Anyone who's spent a bit of time with me probably knows that I LOVE Toronto, so spending a week here loving on the WMB youth and on the people of this city has been a joyful experience.
I appreciate the rhythms, sounds, and customs of life in TO, but I have definitely been challenged and encouraged spending a week serving amongst the city's poor. God is at work here! I see Hope in this city and in the faces of many of our houseless brothers and sisters. I am always struck by how we are much more similar than we are different. Our acts of arrogance and pride or oppositely, self hatred and abuse stem from the same core need- to know that we are the Beloved.
My heart this week for the youth and for the people of TO has been to grow in my ability to see them as the Beloved of Christ, and remind them of this hope.
Pray for us to love on people well on this, our last full day here in TO. The team is tired and processing a lot, but our goal is to finish well the task that has been put before us.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Josh's blog
Hey Oh
Josh Here
man, am i pooped, i am sooo tired. it's been loads of fun here and i have definitely learned a lot. its been really good getting to know the group, considering i didn't even know half of these people's names at the beginning of the trip. Josh and Josh have been having some issues, but we're getting used to it.
Josh is a really good teacher too, and i am having my eyes opened to many of the realities of living on the street. it's incredible how the world of the rich can be so oblivious the poor and desolate world around them. on the first day we were here, Josh took us on a prayer tour, and we went to see a place called the K.C. House, right outside of the Rogers building. There were so many windows looking out onto tae street. Yet, although the people were looking straight at it, the people working there were completely blind to the world outside of their lives.
After that, and after we had seen many other dark and terrible stories and places in the heart of the city, we went to look out on the entire city. this was the typical post card picture that many people see when they think of Toronto. However, after having seen the heart of the city, it was unbelievable to see that there was such "grandeur" around something so dark and saddening. it was almost as though it was made to hide the true story of Toronto, and that is what we are here to unveil and help to correct this hidden side of the City.
"He Said 'son,
have you seen the world?
What would you say,
If i said we'd won?"
Rise Against-Hero of War
Josh out
Josh Here
man, am i pooped, i am sooo tired. it's been loads of fun here and i have definitely learned a lot. its been really good getting to know the group, considering i didn't even know half of these people's names at the beginning of the trip. Josh and Josh have been having some issues, but we're getting used to it.
Josh is a really good teacher too, and i am having my eyes opened to many of the realities of living on the street. it's incredible how the world of the rich can be so oblivious the poor and desolate world around them. on the first day we were here, Josh took us on a prayer tour, and we went to see a place called the K.C. House, right outside of the Rogers building. There were so many windows looking out onto tae street. Yet, although the people were looking straight at it, the people working there were completely blind to the world outside of their lives.
After that, and after we had seen many other dark and terrible stories and places in the heart of the city, we went to look out on the entire city. this was the typical post card picture that many people see when they think of Toronto. However, after having seen the heart of the city, it was unbelievable to see that there was such "grandeur" around something so dark and saddening. it was almost as though it was made to hide the true story of Toronto, and that is what we are here to unveil and help to correct this hidden side of the City.
"He Said 'son,
have you seen the world?
What would you say,
If i said we'd won?"
Rise Against-Hero of War
Josh out
Captain Hook and the Island of Lost Boy...
We're wrapping up another exhausting day here in T dot, and I'm learning so much each day. im beginning to realize more and more each day, and find that God is really opening up my eyes to new things. we are volunteering at Saint Francis Table, where we do a series of jobs each day from food prep to folding napkins. the past 2 days, i had the privilege of serving and waiting on customers who come for a hot meal. during these 2 days, i met a nice man named david. David is an older-ish man who is very opinionated with a very open mind, and enjoys sharing his view points with others. this was really easy to make conversation with him, and during out chats, i learned that he enjoys travel and learning new things. he has told me he has a gold mine in california, he scuba dived near the Titanic's sister ship and has visited Mexico. he is definitely an interesting fellow, along with a very interesting contraption on his right hand. he has lost his hand, and in replace, are 2 metal claw-type-things, but that does not take away from the character he is. he is a very calm and collected man, and easy to talk to. i look forward to his chats and they always seem to enlighten my day. he's thinking of writing a book called " Captain Hook and his Misadventures". i think i'd buy that book, and would have a fantastic time reading it :) 
as my week proceeds, so does this blog, if you have gotten bored, i apologize, but it will keep going, and i dont apologize.
another place we visited was the Good Sheppard. it is a place for houseless men, who get a room, bed and 3 meals a day. here, i met a man named mark, who is doing a "test" on houselessness. he's living on the streets for about 2 months, then going to U of T. he will most likely make a documentary on it as well. i pray that his mission will give him all he is searching for and more.
im wrapping up now, so you can exhale and continue with your day. i am having an amazing time here, and feel right at home interacting with new people each day, and hope that my experiences here will affect me back home.
as my week proceeds, so does this blog, if you have gotten bored, i apologize, but it will keep going, and i dont apologize.
another place we visited was the Good Sheppard. it is a place for houseless men, who get a room, bed and 3 meals a day. here, i met a man named mark, who is doing a "test" on houselessness. he's living on the streets for about 2 months, then going to U of T. he will most likely make a documentary on it as well. i pray that his mission will give him all he is searching for and more.
im wrapping up now, so you can exhale and continue with your day. i am having an amazing time here, and feel right at home interacting with new people each day, and hope that my experiences here will affect me back home.
the Birthday girl!
It's Leah's 17th birthday today. Here is a photo of her with a child from St. Francis' Table last night. Leah just lit up when this little girl was at the restaurant.
Danielle's thoughts (sounds so smart!)
So We have been seeing and meeting a lot of nice cool people. We have been destroying houses, mopping, sweeping, serving at soup kitchens, trying to inter act with people that we are serving. My favourite parts have been in St. Francis table, the soup kitchen we are serving at fro the week. The first time we went I was feeling really sick and I could barley function. I stayed home that evening and couldn't experience the street walk that our group went on. So yesterday when we went to the soup kitchen I didn't know what to expect but I had a great time!!! We met a lady and her daughter and Leah F and I connected with her like right away. I was talking with her mom and there is so much love there it is amazing!
We are all tired. There is a girl in in our room and she kept us up with her snoring. Having lots of fun lots of fun!!!
We are all tired. There is a girl in in our room and she kept us up with her snoring. Having lots of fun lots of fun!!!
Sleepy in Toronto
Hey everybody,
It's Thursday morning and we're heading downhill towards the weekend. It has been a busy week and I am so proud of all these young servants. We have spent time serving at so many different places. Yesterday we served at a place called Booth Industries where mentally handicapped people work in a factory packaging things. It was awesome! I worked with Edna , an Asian lady, who accepted me just the way I was...and that truly impacted me. She didn't evaluate me, she didn't judge me or even put me in a category and from her...I have learned that i need to do the same thing. Thank you Lord.
Today is Leah fast's birthday. She turns 17 today and we sang happy birthday and gave her a chocolate little mermaid...not easy to find things at midnight...o well.
God has been good to us, and he has been faithful and we are learning and growing and certainly being stretched....
Please continue to pray for us as a team and thank you for being faithful...
Pete
It's Thursday morning and we're heading downhill towards the weekend. It has been a busy week and I am so proud of all these young servants. We have spent time serving at so many different places. Yesterday we served at a place called Booth Industries where mentally handicapped people work in a factory packaging things. It was awesome! I worked with Edna , an Asian lady, who accepted me just the way I was...and that truly impacted me. She didn't evaluate me, she didn't judge me or even put me in a category and from her...I have learned that i need to do the same thing. Thank you Lord.
Today is Leah fast's birthday. She turns 17 today and we sang happy birthday and gave her a chocolate little mermaid...not easy to find things at midnight...o well.
God has been good to us, and he has been faithful and we are learning and growing and certainly being stretched....
Please continue to pray for us as a team and thank you for being faithful...
Pete
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