The Gathering
Sunday pm
We were given a quick tour of the facilities before the doors opened for their version of Sunday worship for the community called The Gathering. This is where space is made to get to know the participants, a scriptural insight is shared and a delicious dinner is served, often with offers of seconds or take home portions. Each of us had an opportunity to get to know some of the participants, share an activity, and serve them a meal.
During the tour, we saw the new building. If you had been following our Global Impact page during the pandemic, you may remember when the Lord opened the door in 2021 to the almost impossible bid for this building that would essentially triple Northwind’s capacity to serve their community.
“”What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.””
– Mark 9:23 NLT
Original Northwind’s building. It’s now used for Gathering Bible study and next steps.
The Miracle building (new building). This new building is used for counselling and family strengthening programs.
Communicating responses to conflict
Bonita Ledua, the Executive Director, showed us one of the counselling tools used especially with the children, called “conflict animals”. It gives children (and even adults) the visuals they need in order to recognize and communicate their responses to conflict.
For example, a rabbit hops back and forth nervously when scared; an elephant never forgets; a shark smells blood and goes in for the kill; a bull is calm until something red triggers rage; a turtle stops what it’s doing and hides; a chained baby elephant who learns helplessness when small gives up easily when grown and the same feeble chain is applied; and a bear is harmless until its young are threatened. I think we all added that tool to our personal tool box.
Wrapping up our day
We finished our session at NWFM with a two hour training on safety protocols based on Safe People and Places adapted from Plan to Protect.
Afterwards, we made our 45 minute drive to our accommodations at Eagle’s Cove, where we met up with Bera Ledua, Director of
Community Connections and had the privilege of hearing an amazing story of the origin of NWFM.
