the jace anderson weblog: Outdoor advertising, Marketing, serial entrepreneur, collector of things, world traveller, interweb junky... Feel free to form an opinion... or not.
We are on our way home. We just returned from some impromptu shopping of the
GOD kind. We bought a ton of stuff that we will NOT be bringing home: it's all
for the day camp. More supplies, toys... a new rug etc. It's great to be a
blessing.
The aiport is in (or around) the Dorval area of Montreal...
The trip home begins... talk soon.
Jake got a late message from Enterprise Rentals. Our three mini-vans were NOT
available, but in a couple HOURS we could pick up a bunch of cars. A bunch of
cars? i just hope we don't get 10 SMART cars... i really don't want to send our
team out into Montreal in groups of 2... with cars.
Camp is done... we watched Chicken Run (Nick Park is a genius), gave the kids
popcorn, and then we all walked a half hour to a local swimming pool. Good
times, and lots and lots of sun. Even WITH sunscreen, we've got a couple burns,
but no amount of burn is gonna stop us... Today we go to LaRonde (think,
rollercoasters).
Ending of with the kid-campers was rough on a lot of our team. There were
relationships and bonds developed. We spent so much time and effort showing
GODs love, pouring ourselves out really, emotions started to surface.
Emotions, and some sad tears too. Lots of our team got pictures of the kids
playing, and pics of the kids with the campers, so... be prepared to look at
pics of kids. It's great.
After picking up next weeks youth group team from the airport in our new shiny
cars (not the smart ones) we went on an adventure with Lorenzo. We'll have to
tell you about that sometime. but now, now its time for Montreals Best Bagels.
Talk soon.
Fri-Day. This is the final day of this week's day camp. The team is tired...
exhausted even.
Turns out that the name Rivers Edge Community Church is figurative. Unlike
expectations, this church is NOT located on or near a river. Unlike churches
that move, this is Rivers Edge first location... so they were never on a
river... strange?
let me quote direct from one of the brochures that Rivers Edge distributes
(regarding thier choice of name):
"What's IN A Name? Vision! We call ourselve's Rivers Edge Community Church
because Montreal is an island surrounded by the St. Lawrence River. It is our
mission to meet each community's needs by being their community church. Our
vision is to be a reproducing church which means starting new churches in new
communities on the island of Montreal."
And now, back to the kids... chat later.
This is our fourth installment: Montreal.
It is late here, 11:23 pm local time. We've returned from a hectic evening of
eating... and shopping. And now, now after a great wrap-up discussion &
prayer, it's time to sleep. Ciao.
/ Not too wordy that time huh?
Our day camp has 32 students registered. Rivers Edge Community Church is in an
inner city area of Montreal. Our group is FULL of diversity, which is making
the process very enjoyable, and quite difficult too: For example;
i would hazard to guess that ALL kids in camp speak 2 languages, and anyone who
speaks english is likely to actually speak THREE languages. yeah! We hear
Russian, Creole (Haitian), Spanish and others that i haven't identified yet.
For a large number of these students english is NOT their first language, and
not their language of choice at all. As such, we, as a team are finding it
difficult at times to correctly communicate with the students. We are doing it
tho, with heaps of patience and understanding. I really hope that you can get a
sense of what this team is facing, and accomplishing... i am very VERY proud of
them all, and you should be too.
Most (if not all) of these kids come from un-churched homes (often broken etc)
and one of our goals from the beginning has been: To show GODs love in a
tangible way, giving them a safe place that provides encouragement and support.
For some kids, we wonder how much of that they may experience, either at school
or home. The campers are ages 5 (or 6) thru 11.
Some of our campers are athiest, some are muslim... this is just a great
opportunity for our team to really express GODs love and grace. The students
are doing a great job, creating relationships... being accepted by the
children, and then challenging them in positive ways to impact their future.
From saying please and thankyou, to respect of peers thru to a fuller
understanding of who Jesus is, and why he cares so much for them. Cares for
them completely. i've said it before, GOD rocks... and it's true, GOD is
really great, and he is meeting us all as a group, and i believe individually
as well.
We have at least one camper who has clinically recorded permanent learning
disabilities, which has posed a challenge to our team. They are loving him
unconditionally, and we have witnessed the response of the other campers turn
from disgust (which broke our hearts) to acceptance, and even inclusion. They
are learning to love, even if they don't like. Love is an action, and a skill
that can alter their young lives.
Today we were faced with our largest single camper challenge yet, one young boy
who had previously captured our hearts with his wonderful demeanor (it helps
that he's cute as a button too) lost control of his emotions. His outburst
(physical & emotional), and the subsequent struggle to control the dominoes
from falling was hard on our team... but i must say that they handled
themselves admirably. Jesus Christ is well represented today in Montreal...
what a blessing. We are growing, learning and coaching one another. God is
doing some great things, and it is my prayer that each one of us return home to
family and friend a little closer to our Lord.
We've been challenged with lingering sickness on the team. We are in close
quarters, and as one or two beat it, it seems to crop up again within the
group. It doesn't help that we are feeling wearing and tired from the long
days. We are close to the finish line now, getting closer by the day. Talk
soon, keep us in your quiet time... we crave it. Thank you & God bless.
Wow. Where do i begin... it seems that, true to missions work, we are finding
even LESS personal time than we may have anticipated (and i didn't anticipate
much). Not even much time to shop. The last students are out at about 6pm. so
we are mobile at between 6:30 and 7... then there's the transportation time and,
often we window shop to and from our meal. Still good times tho. As such, the
blogging has been sporatic at best, if you are keeping count, this is post
number TWO.
Monday nite, we had pizza brought in. Good call. Tuesday nite, we walked, then
caught the metro to supper. Mario, one of our hosts here in Montreal took us to
the secret location of Montreal's best poutine. Poutine can be loosely
described as fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds. Way off the beaten path
we found this spot that had a menu of poutine... and more poutine. You could
get just about any imaginable topping added to your poutine, and as a group of
20, we did. Speaking of groups of 20, we've found it amusing how we are
received when looking for a meal. One pizza place didn't feel like serving us,
but, who can blame them (they must have recognized us).
Last nite, we ate at a swanky little jewish restaurant that serves Montreals
best Smoked Meat. WOW. good stuff... the waiter was fantastic, and really
interacted with the team well, even offering to bring bibs at one point (for
good reason too). He heard we were from Alberta, and proceeded to tease us
about that too. Funny stuff.
We are NOT experiencing a heat wave, but we might as well be. It is very hot,
and extremely muggy, add to that a whole lot of walking, a dash of playing
outdoors... and as much starbucks coffee as humanly possible: what do you have?
two showers a day, at least. (for some of us anyways)
The group is growing together in great ways, even further together than they
were before we left Medicine Hat. Since day one of camp, as leaders we have
been balancing a desire to model leadership for the team with a strong desire
to expose (and allow) team-members to step into leadership roles themselves.
Today is that day. After 3 days of sharing responsibility, the mantle is
passed. The team (minus leaders) are leading the day camp today...
administering everything from sign in's and out's to discipline. They are
ready for it, and frankly, they are already shining at it, and they've only
been on their own for 2 hours so far today. Your prayers are making this
possible... God is good. Oh yeah, and this team rocks too (mad props).
Montreal Chapter One. This is all true, i promise. Now, that may sound like
i've got some really big news to share, and i kind of do: You see, we are here,
all twenty of us, right here in Montreal. But those of you reading this,
likely
knew that already!
The travel from Medicine Hat was blessed and smooth. Folks from Rivers Edge
met
us at the airport, which meant we did NOT need to navigate the subway/metro
system with all of our luggage. That nite, after a brief orientation to the
city, Paul took us on a tour of the underground metro system, as well as an
extended walk throughout the city center. Timing was perfect, (and part of
Pauls plan) as we were right on time to see the International Fireworks
Competition wind-up. Throughout the month of July, nations from all over the
world compete in a judged event showcasing their fireworks skills... this was a
real display of skills (Napoleon Dynomite would have been impressed too).
Sunday morning church was extremely welcoming, the congregation were warm, and
we all felt very comfortable, so much so that, Dawson got right to work on the
sound booth.
We've been walking and shopping quite a bit. The location of Rivers Edge is
within a couple blocks of several great districts. We've seen some, and hope
to visit more before our time here is done... God willing.
Food has been fantastic, it is kind of hard to decide which meal has been
better: The traditional italian eatery last nite, the open cafe pizza parlor
during the heat of the day... or the vat of kraft dinner we shared with the day
camp kids this afternoon. It's all good.
We have found Starbucks, and a Second Cup as well (right next door to one
another)... so, the withdrawals have been stemmed... now if we could just get a
coffee machine to work right inside the kitchen at the church, that would be
grand.
Parents are picking up their kids as i type this, the whole team has done an
amazing but difficult job: they've guided and engaged the children, kept them
safe and well fed... all the while, everyone is smiling. That is God, for
sure.
It's about supper time now, and, it's a coin toss as to what we do next, half
of
me suggests that we order food in (or eat sandwiches) and go straight to bed,
because this will only get more physically and mentally draining... the other
half of me really thinks that our team needs a quick FUN run into town.
They've accomplished a lot, and put up with some too during day ONE of day
camp. i'm torn as to what will be best long run... so we'll talk about it, and
i'll let you know what we decide next time i get in front of a computer. Ahhh,
i
like this! God bless, talk soon & please continue to support us from home as
you have... it's working.
later.
ps: if you would like to pass a message along to the entire group, or one team
member in particular, feel free to write montreal@jaceanderson.com , i will
pass the note along to the intended reader.
