On a side note, I’ve started my campaign for ASWWU Social VP which means that I’m getting to visit Walla Walla more often than in past months. It’s great getting to hang out with friends and meet new friends. I’m excited for what this next month has to offer. Keep me in your prayers please :)   Christmas 2016 with my family! I'm home for Christmas, UCA gave me a nice 2+ week break to come back to my family and to the warm 30 degree weather of Seattle! Mind I say that it's been in the single digits (and snowing) at UCA! This past month has been fun for us all! Several inches of snow covers much of the region and our whole campus has been decorated for Christmas! My students even created a tissue paper Christmas Tree and cardboard fireplace for my office (take a look at the pics below!! I think it's safe to say that everyone's stayed pretty busy; isn't that how it's meant to be at a boarding academy? There has been alot of music concerts, sport events, and of course homework and studying for the kids, thus I think everyone was ready for a break! Now it is Christmas! I hope that you all have a wonderful day and it's my prayer that we can all remember the true reason for the season that He Came for you and for me! Merry Christmas!
(Top Left): The last day of school before Christmas Break wouldn't be complete if I forgot to get my students a gift! (Top Right): My fellow Taskforce workers and I got a break from the kids during our staff getaway at a resort in Idaho! (Bottom Left): The rush before everyone's test on the week before break! (Bottom Right): Headed home! Bye bye Spangle!
Today marks 100 days since I started my Taskforce year at UCA. It’s hard to believe that 1/3 of my time here has already passed, but it has been filled with a lot of fun, a lot of learning, and a lot of great memories! I’ve gotten to get to know a lot of the kids and have really enjoyed the experience here! Check out some photos from the past few weeks below!
When you're serving God in various ways, time sure flies. Yes, there days that seem to stall, however, I've definitely been blessed with a lot of great opportunities!
Something I worried about when I was offered a Taskforce Communications position, is that I wouldn't get to know the young people like SM teachers and deans get to. I thought that I might not get that full experience and might just spend my time doing project and sitting in meetings (which I enjoy). Two months into my time here, I can say that the contrary has been true! As staff, we get various opportunities to talk, pray, and worship with the students. This is something that I hope will grow and thrive through the year. I believe that it's not only a blessing for the students who receive the support even while living away from home, it's also a blessing for staff like me who get to hear about their lives. In addition, I've been blessed to have a diverse group of student workers who really bring excitement and diversity to my job. They're able to make cleaning the Admin Building fun, which is something that is pretty inspirational!! Outside of school, I've become involved in Pathfinders. It's great to be able to hang out with the wide range of kids and to see their enthusiasm from a new perspective. Taking on a staff role in Pathfinders has definitely been a different experience than when I was a Pathfinder or even a teen leader. Most recently, I was given the opportunity to start UCA Jam, a small group worship experience centered on praise and worship through songs and modeled of a worship group that I started at WWU last year. Several dozen kids have joined this optional group and it's been awesome to be able to hang out with them outside of the school environment! Needless to say, God is blessing me and allowing me to work with His young people in an awesome way! Check out my first UCA video below. Many more coming this year :) Today, I got to speak (virtually) to the Pathfinders of the Washington Conference! Being a missionary right in my "backyard", I get to see God work in a different way than many other SMs! "Lord, thank you for making this week such a Spiritual High I pray that it will be a Spiritual Low of the year"  Students join together to Worship Jesus! A week ago, the population of Spangle, WA doubled from under 300 residents to over 500. It's an occurrence that takes place every August; with it comes energy, excitement, and of course learning. Of course, there are many here on campus who are scared or who just may not want to be at a boarding school, however, the overall environment is definitely filled with the Spirit. And this blessing can be seen through our students, faculty, and staff. This year, our students get a new opportunity where students and staff can join together every day to pray for God to bless this campus. It is a time of sharing both praises and burdens; it's an opportunity for our family to grow even closer together as we lift our hearts to God. It's during these times where we hear the beautiful prayers of students such as the one shared above. This year, our focus is to Be Brave in Christ. ASB selected the familiar song by Elevation Worship "You Make Me Brave" to be our theme song. Through this week's worships and assemblies, the idea has been powerfully shared by students, faculty, and staff. This is a message that will remain increasingly important as the school year gets busy and, for many, stressful. Personally, I am learning as I am serving. Though it is week three for me, it has been week one of a new adventure and a new challenge. I've started working with a great team of 8 young people who keep our school clean; I've begun an adventure with the Communications department with some exciting projects coming soon; and I've gotten to help out in the Yearbook and Videography classes, areas that I truly enjoy!!
The adventure is just beginning here on the mission field in our own backyard; the land of UCA. God is with us, but I hope you will join us in praying for His increasing blessing on each student here this year.
The summer went by quickly. I left Sunset Lake Camp last Saturday evening and made the eastward journey just 8 hours later! I got to meet up with a friend from WWU on the way which was a nice break, but it reminded me that I'm gunna miss everyone at WWU this year! I'm thankful and excited for the support from our school's campus ministries department and feel blessed for this new opportunity to serve at UCA! Now, seven days later, I've met my fellow taskforce workers as well as the regular staff at Columbia Academy. So far, it has been a great experience. The team is like a big family; many of the teachers even live on the school's large campus. Being younger and being a volunteer doesn't make us different; we are all part of the team with a common goal to serve God's children.
Timothy Kosaka
3025 E Spangle Waverly Rd Spangle, WA 99031 Over the past two months, I've had an amazing time working as the Photographer for Sunset Lake Camp located right at the base of Mount Rainier. It's my second year here as a staff member and I've had an amazing experience. At the end of last Summer, I thought that I might not get to come back, but a year later, I am here, at a beautiful camp, doing a Marketing Internship and capturing candid camp moments through photos.  While my job is often stressful, filled with long nights and early mornings, it's wonderful to be surrounded by such great people; fellow young people with a similar passion for service. In addition, I feel blessed to see how the lives of young people are being changed, every day and every week. We've had nearly a thousand campers, and with that, dozens, if not hundreds, of first time decisions for Christ. Our theme "FOUND" has been portrayed through the a 1800s rendition of the Story of the Prodigal Son. Our campers have been shown of the amazing love of our Good Good Father. As the photographer, I've gotten to talk to many campers and have been able to hear and see how summer camp has impacted them. I feel blessed to be able to be a part of this experience.
I'm super excited for this new experience and am ready to be used by God in a new way. However, I know that there will be many unknown and difficult situations. I know that I will be discouraged, but I am ready to serve in a new way. Please keep me in your prayers during this new endeavor. Also, stay tuned as I will be sharing updates right here during this upcoming year! God Bless!
As we near the end of the school year, it has been an honor to serve on the 67th ASWWU Senate! Thank you District 7 for the opportunity to serve you. I am excited for the adventures that I will experience this summer at Sunset Lake Camp and next year at Upper Columbia Academy. Stay Tuned :)  |
Tim KosakaI am a Walla Walla University student task forcing at Upper Columbia Academy in Spangle, WA during the 2016-2017 school year. Archives
January 2017
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