Cockroaches, Crime Scenes, and Crude Behaviour

By Rebecca, Outreach Worker in St. James Town

High rise in St. James Town - one of the most dense neighbourhoods in Canada.

While there are fancy new condos going up in this area, cockroaches, crime scenes, and crude behaviour is the reality for many living in lower-income areas of Toronto.

I just moved into St. James Town, the community that I am serving in, and the reality of living in this neighbourhood is settling in. I have had some rather horrifying experiences with cockroaches in my apartment, walked past a group of police who were investigating a disturbing crime scene, and experienced some crude behaviour from marginalized people on the streets.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” - John 1:14

Whenever I wonder why I have moved into this community, I remind myself of how Jesus purposefully left His comforts and chose to move into the uncomfortable places. He never ran away from the brokenness of the world, but ran directly into the centre of it. Since He did that for me, and enables me to live like Him, I know that through His Spirit I can do it as well. And if even one person learns more about the impact of His presence in a life because of it, then it is worth it!