Every August, the Open Door organizes a Summer Camp
for the clients. It is an opportunity for our homeless friends to get out of
the city for a few days to relax and get away from their lives in the city. In
the past, the shelter has been closed during summer camp; this year, however,
there was enough staff to operate both the shelter and the summer camp, which
meant that those who were not going to camp could still access the services at
the shelter.
It was my first adventure with my homeless friends
outside the setting of the shelter. Caleb, the Director of the Open Door, describes
summer camp as a great opportunity to interact in a more personal way with the
clients and to build better relationships and bonds with them. For me, I was
able to connect with those who I have had difficulties reaching at the shelter.
It gave me a better understanding of some of their stories and their need to
get away from their daily lives. It was also a time for them to share with me
their struggles as well as their visions for the future.
The summer camp is held at a location called Camp
Weredale, which is situated on Lake Achigan in Saint Hippolyte, Quebec, about
an hour north of Montreal. It is surrounded by water and nature and is
primarily a camp for children and youth from the Batshaw Youth and Family
Centers. It is available to the Open Door after the last week of their regular
camp schedule. For the past four years, it has been a great place to connect
with our homeless friends on a more personal level.
The men shared the cabins, with some sharing rooms
with two beds, and the women stayed in a house that normally houses the camp
staff. There was plenty of food and coffee to go around, and we had access to
the lake and activities such as kayaking, canoeing, swimming and fishing. And
of course, the chance to relax, rest and enjoy the peace and quiet that the
wilderness offers.
For me personally, going to summer camp gave me a
chance to reflect on how my mission is going so far and how I have been
interacting with the clients at the Open Door. It also gave me opportunities to
listen to and understand more of the hardships experienced by the homeless, and
to build stronger relationships with those who were there. In the peace of the
wilderness, I reflected on how God is working in and through me to reach the
lost and brokenhearted.
My ministry to help the homeless of Montreal is supported by generous gifts and donations of individuals. If you feel moved to help please contact me at halbellcbm@gmail.com.
