Faith & Friends October 2020

Mission to Costa Rica

ARMY HELPS P.8

Trauma to Triumph

KATE ESCAPES P.26

Standing Up to Racism

THE PLAY DATE P.22

Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

OCTOBER 2020

Seven Days MAJOR JIM MERCER’S TIME AT A SALVATION ARMY LONGTERM CARE FACILITY CHANGED HIS LIFE. P.16

ONE SMALL SEED It’s hard to believe but this gigantic pumpkin came from a seed no larger than your fingernail. How did it get to be so large? Plenty of sunlight, abundant rain, fertile soil and essential nutrients.

It’s the same with our faith. The Bible says that belief begins like a seed. For a relationship with God to grow and mature, it requires worship, prayer and time spent with others who believe.

Out of one small seed can come a life of possibilities.

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”—Colossians 2:6-7

To learn more about growing in faith and God’s promises, visit our website faithandfriends.ca, contact us at The Salvation Army Editorial Department, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto ON M4H 1P4 or visit your nearest Salvation Army church.

October 2020

VOLUME 23 NUMBER 10

8

COMMON GROUND 5 “Best Breakfast, Quarantined”

Even in the midst of COVID-19, laughter is still the best medicine.

BEYOND BORDERS 8 “Put Us Where You Need Us”

Kirstin Dolby’s Salvation Army mission trip to Costa Rica was an experience that will stay with her forever.

BETWEEN THE LINES 10 Pocket Change

Fictional Salvation Army captain saves souls in new book series.

FEATURES

14 Mission to Costa Rica

ARMY HELPS P.8

Trauma to Triumph

KATE ESCAPES P.26

Standing Up to Racism

THE PLAY DATE P.22

Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

OCTOBER 2020

Seven Days MAJOR JIM MERCER’S TIME AT A SALVATION ARMY LONGTERM CARE FACILITY CHANGED HIS LIFE. P.16

COVER STORY

16

22

The Sins of the Past

In Black Widow, Natasha Romanoff must come to terms with her past. Can the Avenger do so?

A Week With Major Ann

Major Jim Mercer’s time at a Salvation Army long-term care facility changed his life.

The Play Date

When it came to race relations in her town, Diane Stark’s mother was determined to right a wrong.

SOMEONE CARES 26 From Trauma to Triumph

The Salvation Army helped Kate escape a family legacy of alcohol and drugs.

Cover photo: Glenn van Gulik

LITE STUFF 28 Eating Healthy With Erin

Sudoku, Quick Quiz, Word Search.

NIFTY THRIFTY

26

31 No Sweat(er)!

A few hand stitches and you’ve got yourself a fall-inspired craft.

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FROM THE EDITOR

Profiles in Courage

W

orking with Major Jim Mercer on the cover story for this month’s Faith & Friends was a revelation to me. Over the course of these past few pandemic months, I’ve read of doctors, nurses and personal support workers who have ministered to those suffering from COVID-19. What makes them do it day after day after day? I have often wondered.

So I asked Major Jim why he volunteered to serve for a week at a Salvation Army long-term care facility in the midst of the pandemic.

“I was naturally worried and my family was concerned, but I couldn’t give the Army any reason not to go,” he replied. “I was healthy and I was doing the ministry I was trained to do.”

For me, that is the definition of courage.

Diane Stark’s mother showed a similar quiet courage. When Diane was young, some newly arrived neighbours were the target of racist slogans spray painted on their front lawn. Diane’s mother did not hesitate. She gathered Diane and her sister and did something about it.

Read what she did on page 22.

Elsewhere in this issue of Faith & Friends, you’ll see our take on the new Black Widow movie, discover how a young woman liberated herself from a family legacy of alcohol and drugs with the help of The Salvation Army, and learn how, in the midst of COVID-19, laughter can still be the best medicine.

Ken Ramstead

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Mission Statement To show Christ at work in the lives of real people, and to provide spiritual resources for those who are new to the Christian faith.

Faith & Friends is published monthly by: The Salvation Army 2 Overlea Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M4H 1P4 International Headquarters 101 Queen Victoria Street, London, EC4P 4EP, England William and Catherine Booth FOUNDERS

Brian Peddle, GENERAL Commissioner Floyd Tidd TERRITORIAL COMMANDER

Lt-Colonel John P. Murray SECRETARY FOR COMMUNICATIONS Geoff Moulton, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ken Ramstead, EDITOR

Brandon Laird SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Hannah Saley DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Pamela Richardson, COPY EDITOR, PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR

Ada Leung CIRCULATION CO-ORDINATOR

Leigha Vegh STAFF WRITER, PROOFREADER

Giselle Randall STAFF WRITER Scripture Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from New International Version Contact Us P. (416) 467-3188, F. (416) 422-6217 Websites faithandfriends.ca, salvationist.ca, salvationarmy.ca Email faithandfriends@salvationarmy.ca Subscription for one year: Canada $17 (includes GST/HST); U.S. $22; foreign $24 P. (416) 422-6119 circulation@salvationarmy.ca All articles are copyright The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda and cannot be reproduced without permission.

Publications Mail Agreement No. 40064794 ISSN 1702-0131

Faith&Friends

COMMON GROUND

“Best Breakfast, Quarantined” Even in the midst of COVID-19, laughter is still the best medicine.

F

by Jeanette Levellie

Illustrations: Dennis Jones

rom shocking sayings to shaggy hair, confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in more than one case of cabin fever. It also gave us a few reasons to chuckle. The following stories show the truth in the saying: “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).

Layers of Plenty During the first week of working from home in late March, my writing partner, Beth, requested six onions as part of an online grocery order.

When she picked up her food at the market, Beth noticed one box was very heavy. Inside, she found the largest six onions in history.

“They were the size of grapefruits,” she says. “One of the grocery-order fillers must have felt generous that day!”

After several months of eating recipes containing onions, Beth’s family have decided to grow their own next spring.

Seeing Things When my friend, Jennie, brought home a meal from a fast-food café, her son, Mike, stared at the saying on the side of his cup.

“Oh, man,” he said. “Even the ads on the cups mention quarantines!”

Jennie glanced at the cup and read: “Best Breakfast, Guaranteed.”

Mike had mistaken it for: “Best Breakfast, Quarantined.”

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COMMON GROUND

Embracing the Present For several years, my single-mom daughter, Marie, has shared a bedroom with her youngest, Grace.

One day in late May, Grace stood two metres across the room from Marie, holding her arms wide and jiggling her fingers.

“Here’s a socially correct hug, Mom,” she said.

“At least she was paying attention to the rules,” Marie laughed.

Silly Chipmunks When my husband, Kevin, rescued a chipmunk from being cornered by our cat, he told our grandson, Daniel, that the chipmunk looked familiar.

Kevin explained that sometimes after he set the little critters free, they often turned around and came back into the path of danger.

“You know you’ve been cooped up too long when you recognize the chipmunks,” Daniel said.

Talking to the Animals Nathan, the young son of my friend, Diane, told his mother he’d seen a wasp in the backyard.

“I had to explain social distancing to him, Mom, so he wouldn’t sting me.”

It worked! That wasp kept its distance. Perhaps Nathan will be the next Dr. Doolittle!

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“You know you’ve been cooped up too long when you recognize the chipmunks.” DANIEL “He’s Batman!”

Ernest Batman, the elderly father of a friend, always wears a Batman face-covering when he goes out in public. Kids at the local market swarm around him, telling him how much they like his mask. One day, a clerk who’s known Ernest for decades told the youngsters, “His mask isn’t fake. That man really is Batman!”

promise, Kevin argued, “We’ll have new bodies then, so why bother?”

“Honey,” I replied, “the Bible doesn’t say anything about new hair.

Won’t you be embarrassed to meet Jesus with a snazzy new body and shaggy hair?”

Later that day, Kevin appeared, sporting a handsome haircut.

“I just thought you’d want to know that it’s official: Jesus can come back now,” he said.

My answer to that? I took my cue from the Book of Revelation.

“Come today, Lord Jesus!” I shouted.

Shaggy and Shouting for Jesus After 73 straight days of staying home, when hairstylists were first open, I asked Kevin if he planned to get his hair cut before Jesus came back to earth. Referring to the Bible

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Faith&Friends

BEYOND BORDERS

“Put Us Where You Need Us” Our Salvation Army mission trip to Costa Rica was an experience that will stay with us forever.

A

by Kirstin Dolby

s the youth ministry director for The Salvation Army’s Comox Valley Ministries in British Columbia for the past four years, I've always been an advocate of mission trips. They were a part of my upbringing, and I've wanted the youth I work with to venture beyond their own borders, too, to experience other cultures and have them reflect on their faith in relation to that.

This sparked the idea for our church to launch a mission trip of our own, so I started getting the paperwork in motion. Our young team decided on Costa Rica.

It took two years of planning and fundraising, but eight of us—four adults and four youth—headed by Captain Michelle Elsasser, finally arrived in Costa Rica in early March, just before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Present at the Creation The mission team poses by the finished play area. Seated, from left, Isaias Dolby, Kirstin Dolby, Captain Michelle Elsasser, Eric Lucas, Avery Daugherty and Janna Elsasser.

Standing, from left, Kevin Daugherty and Brandi Lucas

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Hectic Itinerary Our days were very long and gruelling. Most of the work we did was with two Army daycare centres in Costa Rica.

We assisted the teachers, doing everything from helping in the classrooms and at naptime to playing with the kids at recess. One of the fun projects we got to do was create a new outdoor play area for the children that had been on the director’s to-do list for months.

Another project we participated in was a feeding program in San Jose, where we helped prepare and hand out meals to some of the people experiencing homelessness there.

We were also privileged to attend two Salvation Army church services in Concepción and San Jose, where we shared our own stories.

A Forever Experience Our young team members thrived there. Being exposed to kids their own age, leaving the comforts of home and stepping into a culture that does not have the same comforts and luxuries they are used to and, most importantly, seeing the joy Costa Rican youth have in their day-to-day life, challenged the assumptions of their own faith.

It was heartwarming to see the kids chat non-stop on the van ride back to our quarters about all they had accomplished in spite of language barriers, where they used the skills

they had to such great effect.

This was an experience that will stay with them—and me—forever.

Next Year in Costa Rica?

Some might wonder whether mission trips are worth the preparation and fundraising.

It’s easy enough to say, “Just send the money.” But what this experience showed me was that while Costa Rican Salvation Army members care passionately and are hard-working, there are not enough of them.

For two weeks, we were able to give the staff there breaks they would not have had, to do the things they needed to do but normally could not.

Tasks such as creating an office space for their visiting psychologist by clearing out a storage area might have seemed demeaning, and the Salvation Army daycare director was embarrassed to ask us if we could do this.

“Put us where you need us,” we replied.

Those moments were the reason we went, as well as for the connections that were made. You can’t get that by just sending a cheque.

When we were at the airport preparing to embark on our flight home, we were asked if we could come back next year. I don’t know if that will be possible due to the pandemic, but now that we’ve built up these relationships and our youth have seen what can be done, my hope is that we will return, and soon.

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Faith&Friends

BETWEEN THE LINES

Pocket Change Fictional Salvation Army captain saves souls in new book series.

by Jeanette Levellie

W

hen award-winning author Marsha Hubler set out to write a teen series, she thought she was writing to change young people’s lives. Instead, her own life changed in the process.

Tornado or Open Door?

In her Tommi Pockets trilogy, Marsha features a Salvation Army captain as the protagonist. With her no-nonsense yet loving approach, Captain Arlene “Ar” Masters helps broken, hurting teens find meaning for their lives at her Salvation Army counselling centre.

The novels, set in Ashland, Pennsylvania, during the 1950s, appeal to grown-ups as well as teens. “Adults love the books because of all the nos-

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talgia,” says Marsha.

Tommi Pockets, published last year, introduces Tommi, a 13-year-old pool shark who has one goal in life—to be the first female champion pool player.

But girls are not welcome in pool rooms, so Tommi disguises herself as a boy to play a male-only sport. When she takes part in a gang rumble and is arrested, the judge sentences her to counselling sessions with Captain Arlene, a Salvation Army pastor. She shows Tommi the unconditional love of Jesus, teaches her about life in the real lane, not the fast one, and encourages her gift for billiards.

The second novel, Runner Shoots His Best Game, released in August, has Tommi’s fellow pool expert, Runner, caught stealing. Captain Arlene

tackles the challenge to help Runner out of his mess. Will he receive her help or go back to his old ways?

The third volume of the trilogy, Double Trouble at Post 71, will feature Tommi and Runner, now both Christians. When a set of delinquent twins show up at Captain Arlene’s counselling centre, Tommi and Runner think the kids have too many problems for even God to fix. But Captain Arlene refuses to say “impossible” and asks the teens to mentor the twins. What follows is a tornado of disaster.

Or could it be an open door for Fieldwork To ensure the highest accuracy in her writing, Marsha Hubler (left) spent many hours interviewing Salvation Army Captain Jessica Duperree

growth? Readers will have to wait for the answers until late summer of 2021, the projected release date for the final volume.

Why the Army?

Marsha, who grew up in Ashland, chose a Salvation Army captain as her protagonist due to her parents.

“My mom and dad always supported The Salvation Army,” she says. “I grew up hearing, ‘When you want to give, that’s the organization you give to, because they make sure it goes to help people.’ ” Marsha has supported the Army all her life. “I’ve always felt they deserved it because of their biblical stand and for the wise use of the funds they

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BETWEEN THE LINES

“I grew up hearing, ‘When you want to give, that’s the organization you give to, because The Salvation Army makes sure it goes to help people.’ ” MARSHA HUBLER receive.” She admires The Salvation Army and its concern for the welfare of those in need.

Many hours of research went into the writing of the Tommi Pockets series. Marsha studied the type of uniforms worn by The Salvation Army in the ’50s and the history of the Army during that time. She also interviewed Captain Jessica Duperree, who is posted to the Salvation Army church in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

“Captain Jessica told me that the church’s major ministry is, ‘Feeding physical needs and spiritual souls.’ ” says Marsha. “Captain Jessica and her husband, Captain Scott, hold youth services every week and mentor kids who need a friend, similar to how Captain Arlene mentors Tommi and Runner.”

A Past to Remember “People ask me if Tommi’s character is based on my own past,” says Marsha. “I always say no, but Tommi is a compilation of the 12 teens— many troubled—whom my husband and I fostered through the years.”

The author seemed destined to help

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marginalized kids. For more than 14 years, she served as a teacher and principal. Following that career, Marsha worked as a teacher/counsellor at a treatment centre for conduct-disordered youth. But she patterned Captain Arlene after her own mother, a strong woman of faith who “kept our family together,” says Marsha.

“She lived her Christian beliefs and prayed for my unsaved, pool-shooting, drinking dad for 37 years. When he was 70, he finally gave his heart to God. I owe everything I am to my mother.”

But Marsha also owes her skill as a billiards expert to her dad. When she was 10, her father bought a used Brunswick pool table—one of the world’s finest—and restored it. He then taught the young girl to shoot pool. “My dad could’ve gone professional if he’d wanted to,” Marsha states. She still owns the antique Brunswick and often shoots pool with friends.

I Am What I Am Marsha wrote this unique trilogy to help introduce young people to God

Behind the Eight Ball Marsha owes her skill as a billiards expert to her father

and to see their lives change for the better. In the process, her own life has changed.

Shortly before Tommi Pockets was released, the author heard God’s voice in her heart, telling her to give away 500 copies of the book. She took a deep breath and then agreed. “I’ll do that, Lord, if you provide the postage.”

To date, Marsha has given away 274 copies of Tommi to Salvation Army churches across North America, as

well as to other organizations who work with youth.

“God has already provided all I need to buy and ship the remaining 226 books,” she says. “By stepping out in faith and agreeing to give away books, I’ve really increased my trust in God’s faithfulness.”

Marsha’s favourite Bible verse attests to that fact: “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

(left) Author of five books and hundreds of published articles, Jeanette Levellie and her husband make their home in Paris, Illinois.

Jeanette’s hobbies include spoiling her three grandchildren, pampering her cats and inventing new ways to avoid housework. Find her splashes of hope and humour at www.jeanettelevellie.com.

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FEATURE

The Sins of the Past

IN BLACK WIDOW, NATASHA ROMANOFF MUST COME TO TERMS WITH HER PAST. CAN THE AVENGER DO SO?

by Ken Ramstead

I

n the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Natasha Romanoff, a.k.a. Black Widow, is one of the Avengers, a respected voice for reason, a redoubtable ally and a fearsome foe.

Adept at espionage and an expert martial artist, she is an invaluable force for good and an important part of SHIELD, Earth’s counter-terrorism agency.

But it wasn’t always so.

Before she joined her friends Hawkeye, Captain America and Iron Man, Black Widow was one of their deadliest enemies, responsible for countless acts of evil.

“Before I worked for SHIELD,” she says, “I made a name for myself. I have a very specific skill set. I didn’t care who I used it for, or on. I got on SHIELD’s radar in a bad way.”

In Black Widow, which opens in theatres next month, Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) finds herself alone after the events of Captain America: Civil War. Forced to con14 • OCTOBER 2020 I faithandfriends.ca

front a dangerous conspiracy with ties to her past, she’s being pursued by forces that will stop at nothing to bring her down.

Founding Father Natasha must deal with her history as Black Widow and the broken relationships left in her wake long before she became an Avenger.

“I’ve got red on my ledger,” she says. “I’d like to wipe it out.”

The Apostle Paul would be able to relate. More than any other person except Jesus, Paul is responsible for starting Christianity.

It is estimated that he travelled more than 15,000 kilometres from one end of the Roman Empire to the other in order to spread the good news about Jesus.

During that 30-year journey, he was shipwrecked three times, suffered numerous beatings, was publicly stoned and was imprisoned more than five times.

In the process, Paul founded churches, converted unbelievers, and 13 of the New Testament’s 27 books claim him as a writer.

Photo: Courtesy of Marvel Studios

Fateful Encounter But it wasn’t always so.

Paul, or Saul, to use his Hebrew name, was once an intolerant traditionalist who persecuted the followers of the crucified Jesus.

“I was just as zealous for God as any of you are today,” he told a crowd of Jews in Jerusalem. “I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as the high priest and all the council can themselves testify. I even obtained letters from them to their associates in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as

prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished” (Acts 22:3-5).

It was on the road to Damascus that Saul was hit by a light so intense that he was blinded and fell to the ground in agony (see Acts 22:7-10).

A voice asked him, “Saul! Saul!

Why do you persecute me?”

“Who are you?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus of Nazareth,” the voice replied, “whom you are persecuting.”

“What shall I do, Lord?” Saul asked.

“Get up and go into Damascus.

There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.” That encounter changed Paul forever.

His sight eventually restored, he went on to become the greatest missionary of all time.

Who We Are Like Natasha, Paul had to make peace with his past if he was to make anything out of his future. For Paul, his conversion had given him an entirely new outlook on life and religion. It had made him a different person.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

For Natasha, alone and isolated, it also comes down to something within herself.

“At some point, we all have to choose,” she says. “To be what the world wants you to be. Or to be who you are.”

That’s something we all must heed. faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2020

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COVER STORY

Photo: Caroline Franks

Faith&Friends

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A Week With Major Ann MY SEVEN DAYS ASSISTING IN A SALVATION ARMY LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY DURING COVID-19 CHANGED MY LIFE.

by Major Jim Mercer THE CALL CAME LATE ONE Friday evening this past spring from Salvation Army public-relations director Glenn van Gulik.

Salvation Army long-term care facilities were dealing as best they could with the COVID-19 crisis, but the hard-working staff needed assistance.

“Is there any way you can help?”

Glenn asked. (left) Sacred Trust "I will never regard my calling as simply preaching on Sunday anymore," says Major Jim Mercer faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2020

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COVER STORY

Christmas Duty Major Jim standing at a Salvation Army kettle last year with Both Chuol Gakah, a new Canadian from South Sudan. The Salvation Army's Barrhaven Church sponsored him and his family and helped them settle in their new home

He gave me a couple hours to think it over, but I didn’t really need that long.

My wife and I had seen the news and read the headlines, but this was different. Now I was being asked to care for people, some with COVID-19.

I was on the road the next morning.

Reporting for Duty While I had visited nursing homes 18 • OCTOBER 2020 I faithandfriends.ca

many times over the course of my 18 years as a Salvation Army pastor, this would be different.

My experience had been purely in a church setting and I had never worked in long-term care.

Arriving at the facility, a dozen of us Salvation Army pastors who had volunteered to serve spent the morning in an intensive training session. We were taught how to put on our gear, including our masks and gloves, correctly, and to discard

As a pastor, I had seen a lot and I thought I was tough, but this was different. MAJOR JIM MERCER

them for fresh garb each time we left a room.

Almost immediately, my fellow Salvation Army pastor, Lieutenant Ian Robinson, and I were assigned to the fourth floor of the facility.

those people deteriorate, and we witnessed a number of people who passed away during that time. That was very hard for me. As a pastor, I had seen a lot and I thought I was tough, but this was different.

Hard Week We were expected to be ready for work by eight o’clock in the morning, and we would leave at around seven in the evening, so we averaged 12-hour days over the week we were deployed there.

We’d meet up with staff, support them and learn from them, and deliver meals to the residents, helping to feed them and give them water, coffee and tea.

The facility was short-handed, and the staff were appreciative that we were there to offer support.

Going from room to room, we’d encounter people at different levels of need. Some could sit up and feed themselves while others weren’t very responsive.

Over the week, we saw some of

Major Ann In the days I was at the facility, I spent a fair amount of time with a retired Salvation Army officer, Major Ann Murray.

The staff always referred to her as “Major Ann” and treated her with dignity, as they did all the patients.

My time with her was precious.

I have never met anyone who appreciated a cup of cold water as she did. She had stopped eating days before, but she was alert and looked everyone in the eye. Each time I gave her a drink, her response was, “Aww, that was good. Thank you.” She was courteous with everyone she encountered.

There was one morning in particular that was very emotional for me. Major Ann was in some discomfaithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2020

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COVER STORY

fort and asked for a nurse. Then she said, “Don’t leave me.”

I responded with, “I won’t leave you, Major Ann.” I then prayed with her, quoting Psalm 23 as well. It was amazing to hear her echoing my words with, “Amen, amen, thank you, Jesus.”

As the nurse came in to help, she turned to me with a thank you and said, “You should be very proud of what you are doing.” Her words of affirmation were a divine moment for me.

Mixed Emotions The journey from room to room was physically and emotionally tiring for us, but we saw it as a privilege to serve.

In the Eye of the Storm Major Jim speaking with a group of volunteer workers in Dunrobin, Ont., near Ottawa, as The Salvation Army responded to a tornado in 2018

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These patients were not permitted to see anyone from the outside, so we became their family. We’d point to pictures on the wall and ask: “Is that you playing piano there?”

They would nod their head and I’d respond, “Wow, you obviously love music!” Or I’d ask them the names of their children. It wasn’t a conversation in the normal sense as most could only nod and smile or say one or two words. But they were moving interludes for all that.

As I left for the last time that Sunday, I intentionally went around to every room to tell them that this was my last shift.

“You’re leaving?” some said.

“What are we going to do now?”

“The Salvation Army is going to

Food Dash Major Jim and Captain Jeff Arkell deliver food in Ottawa this spring during COVID-19

send in more people,” I’d answer.

“You don’t need to worry.”

I walked out of the facility with mixed emotions. Part of me wanted to stay, although I knew I had family at home, and ministry I needed to get back to. However, I knew other Salvation Army pastors would take my place.

A Ministry of Presence No other experience I’ve had compares to that week. It changed my life.

I will never regard my calling as simply preaching on Sunday morning anymore. I’m humbled

by the fact that I was called and I responded. The faces and the names of the residents I served, along with the amazing staff on the fourth floor, will forever be etched on my mind, especially Major Ann. It is often said in The Salvation Army that we are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus on earth. My fellow Army pastors and I actually lived that out that week.

We were a ministry of presence for those we looked after and for their families who depended on us, individually and as an organization.

I didn’t take that trust for granted, and I never will.

(left) Major Jim Mercer is the pastor at The Salvation Army’s Barrhaven Church in Ottawa. faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2020

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Photo: sturti/ E+ via Getty Images Plus

Faith&Friends

FEATURE

The Play Date

WHEN IT CAME TO RACE RELATIONS IN OUR TOWN, MY MOTHER WAS DETERMINED TO RIGHT A WRONG.

by Diane Stark

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T

he summer before I started Grade 1, I walked into the living room and saw my mother watching the midday news on TV. I was only six, but I’d never seen that look on her face before. She looked incredibly sad, but angry at the same time. Before I could ask any questions, she said, “Get your shoes on.

We’re going to visit some people.”

“Please Come In” Within minutes, Mom, my fouryear-old sister, Mandy, and I were in the car. We’d only driven a short distance when Mom pulled into the driveway of a house we’d never been to before. I saw that the front of their house and the grass were covered in spray paint, as though someone had written messages on it. I couldn’t read the words, but Mom’s face looked even madder than before.

We followed Mom to the front door. When she knocked, someone yelled, “Go away. Please. Just leave us alone.”

“I saw on the news what people did to your house,” Mom said, her voice cracking. “I’m here to say that I’m sorry this happened to you. I live around the corner, and I wanted to welcome you to town. And tell you that I’m sorry for the ignorance of others.”

The door opened slowly. A Black woman stood there, a little boy in her arms and another standing next to her. The boys looked about the same ages as Mandy and me.

“I had to come over,” Mom said. t“I hate that people did this to you.”

The woman smiled and opened the door wider. “Please come in.”

Games and Cookies We went inside and the lady introduced herself and her sons. Mom did the same. “Do you girls want to go play?” the lady asked Mandy and faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2020

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FEATURE

While race has become a complicated issue, it’s not how God intended it to be. DIANE STARK me. “Not all of the boys’ toys are unpacked, but I’m sure you all can find something.”

We looked at Mom and she nodded.

The two boys led us into a bedroom filled with moving boxes.

“This is our room in our new house,” the older one said. “Those boxes have toys in them.”

We looked through the boxes.

Mandy and I were unimpressed by their Star Wars figures and other “boy stuff.”

“We’ve got games, too,” he said.

The four of us played Candyland and Cootie, two of my favourites.

After we’d all won at least once, the younger boy asked if we were hungry. “My mom will give us a snack,” he said.

We headed for the kitchen, where Mom was sitting at the table with a glass of soda. She seemed happier and more relaxed now.

The boys’ mom smiled and asked if we liked cookies. She poured us each a glass of milk to go with our snack.

After we ate, we played hide-andseek. Too soon, Mom told us it was time to go home. She hugged the 24 • OCTOBER 2020 I faithandfriends.ca

lady good-bye and promised to look for her at PTA meetings once school started in the fall.

“Just Be Nice” When we got in the car, Mom asked if we’d had fun.

“Yeah, they were different from us, but it was fun.”

“Different how?”

I laughed. “They were boys, Mom. We didn’t like their toys, so we just played board games, so everyone had fun.”

“I’m glad you had fun. Those boys will be going to your school next year and you need to be friendly with them, no matter what anyone else says.”

“I have other friends who are boys, Mom. No one will say anything.”

Mom started to speak, but she seemed to change her mind. “Just be nice to them, OK?” My sister and I attended school with those boys up until graduation.

They were the only Black children at our school. They were both wellliked and I never heard anyone be unkind to them. We were always friendly with one another, but we never spoke of that first play date.

day was our genders. And how easily that difference could be overcome by the simple compromise of playing board games instead of Star Wars.

It makes me wish that our differences could be bridged so easily today. While race has become a complicated issue, it’s not how God intended it to be.

He created all of us. We are all made in His image.

And He gave us all two rules: Love Him and love each other.

It might not fix everything, but loving people is always a great place to start.

Photo: comptine/gettyimages.ca

Two Rules I was in Grade 5 when I figured out why we’d actually gone to their house that day. We were studying the Civil Rights movement in school. I saw a picture of two drinking fountains with signs above them. I was infuriated that people used to treat others that way. My heart broke when I remembered the spray-painted house. I realized that people were still treating others that way.

Looking back on that play date now, it makes me smile to think that the only difference I noticed that

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Faith&Friends

SOMEONE CARES

From Trauma to Triumph The Salvation Army helped Kate escape a family legacy of alcohol and drugs.

by Michelle Boileau

Bridging the Divide “The Salvation Army helped me find my way,” says Kate, here with her daughter

K

ate’s childhood and early years were filled with trauma and significant challenges: a family with a history of addiction and a mother, a crack addict, who left when Kate was 12. Addiction was a family legacy that took its toll when Kate spent her early adult years partying and abusing alcohol and drugs.

“I was angry and had a bad attitude,” says Kate. “I lived in and out of transition homes and used alcohol and cocaine as coping mechanisms.

When I had my daughter, I didn’t want her to endure what I did as a

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child, so I moved us away from it all.”

By 19, Kate was a single parent, living on social assistance, hungry and desperate. She left her hometown and moved to Prince George, B.C., to be near an aunt who helped steer her in the right direction.

“It was difficult for me to ask for help, fearing I would be judged by my mother’s reputation,” says Kate.

“Then, one day, I walked through the doors of The Salvation Army’s food bank looking for help for myself and my daughter. I quickly learned their services were for everyone.”

Patience and Diversity Fast forward to today, and Kate is a happy full-time student, works multiple part-time jobs and has established a support network for her and her daughter. When it came to completing volunteer hours for college, she could think of only one place she wanted to be—The Salvation Army’s food bank, an organization and cause close to her heart.

“The Salvation Army helped me find my way,” continues Kate. “I always wanted a good life, but it was hard to see anything positive from my childhood. After I graduate, I plan to pay it forward and be a social worker.”

Life is challenging and stressful, yet Kate is staying grounded, positive and, most importantly, sober. She is a firm believer that

“I lived in and out of transition homes and used alcohol and cocaine as coping mechanisms.” KATE After seeing the work the Army does from both sides of the spectrum—client and volunteer— Kate no longer feels the stigma of asking for help.

“The services they offer are for everyone. Years ago, I was embarrassed to ask for their help. No one needs to be.

finding her spiritual self protected her from poor choices. She is living a positive and healthy life and enjoys spending quality time with her daughter.

“The Salvation Army showed me patience and diversity,” says Kate.

“That message pushed me closer to recovery, and I am OK now.”

(left) Michelle Boileau is the communications and marketing manager at The Salvation Army’s divisional headquarters in Burnaby, B.C.

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Eating Healthy With Erin APPLE CINNAMON MUFFINS TIME 35 mins MAKES 12 servings SERVE WITH butter and jam

Recipe photos: Erin Stanley

Dry Mix:

250 ml (1 cup) quick oats, blended fine 250 ml (1 cup) all-purpose flour 15 ml (3 tsp) baking powder 150 ml (2/3 cup) brown sugar 10 ml (2 tsp) cinnamon Apple Filling:

250 ml (1 cup) apples, diced 5 ml (1 tsp) butter 2 ml (½ tsp) cinnamon 2 ml (½ tsp) brown sugar Wet Mix:

2 small eggs 2 ml (½ tsp) vanilla 60 ml (¼ cup) melted coconut oil 250 ml (1 cup) milk

1. Preheat oven to 205 C (400 F) and line a muffin tin.

2. Mix dry ingredients and set aside.

3. Fry diced apples in a pan over medium-low heat for a couple of minutes. Combine with remaining filling ingredients.

4. Mix wet ingredients together in separate bowl.

5. Add wet mix to the dry and combine well. Fold in the apple filling.

6. Fill muffin tin almost to the top and sprinkle on a little oatmeal and brown sugar.

7. Bake for 22-25 minutes. Use a toothpick to prick a muffin and see that it comes out clean.

MORNING ENERGY JUICE TIME 5 mins MAKES 2 servings SERVE WITH eggs and toast

250 ml (1 cup) fresh beets 500 ml (2 cups) oranges, diced 30 mm (¼ in.) fresh ginger 60 ml (¼ cup) fresh carrot 2 ml (½ tsp) fresh turmeric (optional) 500 ml (2 cups) filtered water

28 • OCTOBER 2020 I faithandfriends.ca

1. Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

(Optional to leave pulp in or strain if desired.)

Home-Schooling

IS IT FOR YOU? P.12

Making a Difference

ZAMBIA P.5

Family Supports Army

NICKELS AND DIMES P.26

Faith&Friends I N S P I R AT I O N F O R L I V I N G

faithandfriends.ca

SEPTEMBER 2020

VICTOR IOUS

Victoria

WITH THE HELP OF THE SALVATION ARMY, HUMANTRAFFICKING SURVIVOR IS PUTTING HER LIFE BACK TOGETHER. P.16

Subscribe to Faith&Friends

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Visit faithandfriends.ca/subscribe or call (416) 422-6119 today!

Sudoku Puzzle

6

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 × 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

5 7

5 3 9

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OH MY WORD!

© J.Sanko/C. Layton, 2020

by John Sanko

Answers on next page.

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QUICK QUIZ 1. What is Canada’s largest national park?

2. What are baby sharks called?

3. What NBA team does Canadian Jamal Murray play for?

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faithandfriends.ca I OCTOBER 2020

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Faith&Friends

LITE STUFF

Word Search The Cat’s Meow N E B E L U N G I L A M O S M X S F A F G B B J R A G D O L L F C G H S P X L X G S M S E R E N G E T I Z I O Z E E N A I S R E P O G O G J S A L B S R U P K N Y E N I K H C N U M E S E N I L A B B S A A L S A W B E

O R M O T I B P O G I A M W E I G S N C R G R A I N O C N M K O L R R E N Q U E T T R W A D I E D N A E M U I A B R S B M O E I S C C S G H E C K I E O V O N R K E S N A H N A K B S C O G G B X B N Y Y S C T E I U A N O O C E N I A M V B I U O B R O N I I S Y Y A V N R I A H T R O H S E M I C H V A N A Y A L A M I H T G Q T P P V J L E V K O Y M P A H J L D T S E R O F N A I G E W R O N O H V X U F F J P I H U L M S R W D X G U ABYSSINIAN AEGEAN BALINESE BENGAL BOBTAIL BURMESE HAVANA BROWN HIGHLANDER HIMALAYAN JAVANESE KHAO MANEE KORAT

LEVKOY LONGHAIR MAINE COON MANX MAU MINSKIN MUNCHKIN NAPOLEON NEBELUNG NORWEGIAN FOREST OCICAT OREGON REX

30 • OCTOBER 2020 I faithandfriends.ca

PERSIAN RAGDOLL RUSSIAN BLUE SERENGETI SHORTHAIR SIAMESE SIBERIAN SNOWSHOE SOMALI SPHYNX TABBY WIREHAIR

Quick Quiz Answers: 1. Wood Buffalo National Park (44,807 sq. km); 2. pups; 3. the Denver Nuggets.

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Faith&Friends

NIFTY THRIFTY

No Sweat(er)!

A few hand stitches and you’ve got yourself a fall-inspired craft.

Here’s a super-simple DIY: upcycling a thrifted wool sweater into a small pumpkin for your autumn décor.

Supplies Needed: sweater, scissors, needle and thread, scrap fabric or other material for stuffing, leather cord, green felt (optional).

Step 1 Head to your local Salvation Army thrift store and find a wool sweater.

Depending on your décor, go with an orange, grey or off-white one. Next, felt the sweater by washing it in hot water.

Step 2 Cut one of the sleeves off. This will make the pumpkin and stem.

Step 3 Turn the sleeve inside out. Knot one of the ends, then turn it outside in.

Step 4 Fill the sleeve three-quarters full with the stuffing. Stitch the top closed.

Step 5 Now you’re ready to create the curves of your pumpkin. Start with a stitch at the top, then stitch the bottom and pull the thread for the bumps in your pumpkin. Do this six to eight times and pull the thread tight. Adjust the vertical thread as needed, and knot the threads.

Step 6 Wrap the stem using a leather cord. Tie it at the top, then trim the remaining wool. Next, you can hide the ends of the cord in the top of the stem.

Finally, use felt or an upcycled wool sweater for the leaves.

And you’re done! You can make one more pumpkin using the other sleeve.

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(left) Denise Corcoran (aka Thrifty By Design) is an author, upcycler, community builder and workshop facilitator based in North Vancouver. She shares her enthusiasm for crafting and upcycling by facilitating “Crafternoons” throughout Vancouver.

She is also a creative expert for The Salvation Army’s thrift stores.

Find a thrift store near you at thriftstore.ca.

The Salvation Army continues to provide its essential services to the vulnerable, but to ensure the safety of clients and staff, some thrift stores remain temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

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PM 40064794

For address changes or subscription information contact (416) 422-6119 or circulation@can.salvationarmy.org. Allow 4-6 weeks for changes.