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Our Free/Fun-Filled Day in Montreal (Day 7)

The Team at the Oratory of St. Joseph in Montreal
Friday was our last full day in Quebec, and since our work for the week is complete, that means it was a free, fun-filled day. We spent the entirety of the day in the city of Montreal learning more about the history of Quebec, especially its religious heritage, and then go to see other parts of the city, with shopping, eating, and sightseeing all mixed in together.
            Our trusted friend, Pastor Daniel, graciously served as our guide for our day in the city. We left the church around 9 AM and drove over the mighty St. Lawrence River to reach the Oratory of St. Joseph. The Oratory is a large Catholic church that was constructed in the early 1900s and named for St. Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus. This is a beautiful structure that sits on the highest point in the city of Montreal. Its beautiful architecture presented opportunities for our team to learn about the Catholic expression of the Christian faith, as well as how its construction and presence contributed to the distaste which lead to the French Canadian people in Quebec leaving the church.
            After our time atop the hill and a few viewing stops on our way back down, we made our way to downtown Montreal, where we spent some time in the giant underground mall that is four stories tall (or below, to be more precise) and then many blocks wide, running under many different buildings in the central city. We spent time in the downtown area where the team was able to shop for a few hours and eat lunch.
Inside the Church of Sainte Marguite Bourgeoys,
the oldest church in Montreal
            Following our time downtown, we drove over to “Old Montreal” the section of the city that is my favorite. Here we have some of the original buildings to the city, which is celebrating its 375th year in 2017. Montreal is one of the oldest cities in North America, so this section of the city, with its ancient architecture and cobblestone streets, allows for an enjoyable experience. Pastor Daniel guided us with explanations of the various buildings and what their original uses were, and how the area has transformed today to become the center of the art and music scene of Montreal. We visited many of these buildings before breaking for dinner at a local restaurant where the menu included helpings of poutine, a Canadian dish consisting of French fries covered with cheese curds and gravy! After dinner, I treated the team to a special desert, Beaver Tail, a Canadian brand of sweet pastry that is covered with toppings of your choice. I think they loved them as much as I do.

Students engaging with a new prayer practice
As our week winds down, I want to give a special recognition to the two chaperones who have come along with me on this trip, who without them, this week would not have been possible; Jennifer Hissam and Donyelle Coalson. This two ladies jumped at the chance to be a part of this team when I gave a blanket request for parents who would be interested in taking part. This week they have been the perfect chaperones, jumping in on all of the work, encouraging and guiding students as they needed it, assisting with the needs of staying in the church each nigh, jumping in on the fun with students each evening as we relaxed, driving the second vehicle, and so much more. I am and our students were very fortunate to have them here, and I am glad they were, because I have so enjoyed sharing in this week with them, and I am so thankful for their service this week.

Our team now prepares to head home on Saturday after what has been a fulfilling week. Many came with various expectations and fears, however I think they will be returning to Union County with a better sense of the breadth of God’s kingdom, as well as the diversity within the body of Christ. I hope they are challenged to take the experiences they have had this week, and allow them to change the way they view all of the relationships they have in their lives.

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