Brotherhood

One of the many things the Lord has been teaching me this year is the significance of brotherhood in a guy’s life. Before Lifeteams, even before most of 2010, I never had a brother, whether younger or older, to discover this level of relationship with. The rough, risky, wrestle-you-to-the-ground-for-no-other-reason-than-I-feel-like-it-until-one-of-us-taps brother relationship is something I never experienced in my life even with my guy friends. I hardly knew it existed outside of movies scenes and therefore felt like I was missing nothing. However, the summer leading up to Lifeteams gave me plenty of evidence that I was missing something and left me wanting to get dirty. Hence sliding on our bellies down the wet grass hill, wrestling in the dirt in the dark until hardly being able to flex a muscle, and Light Saber missions in the dead of night… I think we have each learned a little more what it means to jump in with both feet into this idea of community.

But it’s not just about exploring the back mountain or Narnia together (anyone for a dive into the costume closet?), or cleaning the blood or hot chocolate off the carpet. It’s also about listening when someone shares the burden of their heart. It’s about growing in your interest in their lives. It’s about helping them push through struggles they can’t do on their own. It’s about learning what impassions them and knowing when to back off.

God has placed a wild heart in each of us and October reminds me of such. I look back on this month fondly: picking pumpkins and smashing them in the back yard later in November; dancing wildly in Rob’s cul-de-sac on Halloween night, personally dressed as either the coolest guy on the block or the biggest fool in abbotsford (if you see the photos, I’ll let you be the judge); building on fresh friendships that I’m convinced will last a life time; and spending more and more time with such a small but significant group of  youth at the Drop-In. I feel that in all these things and more I am learning what it looks like to be a man formed after the heart of Jesus Christ. As I’ve said often, it’s as if this life is a painting. I’m not sure what of, as right now I can only see little bits of the corners, but every day that I continue to walk in Jesus he removes a little more of the fog blurring my vision.

That’s good. May I be content to press in full and have it as He may.

Sergio

Remembering December

Our first four months together. Awe. Did we really know and love each other yet? I don’t know, but I do know this: that Liz hugged those of us leaving for Alberta for Christmas…about 20x. I guess she just couldn’t get enough of us.

That was the end of December. Throughout it though, it was filled with banquets, snowstorms, being trapped at the Lifehouse for the first time, singing carols, Othello Tunnels, China Town and yummy Asian pastries, random outings to Harrison filled with waffles the size of your face, laughter always and cozying up to warm fire with a hot beverage and a friend. All in all December was delightful.

But if I could highlight one experience we had together that month it would be our day on the streets. So here is a little story from December.

As the days got shorter and the month was near its end there was a sense of excitement, something was about to begin. The house was not quiet and there WERE mice all about, they ate our avocados and pooped them right back out!  As we contemplated and prepared we continued on in our usual way, apart from some of us fasting, or sleeping on the floor, we got ready for our day.

“Our day on the streets is coming!” Natalie shouted gleefully from the stairs. “Shall I wear one sweater or two?” Liz commented while matting her hair, “or should I forget one all together and wear no socks in my shoes?” We were all in such a flurry that there was no time to be spared, but we knew we needed to be ready to understand even a little bit of a street persons despair. With all the hustle bustle, anticipation was not scarce, but one thing was missing and in walked Rob Snair!

With a hat on his head and love in his heart he herded us into the van like Lifeteamers: scattered but and slow to start. As we drove down the driveway Rob turned and said, “Buckle up your bodies babays!” And we were off tires hitting the tread. We drove and drove and drove…we drove a very long time until we rounded the corner and then it was time.

We paired off in twos and one lonely group of three and headed down East Hastings to see what we could see. Jason and I found some coffee…that tasted a little like watery tea, while the others just sauntered or stood in line waiting. Some found places to eat but came only to closed doors, with signs that read, “Sorry we’re full”. Eight hours started passing quickly until all our tasks were done…suddenly six ours seemed like an eternity as we sat on cardboard huddled for warmth.

It started getting wet as the rain started to spit, Jason and I found a little doorway to shelter us till we were to quit. When it was over we sat together around a table to talk. It seemed as those our little trials changed us for the better and moved us into change. Our minds and hearts and heads changed in more than just one way, we conversed and prayed together in conclusion to our day. But if one thing could be learnt in this day we spent on the street, it would be that there should be no groups of people, but one…together free.

Jesus can be seen whereever you go, not just brought in from the other side of town, but right here, on skid row amidst a poor crowd. So if you liked this story and felt the impact in your soul, try stepping out from behind the table and outside of your home. Receive with those you saw as helpless, be hungry with those who are lost and have no home, weep with those who weep for we are not our own.

To all my Lifeteams roommates I truly love you and I am so happy for the time we have had together. I look forward to our continued friendships.

Love Laura

Ryan’s Heart

A Yearning to care for souls. “Yearning” – what a strange word.  Dictionary.com says it’s “deep longing, especially when accompanied by tenderness or sadness”. I believe though my relationships with the youth I have built through Lifeteams, I have experienced this. Sometimes youth that I worked with seemed so far from hope, and that would be true of me apart from Christ. But though God’s grace I am able to speak into these youths lives. I care so much more about them then just another statistic. I care when they aren’t doing as well as they could be, it saddens my heart when I see them go into relationships full of abuse on the bases of a word that is so causally thrown around to them – Love. It saddens my heart when I know when a youth tells me, they don’t know what they will be doing for the weekend, and when I know this is a lie. They are and will be drinking and or getting high to fill a void, a emptiness, to fill something where brokenness is their aftermath. These are just a few examples of youth I work with – youth created in the image of God -who cling to the toilet of life the world so kindly provides. I want them to know Jesus, to know God and to be in a relationship with True love, to have that void finally filled by Jesus Christ! I pray for these youth all the time that they would know a relationship with the father! I so want to see them with God in the kingdom one day!

(for more of Ryan’s heart check out his blog at http://www.streetlighttrackscalgary.blogspot.com/)

I want that …

Every year the students lead 2 inner city mission Plunge trips with groups of kids who come from Alberta and Saskatchewan.  One of the kids who came to join our team for a trip , came because some Christian friends had told him he should.  His heart was totally there for the poor – but not for God.  And he made it clear from the start that all this God stuff was not believable because the explanations had too many holes in them for him.

Through the week he joined in as we listened to, served, were served by and prayed for and with those living in poverty. One day we broke into groups and wandered around this incredibly poor and sad area, simply praying for whoever God nudged us to pray for.  Somehow it just seemed like the natural thing to do.  A bit of a problem if there’s no God …

Through the week he found himself watching the Lifeteamerws walk out their Christianity with the passion and love god gave us as we walked side by side with the poor – and with him as well.  By the end of the week he said, “If that’s what this God stuff is really about, that’s what I want.”  In the bus on the way back home he gave his heart to Jesus.  Sometimes we think we’re going to “rescue” the poor, but God is busy “rescuing” us.

Day on the streets…

‘I’ve been “homeless” before with missions trips and stuff but this experience was completely different. There was nothing planned out before hand, we had to find our own food, our own shelter and our own protection from the cold. After spending 8 hours on the streets of East Hastings I have a much clearer picture of what it means to actually be homeless. Yet although I got a pretty good feel for it but in the back of my mind I knew it was only for 8 hours and then I could go home. These people are down there 24 hours a day every day with no escape and I have to do something to help the youth that I work with on a daily basis so that they don’t end up in a situation like that one.”

Jordon