Wash Out

THURSDAY

We have several areas of helping every day. The team is split up to support in different areas. Routine is 7am wake up. Breakfast. Depart the Cove at 8:15. It takes almost an hour to get into the city and to Northwind  counselling and offices. For a small treat, one car stopped at the Holland Bakery – very close to the offices – and bought two dozen donuts! Freshly made, yummy and very very tasty! Oops. No photo as we devoured them all 🙂

Our mornings have different teams supporting in different areas. There is always a food prep for lunch which takes up much of the morning. One group is doing prep for the play day, and today we had everyone else in the Next Steps program. Today I (Kevin) was at the door to greet people and get their names. About 50 people came through. People in all different states come in – it is a requirement they are not drunk or under the influence (mostly). You can tell some were coming out of having been under the influence for the evening. Having seen some regularly over the week, you see them in different states of presence. But we are reminded that they come, are willing to talk and share with people there, and ask for help as they need it, because Northwind has developed a relationship with them. It is a trusting relationship – truly the Gospel with action. They love them because they recognize that they are each an individual created in the image of God; this world is broken and sometimes we are the ones to help bring healing to them, on this side of heaven. There are some who are caring for grandchildren (and ill equipped to do so). Many have mental health issues, drug and alcohol addictions, abuse, and all the other issues you can think of – and Northwind partners with other agencies in the city, to try and be light and hope for them. Some are Christian agencies, others not – but the goal is to support and provide for them. Northwind does provide bible study and “sermons” but it’s not required.

Thursday in Next Steps is chapel time. People are welcome to come from 10am – 1pm. Chapel takes place around noon. They will share a couple of songs and share a message of hope. Some stay, others leave. They can still have their coffee and bannock regardless. Many want to stay and listen. At the Gathering it is similar (dinner at 4:30 with a bible study around 5:30 – they have asked for it and so Northwind has provided).

Around 11:30, one of our team members went to support Bonita at the Family Strengthening program. He went to help the same family as yesterday. This family flew in Tuesday from the North. While one or two are in counselling, the others are able to enjoy some recreation at the counselling office (e.g., kids can play some indoor basketball, pools table etc.). Our team member served there all afternoon. This family as mentioned has been coming for a few years, and at this point flies in once  every few weeks. They are making progress; imagine your little child, because of the trauma, not being able to speak or communicate until they are 8-9 years old. Progress is being made.

The forecast for the day was showing sun and cloud, with only a small chance of thunderstorms. The weather looked mostly clear until 6pm! Yay! So we packed up and headed to John St complex. We arrive.. and dark storm clouds started forming overhead. It was still mostly sunny and the forecast was still clear…. But then the storm started. We were just starting and BOOM! The Thunderstorm started and it was a massive downpour for quite a while. We packed up in the rain. We quickly disassembled the games and boards, packed the tent and food and moved. We were SOAKED. Our clothes are still drying out today. I showed Nathaniel the old “plastic bag in the shoe” trick (put your dry foot in a plastic bag… and then put it in the shoe. Foot stays dry!) Because we were drenched we came back to the Cove to change and dry out. It is very damp here and so nothing is dry yet. We may be heading to Walmart on the way in for some new footwear (with the intent of donating them here before we head home). Before we left for the Cove, our chef grabbed our leftovers, some other foods and brought them back to the Cove for dinner. (Lunch and Dinner are usually in the city so we don’t have a lot of meal foods at the cabins)

So we had some team time – some napped and snacked (sounds like Elijah), while others played some games together (Crokinole anyone?) Some staff invited the team to come down to the lake to enjoy a swim, and others stayed behind to just talk and have a time of worship together.

Friday would be a later start – Bera was making us some of his famous bannock for breakfast and we would do brunch today and hope to get back to John St to do play day again.  Fingers crossed and prayers please!

The team is tired and the end of the week is almost here. Only a couple days before we make it home!