As I have journeyed with various residents at Golden West I have been privileged to see the hand of God working on numerous occasions. Every Thursday morning Major Velma Preston conducts a sing-a-long time on the floors of Golden West with the most severe cases of dementia or need. Although some of these individuals no longer speak, or are often in a world of their own, something incredible happens when you begin to sing “Jesus Loves Me.” Suddenly those who cannot remember where they live or if they ate breakfast are singing all of the lyrics from memory. The wonder of God’s glorious creation of the mysterious mind!

I have also had the privilege of identifying the hand of God working through the various staff at Golden West. It does not take long for someone to identify that Golden West is a unique environment. At Golden West residents become part of a family and the staff do everything they can to make this place a home. The residents, their family, and other staff members can attest to this truth. Although the residents are faced with numerous challenges (the challenges to adapt to a new way of life, the challenges of change in independence, etc.), the staff are always looking for ways to bring dignity to their family at Golden West. It is truly inspiring to witness how this team works together to create a warm and inviting home for their residents.

God has given me the privilege of seeing his hand working in a variety ways at Golden West. Not only have I been given the privilege to see his hand working but I have also been blessed with the opportunity to offer my hands in service with him there. Through this experience I have grown in my ability to simply be. I have learned that sometimes in ministry the best thing I will be able to offer is time. By taking the time to be in the company of others I allow God the opportunity to minister through my presence with his own presence. I look forward to future ministries of presence!

We are certain that Laura’s lovely presence is a blessing to the residents at Golden West.

Laura, and her husband David, are both a part of the Proclaimers of the Resurrection session.

God’s people are not immune to suffering.  This is a truth I have seen first-hand during my short time at Heritage Park Temple.  Often people feel that becoming a Christian means getting a free pass through life.  Instead, Jesus affirmed in John 16:33 that in this world we will have struggles! 

Over the past few months I have seen God’s people suffer with health concerns.  I have seen God’s people struggle with unexpected death and with suicide.  I have seen God’s people harbouring emotions of guilt and hate.  I have seen God’s beautiful children reach out for love that they are not receiving at home. I have seen low income families lose the security of having a roof over their heads and a place to call home.

 And I have seen God’s presence through it all.

When we as God’s people suffer, we need not fear.  Jesus says that we should take heart, for He has overcome the world!  When we see our neighbour suffer, we have the privilege of coming alongside them and being Christ’s hands and feet in a hurting world.  Through each of these difficult situations at Heritage Park Temple I have seen officers and congregation members, friends and family, come alongside the hurting in a beautiful expression of how having a faith and hope in Jesus Christ can help one get through a truly difficult situation. 

A young girl whose family is struggling with a housing crisis was doing crafts with me a few weeks ago.  We were making “God’s Eyes” out of string and popsicle sticks, and while the kids were working on their crafts I told them of the time when I was in Turkey a few years ago.  The Turks paint God’s Eyes on much of their pottery, jewelry, wall decorations, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.  I explained that this reminded the Turks that God was always with them, watching them.  This girl then said confidently that she was going to hang her God’s Eye on the door of her new home, when her family found a place to live, because God is always with her.  Knowing the difficult situation her family was facing, it was amazing to me that she had such a positive outlook, and that I, by God’s grace, might have had some part in that. 

While we will encounter suffering in our lives, we find hope that we do not endure it alone.  “God’s eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

Cadet Laura Van Schaick (along with her husband Stefan) is a part of the Friends of Christ session.  Laura was a part of the Cuba Mission Trip last spring and is the Missions Committee Director (at CFOT) this year.

 Decorating the Christmas tree occurs as a family event. Usually after the Christmas parade, our family puts on some Christmas carols and drinks some egg nog as we decorate together. We all have different ‘jobs’ to assist with this but the one thing we all share is the placing of the tree ornaments. As we place on the homemade and significant memorable ornaments, the ‘story’ behind each ornament is shared with the children. The most memorable of these are the children’s ornaments they received on their ‘first Christmas’. This usually raises the story of ‘their birth’. As we share about their birth story, we reflect on the birth story of our Lord and Saviour. Sometimes the questions the boys ask in reflection leaves us with a sense of ‘wonder’ and ‘mystery’ at the birth of Christ.

The giving of our time in some ministry expression. Throughout the years this has varied from helping with hampers or visiting the nursing homes and prisons to helping serve a community Christmas meal. Each experience is unique and although we are tired at the end, the reminder that this tiredness may have been reflective of Mary and Joseph after their long journey to Bethlehem helps prepare my heart once again. 

Christmas Eve celebration. It has been a blessing to live in a city where we have extended family. On Christmas Eve, after all the work has been done for the day, we gather together late into the night to share together as family. Amongst the food and the gifts, and all the people gathered in a small space, is the reminder that the night of our Lord’s birth. I imagine in my mind that it was in a crowded space amidst the ‘hustle of the world around them.’

There are other ways in which I treasure the season of Advent in my heart but I share these because they may not be the traditional ways in which ‘Advent’ is observed. In my life however, they are tangible ways I look forward to in my modern experience of reflecting on and embracing the birth of Christ .

When we give as God desires us to give, we do it with our whole heart, mind, and spirit.  To give of ourselves is to have faith that God will use the gift. To give of ourselves is to be open to God’s leading – to allow Him to use not only our money, but anything we have for His purposes.

I love verse 12 of 2 Corinthians chapter 8.  It says: “For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what one does not have.” God desires that we give in relation to what we have received.  This was powerfully illustrated one day, as I stood at a Christmas Kettle.  As I stood, along came a young man – hobbling with two canes.  As he slowly approached he asked – can I give my pennies?  “Yes,” I said “Certainly – all donations are very welcome.” He dropped four pennies in the kettle and slowly walked away.   A short time later an old man came by with a long tattered beard –“I am homeless, will you accept this loonie of mine?” he asked.  ”Certainly, God bless you” was all I could say before he was gone.  Then later a young boy came and dumped forty cents in the kettle.  Then he proudly said “That was my money” as he zipped his little wallet up, and off he went.

Real wealth – is not found in what we have, but in what we give.  A man or woman is rich or poor, not by the amount they have in their account but by the depth of love in their hearts. I received a total of $1.44 from those three people.  In the eyes of the world it didn’t mean much.  But as I ponder this I believe that in God’s eyes, it meant more than a large gift given to secure a tax break.   What was so significant about those three donations?  That $1.44?  They were given out of pure hearts, out of weakness and poverty.  They didn’t have much to give, but out of their poverty they gave what they had. Thank you for your willingness to give back to the Lord this year.

Where would the money come from, he wondered. He lay awake nights, worrying, thinking, praying about how he could find the funds to fulfill his commitment of feeding 1,000 of the city’s poorest individuals on Christmas Day. As he pondered the issue, his thoughts drifted back to his sailor days in Liverpool, England. He remembered how at Stage Landing, where the boats came in, there was a large, iron kettle called “Simpson’s Pot” into which passers-by tossed a coin or two to help the poor.

The next day Captain McFee placed a similar pot at the Oakland Ferry Landing at the foot of Market Street. Beside the pot, he placed a sign that read, “Keep the Pot Boiling.” He soon had the money to see that the needy people were properly fed at Christmas.

Six years later, the kettle idea spread from the west coast to the Boston area. That year, the combined effort nationwide resulted in 150,000 Christmas dinners for the needy. In 1901, kettle contributions in New York City provided funds for the first mammoth sit-down dinner in Madison Square Garden, a custom that continued for many years.

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Cadet Kyla McKenzie (now Lieutenant) and five other cadets had the opportunity to work at the Kettles in Portage la Prairie last Christmas season.   She tells us about their experience…

You may think it’s a little odd to take a large piece of metal outside on a cold day and hold it in your arms but that’s exactly what six cadets did on a chilly December day in Portage La Prairie. Despite the cold we were having a great time standing outside with our brass instruments in order to play Christmas music at the Salvation Army’s two kettle locations. As the notes of Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Come All Ye Faithful and other well known carols rang out many people stopped to listen and watch us as we played. We had lots of children ask their parents if they could listen and one little girl even requested Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as her favourite song.  There is a great deal of joy in playing on kettles and it is a unique opportunity available to us to minister to the people in our communities through music. It may seem odd but despite the cold we’d go out again for this ministry opportunity.

Joyful Noise

Cadet Laura Hickman gives us a cadet’s eye view of the event!  Laura and her husband David are a part of the Proclaimers of the Resurrection session and are one of the two sets of Hickmans that we have at CFOT this year!!

On Friday we joined a team of volunteers at Weetamah to serve Thanksgiving Dinner to an expected crowd of 400-500 people. We set the tables and prepared the gym to accommodate two sittings of 240 people each. The Proclaimers were involved with tasks ranging from plating food, to delivering food to the multiple dinner guests, to making sure guests had lots of water and other beverages, and then thanking each guest with a handshake as they prepared to leave.

Pastor Mark Young told us, before the dinner, that Weetamah used to have the motto or theme of “counting your conversations”.  This theme reminded us that regardless of the activity, conversations with people always make the difference. We were asked to engage with the dinner guests by offering smiles and remaining open to conversation. As the evening progressed and fewer guests remained some of us were able to take the opportunity to hear people’s stories. The evening left manyof us excited about our future ministry and the outreach opportunities that await us. For now we remember to count our conversations and pray that through our many conversations glory will be given to God.

The 70+ delegates had the opportunity to participate in a number of activities, worship and team events, all conducted in Spanish. 

To read more about this event, follow this link:  http://salvationist.ca/2011/08/ontario-hosts-camp-for-hispanic-families/

 Auxiliary Captain Fabio Correa is an Associate Corps Officer at Yorkmister Citadel.  He is responsible for Spanish Ministries and Community and Family Services.  Auxiliary Captain Angelica Hernandez is at Toronto Harbour Light Ministries.  She is a Resource Officer with Immigrant and Refugee Services.

• What lessons will I be able to take from this field placement to my future ministry?
• What has working in this field placement taught me about myself?
• How has my work in this ministry impacted my relationship with God?
• What has this field placement taught/shown me about other people?

Cadets Dennis and Mary Maybury, along with their daughter Demara, have been spending their summer in the community of Parry Sound at the Rainbow County Church.  They share some of their experiences with us.

Dennis:  Here in Parry Sound, I am very encouraged by the way the officers nurture and support those in leadership positions, to conduct their ministry. This has shown me that your ministry can be very effective when you involve others, build relationships, and instill confidence in your corps members. It reconfirms that all members of the body of Christ are important, and that everyone should be encouraged and supported to use and develop their gifts.

This field placement has taught me to be organized and plan ahead. Organization and planning allows Mary and I to be ready when unexpected issues come up in the ministry and not to feel rushed.

My relationship with God continues to grow stronger, as I consistently rely on Him. I find daily strength in Jesus Christ.

Mary:  One of the lessons I will take from this field placement is the importance of organization. Our corps  officers are a model of organization, juggling the responsibilities of a busy corps, running a household and caring for their children. I have been very encouraged as I watch them in their mission for the Lord.

I have been responsible for  hospital visits, as well as visits to  personal care homes.  I have led cottage meetings, where we all meet at different homes for fellowship, and I have taught Sunday School classes. I have also been learning about the administrative part of things, and I am off to Camp Newport to assist there. I have learned that having knowledge of all aspects of the ministry is of significant importance, because there are times when staff are ill, or have appointments, and officers will have to take on their roles.

I have learned that the more I am involved in doing things, the more confidence I gain. Through visitations at the hospital, and personal care homes I have been able to really show and pour out love and care for the seniors.  They are very special to me.

My relationship with God has grown in these past few weeks, and I see Him moving in a mighty way, as He leads, guides and protects. He has placed me in some wonderful ministries, and has shown me that “I can do All things through Christ who strengthens me.” Through Christ, I am growing in faith.

As far as personalities are concerned, we are all different, and therefore it is important that we respect others despite our differences. We all sin and fall short of the glory of God, but God still loves us just the same, and therefore we should love as Jesus loves. Love is the greatest gift of all.

• What lessons will I be able to take from this field placement to my future ministry?
• What has working in this field placement taught me about myself?
• How has my work in this ministry impacted my relationship with God?
• What has this field placement taught/shown me about other people?

Life in Niagara Falls at Niagara Orchard Community Church (NOCC)….
is like a wall plastered in chewed gum? While my friends at NOCC may be thinking, Kristen this is not a very pleasant descriptor of your time in Niagara Falls, I assure you friends it is and my time here has been profound. In fact, even a gum plastered wall allows me to see God at work in the world. Because you see, this gum plastered wall can be found at the end of a beautiful walk along the boardwalk of the gorge of Niagara Falls. As I walked along beside the rushing rapids of the river I was amazed at God’s hand in the creation of the world and then at the very end of this walk I found this wall. This gummy wall against the backdrop of nature seemed to be out of place and messy.

• What lessons will I be able to take from this field placement to my future ministry?
• What has working in this field placement taught me about myself?
• How has my work in this ministry impacted my relationship with God?
• What has this field placement taught/shown me about other people?

Cadet Brian Bobolo, along with his lovely wife June, are a part of the Friends of Christ session.  They are currently out on the Rock, at Corner Brook Temple.  We are hoping they both come back with a lovely Newfoundland “lilt” in their voices!

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