Paul's Letters and Nerf Guns

This past week, the students have learned about the life and teachings of Paul in the class Pauline Epsitiles. This year, they had a new professor teaching the class and all the students really enjoyed the way he taught the class in a thought-provoking way.

Here is one of the students commenting on her experience in the class:

"To be completely honest, I was hesitant at first what to think in starting class monday morning. But as soon as the second hour rolled around, I realized that I was going to enjoy this class thoroughly. Brian Westnedge was our professor for the week of Pauline Epistles and he has such a gift for teaching! As we opened up Paul’s letters, they came alive to us as never before, we have a solid foundation for the background and culture of what was happening during the writings of his letters and how that impacted his writings. I would say that I have a complete new appreciation for Paul’s letters, and an understanding of how they fit within the scope of the bible and how we are to read them. Learning about what the gospel is according to Paul is probably one of the many eye opening concepts I learned over the week. That everything Paul speaks about is very much recounted in his understanding of the gospel and then correlates with his understanding of the Old Testament. I think out of all of the classes we have taken this year I was able to retain the greatest amount of information in this class. I think I speak for a lot of my classmates as well in saying that, we are really thankful and blessed to have such good teachers.
Sarah McQuarrie"

Sarah spoke correctly about her classmates as many other students said similar things about this class and  about Paul and his letters. 

(Brian Westnedge took a timeless selfie with the class at the end of the week)

We also had a great battle take place in Pacific Woods Lodge (PWL). The students and staff were able to let off some steam in the form of Nerf guns. We had a western themed "Battle for PWL," where everyone was put into battle scenarios with poorly working Nerf guns. many Nerf darts were shot, there was chaos everywhere, and fun was had by all. This was a highlight of the week for the students who just needed some time to run around and be crazy. 

This week the students are crabbing and we go rock climbing! 

Until Next time, 

Isaiah Moffatt

Kaléo Intern

Missions trips, to the city and down the coast.

Vancouver Mission’s Trip

These past two weeks 14 students, Shane and I had the opportunity to serve in Down-Town East Side Vancouver City. We spent our time there working within two different organizations, New Beginnings and Potter’s Place Mission. These two places, even though they are close in proximity, have very different focuses in the type of services they provide. New Beginnings is a church that is surrounded by an area that is highly populated by first nations people. This church’s primary goal is too meet first nations people where they are at and to mend the relationships of first nations people and Christianity that had been severed. The students had opportunities to work with the youth and children of this church. Many students enjoyed tutoring and playing with the children in their “Say Yes!” program. This program was an after school program in which kids would come to the church for tutoring, a meal and games. They also served the church by doing projects in the church that the full time staff had not had time to get around too. The staff were very thankful for all the work the students put in that week to help them in these areas

The second organization that we had the opportunity to serve was Potter’s Place Mission on East Hastings Street, Vancouver. This organization provides two services and two meals per day to the homeless in the surrounding area. Everyday at 11 a.m. and at 9 p.m. there is an hour-long church service and a meal that is served at the end of the service. The students led worship and spoke, either sharing their testimony or a message at every service. Every afternoon we were at potters, we helped them in their renovations. In one week the upstairs of potters was completely transformed. Another big part of potter’s place’s ministry is their street ministry. We were able to go on a few walks that week, talking to those on the street and praying with them. Throughout the whole week, the students were touched to hear the stories of those who came into potter’s place. The student’s minds were transformed to the way they think about homeless people as they listened to many of their stories.  Overall, this trip was a very eye-opening for everyone who went. God spoke to us all in different ways and we all left with something that we could take with us for the rest of our lives.

Until next time,

Rachel Nelson, Kaléo Program Intern

Mexico Missions Trip:

God is at work in Mexico. He has been working there long before we went there, and He has continued to work there after we have left. Although we may feel like we were the cause of God working in Mexico, that simply is not true. God blessed us with the opportunity to see how He was at work and that we were merely tools used there for a short time. 

For the Mexico missions’ trip, ten students came down and served alongside the Northern Lights Ministries, proclaiming the gospel to both the Mestizo and Indigenous Mexican people. While we were there we built student housing for married students attending the seminary down in El Papalote. Almost nightly we also had the privilege to work alongside some of the leaders in the area and assist in leading youth nights in various villages around El Papalote. There were also opportunities to see and assist the widely marginalized people of Mexico, from houses holding many disabled people, to people living and working in the landfill. Through all this work, God has been working and making change in the community. There is joy.

Joy is everywhere to be found in the San Quintin Valley. Christ has permeated the communities down there and joy fills the lives of those who follow Him. Now not everyone in Mexico has this joy, just as not everyone has this joy in Canada. Despite the living conditions, despite the poverty, despite the corruption and adversity that everyone must face while living in Mexico, those who have Christ are so evident. They do not put their trust in material things, but in God as we all must do. Even with their interactions with us, when language was a struggle for both sides, they were joyful and wanted to interact with us.

The language barrier that was before us made communicating difficult. Thankfully, God has given us more than just words to communicate with people. The saying "actions speak louder than words," was brought to life for us. How could we possibly tell these people about the love of God? Well God has blessed us with non-verbal communication. We lived out God's love to these people every chance we God. We played with the children, we gave them attention and we loved them as best we could. And they responded. The smiles and hugs that we received from the locals spoke volumes to what we communicated to them and that they returned the expression. With the adults, communication of God's love was a little harder than it was before. But we managed to communicate to them that we wanted to invest in them and build into their community. Through the little bit of Spanish we knew and hand gestures and sometimes a translator, we were able to have communication with many of the locals that we interacted with. The language barrier was a difficult barrier to cross, but God's love still transcended the barrier and brought the two communities together. God's love cannot be silenced, even if we have no idea what the other person is saying to us. 

Pray for the students as they head into their next class, Pauline Epistles. Thank you for taking the time to catch up with our students and investing in them. 

Isaiah Moffatt

Kaléo Intern 

Missions Month

It’s missions month here in the Kaléo Program. The students have been fully submerged into thinking and contemplating missions as they have and will be focusing on missions for the next month. This past weekend the students had the opportunity to attend Mission Fest in Vancouver. They were able to gleam lots of information from all the booths that were being displayed as well as all the seminars they attended. We also had some fun over the weekend as we toured downtown Vancouver. On Thursday we rented tandem bikes and rode around the sea wall. On Friday morning, we were able to explore Grandville Island, discovering little shops and enjoying the market. 

                                                                                                       (Photo Credit: Genevieve Smith)

                                                                                        (Photo Credit: Genevieve Smith)

                                                                                                          (Photo Credit: Genevieve Smith)

Currently the students are taking “Perspectives in Missions” with Professor Gord Nickerson. Both of these experiences are helping to prepare them for their upcoming missions trips that we begin in just over a week. For these trips, 10 of the students will be traveling to Mexico and 14 of them to downtown Vancouver. Please keep them in your prays over the next week as they prepare mentally and emotionally to serve the Lord and those in each of these areas.

                                                                                                                 (Photo Credit: Rachel Nelson) 

Blessings,

-Rachel Nelson, Kaléo Program Intern

Mount Washington Skiing and Snowboarding

Hello Everyone!

This past week has been quite the week! We have been on the slopes for the past five days  at (as the title suggests) Mount Washington Alpine Resort. This mountain is one of the only ski resorts on Vancouver Island. 

(Photo Credits: Kyle Bauman)

The first two days were full of skiing and snowboarding. On a little bit of a down note, we were also met with slush and rain as the temperatures rarely dipped below -1°C. This did not stop the students from having a blast on the mountain however! Everyone was having a great time despite the poor conditions. The second day, the weather was so uncooperative that the many of the locals did not even bother coming to the hill that day. As a result, that afternoon the mountain was basically ours to use! 

(Photo Credits: Kyle Bauman)

After two days of shredding the mountain, we had a rest day. All of the students appreciated the time off because it was a great way to connect and relax sore muscles. The day was filled with card games, good conversations and some course work. 

On our fourth day, we were able to go and hit the slopes one last time. The weather was a little more cooperative, as it was a bit colder and was not raining! This made for a great last day skiing down the mountain.

(Photo Credits: Kyle Bauman)

On the last day, snowshoeing was the chosen activity! We all rented snowshoes and took one of the lifts up to the top of the mountain and our guides (Claude, Thomas and Wyatt)  brought us down the backside of the mountain while teaching us different skills about living in the wilderness, particularly in the winter months! Snow caves were built, navigation was taught, and snowshoe races were had. It was a great day enjoyed by all. 

 (Photo Credits: Kyle Bauman)

(Photo Credits: Kyle Bauman)

On Thursday we are heading to Vancouver to participate in a conference called Missions Fest. Everyone is looking forward to listening to the seminars and scouting out the plethora of booths at this conference. We will be sure to tell you all about it next week!

Isaiah Moffatt

Kaléo Intern

Finally Back on the Island

We're back! Sorry for the late post... the start of second semester has been a crazy time and some things have been neglected - this blog being one of those things. Our apologies! We will now resume our weekly posting.

The students arrived back on Vancouver Island about two weeks ago and were met with joyful hugs and full hearts from their well rested friends. Soon after the arrival on the Island, the students hopped right into their first class of the semester - "Introduction to Christian Theology" with Merrill Dyck, MA.

In class, the students learned that a relationship with God is so much more important than the knowledge of God. They also learned that no one can truely understand the Trinity and that to explain the Trinity in any sort of human reason would be heresy; the Trinity cannot be understood, just accepted. Another part of what they learned in class is that the virgin birth is paramount in knowing that Jesus is God.

On the last day, the students were pitted against each other in theological debates, where they had to defend their side of an issue. Students were put into teams and were assigned an argument to defend. The students then researched why their side of the issue was the correct view, despite what they personally felt about it. The issues that they had to debate on were "whether or not punishment in Hell is eternal," and "does praying change God's mind." It was a good exercise in defending your belief when people challenge your views.

This past, week the students had time to finish up their assignments for the class. Also during this week, the students and staff were able to have a good evening of fun at fireside. Fireside, if you don't remember, is where staff invite students into their homes and have an evening away from camp and assignments, playing games and eating snacks. It is a fun change of pace and a great time was had by both the staff and the students.

  (Photo Credits: Kyle Bauman)

  (Photo Credits: Kyle Bauman)

 Also during this homework week we went curling! On Wednesday, all the students had the opportunity to experience curling. Although some students have preconceived notions of what the game would be like, everyone enjoyed learning how to curl and even had time to play a few ends of the game!

 (Photo Credits: Michaela St. Louis)

 (Photo Credits: Peyton Arnold)

  (Photo Credits: Peyton Arnold)

To end off the week, the students led a valley-wide youth group night for all the churches in the Cowichan Valley called "One". Youth groups came from all the churches in the area to have fun and learn about God. The night went off without a hitch and great fun was had by all!

 (Photo Credits: Beth Vliet)

 (Photo Credits: Beth Vliet)

This week, we are heading to Mount Washington, for our week long ski/snowboard trip! Please be praying that no injuries happen on this trip and that everyone is able to enjoy their time on the mountain.

Until next time,
Isaiah Moffatt
Kaléo Intern

Church Ministry and Cow Bay

This past week, the students had a great time learning about Church Ministry from  Dr. David Ernst D. Min. He takes a different approach to class as his classroom is a tech free zone. That means any and all notes that the students wish to take must be taken with pen and paper. 

The students enjoyed being in the class as they learned the various parts that make up church ministry. There were some great discussions that were held both in class and out of class as the students discussed various topics about church ministry such as: spiritual gifts, women in leadership, homosexuality, and social justice.

On Wednesday, the students and Professor Ernst took some time off in the afternoon to go an adventure. Almost the entire class went to Cowichan Bay to explore and have fun as a group. The weather was beautiful and made for an excellent study break.

Saturday was supposed to be the Guys/Girls day where both groups go out and have fun along with their respective genders. Unfortunately, the weather was not as co-operative as was hoped and the roads were atrocious. No one was able to succeed in their plans so the afternoon was split into girls/guys, and during the evening, we all came together and had supper while watching a movie, it was a great time to sit back and relax. 

(Photo Credits: Isaiah Moffatt)

This coming week is the final push before the students go home for Christmas break and they are working diligently to finish all of their last assignments. Please be praying for motivation and strength for all the students to push through these last few days and to finish well.

Isaiah Moffatt

Kaléo Program Intern

Tis the Season

The environment this past week in the Kaléo Program was one of preparation and relaxation. The students have been hard at work preparing for their last class of the semester “Foundations of Church Ministry” with Professor David Ernst, D.Min., and finishing up final  projects from their previous classes.However, the students had several opportunities to step away from their homework to enjoy each other’s company. On Tuesday, we switched up the chapel scene by hiking up Maple Mountain, singing praise songs as we walked along. At a lookout, in front of three wooden crosses, we listened and were challenged by Shane Pickel as he taught from the Word. The hike was beautiful and chilly but just what the group needed.

                                                                                                              (Photo Credit: Rachel Nelson)

                                                                                                            (Photo Credit: Rachel Nelson)

On Thursday, everyone got into a festive mood as we held a day full of Christmas preparation. The day started with everyone pilling into the vans and going on a hunt for two perfect Christmas trees. Once we arrived at the tree farm in Duncan, the tree hunt turned into a game of presentation and playful debates of who had found the best tree. 

                                                                                                               (Photo Credit: Isaiah Moffatt) 

                                                                                                    (Photo Credit: Isaiah Moffatt)

After our successful find we spent the afternoon making our own Christmas tree ornaments, and popcorn and cranberry garlands to decorate the trees while watching The Nativity Story. The festivities continued into the night as a few of the students planned a surprise Christmas party for the rest of the students at the Camp Qwanoes Guest House, complete with games, food and great music.

                                                                                                     (Photo Credit: Isaiah Moffatt)
                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                           (Photo Credit: Hannah Ayton)

The students are now eagerly preparing to learn more about the Church and who they are in relation to it as they reflect upon class teachings and experiences in different ministry areas at church and at camp.

-Rachel Nelson, Kaléo Program Intern