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