Road to Zion.

Jackson was one of the best experiences I have ever had. It was a chance to get away from "reality" and get a chance to explore the REAL me. There were people everywhere, the most people I have ever been around for such a long period of time. The people that were around me were basically strangers to me. I hadn't had a serious conversation with more than 3 of the 25 people who went on that trip. So why wasn't I affraid? Why wasn't I nervous, or putting on a face for the week I was forced to sleep, dine, and work with these people. I can tell you why. The Jackson Team 2009 were some of the most genuine people I have ever been around, and it made me realize something SO important about all people in general. The thing that really gets me, is that I had seen most of the kids that went to Jackson EVERYDAY for the past year and a half at school... passing by in the hallways, laughing at lunch time, working in the library, and some of them I even had classes with. I had my own split second judgements of the type of person each one of them were, i'll be honest. It's a joke that human beings feel that they can judge others by no more than 10 seconds of sharing the same 10 yards of ground. But, its the truth. I don't consider myself a judgemental person either, i'm not saying they were negative judgements at all. You know the kind of things I thought..... there were the kids I thought had their whole lives figured out, down to their philosophies and religious opinions, to the kids I thought were just going to Jackson to be able to put it on their college reseme's. I'm sure most of the team felt the same way. But what I did learn about my team mates is that each one of the kids that came on that trip have genuine hearts, and that made me realize something new, to me at least, about 'strangers.' I've always heard the sayings you can't just a book by its cover, things aren't always what they seem, if someone is mean to you they're just hurting, blah blah blah. BUT ITS TRUE!!! I honestly think that burried underneath every tough shell, shy girl, obnoxious boy, rude teacher, and "party kid" is a heart that is ready to pound out of its chest and explode onto to the next open mind and ear that is willing to connect with that person.
I have never opened up about my faith and doubts more than I did on the Jackson trip, and I really feel like everyone else did the same. It was so refreshing and encouraging to know that I was not the only one. I was so afraid to be "the doubter" on the trip, and I really honestly believed that every person in that house had 100% undoubting Faith in God. I had been waiting my whole life for my faith in God to plateau, and one day- I'd just get there. And after 18 years, and at least 8 comprehensive years of searching left, right, north, south and just about every direction, location, and emotion I ever thought I would find the Holy Spirits blinding light, I think I finally found it. And its in no other place than my doubts. It sounds crazy, but I really feel like i'm onto something here.
So back to my subject.... The Road To Zion. Dictionary.com defines Zion as "heaven as the final gathering place of true believers." All I know is that with every doubt, question, answer and un-answer I get and give, I will keep in the front of my mind that i'll never rest on the road to zion, but in the final gathering place of true believers: Zion itself.

thoughts from Leah Curatalo

"Opened"

It's been a while
Since we've been back from Jackson
But I'll tell you what,
We haven't been relaxin'.

Before heading to the South,
I was totally blind,
I saw with my eyes,
But not with my mind.

Oppression exists,
But I hadn't seen it,
I didn't stop it
Or go in between it.

It's amazing how
One can never see
The sin that surrounds.
That sin is in me.

I am the oppressor,
But I did not know,
That just by messin'
This oppression would show.

Preparing for this trip,
We learned the facts.
We can stop this oppression
By changing our acts.

But I was still blind,
What could I do?
Just learning about it
Would not make me new.

So I went on this trip
And opened my eyes
To see the oppression,
That in front of me lies.

The blindness was gone
All became real
What was once overlooked,
Was now a big deal.

The putting down,
Tearing others apart,
The gossiping
Are what tear at the heart

Pride, selfishness, and racism,
Are all things that get in the way
From seeing this oppression,
That we have made okay.

But now that I see,
There is no excuse,
I am no longer blind
I must put my eyes to use.

This regaining of sight,
Must be taken back,
To Ontario Christian,
Where eyesight we lack.

But how can I do this?
This overwhelming task.
First I must recognize my sin,
And take off my mask.

Doing the hard thing
Isn't always fun.
But if we do it together,
We do it as one.

So with that community,
We must do what is right.
We can take off our masks,
And restore our sight.

by: Chad Westenbroek