Week #2

So much has happened this week that this post may turn into a novel…so I apologize first off, I'll try my best to keep it short.

Work;
Work has been going great….I’m realizing how exhausting it is running after 6 toddlers all day…but have been sleeping like a rock at night. It’s so rewarding to see those children grow because of the effort you put into helping them learn. And the tiredness is so worth knowing I can love those kids the way God loves them, even if they have no idea yet that He loves them and wants them to grow up to know Him.

In terms of conversations, this week brought some good ones. One day Sharon asked me about how Christians can forgive people who hurt them, so I got the chance to explain that all people are sinful and hurt people at times and that it’s through the power of the Holy Spirit that I can forgive those who’ve hurt me, because I need to remember I’ve hurt people too and that I have no right to judge others for their actions- only God can do that. Though I still don’t know exactly where Sharon is at in terms of her faith, that was a very encouraging conversation and I know there will be –God willing- many more to come.

Another co-worker and I had an interesting conversation this week as well. Natalie is 30 years old and just moved to Calgary to work at our daycare 1 month ago. She seems very shut off from the rest of our co-workers and almost bitter about life in general. I was really scared to talk to her as I wasn’t sure she’d want to talk to me in return. However, one day we had lunch together and we just sat in silence for 20 minutes eating our lunch- I knew God wanted me to talk to her so I started some small talk about what her old daycare was like, where she was from etc. We got talking about why she moved to Calgary and she really opened up to me. She started telling me about how she moved here because she felt trapped and lost in Toronto and needed to find herself and discover what she was supposed to do with her life. WOW – all that from small talk! The conversation didn’t go too much further as our lunch was over, but the rest of the week she seemed much more open to me and talked with me more as we worked. Please pray for Natalie… we would have many more opportunities to talk and that Spiritual issues would surface in our conversations and that she would come to know Christ loves her and died for her.

We had a nice little outbreak of pinkeye at the daycare which led to some overtime to disinfect everything in the daycare, but which also led to some quality conversations with many of my other co-workers. All of them know now that I’m in Calgary with a Christian group-so hopefully that will open up some interesting doors – please continue to lift my co-workers up in prayer.

Weekly low-down;
The evenings were packed with our Monday night weekly meeting/ build time where we learnt about studying the Bible inductively.

Tuesday night we went to the Mustard seed (the street ministry I mentioned earlier) for a tour of their facilities- it is an amazing building with so much to offer those less fortunate. A very eye-opening experience for sure. Odd how the people God specifically tells us to care for are often kicked to the curb because though we want to be God’s hands- we don’t want to get them dirty. God definitely stirred in all of us a passion to reach the less fortunate with His love and message of salvation. After all the first shall be last and the last shall be first.

Wednesday night we have Bible study small groups- we’re studying the book of Daniel and learning how though he became part of the secular world by becoming one of the King’s trainees he still did not put “fitting in” above God or do anything that would negatively affect his relationship with God.

Thursday we have outreach training- learning how to be the most effective witness in our workplace as possible.

Friday we have fun night bonding- We have really become a tight knit community living here in the dorms all together- I’ve made some amazing friends here and I can’t explain what a blessing it is to know and live with these brothers and sisters and learn from one another and grow in our relationships with God together- it’s truly amazing-and I know already that it’s going to be very hard to leave in August.

Saturday my roommates and I went to a little town called Canmore close to the Rocky Mountains to do some hiking and walk around the town. The mountains were beautiful! I'll upload a few for you to see. They're just like a postcard- it’s hard to believe how so any people can look out their backyards to see such majesty everyday and think the view as well as themselves exploded into being. It just spurs me on even more to make sure people have a chance to know the truth, and that God will get the glory He deserves.

I pray all is well with you, thank you for your continued prayers and support. Drop me an email anytime at emferrier@gmail.com if you would like anymore info etc. God bless you all for helping me serve here in Calgary.

Love in Christ
Emily