Monday, August 31, 2009

So Much to Say....

I have had a very good long summer and feel like I have so much to say about it but I just have no gumption to do it and I am not sure why. Maybe with a little time, this will change.

One thing that sticks out about this summer happened while I was working at Covenant Bay. At teen camp we were split up into groups that would go to Wetaskiwin to work at a soup kitchen. I loved the idea of this but was also kind of nervous. I am working towards a degree in Social Work and I have often thought of working with people with addictions which 99% of the people at this soup kitchen dealt with. But previous to this, I had never served at a soup kitchen or anything like this so this is where my hesitancy came from.

I would say that 95% of the people who came into this soup kitchen were Hobema Natives. It was so interesting to sit down and talk with all these people. The stories that they would tell were very riveting and scary for the most part. Not scary in the sense of my safety but in the sense of that these things we see and hear about through media or what have you are realities for some people. I loved this whole experience; working with people and listening.

You know those moments when you really seem to connect with God in one way or another? I usually experience God when I am listening or playing music, or fly-fishing on a tiny little river, but I experienced God at this soup kitchen not only through the stories and faces of these people but also through some other people who were serving at the soup kitchen. As I was sitting listening to these gang members tell me how many times they have been to jail and why, I saw some other people from Covenant Bay serving in such a tangible way; it was so humbling to me.

To be servants of Christ, we need to be Christ-like and that is not always easy for us to do, but it sure is rewarding.

I still have lots to say but I will save that for another time.

Peace be with you.