Manitoulin 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Have you ever experienced something that's just so wonderful that you look forward to it every single year? I have. Going to Manitoulin Island on a mission trip with a team from my church has hands down been the highlight of my year since the first time I went in the summer of 2012.
We only got back from our 2016 trip on Saturday, July 16th, and man, I want to go back already! The Lord has laid such a passion, and a burden of love and tenderness in my heart for the Native people up there, and although the week is tiring, and filled with a lot of craziness, it's so so so worth it every single year.
One of the things that I love so much about being on the Island (besides working with the children - which is why we go up there in the first place), is the quietness of our campsite, and the sunsets.
On Manitoulin Island, the sunsets are so colourful, and I find them to be so much more clear, and more beautiful than they are in the city.
Although I'm used to the bustle and convenience of everything being relatively close together in the city, I've gotta say that I love how far away everything is on Manitoulin... Well, maybe not. I'm not a big fan of the thirty to forty-five minute drive to get to the closest restaurant for supper, but I absolutely love not hearing cars constantly whizzing by on busy streets behind my house. When we got back to the church on the 16th, one of the first things we heard were sirens, and one of the team members looked at me, kind of chuckled, and said, "Well, that's how we know we're home..."
I feel like this year was the best trip yet (although I'm pretty sure I say that every year...)! Things went relatively smoothly, and as a team we've gotten a lot better at truly trusting God, relying on Him and His plan, and being "one hundred percent prepared, and one thousand percent flexible", as my youth pastor (and Manitoulin team leader) puts it.
Something that was a huge highlight for me over the course of the trip was the games afternoon that we did with the Native children on the Wednesday. Normally, camp goes from about 9:30 until 1:00, but with the games afternoon, camp was going until 2:00. Initially I wasn't super stoked about the idea of spending an extra hour with a group of about fifty crazy children, but it went so much better than expected! I'm honestly questioning why we didn't do a games afternoon with the kids in previous years!
Personally I think that it was a huge hit with the kids because even though it was still low key structured, it wasn't like the mornings which are more like: 'Okay kids, you have to go around to each different rotation, with the same group, and the same leaders the whole time!' It was like, 'Okay kids, you can choose whatever station you want to, and do the activity that's there.' So the kids really got to feel like they had options and weren't constantly being told what to do.
I sat at the colouring table, and I got to spend an hour colouring alongside my best friend Rachel, and some of the kids. It was really fun to chat with them in a relaxed setting, and it wasn't a high-stress afternoon at all.
It's crazy how attached you end up getting to the team members that you go on the trip with; we were only together for a short week (okay... it didn't always feel short!), but now I can't go a day without texting at least three of them and being super sappy about how much I miss seeing them everyday, or about how I surprisingly miss trying to keep a small group (...or a "small" group) of about twenty kids in the rotation that they're supposed to be in.
Going to Manitoulin Island gives me something to look forward to every year, and it excites me year after year because I know that God is going to work in awesome ways that go far beyond my comprehension. He's provided my church with this incredible opportunity for the past seven years, and although we may not feel like the best messengers of the Gospel, and we often don't see the fruits of our labour, God continually gives us encouragement through His Word. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:58 tells us;
We only got back from our 2016 trip on Saturday, July 16th, and man, I want to go back already! The Lord has laid such a passion, and a burden of love and tenderness in my heart for the Native people up there, and although the week is tiring, and filled with a lot of craziness, it's so so so worth it every single year.
One of the things that I love so much about being on the Island (besides working with the children - which is why we go up there in the first place), is the quietness of our campsite, and the sunsets.
On Manitoulin Island, the sunsets are so colourful, and I find them to be so much more clear, and more beautiful than they are in the city.
Although I'm used to the bustle and convenience of everything being relatively close together in the city, I've gotta say that I love how far away everything is on Manitoulin... Well, maybe not. I'm not a big fan of the thirty to forty-five minute drive to get to the closest restaurant for supper, but I absolutely love not hearing cars constantly whizzing by on busy streets behind my house. When we got back to the church on the 16th, one of the first things we heard were sirens, and one of the team members looked at me, kind of chuckled, and said, "Well, that's how we know we're home..."
I feel like this year was the best trip yet (although I'm pretty sure I say that every year...)! Things went relatively smoothly, and as a team we've gotten a lot better at truly trusting God, relying on Him and His plan, and being "one hundred percent prepared, and one thousand percent flexible", as my youth pastor (and Manitoulin team leader) puts it.
Something that was a huge highlight for me over the course of the trip was the games afternoon that we did with the Native children on the Wednesday. Normally, camp goes from about 9:30 until 1:00, but with the games afternoon, camp was going until 2:00. Initially I wasn't super stoked about the idea of spending an extra hour with a group of about fifty crazy children, but it went so much better than expected! I'm honestly questioning why we didn't do a games afternoon with the kids in previous years!
Personally I think that it was a huge hit with the kids because even though it was still low key structured, it wasn't like the mornings which are more like: 'Okay kids, you have to go around to each different rotation, with the same group, and the same leaders the whole time!' It was like, 'Okay kids, you can choose whatever station you want to, and do the activity that's there.' So the kids really got to feel like they had options and weren't constantly being told what to do.
I sat at the colouring table, and I got to spend an hour colouring alongside my best friend Rachel, and some of the kids. It was really fun to chat with them in a relaxed setting, and it wasn't a high-stress afternoon at all.
It's crazy how attached you end up getting to the team members that you go on the trip with; we were only together for a short week (okay... it didn't always feel short!), but now I can't go a day without texting at least three of them and being super sappy about how much I miss seeing them everyday, or about how I surprisingly miss trying to keep a small group (...or a "small" group) of about twenty kids in the rotation that they're supposed to be in.
Going to Manitoulin Island gives me something to look forward to every year, and it excites me year after year because I know that God is going to work in awesome ways that go far beyond my comprehension. He's provided my church with this incredible opportunity for the past seven years, and although we may not feel like the best messengers of the Gospel, and we often don't see the fruits of our labour, God continually gives us encouragement through His Word. For example, 1 Corinthians 15:58 tells us;
"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the LORD, because you know that your labour in the LORD is not in vain."There's always something special about going to a remote place that's so different from the daily hustle and bustle of city life... even if it involves a seemingly eternal nine hour car drive. Being away from home in a completely different setting really helps me to re-evaluate my focus, and to truly rely on God and trust that He will provide; He always provides each member of the team with health, safety, strength, and energy throughout the entirety of the trip. Sometimes all you need is a change of pace to really help reorient your faith.
Life in Early July
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Early July signifies two things for me. And no, I'm not talking about Canada Day and the Fourth of July. But good guesses. I'm talking about the annual mission trip a team from my church takes to Manitoulin Island, and since last year, the anniversary of the death of a friend of mine.
On this day last year, we said goodbye to the earthly tent of my dear friend. Up to this point in my life, the days between his death and the day I left for Manitoulin with the team last year, have been the worst days I have ever experienced. I've never cried so hard in my life. I've never cried for so long in my life. I'd never said goodbye to a young friend of mine in my life.
I remember writing a blog post around this time last year, and I talked far more in depth about the trip to Manitoulin (sidenote: we leave for this year's trip in just two days!). Because of the events that had occurred earlier that week, I was feeling so angry, heartbroken, sad, and confused at this time last year. Something that I said in that post was,
Last night, a bunch of us who were friends of his from church and/or Bible study, went to the cemetery to remember him by his graveside. I was super anxious about going, and to be honest, I kind of didn't want to because I knew that my heart would start hurting, I would be sad, and I'd probably feel angry and confused. Which was true; it happened. I was sad, and I was confused. But, as strange as this may sound, I enjoyed myself. And I feel like it's safe to say that the rest of my friends who attended, enjoyed themselves too. We stood around and shared funny stories and good memories that we had of him. And his girlfriend pointed out the fact that it's so encouraging that no one has bad or angry memories of him. All we can remember are happy, inspirational, and goofy things.
As we all stood around his grave last night, just about one year after we stood there together saying goodbye on that rainy and terrible day, I found myself absolutely in awe of how powerful and awesome God has been to all of us throughout this season of mourning and loss. His sovereignty is beyond our comprehension, but we still remain faithful to Him, and He remains faithful to us. Even if some of the days were so hard that we just barely had the strength to get through the day, God still granted that strength. He has provided us with comfort from his Holy Spirit, from each other, and from other individuals in each of our lives. I'm truly grateful for the grace, love, mercy, comfort, and unconditional love that God has shown to each of us in this past year.
Last year, early July brought me much sadness, heartbreak, anger, and confusion. This year, life in early July has me finding that hope, peace, and comfort from the Lord have now taken up residence in my heart. Yes, I find that my heart physically hurts when I think about how much I miss my friend, or about what his future could have and would have held. Yes, not a day goes by that I don't think about, remember, or do/say/think of/see something that reminds me of him. But I can still sit here and write with confidence that although there is pain in my heart, there is also hope because I have assurance through the death and resurrection of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that I will see my friend again in heaven. How do I know this? Because my friend had that very same faith in Christ that I have, and everyone who knew him can attest to that. My greatest joy in all of this is that when I see my dear friend again in heaven, it will be for forever. I'll never have to say a heart-wrenching goodbye to him (or anyone) ever again. What an incredible promise and blessing that truly is.
On this day last year, we said goodbye to the earthly tent of my dear friend. Up to this point in my life, the days between his death and the day I left for Manitoulin with the team last year, have been the worst days I have ever experienced. I've never cried so hard in my life. I've never cried for so long in my life. I'd never said goodbye to a young friend of mine in my life.
I remember writing a blog post around this time last year, and I talked far more in depth about the trip to Manitoulin (sidenote: we leave for this year's trip in just two days!). Because of the events that had occurred earlier that week, I was feeling so angry, heartbroken, sad, and confused at this time last year. Something that I said in that post was,
"I'm writing this the night before we're set to leave (we leave in about ten hours!) and although I'm excited, there is definitely a different dynamic in the air this year... This year, there has been a lot going on in my life since the start of the summer, and I have to admit that I'm not excited as I had thought I would be at this point in time... I feel bad that I'm going up to Manitoulin Island and not feeling like myself, and not being extremely excited. The Bible tells us that there is a season for everything, and currently I'm in a season of mourning and hardship. I know that God will use me no matter how I'm feeling, and I have the desire to serve Him even though I'm sad."I was sitting in my room last night, reflecting and journaling about what life was like for me this time last year. I was shocked when I realized how far I've come, and how once again, the dynamic is very different in early July of this year. As I previously stated, there was so much hurt, sadness, and confusion that had taken up residence in my heart in July 2015. This year, as the end of June was approaching, and I was journaling about the last conversation that I'd had with my friend at the end of June last year, I wrote that I was dreading the beginning of July. But now that it's here, I'm finding that I can manage it better than I had initially given myself credit for.
Last night, a bunch of us who were friends of his from church and/or Bible study, went to the cemetery to remember him by his graveside. I was super anxious about going, and to be honest, I kind of didn't want to because I knew that my heart would start hurting, I would be sad, and I'd probably feel angry and confused. Which was true; it happened. I was sad, and I was confused. But, as strange as this may sound, I enjoyed myself. And I feel like it's safe to say that the rest of my friends who attended, enjoyed themselves too. We stood around and shared funny stories and good memories that we had of him. And his girlfriend pointed out the fact that it's so encouraging that no one has bad or angry memories of him. All we can remember are happy, inspirational, and goofy things.
As we all stood around his grave last night, just about one year after we stood there together saying goodbye on that rainy and terrible day, I found myself absolutely in awe of how powerful and awesome God has been to all of us throughout this season of mourning and loss. His sovereignty is beyond our comprehension, but we still remain faithful to Him, and He remains faithful to us. Even if some of the days were so hard that we just barely had the strength to get through the day, God still granted that strength. He has provided us with comfort from his Holy Spirit, from each other, and from other individuals in each of our lives. I'm truly grateful for the grace, love, mercy, comfort, and unconditional love that God has shown to each of us in this past year.
Last year, early July brought me much sadness, heartbreak, anger, and confusion. This year, life in early July has me finding that hope, peace, and comfort from the Lord have now taken up residence in my heart. Yes, I find that my heart physically hurts when I think about how much I miss my friend, or about what his future could have and would have held. Yes, not a day goes by that I don't think about, remember, or do/say/think of/see something that reminds me of him. But I can still sit here and write with confidence that although there is pain in my heart, there is also hope because I have assurance through the death and resurrection of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that I will see my friend again in heaven. How do I know this? Because my friend had that very same faith in Christ that I have, and everyone who knew him can attest to that. My greatest joy in all of this is that when I see my dear friend again in heaven, it will be for forever. I'll never have to say a heart-wrenching goodbye to him (or anyone) ever again. What an incredible promise and blessing that truly is.
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