International Teams Canada - Newswire

VIDEO: 24-7 Prayer Room Opens Up New Mission-Focused Possibilities for Hamilton Churches

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

April 28, 2012: In February, International Teams urban ministry partner TrueCity Hamilton hosted a week-long 24-hour prayer room, where Christians from 40 different area churches came to pray for their local community. This is the third year for the prayer room, and Dave Witt (Partnership Developer for TrueCity Hamilton) shared this about the experience:

Each year we have seen more people from more churches come to the prayer room. What is most exciting for me is the way that the prayer room opens up new, mission-focused prayer possibilities for people. It doesn't impose anything on people but invites them into new ways of praying. It creates this tremendous cross-pollination between different streams of the church in our city. And it opens up the possibility for people of prayer moving from a passive mode to an active mode where we join God in what He is doing and in the process become part of the answer to the prayers we are praying.

To view a short video on the impact of the prayer room, click the image above. For more information about TrueCity Hamilton, visit their website.

Short-Term Mission Renews Community Focus for TrueCity Southlake

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

April 21, 2012:

Steve Klassen, Partnership Developer for International Teams Canada urban ministry TrueCity Southlake, believes that the short-term mission experiences don't just change the lives of the host community - they are transformative for the community sending them as well. "In the late 80s, I went to the Dominican Republic as an unchurched person and came back as a follower of Christ. That first trip started my family on a journey of going around the world on missions, eventually discovering just how much these sorts of trips impact Canada on our return. When we take people to the developing world, they not only help there, but also come back with a renewed vision of how desperate Canada is on a spiritual level, and renewed compassion for all of humanity."

TrueCity Southlake sends a team to the Dominican Republic every two years. In November, 20 different participants aged 10-65, representing six different Newmarket-area churches, taught English through a week-long VBS-style day-camp, hosted healthcare seminars focusing on disease prevention, provided vocational training, and helped three families move into homes built with funds from generous TrueCity donors. Steve shared that throughout the trip, the Spirit of God reminded him what an incredible gift the trip was for the team members. "As Canadians, in our busy frantic way of life, we were once again renewed to what's really important, to love and care for people, and provide hope where there is no hope."

Steve has seen that much of the benefit of a short-term mission experience is how the participants return home more engaged in mission activities in general than they were prior to the trip. "I'm able to watch their lives throughout the 8 months of trip preparation, and I see when they return that they are much more focused on our community because of that experience. They've received a crash course in reality, and they've been reminded that Canada is an incredible country to be taken care of and nurtured through Kingdom activity."

To learn more about TrueCity Southlake's community development projects or to join the team for the next Dominican Republic mission trip, visit www.truecitysouthlake.ca. For more information on short-term mission opportunities with International Teams, visit www.iteams.ca and click Engage.

Sponsorships the Key to Village of Hope's Long-Term Success

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

April 18, 2012:

During the first week of February, Philip Chester, Program Director of ITCA's new ministry partner Careforce International, travelled to Burkina Faso with Gavin Hayes, the new "Champion" for CFI's Village of Hope program.

The purpose of the trip was to meet with local ministry partners to map out a 2-year plan for the initiatives supported by CFI, which provide much-needed care to children of rural Burkina Faso. Philip shares that a constant source of struggle and worry for the team at Village of Hope has been the increasing price of food. "Right now, while school sponsorship funds contribute significantly, we are still approximately $30,000 short each year. To combat this shortfall, we agreed the answer was for Careforce to send one container per year of high nutritional value dried food from Canada and to provide $20,000 per year to purchase basic commodities such as rice, maize, or pasta locally. If we can recruit an additional 50 sponsors for this program the food problem will be solved!"

An additional challenge being addressed this year is equipping the clinic in Village of Hope with medicines and other medical supplies. It costs an average of $300 per month to stock the clinic, with additional expenses in the fall when new children arrive and require standard blood tests and other procedures. Careforce has committed to raising $5,000 for each of the next two years to meet this need.

Philip, Gavin, and the Village of Hope team also put a plan in place to take care of ongoing repair, maintenance, and construction required to ensure the dormitory built 10 years ago remains liveable. Philip says that the building, which now houses approximately 100 children, has a slight design flaw that needs to be fixed. "Simply put, the roof needs to be higher to allow the heat to rise and escape. The problem with this is that we need the dormitory to be empty for this construction to take place. As we can't really do this during the heat of the summer or the wet of the rainy season, we want to send a team out to experience Christmas in Burkina Faso! According to one person who has spent several Christmases at the village, the children's Christmas celebrations are really something special."

Village of Hope's new 2-year plan will deal with short term issues, but an increased number of supporters making regular monthly contributions will help to provide a long-term solution to many of the village's challenges. Village of Hope's sponsors provide the children not only with a loving and caring environment but with a secure future as well.

To become a sponsor, or for more information on how to be a part of a team traveling to the Village of Hope, please contact Gavin Hayes at gavin@careforceinternational.ca.

Making Plans and Celebrating Changes in Cavite City

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

April 11, 2012:

Neil Ostrander, CEO of International Teams Canada (ITCA), combined business with pleasure on a recent trip to the Philippines, where he and his wife Yvonne were excited to meet their first granddaughter.

Neil shares that the visit, during which they also met with local leaders of the Impact Philippines program, was the best way to combine ministry and vacation that he could think of. "We had a wonderful time. Brett [Neil's son] had some breaks in his school and ministry responsibilities to be with us, and we also got to spend a lot of time with our daughter-in-law Grace and the baby. Isabella is adorable and she stole my heart - I wish I could go back tomorrow and see her again!"

Between cuddles and lullabies, Neil and Yvonne were also able to visit the city of Cavite (pronounced cah-vee-tay). Cavite's dumpsite, the result of urban sprawl in Manila, is about 2 hectares in size and is home to a thousand squatter families, who pick through the garbage and resell anything with value. It is also the site of three churches and two of ITCA's projects - an alternative learning system (ALS) and an urban gardening program, both of which are designed to lift the people living in the dumpsite out of poverty.

Henry Manuncia, Philippines Program Director, and his wife Lisa spent considerable time with Neil, Yvonne and local pastors, Cesar and Fe. Pastora Fe was so proud to walk them through their new strategic plan for the program, which Neil believes will make a significant difference in the coming years. "I've been to the Philippines many times in the last twelve years. I was so happy to see local leaders mapping out strategy, leveraging years of relationships, and working on a plan they are truly excited about. Henry and Lisa are so good at coaching that there are now local resources at the neighbourhood and municipal level willing to support the projects. In the developing world, that is a profound shift in mindset."

Neil says, "I'm looking forward to returning next year, not only to see my beautiful Isabella, but to see the Cavite City projects which are shining examples of our vision to see lives and communities transformed by the power of God."

Please join Neil and Yvonne in prayer that Grace, their daughter-in-law, might be granted a tourist visa to visit Canada in the near future. For more information or to support the work of Impact Philippines, visit www.iteams.ca and click International > Impact Philippines.

Hope for the Sold: Fighting Sexual Exploitation One Word at a Time

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

April 4, 2012:

When Jay and Michelle Brock took a youth group to a leadership conference five years ago, they had no idea the event would change their lives in such a profound way.

Michelle says she had been asking God for help to discover the one thing that He would put on her heart more than any other issue. The answer to that question came in the form of a speaker from International Justice Mission and a movie about human trafficking. "Afterward, I don't think I spoke for 3 days. I can't imagine a worse fate as a woman than being exploited and trapped. There was truly nothing worse for me."

The result was Hope for the Sold, an International Teams Canada partnership that uses writing and film-making to prevent sex trafficking. In 2009, Jay and Michelle travelled across Canada to make a film about the issue. "We travelled 11,000 km, asking the question: 'Is sex trafficking happening in Canada?' Despite being put together with a very minimal budget and no experience whatsoever, God has taken something that was a bootstrap job and turned it into a resource that people are really using."

Michelle and Jay are now raising the funds to make another documentary, this time to answer a different question. "The number one question we get is: 'Shouldn't we just legalize prostitution?' There are a lot of countries in the world asking this question right now. People think it makes women safer, but the problem is when you legalize prostitution, you increase demand for paid sex."

Following a recent Ontario prostitution ruling and a government appeal, the issue of legalized prostitution may be taken all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. MP Joy Smith and other activists are pushing for something called the Nordic Model, which began when Sweden made the statement that prostitution is violence against women and it won't be tolerated. Michelle believes that adopting a Canadian version of the Nordic Model can prevent trafficking on a systemic level. "That's the goal of our film as well - we really want to prevent trafficking from ever happening. We feel like if we can demonstrate to the Canadian government that not only should we not be legalizing prostitution, but preventing exploitation, that other countries will follow suit."

It is a complicated problem, but Michelle's motivation is very simple: freedom. "I want people to know freedom - freedom for the enslaved, but also for johns and traffickers. Isaiah 58 talks a lot about freeing the oppressed. I read that passage at least once a week. I really feel the calling of God and the responsibility as a follower of Christ to set the oppressed free."

To learn more about Hope for the Sold or contribute to their new documentary project, visit www.hopeforthesold.com.

The Romance and Reality of Short-Term Missions

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

February 25, 2012:

Growing up in a very mission-focused church, Pamela Fane says she was interested in missions from a very young age. "When I was 5 years old, I was set up as a pen-pal with another child from a missionary family our church supported. I think I had a bit of a romanticized idea of mission work and the lives that missionaries lead, until I went on my first short-term trip when I was 15. Volunteering at an orphanage in Mexico was not a very romantic experience, but it was the beginning of my more adult view of the world. When you've waited your whole life to do something, you're always afraid you're going to hate it, but it was a fantastic experience and it solidified my desire to do missions."

After getting to know Jeremy Horne, Director of the International Teams Canada ministry Life Change Adventures, Pam helped him organize his yearly short-term trips to Ecuador, going herself for the first time in 2009. Together with a team of Canadian volunteers, they ran a day camp program for sponsored kids at the Lighthouse of Hope Camp in Bastion. She returned in 2010 with her mother to work alongside a small team of nurses and other volunteers to provide health education and assessments to the families living in a remote jungle community along the Onzole River.

Pam's husband Chris, ITCA's Director of Online Services, spent a week in Onzole with Life Change Adventures prior to her last trip there. "It was really cool to arrive in Onzole and be immediately sought out by the family that hosted Chris in their home for dinner. The time Chris spent with them set me up for a truly unique connection with that family. It's great as a couple to share a similar passion to serve God. Having someone participating alongside you is a great gift!"

After five short-term experiences, Pam believes that short-term mission truly changes the lives of both the team and those they are going to serve. "For the team members, it changes your life because you meet people and start building relationships, and you can't ignore the problems they face and how we contribute to those problems. For the people you meet, they see us come from very comfortable, affluent lives and make ourselves vulnerable. The fact that we do that, that we've come to just be with them, is very significant. It's about going and participating in what God's already doing, having that privilege and knowing that we are as much a part of it as they are."

To learn more about what Life Change Adventures has planned in Ecuador for 2012, or to get involved, visit their website.

Discovering New Light, New Hope in Romania

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

February 23, 2012:

When Gwyneth Findlay left for her first short-term mission trip last summer, she admits she wasn't feeling particularly enthusiastic about the idea. "My parents [ITCA head office staff members Wilma and Alan Findlay] had decided that they would go on this trip and that I would go along, but I felt no need to do so. As a selfish teenager, I wanted to spend the summer with my friends instead of my parents and whoever they wanted me to go see. I'm also quite shy and figured that I would have very little success connecting with people I met along the way."

Within 24 hours of arriving at Camp Discovery in Romania, Gwyneth's life was changed, as the Romanian volunteers welcomed her with open hearts and 40 orphan children arrived to spend a week playing games, doing crafts, sharing Bible stories, and participating in what Gwyneth described as the typical camp activities. "The kids were just as welcoming as the volunteers had been. Nothing had ever touched my heart so fully or so quickly. Each day brought new lessons, new light, new hope. God's love was flowing around us all the time. It took my breath away! The effect of each child was the same; I'd never felt so called to be there for anyone in my life."

Since returning from Romania, Gwyneth says her relationship with Jesus has exploded, leaving her much more open to experiencing God right here at home, which has led to a series of events and situations with friends that have strengthened her faith immensely. "I also tend to look at things from new perspectives now and try to consider the way things would be handled if I was still over there, where the little stuff actually seems like what it is - little stuff."

Please lift up Gwyneth in prayer as she returns to Romania this summer with a friend. To learn more about Camp Discovery or to financially support this program, click here.

Ugandan Street Kids Find Hope at The Sanctuary

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

January 24, 2012:

For the former street kids living at The Sanctuary in Jinja, Uganda, a group home gives them more than just a safe place to sleep - it gives them access to education and vocational training with the power to truly transform their lives.

Founded by Henry Wanjala in partnership with Melissa Maertens and Tom Dale, The Sanctuary is a project of International Teams Canada's Impact Uganda program. In 2008, Henry was a high school student working at an internet cafe in Jinja when he happened to meet Melissa, a young Canadian woman volunteering in Uganda with Give International. During her visit, Melissa befriended a small group of street kids and was inspired upon her return to Canada to raise funds for them to attend school. After Henry met Tom, the idea for The Sanctuary was born, and the three worked together to make it a reality. Starting with just Henry and 5 boys in a 3-room house, the group home now houses 15 boys on a larger property.

Henry says the group home gives the boys a chance to break the cycle of poverty that traps kids who live on the streets. "For many of them, their parents don't believe in education. Some of them are addicted to alcohol or glue sniffing. If they weren't living at The Sanctuary, the boys would be marrying young and having kids they can't take care of, kids that would end up on the streets themselves. But our volunteers tutor them, advise them, and teach them about God. In addition to sending them to school, we are also training them in practical life skills so they can take over their own care at a certain point. They're motivated and transformed and our hope is they can turn around and transform their communities as well."

Tom, now Chair of the Board of Directors for The Sanctuary, says that their most pressing need is for regular monthly donors, which helps them to budget effectively in the face of Uganda's high inflation rate. "Food and rent have doubled in cost, and many of the boys are now in high school, which means higher tuition fees. Our yearly budget has almost doubled as a result. We're praying that God will send people who will catch the vision, and encourage us as well as encourage the boys we're working with in Jinja."

Henry's dream is to someday provide a home for 100 boys. To help make his vision a reality, visit their website and click How Do I Get Involved? in the main menu.

Jamie Sanfilippo Appointed Director of Short-Term Teams

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

January 24, 2012:

Short-term teams have always been an integral part of International Teams Canada and are part of the strategy for many of our programs. Bob Fukumoto, Canadian Program Leader for Impact Romania, says that "short-term teams give an injection of encouragement, vision, and energy as they support existing work in the community."

Due to the substantial growth of the short-term teams program over the past few years, ITCA has created a full-time staff position focused solely on leading this program. We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jamie Sanfilippo to the role of Director of Short-Term Teams, effective January 9, 2012.

Jamie comes to ITCA with a diverse portfolio of ministry experiences. After spending 5 years as Programming Pastor at The Meeting House Oakville, Jamie and his family moved to rural Zambia to work in partnership with The Meeting House and Mennonite Central Committee, where they planned and hosted short-term learning teams throughout Southern Africa, focusing primarily on MCC's HIV/AIDS related work.

Short-term ministry has been one of the mainstays of Jamie's life, having served on teams in Mexico, Thailand, Honduras, Africa, and Northern Europe. While his formal Bible college degree is in Biblical Studies and Missiology, his real passion for short-term service comes from his numerous points of contact with various cultures, seeing first hand the transformative impact that cross-cultural service and learning has on both the team participants and the local country nationals.

Jamie shared his excitement as he joins the ITCA team: "I'm looking forward to being a part of the solid history of service and sending that has defined International Teams Canada for many years! I look forward to working with many of you in the near future."

Rhoda Martin will remain involved with short-term teams in order to facilitate the transition. After almost six years of working with both teams and individuals, she is looking forward to focusing her time and energy with interns and full-time personnel.

Please join us in welcoming Jamie to the team! For more information on short-term teams, or to donate, please visit our website at www.iteams.ca.

A Very International Christmas

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

December 16, 2011:

Christmas celebrations take on many different forms in the various countries where International Teams workers serve. Here is a small glimpse into what the Christmas season looks like for a few ITCA team members.

I LOVE the Christmas season! I love whatever is in the air - the first snow, the parties, the food, hearing "O Holy Night" at the candlelight service on Christmas Eve ... people just seem to be in such a different mood, more generous and giving, nicer to each other. I will always remember walking into a Chinese shop here in Kigali and seeing Christmas trees set up about 3 weeks before Christmas. It was the first sign of Christmas I had seen, because Christmas traditions in Rwanda are pretty non-existent. You buy children sweets and little gifts but it has nothing to do with the adult world. Even at church, pastors rarely preach a Christmas sermon.

Each year my heart aches, because without Christmas, without God sending his Son Jesus as a baby ... where would we be? As a family, we are determined to enjoy the season. I know I must continue each year to make Christmas meaningful and relevant for our family here in Kigali. New this year - two Christmas carol parties - one for our Rwandan family and friends and another for other expats. I know the kids and I will enjoy preparing for them. Bring on the cookies!

Jen Kamari, Impact Rwanda

Many of the refugees served by City Connexions Winnipeg are from Burma, where the most significant cultural aspect to Christmas is Sweet December. This is a yearly Christmas celebration that is held at midnight on November 30th. Both the Karen and the Chin cultures celebrate Sweet December with a feast, music, and prayer time and then at the stroke of midnight there are loud celebrations! The celebration generally goes to 1:00 a.m. regardless of school or work the next day.

Both the African and Asian cultures look at Christmas as a group event and not an individualistic time, so group gatherings are emphasized rather than home celebrations. Gifts are not emphasized in these times. For both the African and Asian cultural groups, the emphasis is on worship, food, and games. Our family has been enriched by adding these traditions to our own.

Tim Nielsen, City Connexions Winnipeg

Our first Christmas in Uganda was quite different from any Christmas we had celebrated before in Canada. Instead of driving through the snow and enjoying hot beverages, we were biking through dust storms and craving ice-cold sodas. Dry season had settled in and gave us little rest from the heat. We soon realized that this Christmas wasn't going to be white, or green, but instead a brown one.

Most stores in Uganda didn't carry any of our typical Christmas trees, lights and ornaments. The few that did only had them available starting the week before the holiday. There was barely a shift in the pace of the culture. Traffic continued the way it always has, shopkeepers didn't change their hours, people didn't go crazy with preparation but approached Christmas the way they approach everything else: in African time.

Our Christmas in Uganda was a wonderful experience. We were hosted by our Ugandan family for a festive Christmas dinner, along with our Chinese and Japanese friends. It was beautiful as each of us shared about our various "homes" and Christmas traditions. It was very different from our usual Christmas in Canada but so enjoyable to celebrate with others from around the world.

Josiah and Sarah Bokma, Impact Uganda

A gift from our 2011 Christmas catalogue can bring hope to people in Rwanda, Winnipeg, Uganda, and other places where ITCA workers serve. Click here to choose from a list of unique items!

Welcome Home Celebrates a Christmas Reunion

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

December 15, 2011:

One of the refugees currently living at Welcome Home Refugee Housing Community in Kitchener is Aitifa*, a 30-year-old first-time mother from Eritrea. Aitifa's Pentecostal church was forced by government persecution to move their worship services underground, to a large hole on a piece of property owned by a foreigner who allowed them to meet there in secret.

Most of Aitifa's family was left behind in Eritrea, including her youngest sister, who has been in jail for five years, incarcerated due to her faith. Aitifa's husband arrived at Welcome Home at the beginning of December, reunited with his wife just in time for the arrival of their first child.

Sharon Schmidt, Program Director at Welcome Home, says the baby's birth will require some extra adjustment for the couple, beyond what most new parents experience. "Because they have been separated for almost all of Aitifa's pregnancy, he hasn't seen her grow, he hasn't seen or felt the baby kick, and all of a sudden he will be here and there will be a baby!"

Added to the challenge of their geographical separation is a difference in living arrangements between Eritrean custom, where the husband doesn't stay in the same room as the mother for the first three months after the baby is born, and Welcome Home, where the entire family will be sharing one small room. Please pray for all those involved as their African traditions collide with their Western reality.

The arrival of Aitifa's husband and baby will allow them to celebrate their first Canadian Christmas as a family, participating in the various Welcome Home activities designed to provide opportunities to share Jesus with each refugee. Sharon says:

"One of the biggest events is our annual Christmas dinner, where we invite every refugee who has lived at Welcome Home since it opened seven years ago. It introduces refugees who arrived 6-7 years ago to refugees who arrived 6-7 months ago, giving them the opportunity to see that there can be progress and that life can get better after the initial shock and trauma of arriving in Canada. We also host a Breakfast with Santa, where we share some Canadian Christmas traditions, and then we talk about the real meaning of Christmas and tell the Jesus story. We have gifts for each refugee, donated by one of our church partners, and then we do family photos with Santa that our friends can send to family back home."

Your gift this Christmas can share Jesus' love with refugees like Aitifa and her family by helping them to successfully transition to life in Canada. Please consider purchasing one of the unique items in support of Welcome Home from the 2011 International Teams Christmas Catalogue.

*Name changed to protect her family

Fall Brings Organizational Changes to Head Office

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

November 17, 2011:

Fall is always an exciting time of year for the team at the International Teams Canada head office in Elmira, and this year is no different.

A number of changes have recently been made to program and department leadership that will better equip ITCA to serve widows, orphans, and refugees around the globe.

Tarra Weber has been promoted to the role of Director of Finance with International Teams Canada. Alan Findlay, the previous Director of Finance, will continue in a valued role in the Finance Department, focusing primarily on supporting the growing number of partnerships, especially the new partnership with CareForce International.

Chris Fane was named Director of Online Services this July. Chris leads a small team of web, graphics, and communication specialists, most of whom he recruited to the cause through his own business. Previously a sub-contractor for ITCA, Chris brings a wealth of real-world web, graphics, and branding experience to the role, as well as a unique perspective on user experience and usability.

Neil Ostrander, CEO of ITCA, says he has enjoyed watching Tarra and Chris develop their skills, leadership, and heart for the poor. "Every day Tarra brings her mission experience from places like Africa along with her training as an accountant to the task of managing our finances and people. Chris has a strong understanding and laser focus on the overall goals of mission and the way online tools can be used to ultimately lead to transformation. We feel blessed to have them in place as we move toward what we feel is an exciting new approach to raising support for our people and programs."

Henry Manuncia has been appointed to the position of Impact Philippines Country Program Leader, and Greg and Helen Reader have agreed to accept the role of Canadian Team Leaders. Ron Johnston, Director of International Programs, says that he is anticipating many good things ahead, thanks to the solid leadership that is now in place. "Henry brings to this role Godly character, a wealth of experience and a depth of passion that will benefit everyone who has the opportunity to work alongside him. Greg and Helen also bring a tremendous amount of relevant experience, as well as, a unique understanding of Filipino culture. Needless to say, this has been a very exciting few months in our Impact Philippines program!"

Please join the ITCA head office team in congratulating Tarra, Chris, Henry, and the Readers on their new roles. Both Neil and Ron are available by phone or email for questions or further discussion on these changes.

Give Hope, one holiday gift at a time

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

November 14, 2011:

For many people in Canada, there is often a feeling of conflict between what Christmas should be about - sharing the joy of Jesus' birth and the Christmas story, connecting with family and friends - and the reality of the season.

It is stressful and busy, and everything is further complicated by the need to find the time and money to shop for gifts that aren't always needed or used. Last year, as a possible solution to this problem, ITCA created a Christmas catalogue filled with items designed to simplify gift-giving and support International Teams programs at the same time. The catalogue contained everything from ice cream for orphans and high school tuition for teenagers to vocational training for widows and bicycles for pastors.

Philip Sheldon, Canadian Team Leader for Impact Kenya (PACE), says that the catalogue allowed them to do something special for the large number of orphans attending PACE Academy. "The catalogue funds allowed us to buy special foods for the children in December. One of the most purchased items was the $5 gift of bread and milk at the Victory Nursery School in Maina. We were going to be short for January because of a drop in our regular donations, but these small gifts were enough to enable us to continue until our regular donors came back."

One of ITCA's regular supporters emailed to share how an article about the catalogue in the December issue of Momentum resonated with her. "I really loved your article. I'm at a point where I can honestly say that I hate Christmas. Last year, I hated it but still wasn't able to say it out loud and this year I'm dreading it. I'm dreading the shopping, the wrapping, the decorating, the traffic, the noise, the people, the expectations, and the disappointments. It's too much and I just want to close my eyes and make it all go away. Reading your article made me feel like maybe there's hope... it inspired me to think of ways to simplify Christmas."

Simplifying Christmas can be as easy as visiting our website at http://catalogue.iteams.ca during the holiday season and choosing one or more of the many unique items in the catalogue, such as Bibles for pastors in Sudan, juice for a family-style dinner at Welcome Home, tuition for a former street kid in Rwanda, or baby chicks for widows in Kenya.

The 2011 Christmas catalogue - new and improved, with many options to give genuine hope in tangible ways - was launched in mid-November and we would love for you to join us in Giving Hope, one holiday gift at a time.

New Online Services Department Makes Online Giving Easy

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

October 21, 2011:

International Teams Canada's new Online Services Department is an exciting step forward for ITCA's head office infrastructure, one that Neil Ostrander, CEO, believes will provide increased opportunities for genuine engagement with ITCA's people and programs.

ITCA's total revenue has more than doubled in the past three years, an increase that he says was driven in large part by programs, people, projects, and teams leveraging online services as more donors choose the convenience, reliability, and security of donating online. "We created the Online Services Department this summer and gave it a focused mandate to grow our donor support and partnerships by simplifying the online donation process and empowering leaders and teams to tell their stories. We believe that the new tools we have access to can help engage our supporters and get them truly excited about giving."

The new team operates under the leadership of Chris Fane, previously a sub-contractor for ITCA who brings a wealth of real-world web, graphics, and branding experience to the role, as well as a unique perspective on user experience and usability.

Chris says that his primary focus in the new role is on making sure the stories of ITCA's missionaries, staff, and indigenous leaders are being told. He believes that leveraging online tools is a great way to supplement the various offline ways those stories are currently being shared. "This role helps both donors and fundraisers from beginning to end by streamlining our process. We can help people who are raising funds by giving them the resources they need to communicate their vision for the project, as well as the tools they need to come back to the donors after the experience and communicate that story effectively. We're also making better use of donor dollars and scaling back the number and frequency of print materials by giving our supporters the opportunity to receive updates via email, Facebook, and our website."

Chris believes the best barometer for the success of the new department is the comfort level of ITCA's donors with the new technology. "We'll know we've done our job when everybody has a great experience using the online tools, because we've made it accessible and easy to use for everyone, regardless of their familiarity with online giving. Everything is a work in progress, so we're always looking for feedback. We want our donors to tell us what works for them!"

Stay tuned to our website for further enhancements to the online donation system. To share feedback, please email Chris directly.

Ride for Refuge is a Family Affair

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

October 19, 2011:

Started in 2004 as a small local fundraiser with 25 cyclists raising money for refugees, the Ride for Refuge (also known as the "RIDE") has grown to a multi-site event in cities across the US and Canada. Each year, thousands of riders fundraise in support of refugees, orphans, victims of human trafficking, and homeless people, as well as projects that are approved by the Ride Partner Grant program. The RIDE is now offered by Blue Sea Philanthropy in partnership with International Teams Canada, and many of the ITCA head office staff ride each year in support of ITCA projects.

Sharon Wallace, ITCA's Director of Organizational Development, participated in the Kitchener-Waterloo RIDE on October 1 with her husband and daughter. She says that riding as a family was a great experience that really drew them together. "Whether it was fundraising, just talking to Meaghan about why we were doing the RIDE, or actually biking the day of, we did it together. We encouraged each other and cheered each other on. And then to bike with other people and families who care about what we care about ... it brought tears to my eyes. So many people united around a good cause! What a good feeling."

Sharon's 8-year-old daughter Meaghan only learned how to ride a bike this summer. Sharon tried to teach her, but struggled to run alongside due to Multiple Sclerosis. One day, after an hour of frustration, a stranger noticed them and offered to help. "Five minutes later, my daughter was biking on her own. If it wasn't for that kind stranger, I'm not sure if our family would have been able to bike in the RIDE! Angels sometimes come in dirty work clothes."

Aside from some strong winds and a brief tumble off her bike, Meaghan really enjoyed participating in her first RIDE, even volunteering to share some of her thoughts about the RIDE with Momentum readers.

Why did you participate in the Ride?
"I really like riding my bike and I like helping people."

Why did you keep on biking after you fell off?
It was the only way to get to the end. And I knew that widows, orphans and refugees have to fight more against pain than I do.

What do you hope happens with the money you raised?
"I hope they buy food or a little tent so that they can stay warm and cozy and hats and coats so they can stay warm. "

Anything you want to say to people who sponsored you?
"Thank you a lot. I really enjoyed the ride and the money goes to a good cause."

For more information about the RIDE, to sponsor a rider, or to join a team for the RIDE in your area, visit www.rideforrefuge.com and click on the Canadian flag.

Finance Announcement

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

October 17, 2011:

I'm very happy to announce that effective September 1, Tarra Weber has been promoted to the role of Director of Finance with International Teams Canada. Alan Findlay, our previous Director of Finance, will continue in a valued role in the Finance Department, focusing primarily on supporting our growing number of partnerships.

Over the past several years, we have seen Tarra develop her skills, her leadership and her heart for the poor, first as an intern and then as part of our staff. Every day Tarra brings her mission experience from places like Africa along with her training as an accountant to the task of managing our finances and people. Our team leaders love Tarra and appreciate her clarity in explaining financial management issues. Tarra is a valuable asset to our organization and I will enjoying seeing her lead well and over a long period of time!

Please join us in congratulating Tarra and Alan on their new roles. God has blessed us with a fantastic team here in the office and we are very grateful for His faithfulness to us. As always, I am available by phone or email for any questions you may have about this change.

Neil Ostrander
CEO

Strategic Partnership with Careforce International

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

October 3, 2011:

Neil Ostrander, CEO of International Teams Canada (ITCA), and Philip Chester, CEO of Careforce International (CFI), are excited to announce a strategic partnership that will benefit both organizations as they work together to care for those in need in Canada and around the world.

Effective September 29, 2011, this partnership represents a bold next step for the International Teams partnership strategy, and one that will help ensure the long-term future of Careforce International. The agreement sets out a path where ITCA will run all the back-office functions, with a special emphasis on Online Services, while CFI continues as a separate charitable organization. CFI and ITCA will partner in program delivery and both organizations are expected to see an increase in participation and donor support over 12 months.

Philip says that the partnership will not only allow CFI to focus on the initiatives that are at the heart of who they are as an organization - providing resources to project partners, and sending short-term teams to assist those partners in the work they are doing - but will also assist in growing their constituency of supporters and establishing new programs. "Our research shows that sharing our resources will enable us to maximize and improve impact for our partners through increased efficiency in our operations. Biblically-based collaboration with ITCA will allow Careforce to transfer and share, to the benefit of both organizations. This will mean that Careforce and ITCA will be able to invest a greater percentage of donations directly to the programs and projects."

Neil and the Board of Directors of ITCA have leveraged their experience, gained from ITCA's other partnerships, to identify a number of benefits to this unique arrangement. "Nothing is being lost. In fact, we all have a lot to gain through increased efficiency. Partnering with Careforce allows ITCA to increase our program and operational capacity further and faster. Together, we will help more churches who in turn help more widows, orphans and refugees."

Both Neil and Philip are confident that the future of Careforce programs, partners, teams and overall vision is solid, thanks to a sustainable operational model that will be focused, lean and effective. They are available for more in-depth discussion of this partnership and encourage supporters of either organization to contact them directly with any questions.

Philip Chester
CEO, Careforce International
philip@careforceinternational.ca
905.639.8525

Neil Ostrander
CEO, International Teams Canada
neil.ostrander@iteams.org
519.669.8844

Southlake Churches Discover Their God-Inspired Vision

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

September 16, 2011:

Steve Klassen, Partnership Coordinator for TrueCity Southlake (TCS), says that the purpose of the new International Teams initiative is to help the existing churches in the Newmarket, Ontario area to truly thrive. "That can only happen through individuals within our local congregations getting their own God-inspired vision and deciding to follow it. God says 'I want you to do this' and we do whatever we can to help make that happen."

A program called Clean Sweep, one of their first ministries, mobilizes volunteers from multiple churches to enter the homes of local families in need and take care of cleaning, repairs, painting, general maintenance, lawncare, and anything else that the family might want or need help with. Steve says that the first woman that was helped by the program was so overwhelmed by the help she was getting, she had to leave the home numerous times while the volunteers worked on her home. "Fifteen people from a small church of sixty came to help. That is a rather significant percentage of the congregation! It brought enthusiasm, purpose, and excitement to the church."

TCS has assisted in launching Next Step Family Counselling, a counselling network that provides professional, affordable Christian counselling. They have also recently worked with program developer Rick Ward to start various prayer ministries, including the inaugural Mayor's Prayer Breakfast attended by over 700 people.

Their latest initiative is an ESL program designed to help immigrant families become part of the church community in Newmarket, where many new neighbourhoods are 90-100% ethnic minorities. Steve believes that the language instruction will help the immigrant families achieve their goal of being truly integrated into a North American community.

"Many immigrant families consider themselves to be members of community here if they are enough in relationship to be invited for dinner or for an evening in a North American home, but most never achieve this. The ESL program will provide the bridges to start bringing them into community."

Kent Neilson, one of TCS's key volunteers, asks for prayer for the fifteen local pastors that meet together every week. "We would love for each pastor at our table to receive a specific vision directly from God, and that we as a collective group would be able to fulfill that vision. We want to be one truly unified church out in mission in the area."

To support the vision of TrueCity Southlake, visit www.iteams.ca/truecitysouthlake and click Give.

Skopnik Family Shares a Vision for Mission

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

September 13, 2011:

Ashlyn and Alyssa Skopnik, the daughters of International Teams Canada's Program Leader for Impact Southern Sudan, have mission in their hearts - and in their genes. After 10 years serving as missionaries in Germany and Austria, the Skopnik family returned to Canada, where Gord founded the Welcome Home refugee ministry in partnership with International Teams.

Ashlyn says that the missionary life has always seemed quite normal to them. "Our childhood was spent in one country and our teenage years were spent in another, so we didn't move around a lot. Other than our dad leaving for a few weeks a few times a year, life goes on as usual. My parents have always simply tried to get us involved with whatever they were doing, to show us the importance of this kind of work."

Once Gord became involved in ministry in Southern Sudan, Ashlyn and Alyssa looked for opportunities to experience it for themselves. After a short term trip in 2009, Alyssa returned as an intern earlier this year, with Ashlyn joining her for the last month of her internship. Ashlyn says the trip was significant to both of them because they were better able to understand why Sudan is so important to their father. "Not only is it Dad's work, but it's his passion, and it's a big part of who he is. I wanted to understand why it was important to him. I was so glad to go while Alyssa was there too - it was nice to have someone with me who knows me very well and really understood what it felt like for me to be there."

Alyssa's internship was made even more special because she was able to share part of it with her fianc'e Andrew. "I had talked about my first trip a lot and showed him pictures and shared stories. By coming with me, he got to meet people who were important to me. He needs to have a heart for mission because that's where my heart is. It was challenging at times - everything was a new experience for him - but it was a blessing to share that with him."

Both Gord and Sharon are extremely proud of their daughters. Gord says they are honoured to have children that not only love and serve the Lord but who share their vision to help the poor. "As a father I am honoured to have my children follow me and my wife in mission - they have helped in the Welcome Home program when I was directing and now both of my girls have been to Sudan. My heart really explodes with joy to know God is leading our family in mission."

To support their family's vision of bringing clean water and education to the vulnerable people of South Sudan, visit www.iteams.ca/impactsouthernsudan.php and click Give.

Volunteer Opportunities Provide Hope for Romanian Orphans

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

September 9, 2011: CLUJ-NAPOCA, ROMANIA - According to Bob Fukumoto, Canadian Program Leader for Impact Romania, the overcrowding that currently exists in Romanian orphanages is a tragic legacy dating back almost 50 years to the beginning of the Ceausescu regime.

"By 1966, the Romanian government had accumulated a huge foreign debt. To combat this problem, the dictator set in motion a law to ensure women had at least 5 children. Throughout all of this, the country was starving and the government was exporting almost all of their goods, all while Romanian families produced even more children. Kids were turned out in the street, abandoned at the hospital following birth, or left at orphanages, and the orphan and street kid population skyrocketed very quickly."

One of the conditions of Romania's acceptance into the European Union in 2007 was that the government make a concerted effort to reduce the number of children living in orphanages. International Teams Canada (ITCA) is organizing to meet this need in several orphanages and group homes, supporting a team of volunteers that run a bi-weekly ministry program and a summer camp for the orphans in the area. Bob believes they are just scraping the surface as far as ministry opportunities are concerned.

"Impact Romania has been an ITCA program since 2005, and we're learning more and more about what it means to help these kids. What we've realized is that our biggest point of input has to do with kids that have already been released from the orphanage. We have 15 volunteers, and half of them are orphans that meet and work with us and receive one-on-one mentoring and purposeful discipleship. We have a continuum that we work by that focuses on healing, restoration, growth, and then mission, and all of our community is somewhere on that continuum. We know for the orphans, healing is only going to happen as they have opportunity to share their stories."

Bob says that they have also discovered that the older orphans feel valued when they are given the opportunity to do ministry themselves with younger orphans, as well as opportunities for intimate, honest fellowship and community. As the quality of their community increases over the long term, orphans will learn the foundational value of honesty and trust, which will ultimately improve their quality of relationships, as well as their ability and motivation to learn, receive guidance for decision-making and support for their personal relationships with Jesus Christ. "I truly feel we are in a great place for the next few years, as we create and develop a culture of supportive growth in community for our orphans."

Meeting the Needs of Iraqi Orphans

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

September 6, 2011: BAGHDAD, IRAQ - Recent years in Iraq have seen the removal of the former president, establishment of a parliamentary democracy, increased civil violence, and the attempted destruction of minorities.

Unemployment along with an inflation rate of 70% has led to nearly 5.6 million Iraqis living below the poverty line. The living conditions of at least 40% of this number are quite desperate. These factors all lead to further instability, violence, and terrorism. According to Insaf Safou, Program Leader for Impact Iraq, one group that is powerfully affected by this instability is the orphans. "Beginning in 2003 and continuing even now, the number of orphans in Iraq has been growing. It is just daily life now for the Iraqi people. At the end of a regular day, you could easily have met more than 100 orphans."

The word 'orphan' in Iraq often refers to situations where both of the parents are dead, but also incorporates single parent families struggling to provide the basic necessities of life for their kids. International Teams Canada, through the Impact Iraq program, is stepping into the gap and trying to bring hope to Iraqi orphans, as well as resources and education whenever funds are available.

Work with the orphans is somewhat unstructured, but of crucial importance to the families being helped. Insaf shares that they operate two ministries in Baghdad, a door-to-door ministry where they regularly visit families and help where they can, and a home church ministry that features a regular Bible study. "These two ministries include a lot of families from our community that have orphans in their care. Every time I go to visit these ministries, we buy clothes or see how else we can help. We help to pay tuition for one of the kids. Her mom is Muslim but she is sending her daughter to Christian school."

While visiting homes during the summer, Insaf and her team like to send one of the kids out to buy ice cream, as a very rare treat for the kids. Some families need shoes, while others need food or clothing. "When we visit, we look around and see what the needs are, and do our best to meet those specific needs. Our support is fairly informal, but we do our best to give special help to orphans wherever they are."

Insaf asks for prayer that these children have the opportunity to have a peaceful life like other kids, to be able to play and enjoy their childhood in a healthy way. To support the work being done with Iraqi orphans, please visit http://give.iteams.ca/impactiraq.

Education Brings Hope to Children of Kenya

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

August 30, 2011: NYAHURURU, KENYA - When the Pan African Christian Exchange (PACE) ministry was founded in partnership with International Teams Canada, one of the primary concerns they wanted to address was the issue of education for the orphans of Kenya and neighbouring countries.

Phillip Sheldon, Canadian Program Leader for Impact Kenya - PACE, explains that the government pays for education up to grade 8, but there are a limited number of positions available in high schools, most of which are boarding schools and all of which charge tuition. "What we were finding is that of the 2,000 children that live in the slum village of Maina, very few of them will ever get out of the slums simply because of the education level. It becomes a rotating, never-ending cycle, where the poverty just kind of builds on itself."

Every year, approximately 100 young children from Maina attend the Victory Nursery School run by Pastor Francis and his wife Beth, where they receive an excellent introduction to education and eventually go on to the local government-run public school full of knowledge and enthusiasm. According to Phillip, their situation then begins to go downhill due to the overcrowded classrooms in the government school. "Pastor Francis tells me that he cries when he graduates his children and sends them on to the public school because he knows that all the careful work he does will be for nothing. Few of these children will graduate from Grade 8 and even fewer will be able to go onto high school."

Wachira Ngamau, the Director of PACE, has begun to take some of those kids right out of the nursery school and put them into PACE Academy for Grades 1-8, maintaining and building upon the work done by Pastor Francis, and send some to the government-run high schools, with the rest attending the new PACE High School. The final hope is that after attending college, university or PACE Vocational College, these children will go back to Maina, start businesses, and begin to raise up and improve the local economy and give the children hope.

Phillip says that they are very encouraged by the improved outlook for the children of Maina, but asks for prayers and financial support from the International Teams community. "There are currently 100 kids at Victory, 145 in PACE's public school, and 37 in the first year of the high school. We're grateful for prayers for these kids and ask for supporters to come alongside PACE, to help pay for the tuition for these kids for the next 8-14 years until they have successfully graduated high school and can continue the new cycle of bringing hope to Maina."

"Cultural Interpreters" Provide Help For Winnipeg's Vulnerable Teens

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

July 21, 2011:
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA - Tim Nielsen, Partnership Developer for City Connexions, a joint ministry of International Teams Canada and Winnipeg's City Church, believes that two key factors contribute to a high level of gang activity in Winnipeg: the unique structure of the city's core, and the violence and lack of healing experienced by many of Winnipeg's immigrants.

"City Church draws government-sponsored refugees from all over Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East, many of whom were living in refugee camps for more than 10 years. The violence that many of them have seen - it is all tremendously powerful, and most, if not all of them, have never had proper counselling to work through those issues. Winnipeg itself is kind of unique in Canadian cities in that our core is concentrated in two areas, right next to each other. Gang activity often starts off as a source of protection for immigrant families."

In addition to establishing a weekly youth group and providing financial support for kids attending Christian schools, City Church has created two programs to combat this problem, a homework club and a program called "Host Family" that connects newcomer families with Canadian Christian families. Tim believes both programs provide a loving way to help the parents of vulnerable teens learn how to parent in North America. "For immigrant families, there are language interpreters and cultural interpreters, and a lot of immigrants need cultural interpreters to help them see Canada through the eyes of Canadians. Both programs offer that lens to the immigrants, to prevent them from becoming more vulnerable and isolated. The more we can educate parents, the better!"

Megan Giesbrecht, City Church's Youth Ministry Coordinator, feels the solution to gang activity in Canadian cities is clear. "If we're faithful to what God wants and people turn to Jesus, they will have a new motivation or alternative to get out of gangs that they didn't have before. There needs to be a melting between the church and the streets, because our culture is moving in that direction and we can't ignore it. It's a huge problem, but we have a God that can move mountains, so I believe we need to pour into these ministries in cities around our country."

Click here to learn more about the ministry of City Connexions to new arrivals and former refugees in Winnipeg's downtown area.

Kenyan Kids Celebrate New Well With "Noise Day"

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

July 5, 2011: NYAHURURU, KENYA - During a time of year when many Canadian children were waiting and hoping each morning for a snow day, the children at Pan African Christian Exchange (PACE) Academy in Kenya received something even more exciting - a noise day - due to the installation of a new well on the property.

Phillip Sheldon, Canadian Program Leader for Impact Kenya - PACE, says the location where PACE ministries is headquartered is in a rural area where water has always been a problem. Dependent on a local stream over half a mile away, PACE staff have to drive a truck down and pump water into a tank to supply water for the various schools, orphans, and refugees that live on the compound. In addition to the difficulties brought on by their distance from the water, they also suffer from drought, disease, and other waterborne problems, because the water supply is contaminated by runoff from the area, including local farms.

Several years ago, a couple of Canadian women who had visited PACE decided to raise money for a well on the compound, an expensive project that took a total of 4 years for fundraising and city approval. Phillip shares that he woke up one morning in November to exciting news in his inbox. "That day, the big trucks with the drill rigs showed up on the compound, drove into the middle of the schoolyard, and started to drill. The noise was so bad the teachers gave up trying to keep the students' attention or keep them away from the windows. They eventually decided to declare a 'noise day' and the children watched this amazing sight for the whole day!"

Once the hydro was installed at the end of February, PACE staff were able to fill all the tanks overnight. Phillip says that the day the well began pumping water was another exciting day for the students. "The kids at the school were running around, turning the tap on and getting the water out and playing with it. The teachers had the kids wash the two ministry vehicles, which they found tremendously fun. It showed me that kids are the same everywhere -- satisfied with the simple joys of playing with a pail and some water."

PACE also arranged for two widows to set up a table by the gate and sell the freshly pumped water. On the first day, they made about $1 CAD, but -- perhaps more importantly -- everyone was thrilled to have clean, safe drinking water at such close proximity.

CrossCulture Event Encourages Student Leaders to "Dream Big"

canada@iteams.org (International Teams Canada)

May 12, 2011: HAMILTON, ONTARIO - Twice a year, 120 youth and young adults from the Hamilton area gather together at a CrossCulture event for a time of teaching and practical service at local ministries or community groups.

Now in its sixth year, CrossCulture is run by TrueCity Hamilton's Youth Network in partnership with International Teams. The day-long event provides an opportunity for young leaders to gather for breakfast, participate in a time of worship and testimony, and then go out to pre-arranged service sites. Everyone returns at the end of the day for worship, a message, and a time of prayer.

Esther Dillabough co-founded CrossCulture while attending Redeemer University. "I was part of a team that essentially operated as a think tank, providing a place for students to create outreach opportunities and get other students involved. The idea for CrossCulture came to me and another student and eventually spread to other churches in the city who had a similar vision: to bring people together for a day and provide teaching around how to integrate worship, service, and social justice into a lifestyle, and then provide practical opportunities to serve at local agencies and churches."