On Top of the World

The view from our spacious high rise in Edmonton, Alberta

Ken and I drove all day to Edmonton for a one-week vacation. We met up with our friends who generously put us up in their amazing condo for a week!

Not only did we have over 2000 square feet of luxury living space on the 17th floor, we had a swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, and gym. We are walking distance to the farmer's market and infamous "Whyte Avenue." We could light a fire, enjoy a river walk, watch cable tv, and check email on wireless internet.

Our hosts outfitted us with all kinds of organic groceries and treats, a Palm One cell phone to make local calls. The bed we slept in is a king size and it did everything except dishes. I mean, it massages, it heats, it raises your feet or head, depending on your mood. It cooks breakfast. No, wait, that's my job. We are talking, totally spoiled!

The break away was fantastic and I'll be telling you little more about our adventures later in the week!

Bring Your Mom To Work Day

It's been a common practise amongst our staff, that when parents or siblings visit, they come along and spend the days of their visit working for Regina RESCUE Mission. Just another of the many ways I have come up with to exploit the free labour market. This week, Melanie brought her mom, Kari to work.

Kari did a lot of things for us!! She cooked exotic meals using our "gourmet" ingredients... she worked for Vicki in the office, setting up some computer stuff for us... she took me for coffee!

And then, there was mail day. Kari and one of our fine option workers were opening mail. She sliced open letter after letter, making notations when necessary, and placing everything neatly into organized piles based on whether people have mailed in cash, or a credit card donation, or a cheque. There's even a problem pile for people who forget to sign their cheques and such.

As she slit an envelope open, her eyes bulged... she showed it to her helper and said in a sort of hushed tone, as she shook her head, "I don't think this is normal. I have to go find someone."

So, she went off in search of a staff member, and found Melanie and Vicki. She held up the donation and they grabbed it, did a little dance, and said, "We have to go find Ken!"

So, off they all trooped to Ken's office where they excitedly showed Ken what was in the envelope.

Ken was so excited he called me on my cell phone. I was on my way back from spending a few days with my sister in Manitoba.

"You will never believe what I have sitting on my desk, Michelle! It came in today's mail."

Curious?

A cheque from an anonomous donor for $100,000!!! This person caught Ken's vision for paying down the mortgage, and wanted to make as big of a gift as he could for it. So, he mailed in a portion of his parents' inheritance, on a personal cheque, with a little Post-It that said, "Use where most needed."

Wow. Talk about giving generously with no strings attached. Not to mention the anonomous part. Very few people want to remain anonymous.

So, off went Ken to the bank. Well, it's kind of hard to remain anonymous at the bank, when one lady got so excited for us she called all the other bank ladies around to take a look.

"What do we do?"
"We've never processed a personal cheque this large."
"This is going to take two weeks to clear!"
"What if he's not good for it?"

Ken, looking cool as a cucumber, in his usual fashion, calmly replied, "Oh, believe me. He's good for it."

And so, in a couple of weeks, our mortgage will be cut nearly in half. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving!

Thanks so much to Mr & Mrs T for their prayerful and most generous contribution.

Drowned Rats

11 women and children survived the torrential downpour at Rowan's Ravine last night...

MOST of their trip was swimmingly hot and sunny.

But, last night, after the volunteer women had their weiner and S'More Roast and sing-a-long,

"The rains came down and the floods came up,
And the tent on the sand went SPLAT!"

And, although the RV and Soul's Harbour tents stood firm, Melanie and Vicki built their tent on the sand and found themselves sleeping in the van. The woke up... reclined their seats up, and lo... it was still raining!

Lightening had struck their hammock tree and two branches lay on the ground completely stripped of bark and leaves!

Mel looks over at Vicki in the passenger side. Vicki looks over at Mel.

"Looks like we're not going swimming before we pack up to go home to the Mission."
"Nope."
"What about breakfast?"

Some debate took place here... Melanie knew I wasn't about to pay for breakfast at the local restaurant, (Yes, I am cruel!) so she was wondering if she should donate this expensive venture. They couldn't figure out how to work the kerosine Coleman, and of course, cooking over the fire was not an option.

"We could feed the children marshmallows and dry hot dog buns." (A good choice I would have picked!)

Eventually, a toaster was discovered the the RV. So, while everyone furiously packed up, Rita was assigned the job of making everyone a piece of toast. (How civilized. Marshmallows would have been fun!)

"No plates! We're not doing dishes!" (So much for civilized.)

So, five children lined up outside the RV while Rita furiously buttered toasts and handed them out one by one to each drowned urchin, er, child.

Meanwhile, Melanie called me from the campsite and explained the situation, "There's 11 hungry women and children who will be coming home for lunch. Please cook lots!"

When they arrived, still wet, we had three sets of campers. I went into the Women's Dining Rooom and cheerfully asked, "So, did you have fun?!"

1. The children, sho slept through it all and happily ate their toast without a plate, shouted, "YEAH!!." This is a big deal. Mostly the children of the women stare blankly at me and are fairly non-responsive. I have this effect on kids.

2. The moms, not too far behind, in a slightly quieter voice, obviously happy to be home, smiled and said, "Yeah."

3. Back in the Staff Lounge, posed the same question, Melanie and Vicki, who look COMPLETELY fried, said, "Uh huh."

And this, dear friends, is why I don't attend the annual women's camping trip!


P.S. Several of the women had never had S'Mores... Myrna being one of them. (Myrna graduated from our program last year and attended the volunteer night of this event.) She said, "Melanie, I wish I could be as creative as you and invent food like S'Mores." Yes, that's right. You heard it here first. Mel is the inventor of S'Mores, and she works at Regina RESCUE Mission! Wow!

Jack's Back!

Jack's back!!

And what a welcome home...

1. Hey, Jack, welcome back! Three staff are on vacation, one's gone sick, and you're filling in for them. Check your box for notes to feel more "in the loop." Yeah. Right.

2. Paula, the girls' camping trip is tomorrow. Can you drive two of the volunteers out for the weiner roast tomorrow night?

3. Oh, and by the way, can we have our staff pot luck at your house tomorrow??!!

And so we did. And a rousing game of Texas Hold 'em to finish things off. Being that the girls are out camping, and I have a bad neck (means no driving), I was the only girl around the table tonight.

We have a pot luck at the end of each of our Bible studies. We're trying to stick to 4 week studies for the summer so we can have lots of parties!

As for Jack, he and Paula were gone on a month-long Harley ride across the country. Pretty exciting!!

Paula volunteers as an Evening Supervisor, and serves as Treasurer on our Women's Auxillery Executive (WARRM).

Jack is our Scholar in Residence, working half time FOR FREE and has many important tasks, most of them as part of our Program Staff Team. He is our best teacher!!

Together, Jack and Paula give much to the Mission - they are part of our Adopt-A-Plate Program (and more), they host our weekly Bible study group and the infamous Pot Luck Parties!!

The men and women on the program missed them and so did we. I don't know how we survived without them!

And awaaaaayyyyy they go!

Rowan's Ravine Provincial Park Campground


The buzz at the Mission this morning was quite exciting. It was Melanie running around trying to get the 15 passenger van loaded with girls and the Montana loaded with luggage...

Mel: Where's the ice blocks?
Michelle: I brought them for Kathleen to use... um, I don't know if they're frozen...

Rita: I can't go! I don't have a carseat! And if I don't go, Carol's not going either!!
Mel: I'll call St. John's Ambulance. They rent them out.
Michelle: Call Sally Jacobson! (She's our WARRM Communications Officer who has SIX children!)
Rita: I don't WANT to go!!

Kathleen to her child: No, I am NOT picking you up. You can stand on your own two feet.

Vicki: Okay, Paula wants to come to the campground, and Jack will work the 6:00 a.m. shift while we're gone. He is going to call you to confirm these details.
Mel: Oh, and tell him I left him a bunch of notes of what else to cover while we're gone! (Jack has been gone on vacation for the last month.)

Mel: Do we need keys to the 5th Wheel?
Jon: Yup.
Mel: Do you have them?
Jon: Nope.
Michelle: You'll have to call Donovan and pick them up on your way out of town.
Mel: Okay! I'll do it right after Alison and I pick up a few last minute items at the grocery store!

Alison: Are you coming camping, Michelle?
Michelle: No, I never go. I just stay and enjoy the peace and quiet!

And, one hour later, they're gone! Ahhhhh...


So... is all this worth the effort? Oh yes, many times over and in many ways. First of all, the girls talk about it as a pivotal point in their recovery more than a year later!!

Now, last year's ladies, in no uncertain terms, did NOT want to go camping. We knew the women going this year were not squeemish when they started naming various rodents around the building...

We had a few new hurdles this year, namely, Carol's newborn baby. You remember, he was born at the Mission on the night of the fund raising banquet!! But Donovan Carroll from Soul's Harbour loaned us his Fifth Wheel so Carol and baby can sleep safe and sound.

Another neat thing about the camping trip is that the girls all have a chance to prepare and share a devotional - staff and residents alike. They prepare it ahead and clear it with Melanie.

And then Wednesday night the crew is joined by many female volunteers for a wiener roast and a campfire.

In the words of the best Program Director ever: "It's going to be awesome! ;) "

Pain in the Neck

Toula Portokalos: Ma, Dad is so stubborn. What he says goes. "Ah, the man is the head of the house!"
Maria Portokalos: Let me tell you something, Toula. The man is the head, but the woman is the neck.

...and the neck... turns the head!

Earlier today, Larry and I were discussing how crucial the neck area is. He's been exercising and strenghtening this area for 10 years! Someone should give that man a present.

Ever think what else the neck is responsible for? Here's a brief list:

* holds up our 10 or 12 pound heads! (That's the size of a cat. Meow!)
* rotates our head.
* a strong neck keeps us balanced, headache and dizzy-free.
* major channel for nerve impulses and blood supply to and from the brain, shoulders, arms, trunk of the body, and even its organs & glands.
* relaxation, alertness, mental sharpness, the feeling of being "in control" and a desired level of well-being

Imagine my surprise when I woke up on Saturday to find I couldn't move my neck or lift my head. For the entire day, even the slightest motion caused extreme pain. I couldn't turn my head left OR right! I wore a neck brace and every time I had to get up out of a chair I had to have help. Even the motion of getting up out of a chair could not be taken for granted, let alone getting up out of bed to go to the bathroom in the night!

And so, this "acute wry neck," got me wondering about what else we take for granted.

Today, although I can get out of a chair on my own, I still cannot go to work. I don't need a neck brace, but the act of jarring my neck with each step is rather painful. Slowly but surely, I can get up out of my bed, but I can't stir the chili I was trying to make for supper.

What else do we do in our lives that we take for granted?

" The hand of the Lord is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind." Job 12:10

While I struggle with dizziness, tingling arms and hands, and an upset stomach, and while I sit for an afternoon of Star Trek, I can't help but think about all that God controls in this universe, from the number of the stars, to the number of hairs on my head.

Can you imagine a love so great?

A couple of Sundays ago in church I could barely sing this song without tears:

How Deep the Fathers Love,
written by Stuart Townend

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen one
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the Man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no powers, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

The Poor in Spirit

Right now we have a surplus of food and I felt a bit weird as I offered some to a local church... "If any of your congregants are going through hard times." A lot of them are farmers and, well, you know how that goes. It's good to remember that not all the problems inner city rescue missions deal with occur in the inner city. And not all of the people we help are poor.

We've served doctors, business owners, wealthy wives, teachers, pastors, missionaries and more. The very rich have a lot of challenges that don't come into play in our social class. The Bible helps us understand this, and it is written word for word in three of the four gospels!

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25)

While we strive to protect the names of those we serve who come from society's stratosphere, just knowing we can have an impact beyond our traditional borders, and perhaps where the churches can or have not... well, just makes you feel good.

Here's the blog post that got me thinking about serving the rich:
http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/2006/07/04/geeks-private-hells/

Like I said yesterday, "We're all messed up.

Survival Lies

One of the resources we use in our LifeChange Program is called the Genesis Process. In a nutshell, it's a relapse prevention model.

According to their own defination,

The Genesis Process is an integration of Biblical precepts for personal change, proven relapse prevention techniques, cognitive therapy principles, and the latest neurochemistry research relating to human behavior.

For the first time in history we can answer the question "Why do we do the very thing we don't want to do"? (Romans 7: 15-23)

One thing I like about most of the material we use in our Life & Social Skills classes, is that it is applicable to the common person. John Bradford, an English protestant martyr, said, "There but for the grace of God go I," whenever he saw criminals being led off to their execution.

Sometimes people ask me, "How can you work with those people?

Let me fill you in on a little secret. In my brief 15 years of ministry, there is something I have learned over and over again. We're all messed up!!

We all say and do things we have promised ourselves, others and God that we would never do again. We have all made "new year's resolutions" that we have broken.

The Genesis Process gets to the bottom of why we do the things we do. It exposes self-defeating behaviours by taking into consideration the neuro chemical processes of the brain, and how it affects our thinking. It trains us to recognize the false beliefs we live with that are from the devil, others, and ourselves. Things we have had to believe in order to survive.

We are into the first week of our new fiscal year. Our budget for the Genesis Process is $700. If you can help defray this cost, please make a donation and mark it "Genesis." For more information on the Process as presented by Michael Dye, CADC, NCAC II, click on the title bar of this blog posting.

Apotheosis

Yesterday, as I reflected on Mel's evaluation in preparation for today, I was dwelling on an important "overall" responsibility we have as leaders, and that is, to be an example.

This morning in my inbox, the dictionary.com Word of the Day gave further pause for thought:

"apotheosis \uh-pah-thee-OH-sis; ap-uh-THEE-uh-sis\, noun;
plural apotheoses \-seez\:

1. Elevation to divine rank or stature; deification.
2. An exalted or glorified example; a model of excellence or perfection of a kind.

"Charles I's court represented the English apotheosis of this Renaissance ideal of kingship." -- John Brewer, The Pleasures of the Imagination

Apotheosis comes from Greek, from apotheoun, "to deify," from apo- + theos, "a god."

Whether you are a missionary like me, a parent, a business owner, a blue collar worker, a manager... whatever, ... In order to represent Christ well, we are to set an example. It's not just me and dictionary.com saying this either:

"Be an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." -1 Timothy 4:12b

It's a tall order, isn't it?

Once a year our staff complete a lengthy staff evaluation form. I change it up every year, and, while it isn't meant to be gruelling, it is supposed to give supervisors an overall feel of how staff are doing at work and also personally.

This year I had everyone submit three questions they would like to see on the form. Now, everyone has filled one of these out before, so they know what kind of questions should be included, and also that we like to have a little fun with them.

This year's fun, submitted by
Jon: "Should Regina RESCUE Mission have a mascot?"
Larry: "Should Larry's office have a whirlpool installed?" and
Jack: "Does Rescue College give enough significance to plagues?"

I also fill out a form, and submit it for peer evaluation to my Senior Staff member, Melanie. She's never done mine before and she said it is slightly intimidating!

Filling them out can also be a challenge! "Why does the Mission need you?" "What books have you read in the past year?" (Hard to remember for an avid reader like me!) "How can you judge growth at RRM?" "What do you love, hate, feel neutral towards about your ministry?" "What have been your biggest joys, hardships, and (assuming you will be granted amnesty) mistakes?"
What are five things you expect of me as your supervisor?" "Talk about your spiritual life and growth over the past year."

Those are a handful of things Mel and I will be talking about over coffee at Tim Horton's tomorrow morning, as we have a time of encouragement and setting new goals.