Winnipeg Urban Plunge

So everything is going great here!
This past week we had Nathan Reiger from The Vineyard Centre Church in downtown Winnipeg. He came to Pinnawa and spoke about the inner city since he works very closely with the poeple in the inner city. Then he focussed most of his time on idols and what idols look like in our culture today. Our group opened up a lot with eachother as a lot of us shared our idols in our life. Then we were off away from Pinnawa (our little home away from home) to The Vineyard church in Winnipeg where we stayed for the Winnipeg Urban Plunge.
The first day on the plunge we did the Amazing Race. Kind of like the show we had little taks that we had to do throughout the day. So we were put into groups of 3 and dropped off in various places and we were walking around the city from 10:30-5:00. So we had to do various tasks like taking some one out to coffee or praying for some one or encouraging them. That was pretty difficult for me, going up to complete strangers and just talking with them, hanging out with them. Our group had gone up to several people and then right when we were about to give up we asked some one for directions and we ended up talking to this lady for about 20 minutes. It was great, and that was really encouraging to us.
Later that day we were dropped off at Shiloam Mission house, a shelter in the community. We were taken downstairs and we had to exchange something that we were wearing for something that had been donated. That was actually harder than i thought it would be, donating soemthing that you are currently wearing is different than something you never wear.... but then again, we have the means to go out and buy another t-shirt. So they needed mens t-shirts, and i happened to be wearing one of my mens volleyball t-shirts.
Then we went to an Aboriginal church where we learnt a lot about that particular community. Why some of these families are poor and it was really eye opening especially when we made our way over to the grocery store. All the big grocery stores are too far away from main street for mnay of these people to walk and carry groceries so they have this tiny grocery store calle Nichee Foods. They have a basket of fruit at the front for kids to take becuase it is so hard to get fresh fruit where they are. I thought that was so bizarre. Some one can't get fresh fruit when they are living in Winnipeg.
Then the next day me and a group of about 7 painted a stairwell at Inner City Youth Alive and then the next day my group headed over to Shilaom again and prepared food. Then we were taken on a tour of the biulding and this Shelter just got a new health centre a year ago. It was really nice and it was cool hearing how doctors and dentists from the community come down to help out these people living on the streets who may not have health insurance. Or some people go to the hospital and just keep getting sent away with prescriptions when they may need surgery... plus they can't even afford the prescriptions anyway.
The whole Urban Plunge was a very good experience, though it was really tough at times, i did learn a lot.
THen we were off for thanksgiving weekend. I stayed at my Aunt Lynda's and Uncle Ed's. Lori from my site stayed with me. On sat we went shopping at value village because when we are in BC we will be going to a temple and the girls need ankle length skirts or dress pants, long sleeve shirts, and head coverings. THen on sunday we had a turkey dinner with their family, and then on monday we had turkey dinner at their chruch. So i am Stuffed! But it was delicious! I played a lot of games and Rook at their house and just had a grand ol' time!
I went running with Lori and Aunt Lynda on monday morning and when we were about to turn i saw Kathryn and a bunch of her friends just starting out their run so they must be staying at a house near by. That was pretty cool.
Tomorrow we are driving for 16 hours and that doesn't include the stops. We are leaving CMU at 6:00 am. So that should be a fun day. Its girls/ guys week and the girls are headed to Calgary and the Guys are headed to Canmore.
Thanks everybody for your prayers!
Breanne