Trusting in the plan he has set for you

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
”

— Proverbs 3:5-6

When entering the second semester of my final year, I had no idea of what God had in store for me. 

I had to find a second placement and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find one. This is where I found myself praying about what my next steps needed to be and asked God to put me where he needs me to be according to the plan he has in store for me. It was at that moment that I came across TCM. I knew I always wanted to work with youth and as I grow older having a relationship with God is very important to me, so finding an agency that aligned with my belief was a blessing bonus.

I knew coming to TCM was part of God's plan because of everything I feared/worried about such as; ‘how I was going to travel?’, ‘How far the location was?’ or ‘if the kids would like me?’

Isaiah 41:13 

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

All of my fears and worries were put to ease once I trusted that everything was going to work out. 

When I first entered TCM I was excited and nervous to meet all the kids. I felt somewhat as “the new kid” getting to know every name and each personality that came with those names, remembering faces to the names was hard at first but I’ve got it now! 

It’s been such a beautiful experience to be able to teach bible lessons, and arts and crafts, and help coach the kids when it comes to sports. It’s also been great helping to come up with solutions to issues that the team may face or that the kids may encounter. 

When I first came, I knew it would take some time for the kids to get used to me and for them to trust me. When some of the children found out I speak Spanish, it was a moment where I found some of the kids opening up to me and talking with me in Spanish. My parents came to Canada when they were teenagers so they always told me to help out those who may struggle with the language. So, I was happy to be able to help translate with those families that speak Spanish. Working with the children that sometimes have a hard time understanding/speaking English, has really been such a nice opportunity and has been appreciated by the team. Most importantly I’m glad to be able to show kindness that we learn through our faith on how to help others and be able to guide and teach, despite the language barrier. 

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do,  and he will establish your plans.” When you let go and trust the process that God has for you, he will put you somewhere that needs you and somewhere that will help you grow closer to him. Which is why it always best to be kind and helpful because you never know why God has sent you somewhere. 

James 1:17

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,  who does not change like shifting shadows.”

The team here is amazing, I honestly think being here working with the kids, working in such a strong and supportive environment is truly a gift in my eyes. I work with Karen and Luke at the Jesse-Ketchum location. They have such a beautiful, calming, understanding approach with the children and with the people around them. It’s very reassuring to see that our voices as leaders don’t need to be raised. We get to see the kids enjoy their time here by enjoying the little things. It’s nice to see the respect the children have towards the leaders and vice versa. I’ve been enjoying my time spending with Karen and Luke as they are also very open to hearing what you have to say, caring, and supportive, they make sure that; placement students and volunteers feel that they are in a safe space when coming to work. The best part is that It’s not just them who are like this but the entire TCM team, which has been a wholesome experience. I couldn’t have asked for a better agency to complete my placement.

A little bit Before coming to TCM I’ve always relied on my own understanding and my own learning. I prayed to be used to help people with the skills I’ve been blessed with, I’m happy and look forward to seeing what else God has in store for me.  

Fostering Resilience in Poverty-Impacted Communities

I am Grace, currently studying in the Community Worker Program at George Brown College. However, before coming to Canada, I worked as a social service worker for four years in Taiwan. During this time, I focused on assisting teenagers involved in criminal activities and children who were victims of family abuse. Through these experiences, I gained a deep understanding of how various tragedies stem from underlying core issues and social oppression, with poverty being one of the most significant and pervasive among them.

Upon beginning my placement as a student at TCM, I began working with children and youth in the Kingston Galloway community. I actively participated in various programs, including those tailored for youth, community children, and tutoring. Throughout my nearly three-month internship, I was pleasantly surprised by the strong sense of community and the virtuous circle of support present in the Kingston Galloway community. Despite the challenges, the youth eagerly attended community activities after school, often bringing along friends or siblings to partake in the shared resources and sense of belonging. Moreover, many of the youth voluntarily assisted in mentoring younger children or supporting workers in various children's programs. From my perspective, this level of engagement is noteworthy, considering the typical demands and distractions teenagers face in their relationships, especially concerning friendships and romantic interests. However, the youth in the Kingston Galloway community demonstrated a remarkable commitment to their community, even cultivating relationships within it. This indicates a strong connection and solid relationships between workers and youth, which in turn, fosters an environment that attracts more youth to engage with the community.

As a placement student, I learn and observe how Carmen and Mila support youths, kids, and their families. Carmen and Mila are always patient and gentle when dealing with each child and addressing their difficulties. The most impressive aspect for me is when youths come into the community with anger after school due to facing challenges or difficulties. They often express their complaints or talk about everything that happened in school to Carmen and Mila. Mila and Carmen always listen attentively and empathize with their emotions. Furthermore, they engage in discussions with the youths and offer solutions to the challenges they face. Learning from Carmen and Mila, I understand the importance of listening and acceptance. Moreover, I have also learned counseling skills and how to generate solutions. When there are new children or youths in our community, Carmen and Mila always maintain an open and friendly attitude towards them.

During this three-month internship, I observed the significant effort that workers put into building relationships with children and youth. The Kingston-Galloway community, by being entrenched within the community and offering a range of programs over an extended period, begins engaging with youth from a young age. By establishing relationships early on, it becomes easier for workers to support children and their families when they encounter life's challenges. Additionally, early intervention provides children and youth with more opportunities for support before negative circumstances arise, mitigating potential harm. Recognizing this, I firmly believe in the importance of prevention over cure.

Reflecting on these insights, I have volunteered to write an article for a blog, as I believe it's crucial to spread the concept that "prevention is more important than cure." We must proactively reach out and support our children and youth, making them aware of the available resources and supportive individuals they can turn to. Delaying intervention until they reach adulthood may be too late.

LEARNING, UNLEARNING, AND RE-EXPERIENCING AS A MATURE FIELD PLACEMENT STUDENT

An international student from the Philippines. A newcomer. Someone who entered this North American country with little familiarity with the surrounding physical and social climates. What I had was my sheer determination to be part of the social service and welfare workforce in the future and continue in Social Work which was my profession back home. 

      Leaving the Philippines was one of the greatest gambles I have ever done in my life. I had a steady and promising career as a registered social worker in the national government with opportunities for promotion. However, my heart yearned to expand my service to other people of various backgrounds. That was my vision nine years ago. Here I am now: making my way toward that vision through education, field practice, and volunteer work. 

      Before coming here, I was determined to learn hard as I wanted to give my best (which I still am) in the field of social service and welfare, just as I did in my home country. I was heavily interested in working with immigrants and refugees. Their life experiences interest me because I am also a newcomer. I want to work with and for the newcomers - especially the less privileged families - because I always believe that they have something that would contribute to Canadian society. They could greatly contribute if the system would allow them to do so by giving access to newcomer services and opportunities for development. But an important question we need to ask is: Do the various types of economic assistance guarantee newcomers’ success? 

      How you define success varies from person to person. For me, success goes beyond materially. Growth is holistic and it spans several aspects. You name it - health, psychosocial, economic, intellectual, and the list goes on. But there is one highly important aspect I value which I found is present and it complements best all other aspects of one’s life. It is the relationship with God and living His Words. I was blessed to witness the presence of this God’s graciousness during my field placement this winter term at Toronto City Mission (TCM).

I was directly involved in the Kids in the Community (KIC) after-school program and Education Provided in the Community (EPIC) tutoring program and the new insights and skills gained were life-changing. I learned that developing authentic and deep relationships with the people we serve is far more important than merely ending my work in case management and provision of assistance alone. In my field placement at TCM, I have experienced in the KIC Program that the meaningful relationships we build and nourish with them create more impact because these relationships are intentional, professional, and personal. Without these relationships, we cannot actualize TCM’s mission to build them up emotionally, physically, socially, and spiritually as most of the people we served are children of newcomers and from low-income families in the Jesse Ketchum neighbourhood. The EPIC tutoring program taught me to not only look at academic achievement but their personal growth in terms of life skills and good character like honesty and helpfulness that the children will apply for the rest of their lives.  

Another reason why I am extremely blessed to have my field placement at TCM is its strategies to care for its staff through professional and spiritual development. Since my mind is wired from a program development and management perspective after working in this field for a decade in the Philippines, I can say that their programs are complementary to the surrounding community’s programs, projects, and services. Here, I was able to identify some of the family dynamics and the associated struggles of the people that we served because I was strategically located on the ground and this opportunity is what I am grateful for which is helpful in my future career as a settlement worker. The way they program and implement their activities simply hits their goals. True to its mission, the organization focuses on the emotional, physical, social, and spiritual growth of the programs’ beneficiaries. I also have witnessed how the community Outreach Workers and volunteers assigned in the Jesse Ketchum area, Abigaille, Karen, Luke, Chantal, and the rest of the team love the children matched with discipline as secondary parents outside of these children’s homes. As a parent, I am a firm believer and follower of Proverbs 22:6 which stipulates, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.’

       I thank the entire family of TCM for accepting me as one of their field placement students in the previous semester. My overall experience with the organization is an amazing journey of learning, unlearning, and re-experiencing. While the Philippines had given me unforgettable opportunities to keep my knowledge and skills intact in the social work field, Canada started giving me the opportunities to expand more of these through TCM. I am grateful that I started with TCM.

My Experience at Toronto City Mission

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk
but in deed and in truth.”

— 1 John 3:18

I recently completed my field experience with TCM and I can say it was a rewarding experience. I did not only grow personally, and professionally, but spiritually as well.

I enjoyed the idea of implementing Bible teaching and prayer in whatever I was involved in. This helped me step out of my comfort zone especially when it came to praying in groups. Over the years I have found it difficult to pray loudly in groups and preferred praying alone with no one else hearing me, but at TCM in our team meetings we each had a chance to pray for one another and I participated. 

My placement at TCM also enabled me to do what I enjoy, which was helping and supporting children in the Jesse-Ketchum community. It was fulfilling for me to support the children there, speak to them about Jesus and play games with them, and learn from them.  

I learned that leading is not about taking control, but it is about working together with others and setting an example for the kids to follow. For example, letting kids know that as a leader I am just as human as them and that even though I may be older than them, I still respect them. For me, it was meaningful to see how hungry the kids were for the Word of God. I was amazed at how much they knew about God and abiding by his word. 

Apart from all this, I was privileged to work with an amazing team who was super supportive from the very beginning, right up to the end of my placement. Keep up the great work helping those in need and teaching the gospel to them.

Thank you, Toronto City Mission

Eustacia Morris