[Origin]s
I know a lot of you reading my blog are probably wondering why I am doing this. In order to explain this the best way I know how, we have to back track a few months to before I stepped foot into the Kanakuk Institute.
At the end of April I was getting ready to graduate college - or so I thought. A few days out from the big day I found out that I didn't pass one of my classes; a class I needed to complete my degree requirements. I was devastated and was beginning to wrap my head around the fact that I'd have to take this class again in the fall. As all these thoughts were swirling in my head, the registrar informed me that I would be able to complete the class online during the summer and officially graduate in about 7 more weeks. Around this time I was also being turned down by every company I applied for. I got just about every runaround let down message you could receive from "we just filled the position" to "you're just not what we're looking for".
I had committed to working another summer at Kanakuk Kamps, which I was looking forward to, but about two and a half weeks of let downs on top of my inability to graduate at the time made it very hard to feel optimistic. I figured the failed job search was God's way of saying that I needed to be at kamp and I received full support to take my class while I was there. However, there was one thing still on my mind - What happens in August?
Kanakuk Ministries, based in Branson, MO, offers several summer camp experiences with the mission to impact the next generation for Christ. This is a mission I have been passionate about and proud to be a part of for the last 5 summers. On top of that, they have a post graduate program called the Kanakuk Institute (KI) where you spend 9 months digging into and understanding the Bible, defining your faith and getting the tools needed to defend and evangelize to others in the workplace and community you choose to live in. I heard about this program my first summer and knew it was something I wanted to do but I wasn't sure how I'd pay for it. Spending 2 extra years at school depleted my college fund and, on top of all the loans I took out, I had no idea where the money would come from.
I never mentioned this program to my parents because I was positive they weren't going to want me to dig myself deeper into debt no matter how awesome the opportunity was. Instead I worked at kamp, finished my class, and spent the next couple of weeks looking for jobs. I wasn't having any luck finding a job. It was like I had no motivation or drive to pursue any of the opportunities that just a month ago would have been super exciting to me. With every passing day, I was inching closer and closer to August with no clear destination in sight.
There are several people in my life that, having completed KI, knew that I would thrive there. They spend the next few months convincing me that that was where I needed to be. As much as I wanted to say yes, I couldn't justify the financial stress that would put on me and my family. I honestly felt kind of selfish even thinking about it and would talk myself out of it. One day I got as far as starting to fill out the application but stopped after my information was saved. Turns out, that was all that was needed for the next part to happen.
In Mid-July I get a call that would change everything. Brad from admissions at KI had seen my partially complete application and wanted to know if I was planning on finishing it. I told him no and explained my situation. He says "Just finish the application and we'll take it one step at a time." I felt myself relax a lot when he said that. I wasn't sure why that was the most reassuring thing, but I did what he said. Less than 24 hours after I clicked submit, I was called back to schedule an interview. In less than 5 days, I was interviewing and accepting a slot in the class of 2018. In all this time I had called and gotten the blessing from my parents to go.
Sitting here, typing this out and looking back to how all of this unfolded there is one word that explains all of this - GOD. What had seemed like the end of the world for me was just God closing one door and leading me to another open one. I am so glad I am here and it's amazing how much I learn every day. God has given me quite possible the best experience I might ever have on this earth.
So I am writing for a few reasons:
1. Some of my posts are required for the program
2. It's something I've always wanted to do but never truly had the motivation.
3. I want everyone I know to sorta live vicariously through me as I embark on this journey.
Read. Learn. Ask questions. Grow with me. I am excited for what comes next.
For more information on KI visit kanakukinstitute.com
At the end of April I was getting ready to graduate college - or so I thought. A few days out from the big day I found out that I didn't pass one of my classes; a class I needed to complete my degree requirements. I was devastated and was beginning to wrap my head around the fact that I'd have to take this class again in the fall. As all these thoughts were swirling in my head, the registrar informed me that I would be able to complete the class online during the summer and officially graduate in about 7 more weeks. Around this time I was also being turned down by every company I applied for. I got just about every runaround let down message you could receive from "we just filled the position" to "you're just not what we're looking for".
Kanakuk Ministries, based in Branson, MO, offers several summer camp experiences with the mission to impact the next generation for Christ. This is a mission I have been passionate about and proud to be a part of for the last 5 summers. On top of that, they have a post graduate program called the Kanakuk Institute (KI) where you spend 9 months digging into and understanding the Bible, defining your faith and getting the tools needed to defend and evangelize to others in the workplace and community you choose to live in. I heard about this program my first summer and knew it was something I wanted to do but I wasn't sure how I'd pay for it. Spending 2 extra years at school depleted my college fund and, on top of all the loans I took out, I had no idea where the money would come from.
I never mentioned this program to my parents because I was positive they weren't going to want me to dig myself deeper into debt no matter how awesome the opportunity was. Instead I worked at kamp, finished my class, and spent the next couple of weeks looking for jobs. I wasn't having any luck finding a job. It was like I had no motivation or drive to pursue any of the opportunities that just a month ago would have been super exciting to me. With every passing day, I was inching closer and closer to August with no clear destination in sight.
There are several people in my life that, having completed KI, knew that I would thrive there. They spend the next few months convincing me that that was where I needed to be. As much as I wanted to say yes, I couldn't justify the financial stress that would put on me and my family. I honestly felt kind of selfish even thinking about it and would talk myself out of it. One day I got as far as starting to fill out the application but stopped after my information was saved. Turns out, that was all that was needed for the next part to happen.
In Mid-July I get a call that would change everything. Brad from admissions at KI had seen my partially complete application and wanted to know if I was planning on finishing it. I told him no and explained my situation. He says "Just finish the application and we'll take it one step at a time." I felt myself relax a lot when he said that. I wasn't sure why that was the most reassuring thing, but I did what he said. Less than 24 hours after I clicked submit, I was called back to schedule an interview. In less than 5 days, I was interviewing and accepting a slot in the class of 2018. In all this time I had called and gotten the blessing from my parents to go.
Sitting here, typing this out and looking back to how all of this unfolded there is one word that explains all of this - GOD. What had seemed like the end of the world for me was just God closing one door and leading me to another open one. I am so glad I am here and it's amazing how much I learn every day. God has given me quite possible the best experience I might ever have on this earth.
So I am writing for a few reasons:
1. Some of my posts are required for the program
2. It's something I've always wanted to do but never truly had the motivation.
3. I want everyone I know to sorta live vicariously through me as I embark on this journey.
Read. Learn. Ask questions. Grow with me. I am excited for what comes next.
For more information on KI visit kanakukinstitute.com
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