Hello from Mrs. Lowe

E & J, N & I at a friend's wedding this year 

Hello, dear family.
Man-oh-man, I miss you guys! I've had several moments over the past few weeks where I've experienced a Kaleo-flashback, and prayed for you in that moment of heart ache. The most recent of these was a week ago today, when Nathan and I made a trip up to Parksville for our three year wedding anniversary. We went to Coombs for the morning, and the whole time all I could think about was our pit-stops there during Kaleo, on our way up island, filled with those carpets we all bought (mine is still in my kitchen, I use it everyday) and hammocks and cheese bread, pepperoni and ice cream. Sigh.

I hope you're doing well, and that this summer thus far is treating you well. Can you believe it's the middle of 2014 already? Where does the time go!?
Five years ago, we were already finished Kaleo and back home to begin life outside of the bubble... And what an adventure that has been for me.
This past year particularly, has been a struggle. I was taking a year long statistics course (a requirement for my Psychology degree) that was the bain of my existence, and caused me much grief. Praise the Lord that it's over, and I passed!

Married life has been a blessing, but also a struggle, this year as well. I'm thrilled that my amazing husband works alongside me through the hard parts, but I definitely wasn't expecting it to be as hard as it is at times. I'm rejoiced to say that we're doing much better now that we were a year ago, and I don't want you guys to get the impression that things are terrible, but I also want to be honest with you and tell you that it isn't perfect. It is hard work. Society and movies and the church don't portray it honestly, but I trust that God is using it to shape us more into His likeness, and we've both been able to see some of the ways He's been doing that lately, for which I am very thankful.

N & I at my birthday BBQ this year

Along with that, one of my best friends from high school (she came to our K6 grad, did my hair at my wedding, etc) was diagnosed with leukemia, treated for it, appeared to be in remission, and told that her cancer had returned stronger than before, all in less than twelve months. She has just recently found out that she is terminal, and they've given her a year to two left to live. Friends, this above everything else, has been the hardest. My heart is broken. She doesn't yet know the Lord, but she's 23. Too young to die. There's nothing they can do for her, and I'm at a lost for words. How does this happen? What is God's plan through it all? I don't even know. I am just clinging to Him and trying my hardest to trust that He knows what He's doing, that He's big enough for this. Her doctors have given her the go ahead to travel (for a week at a time), so she's packing to leave for a trip to Paris/Rome/Italy this week.
On that note - my apologies for covering your Facebook news feed with my status updates on our fundraising efforts for my friend (T-Anna). I'm amazed to see how my high school community has come together to support her and her family, along with people that don't know her.

Other than that, life continues on as normal. Nathan is working hard as a certified carpenter, and I'm working full time at the pharmacy as a pharmacy technician over the summer, and back to UVic full time in the fall for my third year of my bachelors degree. My hope is that, directly after finishing this degree, I can go on to complete my Master of Arts Degree in Counselling Psychology. Then I'll be finished! Hurrah!

Well, thanks for listening to my heart. I miss you all.
Do y'all check the blog still? I heard of another Kaleo year starting a Facebook group to post prayer requests and updates on... What do you guys think of that?
Also, there has been talk about a Kaleo reunion in the works (Sorry guys, it's taken me awhile to get the ball rolling), so maybe if I make a Facebook group for that we could get some ideas going.... Maybe a group camping trip? Or hike up Mt. Albert Edward again? Let me know your ideas and I'll happily plan it!

All of my love,
A.

Hola from San Diego!

Hi guys,
Well it's been a very long time since I posted here, I apologize! I did feel convicted that I stopped posting here, Deb reminded me recently that I need to post on here and I felt like the time is right!

Where to begin, well after going to Camosun College in Victoria for a year I moved back to California in 2011 because I had to keep ny residency here for my green card! I haven't been back to Canada since then! :( I miss my family and friends, the last almost three years have been a whirlwind for me. I started a sales career in telecommunications, I'm currently based out of San Diego. I found that sales really fits me well, I've been doing well ever since I started.
And... I got engaged last October! And getting married on May 17th. She is actually from Metro Ministries believe it or not! We became friends there and I wrote her a letter before I left, she stayed on there but I guess I left a good impression on her. We stayed in contact and eventually became a couple! Yea I'm really happy, we really complement each other well and we both want to keep Jesus at the center of our lives and our relationship. Our wedding is going to be pretty small since a lot of my friends and family from Canada can't come. I know it's really late notice but if any of you guys are in California I would love to have you there.

Plans for the future include expanding my business career and hopefully own my own business. I would like to use business for ministry opportunities as well. I would also like to get an MBA. Well I hope you are all doing well!

Brandon

Route 66

Hey Guys,

Our church has recently been doing a series called Route 66, a 66 day communal journey through the new testament,  they have also been having random people from the church preach or tell their story.  Taking a break from the norm of having a pastor preach for twenty minutes.  So each Sunday we have two or three different people share for 9-10mins.  Alyssa and I were asked if we would share our story.  Here is the video they made of it.

Grochowski update!

Hi fam, this is going to be a super quick update on the life that is the Grochowski's!

We are doing fairly well. Life is busy, a little too busy but I guess there is a time for everything. Jonathon is just about to finish up his 2nd semester with Columbia Bible College and Acts Seminary. He has been taking 2 courses a semester working towards a possibility of being a Children's Pastor. He has been doing really well and I am extremely proud of him that he has stuck with it each season. It has been super difficult on himself and the family. Some days he is gone from 8am-11pm at night, going from school, to his internship at church and then to his regular job at the Walnutgrove Pool. He is thinking of only taking 1 course each semester due to the fact that there just isn't enough time to do 2.

With Jon being away lots I have struggled at home but God has brought me through it day after day. Some days I feel like I'm going to go absolutely bonkers. To battle those time I have started a weekly prayer meeting at my house. So far only two women come regularly but it has been an immense blessing on all of us. It has been such a great way to pray over us as mothers, wives and women and over others as well.

My photography business has started to get busy again with Spring arriving which I am grateful for. I hope to expand a little more into the wedding field this summer, coming along side a photographer couple that I know to just get my toes wet to see if that is something I would enjoy. Right now I am shooting mostly families and have a newborn session in a few weeks and one birth coming up in May. I would love to do way more birth's but having 3 little ones and a husband gone frequently it is just too much chaos.

I will also be starting Abigail in homeschooling starting this fall. She's excited and so am I. Just looking into material and curriculum now.

Abigail is now 4. Elizabeth is 2 and David will be turning 1 in May! As of now we have decided to wait a few years before we have a fourth, if we even do. Our hearts have been turned to the idea of adopting. But we will see where God leads us in that. Right now we are content with our family and at maximum space anyways, lol

My mother has decided to move down near us as she is in Kamloops right now. This is a major answer to prayer and we have just started the process of house hunting which is hard! But I am praying that God will in his perfect timing open up a home for them and possibly for us as well. We would all love to live on the same property but finding something like that in my area is hard to come by without it costing over a million which is not in the budget.

One big news in our family is that Jon's Dad is getting baptized in a few weeks! PRAISE JESUS EH?!!? So wonderful!

Well fam, I think that is it. I hope you are all doing well! And Amelia I am still waiting for that post about a reunion hike on Mt. Albert! I actually had a dream about it last night, bahaha which lead me to post an update. Miss you all soo much. 
(Recent photo of the kiddos. )

(and just a beautiful sunset I wanted to share!)

There and Back Again...

Friends.

Family.

It's been a long time.

...where to begin?

Currently I'm sitting on my couch in my apartment in Langley. I'm in the middle of my second to last semester at TWU, where I'm studying Christianity and Culture and Biblical Studies.  I've recently started dating a lovely young lady named Kristin (that seems to be, apparently, the most important update, so I thought I'd get it out of the way early), which has been pretty great.  These last few years have been some of the most incredible of my life.  I have learned so much, met some of the most wonderful people and had some of the most amazing experiences.  While I had hoped that my time at TWU would be a time of learning and of growth, I had never expected it to be the incredible blessing of community and adventure that it has been.

I have had the immense privilege of being involved in a new church plant in Langley (journeychurchlangley.ca) for the past year and a half.  To be a part of something new  and to see God bring together such a diverse group of people, from all stages of life, to build his kingdom through this new church is certainly something special.  The church has grown, we've had many opportunities to serve and love our community, and Jesus' name is being proclaimed.  It's a really exciting time.

Also, some of you know I had the chance to go to Israel last summer on a travel study for school.  I took two classes in three weeks all the while visiting places like Mount Sinai, Jerusalem and the Galilee.  I really wish I could sit down and talk with each one of you about that experience.  It was so much more than I could have ever imagined.

Over the past year, God has been teaching me so much about compassion, solidarity, and the idea of bearing one another's burdens.  While in Israel, we were able to witness, and to learn about, the intense tension that exists between the Palestinians and Israelis.  God began to stir in me a desire to come alongside both Israelis and Palestinians, whether Jewish, Muslim, or Christian, in the work of reconciliation. When I left Israel, it was just one idea among many, but over this past semester it has grown into something much more. For the past few years, TWU has sent a summer missions team to Israel and Palestine to work with organizations that are seeking reconciliation and healing in Israel and Palestine.  About 3 weeks into last semester, a friend of mine who had gone on this trip last year asked me if I would consider leading the trip this year.  While my initial reaction was, "That would be so incredible!," it was coupled with, "Paul, be responsible."  Long story short, in November I decided to commit to going to Israel and Palestine for seven weeks this upcoming summer.  It's something i am both unbelievably excited and nervous about. Our team has just started meeting, and it's already an adventure and a half!

I've revived an old blog (inviewofhismercy.tumblr.com) where I have begun to post details/updates about the trip and I will continue to use it as a primary means for posting updates and prayer requests as we prepare for this ministry and head to the Middle East in May/June.  Please check it out.

It would mean a lot to us if any of you would commit to partnering with myself and our team in prayer. There are so many ways that you can be praying for us...

• Pray for our team as we prepare in the next few months.  Pray that we would grow as a unit and that we would engage our hearts and minds as we prepare for this ministry
• Pray that our team will have open hearts and minds as we hear stories of people in a land that is marked by conflict and tension.  Pray that our team will be able to present the love of to everyone we encounter, both to Israelis and Palestinians, whether Christian, Muslim or Jewish
• Pray that each member of our team would be able to balance all that we have going on this semester from school to work with our preparation for this trip. 
• Pray for Israel and Palestine.  There are numerous religious and political tensions in the area. Pray that our team would be able to be ambassadors of Christ's transcending peace and unfailing love.  That we could be agents on the road to reconciliation.  Pray against violence and towards shalom.
• Pray for finances for our entire team.  Pray that our support raising events will go smoothly and that our team would continue to grow by gaining finacial supporters and prayer warriors. 

Also I have written a support letter (a modified electronic version can be found here: http://inviewofhismercy.tumblr.com/post/74263842502/there-and-back-again) and if any of you would like to receive a hard copy letter in the mail I would be more than happy to get one to you!  I just need your address!  Also, if any of you feel inclined to support the trip financially, our team would be incredibly blessed. If you click on the link just above and scroll to the bottom of that blog post (but really, you should read it) you'll see information about how you can support our team.  

I wish I could sit down with each one of you and catch up on the past five years (five years!?).  I'm excited to see some of your faces at Jeremiah's wedding!  

I miss you all and trust you're doing well.  

Blessings, 

Paul

RSVP

Hello friends!
Erin tells me that she hasn't received any RSVP's yet from y'all - I know some of you have told me directly on facebook and whatnot, but it would be helpful if you could send a note to our wedding email: thehenshawwedding@gmail.com with the subject line "RSVP"

Thanks!