Wednesday, May 26, 2010

I'm HERE!

Hey all!
Just wanted to let you know that I got to Gulf Shores safe and sound yesterday around 4 and checked in to the hotel at 5. More details to come!

Kelsey

Monday, May 24, 2010

Leaving for Gulf Shores!

Hello all!
It's bright and (way way too) early, but we're about to head out for the adventure of a lifetime. Caitlin (another girl in my sorority) is from Nebraska and spent the night here last night so we could ride together, and we're also riding with Jennifer, another girl from KSU. We're leaving with the KC Caravan at 9am, and should be in Memphis around 7pm. We're spending the night at a church there, then leaving there at 6:45 (!!!!) Tuesday morning and should be in GULF SHORES early Tuesday evening. I'm feeling a little disillusioned... I've been waiting since last summer for this moment to be here, and now it's two mere days away. Just trying to stay focused.

Pray for safe travels, stronger friendships after two long days of traveling, and open, teachable hearts once we get there.

Thank you all so much, I'll let you know when I'm there,
Kelsey

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

My D-Group!

I just got a call today about my D-Group!
I didn't figure I'd find out whose group I was in until I got down to Gulf Shores, so this was a pleasant surprise!

The lovely Sarah Snell is my D-Group leader,
Sarah Kesler and Nicole Wilbert (not sure if I spelled that right) will be in the group too!

I'm excited to be in a group with Sarah K- another girl in my sorority - but I'm also super excited to get to know Sarah S and Nicole!

It's going to be a great summer :)

Monday, May 10, 2010

Kaleo Overview

Hey everyone! Thanks so much for checking out my new blog.
This is where I'll be posting updates about everything I'm doing and learning in Gulf Shores this summer.

Here's a video about Kaleo:



If all goes well, I'll be working as a server at Big O's Seafood Grill with three other students from the project.
I'll be living with three other women from K-State, and this will be my Discipleship Group (D-Group).
There will be over 120 other students from K-State, and one KU student. I'm so excited to get to know all of these people more. Also, another exciting tidbit... 7 other girls from my sorority are going! So exciting to see how God moved in the house this year.

For any more information on the program feel free to email me at klayers@ksu.edu and I'd love to talk to you more about it.

Current prayer requests:
~That the oil spill would have little to no impact on our experience at Kaleo. Specifically, that employers wouldn't panic and withdraw their committments to hire students.
~That myself, the other AXOs going to Kaleo, and the rest of the students attending would have their hearts softened now so that they're absolutely teachable from the very beginning of the project.
~That my D-Group gets to know each other quickly and that we get along so that we can learn from each other and our leader.

Thanks so much for dropping in!
I hope this gives you a good picture of what my summer will look like!

~Kelsey

P.S. Here are several verses that really influenced my decision in going to Kaleo this summer...

We'll be learning a lot about what it means to share our faith and to be workers in the harvest...
Matthew 9:36-38
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.""

We'll be learning what it looks like to be a disciple-maker, and every week we'll be praying for the nations, because God isn't just an American God...
Matthew 28:16-20
"Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.""

We'll be learning about how to invest more deeply in God's Word....
2 Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"

We'll be learning what it looks like to be prayerful disciples of Christ...
Philippians 4:6-7
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I'll be surrounded by people pursuing Christ, learning what it means to walk with Him, spurring one another on...
Hebrews 10:24-25
"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."