Wednesday, September 30, 2009
frazzled
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Faulty Foundation
Monday, September 28, 2009
Rock Slide Alert
What does it mean?
I'm the hiker. I don't have an agenda other than to experience a bit of the world normally forgotten about. The pavement represents the youth who are easy to be around but live so deeply entrenched in dark places that they have become hardened to anything but surface conversation. Though there are some places I can see roots of growth pushing against the unseen side of the pavement. The mud represents those lives we cone in contact with whom they are a sludge of emotion. Unable to take form nor support weight of any kind. It is in these youth that I hope to leave an impression of Jesus as I walk by. Then entering the trail I find lives that are secure but soft to walk alongside of. They have their dips and valleys but over all they are a place where you can experience a lot of growth along their ways. The rock surface which I sometimes comb has the same feeling of the hard pavement but also has some jagged edges caused from past hurts. It looks solid but turn over the right stone and all the facade breaks down and you are offered a glimpse into their soul.
These are not my projects or my charity cases. They are all different people that I connect with as I move through life. I don't make or force the changes but I simply walk differently on each path. These are my friends. My youth. My fellow humans. Climbing. Climb away.
Danny Ferguson
Langley Area Director
Greater Vancouver YFC / Youth Unlimited
604-968-1812
danny@youthunlimited.com
I love being married to April
Friday, September 25, 2009
Brick Wall
A bit later I got message from the first youth, the one that tried to bowl me over that said. "running into you felt like running into a brick wall." I proceeded to joke about wearing a brick suit but they came back with something that turned the joking into a cool moment as they responded by telling me that in their life right now everything is so shaky but running me helped them remember that they are supported.
I'm nothing special but my team and I really strive to be there for people as strong walls when they are hurting. If we're walls than the foundation we're standing on must be God because I know myself well enough never to take credit for being as tough as a brick wall.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Ok lets talk
To my surprise I had a call today from one of these friend who took me up on my offer. I was busy in a meeting and they left a message. By the time I got back to them they were past the point of wanting to talk. I laughed and realized that I had missed my window of opportunity. They laughed in return and said: "I have to keep it interesting."
Welcome to the world of youth work.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
From pain to peace?
Monday, September 21, 2009
Home - Bitter - Home
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Fear, Focus, Fortitude
Fear is plaguing this young person this week. Family is not as it should be. If it were simply a broken home perhaps it would bot be so bad. This family is shattered. This young person once told me that they never wanted to marry because of the wedding picture they had of their parents. The reason being that they look so happy and in love now the realization is that it was all a facade. This young person wants to forget it all and move on with life, but they are feeling like they are being sucked back in. It is terrifying them.
Youth 2:
The text message read: "I had an epiphany" which means that they heard from God. Not just a message of encouragement. I message of inner challenge. God wants to move in and do some changes in this young life. This is exciting as we are seeing some renewed focus for the things of God in them again.
Youth 3:
Some difficulties have plagued my young friend this past week. While normally we see them spiral with inner pain this week we have seen them stand like a fortified wall. This young person at times has shook his fist at the heavens and cursed the name of God this week has said "I'm not worried, God has a plan for me". Their healing is amazing.
Danny Ferguson
Langley Area Director
Greater Vancouver YFC / Youth Unlimited
604-968-1812
danny@youthunlimited.com
I love being married to April
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Shark Scissors
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Out of the frying pan into the fire
After sharing my friend was riding high; I dropped them off at home and saw them grinning from ear to ear. It was a great sight to see. That made the phone call I got from this same friend a few hours later all the more difficult to hear. After all the good that had happened that morning the afternoon was a train wreak.
It is hard to change. Harder still when you don't feel supported in the changes you are trying to make. It makes it seem pointless and almost worse than if you would have never tried at all. It is weird, but it happens very often. I try to help people to make healthier choices in all areas if life: physically, emotionally, intellectually, socially and spiritually. I want to be a part of restoring lives to what they were designed for. There is to much pain, suffering, despair and fighting in the world. Why do these kids have to face opposition for good, healthy and positive changes? But they do. They feel like they are finally getting out if the frying pan and are shoved into the fire. I hate to watch it and it hurts to see them go through something so hard and yet I am powerless to change. It is simply a road they must walk on their way to choosing and living out who they want to be despite any or all matter of challenge or opposition they face.
I suppose that a choice they stick with even in the midst of all the turmoil will be something life altering instead of merely appeasing. After all it is fire that refines gold isn't it?
Danny Ferguson
Langley Area Director
Greater Vancouver YFC / Youth Unlimited
604-968-1812
danny@youthunlimited.com
I love being married to April
Monday, September 14, 2009
school zone
Danny Ferguson
Langley Area Director
Greater Vancouver YFC / Youth Unlimited
604-968-1812
danny@youthunlimited.com
I love being married to April
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Portable youth worker
Today is a different world. Today i was out of the area for meetings bit still had multiple conversations with youth. That is:
Talked with a youth who was having a bad day starting college and helped them get through the morning.
Was asked if I could be a reference as one young person was filling out an application
Texted with one my young friends about the frustrations of being back in highschool.
Was told I was missed (I usually avoid the schools for the first week).
That's just a sample. Its great to be with them wherever they go. I wish i could have had portable youth worker when I was growing up. It could have kept me from some of the mistakes I made.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
I am human
Monday, September 7, 2009
Of forts and fetachini
"life sucks...are the most used words out of my mouth"
"I don't have a hero anymore"
"drama drama gossip drama...when will it all stop"
"I'm confused ...nuff said"
"I've realized that none of my memories are happy"
"what does it mean when I can't stop shaking"
"I'm better off without friends to hurt or to be hurt by"
Danny Ferguson
Langley Area Director
Greater Vancouver YFC / Youth Unlimited
604-968-1812
danny@youthunlimited.com
I love being married to April
Sunday, September 6, 2009
A good reminder
This past year has moved my time table into hyper drive and i had little time to make many presentations. There have been so many amazing things that have happened over this past year and I want to be able to continue to be in the front lines of youth work so i need funding to do that. That's the reality.
What i am being reminded of as I share with people is not what I expected and its not awkward. It is passion for youth and passion to connect people with the work that were doing. Fundraising is actually re-ignighting the fire within me. So I'm not feeling award about sharing my need for help. I'm feeling thankful. It is a good reminder.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Friday, September 4, 2009
The heart of the people
Danny Ferguson
Langley Area Director
Greater Vancouver YFC / Youth Unlimited
604-968-1812
danny@youthunlimited.com
I love being married to April
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Fill-er-up
Today I sat and saw this same process unfold again except today I was on the receiving end of it. I walked out of that time feeling glad I had released so much on my underlying issues to someone. That he had enough guts to call me out on some blaring weaknesses. I need to know someone cares enough to notice. I also walked out of there realizing how messed up I still am.
I am the same as these youth. Just further down the same road.
Now I'm drained and need to be refilled. That's not discouraging it's exciting. I can't wait to see what God is up to. Fill-er-up.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
toy traders
Toy Traders is an amazing place. Not only are the shelves filled with all the newest toys but there are also vast arrays of nostalgic toys from the 70s and 80s. The background music in the store is a loop of all the greatest tv show theme songs. To top it all off there are huge displays of toys lacing the ceiling. GI Joe, Marvel Super Heroes, and even the terminator. My personal favorite is the death star firing at the borg cube. The ultimate battle between star trek and star wars. Needless to say it is more than just a store. It is an experience.
I bring youth there often wandering around for hours. It us a place we can tell stories, act goofy, check out toys, and make wagers over how many girl smurfs there were. However it is in this place that highlights our modern North American mythology. Super heroes are after all a retelling of God like characters. In the recent Transformers movie as one of the main characters is revealed as a 50 foot tall robot a soldier says, "makes you wonder if were made in God's image who's image he's made in." In the movie the Watchmen accident gives one man almost limitless power. The news coverage of this accident reports, "God exists and he is an American!".
I like to ask teens what sorts of powers they would want because it reveals things about what they struggle with in their lives. To those that want to be invisible I wonder if they want to hide from. To those that want to fly I wonder what they are fleeing from. To those who want strength i wonder what they fight against. It really is quite revealing.
See we don't a drop-in center to do our work, we just need more places as awesome as Toy Traders.
Sent on the TELUS Mobility network with BlackBerry