Spiritual Formation

Hello Again Everyone! I’m thrilled to get to tell you all about what is happening this week in the Kaléo Program.

We started our week with some guests from Trinity Western University coming for the weekend. It was a lot of fun to get to hang out with and serve our peers for the weekend. The students were able to sit in on a couple of leadership talks and spend some time with them as they did activities. This also allowed the students their first taste of camp life as they worked at the challenge course, waterfront and various other areas through camp.

We were extremely grateful to our students to demonstrate the same servant hearts they have been demonstrating at the local churches in the area. We’re very excited to see how they will grow through these ministry opportunities.

Monday provided us another opportunity to experience growth as our first class, Spiritual Formation, began. After a week of cramming memory verses, the students were finally able to get their first taste of academic life in the Kaléo program. Revd. Dr. Cal McFarlane joined us from Briercrest to teach the class.

Spiritual Formation is an amazing way to start the school year because of it’s focus on our personal spiritual growth and studying the disciplines that take us there. It’s an incredible class that takes us on a journey throughout the course of a week. We are excited to hear the students’ stories after they partake in this class and encourage you to ask questions of the students as well!

One highlight of the week came when Cal brought out a potter’s wheel and taught the class an important object lesson based out of Isaiah 64 – “We are the clay, you are the potter.” Cal highlighted a number of lessons in this analogy pertaining to our spiritual formation. Lessons on how to become good clay and becoming shapeable were just a few highlights. Overall, the students really seemed to have a good time and learn a lot from this demonstration. It was one that will, no doubt, not be forgotten at the end of the year!

Special thanks goes to Levi for these amazing pictures, we are so blessed to have such talented photographers in our program this year!

Today the class sets out on another journey (of sorts) as they are spending the evening in solitude and fasting. Right now we are sure that God is doing some incredible communicating with the students as they seek Him through these disciplines. Tomorrow we will come back together at 8 am for a time of communion, worship and fellowship to finish this time. We can’t wait to hear what has been learned!

We are only 5 days away from our SALTS adventure where we sail around the South of Vancouver Island, I’m excited to get to bring you the report from that next week!

Once again, thanks so much for reading this! Please continue to be in prayer for our students as we can really see the Lord taking them on an incredible journey already this year!

Derek    

Mt. Albert Edward

Hi Everyone! My name is Derek and I am a Qwanoes intern this year with the focus in the Kaléo Program! I'm excited to get to keep you all in the loop on all the exciting things that are going to be happening this year in the Kaléo program!

 

We are one and a half weeks into the program already and excited to update you all on what has been happening so far! God has brought together an amazing group of people and although it's only been a week and a half, it's been incredible to see how He has been bringing us together already. 

 On Monday we all had the opportunity to go to Mt. Albert Edward and face the most monumental physical challenge of our year. We gathered into our vans and drove North to Strathcona park where we set out to our campsites for the evening. After camp setup, we were able to look to the mountains and ponder Psalm 121 as we considered where our help came from. 

Devo Time Around Kwai lake

With four groups spread over four campsites at two different locations we were able to get to know each other in a much closer way. 

 The next morning we awoke early and met together to set out on our most grueling hike of the trip. Mt. Albert Edward looked daunting but we set out for the challenge with a very practical understanding of "Needing God". The hike that day was almost 12 km in total and appeared to be almost straight up at certain points. Ascending upwards we were even able to cross snow-covered terrain.

Next Stop! Mt Albert Edward!

With the group's effort (and ample rest times) we were all able to make it to the summit, where we looked out over God's creation and took lots of pictures. 

There was something about reaching the top that showed us God's immensity and helped get ourselves ready to take on everything that gets thrown at us this year. 

The Group Singing Together on the Summit

We all arrived safely back at camp that evening, amazed at how good canned chicken could taste and ready for bed. 

 Our final morning we set off toward the vans for another 8-9 km hike. While we were all much sorer from the previous day's journey, the last day was a lot of fun. We were all treated with visits from our favorite thieves - the Whiskeyjacks. 

We're not sure if we like these birds taking our food or not!

We all met back together at the vans where we drove our three hours back to Qwanoes dreaming of pleasant aromas and warm showers. It was an amazing trip and we were all so blessed with safety and good weather the entire time. 

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us, we are grateful for your prayers and want to ask you to continue through the year. 

 This weekend is going to be a great one as we are able to serve both the Trinity Western students visiting Camp Qwanoes and our home churches.

 Next week we prepare for our first class as Cal McFarlane is coming from Briercrest to teach us Spiritual Formations. It's going to be an exciting week as students are going to learn foundational lessons about varied spiritual disciplines. One of the assignments the students are working on is that of intense Scripture memorization. It's been an amazing blessing to see Students hiding God's Word into their hearts this week in preparation for this class. 

 Stay tuned for our weekly updates! 

 Derek 

And it begins!

    After months of interviews and preparations all of our student have safely arrived! It has been a whirlwind week of introductions and orientations.  Wednesday was arrival day and students were busy meeting each other and getting settled into their rooms.  Thursday was a full day of staff introductions as we had a chapel together, played games in the field, and then had a beach party together down at the dock. Friday was a day with more introductions and then a chapel where the local pastors came to join us. Over the weekend all the students have completed the challenge course workshop and are now ready for the myriads of retreaters who will make their way to Qwanoes over the coming months.

   We are only 5 days into the Kaléo program but we are already full into the swing of things here at camp. The foyer is filled with backpacks ready to roll out at 7am tomorrow morning. We are heading north to Mt Albert Edwards on our backpacking trip. Hiking will not be the only thing on the student's minds tomorrow though as they will be actively memorizing scripture preparing for their first class, Spiritual Formations, which is only a week away. 

It's been a great start to the year and we have an amazing group of students. We look forward to what God is preparing to do in and through each one.
    

A year in academics

Hey there Qwanoes students,

    We are currently in our final week of Junior High camps this summer. God continues to do fantastic things in the lives of campers! I hope that your preparations are coming together as Kaléo 2013 is officially one month away! The staff team have already started asking about you and are anxiously awaiting your arrival. 

    Finishing off our summer series, below you will find a letter from last year's Academic Award winner, Nicole Pauls. Be sure to send Lyann or me an email if you have any questions in the coming weeks.

Greetings, Family!

Psalm 32: 8, 11
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you…Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!” 

I trust your summer has already begun to fill you with experiences that are molding you to be more like Christ, our Lord and Saviour! Although your time at Qwanoes will likely look very different compared to years past, I hope a vital part of your growth and learning will come from the academic portion of this year like it did for my fellow friends and I. It’s crazy cool what you can hear in class one day and continue to remember and learn from as you walk with God through any portion of this year and the ones to come. 

Contrary to what many first think, the Kaléo program is predominantly dedicated to classroom learning. Almost everyday you will be preparing for, engaging in, or concluding work for a week of classes. There will be days set aside for school work while others will also contain an array of camp and church responsibility, out trips, and not too much procrastination, hopefully! You may experience the thrilling adventures of reading a textbook on a rocking sailboat or praying for a foreign country as you fly to Mexico. Although overwhelming, difficult, and boring at times, remember that you can choose to rely on the strength of Jesus, engage in classes with a positive, joyful attitude, and apply things from courses to your everyday journeys. 

I’m excited to pass on to you that your future “classroom” will be unlike any classroom you’ve studied in before! The intimate setting allows for great discussion, debate, and a more personal and hands-on environment. You will have the opportunity to build and refine friendships with other students while studying, sharing thoughts and resources, and working together.

Every week of classes looked different! Not only did this allow for students with diverse learning styles to learn in a comfortable way or try something new, we studied with wise and thought-provoking men who have diverse perspectives and strengths. We discovered the art of pottery and fought to win sword drills to receive candy. With other professors, we went to a weird art gallery or shot them down during nerf-gun wars. It was appreciated that they took time to answer our questions and share their stories with us. 

My prayer for you is that with every long class, early morning study session, and even late night scrabbles you would seek to learn God’s Word, knowing and following Him stronger than the day before. 

It's gonna be a gooder, 

Nicole 

A year in adventure

Summer is rolling along here at Qwanoes, we are currently in our 4th week of campers and God is already doing a mighty work in the lives of campers. My role in the summer is as CIT (counsellor in training) and LIT (leader in training) leader. We've completed our first round of CIT training and completed our LIT training week so between now and the second group of CITs Lyann and I will be working on preparations for Kaléo 2013! Hopefully within the next day or two we will be able to send out your student handbooks.  

Continuing our summer series hearing from last year's award winners, here is a work from last year's adventure award winner Lindsey:

Dear Students,

As I see more names being added to the list of students for 2013, I grow increasingly excited for the incredible work God is going to do! You might not know it yet, but you are about to enter one amazing, life changing adventure. Be excited for this – God has so much in store. I can’t wait to see how it unfolds.

As I look back on my year in the Kaléo program, I am overwhelmed by the many ways that God challenged and grew my character.  I honestly was not excited about the adventure component to begin with, and I had a poor attitude to accompany it. However, through the course of the year, the Lord changed my character and my attitude in many ways. Much of the growth that I experienced this year started on these adventure trips.

There are a few things I want to encourage you in as you look forward to this component of the program. First of all, be open to the work that God has planned for you! Going on adventure trips are a lot of fun, but they are not always easy. At some point they will bring out the best and worst in you. Even the naturally agile students in this program will struggle at times, whether it is physically, mentally, emotionally or spiritually. Being challenged beyond what we believe we are capable of produces character. You will build character; it is up to you what that looks like though. In our first class we talked about being like soft, malleable clay. You can choose to be open to the changing work of the Spirit, or you can remain callous and hard. Pray that God will make it clear to you where he wants to shape you, and then allow him to do His good work in you. Be soft!

This draws directly into another important thing that you will learn. Your attitude will determine so much of the growth you experience, and set the tone for your year. I remember begrudgingly trekking up the first few kilometers of Mt. Albert Edward, listening to my enthusiastic hiking group memorizing this passage from Philippians:

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.”

What do humility and hiking have in common? You will have many opportunities to exemplify the attitude of Christ among your peers through the course of your year. Some of them will come during the best and most difficult times on your out trips. Sometimes it will be easy to be joyful, and other times you may feel like having a less than positive attitude. Remember this passage, and recognize that this is an intentional time to grow in your faith and encourage your classmates to do the same. We have much to learn, and so much of that comes when we humbly submit ourselves to the authority and example of Christ. Think and pray about this: What will it look like for you to have the same attitude as Christ Jesus… (On a mountain, in your church, in the classroom?)

Adventures are just one part of this incredible program that you’ve been called to participate in. Have so much fun (you will!), and keep your eyes open to what the Lord is teaching you through them. Enjoy your year, and know that there are many people praying for you, myself included!

Lindsey 

A year in Community

Summer is well underway here at Qwanoes. There are currently over 400 junior high campers and almost 200 staff here at camp, needless to say it's a busy week. We are so excited for you arrival with us in a few short weeks. In the meantime here is a word from last year's community award winner, Marissa Burns.

Qwanoes students of 2013, I am so excited for the year ahead of you! God has called you to a time of intimate growth and infinite discoveries in your relationship with Him and with those around you. And my prayer for you is that you learn to become intentional. You are going to be a part of a community that’s going to challenge and strengthen you in ways that only God knows and it’s an incredible opportunity that I hope you take full advantage of. 

Go deep, ask questions and be honest with one another. But the one thing that I urge you to do in this community of leaders is to serve. As Christ led, you should lead likewise, for Jesus came to us, “not to be served, but to serve” (Matthew 20:28). He is our standard of servant leadership, loving all above himself and dying on the cross so that all may live. In the same way, let your love be genuine for those around you, for service should not come out of obligation but rather a desire in humility to follow Christ’s example in how he lived.  Prepare yourselves by praying for your fellow classmates - asking God to conform your heart to His will so that you may approach your relationships with a pure attitude that allows you to see them the way that God sees them. 

This is a community that you are going to be living life with, the relationships you form here will speak truth into you, encourage you and build you up. Though let it be known that it is a road that takes time and your willingness to invest in each other. Each of you are here for a great purpose, one that can be found through this body of disciples. You are all called together and together is how you’ll come to discover more of God’s unfathomable desire for each of you in His grand story. 

A year in leadership

Continuing in our series of hearing from last year's award winners here is the leadership award winner Trevor Martin:


Welcome students of the Kaléo Program 2013! I also want to congratulate you on being accepted into the program. I am expecting God to continue to work in big ways through this program and in your lives. 

This past year at Qwanoes I learned a lot about leadership, but there are a few things that stand out to me. The first is that leaders follow well. You do not have to be the appointed leader to lead, inspire, and encourage those around you. Through all aspects of this program you will have opportunities to lead through your example. One area where I learned this particularly slowly was in ministry at the church I was assigned to. The church was much different from the one I grew up in, and I knew how to do things better. Until I realized I was not in charge and my responsibility was to follow well. Understand your responsibility and devote yourself to it.


The other aspect of leadership I would like to challenge you with is to never settle. The call from Jesus is lofty and there will always be room for more growth in your life. Challenge yourself to greater heights constantly. I think of Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount, in particular Matthew 5:48- "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." That verse is a reminder to me that I do not have it all together. I saw God work in incredible ways in my life and in the lives those around me through this past year, but I know that He still has so much more that He wants to do in and through us. I pray that you would not be content to coast through any part of this year or the rest of your lives.


The verse I will leave you with is 1Timothy 4:12- "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for 
the believers in speech, in life, in love, and in purity."


You have been blessed with an incredible opportunity! Take full advantage of it and enjoy it!