Last week students from PTP visited Mustard Seed. It was a really nice place. All the students loved Mustard Seed. We met in Kipling Subway station at 9:00 a.m. When we were in the train we took some photos. Because the students in PTP like each other we talked. When we got to Mustard Seed we met Shahina. She had already made a good schedule that told us what everybody was doing.

We cooked good food like green salad, cake, lasagna and bruschetta. We worked together, we ate a lot of food. When we were at the table we talked together. When we finished lunch we sat about 45 minutes then talked about everything. The conversation really was nice and we enjoyed being there.
— by Omar


We took the subway and streetcar to Mustard Seed and we chatted a bit and decided to start cooking. Everyone had different roles. My role was to work on the salads. My partner was Margaret. She taught me how to cook. We were all talking and had a fun time. One group had to work on lasagna. Next group worked on bruschetta. Another group worked on pound cake. As the dishes were being cooked in the oven we decided to walk for a bit. When we arrived back, I had to help with the bruschetta and the lasagna. Other groups had to help one another. I had to wash the dishes. Others had to clean the kitchen. We waited for the cake and lasagna to be finished. We put sets of forks, spoons, napkins, and plates on the table. Than we put the food on the table.

We finished eating and sat on the couches. I started a conversation about relationships between men and women. It was a very interesting moment to hear different students’ opinions as well as teachers’ and the staff. The conversation went on for 30 minutes. Then we all went home. The whole Mustard Seed experience was a great experience.
— by David


My trip to Mustard Seed was a great experience. It sounds strange but I never knew that nuns walked and talked to regular people like us. I always thought that they don’t want us too close to them because of their beliefs. However, it was nothing like that. The welcome was warm and inviting. The place was clean and well equipped with everything you need, even a bed if needed. We cooked together, talked together, laughed together, and ate together. It was very nice. The teachers let us feel comfortable but most of all we were peas in a big pot.

We met at the subway. We took the train down together and met Shahina there and she was ready as usual so we paired up in groups and started cooking. We cooked vegetable and meat lasagna and a pound cake. Boy, it was delicious. After eating we talked for a while and then the time came to go home. If I had a magic wand I would let it last all week. I hope everyone in the school gets a chance to go experience that nice home called Mustard Seed.
— by Margaret

On Thursday morning I took the train from Sherbourne station and I asked the bus driver how to get to Queen street. He told me that I must go to Broadview station and take the streetcar down to Queen and I must go left and so I did and I found it was very easy to find.

I came by myself and I met Shahina there and we sat down and talked about what we are going to do. We had a very nice discussion until the rest of the students come. They all got there in time. Shahina made us pick out numbers for the people we were going to work with. We split up and cook the food that we are going to prepare for us to eat.

I think it was very nice for us to get out and kind of learn something that we never knew. David said he did not know how to cook but he learned how to cook and he enjoyed himself very much. That’s what I mean by you can learn something. I had a very good time preparing the food that we made as a class. I had a good time. But the thing that I enjoyed was the discussion that we had with David. I really enjoyed it very much. I also enjoyed how we all sat down on the table and we all ate.

I guess we got David to talk to people and I really think it was very good so I would like to thank Shahina for having this day with us. We all love you Shahina.

From Judy.

Below are photos from the trip. Click on any photo to see a larger size.