Where God Meets Great Needs

TUESDAY

I am writing this on Wednesday morning.   Our days are packed and our team is quite tired from the late nights and the busy days.  In our schedule, once we leave the Cove, we work all day, helping prepare in the morning, or helping around the offices and also with Next Steps.  Lunch, play days, and then dinner.  Evenings are time for team and personal reflection.  Last night we did a camp fire and had a roaring fire going!  Included was a snack break with some chips, s’mores, jam and s’more pies, and just some time around the fire

We are thankful that God has brought us here and that we are working where he is working.We see evidence of him working here and changing lives. We heard news yesterday of a family in a fly-in reserve who’s son committed suicide. Please pray that they will be able to come to get counselling. In the midst of their grief, they called Northwind whom they have met before, and reached out for help. Another family in town a little while back experienced the death of their mother, and now the son has gone missing in town.  There are so many needs around.  While there are needs in every community, I am hit by the stark contrast between the “haves” and “have-nots” and how so many of those suffering are indigenous peoples. The impact of colonization, residential schools, drugs and abuse – seen especially in the indigenous here.

Play day at Academy was busy! We estimated about 40 children came out to play and most stayed for the story at the end. They were children like any other who were eager to play and win prizes – especially at no cost. I see needs more concentrated in the complexes that you would normally see in Toronto that are spread across different areas. Normally in my school you would see 3-4 high needs students, but imagine that in the complex, all these children would go to the same school – you would have from the complex probably 10-15 students with needs attending. Their opportunities are not as great and so their outcomes will be lesser. Oppression and lack of resources is going to keep them from achieving and moving ahead.

In the morning we split into 4 teams. I had the privilege along with 3 others, to help at Next Steps – a coffee and bannock time, where people can come and just sit and enjoy some quiet, or conversation, use a computer or get assistance to find housing or financial help. Many I spoke with live on the streets or in a tent city around the community. We just sit and chat with them – one gentleman didn’t want conversation and I just sat at the table  – but he did chat with us and shared some of his story.

Across the 2 hours, I heard stories of abuse, abandonment, loss, grief, and more. Stories of how one gentleman would cross the province hitchhiking. Songs he had written and his heartache over the time. The stories sometime seem very far fetched – some you can believe more than others; but I believe their stories all come from a place where they have experienced trauma. Some may be protective in nature, some may be reaching for reaction… I just sit and listen and then interact as best as possible. You don’t judge. You don’t challenge. You don’t know their lives and stories. You just listen and if they ask for help you direct them to those who can help and provide. I know some just come in as a place to warm or get a bit of breakfast. Some have had hard nights sleeping wherever they did. Some would have woken to noise and arguments, or didn’t sleep well because a neighbour was on drugs and perhaps argumentative or yelling. And there are always thefts of convenience – homeless stealing from other homeless because they’re all in need and it’s an easy target. One woman shared with me that she always tries to help others around because she can always get something replaced, being able to ask and get other items.

We finished the evening with a campfire – everyone was tired but a little fire and sugar (marshmallow, jam, chocolate and graham or bread) brings out the laughter and fun. Some had never done a s’mores before.