Cynthia's Story
“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him.”
In the winter of 2009/10, Isaiah and his family arrived at Toronto Pearson Airport. Toronto welcomed them with a massive snowstorm, and Isaiah's very first memory of that time involves sipping hot chocolate and enjoying donuts from Tim Horton's.
Leaving Nigeria wasn't an easy decision, but Cynthia, Isaiah's mom, left her homeland in faith, trusting that God wanted her to rely on Him when no other options remained. Settling in a new country proved challenging, and young Isaiah and his siblings resorted to watching Treehouse, hoping to learn "proper" Canadian English faster. However, this was just a glimpse of the difficulties they faced in their new life.
Cynthia encountered some difficult situations at home and was connected to a local shelter in Scarborough. During her time there with her four children, she learned about Toronto City Mission (TCM) because she expressed her desire to go to school for further education. This is how she became a part of TCM's Role Model Moms (RMM) program, which provides General Education Diploma (GED) tutoring for moms. TCM also offered free childcare for her youngest daughter in the mornings while she attended classes. Isaiah still recalls the moments when he had fun at TCM's Sonshine Day Camps and Community BBQ events on days when his mom was in the RMM program for longer hours than expected. Cynthia's dream was to become a nurse, wearing white scrubs and caring for those in need. She obtained her Ontario GED certificate through the 26 RMM program, enrolled in an RPN program at a local college and later pursued a full RN program at a university. Since last year, she has been working as a nurse.
This story isn't just about success; it's about God's faithfulness and grace in Cynthia's life. There were times when she felt helpless and hopeless as a single mom, dealing with difficult home situations, finding safe homes, and taking care of her young children while studying and working. However, in the midst of despair, she found ultimate hope in the Word of God. Her unwavering trust in Him and her belief in her nursing calling helped her persevere. She started witnessing how God kept her moving forward.
“I will improve myself to get on my feet and give back to the community. God is giving me the privilege to study, a job that I love and the opportunity to share His love and care.”
in the summer of 2022, Isaiah joined Sonshine Day Camp as a Summer Intern. It was his mother, Cynthia, who encouraged him to consider this position because she knew the profound impact TCM had on her life and believed it could do the same for other children and families.
During his two summers of service in the Flemingdon Park community, Isaiah saw a younger version of himself in those kids, as they opened up to him and shared their real-life stories. The reason he returned for a second year and aimed to be a positive influence was that he still remembered a leader he met during his time at Sonshine Day Camp. While he couldn't recall the leader's name or any specific conversations, the kindness, patience, and genuine connection that the leader had made with Isaiah remained etched in his heart.
Through Cynthia and Isaiah's story, we are reminded of how gracious and loving our God is – the Father who never leaves His children alone but walks alongside them every step of the way. We praise Him for His unwavering love and for shaping Cynthia and Isaiah as living proof of God's presence and sovereignty. We invite you to continue praying for this family in their faith journey in Jesus Christ and their overall well-being, and for the people who may come to know Him through them.
My life is not about me but Jesus, my family and others - community.” - Cynthia