Hi Everyone!
We have pretty good internet here! In Honduras! I wasn't expecting that at all! Just an update, we have built 2 and almost completed 3 of the three buildings we were going to build, a week in advance! And music camp will be starting next week, week of prayer was finished today, and life has been great! For most...several people have been getting sick. So keep them in your prayers. God has been working. And I just ask that you pray for this school that we are at. They need prayers! Cause the devil is working hard. I have been very blessed. Well, I will keep you updated, and show some pictures when I get back and can down load them on my computer. I also can't wait to share with you some of the things that God has been teaching me! Adios!

Honduras!!!

Hi Everyone!
I'm going to be going on a mission trip with my class to Honduras. I'm so excited! If you could keep me and my class in your prayers it would be greatly appreciated! And I'm looking forward to sharing pictures, and experiences when we get back!

Lesson from PE class

Dear Reader,
Most of you, if you know me pretty well, will understand my love of PE class. I just LOVE to get out there and burn calories, and sweat, and all that lovely stuff! No actually, I don't love to work out. For me, PE class is an experience where I have to push myself. It isn't easy. I have to exert a lot of energy, and many many times my body is just like, "Hello Kalyse! That is enough now! You can stop now!" lol! But if I were to not exercise, not put my body through that "hardship", I would get very weak, and would actually hurt my body by not exercising. Yet it is hard for me to push myself alone. For example, yesterday in PE, we walked up a pretty steep road called Fountain Valley. It was practically like hiking! And I enjoy just a nice leisure walk on nice level ground. So for me, this wasn't "enjoyable", because I was pushing myself. But I had a walking companion. My classmate Heidi was walking with me. And as we were walking, we decided, that we should probably do some running. So we started jogging. We jogged and jogged and jogged...and kept jogging! If Heidi wasn't there running beside me, when my body started to hurt and get tired, I would have stopped quite often to rest. But with Heidi there, we, together, kept pushing forward....one step at a time. And we were both accountable to each other. The fact that there was someone beside me, running with me, and someone who would keep running and encourage me when I stopped, kept me going. I always feel good after exerting energy. I do it when I work cafe or clean house, and I love it. But when it comes to PE, it takes a little more muscle and mind power for me to enjoy it. But if there is someone by my side pushing me forward, it makes things a whole lot better. I'm still using the same energy, and it is still just as hard as when there wasn't anyone beside me. But to have someone there for encouragement, and someone who is going through, or has gone through the same crazy work out as me, is the biggest and best encouragement. In the same way, we are not alone in life, whether it is our close friends, or Jesus Christ, our Best Friend. We are never alone in this life. Even if you feel like it, know that you are never alone. And life is kinda like PE. It isn't easy. We are going to have to exert energy, and our body's are going to be sore and hurting. But we have to keep pushing if we want to see any effect of working out. In this life, we aren't trying to get ride of calories, we are trying to get ride of that imperfect character. And what better companion to encourage us, then the One who is perfect! Jesus Christ! But we also, as fellow Christians, and loving friends, can be there to encourage and uplift those around us. And let us continue to point them to Christ, who will NEVER leave your side. Life is like running a race in which there is always someone at your side to give you water, and strength, and encouragement. That someone is Jesus. All you have to do is keep pushing, and never give up. So...lets keep running!

(P.S. Special thanks to all my friends who have always been there for me! Whether in PE class....to help push me forward, or through my trials....to give me encouragement.)

Keep pressing forward....because....

In the Christian life....Failure is NOT an option.

Three Things....

Hi Everyone! I know today has been a rather hard and discouraging day for most of my fellow classmates. And I just want to encourage each of you. I don't know if you understand the power of the mind, but here is one tip to living a fulfilling Christian life even when your life might look rather discouraging. Each day, take the time to write down 3 things that you are thankful for. Think...really think...not just, "I'm thank full for the sunshine!" (Don't get me wrong...sunshine is something to be thankful for!) But thank God for the rain. Find something to be thankful about with those things in your life, that just don't seem like a blessing. Think outside the box....be on the lookout for little things that God will use, to teach you a lesson, or to show you His love. I'm sure that you have heard the saying, "you find what you look for." It is so true! If you are on the lookout for God's blessings, you will find them! So...keep a smile on your face, and be thankful.

Strength

Just because you feel weak, doesn't mean you aren't strong. When we ask Christ for strength for the day, we can be assured that He will give us the strength that we need to make it through. Just because we feel exhausted at the end of the day doesn't mean that He hasn't given us strength. Because we made it through the day is proof that He gave us strength.

Taking Time....

Wow...this week has been busier then normal for me. I would get up in the morning, have my devotions, and then my day would start. Music, school, lessons, more lessons, problems to be fixed, papers to be signed, more lessons, not very much time for meals, laundry, more school work, more music, and then bed time. Just about every evening, I would come back to my room, and be just plain exhausted. So tired that I couldn't do homework. It took all my strength to get in my Pajamas, and crawl into bed. Yet, God taught me a big lesson this week. This morning, I read the quote in Help and Daily Living p. 36 that says, "Too often we forget that our fellow laborers are in need of strength and cheer. Take care to assure them of your interest and sympathy. Help them by your prayers, and let them know that you do it." Beginning of last week, I just felt impressed to write a card for a particular person. So I did. Then the next day I felt impressed to write another card for this other person. And all week, I found myself writing just one card for someone else, once each day. It was so fulfilling. Just that one simple act of writing an encouraging card for someone, brightened my day, and gave me joy. Too often we get caught up in our own lives, and all the many things to do, that we don't realize other people are just as stressed and busy as we are. Just taking some time aside, to write a card meant that I wasn't getting other things done. Like my calculus home work, or that violin lesson schedule/ puzzle, that had been waiting for the past 2 days for me to solve. But it helped me to take my mind of of myself, and show Christ's love to someone around me who was struggling. I gained such a hugh blessing this week, even though it has been one of the most tiring, and busy weeks of my Fountainview 2012 school year. I would encourage you, even if you aren't stressed and busy, to just take the time to sit down and do something for someone else. You will find, that that one simple act will 'make your day'! It was also interesting, cause just today, I received 3 different cards from 3 different people. So not only do you receive a blessing from being a blessing, but God blesses you in return. Try it this next week...do one kind thing each day....just one thing, for someone else. And you will gain a big blessing!

Power for the weak...

He gives POWER to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Isaiah 40:29

For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Tim 1:7

BE BRAVE, BE STRONG... 1 Cor 16:13

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

Lead me, O Lord, in Your righteousness...Make Your way straight before my face. Psalm 5:8

Let us hold fast to confession of our hope, without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

I will fight the good fight, I will finish my course, I will keep the faith; Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown that the righteous Judge shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them that love His appearing.  2 Tim 4:7

When I pray, You answer me, and encourage me by giving me the strength that I need. Psalm 138:3

These are some pictures from a photo shoot that Ryo took of Olivia, Loralee, Amaris and I.

Thank you Ryo!!

There is nothing on this earth more to be prized then true friendship.