Written by: Luther Cheung
Not so long ago, did it feel like I was just volunteering here at the Toronto City Mission. Back then, did I make anything out of it? Probably not as I just wanted to get my volunteer hours ASAP. Yet each year since my freshman year of high school, looking back, time after time when I was able, I looked forward to coming back and being a helping hand at one of TCM’s sites: Kingston-Galloway whether it be for tutoring or after-school/summer programs.
Like delicious food at a restaurant, something about TCM just made me always want to come back, which is why this year, I realize that it was not by fate, but by God’s calling for me to serve this summer at Kingston-Galloway. I believe it was so I could not only find community here at TCM, but also be a leader in a community where circumstances are not the most optimal for a child to grow up in with considerable levels of gang violence, crime, and discrimination. Here, I learnt that even personally as a kid growing up nearby, you either act a certain way or be left behind and get picked on. Yet this summer, God is always teaching me on how to step up and be a positive force in these kids' lives encouraging some, more than others, to not count themselves out yet in this life. In the end, I choose to unconditionally show love even on the toughest of days.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. ”
While camp can be lots of fun and full of its moments of joy, sometimes I may find myself face-to-face with situations that I’ve never experienced before, or have never crossed my mind. Yet, this verse serves as a reminder for me to be someone of Christ and continuously show up for these kids who are so different and unique in their own ways and love them all equally yesterday, today and the day moving forward.
Some campers can be the most disruptive handful of people I’ve ever met, and others may only give you the occasional one-liner and at times refuse to participate in activities. But once again, as time went on, I continued to show each of them love as God continued to show me love and appreciation and I was able to foster relationships that made it possible for both returning and new campers to truly open up to me. I’d initially thought that some of these campers were going to be much harder to reach out and talk to, yet God has shown me that my willingness and effort already mean so much to even those around me in general. For me, it is an absolute miracle that the once quiet ones are now so much more expressive, and the once “disruptive” ones although not perfect, are more willing to listen to instructions such as during bible time and various craft/cooking activities.
Understand that everyone including me is a work in process, and at the same, I cannot rely on my strength to get me through all my hardships and the same goes for these children I am serving this summer. I hope that I can continue to build everlasting relationships and touch the hearts of every one of each child at camp this year. Finally, I also wish that together we can foster a closer relationship with God and be people who can express qualities from the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”