Get Outtatown- adventures in rhyme

As this first semester 

draws to a close,

And you’re heading home

to where nobody knows

All the fun and exciting 

and challenging things

That three months of life

on Outtatown brings.

So I’m sure and I’m certain

lots of folks will ask you,

“So you got Outtatown,

but what did you do?”

So as you face these chats

with great trepidation,

Relax, and say this 

with tons of elation

We kicked off our trip

with our group split in two,

pooping in boxes and 

traveling by canoe.

Collecting strange first impressions

(and some mice in a pot)

We ate some moist loaves

and bonded a lot!

While building friendships at Roseau

our hearts were infused 

with hope for a people

who’ve been so abused.

Words of indecision 

turned into beads of sweat, 

as a few very brave souls

learned sweat lodge etiquette.

At “resort Pinawa”

the good life took its toll,

as an abundance of food

taught us self-control.

Exploring basic theology 

with the great Gavin Hall,

Reminded our crew

this was school, after all.

Esther Epp-Tiessen

Shared her awareness 

of Guatemalan mining

and its unfairness.

After cold morning dips

and some tubing too,

It was finally time

to go somewhere new!

Set loose on the streets

of Winnipeg’s North side,

Our hearts were all broken,

our eyes opened wide.

Inspired by the passion

of the vineyard’s flatlanders,

we were convicted

to be more than bystanders.

At camp Assinaboia

Shawna shut us all up,

by comparing our spirits 

to water in a cup.

An increase in estrogen

gave our presencse away

As the girls of both sites

in Banff were to stay

As we talk with Sharon

about our walk through each day

Participation was key

in the roles women play

Well thoroughly lost

in the beauty around

In the strange dance Zumba

God’s humour was found.

But after walking on glaciers

and hiking lake Louise

we joined our boys

(just because they said please).

We came back to rest

at our next fine abode

and in Kawkawa’s fine air

our busy lives slowed.

While Jay talked about peace

and the change conflict brings

we watched salmon run

and hung on rope swings.

And on one fine morning

we took a short hike

which ended up longer

than was easy to like.

While advising us how

to bring worship into each day

Garreth sang spanish songs

that just won’t go away.

Sleepless in Seattle 

our boys found to be true

while the girls at Lynn’s house

made friends with Matthew.

Christmas came early

for most of our crew

as sorting through Santas

was all they could do.

Hallowe’en was a hoot

with Cindy Lou Who

the grinch, some mailmen

and Jesse from Toy Story, too.

After sticking our mark

on the famous gum wall

we left with big hopes

though our impact was small.

Back home in Kawkawa

for just a few days

we learned the key role

the Old Testament plays.

Also while in Hope

the elusive Tara Teng

raised our awareness

of human trafficking

At Whistler bungee

Christa and Jon took a dip

while others (like Brent)

did a neat flip.

Vancouver urban plunge

sure was unique.....

we met a Buddhist man

And were fed by a Sikh,

Each night at the Ivanhoe

we slept snug in our beds

with vision of sugar plums 

and bed bugs in our heads.

With a full week of talking

hot chocolate and prayer

we tried to give Vancouver

all our love and care.

At Kawkawa again 

we got rather frustrated

while we learned to love us

just as were created.

From Nathan we gained

an essential idol education

and stared sin in the face

with a strange sense of elation.

Steve lead us through Mark

and taught us to hear

that the presence of God

will always be near.

A snowy day of silence

was full of load laughter

as was the dance party

which came the day after.

Kawkawa sure feels like home

for here life has been drawn

but it’s time for change

and soon we’ll be gone.

So this Christmas time, 

my gift to you

is simply memories 

of what love can do.

-Miriam Mahaffy