It has BEGUN!!

Okay so i realize that is have been just about a month since my last blog and i am supposed to be keeping you all updated.

Oh man i apologize, i could use the excuse that the internet has been bad (which is has) or that i'm extremely busy (which i am) but i shouldn't use an excuse and i should just make time cause this is important.

So let me update you on what has been going on so far in this Beautiful place called Hawaii.

A lot of staff training was happening and just preparing for this intense amazing 6 months, a lot of resting and enjoying having some down time, oh and i got a tattoo.

yes yes yes.

The students got here just over a week ago on the 30th and boy do we have some really cool nations represented in our school.

We have students from Uganda, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Switzerland, Norway, China, South Korea, CANADA (13 out of 61 to be exact....way to represent) and of course the majority USA. So it is a great mixture of culture, language and definitely humour.

Our theme that we really felt like God gave us for this school was the word GRACE, and it is so cool hearing how relevant it is to most of our students as they got to share how they got to be here. I really like this group of students and i can see all of them being world changers.

This week we had Don Stephens as our speaker talking on Worldviews and how to live with the KINGDOM as our main focus. It was really sweet to hear about Gods Glory and how it is all around us, and the difference between religion and relationship.

great quote: "Religion is mans attempt at earning points with a God who isn't keeping score"

so so true.

SIDE NOTE>>I came to realize this week that i really like the Apostle Paul and that i would love to be the female version of him!!!

Anyways there is so much excitement for this quarter and for all the students that are here. Already God is doing so much in their hearts and i am so excited to see where God takes them. At the end of this week we announce the 7 different outreach locations that the students will be able to choose from, and oh boy is that just the most exciting time!!!

Also something else that has started this week is the class that i am actually taking. It is called BLTS Basic Leadership Training School and it is a great class to learn leadership skills and to use them NOW while we are all in leadership positions. I am reading a book called "Developing the Leader within you" and it is actually really good.

Life consists of going to lecture, doing my BLTS homework, leading small groups, engaging in 1-on-1s daily, organizing different outreach options here in the community, being available and of course having fun!!!

This weekend however is one of the most amazing sporting events ever!! The World Championship Ironman Competition. People-really fit people-have to qualify and then travel here to try and be the world champion.

whoa.

they are seriously so so SO intense.

This morning i woke up early and went down to the water to watch them start with the swim, which is just under 5km, then we went and watched them start on the bike ride which is 180km, and then they transition into running an entire marathon.

So in about 2 hours we will go see the first person, the winner come through the finish line....8 hours later.

Let me just say, anyone who can finish this is just insane and super dedicated!!

Then the fun begins when tonight our school gets to be a part of security from 6pm-12am which is the cut off time. So that will be fun to see everyone finish, cheer them on and keep them safe!!

So i think that is all to update on right now. We are going to have another really good week this week and i can't wait to see what God is going to do and how he is going to show up!