Thursday report from… Alec Nilson

I wanted to share a little something about spending some time at a nursing home.  I built a relationship with a lady there; it was really cool because we were talking about different things. It was really cool that God allowed me to meet up with her, get to know her and be with her. It was a really good trip and I really enjoyed it.

Just in from the last 2 days!

Tuesday report from… Jesse Headid

I have been working at a coffee shop, it’s called  We Will Cry. They welcome anyone to come in. Most of the aborigines from Canada come into the shop. (low run income, addicted to drugs, alcohol) The owners have strict rules… be respectful…you get respect if you give respect. Great setup they have!

There are 2 main owners…it’s more like a family there working together. The owners are former drug addicts. They know what the people are going through. They felt like God rewarded them  with a 2^nd chance in life, that this was not the path they wanted to go down. They want to relay that 2^nd chance and give it to the other people and help them cope with what they’re going through. Whether it’s being discriminated for being addicts, drunks or aborigines, etc.

We also sorted through donations of clothes and food that are given to those that come and got rid of some junk piles as well.

It’s been a great experience for me so far. The people are great, and the owners of the shop have taught me a lot.

Wednesday report from … Zach Christensen

This is Zach Christensen, and I am calling from the mission trip. I have been at Eagle’s Cove. It’s a camp for 1st Nation’s People (Native Americans and Aboriginal people) setting up the camp and they’ve been doing a lot of collecting of wood and fire piles (trash and wood piles they’ve needed burned).

We’ve also been building houses for paintball field and putting together a building itself from the frame up.

The guy who runs the camp’s name is Baren – really awesome guy! Came from the Philippines ….and moved to Canada. He is really trusting in God. He loves the mission he is doing.  He was at another camp for 12 years and has been here now for a couple of years when felt called to build another camp. He totally trusts in the Lord that they’re going to get done in time.  The way he prays is AMAZING. He’s so understanding and kind. His family is all excited to get to work there.

He is AWESOME TO WORK WITH!!

Kevin Straub reporting in for the first day. Sharing reflections for the first day.

After we finished our projects for the first day, one of the things that stuck out today for me was that Miss Linda was showing us around  a depressed area of Thunder Bay, and we found a mural that was painted on a building.  It had a boat and 4 silhouettes in the boat, a red one, a blue one, a white one and a yellow one, symbolizing the diversity in the area and then 4 butterflies flying above them denoting the spiritual journey of everyone here too.

It was meaningful for me, the diversity of the boat representing the journey, the spiritual journey of the people here.

Really appreciate the experience – it was such an awesome first day!

The high schoolers and leaders made it to Thunder Bay, Ontario last night at about 7:15 ET.  The trip went smoothly, the border crossing was interesting. Youth had correct practiced responses like “We are coming to Canada for volunteer work,” for all the border officials. Travel was slow in Canada as they passed through many small towns, narrow roads, and low speed limits. The trip went smoothly though, and bathroom breaks must not have been atrocious because it wasn’t mentioned in the conversation!

A heads up to all readers- the messages this week will be minimal though because it is really expensive to use cell phones over the border. Instead, mission trippers will be texting back home to update. All texts will be published daily as they are received.

We thank God for the safety of travel, and for continued protection in Canada, that His mighty power will be seen, and that the Holy Spirit will be felt in the hearts of the youth, leaders, and those they are serving.