Rain, rain, and visitors

Rain, I love the rain. The sound  of it, the beauty of it, and the overall joy it gives to our world - I love it all. We have been getting a lot of rain here over the last few, accompanied by a fair amount of wind and also some thunder and lightening. To the extent that we had to shut down the office computers this morning as the storm was directly above us. I find it exciting in a very odd way, I guess its just different from the hot weather we have been having all summer, which I must admit can get boring and well very hot. 

Well, when my family decides to come and visit me they all come at once! On Sunday my mom and Sara, Wesley, Taylor, Rhys, and Aaron came to visit for the afternoon. It was so nice to see them again, we spent the afternoon at the beach and then had dinner. They have grown and matured so much, it's really neat. Yesterday my Aunty Jamie and Drew stopped in to say hi and stayed for dinner, it was a really good surprise to see them. The office had called up to where I live and told me that my aunt from Calgary was here, I was extremely confused as to who it could possibly be. This evening Kevin, Daryl, and Dale came by on their way from Calgary for a short visit, it was so nice to see them. I love visiting with my family, and I can't wait to be around them all again. 

Our days left here at Sorrento Centre are becoming quite few, and some of my staff have already started going home, it saddens me to see them go. We have build a community here, really a family here. And after two months of living with them all, and four months of living here with Heather its going to be hard to leave. (Heather has pretty much become my older sister for those who don't know... and we take care of each other, like our moms would!) And yet it signifies the end of the summer and the beginning of the next adventure in life. For four of my staff this adventure is going off to university for the first time. 

Bluegrass week has been going good, the music is nice and not too continuous and the people for the most part are great. This Saturday is the festival, we expect close to 1200 people here on site. It is going to be crazy, an experience that will not be forgotten!

School starts up again, I'm not sure if I am totally ready to go back to lectures and assignments yet but that will be what happens. I am staying in residence once again, and so is Stewart - he is going into the culinary arts program. It's going to be cool getting to bug Stewart and be around him whenever I can find him... it will be like we were little! 

Next Monday I am heading into Kamloops for a meeting for a group I am part of. Task Force on the Future of APCI, its a group that is looking at where APCI (Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior) is going in our future. Will we stay as we are? Go back to what we were? Become something new? Or join an already functioning diocese. I believe we have a facilitator joining us at this meeting who will assist us in this discernment and figuring out a plan of action. I'm excited to see the members of the group once again. 

Tomorrow I am not working, so I get to sleep in and then attend worship and the staff meeting. Then Heather and I are going to her place to visit with her family and such for the afternoon. With that being said.... I'm going to bed! Enjoy the last week of summer!!

Music... EVERYWHERE!!

That's right... there is music everywhere, literally! We are now well into the Swing week and every building I enter or corner I turn outside finds a new groups wonderful sounds. It is beautiful and amazing, the only time I wish it was not there is at 11pm curfew when I want to go to bed, and my staff want to sleep! I'm amazed that the talent here though, the next two weeks will be Bluegrass, with even more music, more people, and more craziness. This means its just over two weeks before summer is over, I'm done at Sorrento Centre, and school starts. It makes me sad in a way, I've lived with my staff for two months, and we've gotten to know each other. And I've lived with Heather for four months, we are practically sisters - so it'll be weird leaving the family, support, and atmosphere which are present here. 

One of the lady's who has been here for the summer, Jody, is leaving on Saturday. This saddens me deeply, as she became my second mom while I've been here... at least that is what we all say here. And she is not just leaving, but leaving to the other side of the country. We've exchanged lots of laughter, words, conversations, frustrations, thoughts, and ideas. I'll be sad to see her leave but I know she is going into a future of opportunities. 

The office is going well but oh so busy. I've put through so many payments, talked to so many people, made mistakes - fixed them, memorized codes, learned how to use programs, and got things done. The funny part is by the time the summer is over I will have it all learned... and then I will leave... but I've been assured by some of the office staff that I can come back.... I guess that means I'm doing a good job!

My mom and some of the kids are probably stopping by on Sunday, I am so excited to see them. It's been almost two whole months since I've seen them. And once school starts my new busy schedules starts also!

Now I must go and respond to a whole bunch of emails before I do curfew check and go to bed to read my book! I hope your summer is very enjoyable!

Anglican Programming, is over...

Well, the end of Anglican Programming officially ended on Friday. It means that we survived the five weeks of programming but it is also sad. All the work we went through to make a program and oversee it being run has ended. Last week was full of "lasts". The last campfire, variety night, closing eucharist, and dance. So now I will be working in the office, starting tomorrow. I will also be spending a fair amount of my time next week writing the final summer report for the children and youth programming. 

The Saturday before week five started we took the staff on an outing into Kamloops. We gave them some time at the mall, went and watched Batman, and went for dinner. I slept through parts of Batman, this is what happens when Melissa finally gets to sit down and stop for awhile. Three board members of Sorrento Centre drove us all in, which was very nice of them. And the staff had a great time off site!

Week four was good, a very long time ago now so I don't remember much of it! The music leadership for week four was amazing, just a great group of musicians! Week five, our last week, was amazing but sad. Jay, our summer liturgist/chaplain, left early on Thursday morning which was extremely sad. We had a going away party for Jay on Wednesday night, we were all disappointed about Jay leaving. Jay has provided me with so many opportunities and encouragement over the summer. I've written prayers of the people, presided at a number of services, and had many conversations about life and the church. I oversaw the running of both the Eucharist service on Thursday, and the closing service on Friday. It was really cool because Bishop Jim Cruickshank (former Bishop of Cariboo - what was my diocese) was there and presided. It was interesting because he started asking me what we were doing and when. To organize the service, and serve communion, among other things, along side with Bishop Jim was just a great experience. Bishop Jim remembers me when he was still Bishop, I was the youngest Sunday school teacher at the time, and my parish wanted the world to know! :0) He is thrilled with my work in the church in the present time, and was so happy to see me working at Sorrento Centre. +Jim was the first director of the Centre... many years ago. Okay... one more thing about +Jim, he loves to dance and is a great dancer. He had me spinning, and dancing more than I normally do at the dance on Friday night. And when I was talking with Mark (the music director for the week, +Jim's dear friend... I met him last year) he came over and said that if he wasn't going to dance with me then he was taking me back. 

Last Monday night while I was coming back from getting my laundry at 11:30pm someone started ringing the bell which is only suppose to be rung during emergencies. As I looked into the distance I saw bright orange flames. A tent on site caught on fire because a lamp fell over, a tent with three children in it at the time. The mother got the children out, she had smoke inhalation, otherwise everyone was fine. But we had to go into full emergency protocol, and I didn't get into bed until 2:20am - after everything was sorted out and all was fine. When I laid in bed I began to realize how much worse the whole situation could have been, I'm pretty sure I went into minor shock as I was freezing and shaking quite well. It was a miracle that was witnessed at Sorrento Centre, we couldn't have asked for a better turn out for the situation. It was scary, but I've learned that you just do what needs to be done. Since coming here I have mastered the ability to just do what needs to be done, and do it quickly and efficiently. For the rest of the week I had people coming up to me and telling me how great of a job I did when I was able to announce to the guests that they could return to their accommodation if they were in the buildings. That I stayed calm, organized, and said words of comfort. These comments mean a lot, although I sometimes wish I could see myself doing these things that people think are so wonderful. I suppose this is where trusting what others are saying comes into play. 

So now we have a week of Pentecostal Pastors, then Swing, and then two weeks of Bluegrass. It's going to be busy but very fun (I hope!). Summer is almost over, I am done here on the 31st of August and start school on September 2nd. Then youth group and Sunday school will start and I will begin attended meetings and councils, and try and do school work at the same time. I'm hoping to go home in the next few weeks, it's been a very long time since I've seen my family. I'm hoping to start planning youth group and Sunday school activities/events/lessons during August, between work and everything else. 

Let me know how your summer is going... I hope you are all enjoying it. 

Take Care! 

Love and prayers,

Melissa

Week 4 has come... and week 3 has gone.

Well, week 3 was just amazing. It was music week, so it was a week filled with music: sung liturgies, prayer services, ect... One of the course groups did an awesome presentation of The King and I, and we sang Amazing Grace for the Amazing Grace project. 

Nothing too extraordinary happened last week, or at least I can't think of much at this point. We are now in our forth week of Anglican Programming with only one more week to go. Then I am writing final reports and working in a different department. It's hard to think that I only have one more week of working with children/youth, daily worship, and all the wonderful people who come. The following weeks after Anglican Programming will consist of Pentecostal Pastors Week, two weeks of Swing and Bluegrass, and I think something else... pretty much it equals an even busier camp here... especially for Swing and Bluegrass. 

This week I have been doing a lot of administration stuff. In terms of the campers we have come in, and my summer staff. It just never seems to end. There are many great people on site this week, some who I know and I am enjoying catching up with and some who I've never met before but are amazing. 

The children and youth did the worship service today, and it was amazing. They did such a great job! Pretty much they take care of doing the readings, sermon, prayers of the people, bringing up the elements for Eucharist, and assisting with the administration of Eucharist. Every week the children and youth do a service, which really means a lot of preparation on our part, and the liturgical leader for the summer. But there is something about having the children and youth do a service, participate and make decisions. It's full of meaning for them, myself, and the guests. It's a reminder that our church, even with our pews fill with the aging generations, still has young people interested and eager to participate. 

I am definitely slowly starting to feel how much time and energy this position takes out of a person. I love it though, I love the work, the people, the learning, and the experience. Even when we have staff issues, or difficulties with things/plans/events on site, when it comes down to it... well it is all worth it!

Last Sunday some of my staff convinced me to go canoeing with them, being told that we were just wandering a little ways from shore I gave in (secretly excited of course!). Well by the time I got down to the beach I was informed of our destination... straight across to the other side of the lake! After 40 minutes of continuous paddling we made it, and it was worth it. Although I was extremely tired. And did you know you use different muscles when you are paddling and they sometimes become sore!!? Totally worth it though, I went swimming for the first time this summer, paddles across a lake, didn't get lost or run over by a boat. And I think my staff might be able to convince me to go again at some point. 

I hope everyone is doing well, and the summer is enjoyable. Not too hot, but not too cold. We just got an air conditioner put in our living room, which was well welcomed by us all. Living upstairs with ten other girls in a very warm house can get hard. Some of the girls are beginning to get sick, so I'm hoping it's nothing major and it bypasses me. I'm sure you can imagine what would happen when someone gets sick in close living quarters... 

But I am going to enjoy a few hours of sleep before tomorrow comes and another day begins. Well, after I do a curfew check and lock-up of the house that is!

Week 2

Week two has now come and gone, and it was a great week. My thinking came true this week... When I took this job I knew that is would not be a traditional forty hour a week job but a lifestyle. And a way of life it is, I've pretty much decided that I have no life for the time being outside of everything one can possibly do at the Centre. I, being one who likes to keep busy and doing things, spends my whole day doing stuff and then into the night. Chatting on msn, responding to emails, phoning home, and reading a good book have all become activities of the past. If seems like it all can't be done in the forty hours so I spend my free time willingly doing things. And of course the amazing part is I love it. I love the work and I am okay with the fact that I spend my freetime doing work stuff. It is part of who I am, I just need to be careful not to get burned out, so taking enough time to myself is also a mandatory activity. 

So, our second week at Sorrento Centre had Bishop Mark McDonald with us leading a course, the first National Indigenous Bishop for the Anglican Church of Canada. Craig Luccock, who has done a lot of work with youth over the years and worked in the position I am in for three years. I learned a lot through conversations with both of them, and enjoyed their presence on site. 

This week also was Day Camp week, which I was overseeing. It was BUSY!! My hours transitioned from a split shift to a 8:00am-4:00pm, then dinner, short break (usually filled with one-on-ones with staff, then the evening activity. Which meant that my afternoon nap time was gone. But it was a great week, with sixteen children we had a ton of fun. It reminded me of doing Vacation Bible School back at home. Most of our afternoons with the children were spent at the beach, which for me consisted of continuously counting sixteen heads to make sure everyone was still present! 

We had a major storm here on Thursday, to the extent of having to keep the children inside and not being able to leave until we got the all clear from the Executive Director. Good thing to know that our Emergency protocol works! Then, that evening we got to put another Emergency Protocol to the test when we had some major curfew issues. Lets just say that very little sleep was granted. 

On Wednesday I presided once again at the evening prayer service. I really enjoyed it, every time I take that leadership role on I do more or write more of the service myself. I am very thankful for the support, encouragement, and challenges I am given here.

Saturday I went to Kelowna to spend some time with Matt and his family. It was very nice being with them and also nice to get off site for a bit. We didn't do much, hung out for the most part. Which is definitely what I needed to do!

This coming week is going to be very busy, it already has been! It's "music" week so lots of people and great workshop leaders, but I will rant on that latter. We have a large number of children joining us, so I for see another successful week. I am going do be doing a lot of paperwork and administration work this week. Most of it easy and straightforward, just time consuming - but is has to be done! I will also be doing a lot of the planning for the children and youth Wednesday Eucharist service, organizing prayers, songs, scripture, sermon, ect... You don't know how short a day really is until you try and do everything in one day!

My prayer is that everyone's summer is going well, that the weather is pleasant and everyone is safe and enjoying themselves! I will try to update you on the fabulous things I am doing, but as I'm sure you have now figured out.... my time can be limited! 

Week 1

Ever since I got back from Generation 2008 my life has been go, go, go, don't stop!! It's awesome but I'm exhausted tonight. Friday night is the dance night at Sorrento Centre, so although I wish to be in bed I am waiting for staff to get back so I can do the night check in because of curfew. 

Last Friday our staff arrived and then they went through and intense training on Saturday and Sunday, we only had two days and lots to cover. We got it done though, and all survived. The staff even made it through my mandatory but not so exciting Emergency Procedures workshop. I also did a workshop on Spirituality - which I didn't think was boring and I'm told was not boring!

My first week has been amazing, and my staff are awesome! I am doing the 0-4 year old program, which I think was a ton of fun, I loved every moment of it. We had nine children in this program this week, and one little boy, Amiel, who is three years old absolutely loves me. We had dinner dates and he always invited me to come visit him at his cabana. It was so cute, his mom and him did a song about me at the variety night about his huge crush on me. I will miss Amiel when he leaves tomorrow, we've had a great week together. Who will I ever eat lunch and dinner with, and who is going to follow me around all the time?? 

Monday and Tuesday had the weather way to hot, and then by Thursday it was cold and windy out, and we were scheduled for a water fight - we froze but had fun. I've only spent a bit of time at the beach, I get most afternoons between programs off so I try to take a nap, and then usually have some work to get done. The 0-4 year old program I have made is called, "God Made Me!" and works well as this age group is all, "me, me, me!" I love the work here, it is doing what I love doing in an amazing atmosphere. How much better could it get?!

I am still learning as I go along, figuring things out, and making mistakes and then fixing them. But it is all part of the amazing process. I am living with ten other girls which is an adventure within itself - oh, and only one bathroom! It's great though, an experience I will take with me forever. And we all get along, which makes it that much better. The food here is great, I have no idea what I will do when I go back to school and have to cook for myself again, I've gotten very used to being fed three "homecooked" meals a day. Did I mention they are delicious?? 

And then there is worship. We have a morning Eucharist service Monday - Thursday, closing Eucharist on Friday afternoon, and with our orientation on Sunday a short service. Then there is the evening prayer services on Tuesday and Wednesday. I love it, I can't emphasize that in any other way other then just saying it. I feel like I'm being spoiled having so many opportunities to worship with a community. It's another one of those, "I have no idea what I'll do when it's all over and I don't get to attend services each day!" Our liturgist this summer, Jay, is from Huron University College in London, ON and is amazing. He has so many different forms of worship, I'm finding it all very interesting to be part of. I met Jay when I was at Generation 2008 so I was already excited for his arrival prior to his arriving here.  On Monday afternoon he asked me if I would like to preside at a service at some point, and I said I would. He then invited me to preside at the Tuesday evening prayer service, so I took it on and although I was a fair bit nervous (it was a very simple service, lots of silence and meditation) once I began it felt fully natural and I enjoyed every minute of it. And then the next day due to people getting sick and Jay having to play the piano because of a sick piano player I ended up presiding at that service also, so in the first week of Anglican programming I've already presided twice! I also did a brief summarizing sermon on Wednesday morning after the children did a skit for the sermon. I connected their story to the scripture readings. I am looking forward to continued adventure in worship. 

Next week I am doing the 0-4 years old program once again, but only in the morning. Once it is over I am doing day camp, which should equally be a blast. We currently have 15 children registered for day camp. I think our afternoons will be spent at the beach if the weather is good. So tomorrow I have some last bit of organization to do both for day camp and the children and youth programming. I get Saturdays off but it is very much a "way of life" here. Although I am only scheduled for certain times I find myself doing stuff still when I'm not scheduled. It is my own choice and I enjoy the work so it works for me! I plan on trying to get off site next Saturday for the night, although I love it here it is still important to take some time to re-energize and focus. And also get away from the life here, filled with staff and guests. 

I hope you are all enjoying your summer and that the weather is good, but not too hot! And now that all my staff are back it's time to lock up the house!

An Amazing Experience

So, I might not have kept up with the blogging during the event itself - but I learned that the week was filled with late nights and very early mornings, and very little free time in-between. But it was great! I'll still share what I got to be part of for those of you who are interested. 

Throughout the week I attended workshops, including: Youth and the Gospel; Spirituality and Sexuality: This is My Body; How to Teach so Kids (And Others?) Will Learn; Effective Use of Games and Initiatives; and Planning and Leading Meaningful Worship. My favorite was probably Youth and the Gospel, led by the chaplain from Huron University. It gave a great insight on how to present the Gospel to youth, and even adults. I enjoyed each workshop for different reasons, and wish I could have taken more!

We spent a day in Open Space, where participants brought up their concerns in youth ministry and we had the day to attend sessions on the different concerns and participate in conversations. Concerns and discussions were on everything from Girls Ministry, Camp Ministry, Formal Training for Youth Leaders, to Feeling like an Outsider. In groups we explored the concerns and committed to continue conversations to take further action over the next few months. I became engaged and involved in a group looking at Rural Youth Ministry, and as a group we will continue to share ideas and eventually gather resources and ideas that can be shared nationally. I also took interest in the group looking at Formal Training for Youth Leaders - I look forward to seeing what comes out of that group. 

We were given an afternoon of "Free Time" where we could venture off site, look around, and go out for dinner. Six of us went downtown London and searched out the Cathedral. Our search was successful, we found St. Paul's Anglican Cathedral and even got to go inside for a closer look. It was amazing and so beautiful. We also found the Catholic Cathedral, but no one was there so we were unable to venture inside. There were so large and gorgeous though, I'm still amazed! We went out for dinner and then went back to the campus. 

Our plenary speakers and those who preached during worship were full of insight and knowledge. It was inspirational and life giving. "The Seven Spiritual Yearnings of Youth" was very interesting, and the preaching from Rev. Reggie Blount and National Indigenous Mark MacDonald was life changing. Primate Archbishop Fred Hiltz gave us a closing message before he left, it was a message of what he saw, suggestions, and amazement as one hundred and sixty-five Anglican Youth Leaders from across Canada gathered together. 

We engaged in worship daily, usually twice a day. Each worship was unique and different. We participated in Meditation on the Cross - with a liturgical dancer, Foot washing, Morning Prayer, Holy Eucharist, and an Emergent Church Eucharist. The music was powerful, joining together as one hundred and sixty-five voices to come before the Lord with a joyful song. We sang everything from contemporary, traditional, to songs from Zimbabwe. We were honored to be present for one of our newly ordained peers from Nova Scotia, Arran Thorpe's, first services. It was an amazing and powerful moment when Arran went to bless and break bread for the first time. I can only image the overwhelmingness of it, the service brought me to tears of joy for Arran and his accomplishments.  

Huron University College is a beautiful campus, the buildings and set up took my breath away. I can not think of a better location for this event to have been held. The people I met and the networking I was part of has changed my life. It was amazing to meet people from across Canada in similar ministries as I am. And I'm sure that we will continue to share ideas and engage in peer mentorship with one another. Friendships have formed and will continue.

The traveling itself was an adventure. My journey down to London was easy, a direct flight from Kelowna, BC to Toronto, ONA . Then we drove two hours to London, through a lightning storm. The journey home had us drive back to Toronto then fly to Calgary, AB. We ended up stuck in Calgary when our flight got cancelled due to the weather back East. We spent the night in a hotel just to get up early to catch a flight to Vancouver, BC, where we then went directly to Kelowna, BC.  Then we drove back to work! At least I now know what to do when my flight gets cancelled!

Overall the whole experience was life-giving and life-changing. I gained new experiences, and learned more than my head could manage to keep in. I am still reflecting on the week and can't wait for September when I begin the youth group in Savona up again.