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Throughout our experience in Kitchener Laura and I have had a vast array of experiences.  We have been able to take part in the Community and Family Service programs, Corrections and, of course, Sunday morning worship at the Corps.  In each of these areas we have been able to build on skills that were already present and to build on the education we received during our first year of training.

In the Family Services area we have seen the value of building relationships with other community organizations and relying on each other. There is a great emphasis on not doing everything by yourself.  The focus is on finding what you are good at and concentrating on that.  This will be very important to take into future ministry, understanding that we can’t do it all and we need help from those around use.  We are not the end all and be all.  There are other organizations that can do things just as well, if not better, allowing us to concentrate on our strengths.

Corrections has been spent mainly in the court system.  Both Laura and I have had the opportunity to sit in on courts that were created to help defendants who have either a drug problem or mental disorder seek treatment for those disorders.  The court works with the defendant to find care facilities that will help them overcome their disorder and in turn will decrease any sentence that may be forth coming from their previous charges.  It has be great to see the effort put forward by all members of the court (judges, crown attorneys and defense lawyers) to ensure that the accused receives the help they require.  They have shown such love to each person who walks into the court room.

Lastly, we have seen such love from the wonderful congregation at Kitchener Community Church.  I can count the number of suppers that we have had with just the two of us, on one hand.  We have been invited to congregation member’s homes for dinner.  It has been such a great way to meet people.  When you can sit down at the dinner table and break bread you are able to share so much more than just a handshake on Sunday morning.  There are people from all walks of life and from all levels of their faith.  However the thing that is most evident, and of ultimate importance, is that God is of the utmost importance.  Following the completion of our second year, if Laura and I are sent to a corps that is half as great as this we will find ourselves two of the luckiest Lieutenants.

Cadet Stefan Van Schaick and his wife, Laura, are a part of the Friends of Christ session.  Here Stefan shows us a little bit of his work at the food bank and, in terms of the camera, his good side!