My Call to the North End

4.5 years ago
- January 2007: Mission Xposure One at SBC. The first year class at SBC visits inner-city Winnipeg. I remember one friend having a claustrophobic response to all the concrete and buildings. He said he was certainly not called to Winnipeg. During MX 1 remember feeling slightly shocked towards the level of poverty and brokenness at which so many people lived. It was first experience of the North End of Winnipeg. ('Does the poverty and slum-like nature of these streets stretch all the way to the perimeter?' I asked myself? Thankfully not.) Even though I was aware that a percentage of SBCers who went on MX1 went back to Winnipeg I felt that I was likely called else where. I could handle the lack of nature; but I still felt confident, even a slight sense of relief, that I was not called to Winnipeg. A desire for missions was instilled in my heart though. Unexpectedly, I went through reverse culture shock after returning from MX1. I remember feeling desperate and broken towards the abundance and wealth of my life, and by extension Steinbach, when there were people living in poverty, or without homes, only an hour's drive away. What was I doing with my life? Thank-fully, a close friend who also came on MX1 shared my thoughts and emotions. God was doing a similar work in each of our hearts and we spent lots of time praying together. Yet, neither thought we would go back.

4 Years Ago

With my Parents just before going to camp. Summer 2007.

- Summer 2007: I went and volunteered at Gimli Bible Camp for two weeks. The campers at GBC are predominantly inner-city children. UGM sponsors about 80% of the campers who go through GBC. Otherwise those children wouldn't be able to go to camp each year. The first week the campers were 8-11 years old. The second week the campers were 12-14 years old. Even though that summer was basically my introduction to camp ministry, those two weeks were by far the most violently chaotic I have ever experienced in my life, anywhere. I have come to realize that wasn't normal but I didn't know that! I soberly asked myself: 'If such pain and turmoil can come out of children at camp, what are they going through at home?' I have gone back for at least a portion of the summer each year since.

3.5 Years Ago
-2007-2008 school year: I lived in dorm during my second year at SBC. I was introduced to Jackie Pullinger through a sermon my college room mate shared with me. Later, while listening to Jackie Pullinger messages, I caught the vision of being and living in the North End.
-January 2008: Mission Xposure 2. For MX2 the 2nd year class at SBC went to Northern Manitoba. I spent time in the small town of Pikwitonei. I developed a fondness for the Native culture. I was expecting some strong emotions either during or following the trip similar to what I experienced the year before but these were absent. I was asking God, 'Am I called here LORD?'

3 Years Ago

Cabin 10 - Youth Week 2008

-Summer 2008: My second summer at GBC was such a wonderful time for me. I have many fond memories of that summer. My highlight of summer camp ministry was during Youth Week. My whole cabin decided to give their lives to God and follow Jesus. Half of my cabin was baptized in the lake. It was a powerful time of campers and staff giving their lives to God and being touched deep in their hearts. There was much weeping and confession. At the time I described it as an out-pouring of the Holy Spirit. I think that most of the campers who were there would look back at it now as a pleasant dream. The power and intimacy of God they experienced then is a faint memory now.
-In the months following, my co-cabin leader and I made a very intentional effort at keeping in touch with our campers from Youth Week. As I am sure many cabin leaders did with their respective cabins. Some of them lived in the North End so I occasionally found myself there again. As I would drive or walk through the neighbourhood I imagined myself living there. I could see myself living in that house, or working at that store. I would getting emotional just being in the neighbourhood. I wanted to stay and had a hard time driving away. I was beginning my 3rd year at SBC. I remember listening to Jackie Pullinger messages on my computer in my parents' basement. She speaks about ministering to poor people. I had these heart-wrenching emotions and intense desires to go and be with my campers. Who would watch out for them and encourage them when they got discouraged? There was nothing in place to keep them going when they felt like giving up. I really wanted to cancel my courses, pack my bags, and go live in Winnipeg. I determined that such a rash decision would be foolish. However, I made a decision in my heart that unless God directed me elsewhere that was where I would go after college.

2.5 Years Ago

MX3 Team following a grueling 6 hour hike.
"Baptism by Fire"

- January 2009: Mission Xposure 3. Our 3rd year class learned Spanish and went to Guatemala for three weeks. I expected to 'fall in love' with the Latino culture and that I would possibly end up going back to Guatemala as a missionary because my experience there would be so powerful. Rather, everything I saw simply reminded me about North End Winnipeg! My trip to Guatemala solidified my calling to Winnipeg. My desires, although less forceful, matured and I began communicating them with people around me.

2 Years Ago
-Spring 2009: I grajewated! I decided to stay in Steinbach for one more year before moving to Winnipeg. I wanted to work off my debt, spend time with friends and family, stay one more year volunteering in my youth group at SEMC, and diligently pray into the next season of my life. I devoted considerable time and energy preparing my heart for what was to come.

1 Year Ago
-September 2010: I moved into the North End (almost exactly a year ago from now). I didn't have a job yet, and I was still in debt but the LORD had graciously provided a place for me to live. I was confident of being exactly where God wanted me.
-From in the middle of my second year at college, until shortly after moving to Winnipeg, my spiritual life was mostly dry. I mean that more often than not I was in what I considered a spiritual wilderness. I could not feel the presence of God. I had strong desires to know God but very little desire to read the Bible or to pray. I would read my Bible and pray, but it was intensely difficult at times. Thankfully I had quality accountability and good Christian friends who encouraged me and strengthened me. Whenever I felt like giving up I always thought about my numerous Christian friends and influences who kept me going. I strongly believe that God was preparing me for times like now, and that he was doing a mighty work within my heart. I am very thankful for the difficulty I experienced, spiritually, during that season of my life. I am willing that it should come again. However, I remember, about 6 months before moving as I was spending time with the LORD, that I told God, 'If I am supposed to move into the North End of Winnipeg, you better bring me out of this desert. I will not survive unless I walk in your presence.' God answered this prayer not long after I moved. He is so good to me.