FERRIES, PLANES, AUTOMOBILES & SMOKY TOUR BUSES
By Christina Groot
In the summer of 2005 I had the honour of traveling from Victoria to Ottawa with a ragtag group of young Canadians to meet with our federal politicians about the moral state of our nation and its effects on our generation. This trip changed my life forever by confirming to me in very tangible ways that nothing - and I mean NOTHING - is impossible.
Let me explain…
The word.
For me, it all started in a little coffee shop on Main Street. I was meeting with my friend Anna at a time when I felt I was living in a spiritual desert of sorts. I was a woman with many dreams, hopes and vision who had just come through a six-month stretch of post-graduation philandering, unexpected lay-offs, closed doors and the recent news of my mom's cancer. I felt like I was running on empty and at the end of my visionary rope when Anna piped up and told me about a young Vancouver woman, Faytene Kryskow. She was planning a trip across Canada to meet with federal politicians about issues of morality in our nation. The moment the words came out of Anna's mouth, not more than a few lines, something inside of me exploded: I knew I had to be a part of this trip.
The e-mail.
Anna gave me Faytene's e-mail address. I wrote her that day. In the e-mail I explained that I was a 25-year-old Vancouverite with a background in media and communications. I shared with her my experience working with Vancouver Magazine, Global Television and CBC - and the conviction I had that those were places where people with deep moral conviction need to lead. She responded to my e-mail immediately and told me that we should meet. And meet we did.
The meeting
Faytene suggested we meet in the downtown eastside where she was completing a training school and was leading teams of young adult to love-on the inner-city community of Vancouver. I found my way into an abandoned store front and poked my head around hoping to spot a young woman of sorts. After about 15 minutes of poking around the lobby, a whirlwind of a blond blew in through the door - pulling a suitcase and chattering non-stop on her cell phone. We made eye contact and she gestured to me to listen in on her phone conversation. As soon as she finished the call she informed me that I had just been more-or-less caught up to speed on the logistics of the upcoming Siege. We made our introductions and walked a few blocks to lunch.
Sitting across the table from Faytene was like nothing I had ever experience before. Here was a woman - strong and beautiful by all worldly standards, yet totally unfazed. She was so clearly filled with the joy and confidence that is only found in a genuine personal peace and faith. I had only ever dreamed that people like Faytene existed and that I, one day, might too be one of these “remarkables.” That day, in a downtown restaurant not 15 minutes from my home, I began to see these dreams becoming reality.
Over lunch, Faytene and I shared our hearts to see a generation of young people leading in the places of influence in Canada - to take back the places that have been ravaged by the immorality and destroyed by social darkness. I shared my testimony with her - I had been saved out of a life of self-destruction, aimlessness and immoral relationships. I told her that my burning desire since then has been to raise up an army of bold, stunning, holy and pure young men and women who will stand up in stark contrast to the destructive ways of the world. We didn't talk about any logistics of the Siege, all she did was ask me, at the end of our time together, whether I was in or not. I didn't know what that would look like with finances or anything else. I was concerned that I might have a hard time getting the time off work (three weeks). Then Faytene looked me straight in the eyes and said these words that changed my life forever:
“Christina, you have a choice to live for destiny or make rent.”
In that moment I chose destiny (tough decision!) and Faytene told me she would submit my name to the advisory team and we would see what happened.
The set-up.
To set things up a bit… the Siege, for me, began long before I met Faytene, signed up for Siege or came face-to-face with our first federal politician. For me, this all began with a vision I had in September 2002 about raising up a battalion of women and men who STAND for purity in
their hearts, minds and bodies; an army of young people standing shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand to fight for a nation that was strong for generations to come. In this vision I saw desperate men and women flocking to these young people, longing to stand the way they stood and to have the same conviction, stature, beauty and strength they had. The vision showed me that this force of young men and women would know who they are and not be swayed to the left or to the right.
This vision has consumed me for many years. It has been the inspiration for my work with my local church in Vancouver, discipleship with young women - university students and young professionals - and service with various youth leadership ministries in Vancouver. This vision has often overwhelmed me, and when I came face-to-face with a woman and a group of young Christians (the Siege team) who carried the same dream and the same infectious passion, everything in me screamed “YES!” to this opportunity.
I found out I was accepted to the team and got the time off without a hassle. My friend, who was prompted in her heart, gave me an airline voucher to cover the cost of my flight home from Ottawa (my only expense for the trip!) and we were on our way. I remember hearing thinking in my heart: “Don't look back Christina. Look ahead.”
And this is where it all began for me. I believed, and providence made a way. There was no looking back.
The Siege had begun.
The Siege.
I have never been a part of something as radical as the first Siege tour. It was nothing short of MIRACULOUS. We were met with grace every step of the way.
We started in Victoria. We met with politicians about issues of morality and began to raise the voice of young Canadians who hold fast to traditional values such as life, family, and preventative health (such as abstinence, etc.) We traveled for three weeks, met with approximately 40 MPs in eight cities and held rallies in local churches and at provincial legislatures all along the way.
The appointments had been set up in advance with each politician. They knew they were meeting with a youth leadership team but little else. Many wanted to simply know what we had to say about the issues. The power we, as youth, hold in political circles never ceased to amaze us.
The Siege began August 11, 2005. ..
In Victoria - we had our first rally at the legislative buildings. This is where we first encountered the media coverage that would follow us all the way cross Canada. We met with three politicians, were prayed for at a local pastors' prayer fellowship and had a rally at a local church. At the rally people came up to front and brought financial offerings to our feet. Providence showed us right from the start that all our financial needs would be taken care of.
In Kelowna - we had an intimate time talking and praying with an influential MP and his wife. We were also invited to another MP's annual garden party where there were four more MPs in attendance. CTV came to get the story, and they gave us the microphone at the event to share with them what we were doing. We were warmly welcomed. The highlight for me was talking with an MP from Alberta. He had the warmest eyes, but with an ache behind them. He said, “We need a spiritual revival in Canada and my prayer is: 'Please let me see it in my day.'” I almost burst into tears at the sound of this. This is a man who has laboured his whole life for us, and his only cry is that it would not all go to naught. I felt the weight of the fact that we are his only assurance of that. I felt like saying to him: “Your labour has not been in vain.”
It felt like a baton was passed.
After leaving Kelowna we caravanned through the Rockies to Edmonton. It was quite the ride! There were a few necessary stops because our drivers couldn't even drive straight - the enthusiasm was so thick!
In Edmonton - we met with three politicians and had a rocking meeting with the locals. Here we met Kayle Mumby, a local Gen-X leader, who would soon become an integral part in what we now know as 4 MY Canada!
In Calgary - we were hosted at Tehillah Monday where CTV showed up again. The family I stayed with moved into the backyard with their kids so that I, along with two other girls on the team, could have the whole house to ourselves. They cried over the late night meal they had prepared for us and told it was their honour to have us in their home. I have never been so humbled.
In Eagles Nest Ranch, Medicine Hat - we made a quick stop to pray, share at the powerful camp chapel, and receive an outpouring of encouragement, good food and a relaxing tim
e on the trampoline under the stars. For me, Eagles Nest felt like an oasis from the hectic, break-neck pace we were traveling at across Canada. I went away on my own, lay on the trampoline under the night, and felt refreshed. I was ready to press full force into the rest of the journey ahead. We were about to kick into even higher gear - more meetings per city, more press, more rallies… MORE vision!
We drove through the night listening to the David Crowder Band and entered into deep, deep meditation. I was driving and it was sa-weet.
In Regina - we billeted with the most amazing people, did another rally at the legislative buildings and met with a number of MPs. We met with three MPs in one day and were sprinting in and out of minivans from one meeting to the next. Heaven's grace was so sufficient along the way. At one of the meetings some of the local young men who joined in with our team brought one of the MPs flowers. She was so touched by the gesture and cried as we encouraged her and prayed for her. In Regina we were picked up and driven to Winnipeg by an amazing group of young people from Roblin, Manitoba, led by Heath Butler. They had gotten a tour bus and driven all the way from Roblin to Regina to drive us to Winnipeg! It was the most incredible gift. We all piled into one big heap in the back and slept all the way to Manitoba. Zzzzzz…
In Winnipeg - we knew as soon as we arrived that we had stepped into new territory. The population of First Nations people in Winnipeg is very noticeable; my thoughts were gripped with ponderings about two voices in Canada that are never ignored: the voice of the First Peoples and of the Youth. It was here that I saw again that there is a force being raised up in the nation - an army of young people - men and women that have already died to themselves. I could hear my spirit scream, “Enough is enough. We have had enough! Enough lies, enough deception, enough death, enough destruction - all in the name of freedom. Our generation has been ripped off - we have become the living dead.” It is this that I shared at our meeting in the caucus chambers of the Winnipeg Legislature. I had the opportunity to speak about this to an MP - a man who had a strong faith and vision, but who's brother, a pastor, had died a few years prior and sent him on a course away from these things. There were over 60 youth (the Winnipegers came out in full force!) at this meeting, and the depth of our connection with this MP ran deep. That number of youth, in one politician's office, is quite the unforgettable experience. One of the local youth leaders spoke directly to this politician about the deep things of life; he sat on the verge of tears. After this meeting we prayed for him, that his heart would be comforted and cared for. Then we headed to the stairs of the legislature and danced with a sense of breakthrough, knowing in our hearts something amazing had just taken place!
Crazy stuff happened in Winnipeg - and there is not room to share it all - but one story happened as Faytene shared about Louis Riel - a passionate Metis man of deep faith - and all of a sudden, this young guy walks by behind her, all alone, wearing a Louis Riel T-SHIRT!!! At the same rally, we were praying for the heavens to open up (it was a cloudy day) and all of sudden we looked up during worship and the clouds had split right down the centre - blue sky on one side and cloud on the other. It was amazing! These kinds of signs and wonders followed us all across Canada - these were awesome signs that this was not your 'normal' road trip.
From Winnipeg we said our reluctant goodbyes to our new Manitoban friends and hopped the plane to Toronto. Our second last stop.
In Toronto - we stepped into a level of favour we had not experienced yet. Here we were interviewed b
y the National Post. The title of the article ran on the top of the paper's Toronto section. I had been asked to take the media post for the trip, and this was the first interview I have ever given to the national news media. During our rally at the Toronto legislative buildings, I was interviewed by a woman not much older than myself. During the interview I felt so much grace. I had a sense that this is the kind of favour we were to expect in the days to come - not just as a group, but as a generation fighting and standing for morality to be re-established in Canada.
Another highlight of Toronto was walking with Katrina, another team member, through downtown to get some supplies. The man who sold us supplies at the local market asked us what we were doing in Toronto; we told him were rallying on the steps of the legislature and meeting with politicians and he admonished us: “This is what you should do! Take it back - do it from the inside!!” It is these types of moments that marked every turn of the first Siege.
In Ottawa - the final leg, we prayed our whole way through Parliament - on the steps, around the outside, through the halls, in the war veteran room, and up in the Peace Tower. Everywhere we turned we discovered prayers and scriptures etched deep in the walls. On the columns and above the doorway entering the Parliament buildings, it reads: “Where there is no vision the people perish.” This inscription is a testimony to all of us, and to the world that Canada is a nation that was founded upon the Word of God. There is no mistaking it.
In Ottawa, we met with one of the youngest MPs to be elected in Canadian history. He is passionate about family and advocates for legislation that benefits families, the bedrock of our society. He was the last MP that we met with on the first Siege, and it was amazing because we knew little about him before we went into our meeting (we always briefed the team before each meeting). There were many tears shared at this meeting because we felt like, in this MP, we had found a kindred spirit. It was an honour to pray for continued grace and favour in his life - he has many years of service still ahead!
The Siege in Review - The response from the members of Parli
ament and senators was astounding. Not only were we able to meet with close to 40 politicians on this first trip, but they heard our hearts, engaged us in meaningful dialogue, and oftentimes were brought to tears by our care and honour of them as our leaders. We gave each politician a gift: a beautiful framed print (painted by Anna Vandas) of two people walking in hand-in-hand, representing our generations walking together, with a prayer that we had written for them. Filmmaker, Dave Vandas (Anna's husband), traveled with us across Canada and filmed every twist and turn of the Siege.
Since the Siege.
The Canada we build today is the Canada we will give to our children tomorrow - it's that simple. The tide is turning in Canada, and I count it an honour to have played a part in what is happening in Canada in these days.
Thank you Faytene, the Siege team, and all of you along the way that made all of this possible. I have never laughed so hard, pressed in so earnestly and been so convinced of the need for a generation to rise up for such a time as this as I did on the Siege 2005. I will never be the same.
Copyrighted 2007
