New Programs at Siloam Mission!

We have three new and exciting programs coming up at Siloam Mission; Summer Youth Camp, Missions Teams, and Workshops.

The Summer Youth Camp is designed specifically for youth groups to allow students aged 14 to 18 to confront their thoughts about poverty and homelessness while serving their neighbors. For youth pastors and leaders, this is a fun and educational opportunity to help students learn more about domestic poverty.

Our Missions Teams can be catered to a high school team, church group, college or university team, community group, or business group. Bring your group to Siloam Mission for a multi-day inner-city experience and learn from hands on projects and serving opportunities.

If you’re simply interested in learning more about a particular topic relating to poverty and homelessness in Winnipeg, then join us for our workshops for adults. They’ll be held on weekday evenings once a month at Siloam Mission.

For more information on these educational programs, contact me at 204.956.4344.

Sarah Enns
Community Education Coordinator


P.S. On Tuesday September 29, 2009 at 12 noon, we’re hosting a luncheon for pastors and youth leaders to learn more about these exciting new programs. To join us for lunch, call us to RSVP.

sj101 Day a Success

Thank you to all 31 participants who joined us at Siloam Mission on August 29, 2009 for our sj101 day. It is great to see that Winnipeggers are interested in learning more about poverty and homelessness in our city and discovering how they can make a difference.

With a variety of different sessions and activities, we had very informative day. Time was spent at Siloam Mission volunteering and touring the facility, participating in educational topical sessions, and learning about a couple other agencies in Winnipeg’s inner city.

It is our hope that each person involved has been encouraged to continue searching for optimistic solutions and feels inspired to advocate on behalf of those who experience poverty and homelessness in our city.

Sarah Enns
Community Education Coordinator

This Saturday!

This Saturday, August 29, is our sj101 day for adults.

It’s a day long event designed to help people on their continuing journey of becoming optimistic, solution-based advocates for domestic social justice. sj101 is an investigative learning experience encouraging participants to confront their thoughts about poverty and homelessness in Winnipeg.

We have 28 people registered and we think it’s shaping up to be a great day!

Keep an eye out for news about upcoming exciting service and educational programs to get involved in at Siloam Mission.

Sarah Enns
Community Education Coordinator

Youth Week Cancelled for This Year

Unfortunately we did not go ahead with the high school sj101 camp this week. We’re currently re-evaluating the program and will be presenting something again in the near future.

Stay tuned for details of exciting upcoming educational and service programs – we’ll be presenting some great opportunities to get involved!

We will be going ahead with the day sj101 for adults (18 years and up) on Saturday August 29, from 8am – 5pm. For details on this event click on the link below.

Thank you for your interest in the work of Siloam Mission and thank you for caring about our neighbours who are experiencing poverty and homelessness in Winnipeg.

Sarah Enns
Community Education Coordinator



http://www.siloam.ca/sj101/daysj101.htm

Unexpected Gifts

Last week I was in Calgary visiting the Mustard Seed, which is an organization similar to Siloam Mission as it works to alleviate the hardships of homelessness and poverty.

One evening I was walking along one of the downtown streets and I came across a man with a large shopping cart filled with many little treasures. He stopped me and I thought he was about to ask for spare change, but he was attempting something else. He offered me a gift.

He had an old squash racket that he had found on the street and asked if I would like it. I suggested he should keep it because it was his. However, he told me he really had no use for it and would like me to have it. So I accepted.

The racket sits in my apartment now because I don't play squash. It's not about the use of the item though; rather it’s about where it came from. Besides, perhaps it gives me a reason to learn the sport.

We just recently sent out our summer newsletter entitled "Unexpected Gifts". The theme reflects the idea that we often have low expectations of our neighbours who live on the streets. We think that because they are experiencing poverty and homelessness, they must have nothing to offer. Often, the things we receive from people who are homeless (whether it be material or otherwise) are unexpected. We assume they have nothing of value to give. It's during moments like the one described above that we realize how wrong we are.

Sarah Enns
Community Education Coordinator

Does Anybody Hear Them?

I was listening to a song by Casting Crowns yesterday and realized it reminds me of many of the people who use our services at Siloam Mission. It also reminds me of how often we attempt to ignore them.

Here are some of the lyrics…

She is running
A hundred miles an hour in the wrong direction
She is trying but the canyon's ever widening
In the depths of her cold heart
So she sets out on another misadventure just to find
She's another two years older
And she's three more steps behind

She is yearning for shelter and affection
That she never found at home
She is searching for a hero to ride in
To ride in and save the day
And in walks her prince charming
And he knows just what to say
Momentary lapse of reason
And she gives herself away

Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her?
Can anybody see?


If judgment looms under every steeple
If lofty glances from lofty people
Can't see past her scarlet letter
And we've never even met her

- Does Anybody Hear Her, Casting Crowns

Faron Hall

Everyone is talking about Faron Hall. He’s the man that jumped into the Red River to save a teen who had fallen in. Mr. Hall also happens to be homeless.

I’m acquainted with Mr. Hall and he is a very quiet man, kind, and soft spoken. He generally keeps to himself…but that all changed last week. Mr. Hall was all over the news with the media announcing his heroics as, “homeless man saves teen.” He was overwhelmed by the attention and grateful for the many offers of help.

What I found interesting though was the fact that the story appeared to grab our attention more because of the fact that it was a “homeless” man who did the saving. It’s like we found it surprising that someone who’s homeless would do something like that.

Does being homeless make a person unlikely to do something heroic? Does homelessness mean that compassion and goodwill are lost?

When discussing the story with a Siloam Mission patron, her comment was, “homeless people have big hearts you know,” and she nodded her head confidently.

We assume that something strange happens to a person when they are experiencing poverty or when they become homeless. We subconsciously think that somehow this life circumstance voids them of normal human instincts and empathy. How ignorant we sometimes are.

I hope that Faron Hall is a reminder that those who have homes and those who do not are really the same in the end; we are all human. I also hope this is a reminder that will stick with us and not just fade away in a couple of weeks.

Sarah Enns

Community Education Coordinator and sj101 Coordinator