聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The community of Carlyle was entertained on Friday, May 22, as King's Department Store and Michael's Coffee Shop and Bakery brought Art and Illusion to Carlyle Memorial Hall.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Keith Kitchen, a musician from Swift Current, performed. Kitchen, on-stage with just his guitar, filled the hall with his original music. Rounds of applause his warm voice and inspirational lyrics were both appreciated and enjoyed by those in the audience.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Kitchen was not the only one to come to the stage and he happily introduced his friend Derek Selinger from Calgary, AB. Selinger is an internationally renowned illusionist who stunned the crowd with his abilities. From card tricks to pulling coins out of the air Selinger's act was thoroughly enjoyed.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The event was well-attended, which was important as the event was a fundraiser for two local youth, Breanna Kehler and Grace Smyth, who are going on missions following their high school graduation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Asked to the stage Kehler and Smyth spoke about their upcoming missionary work and thanked the community for coming out.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Introducing them was Michael Ellis of Michael's Coffee Shop and Bakery, 鈥淭hese two have grown up in Carlyle their entire lives. Breanna and Grace are embarking on a bit of a journey over these next few months.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲hat is it that you're actually doing with Youth with a Mission and Street Invaders?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Breanna answered first, 鈥淭his year in September I'm going to be working with Youth with a Mission in Las Vegas, so I'll be doing three months of training in Las Vegas and then I'll be going overseas. Our focus with it is to work with victims of human trafficking and hoping to help them out of it or show them that there's hope.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Grace then explained what her mission will entail, 鈥淢y trip is a little confusing. For the first two weeks I'm going to be with Street Invaders in the Philippines and we're going to be doing things like hospital ministry and other ministries as well as a feeding programs in the slums. After that I'm going to Thailand, India, and Nepal to work with women who have been exploited and doing similar things [as Breanna] letting them know there's hope. Then I'm going to be going back to聽 the Philippines again on my own for a little bit.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A very spiritual Ellis then asked the girls what the community can do for them while they're gone:聽聽聽 鈥淪o part of what we're doing here tonight as a community is being able to come together and share, we've loaned a little bit of personal resources to help send you guys, but all finances aside that's the smallest part of what we need to do for you. When it comes to your day to day needs what is one thing you'd like for us to pray for you?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The girls both answered that safety was important, but that it was also important to meet the people they need to meet while on their missions.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 think safety is an important one,鈥� Kehler said. 鈥淎lso just for the right people to be placed in front of us and seeing who we're supposed to talk to.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪afety for us too, in the Philippines we'll be working in one of the largest slums in the country and also in the red light district trying to reach out to these girls makes safety important,鈥� Smyth added.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 As Smyth and Kehler handed the microphone back to Ellis he said, 鈥淣ot聽 all of us get the opportunity to go and I am very proud of you, that you're going, and we as a community can act as senders. So, we've committed some of our money and now I'm committing us all to praying. Thank you for letting us be part of what you're doing.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Following the end of the performances by Kitchen and Selinger, the girls returned to the stage to once again thank those in the community for attending the event and to those who were unable to attend, but who have supported them in their efforts over the years.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 They also expressed gratitude to King's and Michael's for sponsoring the event.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e didn't ask them to help they just decided they wanted to do something for us and we very much appreciate everything,鈥� Kehler said on behalf of Smyth and herself.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Although they will not be travelling on their missions together and have chosen different programs to work with, the girls who have been friends since childhood, will now embark on a new path, separate but together as they attempt to make a difference in the world.
