to provide childcare so that they could have night to themselves. It was so surreal to see the people’s lives being transformed through this church being Christ to them. While we put on this young adults supper a couple got engaged and it was cool to see the contrast of the life they had been living in the past to who they are now. The way this Church is being a light in a hurting place is so special and it was awesome to be apart of that. On the Morning of the 16th (Monday) my team and I loaded up, and we headed off to Potters Place Mission. From the moment we got there we were thrown right into the action of evangelism. By lunchtime that day we were prepared to hold a service in potters with a worship team, sermon and meal prepared to serve afterward. While we served meals we were to go and connect with people who had come in off the street. It was such a blessing to be able to give them the attention that they needed. One example of this was a man named John. I had the privilege of talking to John on the Wednesday or Thursday evening. At this point in the week I was feeling pretty burnt out and would have loved to have just sat in my chair and taken some time to myself. However I was drawn to John. I was sitting in the back so I had seen him come in just before the sermon had started and it did not seem that he had been paying attention but rather his head bowed and appeared to be praying. So when he received his meal
Mission To Van-‐City Thank you for your support!
(Me and my friend Phoenix)
Thanks so much, to all of you who have either supported me in your prayers or through your giving financially. Throughout our Trip it was quite prevalent that you have been praying for us. So to give you a short overview of what happend on my trip, my team arrived at New Beginnings Church in the Vancouver downtown eastside on February 11th. At New Beginnings Church we were privileged to help the church hold multiple supper events for their congregation that they would not have been able to hold without us. It was really special to give these people who live in the downtown eastside a nice meal that made them feel special and pampered. One example was a young adults night where I was able to help cook and trim roast beef, and be apart of serving the meal. Due to the culture of where we were, most young adults already have children so it was cool to also be able
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and was no longer bowed I saw this as my opportunity to go and talk to him. John had told me at first that he was doing well and that things were on the up. He had said he was just trying to keep the good energy flowing. After digging in deeper to conversation with him though he opened up to me more. The so-‐called good things he bragged of had actually turned into a tragedy. Within the last few days a girl who had stolen his heart, who he said had so much potential was just released from prison and he had been so exited for her, however within a few days of being released she was back into drugs the thing that had been robbing her of her potential and was the very thing she had been thrown into prison for. Also he had finally been reunited with his mother who he hadn’t seen in sixteen years. The night before though his father was also reunited with her and they got in a big fight and now John had to deal with that. I was able to just show him that I cared and was able to pray for him before some of his friends came in and interrupted our chat. It was amazing to see God working and using me to be Christ to John, to sympathize with him and offer him hope in Christ through a prayer. I also had the privilege of ‘preaching’ a sermon at the Monday evening service. I believe I had good content and I was glad to see how this year had prepared me to be able to put together a sermon in which I could portray grace in such beautiful way. Cool
( outside look of Potters Place Mission on E. Hastings) However, and although I have been told otherwise, my sermon I would say was less than impressive. My nerves defiantly got the best of me in front of the packed evening crowd and I was defiantly less than charismatic. This is an area though that I could give all glory to God and know that He is much greater than my abilities, that it was by grace that everyone had been brought to potters place and it would be by his grace that my words would leave an impact. I could trust God would work in spite of my own abilities. In-‐between the lunch and supper services at Potters we would go out on ‘prayer walks’ every day. We would carry food and coffee and seek to make conversation and pray with the strangers, homeless, and drug addicted on the streets. It was amazing to see God work through our team. One of the benefits of being in a leadership program is that my team is a team of leaders who take initiative and were able to really make the most of the time we had to bless the people on the streets. On Friday evening instead of holding the service, Potters 2
had another group coming in who looked after that. This freed us up to go on a prayer walk with the goal of handing out roses to the ‘working girls.’ This was really special to show a selfless Christian love to these women, which they never experience. One story that was special for me was giving a rose to a woman named Sherry. When I asked her if she would like a rose her face beamed like the sun. “You just made my day” she exclaimed. It was evident that she did not have the words to express how much this impacted her. Not wanting to be left behind I had to move on down the street but after we stopped it so happened sherry was walking our way. I was then able to talk to her again, pray for her and even give her a hug. It was amazing how such a small act could leave such a significant impact. Between holding the services and the prayer walks that pretty much summed up our time at Potters place in a nutshell.
On Saturday morning we were back at New Beginnings. Another thing we did while at new beginnings was community projects. In the first few days I helped in their moving ministry, setting people up with the means to get and move furniture that fits the place they are moving into. In our last stint at New Beginnings I got to help Stella an elderly woman that is so special to New Beginnings. We helped pack up all her stuff, as she was moving. Also I got to paint the walls of a Church volunteers House. I had never realized the difference a coat of paint can make! Now amongst all this we did have a well-‐earned break. On the Sunday after potters, we went to West Side Church downtown, we had some relaxing time to be in the city. I had the privilege of connecting with my good friend and former High School RD, Kory Riemer, which was really special for me. We also got to go on a hike at Linn canyon and enjoy some of Gods creation around Vancouver. Well I could go on and on about the trip, but I am sure I have written more than enough. Sorry this is so late getting to you. I hope that this helps you get idea of what you were able to support me in doing and is a reminder of the wonderful ways God is at work. Again thank so much for you prayers, the trip would not have been the same without them. God Bless, Riley.
(Lin Canyon)
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