Tuesday!

Last night, during the Club (worship) time, the theme was Believing Differently. We read from Matthew about the centurion with the strong belief about Jesus. Later, in our church group time, we talked about what we believe about Jesus, and how sometimes people and other factors challenge that belief.

This morning, the Haters were back to the War Memorial Hospital Long–term care unit. We started out the morning doing chair exercises with some of the residents. The girls led them in raising their arms, and extending their legs and other things to get them moving. Then we helped them participate in a little Wii Bowling, and balloon ‘volleyball’ before we brought them to the dining room for lunch. In the afternoon we were supposed to be able to take them to an outside art fair, but it was raining so instead we stayed indoors and played bingo all afternoon before we left for our showers. Our Hater girls are really getting comfortable talking to these residents and brightening their days.

The Losers spent the morning at the Habitat for Humanity resale shop. The spent many hours organizing sinks and toilets for resale. They helped to organize shelves inside as well. In the afternoon they went back to Kinross to the Youthwork’s Kids’ Club. More games and activities were in store for the Losers. Drew spent some of the afternoon in the arts and crafts room again, with most of the afternoon painting faces. Billy spent his afternoon playing games with the kids. Kids’ Club, while it sounds like fun, is a very challenging job this week. The kids that they are serving really need their attention and love.

Today the Singles spent the day at the Ojibway cultural center and did various jobs helping to clean up the place. They cleaned up their powwow grounds for the fall powwows. They cleaned the inside of the center from top to bottom -- sweeping, mopping, washing walls and windows, washing screens, cleaning bathrooms and showers and shower curtains. They moved and stacked logs that had been dumped there a year ago when some land was cleared. These logs will now be able to be cut for firewood. They weeded around their Veterans’ Memorial. Jesse and Josh worked super hard today getting dirty and grimy. Jeff commented about Jesse and Josh, “Anything that needs to be done, before you’re even done explaining it, Jesse and Josh have volunteered.” He said they moved with purpose the entire day.

This evening after dinner we travelled to the Ojibway Cultural Center to listen to a Native American Speaker of the Ojibway tribe. We listened to Cecil, one of the tribal leaders and Les, the caretaker of the Cultural Center. We learned a lot about the Ojibway and Native American Culture. I’m hoping it prompts a good discussion about the similarities and differences of our cultures/religions during our church group time tonight.

It’s hard to believe we’re already half way done with our week! You can be assured that each member of our Geneva crew is working hard, having fun and serving God in ways they’ve never served before. I’m so enjoying hearing their stories about challenges and accomplishments. I can’t wait for them to be able to share their week with you on Sunday.