Sunday’s arrival and The Gathering
SUNDAY
Everyone arrived safe and sound!
The team arrived at Billy Bishop airport bright and early ready for the flight. Unlike Pearson, lineups are minimal and the terminal is not busy. Two bags checked for the entire team; everyone else travelled with a carry on and personal item. Flight was a two propeller plane to take us in 2 hours to Thunder Bay!
Upon arrival, Bonita came to meet us at the airport. A great welcome as this team of 15 arrive and settle in. No rest though! After our rental car pickup, we went to the counselling offices downtown and had some training on Trauma Informed Response. Imagine if you can, what would life like be if you had to fight to survive all the time? Or if all you knew daily was trauma? We have a learning brain and a crisis brain. So that informs how people respond not just in crisis but in daily sessions. So how can we help to provide a safe environment?
Our first ministry task was to join in at the Gathering. This building is used for counselling and ministry – on Sunday evenings (one sitting at 4:30 and the other at 6pm) people from the community can gather, have some time of fellowship together and a meal. Our team was there to help direct, serve food, and others to facilitate table discussion. We each have our own stories of how the night went. Many interesting conversations, and many people who you can see struggle day in and out. Many needs and hurting people.
The ministry in the city happens in the South Core. Highly needy area in the city. Across from city hall – this highlights the gap between the “haves” and those who make decisions and have power in the city, vs the “have – nots” who are often homeless, have suffered abuse and trauma and are hurting. Did you know that there is a stat that says that 99% of the indigenous people in the north have suffered trauma of one kind or another. Imagine how that will affect you daily and how your children are affected.
For Monday we will be going into town and time to prep for play days in the housing complexes. We have training for Next Steps, Food prep, Play day Prep and Family Strengthening. Our team of 15 is divided to support across all 4. Please pray for the weather this week and our interactions with the team at Northwind and the clients they serve.
