Hermeneutics, Halloween, and the streets of Victoria...

So this past week from Monday to Friday we had our Hermeneutics course with Merrill Dyck. After finishing some of the pre course work before class began on Monday, I was a little hesitant as to how this week would turn out. But Merrill's class actually taught me a lot and gave me a new perspective on really reading the Bible for all it's worth. He covered a lot of material in those five days, about hermeneutics and the challenges that coincide  with the that. We went over everything from Bible translations and different kinds of communication in Scripture, as well interpreting and increasing our understanding when we use exegesis. During the week we were split into four groups depending on which Bible book we were committed to that week. During the week we had to practice in our groups a way we could teach-explain-illustrate the Book for the presentations that would take place on the last day of class. On Friday morning it was super neat to see the creativity and thought that went into each of these presentations. I think that whenever we hear or read James, 1st John, or 1st and 2nd Peter again, that we will recall and think back to the groups and their messages from that day. 

There were mixed opinions about the class over all by my fellow students, but I really enjoyed hermeneutics this week and because of the class, I don't think I will ever be able to read the Bible the same way as before.

At youth group on Friday, we headed out to Lake Cow right after supper to help set up for our Halloween-Super-Hero-night extravaganza. Sherri and Michelle had some pretty rad games and activities planned. We really had no clue as to how many of the kids would actually show up considering it was Friday night right before the weekend and there were a fair number of  school parties going on as well. But it was sweet to see some of the guys and gals still make it out. It was a small turn out, but we still had a blast hanging out and it gave us a chance to connect more with the ones that came out since it was a smaller group.

On Monday we hit the streets of Victoria with backpacks full of socks, toques, jackets, an extra lunch and a few other items. We split into smaller groups and spent the day walking around Victoria, talking and spending some time with the homeless that were living on the streets. This was quite the new experience for me. I was pretty nervous and felt unprepared in what to say and even how to respond when questions were answered. We spent most of the morning walking around and were able to talk and hear some stories from some of the people we encountered that day. 

One of the guys we met, his name was Ronnie, shared a lot about his past with our group. He talked about growing up with his parents being pretty hardcore drug users and how they later became Christians, but couldn't give up their addictions, and then how they later passed away. He tried to explain how he didn't understand why God would take them away from him, and left him to live in a world like this when he was so young, and how God could let his parents die even though they were Christians. He was struggling with a lot, and he kept apologizing to us about burdening us with his story.

When we first approached him and gave him one of the hoodies we had. He was totally thrilled and super excited about how well it fit and how stylish he looked in it. It was such a cool feeling to see him all stoked on receiving just this sweater from us. He was SO grateful. After we had given it to him though, he was in a rush and had to get back to his buddy who was watching his stuff, but then he would start talking about his past, and then after a while remember again that he really had to leave, but then once again open up and start talking again. Until finally he realized he really must go, cause he had been gone way too long, and he was panicked that his buddy would have left all his belongings somewhere, so he ran off and then hollered back a huge thank you for the sweater once more. 

I really hope that our Kaleo group can make more trips like this down to Victoria. I feel like that morning just flew by, and that it really wasn't long enough. Although i'm still pretty new and still feel somewhat inexperienced, I would like to go out and try it again, and hopefully meet up and talk with more of the people there in the future.