Hey Everyone
So since this is our last weekend in Toronto, we thought it would be a good idea to go downtown. This little excursion was planned a few weeks ago and then we realized that our trip was to coincide with the G20 summit. So we looked at the map and didn't plan to go near where the police had the security fence set up. So this morning we headed by subway into downtown.
The station where we got off was just on the edge of the barricade. When we got out on to the street there were no civilians to be seen, only lots and lots of police and other security personnel. Other than that, our day went pretty well aside from the rain.
It wasn't until we tried to get home that things got a bit messy. We stopped in for coffee and to catch the last few minutes of the soccer game. As soon as we sat down, the game broke for a news update of the G20. There was a riot going on and a cop car had been set on fire. Just after that report, five cops on motorcycles drove past followed by a huge coach bus filled with police in full riot gear. We left the coffee shop only to learn that all above-ground public transportation was stopped along with a good part of the subway that went farther into the heart of the city.
All that being said, we made it home with no surprises which was nice. As I sit hear typing this, the TV is on in the background with constant updates of the craziness that is the rioting. Store windows have been smashed, more cop cars have been vandalized and lit on fire, and more police seem to be arriving every minute.
Please pray for everyone who is involved in all of this. Also, I'm working on my sermon for tomorrow so I could use some prayers as well.
In Christ,
Alex
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
How Time Flies....
Hello Everyone
This week has been crazy busy. I've been going out at night a few times with our host to meet with some people and to tutor others. I'm really starting to think that God had me spend all that time at Grand Valley studying math and science so that I'd be prepared to help my host tutor some of these families. Anyway, I'm really enjoying working with these students. School is just ending here, so most of our tutoring is over. That's kind of sad.
Most of those you who read this and who know anything about me at all, know that I really enjoy a good meal. Did I ever get my fill yesterday! Yesterday was a marathon of cross-cultural eating. Our ESL students graduated yesterday morning and that was concluded with a lunch provided by the Somali Women and Children group. The food consisted of mostly some spiced rice and some pretty spicy vegetables. In the afternoon we had our end-of-the-year Homework Club party. That also included a meal that wasn't really supper but could have been. This kids ate pizza but the adult volunteers (ie. Kim and I) got a delicious buffet of rice, Sambus (also called Samosas if they were in India), some kind of home-made Somali cookies that were really good, and goat. Yes, that's right: I ate goat yesterday. I'll let that sink in for a minute
...
And then for supper, we went to some friends of our hosts where we feasted on lasagna, salad, spicy chicken legs, mango shakes, popcorn, and Somali tea (which is amazing, by the way). I don't think I've eaten that much in one day in a very long time.
Today, our hosts had a meeting with their boss so Kim and I slept in a caught up on some reading. After lunch we went to our of our friends houses and measured for some drywalling that we'll be working on tomorrow. We finished up our day with they bike clinic that we've been working at on Thursdays. (On a side note, I can now fix bikes. Not terribly exciting, but a big step for me nonetheless)
I want to thank you all again for keeping Kim and I in your prayers. We'll be home in just over a week and I'm sure we'll have all kinds of cool stories.
Nabad Geliyo
Alex
This week has been crazy busy. I've been going out at night a few times with our host to meet with some people and to tutor others. I'm really starting to think that God had me spend all that time at Grand Valley studying math and science so that I'd be prepared to help my host tutor some of these families. Anyway, I'm really enjoying working with these students. School is just ending here, so most of our tutoring is over. That's kind of sad.
Most of those you who read this and who know anything about me at all, know that I really enjoy a good meal. Did I ever get my fill yesterday! Yesterday was a marathon of cross-cultural eating. Our ESL students graduated yesterday morning and that was concluded with a lunch provided by the Somali Women and Children group. The food consisted of mostly some spiced rice and some pretty spicy vegetables. In the afternoon we had our end-of-the-year Homework Club party. That also included a meal that wasn't really supper but could have been. This kids ate pizza but the adult volunteers (ie. Kim and I) got a delicious buffet of rice, Sambus (also called Samosas if they were in India), some kind of home-made Somali cookies that were really good, and goat. Yes, that's right: I ate goat yesterday. I'll let that sink in for a minute
...
And then for supper, we went to some friends of our hosts where we feasted on lasagna, salad, spicy chicken legs, mango shakes, popcorn, and Somali tea (which is amazing, by the way). I don't think I've eaten that much in one day in a very long time.
Today, our hosts had a meeting with their boss so Kim and I slept in a caught up on some reading. After lunch we went to our of our friends houses and measured for some drywalling that we'll be working on tomorrow. We finished up our day with they bike clinic that we've been working at on Thursdays. (On a side note, I can now fix bikes. Not terribly exciting, but a big step for me nonetheless)
I want to thank you all again for keeping Kim and I in your prayers. We'll be home in just over a week and I'm sure we'll have all kinds of cool stories.
Nabad Geliyo
Alex
Friday, June 11, 2010
Another Week
Hey Everyone
I just realized that I haven't written anything since last weekend. That's mostly due to the fact that this week was a lot like last week. We're still trying to learn the Somali language but that's going well. Kim and I are mostly tutoring on our own now. We have two families that we're working with to help with Math and English. When we're not putting in air conditioners or pricing fences or working with students, we mostly read. Our hosts have lent us a huge supply of books so that we can better understand our new friends and their religion. I'm also spending time on my sermons. I'll let you know how they go over.
Today we had a very diverse cultural experience. We went with our hosts to a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque, a Somali restaurant, and then Kim and I went to a Swedish furniture store. (Yes, you read that correctly. There is an IKEA 15 min from where we're staying and we definitely went there.)
Anyway, tomorrow we're going to play tourists and visit Niagara Falls. Hopefully I can take some pictures that will be worth putting up here.
Again, I thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We miss you.
In Christ,
Alex (and Kim. I put Kim in parentheses because I wrote this entry in the first person and Kim isn't sitting here with me anyway. But I assure you, she supports what I wrote)
I just realized that I haven't written anything since last weekend. That's mostly due to the fact that this week was a lot like last week. We're still trying to learn the Somali language but that's going well. Kim and I are mostly tutoring on our own now. We have two families that we're working with to help with Math and English. When we're not putting in air conditioners or pricing fences or working with students, we mostly read. Our hosts have lent us a huge supply of books so that we can better understand our new friends and their religion. I'm also spending time on my sermons. I'll let you know how they go over.
Today we had a very diverse cultural experience. We went with our hosts to a Hindu temple, a Muslim mosque, a Somali restaurant, and then Kim and I went to a Swedish furniture store. (Yes, you read that correctly. There is an IKEA 15 min from where we're staying and we definitely went there.)
Anyway, tomorrow we're going to play tourists and visit Niagara Falls. Hopefully I can take some pictures that will be worth putting up here.
Again, I thank you all for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. We miss you.
In Christ,
Alex (and Kim. I put Kim in parentheses because I wrote this entry in the first person and Kim isn't sitting here with me anyway. But I assure you, she supports what I wrote)
Saturday, June 5, 2010
End of Week 1
Hey Everyone
I can't believe we've been here a whole week already.
Thursday we had a good morning with our hosts learning more of the language and more about our new friend's religion. In the afternoon, Kim and I went and tutored the daughter of one of our new friends. I had to remember my trig but it went well. Maybe this is why I spend 5 years studying math and science. Hmm....
Friday we went to downtown Toronto. What a huge city. There are more people in that one place than most other places I've ever been. We had fun but it was a lot of walking.
Today was a chill day for us and we spent it mostly lounging around our apartment reading. I've been working for almost an hour to get the internet in our apartment from the connection upstairs but it's not going well.
Anyway, I hope all of you are having a good summer so far. We'll see you in a few weeks.
In Christ,
Alex and Kim
I can't believe we've been here a whole week already.
Thursday we had a good morning with our hosts learning more of the language and more about our new friend's religion. In the afternoon, Kim and I went and tutored the daughter of one of our new friends. I had to remember my trig but it went well. Maybe this is why I spend 5 years studying math and science. Hmm....
Friday we went to downtown Toronto. What a huge city. There are more people in that one place than most other places I've ever been. We had fun but it was a lot of walking.
Today was a chill day for us and we spent it mostly lounging around our apartment reading. I've been working for almost an hour to get the internet in our apartment from the connection upstairs but it's not going well.
Anyway, I hope all of you are having a good summer so far. We'll see you in a few weeks.
In Christ,
Alex and Kim
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
It's Hot
Hey Everyone
We've had a good time so far. We've met a lot of new friends whose names are hard to remember because they're nothing like American (or Canadian) names. Our hosts are working with us to help us learn the language. That's not easy either because it's very unlike anything we've ever learned before. Arabic is probably the closest language and Alex took that a long time ago and has forgotten all but a few phrases.
It's been really hot here the last few days. Most of what Alex will be doing for the next few weeks is putting in air conditioners for our new friends. We've both been having a lot of fun working at the homework club with the kids. Tomorrow Kim will help teach the ESL class that Alex helped with on Monday. Alex had a good time and so we hope Kim will also.
Again we thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue them.
In Christ
Alex and Kim
We've had a good time so far. We've met a lot of new friends whose names are hard to remember because they're nothing like American (or Canadian) names. Our hosts are working with us to help us learn the language. That's not easy either because it's very unlike anything we've ever learned before. Arabic is probably the closest language and Alex took that a long time ago and has forgotten all but a few phrases.
It's been really hot here the last few days. Most of what Alex will be doing for the next few weeks is putting in air conditioners for our new friends. We've both been having a lot of fun working at the homework club with the kids. Tomorrow Kim will help teach the ESL class that Alex helped with on Monday. Alex had a good time and so we hope Kim will also.
Again we thank you for your prayers and ask that you continue them.
In Christ
Alex and Kim
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
