SOAR - Day 7

Friday was our best day (good to know the best was saved for last).

During our reflection time in the AM, Franca and I went over to the Oratory; we prayerfully walked through, and then sat down during the 10AM Mass. Incredible to see people there searching, praying, reflecting. We mostly prayed for them (and us, and for our city); my favorite time was walking through the "way of cross" prayer garden on top of the Oratory. (check here for more pics) WOW. It was amazing. Each statue represented part of Jesus' walk towards the cross. My love for gardens and Jesus was a good mix!

Our assignment that day was a double.
1. We served with Eglise Methodist de St. Henri in a local park off of Notre Dame (few blocks west of Atwater. We handed out roses to the women, invited people back to a hotdog supper, played games with the kids, and we're mainly open to conversations. They gave us a survey to help start conversation (10 questions, mainly about their feelings towards church and what kind of church would be relevant for them - very Saddleback/Willow 1980's, from what I remember in my reading). I wasn't opposed to the survey, but I felt more comfortable feeling my way through the conversation. I learned alot through them - from one in particular that no matter what a church looked like, she wouldn't go into one b/c there's no interest - more like an obstacle to her spirituality. ALSO, I was so surprised at how many English speaking people walked through the park. I started dreaming about ministry opportunities in the area.



2. We served with Welcome Hall Mission's Club de l'Arche. It's a truck that drives into a local park and does a 90 minute program including games, facepainting, prizes, music, and values through stories/teaching. We had a blast promoting the event - sitting on the back of a trailer hitch with blaring summer music behind announcing to the homes that we were starting at 6:30PM... the whole community was waving to us - it was like a movie.




Welcome Hall Mission really impressed me with this program! They repeat this in 5 communities every week.

This was a long day but a very good one. Our whole team felt really satisfied. I personally enjoyed the personal interactions today, so much better than just a task - but that's me, I'm a people person (most times).

SOAR - Day 6

a quick update on today...

had a really meaningful time in solitude this morning (everyday the families have been given about 1 hour to be in some quiet time as couples or on their own)
... there's an amazing prayer room set up at the college - incredible atmosphere

this afternoon we served with Sun Youth packing tons of bags for recipients
... loved the drive back to the college, Laurier to Cote St Catherine (through Outremont)... WOW, loving our city more everyday

...off to our only restaurant supper of the week at St. Hubert (the kids are happy it's not sandwiches)

see ya

(ADDED at 11:32PM)
St. Hubert was great but CHAOS (11 adults, 15 kids, 1 waitress)

Great time hanging out with some new friends (family quest team parents) over chips and Popsicles)

SOAR - Day 5

(SOAR Family Quest continues)

Meet Bessy. She's the director of le Crac - a community org we served with today. years ago Bessy and her husband lost their jobs. With the responsibility of heir family, she had no other choice but to ask for help. She humbly and almost embarrassed, walked into le Crac and got assistance. Funny thing: she started working their in small ways, then receptionist, and eventually became director. She's been on both sides of the counter. She knows what people feel like when they walk in with a need. She knows the face of someone who feels uncomfortable asking for help b/c they lost their job or are struggling. She feels for the people.

Our assignment: wash donated toys, clear out a storage closet, log inventory for school supplies - all in prep for their back to school resource help for the community. Le Crac serves the community of Petite Patrie (St. Dennis & Belanger). They've been in existence for several years after a the CLSC expressed a need for a resource center in that community.
The kids did an amazing job of cleaning the toys - they worked really hard. Everyone was working for the whole afternoon.
(Julia washing some toys)
(other stuff)
Had a great espresso at Cafe Vittorio - felt like I walked into the 40's - with old Italian men playing Italian cards... mostly speaking Italian. My espresso had lots of cream on the top (that's proof of it's goodness; even Starbucks does get that much cream on the top!)

The families headed out to Mount Royal for supper over looking the city and got some down time.

SOAR - Day 4

(here’s DAY 4 of SOAR)

Our worship gathering this morning was led by a young girl from out east. No name… but a sweet spirit. Great songs that reminded us about justice, compassion, salvation, and of course passionately loving Jesus. I’ve been asking God this week to help me encounter him for the pure joy of his presence. Often even I can get caught of pursuing him for the sake of others, the church, the mission - but I have an innate need to pursue him, for him! Funny, I’m not a worship fanatic (i.e. the hype, or really long extended singing every time the church gathers), but I do believe passionate worship and a deep desire for God’s presence are key to a meaningful relationship with God – and I do believe a week like the one we're on are great opportunities to spend more time developing worshipful/prayerful moments with God.

(today's assignment)
Today’s assignment was simple but proved great for a family. We basically baked 400 cookies and hand crafted 200 cards to bless people with. The recipients will be 1. the students on SOAR who are likely needing a boost ½ through the week, 2. the volunteers in the kitchen, set-up, etc. who are sacrificing their own time for the participants (like us), and 3. a movie crew who’s on site filming a CTV TV movie called Faker.

The crew has caused both problems and opportunity for SOAR. It’s caused us to move around a lot, forfeit our use of some areas of the school, and sometimes adjust the schedule – havoc for the staff/volunteer especially. It’s also been a great opportunity to be a blessing by being gracious about the changes, which has opened doors for conversation about faith with the crew (so I hear). When my daughter gave her card and cookies to one crew member his response was, “SWEET, this is great, thanks so much” (with a big smile).

(back to the assignment task)
We did all this (cookies and cards) at Lakeshore Church in Dorval, hosted by Tammy – their youth pastor. Tammy has a great heart, and I never leave Tammy’s presence without feeling like I’ve been with someone who really loves people. I also rarely leave unaffected – usually b/c I’m convicted about how I need to be more hospitable to others and live more like Jesus in my own culture.


(end of the day)
Our kids ended the day in a combat in the halls… and then in our rooms reviewing the day and reminded about how light doesn’t only shine, but has the power to shine through things. We lit a sparkler and prayed… AMEN.

Until tomorrow.

SOAR - DAY 3

(we’re on DAY 3 of SOAR)

This morning (after breakfast and a worship gathering) our team practiced “foot washing.” We were reminded of Jesus’ teaching on servanthood – when he wrapped a towel over his arm and washed his disciple’s feet. You’re probably thinking this is one scripture we agree with but don’t practice literally. I believe it, but never practiced it… until today. Was a great way to express concretely that as a team we are 1. serving each other, and 2. serving others together.

Each day includes a personal reflection time for each couple (while the kids have they’re own reflection time as a group).

Our ministry assignment today was learning about Street People (i.e. homeless). Duane & Miriam have created PAX (www.paxstreet.com). We got a quick orientation and then maps around the area they serve – including the old Red Light District, the Gay Village, and Viger Park (i.e. St. Cahterine & Ontario St. b/w Papineau & Berri) – for a walk around learning experience. We hit the streets for about 2 hours, looking out for what it would feel like to be left on one of the main corners with no money, no friends, no network, no food – trying to learn who to trust, who to ask for a meal or money, etc. Due to rain we didn’t see as much as normal, but we got a sense of it. Later we met back at Dwayne’s home for a debriefing and further learning about the needs of homelessness. Their mission is not food. Their mission is relationship. They are building relationships with the Street People culture, befriending, loving, supporting, and when doors open, sharing Jesus and discipling.

OUR WALK: we met Bryan and Natalie.
Bryan was sitting in La Belle Province eating his smoke meat. He instantly started talking to us and we soon heard his story. Just coming off months of chemo therapy, dealing with Leukemia, also struggling with chronic fatigue, Bryan, unable to work, volunteers with 3 AIDS Hospices. He also volunteers privately by being a resourceful support to people living with AIDS. He’ll do something like reorganize their kitchen and prepare meals for a week. Bryan taught me a lot about generosity and servanthood. He says he’s not courageous, but I think he is.
Natalie was different. She was drunk. She instantly reached out to our kids and wanted to say hi… reaching for my daughters hand. She was enamored by the kids with us. There wasn’t much we could do for her at the moment – totally not sober – but the experience was an eye opener for my kids.

(our sub group walking the streets)

We later had our bagged supper at a park on the corner of Van Horne & Cote Des Neige, and to our surprise, Welcome Hall Mission had a truck with music, games, and prizes for the local kids. Apparently they do this every night at a different park – a great serving opportunity.

The day was almost over, but then the parents of each family had the chance to slip out to a local pub for some down time as adults (thanks to the 11 & 14 girls on the team who made sure everything went smooth)

That’s it. Tomorrow’s another day…

(a cool pic I found)


(my favorite pic)

SOAR - Day 2

(at SOAR with my family all week)

This morning we joined with a french church in the (close to) plateau area. They serve b/w 2 worlds - the poverty of le Petit Patri area and the more wealth off in the Plateau. Pretty Quebec feeling church - music, culture, speaking, etc.

Hung out for lunch in a near by park on Belanger and St. Dennis, then spent some time checking out Jean Talon Market. I live in Montreal and rarely get to this market, my says she's never been (really sad). I had a great double espresso (single doesn't seem to be enough these days).


As a team building activity we did a rally (a mini-amazing race challenge) in Old Montreal/China Town.

(where we stayed - College Notre-Dame - view from the Oratory)

Back at College Notre Dame (where we're sleeping in a classroom), we had a great worship time with the whole group (200 approx.). This was really cool worshiping with my wife and kids... seeking God for me (not anyone else or my church which I love to do). Most of what I experienced or sensed is for my journal, but I can say I am thankful for a meaningful encounter with God.

Day 2 was a good start to the week.

Tomorrow we start our assignments - mainly 5-6 hours each afternoon serving some part of the city. I believe tomorrow we learn about homelessness, the red light district, and the gay village.

(the whole team praying for the city on top of the St Joseph's Oratory)


My prayer for this week is: God, help me see the city as you see it.

SOAR BEGINS!!

Our family joined a mission team in our own city for the week. SOAR.

Started yesterday, with some obstacles.

We got stuck in the West Island in the down pour of rain, Tecumseh St. got flooded, I drove into it, and forced the plate under my engine to drop - which turned into 2 hours of fixing it before we could head downtown. Crazy.

But, we got here, and settled in, met other families.

This morning we're off to a french church near St. Dennis and Belanger - Metroplitan.
Later we'll have lunch in a local park with the families (we're 4 families in the family program), then we're doing a rally (finding stuff in the city) my metro.

OUR GOAL: to see our city with new eyes so we can see what God is doing... that it would lead us to prayer and mission in a renewed way.

I'll be posting over the week, so come and check it out.