Why I am in Moose Jaw

Hey

So I have started to figure out why I am here in Moose Jaw and it is not for money it's not to live on my own, It's simply because of Joe's Place. I went to the General Meeting for members and staff last Thursday at Joes place and had time to listen and reflect on this past year at Joe's Place,this is why God has called me here this summer and next year. I am learning that God has this all in control and allowed us as staff along for the ride. I spend my time in the climbing wall belaying and encouraging kids to reach new heights. seeing their determination to go further and love life and accomplish what seems the impossible. To walk around the building and keep up PR with the city and hang out with kids as they come and go. I get to build into the lives of youth that may be lost and confused. Most of these kids are fatherless but I am an example of a son of a man that had no father either yet has raised me in a loving environment. I may not be able to relate to these kids pasts but I can help give them hope for the future. Jesus deals with the past and uses us to show examples of his love that they can receive from a heavenly father. Many people questioned why I was staying in Moose Jaw, I even question that but Joe's place was the reason and I am loving being able to get to know staff and kids more with the time to hang out and become closer friends. For those of you who have never been or heard of Joe's place please check out my blog http://www.in-tensional-life.blogspot.com/ for pictures of the building what happens there and links to the joes place website to help you understand more and maybe donate as well. Joe's place is not indebt but money and prayers for quality staff are need to keep this place running. If you have any more questions or comments please ask or better yet come and visit me some weekend and experience Joes place for your self. Or as money is an issue get involved in young life or YFC or some other drop in center/ out reach to youth.
peace love and prayers
P.S. Love to hear what all others are doing this summer.

summer update!!

hey guys! well i guess it's time for a little update. i just got back from sasquatch music festival, in the gorge washington, which was BEYOND rad! (except for the fact that i lost my shoes and hat on the main floor because everyone went insane!) this past semester was crazy busy good i guess. i was working at a coffee shop, going to uvic, and doing young life, and attempting to have somewhat of a social life. now that it's summer, i have quit at that coffee shop and am working for young life again, as summer student staff. that basically just means that i'll be paid 35 hrs a week to do what i probably would be doing anyways (hanging out with super cool teenage girls), plus a lot more planning and organizing and clerical work. im so excited/so happy! i didn't think we were going to get grants from the government (which allow young life to hire university students for the summer) so i was beyond psyched when i got offered the job. it will be a busy but phenomenal summer. i will be back and forth between rockridge canyon (young life's camp) and victoria all summer. most of my time will be spent in victoria though, hanging out with kids here, doing yl club, helping run campaigner bible studies, etc. i'm tres excited. there have been a lot more reynolds girls coming out lately, which is great, because that's the high school that i am targeting. ya, the more i get to know these girls, the more i really really want them to know their god. anyways, i'm just really excited for all that comes with these summer months: sunshine, popsicles, outdoor concerts, night swimming, bike rides to lakes, bocce (!!!), et cetera. i have also been really loving the solid friendships god has provided me with in this past year. as well as remaining super tight with my best high school friends, i have found some amazing "friend-for-life" friends in many of the other young life leaders. so, in a nutshell, first year was crazy, and god taught me SO much about everything, about who i am, etc. i really feel like i am figuring out my place in his kingdom in a way more tangible way than i ever could have expressed during kaleo. and to top it off our wonderful friend lisa is engaged and i couldn't be more excited for her and dalen and i can't wait to see all of you at their wedding!! EEE!!

in closing, i love you all. i miss you, but i finally don't miss kaleo. and that's a good place for me to be. i am going to be sending some of you letters in regards to supporting me (yes, with money) this summer, because i have to raise $2700 so that i can get paid, afford to go to school, etc. i am only sending a few of you letters, so, if you want me to send you one, let me know!

can't wait to see you again,
whenever that may be,

XO blythe

Finally!!

Yes, the rumours are true: the Kaleo Four Yearbook is complete and on its way to you! In a few cases, it is being hand-delivered by Amanda and Nicki to those they encounter on their road trip. For most of you, it is being mailed to your home (or NY in Ryan and Steve's case). My apologies that it is a whole year late, and am I just glad that it won't be two years!The Yearbook includes a DVD that will play on your TV or computer (it's in widescreen - let me know if you need standard format for some reason), plus another DVD that has the raw images, a few video clips and a couple presentations, all of which must be brought up on a computer. We were not able to fit everything, but I think we got the best. Brandon, Viktor and I have the full set of three DVD's of raw stuff, if you ever want to come over and try to find that special photo we missed.

Hey, if you get the chance, come and visit! Sarah and I will again invite you all to a barbeque toward the end of the summer, for any who are in the area. We would love to see you, hear from you or at least hear a rumour about you!

I hope that these images will come at the right time for you - a time appointed by our loving Father. Why not take an hour or two, make a big mug of chai tea or buy a massive slurpee, load up the DVD on your TV or computer, and let the memories wash over you. Not simply for the sake of sentiment or to make you homesick, but to remember what God did through wonderful people, in and through your life, from September 2006 to April 2007.

more Ghetto than I thought

Hey guys, i just wanted to ask you guys to pray, things have been getting rougher and rougher. In the last two days of sidewalk sunday school, we've seen two shootings, (this is during the lesson) weve had ice thrown at us from 100 feet, rocks and dirty diapers thrown 80 feet high. And it just seems like Satan is really trying to attack us. It's hard to keep kids at sunday school when people are getting shot behind them. So just in the midst of whatever your doing I want you guys to pray for NY. Think about this if you can walk to the cornerstore at night and feel safe about it, don't take it for granted, your blessed. Kid's here live in a horrible place to grow up, when I go through the projects with my workers they wont get too far away from me becuase their afraid they'll get pulled in and killed. I just wish that this wasn't a problem. so yeah, that's all I got for now.

Trinity Vs. Unity: showdown in Saveon foods

Hello family.
So God has been very wonderful to me yet again and has blessed me with a fellow at my place of work called Felix. You may however call him any other male name beginning with "F" like Frodo or Franz, Franklin etc. I do this all the time for fun.

Anyways he has a really solid heart for Jesus and him and I ALWAYS discuss doctrine and everything else good and debatable about our faith and through these talks the issue of the existence of the Trinity has come up. He is very much for the idea that the three persons-Father, Son, Spirit- are three different entities. He used to be Trinitarian, as he calls me, but is no longer. Now I know this may make him sound like a heretic and a member of a cult or something else but he seriously loooves Jesus and is an amazing guy who sharpens me as a brother, is a bold and faithful servant and really dedicates his mind to knowing God more and more. And he is only 18!

But essentially folks, I need good scripture (preferably from very literal translations of the bible, as biblical inerrancy is not something he wholeheartedly believes in), good books by reliable doctrinally sound authors, or good essays/writings on this subject that can help him and I better understand it. I myself do not have any troubles accepting the fact that God is three in one, but Felix brings up a lot of good points in scripture that seem to make it easy to look at things from that perspective of his. So please, help a brother out. I am sure many of you at B crest have access to lots of profs who are super well versed at discussing this subject so maybe ask them?
Or is school out now... i don't even know.
Thanks, Love you all.

Updaters

1.So my wedding is on September 27th, 2008. The plan is for us to take the first semester off school and to jet around Australia/ New Zealand for a month for the sweetest of all honeymoons. Then back to learning for January.

2.(Details for Kyle) On April 23rd, Me and the bf went for a short skidoo/picnic. After chicken quesadillas Dalen says that he made my favorite dessert. After guessing all my favorites he busts out a plate of Jell-o. Then I note that he is on one knee with his plate of Jell-o so I look inside and see something sparkly and ask, "is that an engagement ring!? Are we getting married!?" to which he responds "I don't know, will you marry me Lisa?" then we sprayed champagne all over the place and now we are engaged. boo-yeah

3. Today I was having a bad day at work because it was raining and I was sick and the rototiller was giving me a hard time earlier... and then I found five bucks! And then I found another five bucks, then I found a bouncy ball, an iPod shuffle(which I don't know if works), 25 cents in Canadian Tire money, and then another five bucks. Today was a good day to be a trash picker.

Qwanoes Connection

Hey guys! I guess I'll give you all an update, it's probably about time. I love it here! Since I've been here my little tiny sidewalk site has grown ALL the way to just an average little site, I get about 80 kids coming and they love it, but especially they love me...actually thats a lie the boys just love the girls who do sidewalk with me. Instead of giving away candy were planning on raffling dates with Michelle and Petra (yes I have a girl in my unit named Petra...and she hates the band). Umm Also my Bus captain for saturdays got fired and now Vanessa from Camp Qwanoes is my bus captain! how awesome is that. We had so much fun! it was so crazy though we had no idea what we were doing, but we had fun doing it.

SUMMER!!!!!

Hey guys

so this summer i decided that i would get a job, it will be my first summer away from camp ever, its a little scary but im in a different kind of camp setting for my job actually. i am working at a fishing camp in Ontario in the middle of nowhere. its not that far from manitoba but it seemed farther cuz after we drove the 5 hours we had to go on a boat for another 1 and a half hours with portages and everything which was crazy, cuz the portages sorta looked like train tracks going over the island. ive been here for about a week now and within 5 days i have already worked over 50 hours and its very different than anything i have done before. i love the work so far cuz it keeps you busy but at night i hate it cuz most people are getting drunk, and they are getting themselves into bad situations with the guys who are coming here. so its gonna be a tough summer. if you guys could be praying that would be great cuz im gonna need it. so far since i got here a bear has had to been shot right outside my door cuz we cant have it on the island and the huge boat i was on yesterday almost tipped cuz it was so windy, so it hasnt exactly been that boring around here. the pic is actually the view from the dock one night. miss you all and hope you have amazing summers.
Love

????

(scroll to last paragraph for the main point;)

As I sit on the couch in my parent's living room while my dad is dozing off to the sound of the News caster's voice, many thoughts and inquiries are going through my mind...

I'm supposed to be going to Africa in August...through talking with my mom about the financial aspect of the mission trip while I was still at school, I thought God's confirmation in His call on me to go to Africa was in the fact that the finances would be taken care of through tonz of fund raising and such...I have come back to Winkler to find that all is not as I had thought and am asking God for a miracle so that I can go if that is in His will. I have no doubt that He can help me raise the money, but I do have doubts about whether or not I am called to go.

I have been so tired lately because I haven't been sleeping too well, and I feel that I can never just be. It's been a struggle to make time for God, and I miss those times and am feeling the tool that it is taken on me. I started work at Staples about a week after I returned here to Winkler. The people I work with are kind and have LOTS of character...I'm even distantly related to one of them:P The woman who is training me, Mirka, is from Germany and as she is training me she is also teaching me bits of German while I help her on her English. I have also been voluntarily babysitting for friends and family, which has been fun and rewarding. Oh! and my friend Mikaela, is now engaged and the wedding is being planned for August 24th the day after I am to return from Africa.

Why am I posting...again? I am lost in what to do. My heart is in ministry, and I need to be working, but I am having a hard time wondering if God has called be back to Winkler or if I'm back simply because it is my safety net. After being away from the house for 2 years, it is obviously extremely hard to be here again...communication, though I thought it was happening with my parents...well I guess it hasn't been. I am trying harder than I ever had before, and yet, I yelled at my mom today...guys I can't do that. I don't want to leave here because I am running away, but I want to leave here in peace knowing that it is what God wants. Long story short...please pray for wisdom in whether or not I should stay in my parents house for the summer, the fall, and especially whether or not I should be going to Africa. Now that I have started telling people about it, I don't want to back out, but from the beginning, I have been unsure about going, and I don't know if it is just me or what...

I am thinking of you all and praying for you..I mean that.
much love sibs

PRAYER

Still looking for a prayer team. Any takers?

sailing

hey guys!

i leave today for my epic adventure with salts! i will be at sea for the next 37 days! sooo if any of you are in or around victoria on june 14th, be sure to head down to the dockyard, i think around 3 PM! i would love to see you guys! please pray for safety, and that i can really sort through some stuff and have lots of time with God on this trip!

also, i just found out yesterday that i got accepted to Gimli to teach kids how to fly airplanes this summer!! so i am super duper stoked about my summer job, which starts pretty much the day i get back. i have to be in gimli on june 15 :S i definitely am going to need some prayer support this summer, so if any of you would like to commit to being on my prayer team, that would be swell. i know that if i am going to make cadets my ministry i am going to need some prayer warriors on my side!

anyways, that is a quick update. i will defs post pics etc when i get back to dry land! in the meantime i love you all, and take care!

selena

following the trend

hey all here is me following the trend of making my own blog. I will still post on this blog but if any one is interested in seeing where I am at I will putting my thought on this site. www.in-tensional-life.blogspot.com my plan is to post at least weekly on my blog and say stuff that i usually pass of as not needing to tell anyone. Keep it real

Victoria

Hey everybody,
I'm going to be in the Victoria area for Thursday / Friday. If you're around (or want to let me crash on your floor for the night) give me a call at (250) 739-3552. Oh yeah, and Jim I'll be coming your way on the weekend so keep an eye out. I may have missed you at mod but this time I'll come find you. Love you all, hope to see some of you soon.



Here's a random picture of our worship team from 2nd semester at Briercrest. Nothing at all to do with Victoria, just thought it would be fun (photo credit goes to Tim Leshuk, my quadmate this year)

living in the Jaw of a Moose

Hey Everyone
As alot of you are updating where your all at I figured I should follow suit and update yall on my life. For those that don't know I have moved to Moose Jaw after finishing up a year in Caronport. I honestly didn't want to move here but I knew from the start of the year that it would happen. So far it's about what I execpted to be like I haven't been here a week and I am already starting to get bored of this town. I am living with an elderly couple that were missionary's in India for most of their lives so I have heard some sweet stories and eating some really good currey (spelling). Work is going well I am hopeing to get more hours soon hoping for about 25-30 hrs a week, If I cann't get that then I will look for another job and work two or quit at the smoothie bar and go some where else. That of course is my thoughts I am hopeing and praying God's plans allow me to stay there as I am learning how to love people more.

Joes place is starting back up into full swing for the summer I went to bible study last night and going to the work B tonight then firday and saterday I will go there after work to help out with the drop in nights. Although I didn't want to stay God is giving me more of a love for these kids and I am excited to be able to hang out with them and be there to help and encourage them when they are strugguling in there faith. The mojority of the kids that I have formed a freindship with are already christians and very strong in their devotion to God much more then myself. So I am learning from them and asking God to use me as a support to them when they struggle. I am hopeing to get to know more of the kids at joes over the summer but I will need God to really push me in stepping out and getting to know them.

That is were I am at in life. I know that this summer is going to change my life in many ways as God pushes and streches and molds me into something useful for him. I am hoping to also start a blog this week to keep my thoughts somewhere and others can see what is going through my mind. I will let you all know the URL when I get it started.
your all awsome people and I am glade that I can call you my brothers and sisters.

Updated...

Hey there ya'll thought I would drop a note and tell you what I have been up to.
K so I finished my first year of child and youth work. It was great I loved it, I haven't seen marks like that since outdoor leadership last year.. My placement... the one that I nervous about was amazing. God was so good to me. I met all kinds of kids and hear their struggles and really see how God has been merciful to me. I worked with murders, assault cases, b and e's and others, it was totally amazing and I miss it now as I write this. So I applied there the other day to see if I could get a job because right now as it stands I dont have anythingn for the summer.
Next year... (the school years starts for me next week) i decided to take summer courses to get me ahead because I am going to Lakehead University for my Honors Bachlors of Social Work. so the change for me is going from childrens welfare to either or both children's and adults. I am really excited about this and I can't wait. God has really allowed me to do well thus far and I hope that he will continue to do so, because dang it feels good! I keep telling myself pride before the fall... pride before the fall.
what else... Nicholas and I are going strong. He has adjusted to life in thunder bay wonderfully. I pains me so much though when he starts talking about his boys and how last year will never be duplicated... josh, jesse, steve to ruined any relationship that nick will ever have with future room mate. Nick just finished first year Social Work and was able get an impressive job as a social work youth supervisior in a custody facility. He was apply for this job against grown men that are teachers or have 3 or 4 degrees. Oh i am so proud of him!
Me, well i played soccer for the college this winter and i think i have a team to play on this summer. jobs= boooo American Eagle

other then that... oh never mind lol i am going to mexico next week on a missions team.. ahaha i forgot. but yeah pray for me as a team for mississippi( ahahahah spelling) go down to the mexican training centre to rebuild some builds and help out. I pretty pumped about this.... i just dont really know what to expect. so yeah. may 13- 23 pray for me.
Love you guys alot and miss you. Jen

Confirming the Rumors