Last week but not the end!

The last week of summer camp has begun with Urban Promise. Everyone is starting to get a little tired but are still pushing forward remembering Philippians 4:13 "i do all things through Christ who gives me strength". 

It has been an incredible 6 weeks of building relationships and enjoying new experiences with the kids.

Last week I really felt like I was able to talk to the kids on a deeper level then I ever had before.

On Friday for our trip last week we took the YMAD kids to Canada's Wonderland in the rain for the day. 

The rain didn't stop us and we had an super amazing time as their were no line ups.

It was one of my favorite days this summer, I have been to Wonderland many times with some really great friends and I have great memories of those times. But this was over all my best trip to Wonderland. I love rides but I love watching the kids get excited and enjoy the rides so much more!

It was a great day of tears, fear, smile, laughter and yes even a little bit of puking. 

Also had some really great conversation with the kids about forgiveness, swearing and other life issues that they struggle with.

I love all of it and even though I am getting  pretty tired myself I still enjoy every day.

I am also very very glad that this week is not my last week like originally planned, I love what this organization does, I love the kids and can't wait to continue doing life with them!

Week 5 already :s

A lot of ups and downs in this past week, absence of sleep really started to catch up with me and being busy really got to me. I had a very busy weekend as well, but it was also a very encouraging weekend. All the interns took a 2 day trip to Port Colburne where a really amazing family opened their home to us to be refreshed. It was a really great time, highlights where getting super lost in such a small town (we must have walked around our street a dozen times), sleeping in a trailer during the rain storm, and sitting on the balcony during the thunderstorm on Sunday. To finish off the weekend I was able to go home on Monday and visit my family and grandparents and got to see my 6 month old nephew who has grown a lot since June.

Starting back to camp on a Tuesday was quite difficult which made the beginning of the week a little rough but today was much better. Had a really neat moment (more like hour) with of the girls from my wordup. She was not participating in the activity so I took her aside to work on a different project in the hope that I could get her to talk about what was the problem at that moment. We had a really good talk about what was bothering her but also how to deal with it. We also talked a lot about her goals for the next year in school and even read some of the bible together and talked about everything I have been teaching her this summer. It was a very rewarding time and I am very thankful that it happened since it isn’t always that we are given such moments.

Also feeling really great since I received a visit this evening from my best friend which was amazing, I’ve really missed not seeing her every week  but I also appreciate it so much more since it isn’t quite as often right now.

And one last thing I want to write on here and let you all know is that as many of you have heard that I have been thinking and praying about this a lot. I have decided that I will be staying with Urban Promise to continue ministry with them until May 2013. Prayers and support are needed and appreciated. If there is any way you feel you can do this or if you have any questions feel free to email me at janelle_kz@hotmail.com

Pictures!

Hey everyone! Below is a link to see some pictures from my time here in Toronto. Hopefully you will be able to see how much fun I am having with all of these awesome kids!!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151989285045296.883476.555160295&type=1

Bittersweet!!

Goodbyes tend to often be a bittersweet experience.
This weekend i had to say goodbyes to seven very amazing new friends which where very bittersweet.Seven of the interns here at Urban Promise had to return to their home in Germany after spending a year. I only knew they for 4 short weeks but they had all become very dear friends. I am very grateful for the chance i had to meet them and get to know them, but wasn't ready to say goodbye so soon.

On Saturday we had a birthday party for two of the interns which was also a goodbye part in a lot of ways. We all met up and carried out picnic BBQ down to a park where we enjoyed food, friends and fellowship for one last time all together. It was a glorious evening with the sun streaming through the trees as we all sat together laughing, talking and eating. I will truly miss these times with them!

This week has also been a really good one for a lot of different reasons. 
On Sunday I was so encouraged to go to my home church and see four of my friends make profession of their faith as well as to see and talk with everyone. I was blown away by the interest in my life this summer and support I received. Felt so very blessed after visiting and talking with so many people.

Camp has also been going super well, today I had such a great hour with my group of girls.
 Instead of doing the regular scheduled bible study I decided to have them read Psalm 139 together and talk about what it meant. It was really neat to get them talking and to hear their thoughts on the passage and how they felt about the fact that God cares to know every detail about them. We ended this hour together by talking about what “beautiful” really is, whether it was a physical thing or something that is on the inside of a person. It was really encouraging to hear them talking and sharing about things like this!

To top off this week so far my big brother came down for the evening to take me out for dinner and to talk to me about life! It was really awesome to hang out with him like that! Love that guy so much!!

Blessed Beyond Measure!

Thanking my heavenly Father for His amazing provision through His people!

Got to visit my home church congregation this afternoon and was so blessed and encouraged to see and hear the support and love that all these people have for me :)

I was overwhelmed and could not wipe the smile off of my face. 

Had the chance to talk to so many of these people that have impacted and continue to influence my life.

My friends, loved one and mentors.

Just feeling incredibly blessed at the moment that God has provided me with so much love and support on this earth.

Thunder and Lightening

Its an awesome night, currently sitting on the balcony enjoying a thunderstorm.

I love the rain especially on such hot, humid summer days. 

Went for run tonight and was very thankful for the cooler temperature compared to Monday evening.

I had a very interesting day today, part of it was very frustrating while other parts where incredibly uplifting.

Being that it is the third week of camp problems between team members are starting to arise as well was people getting tired and such which doesn't always help with united or working together so if you are reading this please prayer for unity for our team! 

Also it is the last week here for a handful of the interns, there will be 3 people leaving from my building at the beginning of next week which really sucks and will be a big adjustment for everyone!

As for good news i had an amazing experience today with one of my young ladies. Our theme for the week is forgiveness and this seems to be a big issue with alot of the girls i am working with. The verse from Matthew 6:14 i believe where is says that if we do not forgive other around us God will not forgive us, is really hard for them to understand and except

. I've heard alot of "its to hard" or "its not fair" or "but they....". 

Today during WordUp i was getting the to journal about how they can start to move towards forgiving some one. One of the girls asked me to help her and because of her change of attitude and body language i could tell she was really serious about what she was doing and was struggling with it. 

We had a really great conversation and i helped her to write out a prayer about her particular situation. It was a very amazing experience for me.....that God choose to use me in this way. 

I love the sky right now the way it is lighting up, it really shows the power of God and makes me watch in awe!

Praise is Awesome and Glorious Name!

Joy Filled!

Second week is done and gone and it went extremely quick!

We where blessed this week with a work team of volunteers that came all the way from Oklahoma to serve with Urban Promise this week, there where 60 people all together spread about the camps which was incredible. 

We had 5 wonderful young adults serving with my team which really was a blessing this week as we where short a few people.

I got to know them quickly and really hit it off with one of the girls, saying goodbye tonight was difficult.

Being the second week at camp everything was better for me, on Wednesday i continued my Passion Project with the kids and we started making paper mache planets for our solar system. 

Also continued my dancing lessons as the girls are attempting to teach me how to dance like a black girl, it is quite fun but i feel super white when i try to dance with them!!

Thursday was a day that we all could only describe as a day filled with joy, everything went so smooth as we went down town to Knox and had a visitor share is testimony which really impacted the kids, it was indeed an amazing day!

Today we went to a church where the work team put on a carnival for us.

This included face painting, games, and crafts and it ended with a gigantic water fight which left everyone soaked to the bone. 

I feel so blessed right now as i look back on the week, there where difficult times of discipline and frustrations but the good times of unity, fellowship and friendship building defiantly out weigh the bad.

The kids and i actually have a relationship now, they are starting to open up and share things with me as well as call my name when ever they need help with anything even if it is to tie a knot for on there bracelet.

My young teenager girls randomly walk over just for a hug, and if they are not smiling or happy i know just what to say to make them smile. I help the boys do sit ups and compete against them while playing basket ball and all of these things make me smile!1

Living in Toronto is also so great, way better then i ever thought it would be, there are parks to go running in and great paths for walking.

I have neighbor kids next door who randomly knock on my door just to say hi or to give me a hug.

I am very blessed and my life is filled with yes JOY!