Mesfin Moments

Mesfin always puts the hot sauce on the side when he cooks for us. Here's why. I went to the dining room the other day and found him sweating profusely over his meal! As he wiped the sweat dripping off his brow, I said, "And you expect US to be able to eat that sauce?! You're from Ethiopia and YOU can't even handle the heat!" He just laughed knowingly.


Samosas & Hot Sauce!

Last week one of our LifeChange women said, "We don't like it when there are leftovers when Mesin makes samosas." "Why's that?" I asked. "If there's leftovers, he might think we don't like samosas, and he might stop making them! We hide them in the fridge so HE can't see them, and WE can sneak them for snacks!"

Samosas!

The man serving Easter dinner on the very far left in the blue shirt (you can hardly see him!) is our Mesfin! It's hard to get a picture of him unless you get up in the middle of the night to do it!!


I love it when people blog about the Mission. Another guest blog/cross post from Becca from her blog today:

Ok... So one thing I really miss from the city is Mesfin's cooking!!! Who is Mesfin you might ask? Mesfin is RRM's night supervisor on weekends... he works from 10pm-6am and what does he do? He cooks, he cleans - he is amazing. Not only does he cook, he cooks the most interesting, yet tasty casseroles, and best yet, great samosas and these crispy fried bread thingys....

I have been samosa deprived for quite some time now. It must be 4 or 5 months since I had one.

Tonight was going to be a relaxing tv night, but the desire for samosas seemingly trumped that. I couldn't wait till the next time I would have Mesfin's samosas. I had previously researched the topic, found some recipes, and bought ingredients; so tonight embarked upon making my treasured deep fried delights!

It was more time consuming than difficult... and the results were fantastic! They are not Mesfin's samosas that is for sure, but they are good! The recipe made quite a few and since I was ditched by my parents for supper tonight I ended up inviting my cousins over, and picking them up, to come try my samosas with me. Only one of my cousins ended up eating them, but he liked them. He ended the night eating a hot pepper and almost burning his face off...

Anyhow, I just needed to tell my samosa adventures.
Goodnight,
-Becca

Becca's Blog

Some of you will recognize Rebecca Cochran's name from our most recent newsletter. Here's her blog post from the other day. It's worth a good reading of the lyrics at the end.


It has been just over a week since I last posted here. It's been on my "to do list", but very few of the things on that list have been accomplished in the last week. I had an interesting week realizing that when I have less to do, I do less in general, and becoming frustrated with the lack of ambition I have had. Seems that my best friend these days is playing Settlers of Catan online!

Last week was a mix of everything, I realized that I have been slightly withdrawn lately. Burrowing into my life here at home and failing to realize my need to stay connected with some key people in my life. The retreat at Dauphin this weekend was a good chance to come back into the world and reconnect with people. It was a welcome breath of fresh air - although I was pretty tired by the end of the weekend.

I worked at the school this morning, and have been doing a pretty good job of keeping moving since then. I opened up my "to do list" today and found the first item was "find lyrics to "So Send I You". I had heard this hymn when I was at my grandmother's church this summer (which I discovered at that time is a Mennonite church, so maybe I'm more Mennonite than even I knew!).

The hymn reminded me a lot of the ministry of Regina Rescue Mission, and of Ken and Michelle Porter, the founding directors. It also reminded me of the hard, but rewarding year I had serving there... and finally of the call to Missions of every kind and the road that many travel when there.

As I researched the lyrics, this is what I found. I had originally only heard the first set of lyrics, but upon reading the more recent version, I found I loved the song even more. I love both sets of lyrics - and would probably sing them all as one song (although it would be very long). They remind me of varying times in my journey with Christ and my commitment to "Go into all the world and make disciples". Be blessed today by the words of Margaret Clarkson:

"So Send I You" - revisited
Written by David Meade
Margaret Clarkson revised her own famous words, after contact with missions first-hand...

Margaret Clarkson wrote the more-famous and well-known words to "So Send I You" in 1954. Apparently, it expressed her idea of what missionary work would be like, having had no experience herself. But, by 1963, she had a more Biblical and mature view of the Lord of of Mission work. Her perspective changed considerably. So re-wrote the lyrics to "So Send I You".

Unfortunately, most hymnals only include and/or we only sing the original words. It would be better to sing the later lyrics. See the texts below:

So Send I You
Margaret Clarkson, 1954
So send I you -- to labor unrewarded,
To serve unpaid, unloved, unsought, unknown,
To bear rebuke, to suffer scorn and scoffing --
So send I you, to toil for Me alone.

So send I you -- to bind the bruised and broken,
O'er wand'ring souls to work, to weep, to wake,
To bear the burdens of a world a-weary --
So send I you, to suffer for My sake.

So send I you -- to loneliness and longing,
With heart a-hung'ring for the loved and known,
Forsaking home and kindred, friend and dear one --
So send I you, to know My love alone.

So send I you -- to leave your life's ambition,
To die to dear desire, self-will resign,
To labor long, and love where men revile you --
So send I you, to lose your life in Mine.

So send I you -- to hearts made hard by hatred,
To eyes made blind because they will not see,
To spend, tho it be blood, to spend and spare not --
So send I you, to taste of Calvary.

"As the Father hath sent Me, So send I you."

Margaret Clarkson, 1963
So send I you -- by grace made strong to triumph
O'er hosts of hell, o'er darkness, death and sin,
My name to bear and in that name to conquer --
So send I you, My victory to win.

So send I you - to take to souls in bondage
The Word of Truth that sets the captive free
To break the bonds of sin, to loose death's fetters --
So send I you, to bring the lost to Me.

So send I you -- My strength to know in weakness,
My joy in grief, My perfect peace in pain,
To prove My pow'r, My grace, My promised presence --
So send I you, eternal fruit to gain.

So send I you -- to bear My cross with patience,
And then one day with joy to lay it down,
To hear My voice, "Well done, My faithful servant --
Come share My throne, My kingdom and My crown!"

"As the Father hath sent Me, so send I you."


Amen
-Becca

Disorganization at work costs us our peace of mind.

In moving to my new office, I sorted through boxes and boxes of piles and files, the majority of which I sent to the recycle bin. This article, excerted from the Christian Management Association, explains why:

When we are disorganized, we squander our professional potential. Disorganization saps our productivity, effectiveness, and creativity. Each morning, we come into work heavy-burdened and as we survey our mess we are overwhelmed and we don't know where to start.

What our disorganization say to others is that we are, to some degree, living out-of-control. Being disorganized at work can cost us our credibility and relationships because it tells our co-workers and customers that we don't have our own "act together." If we don't deliver on our promises, we lose trust.

In my view, organizing, whether in personal or professional environments, is all about making room in your life for the things that really matter. Look at organizing as a means to an end. For example, most people won't invest in getting organized just to have a color-coded filing system. However, if you want to use your gifts to serve, and you recognize that your disorganization is holding you back from that priority, then organization can be a means to release service in your professional life.

Organizing is like any other change process; it is a little painful because we have to face bad habits and stretch ourselves to change our thinking and make new choices. However, we become motivated to take action when we recognize that disorder is holding us back from the life we really want. It's time to break free from haphazard and reactive behavior … to a life that honors your true priorities. We forget that organizing, above all, is a process, not an activity. We think that the stuff and activity of organizing is the answer. We take the easy road instead of engaging in a discovery process that will lead to sustainable change.

Good Bye Cubicle World

My New Office

A couple of weeks ago I moved into my own office for the first time since founding the Regina RESCUE Mission 7 years ago. Four walls, a bathroom, a coffee station, and a door of my own. It's practically the penthouse suite.

You know, for the first while, Ken and I shared our apartment with the staff. We lived IN the office. We had a kitchenette, (toaster oven on a shelf with the bathroom sink to wash dishes) bathroom and living room that we all hung out in. It was fun times! Our bedroom was off limits but I even got a surprise visit in there once when staff brought me balloons and a birthday present after the stroke of 12! It was very funny!!

Then we bought a house. Wow! That was... um,... quiet.

Then we bought a new building and I only had to share an office with one person. However, it was still grand central station.

Fast forward three years to Labour Day 2006. Michelle is working. Michelle is ambitious and somewhat bored. (It doesn't take much, mind you!) I just decided to do it on a whim. It was a BIG job! But it's been well worth it. The main move took a day, because I had to actually switch office furniture, FIND some furniture, rearrange desks from several offices, and gather my piles of clutter. (More on clutter in the near future.)

I called Ken at home and BEGGED him to buy me a couch that makes into a bed. Well, he went to buy it, but it was not on sale. The price had jumped several hundred dollars! He went back home to take in a little football. When he broke the news to me, I called the store and with very little begging, managed to buy it for the sale price! So, off Ken went to pick it up. Yay, London Drugs! It had to be assembled, so that took a bit of time as well!

Not only did I have to move MY office, I also made my old office into Vicki's new office, and put the staff kitchen in there, too. Now SHE can be grand central station! Well, it's all relative, and let me tell you, she was pleased as punch to move out of her old office. Her old office was the administrative general supply room so she really only had a nook, towered by all kinds of looseleaf and scads of envelopes.

And so, the cook withOUT an office, Vicki's husband Jon, was quite quick to snap up the supply room! Supply and demand. What can I say?

Well, that's the story of my new office. I'm happy.

Letter from a Fellow Blogger

This encouragement note was sent with $100 for the Regina RESCUE Mission:

Michelle

Hello - my name is Lisa, I'm sort of a sister to one of your staff. While on their blog one day I clicked your link and was pretty much hooked. The work that RRM does is amazing. I love how your blogs make me laugh one day and cry the next.

I don't normally "advertise" my tithes, but I very much wanted to encourage you in your work for God. You've got a completely different outreach through your blog. Thank you for your inspiration.

Lisa

Those WARRM Women

Funny email came through the line from our Women's Auxillery President:

Hi there, wondering if any one of you likes doing crafts could takeover planning and making a craft for November. I know that is what on the schedule, however I must admit I am 'craft handicapped'. I don't do crafts, and have no craftabilities, but will help and support those of you who do/are. Please let me know if you are willing to take over that 'service.' If one of you doesn't take over that part of the evening, Michelle and Jon have suggested that we could make a craft out of making meatballs. The Mission has a large amount of ground beef and goose, and we could make meatballs for the hour or so. Which would be new to us, a help to them, and would get me out of the craft room :) Let me know your ideas. Thanks again.

When I asked if I could blog this, Grace's response was, "If you must."

Maybe we can make a spoon bunny.

What Kind of Help?

Well, since you asked, we are looking for volunteers in the following areas:

1. Drop In Host: 1-3 Mon to Thu
2. Receptionists or Data Entry: 9-5 or some portion thereof
3. Clothing Sorting: 24/7
4. Men & Women's Work Bee: Wed 10-12
5. Men & Women's Rec: 2 hours per week
6. Men & Women's Cooking/Baking Bee: 2 hours per week
7: Coffee House Helpers: Friday Nights
8: Cooler Sorting: 3X/week
9: Phone Calling: Can be done from home.
10:Cannister Bin Collections: Weekly
11.Nightly Bible Studies at Shelter: 7-8 pm
12.Cook a Meal: lunch or supper daily
13.Cook or bake from home with our ingredients
14.Evening & Weekend Supervisors
15:On call opportunities: babysitting, tutoring

We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul — not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory - strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us. Colossians 1:9-12, The Message

Help Wanted

Why is it, I wonder, when I ask certain people if they will rise up to the challenge and come and help us, they say "no." Especially when I tell them how desperate we are for consistant help from a person with Godly character. Okay, sometimes the answers are legit, but mostly, I am reminded of the following passage in the Bible:

And a certain scribe came, and said to him, 'Master, I will follow You wherever You go.'

And Jesus said to him, 'The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head.'

And another of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.'

But Jesus said to him, 'Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.'

Matthew 8:19-22

Do you think Jesus was guilting people into serving Him? No way! He was merely helping them to get their priorities in order.

He was just talking about this two chapters ago:

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.Matthew 6:24

Nobody said it would be easy. Trust me when I say that it is NOT easy for those of us who serve daily on staff, or weekly as a volunteer. It's serious business!! BUT, the rewards are phenomenal.

Imagine, having direct influence on the life of a child... born right IN the Regina RESCUE Mission?! And imagine being given permission to speak into the life of a former drug addict? Of having personal influence over a former criminal, and then, seeing THEM rise up to the challenge of living for God.

I see those of us who have been born and bred into Christianity as becoming complacent in these LAST DAYS. Yes, that's the problem. The reformed addict KNOWS Jesus has saved them by the skin of their teeth and time is running out. They take their entire life and dedicate it back to Jesus. To live serve and breathe with the Saviour.

I'm just asking for a little help here.

So, if you need a place to serve, please come and help us! If you truly cannot come, then please serve in other ways: that is, by giving and praying. But please, take a closer look at your excuses before you decide.

Memo to Staff:

Ken and I are going away for our SEVENTEENTH wedding anniversary!

We’re going to be at the lake again so please DON’T visit us. =) And I mean this in the nicest possible way.

Also, that means we don’t have constant cell coverage so you will have to leave messages and we’ll get to them when we can. I can always text message Larry back. =) I will check messages every day, though, as per usual. If I DON’T answer, it means it can wait! =)

Now, for the week, Ken and I are placing Mel as the Acting Director in charge. Please see her for all your concerns, and support her by accepting her advice and decisions.

Thanks and we’ll see you in a week!

Michelle

Women's Auxillery Begins Anew!

Tonight is our first Women's Auxillery meeting of the season. We meet in the Chapel at 7:00. Our service project for the evening is stuffing 1000 gift bags for our upcoming Thanksgiving Dinner for the poor. You may recall, last holiday we planned for 300 and fed over 600!! Hope to see you tonight. I can honestly say I am looking forward to it!

Bed Bugs

Len just about had to stay and work on his first vacation day due to bed bugs in 3 of the men's dorms. He sprayed commecial spray into the night. They're gone, and now he's gone! Just another day in the life of the Regina RESCUE Mission!

Prayer Request

One of our alumni was in trouble this weekend. He called Larry very upset. He told Larry he wanted to talk to Melanie so Larry tracked her down and asked her to call this man. When Mel called, she discovered that he had been drinking and wanted to hang himself. He was having difficulty coping with some major stress factors in his life. Melanie and a volunteer went over to his place and found him in pretty rough shape. She was able to get him apprehended so he could get help in the hospital.

These events often occur for our staff.

Pray for this alumni to find healing for the inner demons with which he wrestles.

Pray for our program staff who often spend their time off dealing with crisis and tragedy.

Our Bountiful Supply

We had a great board meeting last night. Many things were discussed and approved, including our budget for 2006/2007. Thanks to the diligence of my staff, the Mission was $50,000 under budget last year!

A memo to my staff this week:

In using an old agenda as a template for our upcoming board meeting this Thursday, I came across the following under the financial report:"Making ends meet."

What a blessed summer we have had and we have $75,000 in the bank!! It has been our goal to:

1) pay off our buildings and

2) have money set aside as you would in your personal finances, to operate the Mission for several months in a disaster, without incoming funds.

My staff reminded me that last summer, we were literally praying in our paychecks. What a relief to be able to continue to meet the needs of the poor without having to scale back programming, which can so often happen to missions in the summer months.

Thanks to the generosity of people like you, we have been able to maintain and grow our work and programs in Regina and surrounding areas.

One of the things we are excited about is not having missed one night of providing emergency shelter for those who were homeless this summer, even with the move!

Today is our Open House at our new Shelter 1836 Halifax Street. It's in combination with Soul's Harbour, since we are sharing a building! Come for lunch, speeches and a tour at 11:30 and see what the Lord has done!