day 3 too much to express and not enough time to rest

we are all getting very tired and we are all very thankful that tomorrow is our last hard work day... we have put down some intensive "triple shift days"  this morning we spent our time again at the mustard meeting new friends and building on exisiting relationships... we have been blessed to see many of the same faces for several meals in a row now and will miss them tomorrow when we say good bye... this afternoon at blitz (our afternoon sports/snack/Jesus excursions with the grade school kids) about 50 kids attended the various activities of soccer, karate, art, and disc golf... such a blessing to see so many kids (over 80% have never set foot inside the church before) listen to the story and be told and see the love of Christ... powerful moments, tired crew... couple of us are starting to feel sick... after traveling, jostling, running, sweating, praying, talking... our bodies are about out... please pray for renewed health for some and continued health for others... we miss you all very much...  we did get to see the city from a new angle today...

a bird's eye view atop the calgary tower... one of the highest landmarks above sea level

we have seen the streets but now we see the city and the mass of the million that live, move

work, and grow in this place that we have called home for a few days... 

couple pics to close this post out... we are hoping to get some interview time with mustard seed staff, blitz kids, our team, and a host of others (well anyone) to share in what has happened and what we hope continues to happen... love you all very very very very much!

canadian hello june 3

Day 2a Work Plan- Mustard Seed Blitz Mustard Seed

sandwiching our time today between working at the mustard seed in morning and evening and blitzing this afternoon we should be happy, busy people keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

it's okay to be jealous.... this city is beautiful, growing, and broken... we are hoping to see all three

Day 1b Storehouse Blitz Seed

so i think we are all a little bit overwhelmed after today....

"healing comes with a steadfast devotion to love and love always comes with expectations"

so this morning we started off by helping the Storehouse a multi-dimensional multi-ministry facility, that is coordinated by one of the members of Cambrian Heights Baptist Church... Mr. Glen Upseth had some remarkable insight about how it all can really happen and that sometimes finding supplies doesnt even involve spending money but using your brain... thanks Glen... oh and we shucked over 100 boxes of corn... you will just have to see the pics and video when we get them to believe it

this afternoon we returned to cambrian to prepare for our first after school day with the kids from the elementary... we will post that about 30-40 came but excitingly enough about half of them were first timers to the church and all promised excitedly to come back and bring friends... you would have been proud of your kids today church family they loved on these kids like no other.... taking initiative pouring investment and smiling and listening a lot... stories abound in deep sweet love

this evening we had our conceptions and worldview tilted... now to be fair we have done and have been apart of various downtown "urban" homeless mission projects, sites, and centers but never have we met any organization or location that had it all and had it all together like the mustard seed of calgary... i can not even begin to list to you the enrichment that is laid out not just for the hungry and unclothed but for the entire community... they are rebuilding the idea that a community center can be a grassroots for connectivity and growth... they are a Christ-centered organization that is literally doing it all for the lives of those they reach out too... and the number of people they help each year is easily in the thousands... multi-site, multi-focus, multi-dimensional. multi-ethnic... our hearts were touched when they toured us through facility and mentioned not only wide scale impact but personal stories of transformation... some staff and many volunteers oil a machine that is destined for kingdom greatness...

tears fill our eyes not only when we see the broken, but when we see the broken restored

Day 1a Work Community Kitchen Blitz Mustard Seed

hey friends just an early morning post (well roll your clocks back an hour for full effect... we are in mountain time baby!)

we are starting this morning by helping out with the community kitchen... they are transitioning from spring to summer activities and need some manpower for the shift, and we are more than happy to help!

after lunch we will be launching our after school sports/education program... we are calling it blitz and our family and friends at CHBC have been more than gracious hosts to our endeavor 

and then tonight we will conclude our time by starting our community missionary training with the mustard seed a life and faith rehabilitive center for the impoverished and underprivileged... this organization is legit and a well oiled machine and we are excited to see their underworkings and help out in any way we can

missing home but not too much yet!

links:  http://www.communitykitchenprogram.com/

http://www.chbclive.ca/

http://www.theseed.ca/