New Experiences

Well, last Sunday was a day full of new experiences for all of us as a family. We went to visit our sister church which is located near Jane & Finch in Toronto. A group of people head up once a month from our church to teach Sunday School, preach, and lead music. This past Sunday Joel was preaching (Yup...my hubby the preacher...3 hats in 3 days Friday-Cabinetmaker, Saturday- Medic, Sunday-Pastor :) Quite the guy, I tell you! He did an awesome job I'm told, I was helping in Sunday School so I didn't get to hear him preach.

It was great for our kids to have the experience of a different culture. They fit right in. They fell in love with "Grandma Carol" who took all the kids out to play on the playground. I have to say, we were a little nervous about them being out there without us, but we could see them from inside the building. This was one of the sweet little girls that attended there. I asked if I could take her picture and she said, "Sure, I'm a model you know, you can take LOTS of pictures of me" :) So, that's what I did. Isn't she just gorgeous?!!



I tell you, it's a completely different world there. During the prayer time they were talking about the gangs and violence that their young boys were in danger of. They wanted to pray that their young men would live to grow into grown men. Can you imagine, as a parent, worrying every day that your kids could get involved in a gang, or killed by random violence that is all too common in the neighbourhood. I can't fathom how that would feel. It was a real blessing to visit with the 30 or so members of the church that meet in a common room in the apartment building in which they live. I look forward to seeing them in July when they always come for our church picnic.

After church we took the kids to downtown Toronto because they'd never seen the CN Tower. They were blown away. I pointed out the "building tunnel" that we drove through on our tour of downtown. My kids are used to driving through "tree tunnels" in Huron County, but certainly not "building tunnels". I also pointed out to them a person sleeping sprawled out on the sidewalk with a light blanket covering him/her. I think it's so good for them to see how many other people live in completely different circumstances than we do. I want them to grow up with an appreciation of the blessings they have. I would love to take them to the DR, or to Colombia someday as well. I think it would be so good for them. I also want them to know that even though people in other parts of the world look much different then them, and may speak a different language that God loves them too, and that they are children of God just like them. I don't think kids have any trouble understanding this at all, if they haven't learned racism from their parents and close friends. They often ask me why God made people with all different colours of skin and I explain that God loves variety. Izzy said, "I think brown skin looks cool!". "So do I" I said.

On the way home from Toronto we stopped in Guelph to visit with Kath and the boys. It was so nice to see them! I stocked up on more LaTienda items, they are coming out with even more beautiful jewelery. Rachel blogged the other day about how incredibly well the co-op is doing this year...just since January. It's thrilling to me, that people want to make a difference for those who need our help. Check out: www.latienda.moonfruit.com and join the Army of 100 if you haven't already.

Melanie