SMO Toronto 2012

Good morning,

After the cruise up interstate 79, a short time on I-90 with a great 45 minute wait at the border crossing, we arrived here safely at 3:30pm. The YouthWorks staff had shown us amazing love, support and encouragement for our drive up and passion our team had to serve. After we unloaded our bags of luggage and bedding, we explored the neighborhood and the park close by to see what Toronto had to offer. It wasn't long before the boys were throwing a frisbee in the park and climbing...I don't know why boys always want to climb trees. The girls quietly in their circle talk about boys and maybe there will be a cute one here on the trip from another church. These two things with the students here never cease to amaze me and make me smile and laugh a bit. But that was soon resolved when the other churches arrive not long after we did and the boys stopped climbing trees to take a look at the new arrivals and the girls froze to stare. At the moment, I let them know, we are here for a week, not for a lifetime. DON'T get too comfortable!!!  From the moment forward in the night time orientation, the focus was put to the student by the YouthWorks staff of  what each student expected to gain from this trip and what they had already seen God doing. The responses of our students to want to see God move, be his hand and feet, to serve God and those less fortunate was a impressionable and heart-warming for what God was already speaking to our students. The verse for the week is Matthew 12:28-31 with each day having a focus on worship, prayer, sacrifice, purity, obedience and service. We ended the night with a church group time centered on who and what you are doing missions for. What has brought you to do the mission trip to Toronto? Why are you doing the work that you are doing? To who(m) are you doing the work? We gave each student time to truly reflect on on these types of questions. Some students journal, some prayed, some read scripture, and some thought it through to make sure is where they felt they needed to be for reassurance. OUR STUDENTS, YOUR STUDENTS/CHILDREN are hungry to do the work of the Lord. 

Boys will be boys

Today was an early morning starting at 6:30am with breakfast prep leading into breakfast. Some students were still wanting to sleep but were great about getting up and preparing for the day. Wonderful breakfast of champions with cereal and fruit with a preparation of brown bag lunches full of sandwiches, fruit, cookies and string cheese!!! So yummy! For some, we did breakfast clean up then building clean up. Chores were not on the list when they woke up this morning but the finished each task with excellence. I am already so proud of what they have done so far in trip and how hungry they are not only for food but the ministry work God has for them here. We are about to head to our work sites. There will be pictures, videos, testimonies, and fun that will come later. Go to run for now!!! God bless and talk to you soon!!!!