Haley Edwards/ Hey

Sorry everyone, it has been a while. Been a pretty crazy week and just haven't had the chance to get on here. Forgive me!

Haley Edwards or now known as Haley Hey! What inspired this writing actually stems from witnessing this beautiful transition of doing from a daughter of the Edwards to becoming a wife of a Hey.

What makes Haley worth talking about is her compassion for people. While watching her on her very special day, I was just blown away by her character. With only two hours of sleep, Haley and her sister Shelby made their way to my house to start the process of becoming a bride. Of course, no wedding is perfect but it's definitely a rarity when the Bride keeps a smile on her face no matter what happens. Things did not go as smoothly as planned but instead of stressing out or worrying about things, she just kept a smile on her face and pushed forward with no worries or complaining. There was never any blaming or yelling. NONE OF IT. Not only did she take bad news greatly, but she cared about the well being of everyone who participated in her event. Usually people say that the wedding day is all about the bride, but for Haley.... it was about everyone who was there to be there for that part of her life. She was constantly going around person to person to ask how they were doing. Rather than being served, she was there serving others. It was amazing. She was someone who really wanted this special moment to be one which would glorify God.

Of course Haley is not just amazing for this one day but she has amazed me since the day I met her. It was my first year of Interns and she was one of those kind second year Interns who was just always so kind to me. She always had a smile on her face and was willing to work. Though my friendship with her didn't grow until after interns, her character left an impact on me and I always looked up to her. To this day, she still inspires me. Especially in the way she went about her relationship with her new husband. She is someone who embodies that Proverbs 31 woman. She is a woman who is hard working, makes her own money, knows how to take care of herself and her beauty does not come from just the outside but she takes care of the internal as well. She is a woman after Gods heart and stays true to her convictions. I love it. She doesn't look for attention or any of that, she just loves to be herself.... which is what makes her so attractive.

What also makes Haley is her key sense of fashion and beauty! This woman is one of the biggest trend setters I know... and everything always looks good on her. I think she needs to start a blog on that or something. If you ever need tips on how to be more girly, call this one up because she knows her stuff. She is pure woman through and through!

Overall, I am just grateful for having her in my life. In a way, she almost takes on a little bit of a sister roll to me. I would be confident enough to trust in her wisdom, I look at her as an example from a far, I can learn tips on how to be trendy and just so much more. Ladies, if you need a good role model in your life, she is a good one to have!

Love you Haley! And it was an honor to be in your wedding!

Memories: At the cabin when you first started hanging out with Houston, tanning at the Kirkland waterfront, going to Ruth Chris for happy hour, going out for Kuu's birthday and taking lots of pictures.

Shane Bardiau

Shane is definitely a character of his own.Most of us see him on a Wednesday night sitting in the audio booth doing his magic. He is known as the cool tall guy with the long wavy hair. What I love most about Shane is that he is not your typical City Church guy.... In other words, he doesn't spend most of his morning looking at himself in the mirror trying to figure out which pair of skinny jeans to try on next or what hair product works best with my hair straightener.... No Shane is none of that. He has is own style and his own way of doing things and we love him for it. Plus, it's about time we get some people with tattoos in our church. (lets me honest... we don't have much diversity at the University District when it comes to styles). He is also a fun snow boarder and surfer. Lives with a group of really cool guys in Seattle and is just an all around fun person. Most people would say he has a way with talking with people which makes it easy to befriend him. In fact... the day I met him was quiet funny. I had no idea who he was but I was at a Halloween party and wanted to go home to change out of a costume and into normal clothes. Then here comes this Intern who I have never seen before and he offers to drive me home and help me out. Next thing I know, we are having a good time and a nice conversation. Like I said... he is just a nice guy who is easy to talk to.
ANYWAYS.... What makes Shane cool besides being confident in his own style is the fact that Shane has an incredible life story.If you aren't part of the City Church world, most people assume Christians are people who grew up in the Church their whole lives, had everything perfect handed down to them, they have had things easy and that is why they believe in God or something else along those lines. But for Shane, that is not his story at all. Of course it is not my place to speak for him but as a friend I must say, I am amazed by how God has clearly pulled Shane out and placed him in a place of light.
About a year and a half ago this kid who was just living the life as a snowboarder took a chance to come to a church camp for college students. I don't think he knew what was coming because next thing you know... he is signed up to be an Intern at the church. Since then Shane has been a huge help with building the church. Week after week he spends his time coming to the church to do audio and during conferences he is always being called in. He knows his stuff and he is good at it! Not only is he a helping hand here but he has helped people as well. Since then people around him have looked at what God has done in his life and because of that... other people want to know more about God too. It is amazing.
I am so excited to see where God takes him and how God is going to use his story for other great things. If you do not know him yet, I say go out of your way to say hello and meet the guy. He is friendly and just down to earth!

Bridget Anne Fossedal

All I can say is, "THIS ONE IS A KEEPER".

Truly, she is one remarkable individual. Very few of you have had the privilege of meeting this woman but if you have, it really is an honor. This woman has been a friend of mine even before I even got plugged into The City Church. Actually, how we became friends is slightly a funny story really. We both dated the same guy back in high school (not at the same time, thank goodness) but some how after we had broken up with him, we ended up finding each other. That my friends is where our relationship began. From then on we seemed attached to the hip for the most part. There were nights of dressing up in costumes for no apparent reason, nights of heading to our school dances were Bridget and I did a good job at not following all the "rules" hahaha, there were numerous nights of pranking people, and most of all there were nights of just us hanging out and just having a good time.
Bridget has seen it all when it comes to who I was and who I am now. For some reason, there is just this thing about her which makes you appreciate who you are as a person and to not care what others think. I remember being in high school and feeling so lost in my identity and so worried about what others thought but with Bridget, I could always be myself. I never had to worry. Then again, most of the time we were both pretty crazy but that is besides the point. The fact is, Bridget can see people for who they are. You do not have to confine yourself to a specific mold or roll, you can just be you and she accepts that. She really does have the capacity to love the multitudes. You can see it so easily within her.
Not only is she a person of amazing character but she is extremely talented in many different fields. 1. She is extremely talented in looking GOOD. haha But seriously she is. She always has these fashion blogs and has the cutest clothes. Always on the edge when it comes to what is next. 2. She is a photographer. I am always finding myself looking at her Facebook just to see what got posted this week. She doesn't create the beauty of things, she truly captures and magnifies the beauty within the things. The difference is, there is beauty in everything but some times we just can't see it on a day to day life but Bridget, she sees it. 3. She is a GREAT WRITER! This girl should seriously have her own magazine one day. I would be the happiest person in the world if she did. She is great. Not only that but she helps me take my crappy papers and turns them into something you can actually comprehend. 4. She is just brilliant. Half of the words that come out of her mouth are just so beyond my ability to understand. Her thoughts, ideas, concepts are just pure brilliant. I always wanted her on my scrabble team because then I knew I would win. 5. She is funny and has a good sense of humor. The girl knows how to just kick back and just enjoy life.
I can say all of this but really, the reason why I love Bridget so much is because she stood by my side. Even when I was not the greatest friend; even to her. Like I said, Bridget has been there since before I really knew God. She knew me in my insecure, vulnerable, confused, gossipy, dramatic, and lonely life style. Yet today, she is with me now. While so many others from my high school are intimidated with my choices of life style to serve God, Bridget isn't afraid. Bridget still loves me for me and lets me know it. Bridget still has my back. She is an amazing friend. Absolutely AMAZING. In fact, I honor her and her character. I really do. She is so true to who she is, what she believes and honestly.... she is pure to the core.

Memories: Dancing at our school dances, Sock Baby Jesus, talks in my room,scrabble parties, hanging out at LaX games, basically all of High School haha.

Juliya Krizhanovskaya

Many of you reading this might say to yourselves, who is Juliya and why is Kaila writing about her? Why should I read something on a girl I do not even know... well I will tell you now... read it, because truth is.... a lot of us could learn from a girl like Juliya. Though she may only be a Jr. in high school, she is one incredible individual.
It was my first year of Interns and I had just officially been commissioned as a leader for The City Church and was about to embark on a new journey of becoming a cadre leader. (Also known as a small group.. for all you non-City-Church-people). Unlike only leaders, I was blessed with being handed off a cadre instead of starting my own from scratch. Vanessa Silva (Now Dunn) had just been released to pastor at one of our church plans and I was going to take over the North End Cadre. I will never forget that day as Juliya came to cadre for the first time. There was always something about her which caught my eye and I never knew exactly what. Something in my spirit... that is all I can say.
My cadre was at a place where everyone came from all different shapes and sizes. Many who never grew up in church or even knew who God was. There were those who came who had to take breaks for a cigarette smoke, there were those who came to cadre for there first time on drugs, there are girls who used to work the strip clubs and there were those who were abused. ( I only say this out loud because they would love to share their stories with you as well.) Then walked in Juliya. A totally normal looking girl. She would be "the girl next door". So quiet, so gentel, just always observing what was around her. She was never someone who was longing for attention or making thing dramatic... she just was Juliya. (mind you she was only a 8th grader at the time).
But I am telling you, I have never been so blown away by this girl. My gosh, as soon as Juliya had a chance to talk about God... the whole room would go quiet. The stories, the testimonies, the revelation, the wisdom on this girl was something which some 30yr olds never even learn! At 14 years old, this girl would not only read the scripture, she would study it in the Greek lang, the Hebrew lang, and then write her own version as to how it applies practically for her life today! THAT'S NUTS! The moment I learned this about her, I literally went to God and said... " God? Are you sure you want me to lead her? Because right now it feels like she should be the one coaching me?". She would come to cadre telling all of us who she got to tell Jesus to on the bus, or tell us what God was doing in her life, or tell us what scripture God gave her for some person at her school. If there is any girl who knew the voice of God, it would be her. Because God was constantly speaking to her and she was constantly just obeying. Whatever it was that He asked. For example... tennis. God told her to do tennis so what does she do, she signs up for tennis. Did she have the money to buy the gear or pay for the insurance stuff? No. But of course, God some how some way covered everything she could ever thing or imagine.
Now if you step back and look at her today, only 3 years later... you would never imagine her to be who she is. Something had been truly birthed in this girl to church the world for God. At Mariner High School ( a school with a huge drop out rate, gang related activity, low income), Juliya a sophomore at the time who was nothing more then just a very sweet looking white girl started a Bible Study movement on campus called the Movement with another GCer. Within two weeks of there doors opening up, over 70 students were coming. They had so many people, they could not fit them in the class room. In fact, the school tried shutting them down because they said they needed more teachers to help facilitate because it was so big. This girl has visions to change a school and that is exactly what she is doing. Not only that, but she is now currently looking into becoming student body President, she is already on leadership, and she is just an overall leader.
Not only is she a leader at her school but she is also a leader for the Generation Church as well. Now overseeing much of what I left behind at the Alderwood campus, Juliya leads a small group, loves people, is always serving, and always the first to come to the alter. If I had to paint one picture which describes Juliya, it would be a picture of a girl crying at the feet of Jesus saying.. "Lord, whatever you want. I have no idea what I can do for you but make me something so I could do something for you." Powerful. You want to know what child like faith is? Just spend an afternoon with this girl. I am telling you, it will probably do you some good.
This goes to show you, you never know what kinds of people you are sowing into. You never know who they will be.
Juliya, you personally caused me to love people in a new level. The way you pushed for more of God, just motivated me to be a better leader for you. I love you. I care for you and always will. I love how God gave me visions for that school but God chose you to see the plans follow through. It reminds me of Moses and the promise land. :) I can not wait to see what God does with you. I always believes that my Timothy (you) would surpass the Paul (me). AND PS. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL and so grown up! It's crazy

Joy Severin

This woman is absolutely fantastic! Honestly, this is a woman with a "GOOD NAME". It's so good, it's almost like when you hear the word Jesus.... haha. Jk, but seriously... I don't think I have ever heard anything negative said about Joy. It would be impossible to hate someone like her because chances are... she is trying to serve you in some capacity.
She truly embodies the word "selfless". Never thinking of her own needs before others. I really do not know how she does it. Since the moment I have met her, she has always had a servant like mentality. Especially as an intern, you saw this selfless woman come to life with the pure joy of just loving on other people. I remember walking into the Generation Church TRAK as a first year and looking up to her because she was just a great example of someone who just wanted to serve the local church. Whatever you asked of her, she would do and she would do it with just a good heart. No bitterness, resentment, never frustrated, nothing. Just JOY (as in the emotion and not her name). From the sidelines of interns, I would watch Joy take on all the Pastors asked of her and just run with it. In so many ways, it some how felt like Joy and her friend Haley would single handedly put a whole conference fore some 3,000+ students on their own.
Even recently, you could see Joy the servant. There was a New Years Eve pre-party dinner at my house a few weeks ago and Joy some how managed to cook and put together an incredible meal for some 35+ people. She not only brought and cooked everything, but she stayed behind to clean up the house by herself while everyone else welcomed in the New Year. She cleaned up a house which wasn't even hers. If that isn't selfless.... I don't know what is.
She really is such a gem. She is beautiful inside and out but I must say the beauty within her is absolutely captivating! Whenever you need a friend, someone to confine in, or just someone to give you wisdom or words of encouragement, Joy is your woman. God's love for people runs through her veins. You can see it at first glance. She amazes me.
OH, and did I mention she is single ;) haha. She is a whole package really. She gives great back rubs, knows how to cook, to clean, she is a designer, she is organized, she is athletic, she is pretty.... need I say more?
I guess I do need to say more.... last of all, Joy is a great leader. Primarily through the way she lives her life. As any Intern who lives in the dorms. I am sure there is some moment where she has stepped in and dramatically changed or invested into each and every one of their lives. She is a great example of what it means to be in love with God. She is an example of real character, of responsibility, of integrity and also a woman who listens to what God has to say. I recall times where conversations were going one direction and Joy would instantly feel the conviction to change it to something more positive... She is so bold to who she is. I love it
Basically, when it comes down to it all... if you met Joy, you would love her and she would love you too.

Memories: California Mission Trip, being a GC Intern with you during 1st year, New Years Eve, high school class, serving next to you.

Sam Alvarez

I remember walking into my first day of Interns and saying to myself, "OMG THERE IS THAT GUY WHO PLAYS ON THE GENERATION CHURCH WORSHIP BAND!" Though he makes fun of me for it all the time, I really did think Sam was one of the coolest kids around. In fact, I thought he was so cool, he intimidated the crap out of me and I was afraid to talk to him for the longest time.
Luckily those days are way behind us and Sam has grown to be one of my closest and dearest friends. If fact, I would say he is more amazing now then when I first saw him that day in Interns.
If there was one word to describe this man, it would be the word "genuine". Everything he does comes from such a pure and loving heart. There is nothing fake about him. When he speaks to you and tells you how great you are... he means it. He doesn't say things just to flatter but he says things because he really looks at who you are as a person. It does not matter if you are the most famous person in the world or the loneliest of lonely... he will treat you the same. Earthly status has so value to this man. It's character he looks for. I admire this about him. Some times people do not realize how easy it is to get caught up in the social hype of things but to Sam, he just lives life and loves everyone along the way. No matter how big or small you are.
Some times it amazes me how easily he makes friends. No matter where we go, he is always meeting new people and getting to know who they are and wants to know something about you. I remember walking into McCormick & Schmick's one time after a wedding and Sam knew just about everyone who worked their. First names and all. He just has favor with people. It's amazing. A talent I wish I could cultivate more in myself actually. Then there was another time when we went to a Corn Maze and we got to a bridge and looked at the view. Rather than just keeping to ourselves, Sam goes out of his way to talk to the guy working in the middle of the field. He introduces himself, talks to him about life and work and then later wishes him a wonderful evening. Just amazing.
Beyond just being a people person, many of us know Sam as a man of worship. MAN IS THIS GUY TALENTED! Seriously.. I can not wait to see where God takes him with his musical talents. Each song he writes comes from true passion and honest feeling. You can tell by the way he sings it. Almost every time he plays a new song for me, I always end up either crying or God speaking to me in some amazing way. He is anointed at this. He really is. You get caught up in his worship. You just can't help it. During interns, I always looked forward to him leading because God always seemed to show up so thick in the place whenever he lead. I will always be forever grateful for those moments in Interns too.
Last of all, Sam knows how to just stinking have fun! He is always creating memories where ever we go. Never taking any moment for granted. He loves like and you can tell. There is always a full smile on his face and is optimistic spirit always pours out of him wherever he goes. In fact, when I want to be a party pooper, I can always count on him to some how talk me into going out and every time... I never regret going and doing it.
One day, Sam will change the world. He will change the world through his music and he will change the world through the way he loves people. This man has a big heart. When you have a big heart and you are willing to just obey... there is no doubt God is going to use it.

Memories: Corn maze, New Years Night, eating your mom's amazing food at your house, 1st day of Interns, day you played your song in Interns that first year, going out after Tiffany's wedding.

Kuulei Lucena

Seeing as to how I am starting this a little over a week late, I am going to try and play catch-up!

1/1/11

Of course Kuu would have to be the very first

person I blog about. After all, she is my best friend.

So who is Kuulei Lucena and what makes her so special? Simple... everything. There is no doubt in my mind that this woman is going to be influence the lives of many people. I have never met anyone like her before. She is unique in every way.

The first thing I think of when I think of Kuu is "woman of God". She truly is a woman who is anointed; set apart for the purposes of God and called blessed. The grace on her life is like a well which never runs dry. Everything she puts her hand to, is marked by grace because some how every situation seems to work out for good. EVERYTHING. Some times I wonder if there is anything she is actually bad at.... haha. It's true! My favorite is her pastoral qualities. The quality to lead. She always steps into every relationship with some form of purpose. Either you are pouring into her, or she is longing to pour into you. She loves to pastor. You can tell from the way she leads her small groups, to even the friends who want to be around her. I honestly can not wait to see how God is going to use her down in California.

Not only is she an incredible pastor but she is a good friend. She knows how to just have fun. Well balanced all the way through. There is always a time to get things done, which she always gets done, but then there is a time to forget about all of it and just put some sweats on and just drive to the middle of know where and look at the stars. She was always my partner in crime. From road trips, to traveling, to simple runs to the art store, to jumping on the roof of a car to star gaze, to going hiking and cave adventuring and so much more. Kuulei is always willing to have fun. As long as she isn't going to die. She loves the hype of being around people and friends and is always to jump into the party. Everything around her seems so exciting and you can tell by the beautiful smile on her face.

Yes, she is beautiful. Always having a good fashion sense, and always learning new tips on make up or hair. The woman is put together and in more ways then just her looks. She is always careful with her budget, with her time, the way she cleans.... girls got it all together really. Now we just need to find a man in her life. (If you are thinking this may be you... I am telling you now, you MUST GO THROUGH ME. I have a good series of interviews which much take place before you think you can take her out!)

Long story short. I love her a lot. She really is my other half. I know I can call her in times of need. I know she is always overing me in praying. I know she is always watching my back. I know she will not be afraid to put me in my place when I need to most. She is amazing and she inspires me a lot of the time.

Memories: Meeting you in Mexico and Pastor Mark saying we were attached at the hip from the start, star gazing on your car and just listening to music during Interns before curfew, you talking to me in my dorm room and told me I wasn't alone, traveling to New York together and you making yourself be there to hear me preach for my first time, traveling to Georgia together, almost every moment I have with you Kuu is amazing. <3>