Kaleo Ministry

Hello ALL!

Another week of Kaleo has come to a close. I can not believe I am already 2 weeks and 3 days into the whole Kaleo experience! This is quite amazing. As most of you already know, I have been gone for 5 days on a S.A.L.T.S. sailing ship (called Pacific Grace). It was such an amazing experience! On Monday we took the bus down to the ship and waited to be invited onto the vessel by the skipper and first mate. From there, we were educated about the ship and went straight to sailing after putting our bags on our bunks. We got some sweet wind our first day with some good waves and beautiful sun. It was so nice to see the boat half tipped over and flying through the water. Raising the sails is quite the experience and takes a lot of man power. We all got turns throughout the trip to be the main heavers and also the backup line who pulls what the main heavers pull down ( if that made any sense lol). Throughout the 5 days we were fed very well (especially desert), sang tons of songs, worked at all different areas of this ship, played numerous amounts of games, and laid around talking and sleeping. We had 3 days of rain but that was fine, because we got to see sea lions and slide around up on deck. 

We spent one day with the dories and paddled to shore and went for a nice long hike. Our last day was foggy which was really interesting trying to avoid all the other ships on the ocean. 

There is just so much to say about the whole trip!

It was really exciting to see everyone work so hard together, and when we had chats down below deck in the hold before bed, we were all really encouraging. It felt as if some things said to each other were truly moments from God.

Probably one of my favourite moments was going up on deck to do night watch. The stars, phosphorescence and wild life were amazing, and talking with my night watch buddy Miranda was sweet too. 

I can't believe I actually now have my junior sailors license, which I totally was not expecting to get, and I can actually say I'm missing the head (the small toilet in the girls hold) ....hahha what an experience:)

Besides so many stories that I could tell you about, this weekend was pretty good too. We got back Friday night and I went straight from supper to youth group for my church. We are a real small crowd, but I am totally loving the kids. They are so loving and interesting. They are a real cool bunch and I've only seen them twice, so I'm really excited for this year that's for sure. I pray we have more kids show up throughout the year though. It would be more encouraging to the leader and the kids I'm sure. 

I had a good time doing dishes with some Kaleo kids here...we are all getting to know each other more and more each day. Plus its just more energetic doing chores with people that are friends.

Life is going great, the night sky is amazing, and classes start tomorrow. Please pray for my church, the youth, and the stress of next week. I am off to enjoy this sunny day!

Happy Sunday

as always, keep smiling

Deborah --- aka FISH! 

Kaleo Ministry

Hello ALL!

For those of you that don't know, I am starting a Blog for school in order to communicate to my supporters how you could all pray for me and my ministry experiences this year. 

I have been at Kaleo for one week so far, and wouldn't change my experiences so far for the world! I arrived with many anticipating butterflies, but instantly they were swallowed and overcome. 

I have two amazing roomies (Miranda and Lelia) and a whole bunch of new tight friends. It has been amazing to see how quickly we become tight with each other here (Must be God's Blessing!).

Besides getting to know the camp (which I still haven't had a full tour yet), having a few quick informational meetings (getting to belay students is one of those testing/meetings we took also), having some great sports games (ultimate frizbee), having a beach day ( COLD water), doing some pre-scheduled homework, and spending an evening in victoria, I have been able to meet my church and have quite the experience climbing Mt. Albert-Edward.

My church (Ladysmith) will definitely be a stretch for me, for I am used to 

hanging with a younger generation and a more modern age of music, however 

with many prayers and a positive attitude I am willing to learn from God whatever 

he has to teach me at this church. I really pray that everything works out and that 

I not only see a positive change in the church but also in me.

Climbing the Mt. Albert-Edward was like NOTHING I have ever experienced.

First off I had a cold, so I had to go straight into being sick to climbing a mountain

and honestly I think it made me a stronger person. We got all geared up and

packed the night before. The drive out there was filled with much anticipation and a

little bit of sleepers:) Kaleo students were all seperated randomly into groups of 

5-6 and split up to hike in your group. It took about 5 hours to reach where we 

were going to spend the night (and thats with stops for pictures, breaks for people

like me to breath, and for lunch). I must admit reaching base camp was awesome 

because carrying a pack that long is REALLY tiring after a long time! After eating,

and talking/games we fell asleep in our clothes we hiked in and woke up to get 

ready to hike as the full 28 students to the peak of Mt. Albert-Edward. 

Thank-goodness we only had to take our day pack filled with some food, a rain

jacket (don't worry it was perfect weather the whole 3 days) and some other items

if needed. Reaching the top was pure bliss! Everyone felt emotion, because the

whole hike up there was nothing but beauty( the scenery) and pain (our muscles).

All of us felt some sort of push by God. To either peruse through the pain in 

sickness or fatigue, or to look around and experience just a glimpse of God's 

splendor. It was pure MADNESS (in a good way!). After all the emotion of working 

together as a team to reach the top and giving each other support, we climbed

back down (after about an hour or so) and took it slow to the bottom. I made

a snow man, and a few snowball fights and many good talks with the group. 

Once we were down from the main hike we spent the night at base camp again 

and took the next day to pack up and go home. I love it, and am so proud I 

climbed up huffing and wheezing with a sore throat! My legs are so sore, I have 

blisters, and I slept in the same clothes 2 nights in a row but it was all worth it

to see the beauty that I did.

God has such an artistic side eh?! He is constantly reminding me to be still and 

observe the pure pleasure in all the beauty of my surroundings.

Tomorrow I will be helping belay students from the rock wall, and hopefully on 

Friday I will be helping out with the first youth even at my church. Please also pray

for the up coming SALTS trip next week (22nd-26th)

As always,

keep smiling

Deborah Fisk