Victoria Research Week

 

 We spent a week in Victoria researching South Africa and preparing reports. We worked in groups of around 3 people and were each assigned a time period. Each group was responsible for researching their time period and then relaying their new found knowledge to the rest of the group.
A lot of creativity came out in the presentations we had talk shows, skits, face painting, cave art, word searches and more. After the presentations the anticipation to go to South Africa was greatly heightened.
By Brittany Abrahamson

Christmas Party

For our Christmas party Deanna and Gerald cooked us a sumptious turkey dinner, we all dressed up in formal wear. After that we sat around the fire and shared our Christmas traditions and memories.

Charis Camp

 

Charis is located near Chilliwack B.C. It is surrounded by lush greenery and small waterfalls. Our first week here was a week of sessions with Jodie Smith. She talked to us about the Old Testament. Our final class with her was building an alter to God. We were each to gather a stone and bring it to the group when we added it to the pile we were supposed to share one thing that God was showing us. For some it was beauty, others it was worth, still others were realizing just how important making God a priority is.
Another really sweet thing Jodie challenged us to do was to write a psalm to God. For some this was a completely new experience for others this was something they had done many times before. So we all ventured a hand at writing a psalm.
For me this was very powerful because words are one of the strongest ways I communicate. Writing allows me to express my thoughts in such a way that it brings me peace and I can go back and reflect upon what I was thinking and feeling at a specific time. It is especially helpful to me in my conversations with God because then I can look back and see his hand upon my life, shaping me, challenging me, and molding me into his image.
We came back to Charis two weeks later and were joined by sites 1&2 for sessions. Our Speakers were Nathan Reiger and Craig Ginn. Craig talked to us about Old Testament history and how to read out of scripture instead of into scripture. Taking it in context.
Nathan shared with us many stories from his life as a pastor at Winnipeg’s Vineyard church (where we stayed for Urban Plunge). He was speaking to us about idols in our lives. He talked to us about how when we experience great hurt in our lives and replace God with idols how we freeze up in layers like a river. He went on to say how we need to be surrounded by enough love to thaw, but even thawing can be a somewhat gradual process and it isn’t always pretty, but if a person continues to be surrounded by enough love then we can completely experience life again.
I know for me personally Outtatown has been a place with enough love to start healing and thawing in my life. God keeps putting circumstances in my life where I am challenged to grow and deal with specific issues. Along the way though he makes sure to place people to love, protect, and hold me accountable as I work through life. It is so humbling to realize again and again just how passionately the God of the universe loves me a wretched sinner.
Joel 2:12-14
“Even now-
This is the Lord’s declaration-
turn to Me with all your heart,
with fasting, weeping,
and mourning.
Tear your hearts,
not just your clothes,
and return to the Lord your God,
For he is gracious
and compassionate,
slow to anger,
rich in faithful love,
and he relents
from sending disaster,
Who knows? He may turn
and relent
and leave a blessing
behind Him,
so you can offer grain and wine
to the Lord your God.”
The grace of God is such a powerful concept especially when we acknowledge how completely undeserving we are and how holy God is.
Praise God for all that he is and all that he has done for us. Blessed be his holy name.
---Brittany Abrahamson

South African I.Q. Test

Victoria, BC
The week of October 27-November 3

As a group we spent much of this week learning about South Africa, it only makes sense to understand more of the history of a country before you go to visit it! We were divided up into groups to research different eras of South African history. We could just tell you what we learned, but instead we’ll…
Test your South Africa I.Q. (True or False)
1. Africa is often referred to as “The Cradle of Humankind”.
2. The first people to live in South Africa were the Portuguese explorers who landed at the Cape of Good Hope.
3. The Dutch East India Company set up a ``refreshment Station`` in the South for ships to stop in.
4. 1948 was when the Apartheid began in South Africa.
5. Nelson Mandela was the third President of South Africa.
6. South Africa is known as the “rainbow nation”.
7. South Africa will host the Olympics in 2010
8. Kruger National Park is home to many animals in South Africa.
9. Our group is getting very excited to be in South Africa very soon!
Answers

1. (True, some of the earliest forms of civilization are found in Africa including cave art from African Tribes some 28, 000 years ago!)
2. (False, there are many tribes of Africans such as the Khoisan, San, and other Bantu people groups. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to land in South Africa in 1488 CE.)
3. (True was the beginning of the Dutch colonization of South Africa and the birth of the Afrikaner people and the Afrikaans language).
4. (True, Apartheid means “Apartness” and became an official political system in 1948. This segregation separated South Africans on basis of race and skin colour and lasted until 1994).
5. (False. Nelson Mandela was the first elected president in the new Democratic Republic of South Africa in 1994.
6. (True, South Africa is a beautifully diverse country with many people groups and 11 official languages).
7. (False, South Africa will be hosting the FIFA World Cup Soccer tournament in 2010. Vancouver, BC will be hosting the Olympics).
8. (True, Our group will be going on a safari drive there to see some of Africa’s spectacular animals including; lions, elephants and zebras, to name a few).
9. (True! In less than 2 months we will be enjoying South African summer).

A Week in Esperanza

Esperanza, British Columbia
October 22-27, 2007

One of the joys of being a Site Leader is having the chance to return and visit places two years in a row. For me it was an honour to be able to go back to Esperanza again this year as it is one of the most unique places I have ever visited.

Nestled in the mountains of the west coast of Vancouver Island it is a centre with programs of rest and refuge for Native families and individuals addressing issues of drug and alcohol addictions as well as crisis in their lives. The name Esperanza, means “hope” and that is what it has been for many who have visited and left having experienced healing, and a sense of renewal.
We helped out with many preparations for the upcoming Family Session. We found ourselves doing all sorts of service work including: general maintenance, massive loads of laundry, cleaning and doing inventory on the homes that families would be staying in, cleaning up the beach after a series of major storms, and splitting, moving and stacking a winter’s worth of firewood. It was quite something to see some people in our group driving by on tractors to pick up another load of firewood, or the day a group of guys decided to turn splitting wood into something of a “lumberjack competition”. We all worked hard and were tired at the end of everyday, but it was a satisfying feeling to know we had been able to help out that week.
Let the "Outtatown Lumerjack Games" begin...

We took turns cooking for the group all week. Here Johnny's small group shows off their meal!

T.J., Brent and Dave moving wood

More firewood stacking!

A week on Outtatown would hardly be a week without adventure. With that in mind we had many adventures this week. We all got a twenty minute boat ride, as Esperanza has only water access. The brave ones went out in the boat on the open ocean and saw a host of sea lions, seals and other sea life. When the tide went out some of our group were able to find beautiful starfish, salmon and even a sea cucumber! The salmon were spawning that week as well, which meant we were also able to see them, as well as a bear! One night Al, a man who recently came to stay at Esperanza, served up a large batch of clams that he had dug up out of the water. It was a new experience for some, and a tasty experience for all!
In addition to the service work and adventure we had the chance to hear the stories of some of the people that live and have devoted their lives to the ministry at Esperanza. Dean shared with us about both the positive and damaging impacts of Christianity in the colonization of North America and in other areas of the world. As well, he was able to share stories of how he personally had seen God at work in redeeming and healing relationships between the Aboriginal people group of Vancouver Island and Christians.
Ivan, a Regalia Chief, spoke about different cultures and the protocol of those cultures. He spoke of the ways in which the white colonies enforced their culture upon the Aboriginal people. It was heartbreaking to hear the damage and pain that was caused to some many individuals, often children, as they were removed from their homes and sent to Residential Schools, when they were expected to take on “English” names, learn a language foreign to them, and many endured abuse.
Ivan told us about his own journey with both Regalia Aboriginal and Christian beliefs. After wrestling with uncertainties and feeling pressured to choose one or the other, he eventually came to realize that both influenced and informed his Spiritual journey and belief in God. One evening after our group thanked the folks at Esperanza for hosting us Ivan, his wife Victoria and their four sons did a ceremonial song for us. It was powerful to see the way they honoured their traditions and worshipped God at the same time.
All in all, our week at Esperanza was a meaningful chance to see the work of God in many ways, from the beauty of Creation to the stories of redemption and healing in the hearts and lives of his people.
Dana Honderich

Creation

In the past few weeks, God has opened my eyes to the beauty of his creation like never before. Coming from the city, my eyes usually see the brokenness that people have caused by the destruction of nature for economic purposes. Seeing creation undisturbed by people has been an amazing experience, in which God has really revealed himself to me.
I remember the sunset the first evening on the shores of Shuswap Lake. The water was calm and reflected the pink, purple, yellow, and blue sky. As the vast mountains and rolling hills illustrated the very real power and might of God. It was as if God was looking down on us with a great smile embracing us as his children. Never had creation felt more real to me than at that moment. As children of God it is important that we respect what God has made and care for it. God made this world for us, and he sculpted it beautifully.
The next time you see the sheer beauty of creation, be still, embrace it, listen to it, and thank God for making it. As much as God wants us to take pictures, paint landscapes, and describe the awesome things we see, thank Him for it. Let it be an act of worship, but remember that God’s most beautiful creation is people, and he loves us more than anything else in this world.

By Ryan Braun

Houseboats

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving the Deasley family graciously hosted all thirty of us in their home and served us a delicious thanksgiving supper complete with pumpkin pie. It was a welcome respite for us to hangout in a home again especially in one so welcoming.

 

So I thought that I would not like girls week very much. First of all we were in Calgary instead of Banff, and I missed the mountains. Also its like 60 girls and no guys. Talk about drama and emotions. But in spite of all that its been really good.
We had an awesome speaker and a great worship leader. But we also did alot of just fun stuff. We went go-karting and played lazer tag. I got the worst score at lazer tag. Guns just aren't my thing but it was alot of fun. Then another day we did a chill hike in Banff, and went to the hotsprings that night. Imagine 60 girls clumped in the middle of a pool with 4 teams of Norwegian volleyball players all lining the outside of the pool. And no mingling... hilarious.
Then we all went for dinner one night at East Side Marios and all got dressed up. Then we had spa night. My toenails are red :D. Friday was a free day. Two of my friends from Lethbridge came to visit me!! YAY!! and i did a little shopping. and then we had a hiphop class at night. Saturday we went back to banff and me and 7 of the girls in my site did a huge hike up sulfer mountain, where the gondolas are. Most people ride up and hike down. but no. We hiked up and rode down. Me and Tiffany laughed alot of the way, making it hard to breathe...
So yeah this must seem like a pretty easy week. but its been so good just to bond with the other girls in my site. There are 17 of us so its been hard to get to know everyone up until this week. We are missing the boys though and can't wait to see them all tomorrow. We will be in canmore for a few days with them and then we will head off to the houseboats on Shuswap Lake.
Anyways. I've also learned alot too. This week we've been talking about self image, boy/girl relationships, and sexuality. But we've also talked about singleness and all the cool stuff that God can do through that. And we talked about dreaming. Sharon asked us to write down our dreams for the future, even things that seem crazy and not possible. So yeah, I've been thinking lots about me and how God has changed me so much in the last few years. And about all the crazy things I would love to do. I still have absolutely no direction for what to do after this year. but thats okay.
By Chantel Lanoue

Climbing Sulphur Mountain
 

 

Service Days and Cooking for Ourselves

 

Urban Plunge

 

Our Home For Urban Plunge

 

Hannah, Sully, and Julia

 

urban plunge reflection

 

 

 

 

The Urban Plunge in Winnipeg impacted my life forever. One of the hardest things for me was saying "yes" to God when he prompted me to give my bible to a "complete stranger". It seemed so hard at first, giving away that prized posession, but when God gave me the strength to just do it I suddenly knew she wasn't just a "stranger". This woman was one of God's beautiful creations, and she, more than anything, needed that book, at that moment, more than I did. The desperation of the street people and the immense love that God has for them hit me with a force that I can hardly explain! His love is so great and we who know just how incredibly great that love can be, hold within us a message so redeeming it transforms and re-creates lives. The utter rawness of hummanity's plight without Christ cut to the very depths of my soul. Poverty was so real, unavoidable, undeniable, and yet in today's culture there is such an unwillingess to admit its existance. That is what hit me the most: just the fact that poverty, it is SO there, SO present, when it shouldnt be.

-By Kristi Roberts

 

 

 

 

 

 

Canoe Trip: All In The Same Boat!

Just Minutes before we set out on the water the sun came out to warm us up.


After only knowing each other for a few days, we were split into two groups and pushed into Lake of the Woods, for a canoe trip. First thing in the morning the weather was discouraging as it was rainy, cloudy, cold, and windy. But by the afternoon, as we were about to leave the sun started to shine. It felt great and got me more excited and encouraged.
I started out as midship (not paddling, in the middle) and was feeling quite heavy, trying to encourage others through the wind and the waves. I noticed that throughout our whole trip we were encouraging and helping, as best as we could.
I look back at it now and realize what an amazing and unique experience it was. Our leaders/guides were awesome. We saw some neat wildlife and I learnt a lot.
By Hannah Weber
 
 
 
 
After registration and hurried good byes to loved ones, 31 complete strangers stepped through van doors and into a new world of excitement, adventure and enthralling relationships. Our first initiation into this new chapter of our lives would prove to be a gruelling experience not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. Split into two groups we both faced incredible, and at times what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles that could only be overcome through faith, friendship, and a little help from the HMS Pioneer III (The boat that came to rescue us!).
Through these trials and tribulations the two groups became united not only as individual groups but rather as one body together with Christ, separated by no man under God’s supreme reign.
By Dave Young & Reuben Loeppky
 

Our site started off with a canoe trip like no other. The weather was terrible, the waves were insane, but the memories and bonding that we had with our new ‘family’ made it so worth it.
We focused on finding beauty and then brokenness in the wilderness. Never did I expect what God was ready to reveal to me. Beauty was initially the most amazing star-filled sky, but then I saw how God can reveal beauty through the broken. I not only saw beauty in God’s creation but also in the people surrounding me. Constant encouragement got us across, what seemed like, a raging sea. It was awesome.
Brokenness could have been our spirits due to the rain, the cold, a wind like no other, and no clean or dry clothes. However, God used those circumstances to not only bring us incredibly close but to reveal a different form of beauty to me.
As terrified as I was going into this trip, I wouldn’t trade our experience for any other. I came back feeling like I had just caught a small glimpse of God’s beauty and that alone left me in awe.
By Kim Ball
 

We finished our trip on P3, the faithful camp boat. Not quite the ending we had imagined for our canoe trip, but we made it safe and sound.