56
MISSIONARIE(REPORTING
the Valentine parties with the Tuxis and Trail Rangers; the supper for
Maclean C.G.LT. and the volley ball game which followed; the
Easter projects for "others"; Mother and Daughter Banquet with its
theme "All things bright and beautiful".
The Tyros were also a specially active group which brought much
joy to their leaders. The boys were always quite interested in their
topics; they worked hard to earn their insignia, and eagerly looked
forward to their craft work and gymnasium periods.
Shortly before Easter the Superintendent of the Shaughnessy
C.G.I.T. found that because of other demands on her time, she could
not carry on. As Shaughnessy is now a part of the North Winnipeg
Mission, I was asked to take her place. Although this was just a small
department of two groups it was a challenging one and to me it was
a privilege to work with the girls who were enjoying their first year in
C.G.LT. They completed their mission study, sent a parcel of good
used clothing to Korea, then they prepared for their first Mother
and Daughter Banquet which proved to be a great success-a truly
happy occasion.
The monthly meeting of the Violet Burt W.M.S. Auxiliary was
always well attended and the members interested in the study
Where'er the Sun. The Easter Thankoffering was a joint meeting
attended by the members of the Violet Burt and Evelyn Mitchell
Auxiliaries and the C.G.LT. Mrs. L. E. Brownell was the guest
speaker.
All the city work for the United Church Fresh Air Camp at
Gimli is done at Robertson House, and I just wish it were possible
for you to see what a busy place it is during June, July and August.
There were six parties with a total of 657 mothers and children, and
teen-age girls and boys attending the regular Camp and 50 the hospital
camp ranging in age from an infant under a year, to adults.
From August 12th to August 18th I was privileged to direct a
Mothers' and Children's Palty at the United Church Fresh Air Camp.
One hundred and three mothers and children, nine leaders and
director had a happy time. It was especially wonderful to see the
improvement in some of the children in so short a time.
FROM MISS AGNES L SNYDER
Community Worker, Stella Ave. United Church,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The efforts of all those who during the year have helped to make
the interior of the Mission look .brighter and cleaner than it has for
many. a long year, have been appreciated.
. Before we finished· in November, almost every room in the
building, except storage cupboards and the gym had been painted or
brightened in some manner. Only one carpenter received wages, all
other work was done voluntarily by members and friends.
Missionaries Reporting, Woman's Missionary Society
57
COMMUNITY MISSIONS WEST
Working Together
My recollections of the month of June are of returning from
visiting mothers and children who would attend Fresh Air Camp at
Gimli to find the men patching plaster or painting, or sanding :Boors
while the women sewed the drapes for the club room, office, and hall
windows. We ended that month with a combined Stella and Suther­
land Sunday School picnic at our own All People's Camp in Kirkfield
Park-a success despite mosquitoes.
Next day I left for holidays. On my return, I directed a C.G.LT.
Camp at Gimli. From there I went to St. Giles to help with Vacation
School, and then to our own here at Stella, held in the afternoon in
late August.
With the organization of activities for the fall work in September,
I found myself spending quite a few evenings and Saturdays out at
Kirl<field Park, for the chairman of the board, Mr. M. Baryluk was
making a dream of his come true through perseverance, the help of
friends, and as he puts it, "asking in His Name." We saw his labour
of love turn the three coal cars of Dr. J. M. Shaver's time into a lodge
which we can use and rent to groups for hikes or week-end outings.
At Thanksgiving, we held a Re-Dedication Service at the Camp,
at which Rev. Jack Shaver, son of the founder, spoke of the Christian
influence this camp has had on many young people, and can continue
to have with its improved appearance and facilities.
. Our Anniversary Service in November was almost one of Re­
Dedication too, for it came at the end of all the painting and sanding,
scmbbing and polishing of the hallways and stairs, and the kinder­
garten room. To make things complete, Mrs. Harry Atkinson made
a special trip from Carman, Manitoba, to retouch the pictures which
she had done in chalk on the blackboard at the back of the chapel
thirty years ago.
December, of course, is Christmas month. Because of a healthy
loyal staff this year, group parties, and hamper packing (over fifty for
Stella and Sutherland combined) weren't a nightmare to be endured,
but a time to remember as one when we saw the true Christmas
spirit many times.
, I was pleased to find that the Explorers and C.G.LT. girls enjoy
helping to plan and conduct their own parties. In March the
Explorers had as their guests the Greenwood Explorers. They were
not "l2'iven" a palty by a benevolent group, as has been the custom,
they shared the responsibility with the other group.
Of my communicants class of four girls, all young Sunday School
teachers, three joined the church in June.
The Mothers' Club functioned well again this year, undertaking
no large projects, but dQing many and varied things to improve the
appearance of the building.
1954 could not have been a visible success were it not for the
many friends in other churches from whom help was received. We
know too, that while outward appearances were being improved,
inward spiritual strength was gained as congregation and friends
worked together "for Hj~ sake,"
1955 Edition