Suzanne comes to the drop-in every week without fail. Her story is similar to many others: she immigrated to Canada several years ago and she continues to struggle to make ends meet. She comes to the drop-in every week to get much needed support and community. She is also attending language classes a few times each week because she is determined to improve her English. She refuses to speak French at all at the drop-in because she wants to practice her English as much as possible.
One day after lunch, Suzanne was staring across the room and she had a look on her face that was so peaceful and joyful that I had to ask her what she was looking at. She pointed at two men who were standing across the room and said “When I looked over at these men I saw Jesus standing in between them, with His hand on their shoulders. Do you think that’s crazy?” I told her I didn’t think it was crazy at all. She started smiling and said “Jesus is here. The politicians, the rich people, they don’t come here. But Jesus does. He comes to where the low places are.”
The low places….those words have really stuck with me. Often we think of God standing up on high places looking down on us. But Suzanne is right, Jesus is right there with us, even at the drop-in.
– Moira
#socialjustice #jailtime #homelessnessontario #povertyottawa #christmaspoverty #homelessnessottawa #HousinginOttawa #Alcoholism #christmasgift #streetwork #AssetsBasedCommunityDevelopment #justicesystem #Justice #Addictions #Volunteering #povertyontario #Volunteer #walkthestreets #criminaljusticesystem #ArtTherapy #Dignity #povertyCanada #helpthepoor #crystalmeth #Makeadiference #BiblicalJustice #streetyouthoutreach #homelessnesscanada #dropin #giftofchristmas #StreetYouth #Respect #livingonthestreets #Recovery #MentalHealth #InjusticeOntario #HousinginOntario #ChristmasSpirit #BreakingtheCycleofPoverty