Life Changing Perspectives.

Dear Mom and Dad,

This letter isn’t mandatory or anything for our trip but I thought I’d write you a little something before I left. By now you’re probably at home and I’m probably flying on a big airplane on my way to Jackson, Mississippi. First of all, as you know, I’m not one to express my feelings at all very often but let me tell you that I am so excited that I’m able to be a part of this trip this year. It is most definitely a life changing experience and I’ve been so blessed to see how God’s going to use me. God’s pointing me in directions that I never thought I would ever go. He’s showing me the life He has planned and serving others is one of the biggest things I feel comfort from. I know that ever since I’ve been attending Ontario Christian I haven’t seemed to enjoy it as much as I would have liked to enjoy high school, but I just want to thank you for blessing me and having me attend school here. As much as the school lacks major high school activities and such that I have often complained about, I’ve been so blessed to have gone and go to this school. The people that you have surrounded me with are impacting my life so incredibly much and they’re causing me to seek God in so many more ways that I wouldn’t have even imagined. I’m growing through the “weaknesses” that I had toward this environment and God is opening up my eyes to the things unseen. I would have never had the urge or desire to go out and be an evangelist of Christ if I hadn’t seen the love of Christ through my peers and some of my teachers. This whole experience has truly matured and opened my eyes to the life that God is beginning to lay in front of me. I’m so excited for not only this Jackson trip but the many more trips God will bless me with in the future. God’s going to use me to change His kingdom and He’s already started. Thank you for helping me begin my adventure as an evangelist of Christ. I have such a passion to serve God’s people and to love them with the love that God has shown me. God’s calling me to be a fully-devoted disciple of Him and I’m trusting in Him always.  I’ve given my life to Him and I’m excited to see what He is going to do with me. I have the up most confidence in Him alone. Thank you for giving me the best things for me even when I don’t believe it’s the best. Thank you for all the sacrifices you’ve made to make my life the best you could make it and for being my biggest fans. God’s blessed me. I love you. Have a wonderful week. Miss you already! Thank you for sending me to Ontario Christian, it’s changed my life.

In Christ,

Just a little snippet

Just a little something I did in my spare time.

      -Trevor

Glory Be To God.

It's been a joy unspeakable.

           People keep telling me "welcome home", that this place here is my home... Asking me if I'm home yet? Or if I enjoyed my trip? But to me, this whole experience in Jackson, Mississippi has felt so much more than "home" to me. But never would I have imagined that being in a place 1,815 miles away, living under a roof with twenty people, where we get tornado warnings, and pretty much live a whole new life style would be my home; my comfort zone. The environment of true love and belief and the people surrounding has most definitely earned it's title as home in my heart. We lived like family, we acted like family, we felt like family, and we loved like family, but it was most definitely God's love that held us together. Glory be to Him. This family of devoted Christians that had been surrounding me this whole week has not only showed the love of the Lord but they have taught me valuable life changing lessons that I'll never forget and have kept me accountable for who I am as a follower of Christ in a loving way. When people say that this trip is life changing... they're not kidding. The love and hearts after Christ that surround you; you honestly just forget about the rest of your world. Everything seems to dissapear and nothing matters but the truth that we have a God who loves us, who calls us to love, and who we believe in whole heartedly. A God who loves us enough to send His only son to die for something we were intended to die for. One of the songs that really stuck out to me this trip was "How Deep The Father's Love For Us" by: Stuart Townend. It's so powerful and if you haven't heard it yet, I hope you get a chance to listen to how deep His love really is. I'm not going to write all the lyrics but I'd like to share some of the lines that have done so much more than just pop out to me.

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure.

Behold the Man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders.

It was my sin that led Him there, until it was accomplished.

His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything.

But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.

But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.

I really hope and pray that you'd take the time to really hear this song out. It's all so true. I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection that has saved us and set us free from the chains of death. 
 This trip has most definitely given me a whole new definition of the word family. If you were to have looked at the team of kids who were called to go to Jackson, you would have been like... Really? Do they even know each other. Really? She doesn't even look like she would fit in with this group? How are they going to come together as a team? But guess what? This is my family and I could not ask for a better one either. No matter what we looked like, whether we hung out in the same group or whether we had a lot in common or dressed the same, didn't matter at all. And that's truely what they teach you out here in Jackson. To be a diverse family of color, location, clothes, and race is truely what God calls us to be. A family that loves no matter what's on the outside. "Love is the final fight." is something that Mr. John Perkins really reveals out in Jackson and it's so true. Just showing that love of the Lord can change a person's life and how they choose to live it. After we've loved, the rest is up to God and we all know the wonders He can do. It's insane to see these words Jackson, Mississippi and how they aren't even close to just a couple of words or just a little city on the East Coast anymore. It's so much more than that. It's taught me to love limitless and to believe in the truth of Jesus Christ because it will set us free. It's taught us to really be a community under God's love and how much that little statement really means. Jackson has taught us how to really live that lifestyle out and how important it is. It was crazy to see in the little things how much they were able to show love. Running on the streets, or sitting outside on the porch... People made it a point to honk and wave. How often do you and I ignore the people that we don't know? Well, these people certainly didn't know us and they most definitely could tell that we were different, but they showed us that love of open arms and welcoming into their community. Or how at that carnival where it was probably the first time any of these people had ever seen us but they were thanking us without even knowing what we were doing or how those little kids just wanted someone to love them and to love. We all came together as one community, as one body under God. Now, all that's left to do is live it out. Live out this life of community, love, leadership, justice, and vulnerability. To "be not afraid for He has overcome satan and evil and He is with us." To lead with prayer and to have a willingness to step out of our comfort zones. To let the Holy Spirit direct us and let it change who we are. To be accountable and keep our strength to stand up and be who we really are in Christ. To love beyond what we can imagine. To love in God and take a leap of faith. To let His power empower us. To  love in action. This trip has taught me more than you can even begin to imagine and more than I can even begin to explain, but God is truely working and moving through all of us, so be ready world, we're ready to impact you!

[Community. Love. Prayer. Vulnerability. Confession. Accountability. Vision. Humility. Hope. Belief.]

I only wish that you too could see God moving in all these people out there. Trust me, they'll change your life and leave you speechless. I can't wait to live out this life God is calling us to with no fear and no regrets. God is so good and gracious..

I believe in an endless love... I believe... I believe He loves me... And that's all I need to know.

.Love.

In Christ,

Kali Taeleifi

"And you, my child will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,"

"to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Luke

Facetime

Dear Lord,
       Thank You for giving us a safe trip to, during, and from Jackson, Mississippi. Thank You for allowing us to be a part of the 2011 Jackson Team/Class. Thank You for providing the funds for us to go. Thank You for beginning a mighty work in us. Thank You for promising to carry that work through to completion (Philippians 1:6). Thank You for teaching us a great many things through the people and situations You have surrounded us with. Thank You for allowing us to grow close as a team and form new friendships that will last a lifetime. I pray that You would allow our lights to shine like beacons of hope in the darkness and our voices to ring out with a message of Your love. I pray that You would not allow us to become complacent and settle for second best. I pray that You would not allow us to be happy with mediocre or second rate lives. Help us to step into Your promises and fulfill the plans You have laid out for us. Please continue to help us to seek after You will all of our being. I pray You would help us to go and make disciples of ALL nations. Heavenly Father, I pray you would help us to act justly, help us to love mercy, and help us to walk humbly with You (Micah 6:8).
    We love You Lord.
     In Your name I pray,  Amen

-An avid Lover of the one true God.