PICTURES FROM SIEGE OTTAWA CONFERENCE -3-

PICTURES FROM SIEGE OTTAWA CONFERENCE -2-

PICTURES FROM SIEGE OTTAWA CONFERENCE -1-

This is a quote from an e-mail we received from a Member of Parliament earlier today....so encouraging!

"Faytene,

Thanks for the great work your group is doing. You need to know that your presence here on the Hill did have a huge impact on MPs - some of whom were unsure of where young people of Canada stood on this issue.

Your thoughtful, caring presentation was a welcome addition in helping us speak up for Canada's Youth!!

I will be praying that many MPs who might have otherwise voted to disregard this important issue -- will now reconsider their postion and vote to allow full and open debate -- taking into consideration the rights of children...."

I get your weekly or sometimes daily e-mails on what is going on in our nation, thank-you for that. But last week or so I got an e-mail titled "Get equipped in Vancouver" I thought "hey I live in Vancouver!" So last weekend two of my friends and I (because my mom wouldn't let me travel on the skytrain alone) went to Navigating the faith/political interface. Wow it was amazing, the knowledge and insight I received there. Thank-you so much for informing me about it. Sure I was the youngest person there (very scary), but wow, I can't say enough... it was the best weekend of my life. In the middle of one of the sessions (maybe 6hrs into the 11 that we were in sessions for) my friend Jen turned to me and said, "Alicia, we can change Canada." and it's true. Thank-you for helping us in that effort.



-Alicia Hunt

This speech was made by the Minister of Veterans Affairs, the Hon. Greg Thompson last week in the House of Commons. We wanted to post it here in honour of our Veterans. Happy Rememberance Day!

*******

Mr. Speaker, a number of weeks ago the prime minister said that military service is the highest form of public service.

We are reminded of that in this House every day. It is because our Veterans have served that we can serve here in this chamber. Our Veterans are why we have a free and democratic country. It's as simple as that.

We are the direct beneficiaries of their great sacrifices and achievements, and it's why I feel honoured and humbled to rise in this House -- on the eve of Veterans Week.

Our men and women in uniform forged this nation's identity on the distant battlefields of a past century. In the two Great Wars, in the Korean War, in military operations and on Peacekeeping missions around the world, our soldiers have made Canada proud. They've made us proud.

Mr. Speaker, no one in this House needs to be convinced about that, about the honour and accomplishments of our Veterans and their modern-day colleagues. When you look around this House, you see the Poppies proudly on display. Our Veterans unite us as few things can.

Regardless of our political stripes, or where we come from, I believe we all agree that our men and women in uniform are the best in the world. They are the best trained, the most professional and the most disciplined. And they have always committed themselves - 100 per cent - to the mission.

But, Mr. Speaker, we know that our freedom is not free. It never has been free. The freedoms that we often take for granted have come with a heavy price for our country. For our families. For all of us here.

We have lost too many of our best young men and women.

As our famous war poet, John McCrae wrote, with every fallen soldier we have lost a Canadian who "loved and was loved."

Mr. Speaker, we know this. And we feel it deeply - in our hearts, and in our souls. We realize that this great country we've inherited was built by ordinary men and women who did extraordinary things.

They did it for their country. They did it for each other. They did it for you and for me. And, of course, more than anything, they did it at great sacrifice to themselves.

We understand this. We understand that our Veterans willingly stood in the face of oppression and tyranny to protect the values that all Canadians still cherish: Freedom. Democracy. The rule of Law.

That's what we must never forget. And we must remain committed to sharing this legacy with future generations.

It is this Torch of Remembrance that we raise so proudly each Veterans Week. This year, the theme could not be more fitting: "Share The Story."

Not only are we encouraging our Veterans to share their stories, we are urging Canadians -- Canadians in every region of this country -- to take the time to listen.

Mr. Speaker, as you know, there are many stories to be told, and there are many more that have gone untold -- one for each of our honoured Veterans.

I would like to share with you one of those untold stories. This past summer, while I was standing on the shores of Normandy with my eldest son, he began telling me about his grandfather's experience - "my father-in-law's experience" -- during the D-Day landing some 50 years ago.

Mr. Speaker, I stood there fascinated as I listened to my son. I was curious about the details, about the painful, brutal facts my father-in-law had rarely shared with anyone.

And I asked my son why I didn't know this story. "Why had Grand-dad not told me any of this?"

My son simply looked at me and replied: "Because you didn't ask."

Mr. Speaker, I know now that it is time to ask. It is time to listen. It is time to learn from soldiers like Harold Roderick.

Those of us who have never served, never worn the Canadian uniform, we need to take the time to understand - before "time slips away."

We need only look outside, at the last few autumn leaves clinging to their branches. With the slightest rustle of a breeze, they could be gone by dusk.

We realize this. We realize there are only three known surviving Canadian Veterans left from the First World War. We need to learn the stories of these remarkable men - all of them now well past 100 years old. I've had the privilege to meet them, and they are as dedicated to Canada today as they were when they wore the uniform. They are also our last living links to our Greatest Generation. We can't allow their stories to be lost in history, or to go untold.

Otherwise, we can only guess at what our Veterans have endured for us, what they have achieved for you and me.

We can only wonder at the emotions captured in those grainy old films and black-and-white pictures, in those scenes of Canadian soldiers marching down our Main Streets, or waving goodbye from ships pulling out to sea.

We've seen the photographs of soldiers in the departing troop trains. Their faces, through the train windows, are a mixture of sadness and excitement. Their arms reaching out for one last touch of a loved one. Sadly, for so many, it would be the final touch. Those images, their lives, still touch us today.

We cannot bear witness to these individual stories without asking ourselves if we -- if you and I, Mr. Speaker -- would have responded the same way our Veterans did.

If we had walked in their shoes, would we have had their courage?

Where did they find the strength to leave behind their loved ones and their own dreams, and walk straight into harm's way?

And as we seek the answers to these difficult questions, we must also pause to think about our men and women in uniform today. Brave Canadians still serving around the world, in such troubled spots as Afghanistan. They, as those who came before them, know the threats we face today are real, and the cause is just.

And just as in decades gone by, our men and women in uniform should know they have earned the thanks, and they have earned the praise, of a grateful nation. Today. Forever.

Mr. Speaker, in a few days, we will all leave this place, and return to our ridings, to the people we represent. There, we will gather, in our largest cities and smallest villages, side by side, to lay wreaths and to remember.

And in those moments of deep silence, we will renew our pledge to honour, always, the men and women who have given us so much, who have given us their very best.

Lest We Forget.

Thank You, Mr. Speaker.

This is the poem/gift that we gave to all the Members of Parliament during the Siege 4 week. In case you can't read the poem here it is in text:

When all is said and done -
When the last vote has been cast -
When the last statement has
been made - When everyone
has returned to the place from
where they came - When all I
have to look at is the face in the
mirror and the face of the
Amighty - May my conscience be
clean and sure - That I have left
this nation better than I found
it - When party politics pull - When
all that sways the soul of man comes
crashing in - May my conscience be
clean, knowing, before self and before
God -That I have stood and having
done all to stand - Cast my vote and -
Made my statement, knowing, this is
not my land -- KNOWING -- I have
been given a trust from God
and my fellow Canadian --
KNOWING -- I have been handed
an inheritance from generations
past -- KNOWING -- I will hand
this nation to my children and
theirs -- KNOWING -- I am
accountable to all of the
above - Past, future and the
Eternal One - When all is
said and done - May I not
merely net the empty
accolades of man -
But the privilege of
knowing, before self
and before God ,
that I have left this
nation better
than I found it.

Our Prayer for the Members/Senators:
May God grant you great wisdom, strength and grace to make choices for this nation that will lead to nothing but LIFE for generations to come. Thank you for your service to our nation and future generations. -- Presented with appreciation from MY Canada (Motivated Young People for a Strong Canada)

Siege 4 Photos

Siege 4 Photos

Pictures from Siege 4

This is a precious e-mail I got from an eight grader named Laura. It is strong. I asked her I we could post it and she was all for it.

"I really want to contact some of the mps to talk to them...I'm in grade eight and I know I'm young but I'm really worried for my generation. I've noticed a huge change in kids behavior. Almost everyone in my class is watching R rated movies! I know some of the people who work at the theater and they say kids sneak in all the time and they don't even care!!

I know a kid who has gotten drunk more then once and they are twelve years old!!!

I want the people who are running this country to know that they have a huge responsibility for all the kids that can't vote! They need to help teach kids right from wrong in a way they will listen. They need to be a role model for kids 13 and up because we hear a lot about elections and everything else that goes on, contrary to what people may think.

We have ears so we listen.
We have eyes so we see.
We haves mouths so shouldn't we speak?

Though we may be too young to vote, and we don't have the responsibility to make huge decisions like what bills to pass, but grown ups need to listen to us, we each have our own opinions and if the MPS need to know what the kids need most why not ask one?

Yes some kids won't act responsibly but we each know more about OUR needs then ANY grown up, hands down.

I was physically abbused and my parents didn't know until we moved now I talk to the kid who did it to me and I found out they learned that behavior from their parents their parents vote. How are they any more responsible then their children?

If that is what the some parents teach their children shouldn't there be someone to teach that child write from wrong so those kids don't grow up and teach their children to be abusive?

The MPs CAN NOT vote because their party says yes or no. They need to vote for the right things or else us kids won't know any better.

Every child born and too young to vote has to trust their MP to make the right decisions for them.

If our role models and MPs can not make the right decisions for the right reasons, how will we?"

This is draft one of the cover of my next book....still very much in progress. This is like the ultra-sound. :) Appreciate your prayers as we work to birth this baby!

Faytene

September 27, 2006

Today we met up with our mayor Sam Sullivan, our meeting was only 15 minutes, limited to only 4 people. But it was amazing what God can do in 15 minutes!

God has hand picked these 4 people for a purpose, our names were : Queenie Ng, Esther Kong, Esther Yuen, Jackie Leung.

As a team was praying for us the night before, they said we are going in with Queen Esther's anointing and the favor of the Lord. So we have 2 Esthers and 1 Queenie, and 1 Jack = Prince!

Indeed we had favor from the Lord for this meeting!

Our heart was to pray and bless him at such a stressful time for him. Prayer and blessing was the strategy that God showed me as I ask the Lord for discernment. Even though there could have been many political topics we can bring out, but for this specific meeting our strategy was to simply bless and pray and that's it!

So we went to the city hall with excited hearts, not knowing what to expect, and it turned out to be so much more than what we hoped for.

He greeted us with Cantonese welcoming words as we walked in. And as we introduced ourselves he was really glad to meet with us.

He said " I rather meet with young people like you guys more often than to deal with the city"!

We expressed our thanksgiving to his service and what an inspiration he is to us. And we proceed to tell him our purpose here is not to talk politics, but we want to pray and bless him and his work for our city.

To our surprise he received it with a joyful heart and a smile on his face! First I was worried that he might think we took his time for prayer might be not a good use of his business time. But we went in with the favor of the Lord, like Esther before seeing the king.

Queenie, a girl from our group was really inspired to pray for his physical healing.

We all prayed for Sam Sullivan's concern for the poor, homeless, and broken in the city.

We prayed for a spirit of joy and peace to be in his office, and we also prayed for his assistant Anna, who got us this meeting in the first place, she was tremendously nice and actually request for a second meeting with us in the future!

Just when our group finished praying and said Amen, to our surprise Sam Sullivan also prayed for us!

When all is done, he said "Wow what a difference! I feel the peace and the joy! Thank you for praying!"

And we proceed to present him the gifts, we got him 2 pairs of chopsticks and a hand made rose, both have Chinese scripture written on it! And he read it out loud( he knows Cantonese fluently and can read Chinese characters).

All in all we came out of that meeting sensing that we were like an oasis to him, and that further confirms a scripture I read this morning form Psalm 63, " in a dry and weary land" David seeks the Lord with thirst. So we seal all of this in Jesus' name!

thanks for praying for us!

Esther Kong (Leung)

(This is a recent picture from a group in Ottawa that just met with their MP. Great meeting we hear...can't wait to get the full report. You go guys!!!)

Here is the testimony from the team:

"Our Meeting with Pierre was excellent! It was really awesome because Pastor Syd represented us - as Pierre is his area Mp, along with our church's area Mp! It was an especially significant day that our meeting landed on. That day Pierre Poilievre was standing on Parliament Hill at a very important rally. This rally was for our Canadian troops, with General Hilliard, and for Pierre bringing the red ribbon and red Friday's campaign to the forefront of our nation. He was the Mp who stood up and said we need to support our troops!!!(I sure you know this) So awesome!! And he started Red Friday's! Our meeting with him was right after the hill rally on RED Friday afternoon.

A group of 10 of us, all wearing red ribbons and some in red shirts, - 4 pastors and our amazing group of totally awesome young people - crowded into the reception area of Pierre's office. It was so crazy because our meeting took place with all the people that were working in the office also.

As Pierre came in to meet the team He was very receptive to the group. Right off the top the young people began to speak about each of the issues one at a time. It was so amazing! As they began to speak about one man one woman in marriage - one of the girls had read every one of Pierre's speeches. She asked him if she could quote something he had said in the house, He was quite taken back as she pulled out a book containing everyone of his speeches. She began to read his own personal words written on his very strong stand for traditional marriage and family values. She then honoured him by thanking him for his strong stand on this very important issue. One by one the young people spoke with boldness and respect - the incredible presence in that room - amazing! Others who were coming into the office - since our meeting was
in the reception area- stood and listened as we spoke on abortion, the age of consent, and children and internet porn. We found out that Mr. Poilievre's views support those of a moral Canada - He's awesome!!!

He was not too aware of the global poverty bill - he asked us for info and said he would research. (thought this was interesting as per your email on this issue). We thanked him for his service to Canada his stand for these very important issues, and for what he had done in standing for our troops! We presented him with a gift - a picture of our group - with a scripture thanking God for him. We all signed it with
words of encouragement and thanks. We then tied it with a red ribbon in honour of his campaign and of our troops. We then asked him if we could pray for him for strength and he said yes. Our pastor prayed for him as all our young people gathered around him praying. It was very awesome!

The meeting time we were given was 30 minutes and at exactly 30 min - incredible - when I looked at my watch - it was done right on time!

Seriously a major God moment! Wow! Some of the comments we received from people waiting in the reception area and Pierre's secretary were just incredible!! They were so deeply moved at seeing the young people standing for morality - one woman was
moved to tears as she said to me "Don't stop doing what you are doing - It is so beautiful to see what has happened here today - To see young people wanting morality - don't stop.

Sorry about the - I'll keep it short (this email) - ya right! Haha! It was so awesome! Pierre asked if we could keep in contact - and has accepted an invitation from our Pastor to come to speak to our church - Very awesome!!

The young people are ready for their next appointments coming soon! Keep you informed.

The team going to the Siege are soooo excited!!!.....

They were screaming into my cell phone at the top of their lungs - "Colleen we're going to The Siege!!!!!" Can't wait for all that's coming!! So Awesome!!!


Talk to you soon,
Colleen Noble

GREAT QUOTE:

"If we want to protect our values it is not enough to believe in them - we must act according to them."
- Israeli Foriegn Minister Tzippy Livny

Just five days after Princess Diana was killed, Mother Teresa died September 5, 1997.

The daughter of an Albanian grocer, she joined an order at age 18 and began working in the slums of Calcutta.
Starting the Missionaries of Charity, which care for the blind, aged, lepers, crippled, and dying, Mother Teresa stated:
"I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene...I serve because I love Jesus."

A Nobel Prize recipient, 83-year-old Mother Teresa spoke to 3,000 attendees, including President and Mrs. Clinton and Vice-President Al Gore at the National Prayer Breakfast, February 3, 1994: "I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself, and if we accept that a mother can kill even her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?...Please don't kill the child...give me the child. I am willing to accept any child who would be aborted and to give that child to a married couple who will love the child and be loved by the child."