OT Week Blog

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 decided on about 27 scenes ranging from about 1-4 minutes. We decided to take them all on and we pushed hard that week to film film film film film. After the week was over and our Sunday was depleted, we decided to skim the list to 22. Now it was time to edit. With 5 editors' times combined, we put about 130hrs into editing and polishing the video. More than a few late nights and fun times editing! After a lot of man hours of organizing, planning, shooting scenes, and editing the project was complete! All of the 'hard work' and busyness was worth it. We were able to come together as a team and produce a beautiful memory that we will look back on for the rest of our lives!

A new concept that I was challenged by this past week was patience and perseverance. In a different way than prayer week. Throughout the week I was finding it a little bit difficult to find patience for some member(s) of the group. Honestly, I love everyone at Kaleo, but sometimes personalities clash. I felt that way to a certain degree this past week. I am not stating that they were in the wrong or that I was in the right, it was just a slight rubbing of opposites. - just wanted to clarify. On top of that not-so-serious situation, we got nice creatures called bedbugs in our room. It was disheartening finding bites and no bugs. I felt a huge weight making my roommates pick up and leave for the third time without a spotting of an actual bug. On top of that - it was the middle of crunch time for the OT video. Not great timing in my opinion if there ever could be a good timing for bedbugs. Things were going ok. I was in the mindset of overcoming those setbacks and getting back to work. We successfully moved into a new room, were back at the grind of the OT film, and pretty much ready for class to start and then... Coronavirus strikes again!  I have never gone for so many drives in one week. (that's kind of how I escape in a way) We had a confirmed case that was present on camp Qwanoes property (not directly in contact with us) so we had to mask up and restart the painful two weeks from the start.  Currently we are still in that 2 weeks.  Alright, so we had bedbugs, coronavirus, and a big video to complete.  I was getting over it - tiredness and emotion was creeping up on me from behind, but I was persevering.  And then...  I get news that a family who I know very well is going through something.  Their grandpa has fallen off of a grain bin and is unresponsive.  In my opinion, if there was ever anyone who deserved that, it would NOT be them.  This past weekend was prayer on top of prayer on top of prayer.  Sending the news and updates to everyone I knew.  Armies were praying for these people and it was so cool to see.  And then the unexpected expected happened.  He passed away.  My heart, which was already destroyed by the news, was absolutely demolished.  Two young parents and their three young boys lose their grandpa who lives one mile East of them.  In no way is this situation about me.  I still don't understand why God would let this happen.  I have not been so sad in a very long time.  (partly because of the exhaustion that had ensued from the OT week)
Please continue to pray for the family
So, as I ponder the question of "why would God let this happen," I must remember God's character and that he wants what is best for us.  Sounds cliche.  
My Christianity has not been rocked, but it has been challenged.
I had one more thought, but it has escaped me.  
These last 2 weeks have been difficult, (for a first world spoiled brat) but I have been challenged to choose God over my 'crummy' times.  

have Patience and Persevere.  
Hebrews 13:5
I will never leave you or forsake you.

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