Lots to Learn

Wow. Kaleo is here in full force, and has been since D-Group Leader training the day we arrived. Last summer I grew more in Christ than I ever could have imagined, and coming into this summer I expected that same sort of rapid growth. Instead, I got something I didn't expect - even more growth, even faster.

I'm learning so much that it's hard to keep up sometimes but here's some of the highlights...

• FAITH: I so desire to be a woman who puts full trust in God, his provision, and his power. I want to believe God for bigger things than I could even dream of, and trust that God will meet my physical and emotional needs. (Hebrews 11)
• I've also been learning a ton about what it means to be a sacrificial, loving leader. I love these girls so very much, and I love learning from them. It's been cool to grow with them and be challenged by them and learn what it looks like to lead out.
• Fellowship has been incredible this summer. My good friend Erin and I have been making a point to get together each week to chat through everything going on in our lives, and it's been such an incredible bonding experience. I love her and her heart, and it's such a privilege to be partnering with her in ministry. She's a gem.
• Prayer prayer prayer. It's incredible, and God's really been showing me that without prayer, everything I do, everything I aspire to, everything I'm learning is in vain. Without prayer things don't stick in my heart, lives don't change, and I grow prideful. I've loved getting to pray more and seeing God be faithful to that.

Just a snapshot of what I've been learning! Stay tuned for details on some fun happenings :)

KALEO2011 IS HERE!

Hey friends!
So I left for Kaleo last Thursday and got here last Friday! We had 4 packed days of leader training and fun times getting to know one another. This past Tuesday all of the Kaleo participants got here and we've been having a blast ever since!

Our group has picked up right where we left off at school and we're having as much fun together as we ever have. I'm loving living with these girls and getting to know them better. Here we are at our large group meeting last night:

Here's me with Lisa, Julia, and Lacy last night!



We're having some great times getting the room organized, shopping for living needs, playing pranks, and learning from one another. Can't wait to jump right in to all of the content at Kaleo with them!

Julia started work yesterday as housekeeping at the Marriott, Lisa starts work today at McDonalds, and Lacy and I went in to Publix yesterday for paperwork. Lacy will be in the Bakery and I'll be working in the Deli. We're pumped.

Tonight we have a group social event where each group shows up to the beach as a certain theme and the winner gets a Kaleo trophy... we intend on winning... and I can't wait to show you pictures!

Over and out,

Kelsey

My DGroup!!!

Hey Friends!

Exciting news - I just found out the girls who I will be leading in my DGroup this summer!

These girls are... *drumroll please*

Lisa, Lacy, and Julia!!! All three are freshmen in my sorority who I've had the intense pleasure of getting to know this year through leading them in their Freshman Connection bible study! We've had a great time, and I've loved seeing them grow this year. I can't wait to see how God continues to grow them this summer!

Some pics... :)

Lacy and Julia!!

Lisa and Julia :)

Lacy and Lisa <3

As you can see, our group is made up of some classy, fun, laidback, energetic, and enthusiastic girls. We'll have a blasty blast.



Here's a pic of the girls in my team for the summer!

Left to right: Lauren, Me, Kara, Kirsten, Meghan, Kayla, Kolbi

Kirsten is our team leader and will be leading us leaders through the summer and helping us grow closer to Christ and become better leaders. We have a wide variety of personalities, so it's been fun to get everyone's different viewpoints. Kara and Jen (not pictured) are our staff girls that are on our team, and I'm so excited to learn from them both!

A shot of some of the girls from my Freshman Connection bible study this year at a Valentine's Day Banquet!

• Julia, Lisa, and Lacy will be going to Kaleo this summer
• Michelle, Abby, and Amanda are also attending Kaleo but are in Brittney and Betsy's (both in my sorority) group
• Ali is going to Germany this summer to see a close friend.
• Allison and Carrie are going home this summer.
• Megan is going home to Boston and being a camp counselor.
• Erin was my co-leader and will also be leading a DGroup at Kaleo!

As you can tell, there are a lot of girls going a lot of different places - pray that wherever they are, wherever they go, they grow closer to and have an impact for Christ!

SUMMER 2011!!!

Hey all! Guess what?!
I have the immense privilege of attending Kaleo AGAIN this coming summer and I'm extremely excited about it. In fact, this year I will be leading a D-Group!

Why? Why did I decide to go back?
Matthew 9:37 - "Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.'"

The reality of the matter is that the harvest is just as plentiful now as it was this time last year, and the workers, sad as it is, are just as few. I'm committed to being trained as a worker and Kaleo is the best way I know of how to do that. Also, I refuse to leave K-State or my sorority without the assurance that another woman is ready and trained to carry on the work of laboring in the harvest and making disciples.

Snapshot of what Kaleo really is...

My responsibilities as a DGroup Leader...

• Living with and leading 3 women (most likely from my sorority) for 9 weeks at Kaleo
• Leading weekly bible study of 2 Corinthians
• Leading weekly book study of The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges
• Meeting one-on-one with each girl in my group weekly
• Participating in DGroup Leader trainings each Nonday
• Working about 30 hours a week at Publix
• Attending trainings, large group meetings, beach evangelism, etc with my group
• Having a great time in the midst of that!

Needless to say, it's going to be a busy and crazy summer, but I'm confident that God will work a wonder that only He can through this summer at Kaleo.

God says that he can do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine when we come to Him in prayer. As I approach the summer I realize that prayer will make or break my group's experience, so I beg you to pray with me.

Some prayer requests:

• That I would finish strong academically and in ministry on campus
• That God would reveal to me now areas that I need to improve in as a leader and as His follower
• That God would provide for me financially
• That God would prepare the hearts of the girls in my DGroup for a summer of growth. Pray that they would become women of F.A.I.T.H. (faithful, available, initiative takers, teachable and have a heart for God and others)

Thank you all!

Love you,
Kelsey