I said to myself at the start of the summer is that 2009 was going to be the longest but best summer I've ever had at camp and it has been. This is my last week though so I'm trying to give this last group of boys the most amazing Josh Whincup that I can be. So I'd ask for prayer in finishing off this summer strong.

Also on top of all that I have been slowly been figuring things out about my Torch-bearing for the Olympics. A few days ago I got an email confirming that I will be running the Torch somewhere between Regina and Swift Current. But today I got some really really SWEET news! Today my mom called me and told me that next week Coca-Cola wants to fly me out to Toronto and pay for my hotel and everything there if I would be an Olympic Torchbearer Role Model for them. So basically, as of what I know now, this will consist of me being on stage on national television next week with 9 other torchbearers receiving the highest honors a Torchbearer can receive! So I'm super excited for this once in a lifetime experience!

So yeah a lot has changed in my life in the last few weeks but through all of this the only thing I can say is that as soon as you give things to God he will give you things you could not even possibly dream of getting. Life is good right now like standing on one of God's mountains but if there's anything that Kaleo taught me is that I have to remember that feeling and get ready to head into the dark valley.

God Bless You K6!   

Change of Plans

Tonight as I sit here at my computer writing this message I sit with a heart full of disappointment. As many of you know for the passed eight months I have been working on getting into a university know as liberty university but today only one week before I was to start class I found out that I will not be able to go to liberty do to its cost. I was told today that I simply do not qualify for any federal or privet grants or loans. So I am now faced with going to a much smaller school in southern California for how long I do not know. But what I do know is that I thought I was going in the direction God wanted me to go and I turned out to be wrong. Please pray that God would continue to lead guide and most of all humble me.
Sincerely
Lord bb

The middle of no where...

Maybe you should... Naw, I don't really want to... Why not?... I don't know. What do I have to say?... They are still you're family.They want to know... But I don't feel that way anymore. They have their lives and I have mine... Only if that's the way you make it... But what should I say?... Does that really matter?...

Hmmm? Oh hey! Didn't see you there. Sorry, I was just talking to myself. There seems to be no shortage of doubts and questions in my mind right now. The sort that have a tendency to put me belly up in shallow water. It has been a long time since I have had contact with a large number of you, and I will admit that my motivation to do so has been at an all time low this summer, a summer that is highlighted only my Shan's wedding....and pregnancy? Mama Shan! Anyways, this summer has been one of my worst. If it wasn't for the brief, yet much needed respite of the prairie folk road trip to the coast, I would have very little, if anything at all, good to say about my summer so far. Amidst much discouragement, negative words and being forced into solitude for the sake of a pay cheque, I have found myself in the middle of no where. In more ways than one.

Background. I decided not to take the job up in Lloyd Minster the night before I was supposed to leave for personal reasons. I then proceeded to go unemployed for the better part of three months, ending my bid to return to college this fall. Sitting on $8000 of debt to be paid this year and the state of the economy, meaning no help from parents, was pretty hard to ignore. So I have now made plans to move in with two friends from Calgary and work for another year. That's getting ahead of myself. I was frantically looking around for work anywhere. I was a spinning compass. Red Deer, Calgary, Lacombe, Sundre, Three hills and Crossfield were all visited by a desperate Jonathan Lefebvre looking for anything and everything that paid. I even tried a McDonald's. It was brief and half hearted, but then again everything was half hearted at that point. Out of those three months of applying and dropping off resumes, I got one call back from Mr. Lube. But then they found out that I was not local... After much discouragement and heartless efforts at starting a local lawn mowing gig for the summer, I caught a break. Seriously. One of the maintenance workers at Moose Lack Provincial Park broke her foot. For those of you who do not know, that is where our dear friend Daneille works. With her spotless reputation and her respectable promises, they asked her if she knew anyone who needed work. Apparently I was the ONLY one! Two days later I moved to Bonnyville and began working, cleaning outhouses for the most part. Alone. I work 8 hours, starting 6-7 in the morning, work all day alone, and return to my one room trailer on site. There is little to no phone reception out here, so there is little to no hope of a phone call to or from the outside world. I am very much in the middle of no where. There's the first part.

When Kaleo ended, I was running under the banner of "Warrior", a title that both inspired me and intimidated me. Under no circumstance did I think that I was that yet. This fact has been pounded into me since then. I am sure that all of you are aware of my over sensitive, over analytical nature, but either way I found discouragement at every turn. I began to doubt that Kaleo changed anything in me at. Nothing has gone right for me. A lot of it was because I was either in the way, or trying to run the show, but either way, I have found it even more difficult to be positive about anything than I can ever remember. I am doing my best to keep my chin up, as well as keep a level head. The people I work with are... difficult. I do what I'm told, accept what is said to me, keep my head down and move on. Now, how "like me" is that? I hate it. A 40 year old man acts like an 18 year old boy, but he is the boss, so I do what he says, and just stay quiet after the comments are finished. I have humility forced down my throat, to the point of gagging. That's what I get for praying for humility in New york, eh Jake? Anyways, I expect nothing, change nothing, and float through the day in front of me with a mindless monotony. I am very much in the middle of no where. There's two.

During missions fest, I discovered that I had a passion to do something about human trafficking and the sex trade. I missed the dead line to apply for a school that would get me on that path quicker by less than an hour. Stupid online applications! A few months later sees me in a state that doubts I could get there anyways. Jim... The anger is fading... I have stopped caring much at all. I have thought about taking a few classes in Calgary this fall, but that would only be so that I could play hockey. There is not much of anything in my head. No plan, no hope for a change of heart, no excitement, nothing but dead silence. I am very much in the middle of no where.

From an evangelistic rave to a solitary provincial park, Kaleo sure knows it differences in personality. I did not want to write this. I actually had a sizable argument about not writing it. I wanted to fade into the shadows and forget that I ever knew anything better. An injured warrior would do that. But God's Warrior won't. So I'm asking for prayer. I wish I had a neat little grocery list to give you guys, but I don't. Anything and everything. You now know where I'm at. Facebook still works out here, so that would be the best way to contact me. I would love to hear from you. Any and all. And if you send me sympathy messages I will kick your butts! I just want to remember what it meant to have a Kaleo family. I could use a little bit of that these days. Some midnight ultimate games, or after supper volleyball, maybe even some table jumping, who knows eh Jim? The fact is, something is missing in my heart. Something big. And I'm tired of pretending to know how to fix it. I don't. My Shepard is taking me somewhere, but I still resist Him, because I don't know where I'm at. I feel like I'm in the middle of no where. Trust is still as hard as ever for me to allow, but I'm trying. I can feel the warrior inside me trying to get me to fight, but I am still hesitant. Fear perhaps, who knows why. Anyways, there is my heart, served up as fresh as I know how, buffet style. Enjoy.

The warrior who could sure use some armour and a weapon.

Well Its about time for this..

So I don't think I ever started a new post on here before. So I really felt like it was time to write on here, I have a lot to write about because so much has been going on! Well, after Kaleo was over I took a 3 week vacation to So-Cal and visited friends and family in Orange County and San Diego. That was pretty awesome. So then I get back to Victoria and started looking for work. Well after diligently looking for a month and a half I could not find anything.. But staying at my Grandmas place was not good for me at all, I did not feel very comfortable there in some ways. So I decided to take the leap of faith and rent out my own room right behind the parliament building with money that really would have been better not spent. But I had faith God would provide a job and income for me. Days later I finally got a good paying job and brought in some good money. Now I need another job as that one did not work out, so please pray for that..

Now as far as God's work and the preaching of the Gospel is concerned I have some very exciting stories to tell! I have established a very solid and God focused group of friends here. We meet almost daily for ministry on the street and house meetings (bible study). The great thing is that there are on fire evangelists in this group. We have this passion to win souls, preach the gospel, love people and God. Every Monday we go on the streets of Victoria and do a homeless ministry providing for their physical needs as well as setting people free from addictions and oppression and praying for their healing. We preach the truth of the gospel, led by the Spirit of God, all our ministry is preceded by prayer! There have been countless people who have given their life to Jesus in the past 2 months in this ministry.

A very exciting story I have to tell is this last Sunday there was an open air rave in downtown victoria, centennial square. Well it became clear that God was leading us to go to this rave and bring the light of Jesus into it. As you know I have experience in the rave scene and I used to do ecstasy. At this rave I would say the vast majority of people there were on esctasy, I would say there was about 2500-3000 people there. So once we get there we decide the best thing to do is pray, so we actually get right in the middle of the rave and form a big circle and start to pray. There was so much warfare going on because the presence of evil there is so thick. We all got on our knees in the middle of this thing and started praying that God would reach out and use us to save and love on some people that night. The electronic music was so loud that we could barely hear each other.. So after that we started talking to people, but generally during the rave it was hard to connect with many people because of the crazy atmosphere. I felt a little weird at one point being there, and I almost felt the yeast of the pharisees come on me as I thought, "what is a person like me doing here?" as I was thinking this it was like God told me this verse that I was so moved by during Kaleo.. and my whole Christian walk.

"I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."(1 Corinthians 9:22)

After that it was clear that we were meant to be there.We became ravers so that we could win ravers over. We just had a good time there but did not involve ourselves with sin. I told everyone the verse that God gave me and my friend actually fell down when I told it to Him. The presence of the Holy Spirit was just so strong at that point that I could barely stand up for a few minutes..

So after the rave alot of people were still sitting around. And that is when God broke out. Me and some other friends just started reaching out with compassion and shared our testimonies and told them about God's love and his sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. About 8 people excepted Jesus as Lord and Savior at that point. At one point a group of 5 guys came up and they all wanted to except Jesus. We prayed for some that they would receive the Holy Spirit, and they all said that they felt Gods presence and peace come over them. Two people actually receieved the gift of speaking in tongues!!! Praise God. The great thing is that we have their contact info and are planning on discipling them and encouraging them!

I just really want to encourage all of you Kaleo 6ers to continue in the calling God has for you. There is no better place to be in life than winning souls for Him! Everyone has a destiny in either hell or heaven and we have a chance to save so many in our lifetime!

Other than that I miss you guys so much! I cant wait to see you all again, dont know the next time we will all be meeting up again but I hope soon!

This Sunday we are starting outreach and healing ministries in the entertainment area of the Inner Harbor! Please pray that God pours His Spirit out there! Miss and love you all!

Brandon

A Beautiful Thing

Got a little announcement:


And it is amazing! Wonderful work, Jordan and the Yearbook Team!! Thank you!

We will be mailing it out this week, or if you are nearby let us know and you can pick yours up. Question: Do you want anyone to sign your Yearbook before we send it out?? Let us know. You are going to love it!

hmmmm..... finally

Kaleo FAM!



Yah i have finally chosen to take part in writing on this blog (first post). Apolegies for my lack of communication with all of you, i feel like crap when i think about how long it has been since i have talked with all of you, so here is a little attempt to update you all on what has been happening out on the farm, ha.



This summer has been pretty chaotic and busy with work and with my oldest brother's wedding coming up at the end of August. I am working with my brothers building decks and doing some landscaping work, so it has been a awesome working out in God's creation every day. Before summer started i was saying to myself that before work every day I wanted to be in the word and to be praying about the day and about oppertunities that would arise throughout the day. As the summer has gone on, waking up at 6:30 has put somewhat of a hold on those plans that i had and i found myself becoming less dependant on the word and prayer throughout my day at work. One thing that God has been challenging me to do is to approach this job in a ministry mind set. Did i consider deck building the Lord's work? well of course, "everything is the Lord's work.....but i don't think i acted that way or really believed it in my heart. So it has been very challenging and exciting to try and approach my job in a way that brings so much more meaning and purpose for my roll at "Deckmasters". I find it so cool that God has continued to reveal to me things that i thought i already knew about.... he is faithful. There is a verse that i read while in India, and it has stuck with me while i have been thinking about this,

"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life"
Philippians 2:12-16 (ESV)

As for school next year, I will be going to Universtiy about 3.5 hours from my house here in Ontario for Sports and Physical Education. I am staying in a house that we own up there and so i am praying that God would bless me with roomates like i had in 212... haa... but seriously that he would have his hand over the house and the people who will be living there. It will be quite the difference from Kaleo and i am thinking of it as a time in my life that i will have to buckle down and live my faith out, while i start out in this secular school. I realize that i don't want to live through university like highschool, where i was worried about being cool and impressing people, i hope and pray that God will grab hold of me while i am there and that i will follow his lead.

Well it feels really good to finally "talk/update you guys.
I am missing you all bigtime, and if anyone comes to Beeton... haa let me know and there will be a place for you to stay.
Love you guys

Daniel
p.s. one thing i have been missing is the ultimate games we played in the dark with Tom's light-up frisbee, soo sick

Ok Deb you win

Ok, so I was holding back on posting until sept because.....well I have my reasons. Anyways, umm...yeah I need a lot of prayer. I've kind of let myself slip in certain areas. I was so excited to become a sr counselor...waiting many years, going through a lot to get this title and be able to be a leader...I suck! I can't do it. I find myself wanting to leave camp and go home every day. I am exhausted, full of emotion, frustration, and suffering. I can't seem to do this job well. I don't enjoy it. The joy I once had is gone as I am such a wreck that I find it very hard to be happy. I find myself trying to go to those I could once talk to and get support from only to find that that is not the case anymore. I feel very alone all the time as I try to talk to people but no words come back. I just want to quit. Please pray for me. I am deep in a hole that I cannot get out of. My energy level is in the negatives, and my smile is almost never there. I am tired and want to move on, but know that I cant. It's not time.

Right now I am at home on my 3 days off, hoping to fix some of these problems before I go into my second half of the summer. my cat is asleep on his cat post, my step mom is up island, and my friends and my dad are at work. I have a few hours to just lye and reflect. I have had some good experiences, but most of it has been painful and frustrating. Umm...yeah I dont really know what else to say. I love you and miss you all. As for me...I must go and relax some more before my 3 days are up. talk to you soon.


Ooh! I cant remember if I told you guys that I found my birth mom, but if I didnt, I have full contact with her now and on sept 17th I will be meetimg her. Ok bye