Orientation!

The first step of the Theological Students International Internship Program was a two week orientation in Toronto (the first step after hearing that we got into the program!). The Canadian Churches Forum is an ecumenical group that helps churches in Canada engage in global ministry, and offers training for those engaged in global ministry.

It was a very intense two weeks, held at the Scarborough Mission Center, which is a Roman Catholic organization. We covered a broad range of topics, beginning with where we were as individuals, and how we had come to this place, and moving through other contexts, contextual theology, mission history, practical concerns, and more! Some of the highlights of the program included the outings that we took as a group (there were thirteen of us, being trained for various types and lengths of missions).

We were able to visit a Jewish Temple, a Sunni Mosque, and go out to the Six Nations, a first nations reserve near Toronto. The Six Nations was particularly interesting - not only did we see three churches and two museums (thereby hitting two of my favourite things dead on!), but we had lots of time to talk with people who live on the reserve about the land claims that the Six Nations are involved in, their history, and what life is like for them.

The program coordinator, Alice, worked very hard to keep us aware of our cultural biases in what we say, do and think. She was very creative - when she wanted to give us a taste of being lost in an unfamiliar city where we don't speak the language, she took all our wallets, money, keys and watches, handed us two bus tokens and some confusing directions and sent us off. We were to find the restaurant where we were having supper that night, but we were not allowed to speak - not to other people, not within our groups. We all eventually made it there, but I think one group worried Alice a little when they hadn't appeared twenty minutes after everyone else. Turns out they took the bus in the wrong direction, and had to walk back for several blocks.

The orientation was very good, as I've said, and gave me a chance to interact with the other Interns (Kerri, going to Jerusalem, and Robert to Brazil), and get to know them a little bit. It was, however, exhausting! One of the downsides to it was the timing - school started here in Vancouver two weeks ago while I was in Toronto, so I'm two weeks behind in all my classes. I guess we'll find out tommorow how much make up work I have to do!