Click this link:
http://www.globaltvcalgary.com/video/index.html?releasePID=wzhz1ZI7222BRwk_kExZ2QIFyz1eEQlH
We were also featured on The National. Very excited to be a voice for our homeless and share the dire needs that they have. Would'nt take much for any of us to be in their shoes.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
What is StreetLight and Operation BackPack Anyways?
StreeLight is a mobile drop-in centre in the form of a fifth-wheel trailer and it reaches out to the homeless youth in the downtown Calgary core.
StreetLight has designed Operation BackPack as a way in which the community can get involved in meeting a survival need. We ask the community to buy backpacks and fill them with items in which homeless youth need in order to survive. At Christmas time, StreetLight goes out and hosts a big open-air party for all the homeless in Calgary and we hand out backpacks, a hot meal, coffee, and most importantly, HOPE for a better day.
StreetLight has designed Operation BackPack as a way in which the community can get involved in meeting a survival need. We ask the community to buy backpacks and fill them with items in which homeless youth need in order to survive. At Christmas time, StreetLight goes out and hosts a big open-air party for all the homeless in Calgary and we hand out backpacks, a hot meal, coffee, and most importantly, HOPE for a better day.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Operation BackPack
Looking for Operation BackPack's information? Check out our new Operation BackPack Blog!
http://operationbackpackcalgary.blogspot.com/
Check out 2008's Operation BackPack video!!!
http://operationbackpackcalgary.blogspot.com/2009/11/operation-backpack-video.html
StreetLight has designed Operation Backpack as a way for you to become involved in creating a memorable Christmas for a street kid, as well as assisting in meeting some of their basic needs.
Included is a list of items to place inside a StreetLight Backpack. Simply use the list included below as your guide.
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CREATE AND DONATE YOUR BACKPACK:
1. Buy a new, sturdy backpack and fill it with these items:
Pair of warm socks
Warm Gloves
5 Adult transit tickets
Shampoo & Soap
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
An Encouraging Note
Brush or Comb
$5 Fast Food Gift Certificate
Deodorant Stick
Chocolate Bar or Treat
Small First-Aid Kit
Memo Pad & Pen
A Pocket Size Bible
$5 Donation (see explanation below)
$5 Donation to StreetLight will help cover the cost for the StreetLight Christmas Party where each youth will receive the Backpack you created along with a Christmas dinner.
Optional Gifts Could Be: Sewing Kit, Small Blanket, Movie Pass, Grocery Gift Certificate (may also replace the fast food certificate), Prepaid Phone Card. The ideas are endless. (Please no medications, condoms or alcohol-based mouthwash.)
2. Next place transit tickets, encouraging note, gift certificate, a completed OBP Participant Form (provided below) and $5 donation in an envelope and insert into a front pocket of your Backpack Indicate Male or Female by securely fastening a pink or blue ribbon to the outside or yellow for a unisex bag.
3. When your StreetLight Backpack is completed, drop it off at:
Youth for Christ
#15, 1725 - 30th Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7P6
Office hours (Monday - Friday 8am-4pm), or call:
403.291.3179 or StreetLight's Director at 403.470.9322
for other possible arrangements or drop-off locations.
http://operationbackpackcalgary.blogspot.com/
Check out 2008's Operation BackPack video!!!
http://operationbackpackcalgary.blogspot.com/2009/11/operation-backpack-video.html
StreetLight has designed Operation Backpack as a way for you to become involved in creating a memorable Christmas for a street kid, as well as assisting in meeting some of their basic needs.
Included is a list of items to place inside a StreetLight Backpack. Simply use the list included below as your guide.
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO CREATE AND DONATE YOUR BACKPACK:
1. Buy a new, sturdy backpack and fill it with these items:
Pair of warm socks
Warm Gloves
5 Adult transit tickets
Shampoo & Soap
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
An Encouraging Note
Brush or Comb
$5 Fast Food Gift Certificate
Deodorant Stick
Chocolate Bar or Treat
Small First-Aid Kit
Memo Pad & Pen
A Pocket Size Bible
$5 Donation (see explanation below)
$5 Donation to StreetLight will help cover the cost for the StreetLight Christmas Party where each youth will receive the Backpack you created along with a Christmas dinner.
Optional Gifts Could Be: Sewing Kit, Small Blanket, Movie Pass, Grocery Gift Certificate (may also replace the fast food certificate), Prepaid Phone Card. The ideas are endless. (Please no medications, condoms or alcohol-based mouthwash.)
2. Next place transit tickets, encouraging note, gift certificate, a completed OBP Participant Form (provided below) and $5 donation in an envelope and insert into a front pocket of your Backpack Indicate Male or Female by securely fastening a pink or blue ribbon to the outside or yellow for a unisex bag.
3. When your StreetLight Backpack is completed, drop it off at:
Youth for Christ
#15, 1725 - 30th Avenue NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7P6
Office hours (Monday - Friday 8am-4pm), or call:
403.291.3179 or StreetLight's Director at 403.470.9322
for other possible arrangements or drop-off locations.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Survivor Ethiopia
First off, please let me express how thankful I am that you all prayed for me and supported me through the intensity of my latest trip to Ethiopia. I know that you got a little bit of information in regards to my trip and the threats of bombs, the riots and some of you even got my panicked text messages begging for prayer. Yes, I was freaking out!
Here is what happened.
This was a spontaneous opportunity to visit my last dream destination with my church on an evangelistic crusade. Everything unfolded in a miraculous way within four weeks and I was told that I could even visit the Compassion Canada kid which we sponsor along the way – bonus!
I’m still a British citizen and my passport had recently expired, yet even though the Embassy stated one week before I was to leave that I should not expect it until October 21st (my trip was October 9th), it somehow showed up the following morning (mixed feelings – keep reading)! My Permanent Residence Card also just expired and although it was to take 88 days, it arrived the day before I left (less than a week from when I was able to send in the forms). Despite this sense that I had that something dangerous was going to happen on this trip, I knew I was meant to go. What I should’ve done was pray, I stressed over it instead and traveled with this hidden fear this was not only going to be my last dream destination... but my LAST trip altogether. I’ve never felt scared to travel and I’ve gone all over the world on many trips. But yes, I was weeping pretty hard at the airport as I said my goodbyes – I was really scared I wouldn’t make it back home and I didn’t know why I felt so scared.
First few days were fine in Addis Ababa and yes, the Ethiopian Director of Compassion drove me to meet my sponsor child and his family home. Then, as the seven of us traveled 2 hours to a little village called Woliso, we got a call stating that the Orthodox (yes, the Christian Orthodox), were promising bloodshed and had threatened to bomb us if we pursued this “Jesus Festival” (the word “crusade” wasn’t used there for reason). We continued to venture on. (I secretly worried at the back of the bus and sent what I thought would be my last text message to Kingsley my fiancé.)
Woliso had tried three other times to host a Christian event like this but got shut down each time because the threats got too intense. Our team wanted to make history and even though we were all ready to die, we felt the stress of missing out on more of life. It was a pretty tight knit team and everyone did very well... ok ok... I cried once pretty hard... I wasn’t scared to die, I was scared to miss out on my upcoming marriage and a future I have long prayed and hoped for. The girl in me kicked in and I knew that if a few of you got a text message about me needing prayer – you would indeed gather a team and pray up a storm! That prayer was crucial and the night you got my first message, I was an emotional wreck when I got into my room that night. The thought of not making it home alive and to be surrounded by this spirit of evil intention was a real sense of sadness.
On the day you probably got the intensity of my text messages, was the morning we our team finally began our first day of the festival. As the worship team kicked off and began to draw a crowd of 50,000 people, the Orthodox priest ordered all the local highschools and the technical school to close down, come to the stadium, find us and stone us. He called over the village speakers stating that we were there to cause bloodshed, had killed a priest and were burning down their churches! The next thing our team knew, was that over 10,000 locals were climbing over the stone walls into the stadium and yelling “Destroy! Destroy!”
It didn’t take long until they began to shake the metal stage attempting to tear it down. They began to throw stones at the worship team and invaded Woliso stadium with whips, stick and stones that were bigger than your fist! (It seemed convient that a huge pile of these white square stones were situated just inside the entry way - the entry that was also on the neighboring wall to the Orthodox church! Yes, they were our very close neighbors!). The local military quickly took action and began to fire rubber bullets into the crowds but the attackers still moved in forward and the military was forced to use real ammunition. Nobody was killed thankfully and only 5 people when to the hospital with serious injuries. One man was shot in the face.
Now on our end, our evangelistic team were still at the compound and had just received word that the worship team had started and we were to make our way over to join them. I stepped out of my hotel room first and could hear machine guns go off in the distance. Some team members thought the noises were fireworks... until they could see our hotel staff screaming and crying because their kids were involved in those school groups. The atmosphere changed immediately as you can well imagine.
Next thing I know our group is all in one room on the floor praying like we never prayed before and hoping for the safe return of our partnering evangelist, worship team and interpreters. Eventually, they arrived and joined us... they were pretty shaken up. The worship team fled to another hideaway and were all safe. Nobody had to tell us twice to lay low for a it. We laid low that whole day until finally we decided to take a stand and go walking in the streets and encourage the Christian locals to also take a stand with us. The only thing I took with me was my camera and phone, if I had adult diapers with me... well I may have sported them too!
Greg Hutchinson called me while we were out on the street walking JUST as some demon possessed woman ran up to me and grabbed a strong handful of my hair and ripped it out! She then proceeded to eat it as she stared back at us. I quickly got back onto the bus to finish my savored phone call as I had barely any signals and could nto make a single phone call out on my phone. My heart was pumping pretty good though - I've heard since then that people involved in witchcraft feel led to consume something of their enemy... well... enough said... I was grossed out. Humour went a long way on this trip however, we all needed it and most definately didn't lack in this area. Our associate pastor kept commenting from that point forward how “tasty” my hair looked! We figured the women had a thing for Pantene. (I should do a mock up commercial or Pantene hair products!) I went home right after and babied my bloody bald spot and nursed a throbbing headache.
Later that night we went to the church compound to encourage and pray for the local Christians who were just waiting for the next move. Next thing we know we had people all over the place manifesting demons and others being healed - it was a lot to take in.
As I walked by one woman, she grabbed my arm and asked me to pray for her grandbaby. As I did, the mother immediatly threw the baby up in the air and began to screech out and convulse all over the ground! I was shocked! Before you know it, I slung away my camera (which I had been hiding behind) and was pinning demon possessed people down and began to cast the evil spirits out of them – amazing to experience yet exhausting!
At dusk we watched as federal military tanks drove through the streets and warned families to keep their children at home because they expected bloodshed at the next day’s crusade.
That night I lay in bed, fully clothed with my contact lens` in and shoes by my bed just in case we were invaded... and whenever I got a signal on my phone, would text an update. I will say that for those of you who texted me your encouragement, it made me cry – I truly felt your support and I will never forget that and believe it or not, I slept pretty solid! (It was the first night I wasn't concerned about all the fleas and cochroaches in my bed!)
The next morning we all got up, had our traditional Macchiato and with the federal military as our escort, made our way through the crowds of people. We couldn`t tell who was with us or against us until you would either notice a small gesture of `thumbs up` or notice a stone in hand.
Amazingly enough, we walked right into the stadium with a crowd of over 30,000 people already waiting and it was amazing to sense God`s peace fill us. I was in awe and all of a sudden filled with the faith that I would make it home alive! Federal military lined the entire stadium; they covered the walls, hung in trees, hid in the tall grass and walked through the crowds. I even had a few take a moment to pose for a photo.
In the end, over 11,000 people were saved and we saw miracle after miracle take place – eyes and ears were opened, people who couldn`t stand up were all of a sudden jumping around on stage, mute people were learning to use their tongues and talk – it was no less than amazing and definitely a growth spurt in my faith!!!
So THANK YOU for your prayers. I don’t say that with any amount of insincerity at all – trust me – we all needed each and every prayer because without it, we would not have been able to have the victory that we did! God was truly with us and for those people in Woliso! Once our team landed into Canada, we were all high-fiving eachother, "Whew! We MADE IT HOME ALIVE!" we laughed!
Oh and one other fun tidbit... that Orthodox priest.... he got put away in jail for concealing a gun while he attended the government meetings where our Christian leaders were fighting for their rights to freedom. He is facing a term of 5 years in prison! When our group found out we all looked at eachother, “Prison ministry anyone?” we joked. Hmmmm... not right now. We’re all pretty happy to be home safe and with our loved ones. The emotions all surfaced in me the first morning I woke up in my own bed and felt safe. Man is it good to be home!
So it's amazing at how, as hard as the Orthodox (who really should have joined our efforts), tried to stop what God was doing in Ethiopia, God had bigger plans. Not only did the village of Woliso experience God's goodness, the world got to hear about it as the news broadcast internationally. When our team were leaving the Addis Ababa Airport, fellow passengers recognized us from TV and congratulated us! God is good!
It is indeed a trip I will never forget. Will I do it again? Sure! BUT… AFTER I GET MARRIED!!! Let’s not get silly now!
Here is what happened.
This was a spontaneous opportunity to visit my last dream destination with my church on an evangelistic crusade. Everything unfolded in a miraculous way within four weeks and I was told that I could even visit the Compassion Canada kid which we sponsor along the way – bonus!
I’m still a British citizen and my passport had recently expired, yet even though the Embassy stated one week before I was to leave that I should not expect it until October 21st (my trip was October 9th), it somehow showed up the following morning (mixed feelings – keep reading)! My Permanent Residence Card also just expired and although it was to take 88 days, it arrived the day before I left (less than a week from when I was able to send in the forms). Despite this sense that I had that something dangerous was going to happen on this trip, I knew I was meant to go. What I should’ve done was pray, I stressed over it instead and traveled with this hidden fear this was not only going to be my last dream destination... but my LAST trip altogether. I’ve never felt scared to travel and I’ve gone all over the world on many trips. But yes, I was weeping pretty hard at the airport as I said my goodbyes – I was really scared I wouldn’t make it back home and I didn’t know why I felt so scared.
First few days were fine in Addis Ababa and yes, the Ethiopian Director of Compassion drove me to meet my sponsor child and his family home. Then, as the seven of us traveled 2 hours to a little village called Woliso, we got a call stating that the Orthodox (yes, the Christian Orthodox), were promising bloodshed and had threatened to bomb us if we pursued this “Jesus Festival” (the word “crusade” wasn’t used there for reason). We continued to venture on. (I secretly worried at the back of the bus and sent what I thought would be my last text message to Kingsley my fiancé.)
Woliso had tried three other times to host a Christian event like this but got shut down each time because the threats got too intense. Our team wanted to make history and even though we were all ready to die, we felt the stress of missing out on more of life. It was a pretty tight knit team and everyone did very well... ok ok... I cried once pretty hard... I wasn’t scared to die, I was scared to miss out on my upcoming marriage and a future I have long prayed and hoped for. The girl in me kicked in and I knew that if a few of you got a text message about me needing prayer – you would indeed gather a team and pray up a storm! That prayer was crucial and the night you got my first message, I was an emotional wreck when I got into my room that night. The thought of not making it home alive and to be surrounded by this spirit of evil intention was a real sense of sadness.
On the day you probably got the intensity of my text messages, was the morning we our team finally began our first day of the festival. As the worship team kicked off and began to draw a crowd of 50,000 people, the Orthodox priest ordered all the local highschools and the technical school to close down, come to the stadium, find us and stone us. He called over the village speakers stating that we were there to cause bloodshed, had killed a priest and were burning down their churches! The next thing our team knew, was that over 10,000 locals were climbing over the stone walls into the stadium and yelling “Destroy! Destroy!”
It didn’t take long until they began to shake the metal stage attempting to tear it down. They began to throw stones at the worship team and invaded Woliso stadium with whips, stick and stones that were bigger than your fist! (It seemed convient that a huge pile of these white square stones were situated just inside the entry way - the entry that was also on the neighboring wall to the Orthodox church! Yes, they were our very close neighbors!). The local military quickly took action and began to fire rubber bullets into the crowds but the attackers still moved in forward and the military was forced to use real ammunition. Nobody was killed thankfully and only 5 people when to the hospital with serious injuries. One man was shot in the face.
Now on our end, our evangelistic team were still at the compound and had just received word that the worship team had started and we were to make our way over to join them. I stepped out of my hotel room first and could hear machine guns go off in the distance. Some team members thought the noises were fireworks... until they could see our hotel staff screaming and crying because their kids were involved in those school groups. The atmosphere changed immediately as you can well imagine.
Next thing I know our group is all in one room on the floor praying like we never prayed before and hoping for the safe return of our partnering evangelist, worship team and interpreters. Eventually, they arrived and joined us... they were pretty shaken up. The worship team fled to another hideaway and were all safe. Nobody had to tell us twice to lay low for a it. We laid low that whole day until finally we decided to take a stand and go walking in the streets and encourage the Christian locals to also take a stand with us. The only thing I took with me was my camera and phone, if I had adult diapers with me... well I may have sported them too!
Greg Hutchinson called me while we were out on the street walking JUST as some demon possessed woman ran up to me and grabbed a strong handful of my hair and ripped it out! She then proceeded to eat it as she stared back at us. I quickly got back onto the bus to finish my savored phone call as I had barely any signals and could nto make a single phone call out on my phone. My heart was pumping pretty good though - I've heard since then that people involved in witchcraft feel led to consume something of their enemy... well... enough said... I was grossed out. Humour went a long way on this trip however, we all needed it and most definately didn't lack in this area. Our associate pastor kept commenting from that point forward how “tasty” my hair looked! We figured the women had a thing for Pantene. (I should do a mock up commercial or Pantene hair products!) I went home right after and babied my bloody bald spot and nursed a throbbing headache.
Later that night we went to the church compound to encourage and pray for the local Christians who were just waiting for the next move. Next thing we know we had people all over the place manifesting demons and others being healed - it was a lot to take in.
As I walked by one woman, she grabbed my arm and asked me to pray for her grandbaby. As I did, the mother immediatly threw the baby up in the air and began to screech out and convulse all over the ground! I was shocked! Before you know it, I slung away my camera (which I had been hiding behind) and was pinning demon possessed people down and began to cast the evil spirits out of them – amazing to experience yet exhausting!
At dusk we watched as federal military tanks drove through the streets and warned families to keep their children at home because they expected bloodshed at the next day’s crusade.
That night I lay in bed, fully clothed with my contact lens` in and shoes by my bed just in case we were invaded... and whenever I got a signal on my phone, would text an update. I will say that for those of you who texted me your encouragement, it made me cry – I truly felt your support and I will never forget that and believe it or not, I slept pretty solid! (It was the first night I wasn't concerned about all the fleas and cochroaches in my bed!)
The next morning we all got up, had our traditional Macchiato and with the federal military as our escort, made our way through the crowds of people. We couldn`t tell who was with us or against us until you would either notice a small gesture of `thumbs up` or notice a stone in hand.
Amazingly enough, we walked right into the stadium with a crowd of over 30,000 people already waiting and it was amazing to sense God`s peace fill us. I was in awe and all of a sudden filled with the faith that I would make it home alive! Federal military lined the entire stadium; they covered the walls, hung in trees, hid in the tall grass and walked through the crowds. I even had a few take a moment to pose for a photo.
In the end, over 11,000 people were saved and we saw miracle after miracle take place – eyes and ears were opened, people who couldn`t stand up were all of a sudden jumping around on stage, mute people were learning to use their tongues and talk – it was no less than amazing and definitely a growth spurt in my faith!!!
So THANK YOU for your prayers. I don’t say that with any amount of insincerity at all – trust me – we all needed each and every prayer because without it, we would not have been able to have the victory that we did! God was truly with us and for those people in Woliso! Once our team landed into Canada, we were all high-fiving eachother, "Whew! We MADE IT HOME ALIVE!" we laughed!
Oh and one other fun tidbit... that Orthodox priest.... he got put away in jail for concealing a gun while he attended the government meetings where our Christian leaders were fighting for their rights to freedom. He is facing a term of 5 years in prison! When our group found out we all looked at eachother, “Prison ministry anyone?” we joked. Hmmmm... not right now. We’re all pretty happy to be home safe and with our loved ones. The emotions all surfaced in me the first morning I woke up in my own bed and felt safe. Man is it good to be home!
So it's amazing at how, as hard as the Orthodox (who really should have joined our efforts), tried to stop what God was doing in Ethiopia, God had bigger plans. Not only did the village of Woliso experience God's goodness, the world got to hear about it as the news broadcast internationally. When our team were leaving the Addis Ababa Airport, fellow passengers recognized us from TV and congratulated us! God is good!
It is indeed a trip I will never forget. Will I do it again? Sure! BUT… AFTER I GET MARRIED!!! Let’s not get silly now!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Conviction
Conviction
Main Entry: con•vic•tion
Pronunciation: \kuhn-vik-shuhn\
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1: Th e act or process of convicting of a
crime especially in a court of law
2 a: Th e act of convincing a person of error
or of compelling the admission of a truth
b: the state of being convinced of error or
compelled to admit the truth
3 a: A strong persuasion or belief b: the
state of being convinced
Synonyms see certainty, opinion
Kevin Carter was the photographer who
captured a little Sudanese girl who was
crawling her way to a feeding centre all
while a vulture was watching and waiting
to devour her. Kevin snapped the photograph
(pictured above right) and shooed
the vulture away but there are no reports as
to what happened next to that little girl.
Kevin later suffered from depression and
until this day there are various speculations,
some say it’s because he chose not do anything
to save the girl and others say there
was nothing he could have done because
she was not the only famine victim. St.
Petersburg Times stated that Carter, “might
just as well be a predator, another vulture
on the scene.” Even some of Carter’s friends
wondered why he hadn’t helped the little
girl.
Whenever I think about this heart wrenching
picture I too wonder where Carter’s
heart and thoughts were. How could he not
have saved her or even at least tried? Th en
I begin to wonder what more I myself can
do, or what we as a community can do to
help those who are hungry, desperate for a
hand up or simply left in a desert or on a
curb to fi gure it out on their own. Th is may
not be Sudan but we are surrounded by
hurting people in need nonetheless.
Kevin Carter once said, “Everyone that
has been involved in these stories has been
aff ected. You become changed forever.”
I believe he is right. If I were to take you
along the riverbed at night, through the
back alleys or if we jumped together into
a dumpster, you would be changed.
If you were to sit in my car across the street and
watch as men solicit young girls for sex,
you would feel a conviction that is one
in which is hard to express on paper with
words. I know that it is because of a conviction
and a compassion that you posses that
you support me in this venture and for that
I will always remain thankful and humbled.
When I see street kids, sometimes I feel like
there is so much I still don’t understand and
yet I feel and live out a strong God-given
conviction that reminds me that at the end
of the line, when my life is over, I do not
want to have those regrets of not being
intentional about reaching out. I don’t want
to watch as the vulture in life (drugs, prostitution,
hunger, loneliness) wait to devour
those I have come to know and love.
Kevin Carter ended his life and his suicide
note was a litany of nightmares and dark visions,
a clutching attempt at an autobiography,
self-analysis, explanation, excuse. Th is
weekend I heard it said, “It’s what you do in
the dash” meaning that on your tombstone,
if mine were to say “1974 – ____” what
would I have accomplished in the “dash”,
the in-between years?
I know that with God’s conviction, guidance
and strength, I will continue in
whatever capacity He allows me, to reach
out and invest in what’s most important
because I want to leave a legacy behind that
represents God working through my life on
earth and not feel my life was full of excuse
or regret.
Main Entry: con•vic•tion
Pronunciation: \kuhn-vik-shuhn\
Function: noun
Date: 15th century
1: Th e act or process of convicting of a
crime especially in a court of law
2 a: Th e act of convincing a person of error
or of compelling the admission of a truth
b: the state of being convinced of error or
compelled to admit the truth
3 a: A strong persuasion or belief b: the
state of being convinced
Synonyms see certainty, opinion
Kevin Carter was the photographer who
captured a little Sudanese girl who was
crawling her way to a feeding centre all
while a vulture was watching and waiting
to devour her. Kevin snapped the photograph
(pictured above right) and shooed
the vulture away but there are no reports as
to what happened next to that little girl.
Kevin later suffered from depression and
until this day there are various speculations,
some say it’s because he chose not do anything
to save the girl and others say there
was nothing he could have done because
she was not the only famine victim. St.
Petersburg Times stated that Carter, “might
just as well be a predator, another vulture
on the scene.” Even some of Carter’s friends
wondered why he hadn’t helped the little
girl.
Whenever I think about this heart wrenching
picture I too wonder where Carter’s
heart and thoughts were. How could he not
have saved her or even at least tried? Th en
I begin to wonder what more I myself can
do, or what we as a community can do to
help those who are hungry, desperate for a
hand up or simply left in a desert or on a
curb to fi gure it out on their own. Th is may
not be Sudan but we are surrounded by
hurting people in need nonetheless.
Kevin Carter once said, “Everyone that
has been involved in these stories has been
aff ected. You become changed forever.”
I believe he is right. If I were to take you
along the riverbed at night, through the
back alleys or if we jumped together into
a dumpster, you would be changed.
If you were to sit in my car across the street and
watch as men solicit young girls for sex,
you would feel a conviction that is one
in which is hard to express on paper with
words. I know that it is because of a conviction
and a compassion that you posses that
you support me in this venture and for that
I will always remain thankful and humbled.
When I see street kids, sometimes I feel like
there is so much I still don’t understand and
yet I feel and live out a strong God-given
conviction that reminds me that at the end
of the line, when my life is over, I do not
want to have those regrets of not being
intentional about reaching out. I don’t want
to watch as the vulture in life (drugs, prostitution,
hunger, loneliness) wait to devour
those I have come to know and love.
Kevin Carter ended his life and his suicide
note was a litany of nightmares and dark visions,
a clutching attempt at an autobiography,
self-analysis, explanation, excuse. Th is
weekend I heard it said, “It’s what you do in
the dash” meaning that on your tombstone,
if mine were to say “1974 – ____” what
would I have accomplished in the “dash”,
the in-between years?
I know that with God’s conviction, guidance
and strength, I will continue in
whatever capacity He allows me, to reach
out and invest in what’s most important
because I want to leave a legacy behind that
represents God working through my life on
earth and not feel my life was full of excuse
or regret.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Renewed
Now if you read my letters on a regular basis, you will know that last year was by far a year that was one of the hardest years I have had to face in all of my ministry and even my personal life. These letters can be pretty hard to share sometimes but yet I am thankful that I can be vulnerable with you and share my heart so freely. With the difficult scenarios of last year, such as the physical attack by a couple of men, the pure mental and emotional exhaustion, with my mind whirling constantly wondering if God still intended me to remain with StreetLight, I needed God to once again provide the assurance that my calling was to this ministry and that I could make it through the difficult times.
My deepest and most heartfelt prayer for last year was simply. “Lord PLEASE... I just need a miracle to happen, one really good thing. I’m tired. Please Lord, it’s all I ask. I need to know you’re still here with me and you hear me crying.” It seems so silly now when I reflect on how I felt but I truly felt like a walking time bomb that could (and sometimes would) just break down into tears because I was so unhappy and unsettled inside. I remember very vividly thinking to myself how easy it would be to drive off of Deerfoot Trail and into oncoming traffic. It’s a pretty scary thought to realize that that was where I was in life, but it was very real. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place before where I just didn’t “feel” like continuing in life. I was too tired. What was scarier was that I didn’t seem to care. I had suffered from stress hives for just over a year and I guess that should’ve been a pretty clear clue to take time to restore myself and take inventory of my schedule and life. I kept pep telling myself saying, “This year is almost done Maria” in the hopes that time would make things better and that I’d feel strong again. I was desperate for something good to happen. God’s love language to me has always been the miracle factor and you’ve heard me state before that often I feel like a little girl on God’s lap and I feel like He loves me so much and knows me so well, that He wasn’t just willing to give me the little pink bike, but the pink bike with the tassels too! Perhaps it’s a funny remark to you, but in my spiritual and ministry journey, I have thrived on the miracle factor and those “extras” – the extra assurances.
When I was preparing for the StreetLight Christmas party (and if you read the Insight’s article), you will understand why the stress hit hard this past Christmas. I felt like a failure. I felt ashamed and useless. I hid in my office sulking because looking at the needs we had for more backpacks, blankets etc, I felt like perhaps I wasn’t going to have that “something good” I wanted anytime soon. So when the call went out and the numbers of backpacks went from 120-475 in a matter of days and the one bag full of blankets went to 20+bags, I KNEW that it was a God thing for sure! I was in awe. When the winter blizzard hit on the night we were to host our party outside along the Bow River, I felt heartbroken as we loaded up the StreetLight trailer. I began to doubt that the night would be a success and I doubted kids would even show up. The emotions of that day were at their peak. The moment we arrived downtown (after the 2 hour hauling through the snow drifts), and I saw the hundreds of homeless waiting in the freezing cold for a BackPack and a bite to eat – I felt confirmed that I still heard God’s voice and it was His “something good” for me. It was the lift my spirit needed. It was my answer to prayers. Because of that moment, I now remember what it is like to be close to God and have that close and constant communication, to have joy and affirmation deep within. It’s what fuels me for this ministry, for life.
When I even see how you as my friends and sponsors have been so diligent and thoughtful in supporting me and this ministry, it again reminds me that I am being taken care of and I have much to be thankful for. I appreciate your gifts and your generosity in resources and prayers. That miracle factor means the world to me and being dependent upon God to provide my needs, is really the best way to live and something I truly cherish. Thank you for being a part of my journey.
I feel like this year is indeed a fresh year of miracles and affirmations. I trust that God will provide my every need and will use many of you to reach out with me, reach out to those in need. My spirit feels renewed and I possess passion again and I have once again experienced how God the Father does indeed hold me close and renews my strength and encourages my heart. Many of you have reached out in very special ways to me over the course of this last year because you could sense where I was at. Even typing out a thank you, makes my heart feel soft and tears fill my eyes because of the gratitude I feel for you and your thoughtfulness. So please don’t give up on me and please continue those prayers – they are not taken for granted and it is what encourages the very depths of my heart!
My deepest and most heartfelt prayer for last year was simply. “Lord PLEASE... I just need a miracle to happen, one really good thing. I’m tired. Please Lord, it’s all I ask. I need to know you’re still here with me and you hear me crying.” It seems so silly now when I reflect on how I felt but I truly felt like a walking time bomb that could (and sometimes would) just break down into tears because I was so unhappy and unsettled inside. I remember very vividly thinking to myself how easy it would be to drive off of Deerfoot Trail and into oncoming traffic. It’s a pretty scary thought to realize that that was where I was in life, but it was very real. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a place before where I just didn’t “feel” like continuing in life. I was too tired. What was scarier was that I didn’t seem to care. I had suffered from stress hives for just over a year and I guess that should’ve been a pretty clear clue to take time to restore myself and take inventory of my schedule and life. I kept pep telling myself saying, “This year is almost done Maria” in the hopes that time would make things better and that I’d feel strong again. I was desperate for something good to happen. God’s love language to me has always been the miracle factor and you’ve heard me state before that often I feel like a little girl on God’s lap and I feel like He loves me so much and knows me so well, that He wasn’t just willing to give me the little pink bike, but the pink bike with the tassels too! Perhaps it’s a funny remark to you, but in my spiritual and ministry journey, I have thrived on the miracle factor and those “extras” – the extra assurances.
When I was preparing for the StreetLight Christmas party (and if you read the Insight’s article), you will understand why the stress hit hard this past Christmas. I felt like a failure. I felt ashamed and useless. I hid in my office sulking because looking at the needs we had for more backpacks, blankets etc, I felt like perhaps I wasn’t going to have that “something good” I wanted anytime soon. So when the call went out and the numbers of backpacks went from 120-475 in a matter of days and the one bag full of blankets went to 20+bags, I KNEW that it was a God thing for sure! I was in awe. When the winter blizzard hit on the night we were to host our party outside along the Bow River, I felt heartbroken as we loaded up the StreetLight trailer. I began to doubt that the night would be a success and I doubted kids would even show up. The emotions of that day were at their peak. The moment we arrived downtown (after the 2 hour hauling through the snow drifts), and I saw the hundreds of homeless waiting in the freezing cold for a BackPack and a bite to eat – I felt confirmed that I still heard God’s voice and it was His “something good” for me. It was the lift my spirit needed. It was my answer to prayers. Because of that moment, I now remember what it is like to be close to God and have that close and constant communication, to have joy and affirmation deep within. It’s what fuels me for this ministry, for life.
When I even see how you as my friends and sponsors have been so diligent and thoughtful in supporting me and this ministry, it again reminds me that I am being taken care of and I have much to be thankful for. I appreciate your gifts and your generosity in resources and prayers. That miracle factor means the world to me and being dependent upon God to provide my needs, is really the best way to live and something I truly cherish. Thank you for being a part of my journey.
I feel like this year is indeed a fresh year of miracles and affirmations. I trust that God will provide my every need and will use many of you to reach out with me, reach out to those in need. My spirit feels renewed and I possess passion again and I have once again experienced how God the Father does indeed hold me close and renews my strength and encourages my heart. Many of you have reached out in very special ways to me over the course of this last year because you could sense where I was at. Even typing out a thank you, makes my heart feel soft and tears fill my eyes because of the gratitude I feel for you and your thoughtfulness. So please don’t give up on me and please continue those prayers – they are not taken for granted and it is what encourages the very depths of my heart!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Operation BackPack 2008
Click and see what took place at StreetLight this Christmas!
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5425762627014767921
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5425762627014767921
Monday, January 5, 2009
Operation BackPack
I lie awake tonight because what weighs on my mind is that, “you missed it”. The call was put out to you, but you never came. by Maria Petrou – StreetLight Director
Friday, December 12, 2008 was the night the winter storm blew in. While the hustle and bustle of rushing to company Christmas parties and last minute shopping took place, Riverfront Avenue and 1st Street SW there were over 300 homeless people huddled in line anxiously waiting.
Less than one week prior, the realization (that whether because of the economy or the unknowns), our donations for Operation BackPack took a drastic drop. In previous years, StreetLight, which is a mobile youth centre for street kids, had received between 500-600 backpacks each year that were filled with the essentials a homeless person needs as they aim to survive the harsh reality of living on the streets. This year StreetLight received only 120 backpacks and panic sunk in. How on earth were we to turn away the potential hundreds of homeless who would come to our Operation BackPack party because the promise of a Christmas backpack could not be fulfilled?
The urgent call was made across our city begging for people to take action and as Calgary does so well, once again the community pulled together and made a miracle happen. In less than a week, the number of backpacks went from 120 to 475 packs stocked full of hygiene items, warm gloves, socks, food certificates and even a little first-aid kit. The donations of blankets and clothes went from one garbage bag full to a packed office full! Then the storm of December 12th hit.
Panic once again began to take over and as I watched our StreetLight trailer trudge through the extreme conditions, I wondered, “Would the homeless even dare to come out to this party now?” My cell phone rang and rang throughout the whole drive and my volunteers, my photographer, and my cooks, were all scattered across the city struggling to make it downtown to our destination. Many were forced (and all were tempted) to turn around and call it a night. Tears of defeat fell down my face.
I looked at my volunteer who was tailgating StreetLight and asked her if she was “in”. We agreed that if we had to pull this party off alone – it was going to happen! We pulled up downtown and just blocks away from our destination, there they were... they were pushing baby strollers through the thick snow, they were hunched over under blankets and pushing against the cold wind – they were coming! I couldn’t believe it! My heart began to race! As we turned the last corner to park our trailer, there they were, hundreds of homeless, standing in a line shivering, anxiously waiting for us to arrive and fulfill our Christmas promise. As I guided the trailer into its parking spot I kept yelling to the crowd, “Thank you for coming! Thank you! Thank you!”
The moment we parked StreetLight, we hit the ground running! Burgers got flipped, people were fed, hot Starbucks coffee was passed out and even the fire department that joined us handed out blankets and clothes. My dedicated team of volunteers handed out the handcrafted backpacks and dispersed Tonka trucks and dolls to little kids who immediately began to play with them in snow... and I think to myself, “How could you have missed it?”
In the midst of all that hustle and bustle, car horns screaming at each other and others fighting to get the best deal on that last Christmas gift, on a downtown street, there was the real spirit of Christmas taking place.
The following morning, after the intensity of the night, I realized that not a single one of the news stations we had invited to cover this story had made an appearance. They missed it. How could they have missed it? The story isn’t about StreetLight, it isn’t even about media coverage for pride’s sake. The story is about the need. Hundreds of homeless lined up for hours in the middle of a storm, most losing their chance at shelter for the night... all for a Christmas backpack and a bite to eat. The story is about the heart of this city. It’s about the graciousness that was shown by those who made the choice to give of themselves and their comfort, to make a miracle happen. It’s about my team of faithful volunteers who are committed to love those who aren’t always easily loved and know the homeless by name. It’s about giving a homeless kid a Tonka truck to play with. Even in the midst of a blizzard there is so much that we could see, if we just dared to look!
The one man, who didn’t miss it, was Rafal Wegiel our photographer. He stood in the middle of a snow bank surrounded by those who live on the streets. He got it. He captured the moments that so many missed that night. With camera in hand, he caught the intensity of the need, he “got” why we do what we do and he did it out of the kindness of his heart and the desire to stretch himself.
That night my faith grew immensely. Operation BackPack was an event that was stocked full of unknowns and “what if’s”. But in the end, we were right, the need was there and Calgary could, and did, step it up a notch this year to make sure that miracles do happen! It may not have been a Miracle on 34 Street, but rather a true miracle on Riverfront Ave and 1st! My prayer is that we never get too busy to care about others before ourselves or miss those precious opportunities to get what matters most and look beyond a storm. It’s one of the best gifts we can afford ourselves.
Friday, December 12, 2008 was the night the winter storm blew in. While the hustle and bustle of rushing to company Christmas parties and last minute shopping took place, Riverfront Avenue and 1st Street SW there were over 300 homeless people huddled in line anxiously waiting.
Less than one week prior, the realization (that whether because of the economy or the unknowns), our donations for Operation BackPack took a drastic drop. In previous years, StreetLight, which is a mobile youth centre for street kids, had received between 500-600 backpacks each year that were filled with the essentials a homeless person needs as they aim to survive the harsh reality of living on the streets. This year StreetLight received only 120 backpacks and panic sunk in. How on earth were we to turn away the potential hundreds of homeless who would come to our Operation BackPack party because the promise of a Christmas backpack could not be fulfilled?
The urgent call was made across our city begging for people to take action and as Calgary does so well, once again the community pulled together and made a miracle happen. In less than a week, the number of backpacks went from 120 to 475 packs stocked full of hygiene items, warm gloves, socks, food certificates and even a little first-aid kit. The donations of blankets and clothes went from one garbage bag full to a packed office full! Then the storm of December 12th hit.
Panic once again began to take over and as I watched our StreetLight trailer trudge through the extreme conditions, I wondered, “Would the homeless even dare to come out to this party now?” My cell phone rang and rang throughout the whole drive and my volunteers, my photographer, and my cooks, were all scattered across the city struggling to make it downtown to our destination. Many were forced (and all were tempted) to turn around and call it a night. Tears of defeat fell down my face.
I looked at my volunteer who was tailgating StreetLight and asked her if she was “in”. We agreed that if we had to pull this party off alone – it was going to happen! We pulled up downtown and just blocks away from our destination, there they were... they were pushing baby strollers through the thick snow, they were hunched over under blankets and pushing against the cold wind – they were coming! I couldn’t believe it! My heart began to race! As we turned the last corner to park our trailer, there they were, hundreds of homeless, standing in a line shivering, anxiously waiting for us to arrive and fulfill our Christmas promise. As I guided the trailer into its parking spot I kept yelling to the crowd, “Thank you for coming! Thank you! Thank you!”
The moment we parked StreetLight, we hit the ground running! Burgers got flipped, people were fed, hot Starbucks coffee was passed out and even the fire department that joined us handed out blankets and clothes. My dedicated team of volunteers handed out the handcrafted backpacks and dispersed Tonka trucks and dolls to little kids who immediately began to play with them in snow... and I think to myself, “How could you have missed it?”
In the midst of all that hustle and bustle, car horns screaming at each other and others fighting to get the best deal on that last Christmas gift, on a downtown street, there was the real spirit of Christmas taking place.
The following morning, after the intensity of the night, I realized that not a single one of the news stations we had invited to cover this story had made an appearance. They missed it. How could they have missed it? The story isn’t about StreetLight, it isn’t even about media coverage for pride’s sake. The story is about the need. Hundreds of homeless lined up for hours in the middle of a storm, most losing their chance at shelter for the night... all for a Christmas backpack and a bite to eat. The story is about the heart of this city. It’s about the graciousness that was shown by those who made the choice to give of themselves and their comfort, to make a miracle happen. It’s about my team of faithful volunteers who are committed to love those who aren’t always easily loved and know the homeless by name. It’s about giving a homeless kid a Tonka truck to play with. Even in the midst of a blizzard there is so much that we could see, if we just dared to look!
The one man, who didn’t miss it, was Rafal Wegiel our photographer. He stood in the middle of a snow bank surrounded by those who live on the streets. He got it. He captured the moments that so many missed that night. With camera in hand, he caught the intensity of the need, he “got” why we do what we do and he did it out of the kindness of his heart and the desire to stretch himself.
That night my faith grew immensely. Operation BackPack was an event that was stocked full of unknowns and “what if’s”. But in the end, we were right, the need was there and Calgary could, and did, step it up a notch this year to make sure that miracles do happen! It may not have been a Miracle on 34 Street, but rather a true miracle on Riverfront Ave and 1st! My prayer is that we never get too busy to care about others before ourselves or miss those precious opportunities to get what matters most and look beyond a storm. It’s one of the best gifts we can afford ourselves.
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