On tuesday afternoon me and my group went to a nursing home. We helped them make drums. We had to put leather around a tin can and it was held by rubber bands. I had two little old ladies one named Flo and the other Gale. Gale was so hilarious! She grabbed the rubber band and pretended like she was going to shoot it at me! Then the whole time she would joke around about shooting the old people with the rubber bands as they walked by. She was adorable! And when ever i messed up she would say "Well if they don't like it, they should do it them selves, they are gonna have to deal with it!" I had so much fun helping them out and it was a good day because i got to talk to them and they made me laugh.I'm so glad we had the opportunity to go there and visit.
~Taryn
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Well, The trip is almost done and i must say it has been a great time. There are lots of storys to tell when we get home. We were at he soup kitchen today and i was handing out fruit and this lovely man gave me a rose from his pocket so that was really cute. But then i had to carry it all day which was a pain but the rose managed to survive and is currently upstairs in the girls room sitting in a coffee can. Now my goal is to bring it all the way back home alive.
messin around
well before this trip i was told i wouldnt be able to as much walk alone in the basement that we were staying in or i recieved threats from the counselers (aaron) that there would be no wrestling or pranks but like all rules they are just ment to be broken. well as the first night came the guys had a little fun by who ever fell asleep would be flipped off of their mattress which are only 2 inches thick so some people did get some air time on this event. and in the morning the original jumping on the last one sleeping joke happened every morning until aaron decided we should be more like brothers. that was his first and biggest mistake of all because as everyone knows brothers love to wrestle and especiall on a bunch of mattresses so it was pretty much wwf bentheim style. and there are plenty more fun things that happened but some of these things were asked to keep untold for variouse reasons
trouble maker
trouble maker
We worked at The Church of the Redeemer in the morning serving lunch. We got know alot of the clients there. We ate at the Redeemer for lunch. In the afternoon we went to Booth Industries where we helped disabled clients work in the factory. Ask Phil if he ever wins in 3-5-7. Anthony was unbeatable. We went to India Cuisine. The kids have been great about trying stuff at every restaurant. Nobody is starving! We have a few picky eaters but they at least try. Most even tried sushi! Driving in Toronto has been exciting. Phil and Aaron are loving it! After dinner we went to a park near the church and had a final challenge from our hosts. They have been awesome! We cleaned the church, even the washrooms! The kids have been awesome! We look forward to coming home Sat. Thank you for all of your support!
Paula
Paula
Alyssa's veiw point of the day.
Today we started out the morning going to the Good Shepard where we aso went on tuesday. We start off there in the cafe and talk to the homeless or people who are just there not tech. homeless, but yeah, anyways... It was very interesting listening to some of the people's stories and where they grew up and what not. After we hung out with them we went up stairs where they have beds for people to sleep in at night to get them off the streets, and we made beds. There is like 50 upstairs and 16 downstairs. FUN FUN. haha. And today we also had to mop the floors and disinfect the rooms. Then we also ate lunch there.
After the Good Shepard we went and tutored again, like we have done everyday. We were able to take photos of the kids as long as we asked their parents first. Well my little girl wasnt home so i never got pictures of her or got to say good bye :( But I got to sit with a different family i've seen a few times this week and take pictures with them..so that was pretty cool.
Then we went to an Indian restrant and after we ate we had a group activitie just closing the week up and we came back here to the church and cleaned, thats pretty much the day. :D
Alyssa Berens
After the Good Shepard we went and tutored again, like we have done everyday. We were able to take photos of the kids as long as we asked their parents first. Well my little girl wasnt home so i never got pictures of her or got to say good bye :( But I got to sit with a different family i've seen a few times this week and take pictures with them..so that was pretty cool.
Then we went to an Indian restrant and after we ate we had a group activitie just closing the week up and we came back here to the church and cleaned, thats pretty much the day. :D
Alyssa Berens
Last Day at the CSM Church
We had A really Nice Week , and we met alot of people , today thursday we went to a factory and helped the people from booth, it was a good week and was tough at some points and really easy at others , we had fun exploring the city and helping out , the meals that we had the whole week were pretty sweet , the real jerk was the best. im looking forward to comming home to see everyone .
Written by Nick D. (ps.dad u could never beat me in ufc lol)
Written by Nick D. (ps.dad u could never beat me in ufc lol)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Street Walk
Hey everybody!
Last night our group went on what the CSM leaders called a "Street Walk". We were divived into 5 groups and were led around various parts of Toronto with only a Toonie ($2). Why just a Toonie? Well, we were taking on the role of somebody other than ourselves. The CSM director, Holly, told us a story of a young teen, who we were later to role-play as. Long story short, we had to imagine ourselves as being a teen who was given the choices "keep your mouth shut" or "get out" by their mother after rumors(which were actually true) of sexual abuse from his/her step-father were getting around the neighborhood. Our character is also a 14 year-old...too young to legally be given assistance on the streets. After failing one to many classes, pushing one too many friends away, and the abuse continuing, this teen was pushed to the edge. It was time to leave. And that was where we each picked up the rest of the story. During the walk, we had to try to answer 5 essential questions to ourselves.
1. Where am I going to sleep?
2. How am I going to make any money?
3. What am I going to eat?
4. What will I do for entertainment?
5. What will I do for hygiene or going to the bathroom?
After our walk of many miles (some in the pouring rain) we all came to realize how difficult the homeless truly have it. Their life is no walk in the park. Sometimes people look at them and think they have it easy because they don't have any work to do or bills to pay. Really though, it takes skill and discipline to even survive. We have all come to have a greater appreciation for our great families and homes through this experience.
Chao,
Katelyn Darling (and Rachel's inspriational piano playing)
Last night our group went on what the CSM leaders called a "Street Walk". We were divived into 5 groups and were led around various parts of Toronto with only a Toonie ($2). Why just a Toonie? Well, we were taking on the role of somebody other than ourselves. The CSM director, Holly, told us a story of a young teen, who we were later to role-play as. Long story short, we had to imagine ourselves as being a teen who was given the choices "keep your mouth shut" or "get out" by their mother after rumors(which were actually true) of sexual abuse from his/her step-father were getting around the neighborhood. Our character is also a 14 year-old...too young to legally be given assistance on the streets. After failing one to many classes, pushing one too many friends away, and the abuse continuing, this teen was pushed to the edge. It was time to leave. And that was where we each picked up the rest of the story. During the walk, we had to try to answer 5 essential questions to ourselves.
1. Where am I going to sleep?
2. How am I going to make any money?
3. What am I going to eat?
4. What will I do for entertainment?
5. What will I do for hygiene or going to the bathroom?
After our walk of many miles (some in the pouring rain) we all came to realize how difficult the homeless truly have it. Their life is no walk in the park. Sometimes people look at them and think they have it easy because they don't have any work to do or bills to pay. Really though, it takes skill and discipline to even survive. We have all come to have a greater appreciation for our great families and homes through this experience.
Chao,
Katelyn Darling (and Rachel's inspriational piano playing)
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
End of day 2
Today a group got to start the morning off starting up conversations with homeless individuals in a drop in center. We got to share juice, coffee, and conversation with the men and women that came to the drop in center. We then spent the rest of the morning making beds for 90 men that would come to the shelter tonight. Now your student should have no excuse not to make their bed in the morning :) They have been trained professionally in this matter :)
We had lunch at an authentic Somalian restaurant. In Somalia it is custom to only eat with your right hand because your left hand is considered "dirty." So that's what we did, we literally ate the food with our right hand only!! Including rice, chicken, goat....yes goat :) It was a very good cultural experience.
We then spent our 2nd afternoon doing our tutoring for Somalian kids. This was much easier the 2nd day and we are starting to build relationships with the kids.
Then came tonight. The street walk. For this we told a story about a young teenage girl who was forced to make the decision to live on street due to unbearable living situations in her home. We had to take the roll of the girl. We split into groups of 5 and walked the streets of Toronto. No worries though, there was a site leader in each group so we were not sending your kids alone in the city :) We had to find a place to sleep, go to the bathroom; how we would get money and how to get food on only $2 (which was all they had for supper tonight) it was about a 3 hour walk ending in rain. It was a very eye opening experience to be placed in that situation and to experience 3 hours what decisions the many people have to make every day and night.
The group is doing great at approaching people, starting conversations, and stepping out of their normal life from Hamilton to experience new situations they wouldn't usually encounter back home.
Well it's almost lights out, so goodbye until tomorrow.
~Heidi Nienhuis
We had lunch at an authentic Somalian restaurant. In Somalia it is custom to only eat with your right hand because your left hand is considered "dirty." So that's what we did, we literally ate the food with our right hand only!! Including rice, chicken, goat....yes goat :) It was a very good cultural experience.
We then spent our 2nd afternoon doing our tutoring for Somalian kids. This was much easier the 2nd day and we are starting to build relationships with the kids.
Then came tonight. The street walk. For this we told a story about a young teenage girl who was forced to make the decision to live on street due to unbearable living situations in her home. We had to take the roll of the girl. We split into groups of 5 and walked the streets of Toronto. No worries though, there was a site leader in each group so we were not sending your kids alone in the city :) We had to find a place to sleep, go to the bathroom; how we would get money and how to get food on only $2 (which was all they had for supper tonight) it was about a 3 hour walk ending in rain. It was a very eye opening experience to be placed in that situation and to experience 3 hours what decisions the many people have to make every day and night.
The group is doing great at approaching people, starting conversations, and stepping out of their normal life from Hamilton to experience new situations they wouldn't usually encounter back home.
Well it's almost lights out, so goodbye until tomorrow.
~Heidi Nienhuis
Tuesday (Group 3) the best one
Church we are staying at
Today we woke up at around 7 to eat breakfeast and to do our devotions. At 8 We all piled in the vans and took off to our Mission Site. It was a soup kitchen called St. Felix. After we got our instuctions we decided that Phil, Luke, Chris, and me would do some lawn work which we thought we could handle. However your in a city so everything is electric even the push mower we used to mow the lawn. It wasn't John Deere but Chris said it still cut alright. While chris mowed the rest of us used an electric hedge trimmer to trim the bushes. While we did that Kim, Sammy and Tayrn worked in the kitchen preparing the food. At 11 all of us went into the kitchen and served from 11 to 12:25. After that we eat at a Japenese restaurant and then went to a nursing home and helped them build drums from coffee comtainers. After this we are going on a street walk to an unknow destination.
matt scholten
Our first little adventure
In the morning, we started out dropping by "Scott's mission" (a soup kitchen). It was more of a hard working experiance. We had to set 25 tables of 6 less fortunate hungry stomachs and when they were done eating we cleaned up their messes. After we volenteered there, we set off on a lovely journey to a somalian community and tutored children from 4 years old to 16 and all different subjects. It was a fun energetic experiance. For lunch we ate "street meat" the name might be a little "turn around and walk away" type thing but it consisted of a hot dog made of meat either beef or chicken and a pop, not so bad. (we ate lunch before we tutored) :)
After toturing we went and met the other groups for another ethnic dinner. Pork steak, rice, lettuce and some crazy sauce.
I would say after we ate we had the most fun of the day (my oppion only) We went on a SANDWITCH RUN!! Where we diliver a PB and J to the homeless along the streets. The point is NOT the food, but a friendly conversation to let them know there is people out there to give them hope about their future. We encountered many people...you will hear MANY stories when we get back! :D
Written by: Alyssa Berens (sorry about any spelling errors :P)
After toturing we went and met the other groups for another ethnic dinner. Pork steak, rice, lettuce and some crazy sauce.
I would say after we ate we had the most fun of the day (my oppion only) We went on a SANDWITCH RUN!! Where we diliver a PB and J to the homeless along the streets. The point is NOT the food, but a friendly conversation to let them know there is people out there to give them hope about their future. We encountered many people...you will hear MANY stories when we get back! :D
Written by: Alyssa Berens (sorry about any spelling errors :P)
Monday
Today was a Canadian holiday so two of the teams started at a house used for volunteers and missionaries. Many of us were dirty by 11:00 am!!!! Not one complaint, they were great.
After lunch (and showers) we were challenged to an activity called "Life skills." This was an opportunity fir the kids to create their own way to serve for the afternoon. After a long discussion the kids decided to take out five dollars (out of their fifteen) to buy supplies for a mission started and held at the church we worked for this morning. This clinic was called STEP. This clinic is held once a week for women on the streets. They set up a safe place for women to go and get off they streets. At the clinic they have coffee and baked goods, activities and a ministry available with help to get off the streets.
For dinner we went for Greek cuisine. Pretty close to pork and rice. I think it was a hit.
When we were done eating we headed out to hand out bag lunches to the homeless on the streets. I think this was a real eye opener for the kids and and I am sure that you will hear they stories.
~Kim & Paula :)
After lunch (and showers) we were challenged to an activity called "Life skills." This was an opportunity fir the kids to create their own way to serve for the afternoon. After a long discussion the kids decided to take out five dollars (out of their fifteen) to buy supplies for a mission started and held at the church we worked for this morning. This clinic was called STEP. This clinic is held once a week for women on the streets. They set up a safe place for women to go and get off they streets. At the clinic they have coffee and baked goods, activities and a ministry available with help to get off the streets.
For dinner we went for Greek cuisine. Pretty close to pork and rice. I think it was a hit.
When we were done eating we headed out to hand out bag lunches to the homeless on the streets. I think this was a real eye opener for the kids and and I am sure that you will hear they stories.
~Kim & Paula :)
Sunday, August 2, 2009
We have arrived!
We arrived at our destination at around 5:00 p.m. tonight!!! Once we got here, it was go, go, go...we got settled in, went over some safety stuff, ate dinner (a place called "The Real Jerk") which was Jamicain food. After dinner we went on a guided prayer tour around the city. We saw places that most people would not see when going to a big city - places where there is a great need, etc. So far, we're having a great trip!
PS - our host told us that Monday and Tuesday are very busy days, so if you don't hear from us, that's why! Thanks for praying for us!
PS - our host told us that Monday and Tuesday are very busy days, so if you don't hear from us, that's why! Thanks for praying for us!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
one more day!!!
Hey there, Aaron here. I'm at church and am just finishing up some final details for our trip. Then I suppose I'd better go home and pack my own things! Anyways, just a final post before we leave. Tomorrow morning we'll be meeting at church at 8:00 a.m. to get ready. At 8:45 we'll have a prayer and be on the road! I just checked the weather in Toronto and it looks like we'll have mostly sunny days in the high 70's. Sounds good to me!
Just a little disclaimer. When we started this blog, we somehow accidentally linked it to our (Heidi and me's) personal blog. So all the post's say they are from "Aaron and Heidi". Anyways, this technology is not really my thing, so I'll leave it that way for now. If the blog idea works okay and we end up using it throughout the year too, I'll work on some adjustments then! Also, we'll do our best to update daily, but looking over our schedule, I did notice we do have some pretty full days coming up, so don't worry if you don't hear from us everyday.
The other question was "what if you want to leave comments?" And if you don't have a login with blogspot, you may not be able to comment on our posts. If you wish to send some encouragment, you may do so by emailing my personal address at: nienhuis.aaron@gmail.com, and I'll do my best to pass on the messages to the group.
Thanks for being such a blessing to us and our trip. Praying that you have a great week also!
Just a little disclaimer. When we started this blog, we somehow accidentally linked it to our (Heidi and me's) personal blog. So all the post's say they are from "Aaron and Heidi". Anyways, this technology is not really my thing, so I'll leave it that way for now. If the blog idea works okay and we end up using it throughout the year too, I'll work on some adjustments then! Also, we'll do our best to update daily, but looking over our schedule, I did notice we do have some pretty full days coming up, so don't worry if you don't hear from us everyday.
The other question was "what if you want to leave comments?" And if you don't have a login with blogspot, you may not be able to comment on our posts. If you wish to send some encouragment, you may do so by emailing my personal address at: nienhuis.aaron@gmail.com, and I'll do my best to pass on the messages to the group.
Thanks for being such a blessing to us and our trip. Praying that you have a great week also!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
One more week!
Greetings!!
Thanks for checking our blog. We hope to use this as a way to keep our friends and family updated while we are on our Mission Trip to Toronto, Canada. Please pray for us this week as we make final preparations for our trip.
Thanks for checking our blog. We hope to use this as a way to keep our friends and family updated while we are on our Mission Trip to Toronto, Canada. Please pray for us this week as we make final preparations for our trip.
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