Going Cross-cultural... Close by

What do you do when the mission trip you have been planning for two years is cancelled two weeks before you are supposed to depart? In light of the conflict in Afghanistan post 9-11-01, the administration of Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN felt it necessary to cancel the trip. Dr. Garry Morgan, who had organized the trip, drawing on his 18 years experience as a missionary in Africa, began calling friends and relatives to see if anything could be salvaged for the 15 students who had been preparing for almost one year. This was an important internship requirement for their Cross-Cultural Ministries class. It was a relative of Dr. Morgan who suggested coming to Toronto with CSM.

For five weeks during November and December, Dr. Morgan and his team experienced cross-cultural ministry in Toronto. Students were involved at several of our regular ministry sites that help with new immigrants: teaching English at a Somali women’s club, working with newly-arrived refugees at Matthew House, helping teachers in several schools in Toronto’s west-end that have especially high immigrant populations, and going to the homes of new refugees to help children with their school work. Others served breakfast daily at a downtown church that reaches out to the homeless. They also had a chance to serve on a First Nations reserve on Manitoulin Island (not a typical CSM experience!).

During their first week we treated them to the usual CSM fare, a different ethnic restaurant every night. Church was another cross-cultural experience. Their first Sunday the group worshipped with a Rwandan congregation. The students quickly endeared themselves to the congregation when they sang several songs they had learned in Swahili. The next Sunday they were off to a Congolese service, conducted in French. The music was lively, loud, and energizing, the people very warm and inviting. It was good to worship with believers from around the world.

You might think that these students would be extremely disappointed to end up in Toronto instead of Africa. On the contrary! Many participants have expressed how much they’ve enjoyed their experiences here, and see God’s hand at work in the decision. One is interested in returning next summer to be on staff. Their service has been very well received, too. Teachers and students at Kingsview Village School (where 85% of the students are Somali) were so appreciative of their help that they held a party for them on their last day. Many Muslim families invited the students who tutored their children to break fast with them during Ramadan. The staff at Church of the Redeemer were also so thankful for their help.

While the trip was not to Africa and Asia, as originally planned, these students were still able to catch a glimpse of the world, and to be involved in ministering to people from many different ethnic backgrounds. Many of these students are looking forward to a career in cross-cultural ministry and from what we saw here, they will do very well! Meanwhile, they’ve also learned that there are unlimited possibilities to work cross-culturally close to home.

John Torrens, Founding City Director
Toronto
Center for Student Missions