Kaleo 2020-2021 Nolan

  On your own and in group debriefs, you have started processing your missions trip experience- the things you saw, the people you met, the ministries you partnered with, the ways you were challenged, the ways you saw and experienced God at work, etc... In light of these things, answer the following questions:  What did your missions trip experience teach you about our theme “Allegiance"?  How does this shape the way you want to practice/embody following Jesus as you move forward? The missions trip experience, though it was from the comfort of our own sleeping  quarters, came with a few challenges.   The first challenge that I experienced was conversing with random individuals about deep topics.  I found it uncomfortable that I should persist and ask questions to people about their deepest longings and so forth.  Sometimes I would lack words and have troubles keeping a conversation going or I would be lost and not know which people to pursue ...

In this post I would like you to reflect on what you experienced and learned through the preparation and running of Cowichan Valley Youth Night. Feel free to briefly explain CVYN for your friends and family (optional). What specific role(s) did you have for CVYN? Consider the preparation process and the actual running of the event…How did you apply your strengths within your role(s)? In what ways were you challenged/stretched? (e.g. you could discuss topics such as communication, confidence, organization, problem solving, cooperation with others, etc.) In what ways has this experience prepared you for future leadership and/or ministry opportunities? My specific role at CVYN was to create a game.  Being that the event was online, Charlotte, Dawson, and I were almost wading through new waters.  We came up with a short mission/vision, " Our goal is to m ake complete and utter fools of ourselves so that a comfortable tone can be set throughout the event."   Charlotte came up ...

While going home to see family over Christmas break can be amazing, it can also be challenging to explain to others what you are learning or how you are growing. Reflect on this past Christmas, and specifically discuss some challenges you faced going home after being in the "Kaléo bubble" for the past 4 months.   Well folks.  Just finished my BLST109K final exam.  Started at 2PM and ended at 5M.  Since coming back to Kaleo, it has been very busy.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the class, but it has been a lot to handle.   Going home for Christmas was a very good time I would say!  I left at 4AM with minimal sleep and caught the 6:45AM ferry.  The drive out carried clear roads, but just a little bit of fog.  There were only a few times where I felt a little bit nervous or anxious.  Before I arrived home, I stopped at my friends house to chat with him (from my vehicle) because he had just finished his final examinations as well.  Tha...

Over the past two weeks, you and your peers, have been really diving into the Old Testament. Reflecting back on your class with Don Taylor as well as the time you spent on the OT film, what has been a highlight or one main takeaway you got from the course? What are some new concepts or things you learned during the class (either in class with Don or while filming) that you can apply to your own life as you continue to grow as a leader? My biggest takeaway from BLST 111K (Intro to the Old Testament) is probably being able to order Old Testament events and create a timeline of what took place. I really appreciate being able to grasp events in a more tangible time and space. Understanding what was going on in the world at that time as well as how things were recorded gave me a new appreciation for the Old Testament. The Old Testament video was a project and one half to say the least. From the beginning, I was a little nervous about how much we were taking on. Our first meeting we had ...

Discuss some highlights/ challenges What kind of impact do you think this had on the Crofton community? Would you consider this work to be "missions" work?   Why or why not? First off, this week has been super enjoyable!  I had been long anticipating this week of 'grunt' labour where I could put my head down and work hard for God and the community of Crofton.  One of my highlights has been getting to work with different people in Kaleo.  I have really enjoyed the new scenery and the intentional conversations.  It has been neat to see some people work hard and be an example for others.  One challenge for me this week has been how short our service days are.  When I found out that our work days were only 10:30-3:30 with an hour lunch, I was a little bit annoyed.  I felt like we could serve Crofton so much better if we put in long hours and showed some grit.  Even though I say all of that, in all truth this week has been...

Now that we are about 5 weeks in, what has been the most challenging part of the leadership aspect of the program for you? Do you have a sense of some areas in your life that you need/ want to grow in? When have you felt like you have had to rely on God the most during your time here so far? Throughout the first five weeks of Kaleo, God has definitely been teaching me to be silent.  When I arrived at camp Qwanoes I wanted to make a name for myself.  Early on I decided that in order to make a name for myself I would have to be loud and very extroverted.  I was very vocal and shared my opinion to others about minor things.  Usually I am a quiet, reserved, and relaxed individual, but I found myself acting in a foreign way.  After the silent retreat I was reminded how important it is to be silent.  A verse that stuck out to me was Proverbs 18:2, " A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion."  I as real...