The weather has been great recently and I took the opportunity to visit Edwards Garden. Some beautiful red and white tulips called "Canada 150" were on display there. The colours were the same as those of our maple leaf national flag. How well-advanced is today's technology that they could develop such beautiful blossoms! As I was getting ready to take pictures of these flowers, I discovered that, in the midst of the many red and white tulips, there was a purple tulip. And as I walked a little bit further, I found an orange tulip, again, among all the red and white tulips. I was wondering if it was the intentional arrangement of the gardener, or if it was caused by problems during the breeding process. However, whatever the colours of the tulips, they are all beautiful creations by our almighty Creator!  

The book of Proverbs in the Bible chapter 10 verse 5 says: ‘He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,’, and also in chapter 30 verse 25:’ Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;’ Just like these ants, we should also start storing up during the summer.  

First of all, we need to store up good health. In the Brain Health Dance Class, we have a saying: "do more physical exercise to improve health." Participating in our Community Services activities helps us to exercise. We can even memorize the steps and styles of the movements so that we can practice them at home during the winter times, when it is not convenient to go out.

The second thing to store up is information: the workshops held every Thursday provide rich information. Storing up the information would benefit not only ourselves, but also others who are in need, with whom we share the stored-up information.    

The third thing to store up is friendship: a few friends said that they have much fun and laughter in the knitting classes. When someone is sick, a friend would provide diet recipes; in cases of difficulties someone will pray for you. While we are knitting sweaters and scarves, we are also knitting together threads of true friendship at the same time!

Lastly, we need to store up God's grace: during the May 24 volunteer retreat, many volunteers shared their joy in serving in Community Services. They not only have the chance to serve people, but also experience God’s kindness and faithfulness, how wonderful!
 

It is indeed God's grace and His answer to my prayer that I was given the opportunity to serve in the ESLclasses.

Most of our students are Asians from different countries, including China, Hong Kong, and South Korea. They join our ESL classes to improve their English for work,for everyday routines or for those they love. When I reflect on our ESL community program and the time and energy that the teachers and volunteers put into the program, I know that it is the students and new friends that make our efforts worthwhile.We are glad that they are able to stepfoot into our church and hear the gospel.

While teaching English may be a little thing, the bigger reward is that we are able to help others and the lasting relationships that are built.The footprints of some students are still hidden deep down in my heart. Our program is always open and all are welcome to join as either students or volunteers.

Ba Duan Jin is a set of excellent Chinese traditional health care movements. The movements are beautiful, smooth, simple, and easy to learn, resulting with significant improvements to people’s health. The ancient folks used the word brocade, ‘Jin’, to describe the exercise.  The full set of movements consists of eight general movements, and that is why it is named "Ba Duan Jin." (8 sets of brocades). The entire set of movements is gentle, continual, and free flowing. These movements can be relaxing or gripping, can be slow or fast, as they help in the body’s blood circulation. Every detail of each of the movements exercises our nerve system, so that the entire system will run smoothly and is well lubricated. When the postures are performed correctly, you can actually feel the blood flowing through to the tips of your fingers and toes, bringing to the body a sensation of ‘warmth’ with ‘slightly sweating’.   

I have been a volunteer in the North York Chinese Baptist Church for over two years now. Together with other students, we practice Ba Duan Jin every Thursday morning. It is such a pleasure to see how each student eagerly and seriously practice the movements, and enjoying every moment of it! I hope that the students will preserver and continue to practice, so that we will all build up our health and live each and every day more abundantly and more wonderfully!

May God continue to bless North York Chinese Baptist Church so that it becomes a spiritual home for more people. May the body, mind and spirit of everyone who come to this church be taken care of by our heavenly Father.

I am grateful to the NYCBC Community Service Ministry which entrusts me, an amateur knitting enthusiasts, with the chance to participate in the Knitting Club. Every Thursday afternoon, a group of friends who are interested in knitting would meet together to learn the skills in knitting. They would exchange ideas and share the joy of success, and at the same time, enjoy a time of chatting with and caring for each other. A ball of yarn and two needles are all we need to weave a colourful piece of art work, and furthermore, to nurture a beautiful friendship with each other.

I enjoy the time with this group of friends who share common interests and learn from each other on the skills in knitting. We not only wear our finished products, but also like to see others wearing our completed works. We look forward to this year’s products fundraising sale for NYCBC, hoping that we will get excellent results, so that we can show our gratitude to the church which has provided such wonderful opportunity to us. Let us keep on knitting and build up  good memories together.

Praise dance is a complex, muscle stretching exercise accompanied by melodious music. It is a cardio aerobic exercise, and it increases the flexibility of our joints, thus enhancing physical fitness. With the rhythm of the music, we make different movements, thereby exercising the coordination of the brain, body, hands and feet. The creators of the dance chose Bible verses as lyrics, which can be sung during daily practices: "If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." The contents are filled with gratitude and joy. After each exercise, not only you sweat a lot, your body also feels at ease and carefree, your mind is comforted and encouraged, and then your mood will become naturally cheerful. I really want to share this exercise with you all.   

Since April of last year, I have been exercising with a group of praise dance friends. Whenever the music starts playing, and I see that everyone is dancing vigorously and really enjoying it, this has become the source of my strength to continue.

Through this praise dance class, I am so very happy to meet and know everyone, and therefore, able to establish a close friendship, caring for and sharing with each other. Let's hope you will join in our class, do the exercise, stay healthy, and enjoy life!

Since last November, my wife and I have joined the Community Services of NYCBC to teach Tai-Chi to friends from the community. I can see that everyone really enjoys this exercise as the number of participants keep increasing. I am most grateful that the Church has given us a wonderful place to practise Tai-Chi! My wife and I look forward to coming every Thursday, hoping that we will all enjoy practicing Tai-Chi. We are greatly pleased to see that many of our friends have progressed significantly in this exercise, and that both their mental and physical health are greatly improved! I hope that by God's grace, I will continue to lead everyone in great Tai-Chi exercises and that we will be both physically and mentally fit.