It's an update from the land of Barnabas!!
For all of you who are/were wondering, I have been doing really well lately (and before lately too :P ). I'm getting excited to be spending a summer here beginning in June as an assistant cook, and this week has been great prep for that.
We currently have a 5 day group in called Arrow. They arrived Sunday afternoon in time for dinner and leave Friday morning. Arrow groups are known not only for their incredible speakers (I have yet to hear one...maybe tomorrow if i have time) but also for their crazy early breakfasts (7.30) and the vast amounts of coffee they consume. The coffee isn't a huge problem for me (it might help that I'm not the one making it...:) ) but the early breakfasts are. Eating at 7.30am means getting up at 5am for me.
Yesterday (the first morning) was ok for me. I got up at 5am, showered, dressed, and being the eager beaver that I am, went down to the kitchen 10 minutes early to make myself a cup of tea.
By the time breakfast rolled around I felt like I had been run over by a truck.
As I sat in the dining room with my plate of food I could feel myself fading fast, but after eating and clearing and doing lunch prep my strength returned slightly. That afternoon after lunch as I stood in the dining room yet again setting tables for the next meal I glanced out the door to see a man in his running gear tearing up the hill. "OH!" I thought "How lovely would it be to go for a run during my break"! I suddenly had a terrible urge to do just that and so when dinner prep was done the sporadic afternoon sunshine found me breezing through the forest to Plumper Cove.
"This is great, these early mornings really aren't so bad after all" was the thought running through my clearly caffeine saturated brain.....I should have napped.
This morning I woke up later than my alarm clock (apparently i turned it off and went back to sleep? yup.) and practically fell out of bed. My burst of stamina lasted all of 1/2 an hour and then my energy was completely sapped. I honestly don't know how I made it through the morning, I almost fell asleep during lunch, my tiredness was past the point of hyper-laugh-at-everything-even-if-it's-not-funny point and into the phase of if-only-I-make-it-to-break-time-so-I-can-nap-forever. And nap I did! No more runs for me this week thank you very much :P.
And now...It's 9.40pm and WAY past my bedtime. Everyone else in the Shep is in bed, it's warm and cozy and I'll sleep well tonight.
So aside from the early mornings it's been a good experience. I just need to learn to discipline myself to nap in the afternoons and drink lots of coffee. And no more runs. And go to bed earlier.
I daresay I'm turning into quite the sensible person.....almost an adult....NOT!
Your prayers are appreciated...I miss you all
Alpha
P.S. I would love it if you sent me letters, I love getting things in the mail...just saying...if any of you feel the urge....;)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Life is good!
Today i'm sitting on our couch in the Shep, soft classical music (Beethoven) is playing the background, i'm sipping a mug of hot Indian cardamom tea. Outside is a torrent of rain, inside warm. Life is good. Life. Is. Good.
Off to Kathy and Rob's for dinner and discussion!
Off to Kathy and Rob's for dinner and discussion!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Weekend Review (in short form)
Well, the Young Adult Weekend is over! It was an absolute blast having everybody here, seeing old friends and making new ones. The weather was incredible (a definite answer to prayer!), sunshine all weekend long, glorious mountains and blue skies. What a fantastic combination.
We were blessed to have Tyler and Emma Milley speak with us and their willingness to be open and vulnerable and attentive to the Holy Spirit is something i look up to a lot. Also having Tyler plan the music with me was GREAT! It took a lot of pressure off of me. I tend to volunteer for things like that because i really like music but when it comes down to the nitty gritty details of planning a large portion of me dies inside.....yay for Tyler! It was fantastic to have a bunch of the guests take part as well, Leonard, Dan, Thomas, Chantel, Holly, David, Mary, Emily, John, Sarah, Trish, and i'm sure i'm forgetting some others...but you know who you are and a huge thank-you is due to you!
The theme of the weekend was "If You Really Knew Me....", and we focused on how we were discovering our identity in Christ. For all of us this meant different things, but it was amazing to see how they tied into the same common threads. For myself it was about how i struggle with loneliness and accepting the fact that i'm a forgiven and loved child of God, and how God has been healing me of that over the past few years. It was encouraging for me to see over the course of the weekend how many other people struggled with the same things, especially loneliness. The knowledge that we are not alone in our struggles is healing in itself and a lot of people realized that. God is so good!
I know a lot of people were praying for this weekend and i would just like to say how much those prayers were appreciated. God moved in a powerful way and it was AMAZING to see!
Love you all
Alpha
We were blessed to have Tyler and Emma Milley speak with us and their willingness to be open and vulnerable and attentive to the Holy Spirit is something i look up to a lot. Also having Tyler plan the music with me was GREAT! It took a lot of pressure off of me. I tend to volunteer for things like that because i really like music but when it comes down to the nitty gritty details of planning a large portion of me dies inside.....yay for Tyler! It was fantastic to have a bunch of the guests take part as well, Leonard, Dan, Thomas, Chantel, Holly, David, Mary, Emily, John, Sarah, Trish, and i'm sure i'm forgetting some others...but you know who you are and a huge thank-you is due to you!
The theme of the weekend was "If You Really Knew Me....", and we focused on how we were discovering our identity in Christ. For all of us this meant different things, but it was amazing to see how they tied into the same common threads. For myself it was about how i struggle with loneliness and accepting the fact that i'm a forgiven and loved child of God, and how God has been healing me of that over the past few years. It was encouraging for me to see over the course of the weekend how many other people struggled with the same things, especially loneliness. The knowledge that we are not alone in our struggles is healing in itself and a lot of people realized that. God is so good!
I know a lot of people were praying for this weekend and i would just like to say how much those prayers were appreciated. God moved in a powerful way and it was AMAZING to see!
Love you all
Alpha
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Just Life
The weather today was absolutely phenomenal. It began this morning with sunshine and loveliness, blue skies but cold air. Then it began to cloud over, the rain started to drizzle down. Lunch rolled around and all of a sudden Helliki was pointing out the window at the crazy HAIL that was being dumped down! Hail! How marvelous! Hail quickly turned to slushy snow, slushy snow to SNOWY snow (picture me screaming like a banshee and running down Main Street), and then back to rain, and then snow again. oh wait but then it rained some more...and then it stopped for a while. and then the clouds got reeeeally dark and it started raining again. It's currently not precipitating but the mist is hiding the mountains and Gambier is far from sight.
Cold.
Wet.
Dreary.
I love it!
Something horrible happened this morning. I put on my gorgeous fire-engine red wellies and noticed a mark on the right toe. UH OH it wasn't a mark, it was a MASSIVE GOUGE!! I have no idea how the heck it got there, i have no recollection of stubbing my foot or dropping anything on myself or leaving my wellies where something could've dropped and made a hole.....
Oh well. Duct tape will fix it.
I'm starting to get slightly nervous about the Young Adult Weekend (it starts tomorrow!!!). We really want people to be vulnerable and open and for that to happen we need to be open and vulnerable ourselves. On Saturday morning i'll be sharing a bit and piece of my life. It will be deep. Maybe deeper than i've ever shared with my closest of friends. But i want to set a precedent of openness that hopefully the guests will follow, enabling them to grow closer to each other and to God.
The problem i have is putting my thoughts into words.
I'm worried that i won't be able to convey clearly what i'm wanting to, well, convey. And also (selfishly) i don't want to look like an idiot.
Trying much too hard
To be the Holy Spirit
Just let go, let God.
I like haikus.
Would you pray for me?
A
Cold.
Wet.
Dreary.
I love it!
Something horrible happened this morning. I put on my gorgeous fire-engine red wellies and noticed a mark on the right toe. UH OH it wasn't a mark, it was a MASSIVE GOUGE!! I have no idea how the heck it got there, i have no recollection of stubbing my foot or dropping anything on myself or leaving my wellies where something could've dropped and made a hole.....
Oh well. Duct tape will fix it.
I'm starting to get slightly nervous about the Young Adult Weekend (it starts tomorrow!!!). We really want people to be vulnerable and open and for that to happen we need to be open and vulnerable ourselves. On Saturday morning i'll be sharing a bit and piece of my life. It will be deep. Maybe deeper than i've ever shared with my closest of friends. But i want to set a precedent of openness that hopefully the guests will follow, enabling them to grow closer to each other and to God.
The problem i have is putting my thoughts into words.
I'm worried that i won't be able to convey clearly what i'm wanting to, well, convey. And also (selfishly) i don't want to look like an idiot.
Trying much too hard
To be the Holy Spirit
Just let go, let God.
I like haikus.
Would you pray for me?
A
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Things I see out my window
1. Ferries. They pass all day long. Big and white and sleek, sometimes shining in the sunlight, other times appearing suddenly out of the fog. On a calm night we can even hear them gliding by, the sounds of the motors carrying across the silent dark waters (poetic i know. but thats really exactly how it is!)
2. Eagles. They are everywhere! There's a tree just down the hill toward the pier that they sit in, perched precariously at the top looking majestic and superb. The turn their heads and survey the land (which happens to be Barnabas) like they own it all. I love watching them!
3. Clouds. They happen a lot around here...must be that time of year. They hide the nearby mountains, once in a while allowing a small glimpse of their majesty and grandeur, or SOMETIMES (on very rare occasions i've found) they show the whole coastal mountain range that is visible from Keats. I've even seen Garibaldi! But more often than not they wreath the steps to heaven in mysterious cover, nearby Gambier peaks flirt with mist while the lower island is completely immersed. How romantic.
4. The ocean. Being as Barnabas is right on the waterfront we tend to see the ocean a lot. Obviously. For me it never gets old. The smell, the sounds, the ever-changing colours....I have yet to see a seal or otter or whale or sea animal of some variety but logs float by a lot and trick me into getting excited. And birds are always fooling me into thinking that at last a seal has appeared. I've decided that I will go swimming at least once a month while i'm here. I'm expecting a very very cold experience...also rather enjoyable i'm SURE. Ocean swimming is one of the more ridiculous things i enjoy (in a twisted sort of way).
5. SUNSHINE! In the time I've been here we've had TWO days of sun! And today is one of those days. I just peaked out the window and sunlight is illuminating the Barnabas hillside, the grass is green, the water is blue, the flag on the pier is blowing gently in the breeze.
I love it here.
2. Eagles. They are everywhere! There's a tree just down the hill toward the pier that they sit in, perched precariously at the top looking majestic and superb. The turn their heads and survey the land (which happens to be Barnabas) like they own it all. I love watching them!
3. Clouds. They happen a lot around here...must be that time of year. They hide the nearby mountains, once in a while allowing a small glimpse of their majesty and grandeur, or SOMETIMES (on very rare occasions i've found) they show the whole coastal mountain range that is visible from Keats. I've even seen Garibaldi! But more often than not they wreath the steps to heaven in mysterious cover, nearby Gambier peaks flirt with mist while the lower island is completely immersed. How romantic.
4. The ocean. Being as Barnabas is right on the waterfront we tend to see the ocean a lot. Obviously. For me it never gets old. The smell, the sounds, the ever-changing colours....I have yet to see a seal or otter or whale or sea animal of some variety but logs float by a lot and trick me into getting excited. And birds are always fooling me into thinking that at last a seal has appeared. I've decided that I will go swimming at least once a month while i'm here. I'm expecting a very very cold experience...also rather enjoyable i'm SURE. Ocean swimming is one of the more ridiculous things i enjoy (in a twisted sort of way).
5. SUNSHINE! In the time I've been here we've had TWO days of sun! And today is one of those days. I just peaked out the window and sunlight is illuminating the Barnabas hillside, the grass is green, the water is blue, the flag on the pier is blowing gently in the breeze.
I love it here.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Barnabas Young Adult Weekend. COME!
This post is mainly to encourage my peers to consider registering for the upcoming Young Adult Weekend here at Barnabas.
I wouldn't usually promote something like this, it's not something i enjoy doing...
But as the weekend draws closer and we get into serious planning mode I am becoming more and more excited about what God is going be doing in our hearts and lives during the retreat. It is going to be a fantastic weekend! We're partnering up with Tyler and Emma Milley (they've also done the past Young Adult Weekends) who are two amazing people with hearts after God. They have a special vision for encouraging and teaching young adults and leading them into deeper relationships with Jesus.
Not to mention we have tons of incredibly fun activities planned! Possibly (most likely) a themed dinner....maybe a campfire.....lots of time for hanging out (sitting in the hot tub, hiking, playing pool or other games, etc), and tons of time for just worshiping God and enjoying the incredible place that Barnabas is.
The retreat is running from February 18th to the 20th. I'm not too sure on how much the cost will be but last time it was only $75 (and that includes all your meals and accommodations PLUS incredible speakers!) which is an incredibly good deal for a retreat center like this for an entire weekend. So i'll be letting you guys know as soon as i find out!
Please come! I'd love to see more of my friends up here enjoying the beauty of this place, ALSO I miss you all very much and would love to see your beautiful faces. There, could you possibly need a better reason? :)
I wouldn't usually promote something like this, it's not something i enjoy doing...
But as the weekend draws closer and we get into serious planning mode I am becoming more and more excited about what God is going be doing in our hearts and lives during the retreat. It is going to be a fantastic weekend! We're partnering up with Tyler and Emma Milley (they've also done the past Young Adult Weekends) who are two amazing people with hearts after God. They have a special vision for encouraging and teaching young adults and leading them into deeper relationships with Jesus.
Not to mention we have tons of incredibly fun activities planned! Possibly (most likely) a themed dinner....maybe a campfire.....lots of time for hanging out (sitting in the hot tub, hiking, playing pool or other games, etc), and tons of time for just worshiping God and enjoying the incredible place that Barnabas is.
The retreat is running from February 18th to the 20th. I'm not too sure on how much the cost will be but last time it was only $75 (and that includes all your meals and accommodations PLUS incredible speakers!) which is an incredibly good deal for a retreat center like this for an entire weekend. So i'll be letting you guys know as soon as i find out!
Please come! I'd love to see more of my friends up here enjoying the beauty of this place, ALSO I miss you all very much and would love to see your beautiful faces. There, could you possibly need a better reason? :)
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