ICYA

wow, last week was fun! I stayed with a friend at her aunt's place in the city and every morning, from monday to friday, we drove to Inner City Youth Alive ('The Bridge') in the north end. Our day started at 9am with a staff meeting and then we would disperse and go pick up the kids at their houses. At 10 we started with some singing and a skit, then storytime, crafts, and games. After this we would pack up bag lunches and hop onto the bus! Everyday from 1pm-3pm we went someplace new. I was in charge of all the 6 year old boys, along with two other leaders; that was an adventure! Between Steeve, Kashus, Phoenix, Dakota, Joey, MJ, Dylan, Blaize, Chris, Raoul, Shawn, and Shayden... -We sure had our hands full! These kids were full of energy and usually enthusiastic to try new things. They weren't old enough to understand why all the older kids would swear, bully, or vandalize, so that gave us a little bit of a break and so this week was more physically tiring than emotionally tiring. They were still somewhat innocent and sweet and so I pray that they would have positive role models in their lives so they could continue making good choices instead of following in the footsteps of their older brothers.

Our first out-trip on Monday was to Wheelies!! The only thing was that my little boys didn't have a clue how to rollerskate. So... one by one I would hold them in front of me and give them rides, while they pointed their rollerskates in the right direction and I was practically holding up all their weight. It was a blast, and I only had one major wipeout haha. After this we bused them back to the Bridge and we would walk them home again. My favorite part was picking them up and walking them home because I always chose the same street addresses so I really got to know the kids I was with; specifically Joey. He is just the sweetest little thing and he cared a lot for his friends and family.

Tuesday we took them to the Zoo and had a picture scavenger hunt, which was amazing. My little boys were more enthralled with a specific water fountain than seeing the animals, which was cute. But they did love the groundhogs and the peacocks. Most of these inner-city kids have never been to these places before, so I was glad they got to experience it. Wednesday we went to Lower Fort Garry and did activities. They got to beat animal hides, build teepee's and I even taught my boys how to play croquet! Thursday was swimming which all the kids loved, and Friday was a farm and a slip'n'slide. We had been participating in a contest all week, and they announced my group as the winners on friday! So me and all my 6 year old boys jumped into a 15 passenger van (we just barely fit) and headed down to McDonald's to treat them with McFlurries. They sure were rowdy! But it was a good week.

Another thing that was really neat was that my friend's aunt was also fostering 3 kids, and one of them happened to be in my teepee last year during the UGM week at Teepee Village. So that was really cool to connect with her again!

On Friday I'm heading out to Thompson to work at Midway Bible Camp, and I'm really excited! Also a little nervous cause I'm not sure what to expect and I've never been so far north before, but I know God will work things out.