Auqarium/homestay day 2!

Today was awesome! My group of 3 guys met up with a nearby group of 4 girls from ppl to ppl and we all went to the Aquarium in Valencia today! We spent just about the whole day there, and it was a total blast! Again, I'm not sure when this post is going to make it online, but I am glad I was able to get yesterdays on earlier!

Please pray that Kona and I have a great rest of our time at our homestays. I have yet to hear from her, but I hope to tonight (our team has a wallow talkie system set up for every night.)

Thanks!
Colin

Pics of today:

And so it begins!

The trip has begun! We just made it past security in Boise airport, and are ready to fly! I can already tell this is going to be an amazing trip! Stay tuned for more updates, pics, and anecdotes! Please check http://twitter.com/ChangeofShades for frequent updates on the go!

Colin

Due giorni rimasto!

First of all, happy Fourth of July!
I hope that through all the fireworks, food, family, and friends you are able to appreciate the true meaning of today. If it weren't for the brave men who gave there lives 233 years ago, this nation would not be the same place.

There are only two days left! I finished packing all my major items yesterday, giving me two days to remember everything I forgot ;-) Kona and I are looking forward to kicking off our trip with these last two days of partying and hanging with family and friends, both for the Fourth, and for our last day in town!

Today, you can pray that while on this trip God will open the doors to things we never thought possible. To leave room for God to work in ways we never could fathom. That would be awesome!

Have a fantastic day!
Colin

Trois jours!

The final countdown has begun! With only three days left on the clock, Europe seems closer then ever! I am right now in the midst of packing, making money arrangements, and charging all of the electronics we will be taking!

Again, thank you to everyone for your continued support in getting Kona and I overseas. We are so ready for this trip to change our shades as we plunge into the depths of brand new cultures!

Prayer request for the day: that as the trip goes on and we begin getting tired, God will give us a fresh burst of energy every morning! The last thing we want to happen is to get tired and miss what He has in store for us!

Colin

Count them! 4 days left!

Well, we're down to the final four! Each day brings a new wave of excitement as last-minute purchases are made, and final packing gets done! I'm dedicating all tomorrow to get my bags ready! (I still need to catch up with Kona!)

Please pray that the home stay families we will be staying with the very first week of the trip are good fits and awesome people. I can't wait to spend time with locals!

Thank you all for your tremendous support! If you would like to recieved email updates as soon as we update the blog, please feel free to subscribe (look right).

Thanks!
Colin

Cinco dias!

Five days left!
Kona is done packing...I'm not even close =/ I guess it's to be expected from a girl though, right?

Getting more excited by the day!

Prayer request: That while in Europe, we will take each day as it is. No comparisons, just live in the present.

Thanks!
Colin

And on the sixth day...

One more day down! As the trip approaches, Kona and I are finding it more and more necessary to stock up on sleep and rest. All this fundraising and work is tiring!

Prayer request: that our team will mesh and completely get along. No fights, no drama; only friendship and good experiences.

Thanks!

One week!

First, I must apologize for the lack of communication on the blog as of late. Kona and I have been slammed busy with last minute fundraising and out of state trips.

That being said:
We leave for Europe in a week! WOO HOO!

I would like to reiterate that we will be posting to this blog on a regular basis while in Europe, and we will also be tweeting from our ChangeofShades twitter account! Feel free to follow us on either or both of these; we can't wait to share our adventure!

Thanks to everyone who has donated to our trip. Although all of Kona's and my money is in, we do have a few outstanding "parental debts" to pay off- so if you would still like to donate or put us to work (even after the trip) please contact us on this blog by leaving a comment!

And last, but most certainly not least, please pray for Kona and me while we are away. God has been so good through this whole experience, I can't wait to see what He has in store for us on the trip!

Thanks, and stay tuned!
Colin

Gearing up

These last months have been a whirlwind! Fundraisers, support letters, school, life. I feel like everything has come to a final cataclysm, a final push through this bottleneck, right as school ends.

I want to take just a minute and look back. I want to look back at what this experience, this journey really is about.

"Through pictures, video, information, and good humor, this blog communicates the heart of who Kona and Colin are." This quote, found right, summarizes what this blog is about. Not merely words, nor funny speech. Not information, pictures, or updates. This blog is about Kona's and my heart. Our heart for Jesus, for traveling, for building relationships- all of it. Change of Shades is about showing how one small group of teenagers can venture outside their comfort zone and reach into the world beyond. Take a pin to the bubble of adolescence, and the natural naivety therein.

Now, as the June 6th deadline looms over us and grips with it's iron claws, Kona and I trust in the One who has gotten us to where we are at. It is no accident that we have gotten involved with People to People, and no accident that we have come this far.
We have a little over $1,000 left to raise, and we know that all things are possible through Christ.

Thank you all for your continued support and prayers, we need both now more than ever. If you would like to donate, whatever the amount may be, please contact me at colin.mansfield@gmail.com .

Thanks!
Colin

Oasis Coffee Fundraiser!

What are you doing this Friday between 2pm and 5pm? Why? Oh, just wondering. See, I have information saying that pretty much the coolest thing ever is happening. I know, right? Word on the street is that there's gonna be one heck of a party going on at Oasis Coffee on 7802 Goddard rd. in Boise, ID. Serious! So, feel free to stop by on the way to your graduation parties, on the way to the grocery store, to get dinner, or whatever! Oh, what's it for? To help out Colin and Kona get to Europe, duh! They say that a large portion of every drink or beverage bought will be donated towards Colin and Kona's ambassadorship to Spain, Italy and France this July!

On top of all that, check this out! Recently, a story was published in the Idaho Statesman about a group of students from Timberline High School who had raised all their money to go on a trip to France! Awesome, right? Totally-that is until the travel company they were going through went into bankruptcy. Not cool. All the money the kids had raised was flushed down the toilet- more than $40,000! Non-refundable, no cash back.
Well, on hearing of this unbelievable let-down, Colin and Kona decided they wanted to help. That's why 50% of all the funds raised at the fundraiser on Friday will be donated to this class for them to use it to fill their money hole, or to put towards a future trip.
Awesome, right?

So, what are we waiting for! Oh, right...Friday.
See ya then!
MAP TO OASIS



Note: important info is in red above. Hopefully you caught that :)

P.S. Feel free to print off the poster below to hand out to your friends! (Click to enlarge, right click to save.)

House keeping

Hey everyone!
Wanted to take a quick break from fund raising updates to provide you with some blog updates!

Update #1:
Sidebar! If you look on the right --> you'll find a couple things:

When? This is a countdown clock to our trip departure
Who? Here you'll find a general bio of Kona and Colin. Click on the link below to get to more specific bio's of each.
What? The links provided in this section will hopefully give context to the blog. By clicking on "Change of Shades" you will find further explanation of the blog. By clicking on "People to People" you will get further explanation and history of the organization itself.

Below those you'll find followers, subscription links, and archives.
Update #2:
Twitter! Change of Shades now has a Twitter account! If you don't know exactly what Twitter is, check out this video. Feel free to follow us and keep tabs of what we're up to. Most updates will be made on twitter first, so please do consider joining us there.






Thanks for being a part of Change of Shades!

Upcoming fundraiser: Garage Sale!

Hey everybody!
Just wanted to send you a quick update on Kona's and my next fundraiser! We're planning on doing a garage sale this May (dates to follow.) Here's the problem:
WE NEED STUFF TO SELL!

If you would like to help out and donate some "sell-able items" please leave a comment!

Thanks!
Colin