Day 5 - Next Steps, Play Days

Day 5!  It's Wednesday July24.  On tap for today we have Next Steps and Play Days.

There is some tiredness and weariness but there is excitement and hope for what is to come.  However Next Steps is a smaller setting and our entire team would be overwhelming there to the people who drop in throughout the time.  So we split out team.  Sending in 6 people and having the rest stay back, along with the kids we allowed them to take a little more rest and enjoy what the Cove has to offer.  

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The team said that those at Next Steps are always quite polite and like a community. They help each other out, they watch out for each other and are proud of one another when they are making small steps forward!  However not everyone is always happy.  Seems that someone was upset that they couldn't get a bus ticket - Sometimes they just cannot get one at that time for different reasons. They were upset about some other things too.  There was some arguing and I believe some of the clients also tried to help calm him down. He left and went out but decided to take out his anger on one of the cars - he punched the hood leaving a dent on it!  Unfortunately it was one of our cars. We will figure out what to do about that (Kevin managed to knock around it and pop most of it back out).  But we know that sometimes people get angry and frustrated.  Next Steps is a zero barrier support space. They sometimes come upset, intoxicated, etc... staff work with them to try and help. However when they do cross lines like that, they will not be allowed back in the building for a time - they'll bring them coffee and bannock out to them at the door, but not inside to help keep the space a safe one.

On top of that, Kevin's vehicle had a flat tire!  His car was at the Cove but couldn't find an inflator - and so had to get out the little spare tire and swap it!  Did not find any nails or punctures, but there is still a slow lead and so will need to keep pumping up day by day for now.

Today's Play Day was at the Windsor complex.  Some fun and excitement. Met with kids who had been to camp with Northwind last year (that's when Cornerstone helped with overnight camp).  The complex seemed a little more run down but we had a good time and met with a lot of people. We were busy and kids were helping others; some were friends, others they said were "cousins" - but really they're not related but good friends. Our team had some laughs and fun with each other while serving the children. It was nice to bring some fun and something fun to do!

We are coming close to the end of our trip. At the end of today, we all stopped for some ice cream with the entire team and Northwind Community Care team. They've been helping and supporting us all week!  

thank you for your prayers!  People are feeling better - no one is sick or injured. We have been getting along well and been moving in a very flexible manner throughout the week.

Some have been reflecting upon the relationships people demonstrate with one another. Others are quite amazed at how they support one another.  There is so much going on with Northwind and they are serving some very practical needs. People are willing to come to Northwind and do a Bible Study, talk with counsellors etc, but they don't want to go to church because of how they were treated with residential schools, churches in the past etc.  Many are accepting of the message of Jesus, but did not like how the messengers of the past delivered that message. Northwind is meeting needs and showing them through their actins how Jesus wants a relationship with everyone.

We are wondering - how will we take what we have seen and learned this week and apply it to our lives? How does it change what we do?  How does it change our world view and the lessons learned about Indigenous peoples in Canada?

Keep journeying with us as we finish off our week!