Last night was the grad night for the students of the Adult Education and Training Centre. I was awestruck of the dedication of each of the grads. Their journey in life has not been easy by no means and have overcome obstacles based on choices they have made. In the midst of it was life and accomplishment.

Seeing youth ‘make it’ in the educational sense is incredible.

Toward the end of May and then into June saw upwards of 22 youth coming out for the after school program for ages 10-14. The volunteers saw many new people and relationships grew deeper with all those who call The Bridge home each Friday night.

During this time, the Freestyle Arts Space emerged. We now have a place for creative arts, a lounge to relax in and a stage. This summer will see a fully stocked art cabinet of lots of art supplies. Many youth are already loving to paint. Later this fall, we are planning to add a musical component. Guitars, hand drums are karoke are on their way.

We also played a few games of street hockey and a little basketball. It is good to be active.

May 23rd was the Fast Forward Dinner which attracted over 60 people to the Haliburton Curling Club. Dana and I were unable to be there but I got to connect with everyone on my cell phone from the hospital room. The Haliburton Steering Team did a wonderful job and created a great atmosphere for the dinner. Our program involved video of youth from The Bridge and then focussed on 3 dreams for the future. Dream 1 is hiring a Community Outreach Worker Dream 2 is creating a mobile youth centre. Dream 3 is creating POD’s

I was told that the food was outstanding and the program was well done. People responded to the financial challenge at the end of the night and gave to work of Youth Unlimited and The Bridge Youth Centre.

So, lots is happening since my last post. I am now the proud Dad of Benjamin James born on May 22nd. He is a bundle of joy and is doing very well. Dana is doing great too. Samuel is beginning to love being a big brother. Life is good!

More to come…

Hey all,

I just got an email saying that I have been accepted into Arrow Leadership. I am so excited of this upcoming opportunity. It will start in Sept 2009 and I will be participating in the Emerging Leaders Stream. It is one of those things in life that I needed to surrender to God and has granted me this opportunity. It will be a 2 year program with 4 modules in Vancouver and ongoing mentoring throughout it. For more info about the Arrow program, check out www.arrowleadership.org

I had a great chat with one of the students. There happened to be a couple of lamps dropped off for the lounge in the arts space so we got to talking as he carried one up the stairs. His jaw dropped when he saw the new arts space. The stage in the corner, couches to chill on… Immediately he say this place as a place to be in and invite friends. He told me of his friends who jam lots together, but would sound a whole lot better in our new space. I shared of some dreams to have open stage stuff, talent shows, coffee house style stuff.

This youth was there when I first started talking about opportunities for youth. He was pumped when we brought in the hockey gear and pool table a year ago. And knows, this is a place where he wants to come. Ending his afternoon boxing and playing baseball on the Wii. And took lots of info cards to give to his friends.

It was an incredible night at The Bridge this past Friday. Nintendo Wii was a huge on the big screen. Super Smash Brothers is an interactive game that allowed 4 youth to play together. This adventure game is incredible and having it on a nearly 8foot by 8foot screen was cool, ’sick’ as you would say today. And of course, my favorite, boxing, now it is actually as if you are boxing someone.

The multi-player games are great for interaction with the youth. As they are playing, dialogue actually happens. Each week, youth leave saying they need to tell others about this place. It has become a regular hang out for many.

Great things are happening at The Bridge. Several people came by last Saturday to help out around The Bridge and we accomplished lots. Build a stage/riser for the arts space and painted it. Picked up a ping-pong table and moved tables around. Installed the new projector and sound system and ran lots of speaker wire for both rooms. Then on Monday, I was able to get a student to help me finish setting up the arts space. He had a good incentive as he it counts for his community hours.

It is a such a blessing to have others involved and so much more can be accomplished. As the word gets out there, people are responding. Just received two more couches for the lounge in the arts space.

We continue to see incredible support for The Bridge. People continue to be interested in volunteering during drop-ins and other program nights. It is our volunteer staff that are the heart and soul of The Bridge. The relationships forming are great. I had one volunteer this week engage two youth in conversation for the good part of an hour.

Partnerships continue to form with community organizations. I had the opportunity to speak with the Haliburton Rotary Club last week. It was great to create awareness of The Bridge. They presented me with a donation. After I spoke, a local businessman invited me to come by His store and pick out some lamps. The lamps will be used in our new arts space and lounge. Yesterday I spoke with a women from the Eagle Lake Women’s Society and they have a basketball post and net to give us. And it continues.

It is great to have a presence in the community and begin to see lives impacted.

This past Friday was a wonderful evening to get to know one another. All of The Bridge volunteers gathered for dinner and hang out time. Lots of laughter and friendships were growing. People got to interact and meet one another. In having two programs at different times and 4 training nights, many people had not yet met.

It was a night off so to speak in terms of hanging with the youth, but a key time to grow as a team. We spent much of the evening telling stories of our encounters with a youth. We ended the evening with a summer dream plan we are putting together.

I appreciate this team so much and know that they are making a difference. The stories are the proof of it. Lives are being changed as we live out our philosophy.