Happy Canada Day!
Today was our first day of work sites, and the weather was perfect. The rain held off and it wasn't too hot. The youth worked very hard today.
One group spent the day at Soup and More, the local soup kitchen. The youth had devotions with them before the people came. Soup and More aims to nourish both the body and the soul, and it is a wonderful relational ministry.
Nellie with the soup kitchen coordinator Nancy Buttar.
Another group did some gardening at a residence for mentally challenged adults.
Yet another group spent the day cleaning a yard for a single mother who suffers from mental health issues.
Because it is Canada day the youth ended up working at private residences today, and doing a lot of gardening at various places.
The next site houses a food bank and a residence for homeless youth, and rely on volunteers to do yard work.
More garden work again. This time for a single mother with health issues. It is obvious that she takes great pride in her flower beds but her health prevents her from doing the work at this point.
They are digging an are to create a patio so she can sit outside and use the patio furniture she has.
At the evening service Gil asked the youth to share their 'God moments', times in the day that they really felt God. A number of brave youth came forward.
Gil then challenged the youth to care about others. Tonight's message was about "
offering our bodies as a living sacrifice". So often we don't make the time for others. He said that there was a great disconnect between what we want to do and what we are actually doing. So many are guilty of arms length service, and we are not the people we are called to be. He said that worship is more than singing praises. It is worth ship. You become what you worship. Paul stated this in Romans 12:1. If you hold onto your pain and forgiveness that is what you become. We need to focus on Jesus and become like him. He calls us to become Holy, set apart by your calling, bringing us healing and joy.
Gil challenged the youth to have a reckless faith, to put their trust in Him.
The Praise Team continued to lead the youth in song and near the end the youth opened up and came to the front to sing their praises.
