November 25, 2012
I have now been in the Kaléo Program for about 2 1/2 months and in this period of time I have had some time to experience working a little in the ministry field. These areas that I have worked in are at Departure Bay Baptist Church and at the events here at Camp Qwanoes. While I have served in both of these ares and taking my Foundations to Church Ministry course, I have come to appreciate the work that is done at the church back in my home town. I have become to appreciate the work that both the head pastor, the youth pastor and the board of deacons and elders do.
Before taking the Foundations of Church Ministry course and listening to the discussions panel of pastors of different churches, I had no idea how hard of a career being a pastor was. I think that during the discussion panel my eyes were opened up to that. This also gave me a new appreciation for the pastor and his family back home. I came to realize that they, as a family, sacrifice a lot to follow God's call and take care of our church family and the community. Also within the class and my observations at Departure Bay Baptist. I came to appreciate the deacons and the elders of the church, before I never realized how much responsibility they had and how much effort they put into those responsibilities.
The third thing I have truly come to appreciate this year is my youth pastor from back home. As I have been serving in the youth group this year and Departure Bay, I have come to the realization of the great responsibility the leader of a youth group has. They have to look out for the well being of all those (Might i say, rowdy) pre-teens and teens. that can be a pretty scary thing. So I am so thankful for the great youth pastor I had in my home church. Altogether, I have come to appreciate all of the areas of work that our but into the church, but these three have stuck out to me especially. 

November 11th, 2012

I’ve been here, at camp Qwanoes, for about two months now and I have been working in my church of a little less than that. Over these past two months, I’ve seen God work through my ministries areas. The area’s that God has been working in is; in me, my fellow students, and the Children we are ministering to.

                First of all I’ve noticed change in me. through my ministering areas and my classes God has been teaching me so much. I think especially in the area of patients. I’ve really noticed this in trying to work with my youth group. The nights are pretty crazy and by the end of a Wednesday night you wonder if what you were trying to accomplish was just a waste of time because the night was complete chaos. Things, I believe, have slowly been getting better. We, (Elita, John, and I) have been learning so much in the area of trying to stay organized and trying to get through to kids who ultimately just want to screw around. When first beginning to work in the youth group, I was excited to work with the kids and to begin a change in their lives, but I believe God didn’t just put us three in the youth group to teach the youth but also to teach and change us.

                Next the work that I see God has done in the children at the retreats has been wonderful. I remember counseling in the Jr. High retreat, on Sunday morning Johnny Mo asked those who wanted to commit or recommit to Christ. At first the room was silent, no one moved, then he asked again, and one by one they started to stand. It was amazing to see how God had worked through these kid’s lives that weekend and how they were ready to make a stand no matter what their friends thought.(see what I did there?)