When I arrived in Toronto I expected that a majority of my time would be spent giving back to others who had nothing. As I returned to BC I realized that I had actually gained more than I had given. The previous summer I had been asked to join Gospel Roads and participate. I quickly declined the offer because I feared that it would not be worth the effort. As time passed, my senior year of high school had finally arrived and I realized that I was spiritually dry. It was at this point in my life where I realized that God was calling out to me. Every Sunday I would actually take the time to absorb what was going around me. Eventually, I was offered another chance to go to Gospel roads in the following summer. I hesitantly accepted the offer.
As I walked in to the Consolata, the place we would live at for a week, I was immediately greeted by friendly faces eager to make me feel at home. After ice-breakers and a scavenger hunt during the weekend, we began our week of service. We began with something called a “GR Walk” which was essentially a backpack run, giving out packed lunches to those on the streets of downtown Toronto. Initially, I was terrified. As the walk continued, I gained the courage to press on. The experience felt amazing. As I gave out the sandwiches, the gratitude that each person showed, left me spiritually satisfied in a way that I had never felt before.
Each day we were put into a new environment, I could sense God working through each person in the work site I went to. However, the one work site that stuck out to me was Sarah Elizabeth Centre. There I met a plethora of unforgettable faces. I wanted to be there as a friend to each child there and I felt that they wanted to be there for me. After a long day of playing drums, playing games, and eventually jamming out to songs at the end. During the jam session, I took a step back and observed the serenity in the room. I knew that this was what I was missing in my life. God was inviting me out to a life of service.
Gospel Roads rebuilt my weakening spiritual life in ways that I could not have imagined. I realized that I had to take that leap of faith. And in doing so, I learned the importance of living a life of charity and service to one another.
[This reflection was written by Dave Borrel who went to Toronto for a mission trip with Salesian Gospel Road.]
As I walked in to the Consolata, the place we would live at for a week, I was immediately greeted by friendly faces eager to make me feel at home. After ice-breakers and a scavenger hunt during the weekend, we began our week of service. We began with something called a “GR Walk” which was essentially a backpack run, giving out packed lunches to those on the streets of downtown Toronto. Initially, I was terrified. As the walk continued, I gained the courage to press on. The experience felt amazing. As I gave out the sandwiches, the gratitude that each person showed, left me spiritually satisfied in a way that I had never felt before.
Each day we were put into a new environment, I could sense God working through each person in the work site I went to. However, the one work site that stuck out to me was Sarah Elizabeth Centre. There I met a plethora of unforgettable faces. I wanted to be there as a friend to each child there and I felt that they wanted to be there for me. After a long day of playing drums, playing games, and eventually jamming out to songs at the end. During the jam session, I took a step back and observed the serenity in the room. I knew that this was what I was missing in my life. God was inviting me out to a life of service.
Gospel Roads rebuilt my weakening spiritual life in ways that I could not have imagined. I realized that I had to take that leap of faith. And in doing so, I learned the importance of living a life of charity and service to one another.
[This reflection was written by Dave Borrel who went to Toronto for a mission trip with Salesian Gospel Road.]