Amazing Children and an Amazing God

Reflections by: Julia Alagurajah | Summer Camp Intern, Jesse Ketchum

God has remarkably been moving throughout my time at Toronto City Mission’s Sonshine Day Camp at Jesse Ketchum. Each camper that attends has their own individual and unique personalities. Throughout the seven weeks of camp,  these campers have been keeping busy with bible time, gym games, science, cooking, and so much more! Each Friday we have the privilege of taking them on a field trip to places like; Riverdale Farm, High Park, the Ontario Science Centre and Woodbine Beach.

Not only have I seen God move in these kids, but I have also learned a lot from the campers.

During my time as a summer intern, I have seen God move tremendously in these kids. One of our campers who has opted out of bible programming has slowly started to express his curiosity in the bible through our teachings to the other children. He often comes to us with questions and enthusiasm to learn, along with this comes opportunities to evangelise whether it is through explaining what (and why) the other students are participating in or by giving the other students the opportunity to explain it to him themselves. Not only have I seen God move in these kids, but I have also learned a lot from the campers.

Many of these kids come from families impacted by poverty, which means they have responsibilities at home that most kids do not have such as cooking, doing laundry, taking care of younger siblings and more. I have learned to not underestimate these kids because they are capable of way more than we think. Each day I am amazed at the things these kids do. I am so excited to see what God has in store for these children and how God will use me to disciple them! Camp has been an amazing experience that keeps getting better and better.

Transformed by God’s Love

Reflections by: Janice Law | Summer Camp Intern, Kingston-Galloway

I have the joy of being a part of Toronto City Mission’s (TCM) internship for a third summer overall and I can confidently say that it is both God and my community that have encouraged me to once again see how God transforms His people to allow them to feel loved and accepted. I am reminded time and time again of how God places people in my life to remind me of Him and how I can identify myself with Him. In partnership with TCM, I am reminded of what it means to be a part of the body of Christ and how we are all called to different roles. It is in these life-giving relationships I am reminded of our call to share the Good News of Jesus so that others may also experience and be transformed by God’s love.   

It is in these life-giving relationships I am reminded of our call to share the Good News of Jesus so that others may also experience and be transformed by God’s love.   

In camp, our focus this summer has been on King David’s journey with the Lord. We see how faithful God is and what it means to be in a relationship with God. We can also see that even when our human nature fails to meet God’s perfection, the Lord extends His love, forgiveness and grace when we are honest. It is when I prepare for Bible time that I am reminded of my relationship with God and also the kids that we build relationships with. Just like David, we are given the opportunity to be in a relationship with God and exemplify the characteristics of God, but sometimes, it’s not easy. Oftentimes, there’s a lot of hurt and brokenness that can steer us further from what is right. However, God also places people to remind us of what we’ve done wrong and how we can return to him. My prayer is that as God’s children, we might extend the same love and grace extended to us to the children and families that we build relationships with.

I hope that God would create in me and you a clean heart, and renew a right spirit in us (Psalm 51:10) so that those who encounter us might experience the love of Christ and also feel loved and accepted.

A Child Like Faith

Everyday I see at least one thing that shows me God is at work. Not only have I been getting closer to God this summer spiritually, I also feel as if my capacity for love has grown exponentially on a daily basis during camp. My faith has grown a lot during this internship.  When I tell the kids about God I feel as if I am re-teaching myself the teachings again as well.  The campers’ curious questions make me want  to dive into the word and understand it better so  I would be able to explain it so that they can understand. My love for God has also grown during this camp as I see the good works He does in some of these campers' lives. He has been there for them at hard times even at their young age they realize that and yearn to learn about Him even more.  This is not only heartwarming but eye opening to see even the youngest of us could realize God’s goodness and grace and praise Him.

One of the trips this summer was to the Toronto Zoo. I had not been there since I was a child and had not seen the polar bears that were newly added to the zoo. It was a first for some of the campers too. Once we got to see the polar bear we could not help but break out in excitement. We were in awe of this creature God created so big but graceful in water it was really an experience everyone should experience, I’ll never forget it.

This internship have also helped remind me the important teachings the Lord had given us. Learning about the life of David and just being reminded that even God’s chosen fall to sin which is something I think is easy to forget in this day and age. No one but Jesus was perfect so it is impossible to not fall into sin but it is getting up that matters because He forgives those who come with a sincere heart. I’ve learned a lot of things this summer but I think the thing that stands out the most for me is how children love God so innocently, not looking for anything in return just praising Him to praise Him, learning about Him because they are curious about Him, it is truly fascinating.

I’ve learned a lot of things this summer but I think the thing that stands out the most for me is how children love God so innocently, not looking for anything in return just praising Him to praise Him, learning about Him because they are curious about Him, it is truly fascinating.

My prayers and support network really gave me strength to get through the summer. Getting up at 5:30,6 am everyday to travel 2 hours is not easy and I was able to do it only by God’s grace. All the prayers that were sent my way was the reason I was able to keep pushing. Without God I would not have not been able to finish training alone much less the whole camp so I really do attribute it to the prayers I was given.

Coming from similar burrows as the children I was not unaware of the poverty in this city but some of these kids have it even harder than I did and to see their joy and love on a daily basis has been something that is only by God’s grace. It reminds me that God shelters His children from the horrors of this world as I see it in their lives just like I did in mine.

METAMORPHOSIS: Answering God's Call

Reflections by: Carlijn | Summer Camp Intern, Jesse Ketchum

While training for Sonshine Day Camp, I asked myself who I would be after the internship. I thought about how my views of the "world" would change and how I might improve spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. It's incredible how God unravels His plans for the children and me this summer.

“While we try to teach our children all about life – Our children teach us what life is all about”

— Angela Schwindt

DAVID & GOLIATH

In one of my Bible Lessons, God showed His inner work through the significance of creating slingshots with the kids and talking about their biggest fears. A camper, who opted out of Bible time, began asking questions about the activity. The primary goal was to remind the children that even if their fears are giant-sized like Goliath, trusting God results in victory. I let the children tell the leaders what they fear, aim at the word "FEAR" pasted on a post, and shout, "In God we trust!" just as David showed during Israel's battle against the Philistines (1 Samuel 17).

'EYE' SEE

I see myself in the children – their sadness, anger, happiness, and joy. I feel their frustrations whenever they struggle to communicate or express themselves. They show sadness when their peers wouldn't play with them and anger when a surge of overwhelming emotions becomes too much for them to handle. Despite that, I also see how beautiful and hopeful the world becomes each time they delight in worship and give each other hugs and words of encouragement.

IKIGAI 

Elliott wrote in a blog post how science fails even with all its marvels. It cannot lessen human  anger, provide forgiveness, build respect, have deep compassion for others, or give us hope  during differentiated and divided times. Only our faith can. This insight reminded me of my  "reason for being" or ikigai – perhaps to milk cows with children on a farm. Jokes aside, I talked  with my Outreach Workers as I began praying to God about serving ministry. 

My internship at TCM helped me realize that God might call me to serve where advocating for  children and delighting in them – meet. In the words of Leo Tolstoy, I hope to do good, be of use  somewhere in a secluded area; then rest, nature, books, music, love for one's neighbour — and  also, to love God.