Thoughts on New Beginnings (And Some Endorsements)

[This post is mostly a slightly edited version of a note I wrote on facebook, so if you've read it already don't feel obligated to read it again!] 

As of August 31, 2012, I and two other staff members finished our commitments with YWAM Urban Ministries Winnipeg. Even writing that simple sentence brings me a great amount of sadness. Not only do I miss being on staff with such a wonderful team, but I am also sad to know my decision to leave has brought (and will continue to bring) so many hardships and challenges to my leaders and good friends Kim and Jamie.

Yes, I said “good friends” in the present tense. It's not that we were friends and have had a falling out. It's not that they have offended me or done me wrong in any way. I need to make that clear because, as people have (understandably, but slightly insensitively) mentioned, it looks a bit suspicious when all three staff leave all at once.

Basically what it came down to was we all felt it was time to move on. It's as simple as that, although the decision processes were definitely not easy! It is interesting timing, and in some ways I wish it was different, but I am hoping it is part of some divine plan which we'll all look back on and think, “boy, is it ever great it worked out that way – even though we had no idea at the time”!

For me, it's the end of 4½ really great years with YWAM. But for Kim & Jamie, I hope it's the beginning of so many more! I heard from a wise woman recently that there is almost always good marbled in with the bad, and I am trying to focus on the good.

Kim & Jamie felt called to start a YWAM base in the West End of Winnipeg, and they did just that 10 years ago. Since then they have worked with their staff to run Discipleship Training Schools and Mission Adventures programs, become involved in justice issues, get to know people in the neighbourhood through a used bookstore, and start a church plant, just to name a few things. I have had the privilege of being discipled under them and working with them, and have been impressed many times at their heart for serving people.

In the coming months, Jamie and Kim have the opportunity to re-envision their ministry. I'm not exactly sure what it will look like, but I do know they will be running an internship in March and it sounds like a very neat program. I also know, despite the challenges, they feel called to stay in Winnipeg, and I very much hope for a team as incredible as their last one (shameless, I know) to work alongside them!

If you are at all interested in community, peace, justice, inner-city ministry, discipleship, etc, I would highly recommend you check out one of these websites:

http://www.ywamwinnipeg.com/

http://www.missional.ca/about/

http://www.gofundme.com/10qh14

Why I love DTS...

The 2010/2011 DTS outreach team with Chad Chomlack (our prayer & worship speaker).

Our last Justice Discipleship Training School (JDTS) having ended on February 25th, we are now well on our way to planning the next one, which starts on September 26, 2011.  It will be the sixth DTS run at our base, and the fourth I’ve been involved in (once as a student, three times as staff).  Considering I had absolutely no intention of staffing DTS when I first arrived, I find it hard to believe sometimes, but there is a reason I’ve stuck around.  As such, I have compiled a list of the top three reasons I love DTS.  Here they are:

1. Meeting new people.

Not only do I get to meet new people (a.k.a. the students), but I also get to see them almost every day for five months!  To some people, that might sound like a nightmare, and I will admit there are challenges, but it is also a beautiful thing to behold… a group of people who probably would not have met otherwise, bonded together with common goals and purpose.  And of course the memories which are created as we share life together are completely unique to each group!  On the last DTS multiple videos were produced, interpretive dances were a common occurrence, and, well, let’s just say certain songs have been rather permanently burned into my mind.   Living in community is also an excellent place for learning, which brings me to my next point…

2. Hearing some incredible speakers.

The first three months of the school are called the “Lecture Phase”, and for most weeks during that time, we have speakers come in and share on a whole range of topics, from evangelism to relationships.  Of course, being a Justice DTS, we also have a whole week devoted to talking about various issues of injustice around the world and what we can do to change things.  We try to invite speakers with a variety of teaching styles, since we realize not everybody learns the same way.  Most of them stay in the house with us, and sometimes the time spent hanging out in between scheduled times is just as good as the “lecture time”.  I’ve heard some of these speakers four times now, and have learned something new from them each time, which is great!

3. Outreach.

I love travelling.  I’m not really picky about location either, although there are definitely some destinations I get more excited about!  Two months of the school make up the “Outreach Phase”, and for about five weeks of that time we travel to an international location.  So far with DTS I have gone to Uganda, Thailand, and Mexico, and there were aspects of all those places I loved.  Having lived in Nigeria for two years, Africa will always have a special place in my heart, but I also enjoy experiencing and learning about new cultures, and observing as DTS students do the same.

So, in summary, DTS is great.  I really believe it has the potential to be a life-changing five months for pretty much anyone.  There are Discipleship Training Schools all over the world, and sometimes I wonder why I didn’t go overseas to some exotic location to do mine, but at the same time I can’t imagine having done my DTS anywhere else.  That being said, our location in Winnipeg isn’t necessarily the best fit for everyone.  If you would like more information on our DTS, please feel free to contact me... I would love to hear from you!

Also, check out the YWAM Urban Ministries Winnipeg website for more info.

Chiara House

One thing which makes me very happy is taking what most people would consider garbage and finding a use for it, or using it to make something beautiful.  This tendency of mine doesn't necessarily have the same effect on other people (in fact, sometimes it produces rather impressive amounts of frustration), but regardless, I have realized if done properly, it is a very good thing.  I have also realized it is one of the reasons I am so excited about Chiara House!  I've provided a link to the website if you'd like to know more about the project, but basically, we are renovating an old apartment building with the intent of eventually turning it into a place of intentional Christian community: a group of people living out their lives together, practising radical hospitality, loving God, and loving others in the context of our neighbourhood.

So far the main thing I've actually been able to help with has been cleaning out all the garbage from the building, and in that process I have had many moments of sadness as I saw neat old doors get tossed in the dumpster, claw foot bathtubs which I know we won't be keeping, and all sorts of other treasures which got thrown away.  I've been able to rescue a few things, but I'm also trying to resign myself to the fact I don't really have much of a say in the project, and nor should I - I know nothing about renovating an old building or re-finishing old bathtubs, and don't really understand the implications of most of my ideals, or of keeping all this old stuff.

Anyway, all that being said, I'd like to share some pictures.  I and my two house-mates, Kathryn and Brenden, went to visit and do a photo shoot the other day... these pictures were taken by me and  Kathryn.

Ok, so this picture has nothing to do with Chiara House.  It's a Singer sewing machine (from the 1950s) which Kathryn co-found by a dumpster, and my dad fixed up so it's usable.  I was pretty excited about it!

Alright.  This is Chiara House.  Most of the building has hardwood floors, and most of the bathrooms have claw foot bathtubs, but unfortunately both would cost too much to re-finish.  Plus, the floors wouldn't be practical in the long run.

I hope we can keep the stairway banisters!

I love radiators!  I know they are completely unpractical, but I hoped at least we could keep that pretty silver one.  This picture is of the scrap metal collection, so I don't think there's much hope.

Walls I am completely fine with getting rid of.  In fact, I am looking forward to potentially getting to help demolish some!

Here's the address... 490 Maryland St.  It's not much to look at from the outside, but I do like the brick.

"For Lindsey"

May 10, 1992,

a Sunday morning, & it happens to be "Mother's Day".

It's around 7:15, which, for this household, is "sleeping in".  Mom is still sprawled in bed, half asleep.  Suddenly she's aware of something, a brown paper bag (which says on it: "To: Mom (Becky), From "the wild bunch".), plunked down beside her, followed by a rather noisy crew; at which point she remembers this is "Mother's Day".

Her response must have been disappointing (esp. to Daddy - Ken), partly because her brain was still half asleep, & partly because the gift itself was not self-explanatory.  (Inside the bag is 2 hard-cover books, one red, one black ("they're writing books", said Lindsey, probably in answer to my blank stare), a 24 exp. roll of Kodak 200 film, & a puzzling little piece of paper saying: "Gift certificate..., Issued to..., in the amt. of... & authorized by"...)

... when Mommy says maybe she'll write in 1 book for each of the girls, Lindsey says "I hope I'll have the red one."

Which brings us to several Christmases ago, when Lindsey and Carly, opening two identically shaped gifts, find two books - Lindsey's red and Carly's black.  I haven't read the whole book yet, not because I don't want to or it's too long, but because I figure these things are better savoured than devoured.  I mean, this book was written over 13 years... it just feels wrong to read it all in one sitting.  Thus far it has certainly been enjoyable (even hilarious at times), and enlightening.  Expect to see little excerpts from it popping up here every once and awhile...  

Weddings

I thought, this being my very first blog post ever, I would wow everyone with my stellar photographic skills.  As such, I have included four pictures for your enjoyment.  I will warn you, however, I have somewhat of a penchant for "artistic" shots, which aren't necessarily popular with the general public.  As my cousin so eloquently put it when he saw me taking pictures at our other cousin's wedding, "Oh, don't even try to do those artsy pictures of the centerpieces..."

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Several weekends ago I had two weddings to attend, which wouldn't have been a big deal if one of them wasn't a family wedding.  It was the first time I had been to one, and I didn't realize all the implications until it was actually happening.  There's the extended family to visit with, favours to label, napkins to wrap, reception hall to set up, etc. etc. etc.  Don't get me wrong, though... it was great.  Just a little hectic.  The other wedding was much more relaxing, since all I had to do was show up.

Above is the beautiful bride from the first wedding, and below a product of my discovery of the candlelight function on my camera...

And here is my cousin (note the softness of the picture - some would call it blurriness, but what do they know?):

Unfortunately this is the only picture I got of her.  That's what photographers are for, I guess!

And here is a place-setting from the reception.  When we were setting it up, the placement of the favour and spoon were much debated, and we probably changed it up at least four times (much to my grandpa's chagrin)!