Life for the past while...

This past while has been rough, stressful, tiring, humbling, stretching, mind intensifying, saddening, heartbreaking, hopeful, joyful, exciting, humbling again, ecstatic, building, super fun, heart warming and good. To wrap all of those ideas into one word it would be GOOD! With Kaleo wrapping up it has been crunch time with the homework while at the same time the attempt to get every little bit of experience squeezed out of each trip like a little girl making lemonade. Living with people is tough, especially the ones that you don’t choose to live with. But a wise man told me that it is better to live with the people you don’t choose, that way growth actually happens. That is what has been happening. Growth. At this moment my mind and body are feeling quite sore and stretched from my previous pounding of the essays and pounding of my body, attempting to get into shape for motocross and farm work when I return home. The previous trip, Tofino and the one happening now, whitewater kayaking have both two of the most humbling experiences I have had all year. For most of my life I have been able to compete and take part in pretty much any sport because of my natural athleticism. But finally my pride and mindset have caught up to me. My right shoulder still holds the injury it received last spring while my left one received a new one just a few weeks ago. As of now both of my shoulders are out of commission and that has caused me to sit out the final two trips. While everyone else is enjoying the trip I have to find my own means of experience. While at Tofino, even though I was not surfing I had a fantastic quiet time on the beach to myself and managed to get in my first west coast sunset over the pacific in the company of good friends. And at the moment, the kayaking trip is happening but while everyone is out doing their thing, I just finished a 2000 word essay. Choice.
Of course this point in the year is not completely about schoolwork or experiences. Much of my time is spent examining my heart. I have found that unless my heart is in the right place, there is no reason for me to be in the current situation I am, because it will only end up damaging me and progress I have made so far. With the eyes of the Lord I have been picking out places where I have seldom explored, finding things and people there that have no place.
Lately at youth from the break though moment that happened on dodge-ball night to now things have been amazing. Phil, the new youth pastor, has really picked up the reigns at youth and is making changes left right and center. I am really excited to continue to be apart of that church, if it is only for one more youth and Sunday. What we are doing is preparing a way for future Kaleos to attend that church. Instead of attending a youth with (poor is a strong word but I cant currently think of a gentler word to place) poor leadership, organization and discipleship, they will be able to lead as leaders, instead of observing from the sidelines grade 9’s “leading.” But through all of this criticism youth is amazing; don’t get me wrong, its just that it seems like my church group was the building inspector that realized the building needed to get knocked down and a new contractor with training was needed to build a new building. Next year, hopefully K8 will have a fruitful time.
Although I have been away from home this year I have seen God moving and working while I have been away. For most people, you need them to tell you their testimony so you can hear what God has done in their life. Even though I am away. I still see the testimony of my sister unfolding before my eyes. It is unbelievable to see God working from such a distance. Incase you haven’t herd, God is working Miracles day by day in the health and life of my sister. Her “incurable, aggressively growing, death sentence” of a tumor is retreating and the Dr’s do not know why. As believers we know. God has our backs, when we cry out he listens and acts according to his character and will. In this case it seems it is in his will to cure her and praise God for his hand of mercy. My only hope is that I have a continuous heart of worship and praise with or without good MRI results.