To Outreach or Not To Outreach

There are a lot of people who want to outreach to their community but never actually do anything about it.   These good-intentioned people often become overwhelmed with a passion to help “someone, somewhere” but cannot come to terms with general work, family and even church distractions to find the time to “make a difference”  within the community itself.  Many end up doing nothing because they are waiting for some kind of burning bush experience that will definitively tell them the direction they are to go in.  They become so focussed on making a mistake in God’s calling they end up doing nothing at all.   Others hold back from doing anything because they want to be sure that the project or mission they choose is where they are the most needed and will also reap major fulfilment benefits.  After all, if we’re going to make the time in our lives to answer the call, we at least want to get something out of it.

When I was a little girl in kindergarten, back in the days when we walked home from school alone (the sixties), I experienced a beautiful illustration of what my opinion is, in all of this.
It was January (or it could have been December) there was a fresh snow fall and little puddles along the side of the road, slightly snow covered.  I had a stick in my hand and was gleefully throwing it and then running to pick it up, sort of a human fetch experience that only six year olds can truly appreciate.  Until (cue in foreboding music) I threw the stick onto what I thought was a puddle but actually turned out to be an unmarked water-filled hole, dug by construction workers at the side of the road.  Of course, when I went to retrieve my stick, I fell in.  And of course, I could not get out.  I was literally up to my neck in freezing cold, January water with no help in sight.  So, I cried and I cried and I cried.  One car stopped.  My crying stopped and I was suddenly filled with hope that I would be rescued after all.  But, even though the driver began to get out to help, something made her stop.  She took a look at her watch, turned back to the car, without me, and then took off.  After that, other drivers came and went.  Some looked down at me and others chose to ignore me.  We’d all like to think the neighbours came running.  Nope.  And that was back in the day when all the moms were still at home.  And then an angel from heaven (no not really but she might as well have been one) a fine, kind,sacrificial lady came running up from a house down the road (my next door neighbour actually) and not concerned in the least about how wet she was going to get, dragged me out of the water.  Not only that, she took me to her house, gave me some warm clothes to change into and a warm blanket to wrap myself in, some delicious hot chocolate that removed all my tears, and called my mother. 

I’m sure I dripped water all over her house and I’m sure I disturbed her nice afternoon.  But she saw a need and she got involved.  She didn’t pray about it for a month to make sure that it was her calling (like the first lady who drove off) but she let herself get wet, let herself get uncomfortable, adapted her schedule to meet the need, and did it anyway.  There was no benefit for her in the least.  All the benefits were mine.  First of all, I was one very grateful little girl who thought she might stay in that puddle FOREVER.  Secondly,  this one little act of kindness that I’m sure she’s long forgotten, is still remembered by me to this day.

Still wondering where to get involved?  Henry Blackaby (he wrote Experiencing God) came up with a concept so wonderful, that when I heard about it 15 years ago,  it changed my life forever.  This concept explains why I do what I do and live where I live. It’s actually so simple that when I heard it, I realized I had been tripping over it for years.  He suggested that we look around and see what needs there are in our midst (neighbourhoods, churches, workplaces)that are not being met and then answer them.  He also suggested that we carefully observe what God is already doing through others to meet those needs and get involved in that.   Your church is filling up with missionaries?  God is calling the church into greater missions focus.  There’s a neighbourhood outreach down the street?  God wants YOU to get involved.  There’s a little girl standing neck deep in a giant puddle?   YOU pull her out.

Yes, it is that simple.

…And ONE for all

The Invitation

When I reflect on our early days in Ottawa, I am always reminded that it all began with a simple “yes” from me. When one thinks about it, this is how God works in all things. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matt. 4:19) When He has a plan to do something---like reaching some marginalized children in a city through City Kidz---He invites us into it.

Thankfully, for me, I accepted the assignment. That`s when I realized that City Kidz Ottawa was just a miracle waiting to happen---I discovered the invitation did not stop with me. God had already been inviting others and when I told them about what I was doing, they too, excitedly, said yes. Like ever-expanding ripples across water when an object is dropped into it, the invitation to take part in something like City Kidz Ottawa was going out and had been going out for a long time before, even, I arrived on the scene.

Since then, the circle of supporters has grown consistently and we can proudly look back over the years and see that together, we have been able to impact well over 150 children with God’s love. God invited me to start this important work in 2010 and I had the audacity to accept. Since then many others have also said yes. A never ending call, the invitation continues to beckon others to join the effort.

When you get your invite, what will your response be? We always have two options: we can say yes, or, we can say no. If we do say no, that’s okay, God simply moves on. However, for those of us who have said, and will say, yes to this amazing invitation, no matter how small, we can delight in the knowledge that we have joined a miracle in the making called City Kidz Ottawa. We can rejoice because God is using us to become an integral part of His loving intervention in the lives of Ottawa’s kids----and their amazing response to that love. We can celebrate, because we are helping God to impact Ottawa’s children to transform this city, one child at a time. God’s way. Because, after all, it is His invite, isn’t it?

And ONE for all…

Safe and Sound

The Saturday before last week’s Dream Banquet one of our girls came to me and asked if it would be all right if she and two other girls could sing a song for Remembrance Day at our next Playhouse, which was yesterday.  When I asked her what she wanted to sing, she said Safe and Sound.  I had not heard of this song and drawing on my own life experiences, assumed it would be a nice “children’s song” that she learned at school.  Wanting to encourage her, and feeling deep down that this would be a profound moment, I agreed.

When it came time for her to sing yesterday she and another friend (the original two were away for the weekend) came forward to sing.  This was no “children’s song” however, but, in fact a Taylor Swift song and the lyrics were powerfully moving.  Every rambunctious, excited-to-be-at-the-Playhouse child, was spellbound by the richness of their voices and erupted in enthusiastic applause when it was over.  As for me, I was, as some would say, “toast” and it was a little hard to hold it together to prevent creating a giant puddle of tears right there on the stage with them. However, seeing this as a wonderful teaching moment to reinforce the week’s theme of “helping others”, I drew on the fact that soldiers helped us by going away to other countries to protect our freedom and that some even died in wars.  I suggested that even though it wasn’t officially Remembrance Day we would have a two minutes of silence in honour of the soldiers who had fought for our freedom.  What followed amazed me.

Every normally excited child from the youngest six year old, to the oldest junior leader, stood still with heads bowed and kept respectful silence, for the entire two minutes.  Impressive and definitely indicative to all who were present that there is so much more going on in those hearts of theirs.  These children, although perhaps not grasping the full meaning of what they were doing were able intuitively to understand the seriousness of the moment and showed an enormous respect for those who had fought for their freedom.

I can only speculate as to why they did this.  The Taylor Swift song has a haunting yet hopeful lyric that despite the war outside the window you are still “safe and sound”.  The fact that many of our kids come from refugee families from war torn African countries and others come from families fighting their own battles forced onto them by poverty, my thoughts turn toward the possibility that these children are soldiers fighting in their own little war.  The reason that they stood in such silence and were able to sustain it, is because they can relate. 

The 2012 City Kidz Dream Banquet and Silent Auction was a success. We sold out, the Centurion Banquet Centre menu was excellent and keynote Yasir Naqvi MPP for Ottawa Centre and EMCEE Richard Long of Love Ottawa were eloquent.  We raised over $4,000 from the generosity of all the people present.  It was a big event and quite positively impacting for me, in the end. 

But, as big a moment as that event was for me, I had my biggest moment yesterday at Saturday’s Playhouse, as I was reminded as to why I started a branch of City Kidz in Ottawa and why we need the money to keep our program going:  It’s about the kids.  It’s about putting a smile on those battle weary faces; telling them we love them, that God loves them, that we believe they can achieve their greatest dream.  It’s about being to them that someone who they can lean on when their battles are raging on. 

And for those of our investors who have donated either their time, or large sums of money, or silent auction gifts so we could keep this program present in the lives of these children, you are as much a part of keeping their dreams alive as those of us on the frontlines are.  You can go ahead and feel REALLY GOOD about what you have done.  Because, in the end, it’s all about all of us who are concerned for their welfare singing to them, along with Taylor Swift, the lyric to her beautiful song Safe and Sound:

Don't you dare look out your window, darling,
Everything's on fire
The war outside our door keeps raging on
Hold on to this lullaby
Even when the music's gone

Just close your eyes
The sun is going down
You'll be alright
No one can hurt you now
Come morning light
You and I'll be safe and sound

 

Good on  you!!

…And ONE for all!!

Just Thinking

I’ve been noticing in media lately, that there has been a lot of emphasis on achieving our dreams.  I’ve also noticed greater numbers of young people holding out for their dream job before taking a mundane job; and people who have found themselves unemployed for the first time in their lives, discovering their “dream career” after being forced  into finding more creative ways to make a buck. 

It’s not bad at all to have gifts and talents that we want to utilize to receive greater fulfillment in life.  I know my grandfather who raised seven children during the Great Depression may take a different view, but I do agree with today’s philosophy to encourage greater fulfillment in our career.  Perhaps not so extremely as to say we pass up the jobs that keep our family fed while waiting for that dream career to emerge; but, I am a firm believer that if we are using our God-given gifts in our area of work, we’re going to be happier in life, overall.

But is that enough?

I saw two quotes recently from Matthew Barnett of the LA Dream Centre, who said, People that dream for their own personal success dream from their inner poverty and When you dream for others, you can dream forever.  

What I think Matthew is saying is, it’s not bad to dream for ourselves, but when we do, we are creating dreams that come from a place of self-fulfillment and gratification that many times are birthed out of past hurts and pride. This is the inner poverty that Matthew is speaking of. This may bring satisfaction for a period of time because we are using our God-given gifts, but in the end it too will soon feel mundane, leaving a longing deep within us to really feel personally fulfilled.   His thinking is, that the greatest personal fulfillment in life comes when we look outside of ourselves and our own personal needs and dream instead to transform the world into a better place. This will feel contradictory to some, because it’s hard to jive the sense that personal fulfillment comes through not thinking about our needs.  I know, however, that Matthew Barnett speaks from experience as the head of a place that is in the business of dreaming dreams that improve the culture around them.

I agree. Personal fulfillment can only be achieved when we take the focus from ourselves and onto how we can dream dreams that will transform our family, our neighbourhood, our city and even our nation into a better place.  When we achieve this level of higher dreaming for the greater good and then actually apply them (application is essential) we will notice our dreams multiplying and with it our sense of fulfillment.  In other words, we will dream forever --- as Matthew says.

What are your dreams today?

…And ONE for all!!

Why We Need You!

Crime Prevention Ottawa produced a report in 2009 entitled Ottawa Youth Gang Prevention Initiative. Within it, it identified six priority areas in Ottawa that are at-risk for youth-gang involvement, which includes the Overbrook area that our program is currently reaching.

As a city we are doing a lot better than most as far as gang involvement is concerned, but there are still concerns that this problem is emerging. The City Kidz mission is to come alongside young children who are at-risk and build their resilience and self-esteem and teach them right from wrong. We do this with the hope that these children will make the right choice when faced with the wrong. It also seems we are one of only a few in this city that is actually reaching this age group, because this report also identified gaps in programming for the 6-12 year old group, for early intervention for the prevention of youth-gang involvement. We need YOUR help.

City Kidz Ottawa is funded solely by concerned citizens like yourself. We have our Dream Banquet and Silent Auction coming up on November 8th. Will you come and bring your friends? Every dollar spent in Ottawa, stays in Ottawa for the benefit of Ottawa children. We need the community to provide the resources to keep this vital organization going at such a pivotal time for the betterment of Ottawa. Contact Wendy directly at 613-796-3063, or email at wendy@citykidz.ca or purchase them online at City Kidz Ottawa

…And ONE for all!!

Dream Big Dreams Even if You’re Old

Since the decision to start up, I’ve been stretched in many new and good ways. However, this latest feat of mine, the greatest challenge of all challenges, my very own metaphorical ascent to Machu Picchu if you will, had nothing to do with heady branch coordinator stuff.  It was, instead, all about reminding this old body of mine that it could still skate.  And it had everything to do with our latest event plan to attend Winterlude with the kids and take them skating on the 7 km canal. 

It was my idea, of course, that we would go.  This is Ottawa, after all!  It would be WRONG not to give the kids this amazing opportunity to don some skates and follow in an Ottawa tradition that never gets old.  So, I needed to get with the program, buy some skates and see if those old skating neural pathways in my brain were still accessible and my body would, in fact, remember how to do it.   

With a little research, much to my delight, I discovered that there were alternatives to the cold, white, leather figure skates of old.  This type of skate was the main reason why I hung up my skates for good (or so I thought), those mumble mumble years or so ago. I spent some years as a child in Montreal where outdoor rinks are a dime a dozen and I have many a fond memory of bumpy ice, frozen toes and cups of hot chocolate.  But when I got older and wanted to share the experience, as any good Canadian mother does with her kids, I couldn’t skate with the then-only-available white leather figure skates.  They hurt my feet, they were too COLD (and yes I wore socks and they were the right size). I decided I was having trouble because I was probably getting too old (I think I was 27), so my skates were put away and never used or seen again until the garage sale I had in 2007 where they were finally dispensed with forever.

But it’s a better day now!  Now, you can buy skates that look more sporty than pretty and are easier to handle on the ice.  This is what I was told when I tried this new type of skate on at our local sport shop (the best place to go is somewhere where the clerks know about skates and not a big box store if you’re buying skates for the first time).  My trustworthy salesman went on to say that his wife had the same problem as I and even she, who had also given up skating in frustration, was now skating again with these new sport skates.  He said, “She’s still not very good, but she’s skating with the kids and that’s great!”  I totally related!  This was me!!  My spirits rose and I felt  empowered.   Maybe even I, as old as I am and not having skated for a plethora of years, yes, even I, would skate again!  With barely a bat of an eyelash, I bought these newer, shinier, ON SALE, portals to Canadian skate heaven!  It’s for the kidz, after all.  I at least needed to try.

And try I did.  I’d like to say that I rushed home, immediately put on my skates and went to the outdoor rink next door to give them a try.  But I didn’t.  Instead, they sat on the floor near the couch in my living room while I gathered courage.  It’s not a pretty sight, you see, to watch someone like me take a fall on ice.  I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get over the embarrassment and I was very very sure I’d never get back up. But, every now and then the sun through my south east window would blink off the metal blades like an advertisement in Times Square.  “Use me now!” they seemed to cry. “Don’t wait to try!!” All the time needling and nagging me without retreat.  Finally, almost a week after I bought my new sporty skates, when they seemed to glisten one time too many, I broke. I knew I needed to have a practice run before I took on the canal with the kids.  So, having found no other excuse not to, there was nothing else I could do.  I needed to I brave it up and meet the challenge.  So, I grabbed my coat and skates before I changed my mind and charged on downward (I live in an apartment) to the rink next door.

When I got to the rink I saw one lone young very good hockey player nonchalantly shooting pucks into the net.  He was good. All the way there, I was hoping there wasn’t a game on so I could skate and felt good when I saw no one but him.  I could handle one player on the ice surely.  I also noticed boards erected behind the net and felt this would be a good bar to prop myself on, should I lose my balance and the need arise.  So, onward I went.  Skates on, check!  Courage up, check!  It was easy getting to the rink from the bleachers as there was about a foot of snow to sink into.  But, when I got to the rink and gingerly stepped onto the ice I must have looked quite ridiculous when one small patch of ice seemed to want to take me down.  Thankfully it didn’t, but I did quite a dance over to the boards to which I quickly clung.  I was quite glad that the hockey player wasn’t paying attention as he was off in his own little world plugged into his IPOD shooting pucks like he was born with a stick in his hand.  I advanced virtually unscathed.

And so, somewhat like a soldier performing guard duty I began to skate.  Holding on to the boards with my left hand I moved forward along the parallel and then when I got to the end (about 25 feet) I turned and went back holding on with my right.  And thus, I gained my confidence.  I did this quite a few times, back and forth, back and forth, until finally I began to let go.  And I was standing!  At this point I’m still between the net and the boards so as to stay out of the hockey player’s way, but gradually, ever so gradually I was skating without assistance in this small space.  My confidence soared.  Finally, when the player packed up and left I took on the whole ice surface and was actually skating almost as well as I did when I was kid.  Much like my salesman’s wife, I was not very good, but I was skating.  My concentration levels were high, because my goal was to remain upright, but after a while I was even starting to speed up and do cross overs and even go in the alternate direction.  I FELT AMAZING!! I was skating!!  Triumph, at last!

Since then, in preparation for our First Annual Canal Skate, I’ve been for more practice runs, and I’m still skating reasonably well.  It took a few moments for my brain to remember where it had stored that information, but once found, it was just like the old days when I was a kid in Montreal.  I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. I LOVE my new sport skates.

So, I guess if you’re looking for some type of moral in this story it’s this:  One of the greatest things we teach the kids each week is that it’s okay to dream big dreams, and that with God you can do anything.  It’s nice to know that this still counts even for me and for all of us who think we’re getting a little too old to feel young again.  The date for the canal skate is fast approaching, and my next report will be complete with happy pictures of children enjoying their fun on the rink --- and with one a-little-bit-over-the-hill branch coordinator grinning from ear to ear --- and STILL STANDING!

A Good Principle…

When I think about last year, it amazes me just how much we really accomplished in Ottawa.  I mean, I only just connected with Todd Bender in the spring of 2010 to let him know we were considering opening a branch in Ottawa and wham! six months later we were already launched and well into our first City Kidz season.  Looking back, it’s all a little surreal to me.  I never would have thought that I’d be able to accomplish something like this in just a few months.  I owe it all to excellent prayer support, careful planning, finding a great team who was willing to jump on the pioneer wagon with me, much appreciated church sponsorship from my home church and last but not least, ongoing coaching from Todd. 

Key to the success of this, however, was setting a launch date right from the get go.  Todd is very big into setting a reasonable target date to launch and I believe this was the incentive that kept things in motion.  Failing to pick a date often results in launch objectives being pushed back as anomalies arise to thwart your progress.  Humanly speaking, when we are faced with a problem we have a tendency to take the path of least resistance and will work to overcome the problem at a slower pace (or not all) with the result that all our lofty goals get put on the proverbial shelf until we can move on.  With a date chosen, our perception of an unexpected obstacle changes from something that pushes our launch date back into something that needs to be overcome to meet the date.  Typically we end up finding a way where there is no way and the target date is met.  I know for a fact that City Kidz Ottawa had more than one of these “anomalies” arise during our start up phase, but every one of them was overcome with a little creative thinking. 

I suppose this is all Management 101 but I’m impressed because it works.  I’m sure it’s one of the main reasons why, after only a few months of planning (and LOTS of hard work), City Kidz Ottawa was able to launch and touch the hearts of children sooner, rather than later.

…And ONE for all!!

City Kidz Is the Place To Be!

It happened the other day when I and a member of my Executive Team,  Shawn Donnelly, were out doing our second official night of home visits.  There we were minding our manners at the door and one boy, realizing that it was City Kidz at the door, came leaping out from behind his Mom to give us one bear hug each.   With the hug he reminded us that the last lesson’s theme was love.  “City Kidz is the place to be, ‘cause they love and care what happens to me!” was our memory moment for that week.

We at City Kidz Ottawa have been working VERY HARD to reach a small band of children since about May of this year.  Lots of extra hours on the evenings and weekends (we all work full-time and don’t get paid to work for City Kidz) because we all believe in what we’re doing.  But I don’t think Shawn or I were expecting such an awesome reaction by one little boy this soon into the program.   We just had our third program today, so this grinning hug was a breakthrough of sorts and an encouragement to both of us.

I am very excited.  So is Shawn.

…And ONE for all!!

No Job Too Big

I haven’t added much lately because I’ve been consumed with getting everything ready to start us up.  I now have a team of three incredible leaders who will be involved in the Saturday Program and Home Visits and have a heart for children.  I also have one very dedicated volunteer who’s planning the fundraiser dinner to be held in the fall.  Not to mention my team of advisors who have been doing a great job advising all summer :) There’s a lot to do!  I am in constant contact with Todd Bender and I’ve been meeting with the stakeholders in Vanier.  I’ve also been speaking with some of the local churches.  I have not had one negative response!  And the good news is, based on the opinions I’ve been getting from local community leaders, we need to start planning more buses now!   

If you are wondering how such a small team is going to pull off such a huge venture, don’t underestimate the people power effect.  We have been accomplishing a lot believe it or not.  But the reality is, we can only go so far and will eventually level off to sustain a small group of children. Right now we only have enough people and budget to sustain one busload of children every other Saturday.

City Kidz’ vision, however, is to reach every child in this city and to make this happen we’re going to need your help.  We’re still in need of volunteers to help run the Saturday program, home visits, administration and fundraising.   Whether you choose a  a short term or long term volunteer commitment --- we can’t do this alone!   City Kidz is a grass roots organization --- it’s growing from the heart of the people who love Ottawa’s children  and want to see them reached.  I know there’s more of us who can and want to help.  I know that we will eventually be able to see this dream to reach every child come true.  I’ve seen what can happen in Hamilton.  I am a believer!

You could say it’s been a pretty busy summer, but it’s all worth it.  All of us at City Kidz Ottawa are determined to see this dream become a reality in Ottawa.    Will you help?

…And ONE for all!