YEAH BUDDY!

Hello everyone.
What's up? My name is Kathleen Bergsma. Yup, you guessed it. Im Dutch. :). And the stereotype fits me pretty perfectly. I am 19 years old and from Lethbridge, Alberta. You should know where it is, because its rad. I have some pretty sweet parents, who enjoy longboarding and listening to Lecrae. I have 4 older brothers, and one of them is my twin. All except for my twin brother are not Christians. Yup, it sucks. But I know God has a plan in it. All summer, like every summer since I was 14, I worked at Southern Alberta Bible Camp (SABC), as a cabin leader...with some pretty sweet people. Although I have worked at SABC for years, this summer was like none other. I saw God move and change lives, not only in the campers who came, but also in the staff. It was amazing to be a part of it. I really had no clue what to do in the fall, so I began praying like crazy. Finally about 2 weeks ago, it was evident that I needed to do Kaleo. God led me here, and I am so excited to see what He will do in all of us this year! I am so stoked to meet all of you....in about 16 days!
Kathleen Bergsma ;)

This week at Qwanoes!

Here is a quick and easy way to find out what is happening at Qwanoes this week! We will be doing something similar for the Kaléo program as well. http://www.qwanoes.ca/mycq/

It's almost time!

We just wanted to let you know that Jay and I went out yesterday to prep for our caving adventure. Here's one picture to further wet your appetite for Kaléo 2012! Also be sure that you've read through your student handbook and gotten your travel plans off to Erin. Can't wait to meet you all!

In His Grace:

Andrew

Kaléo 2012 Shedule

Hey folks, are you curious about what the next month will look like? Well the wait is over! Head on over to www.kaleolife.ca/schedules and check out the first five weeks of the program. Erin and I have now shifted our summer focus and are working diligently for your arrival in just a few short weeks! We are so excited for what God is preparing to do this year!

In His Grace:

Andrew

I have a prayer request. My grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer about a month ago. She is going in for surgery tomorrow. She is extremely anxious about this. And my grandpa died of cancer like 8 or so years ago which doesn't help her at all. So if people could pray for her to have peace and that all the cancer would be removed and that the doctors would have wisdom while operating. Thanks in advance for your prayers.... super pumped to meet you all...23 more days!!!! i think?

Quick Questionnaire

Hey Everyone,


Part of our preparations for your arrival include doing room placements. I have emailed everyone a quick questionnaire that I need you to fill out and then email it back to me. Many of you have already replied but I'm still waiting on some. Please get that in to me as soon as you can.


I'm also still waiting on travel plans from a few of you - please get those in as well.


Thanks so much!


Erin Karklins
Assistant Kaleo Leader, Camp Qwanoes

Update

So I talked to some student loans people in Manitoba and the student financial adviser from Briercrest (a very nice lady) and made a little progress. Kaleo is currently "not eligible" for Manitoba Student loans, however, they can look over this and review it with the school and possibly get it approved (it was last reviewed in 2002 so things have changed some.) However, I am still not guaranteed to get any money and may not find out before I leave for the Kaleo program. But I faxed in my application today and they will begin going through it eventually I suppose. So pray that this process goes smoothly, that the Kaleo program gets approved (because it is eligible in other provinces) and this happens FAST! Oh, and that I wouldn't let stress and doubt get to me. Thanks y'all. (Yeahhhhhh I just said "y'all")

THE COUNTDOWN IS ON...

Only ONE MONTH until you arrive!

Super exciting!

TRAVEL PLANS!

Hello Everyone,


Well it's hard to believe that fall is quickly approaching and soon you will begin arriving at Qwanoes. We are looking forward to your arrival and plans have begun as we prepare for the year ahead. Part of those preparations involve your travel plans. 


What I need from you is an email with your travel itinerary. Please send your flight / travel information to erin@qwanoes.ca. That way I can coordinate for us to pick you up at the airport / ferry / bus depot. The sooner you get this information to me the better. If you have questions about your travel plans do not hesitate to contact me. I am also willing to try and help connect people who live close together who may want to travel together. 


As it mentions in your acceptance package the first day of the Kaleo program is September 14th. It would be best for you to arrive on this day after 11:00am and before 4:00pm. I would be happy to answer any other questions you may have. 


Blessings,
Erin Karklins
Assistant Kaleo Leader, Camp Qwanoes

First Blog Post!

Hey everyone who I will get to see soonish,
This is my first time (ever) writing a blog post (hence the title of the post, noted above), so I'm not totally sure what I am suppose to say. This might turn out to be just some kind of awkward rant about who I am and things corresponding to that.
Well, I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer, but it must be noted that there is 35 days left until we all arrive at Qwanoes! I'm looking forward to meeting you all, and actually getting to know the person you, not just the name on the screen you.
Anyways, I thought I would give everyone a little glimpse into who Hannah Ayton really is, so here it goes:
Random Fact about me!
1. My middle name is Elizabeth
2. Graduated Superior Heights C & VS this past spring
3. Age: 18
4. I have 3 older brothers and 2 very interesting parents
5. I am currently working at Turtle Mountain Bible Camp in Manitoba as a Lifeguard and Cabin leader
6. My favorite hobby is music, more precisely singing
7. The T.V shows I enjoy watching are Hawaii Five-O and Sanford & Son
8. I love to go camping!
9. I may seem shy at first when I meet everyone, but I'm actually quite loud and silly
10. I've never been to BC before so I'm probably going to get lost on my way to Qwanoes.
Well, that is about all I have to say beside that I'm really looking forward to meeting you all!

- Hannah

P.S Is there anyone flying to BC from Toronto, Ontario? I'm just trying to find out the best prices and all that, for flights and maybe meet up with someone if I have to fly down by myself.

Hello again friends

My summer has been progressing slowly (much to my dismay) but there are a couple of things I would like to ask prayer for from all you lovely people. The first is my job; I was finally able to get a job after searching for one FOREVER (Thank the Lord for employment) but I wouldn't say it's my ideal job. First, it's high stress: I am working for Family Services and am working with kids who have special needs and to be honest, I don't think I'm cut out for it. But apparently my boss, the kids' parents and God all think otherwise. Another downfall is I'm not going to be getting a lot of hours (though the rate of pay is good.) This leads into problem number 2: paying for Kaleo. "The plan" was to work full time this summer and make a decent amount of money and then get goverment loans to pay for the rest. However I wasn't employed until late July and (according to Erin Karklins) the government doesn't want to pay for a certificate program. Sooo I will be looking into a bank loan and such things. So my prayer requests are thus, I really need peace to not go insane from stress, ability to take care of kids so they don't die of negligence, and funds to pay for Kaleo and equipment and stuff.

PS- I'd like to give a shout out to Toni who seems to be able to relate to at least one of my problems. Too often people don't talk about their need due to pride. Thank you for being honest and vunerable with us, it helped me to be honest and vunerable too.

A Tidbit about Me

HI Y'ALL!!!!

So I am super excited because as of one day ago, I was accepted and am now enrolled in the Kaleo program here at the ever-stunning Camp Qwanoes. It's a bit of a story, however, about why I chose this program. I had originally applied back in January, but then cancelled my application due to some fears and reservations I was unwilling to pass to God. I then applied for a theatre scholarship to Trinity Western University. After being offered the scholarship, I truly thought I was headed there this fall. However, that changed when I came to work at Camp Qwanoes as a Co-Counsellor. During Staff Training, Bec Rodda and Viktor Karkins (your wonderful interns) planted the idea of Kaleo back into my heart. It was at that point that I felt a push from God so powerful, it was impossible to ignore. So with that, I prayed for about three weeks before I actually applied, and now here I am, one of your soon to be Kaleo brothers.

Now that you've heard my story, I'll let you know a few things about me. I was born in Prince Rupert B.C. and have lived there my whole life. My town consists of 12,000, so Vancouver Island is a bit of a Culture Shock for me. For those of you who don't know where Prince Rupert is, we are situated on the Border of Alaska. Life can become pretty interesting with moose, deer, bears, wolves and even otters roaming in your back yard, but it is a place where God's creation shines so brightly through the daily torrential downpours.

Like I said, I've been counselling here at Camp Qwanoes, and it has been great. This is my fifth week and it is truly amazing to serve the Lord by loving this kids and showing them the good life. I will admit there are times when I think I cannot do it, but it is by the grace and strength administered by my heavenly father that I am able to continue serving steadfastly.

Finally, I LOVE THEATRE. There is nothing that can come between me and a Stage, except for a raging crowd of old-fashioned Cherry Cokes.. GAH!!!! I hope to pursue a job as a thespian/actor and help regain the arts for God's glory because I'm not sure if you've noticed, but it has become anything but edifying.

So with that, I hope you all continue to enjoy your summers wherever you are. I am so excited to get to know you both on and off Blogger and I think God's got some pretty fantabulous plans for this year.

Keep it peachy,

Matthew Wigmore

By the way, that picture is of my friends Jenna (left), Hanna (right) and I (centre) right before we were leading children in activities down on the dock. Hanna and Jenna were leading fishing, so thought they would dress up. I was on a boat... so I put a lifejacket on

Prayer will help.

So I guess some background might be needed here. I am half Native from my mothers side and have applied for band funding to help pay for this coming year. I found out the other day that I have been rejected for insufficient funding from the band. (Band is like clan or tribe to other areas.)
I had a hard day that day, but now I must rely on the Lord for providing equipment and money. Tomorrow I have an appointment with a group called ACCESS. Who might help with funding since I got rejected by my band for funding.
Please pray that it will go well and that I will have peace about this whole ordeal. I really go into Kaleo with you all and I know the Lord will provide if it is His will that I am to partake in Kaleo.
I am also receiving pressure and stress from The House and my mom, also please pray that I can remain calm and just give all of this Jesus. I am finding that very difficult at the moment.
Thank You.
-Toni

Preparations are underway

Jay and I just got back from scouting out the our first overnight backpack trip for the year. It was an exciting time to talk through the upcoming year and continue the preparations for your arrival in a month!

The problem was that the mountain was blanketed this winter by a record snowfall and unlike you east-coasters we've had a really cold summer thus far. The result was that Jay and I hiked almost 10 hours on top of 3-8' of snow.

This is the trail sign at one of our campsites!

The sign is about 8' tall. Needless to say we had

some trouble finding the campsite.

After the first hour we gave up trying to find the trail and simply used the mountains and lakes as navigation points. Of the 10 hours we were on the actual trail for about 2 of them.

We are hoping that a warm August will take care of the snow, but in all things we trust that God knows what he is doing!

We are so excited for your arrival. We plan in anticipation that God is preparing on doing a mighty work both in you and through you!

Your Kaléo Program Handbooks are in the mail so we encourage you to read through them before you arrive here at camp. For the time being summer continues to roll along and God is at work in mighty ways in the lives of staff and campers here at Qwanoes. That's all for now.

In His Grace,

Andrew MacDonald

CIT, LIT, & Kaléo Program Leader