August 16th, 2010
The Church of the Heavenly Rest from Manhattan (New York not Kansas) has arrived in New Orleans for the purpose of ‘getting lost’ in The Big Easy. Getting lost in the culture, getting lost in serving one another, and getting lost in serving the people of the city are the order of the day. Meanwhile we are exploring the different looks of a life of faith.
For the last 2 days we have ‘served the servants’ by working alongside our hosts from Youth With A Mission. We have eaten Cajun food, we have devoured authentic New Orleans Sno-Balls, we have visited some poignant historical sites, and we have laughed and prayed with joy.
As we journey through the week, it is our hope to continue to immerse ourselves in this unique city and its culture, in service to others, and in contemplation of our personal journeys of faith.
August 13th, 2010
Our final couple of days in Montreal were spent in further exploration of the city…its history and culture. We got to see St Patrick’s Basilica, a light show at the Basilica of Notre Dame, old Montreal, and a funky thing called the Silophone. We had a picnic in Cartier Square and the girls danced with much energy to the sounds of local bands. We shared our final celebration meal at a local restaurant with David and Peggy Buckley, a couple from Australia who have in essence become our grandparents this week at the hostel. Our final evening discussion time focused on moments of grace, areas of challenge, and our hopes for the future.
Our final morning, the team spent in further exploration of Old Montreal for some sights and souvenirs. As we say goodbye to this fair city and to our new friends, it is our prayer that these young ladies will continue to approach their lives as pilgrimage…that they will remain on the journey that they have begun here in Montreal.
August 11th, 2010
For the past two mornings our St Stephens pilgrims have given some of their time and energy back to the city. Sun Youth is an organization which provides recreation programs, neighborhood safety programs and social services to some of the poorest sectors of the city. On Monday we walked with some apprehension into their warehouse facility, which was stacked floor to ceiling with clothing, food, toiletries, and household goods. After some instruction, the girls began to assemble bags of food which will be distributed to local families. Like a well-oiled machine, the team put together a record-breaking 1100 bags!
We returned confidently on Tuesday with the goal to assemble even more bags. With a few tweaks here and there to their assembly line system, the team broke the record again by assembling 1150 bags! The warehouse manager said these young ladies have restored his faith in teenagers through their hard work, good attitudes, and their dedication to excellence. Bravo!
As we continue in our week of discovery here in Montreal, we pray to continue to grow in community, and in wisdom, and in love for one another.
August 9th, 2010
The young ladies from St Stephens in Coconut Grove have arrived in Montreal and have begun to learn to navigate the city on their urban pilgrimage. On our first afternoon and evening, we got settled into our lodging and began to explore the local neighborhood on foot. It’s a much different experience to see a city from the sidewalk than from the sealed environment of an air conditioned car.
Our Sunday began with a worship service at Christ Church Cathedral. This lovely gothic style church has an interesting history, including the fact that there is a shopping mall built underneath it. We arrived at the church to find a most interesting surprise: the service was going to be celebrated by both the Bishop of Montreal and the Archbishop of Canada. In addition, the music was done by the Montreal Boys Choir. It was a truly lovely service and a really unique experience.
Our afternoon took us to the opposite end of the cultural spectrum: the TAM TAM du Montreal. This event takes place on summer Sundays in Mont Royal Parc. Percussionists and musicians and folk artists from all over the region gather in the park for a jam session/ art festival. People from all walks of life join in the fun with dancing, juggling, singing, and games. It is definitely a sight to see. The team also had a pleasant surprise when a friend from back in the US actually found them in the crowded park. It was most definitely a pleasant surprise.
As we start a new day here in Quebec, we pray to see the face of God in new ways, and we await the moments of wonder that the day will bring.
August 7th, 2010
As we’ve journeyed this week, the road has taken its toll. Our drive towards Pike’s Peak is unusually quiet, our vans carrying some very sleepy pilgrims. We are tired from what has been a week full of
adventure.
It hasn’t been easy. We’ve struggled up dunes of soft sand, scrambled up narrow caverns and waterfalls, and picked our way through icy
waters to hidden places of wonder. Our legs are a little sore, but we wouldn’t trade anything for experiencing the beauty of God in his creation. It has been an amazing week so far, and there is still more
to come.
