Summer began and seems to be half over in a matter of 2 weeks! i don't know what happened but time has flown by. Many great things have been going on. Two especially awesome things happened! Brittany has come to join me! i now have friend, and cohort to experience the streets of vancouver with, and a team from texas was here. Both were huge blessings!

Brittany moved into my little room and has been a huge help in ministry so far. Pretty much i've been a little lonely up until now. I'm used to working with people my own age in ministry, and working with a closer team. Most of my comings and goings in vancouver up until this point have been by myself. But now there is Brittany, and the real fun can start happening! We work really closely together, and are able to do a lot more outreach because there is two of us.

We spent hanging out with a lovely group of poeple from texas. Jesse and Tena, the missionary couple that i live with had friends from their home church in texas visiting. They were doing a missions trip/ encouragement trip. Our week looked like this: monday-cleaned the house of a girl that tena mentors. tuesday-went to park, helped serve at Chilliwagon. wed-victoria day. thurs-waterfight/hang out with youth. It was a full week! but it was really fun. My eyes were opened to a lot of things. First, i've become very thankful for amazing parents who have taught me how to clean, cook, and be a good worker. We cleaned at a house that was very very dirty. I'll save the details, and just say that there was 9 of us, and we cleaned for 8 hours. We did a kind of home makeover for this house. It was a good day of laughing, screaming (at mice), and disbelief over some conditions people let their houses get into. Its one of those days that you can really see the good you've done!

Chilliwagon Tuesday. Chilliwagon is a ministry started by a guy 17 years ago. He makes chilli and bread every tuesday for the last 17 years ( for the exception of one tuesday that fell on christmas) but otherwise he's out there on Commercial drive investing in relationships with the people there. Commercial drive is a very unique place. anyone who has walked this street will now that is probably the most diverse place in the city. You've got rich and poor bumping sholders. The italians, portueguese, natives, arabians, and europeans on each block. As well as the outsiders and insiders.. the anti-establishment, the ones on the fringe that most people are afraid to talk to kind of people, the cultured, the grandmas, and the families. This place is truly a montage of everything. Gordy is the guy who started chilliwagon. and he came over early tuesday and shared his testimony. A crazy story of how God pursued him through the hardships of foster homes and abuse, and even being kidnapped. He is a joyful man. He pours his heart into the friends he's made on commercial drive. They know him, and he knows them by name. He makes the chilli with the best products he can find. He makes it that way because he appreciates quality, and he won't serve what he won't eat. So its good stuff! we headed to the park around 7 and started chatting with the people there. its always awkward at first but then so fascinating as people open up and share their stories. There is always the crazies that want to talk to the young girls, but thankfully we had our big strong texans with us. B. and i talked with a guy from turkey for a long time, and also met another guy from Nicaragua. Very cool people. I believe God loves the diversity that is living in such close procsemity to eachother around commercial. We had lots of fun, B and I would love to go back and help out again.

This week has been more of a planning and playing week. We have a bbq tomorrow, and a soccer camp coming up so this week has been planning out those, getting supplies, and phoning families. I got to meet with an organization called City Reach. They have a warehouse next to broadway church that they do ministry out of. Its a great building and can be used for so much. They have an industrial kitchen which they use to feed 150 people at a time. Thye also teach nutrition to immigrant families. They have afterschool programs for kids, womens groups, and family support. Its a great ministry and the executive Director really inspireed me. She stressed the fact that they serve very nutritious food to their people that come in. Its about giving them quality. She also said that the most important thing we can do is tell the people we are workign with that we care about them. Thats what they need, just one person to say they care. Most of the people in east van feel that no one cares. They don't feel their lives have much value, and something as simple as saying "I care about you" would really change their life. Its beautifully simple. Just like Jesus would do.

This women mentioned Bill Strickland, an entrepreneur in the states who has contributed to the development of programs to get people of the streets . if you have some time watch this video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoHBiHFV9SA . It totally changed my perspective of what helping the disadvantaged should look like! I'll elaborate some , Just watch the video!

the little things

Well hello city! i'm back and ready to get this summer started! I just had a lovely week in Abbotsford. My internship is only 12 weeks, so i was able to get a week off right at the halfway point. 6 weeks down, 6 weeks to go.

My week in Abby was a nice because i was able to recharge and relax, and recover from a strange cold/flu that i'd had for over a week. The week started out by going to Northview on Sunday. So random, because i never go there for church. I havn't really been going any one place for church for the past year ( I feel incredibly displaced.) but this morning I asked God where he wanted me to go.... and somehow i ended up at northview, where i know no one. But God knew i needed to hear Jeff's sermon that morning.

He spoke on two things that I have really been struggling with lately. The sermon was centered around Mark 4:26-30 - two parables . The first is about the growing seed. main point- God grows his kingdom not me, not people. God's kingdom is unstoppable and inevitable. If you don't know, God wins! and with that I have peace and joy despite rough times, and times when it seems that darkness wins. Here in the city, sometimes it seems dark. I struggle with remembering that i cannot make people meet Jesus. I had the perspective that its Christians' responsibility to save their neighbor. Thats a lot of pressure. And yes, we do have responsibility to LOVE and tell our neighbor about the amazing FREEDOM found in CHRIST! but.. its God that grows the seed! I can't force fruit to grow. After realizing this it was like a burden was lifted from me! I understand that I am just supposed to love each person that God puts in my path.

Secondly, the parable of the mustard Seed. - mainpoint- God takes the insignificant and makes it magnificent. here in east van there are many many ministries going on. Some big, some small. It seems the big ones are doing amazing things(and they are)! like feeding tons of people, womens shelters, youth groups, sending kids to camp, afterschool programs... you get the picture. and it seems like the small ministries have it rough because there isn't a lot of money and its hard to run programs or do anything without money or space in the city. Not going to lie, I was feeling kinda discouraged about being in a small organization. I'd go and visit the established ones and see all the stuff they are doing and the people they are reaching out to and I was a little jealous. who But am I to say where God will work? I was quite humbled... and realized how prideful i was being to think that God cannot use the small things. In this culture we are drawn to success, we have the mentality Bigger is better. and God's kingdom is totally opposite. The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed.. the tiniest thing ever, and then it explodes into hugeness. I was being pretty critical, and now i'm seeing the positives of being apart of a smaller ministry group. I get to make quality relationships with a few youth, rather than being so overwhelmed by program stuff and loads of kids. because i don't work with huge numbers of people i am able to be really personal with those that i do. like be invited to a family's house for dinner, eat birthday cake with the mom of the girls i teach piano, go for a walk with a mom and her daughter and talk about their struggles, play cards at the beach with a girl who's scared about going into highschool... God works in the little things.

Welfare Wednesdays and a united church?

So every third Wednesday of the month welfare cheques are distributed and east vancouver becomes a hustling and bustling world. Esther (another girl that works at VUM) and I ventured down to the area around main and hastings to see what things were like on the day. It was really interesting. There were TONS of people out. and man was the money flying! There were a bunch of people setting out their belongings to sell on the street. People were paying other people back for who knows what... Esther and I discovered the famous ovaltine cafe.. but they wern't serving food so we found a coffee shop a block off of main and hastings to sit in. It was surprising to see how many people from the street chose to spend the money they are given on coffee. I guess its a day where they feel more like the rest of Vancouver and are able to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee.

Since being in Vancouver I have learned a lot about the welfare system. What i have learned is that its super complicated and I don't know if i'll ever understand all the ins and outs... but it is a huge part of the life for the people I am getting to know in East Van. I have all the exact numbers and allowances depending on if they are single or have kids, but that would talk a long time write down. THe basic lesson i have learned about welfare is that it does provide and make life possible for many in east vancouver, but it is a flawed system. Once a person is on welfare they are given an amount of money, if they chose to work they deduct the amount of money you make from your welfare cheque, so they get the same amount of money if they are not working, so i can see how people can end up on it and stay on it. The system is supposed to be used as a stepping stone for people to get on their feet while they look for a job. I had a lot of misconceptions of people that relied on income assistance... not all of them abuse the system, but actually have no other option.

It is sad to see a portion of the people on welfare splurge on their guilty pleasures... cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs. But then you get the other end... the single mom who takes her daughter to buy a new pair of shoes... Things that i thought were black and white issues become a lot more grey.

Today I went to a meeting of VEMA. VEMA stands for Vancouver East Ministerial Association. VEMA is complied of a number of different churches and para church organizations that are likeminded in wanting to bridge the gap between themselves, share resources, and reach their community. This is the second meeting i have been to, and its been really encouraging both times. Its awesome to see churches coming along side of each other, overlooking differences, in order to spread the gospel and reach the community. It is a process, but the these people have a heart to see east van know Jesus. Many people see the church and see denominations and don't understand why there are so many different forms of church. I myself sometimes am confused by it. Its really encouraging to see them coming together. Its going to be so good to share resources. For example.. VUM is in need of tutors for the after-school program , and there is a church who mentioned that they had a bunch of teachers laid off and wanting to use their teaching skills for ministry. So we connected! and the wheels start moving... some times its disheartening because things seem to take forever to come together... but things are starting to work gain momentum! its exciting to be here and get a little glimpse of how God is moving and uniting the church.

Four Weeks into this adventure

Hello hello :) i'm glad your reading my blog... this is my first blog ever. Im not really one who likes to have everyone know what i'm doing but in this case, with being somewhere away from most of my friends and family this seemed a good way to answer a lot of questions i keep getting! most of these questions seem to be Where are YOU? and Why are you in Vancouver? so hopefully i'll be able to put up some information and keep people posted about what is going on in east vancouver and the ministry opportunities i'm getting. the next bits of writing are from my prayer letter and will let you know what i am up to!

Many of you know that I am working as a summer missionary intern in Vancouver. I wanted to give you some more information on what I will be doing and the organization I will be working with. The organization is called Vancouver Urban Ministries. They have been working in East Vancouver since February 2006. Their main focus is underprivileged youth and families and refugees in East Vancouver.

VUM is a unique organization. They are keen on urban focused ministries and want to teach me how to intentionally live as a Christian in an urban community. VUM particularly focuses on work with marginalized and disadvantaged refugees, children, and families, many of whom also have a First Nations heritage. Macdonald Elementary is one school VUM is highly active in. At MacDonald elementary approximately 62% of students are first nations, 40% of its students are from single-parent homes, and 27% of families have an annual income of less than $20 000. These students do not get the same opportunities to participate in fun summer activities or after school programs. Each day these children and families face many obstacles such as drug and alcohol abuse, parental neglect, lack of caring and supportive environments, which very easily lead toward involvement in criminal activity in adolescence and adulthood.

VUM provides after school and weekend activities for elementary and highschool aged students, as well as music lessons that are free of charge. Through these programs VUM is able to build relationships and create a healthy, caring environment for youth in the community. A partnership with World Vision Canada is making it possible for more youth to be apart of after-school tutoring programs.

I am really excited about this opportunity. VUM is a great organization and the people are focused on sharing the love of Christ and loving the community they work in. VUM caught my attention because it combines many of the things I am passionate about, these being sharing Jesus Christ, music, camp ministry, and building community. Some of my responsibilities this summer will be teaching piano, supporting the tutoring program, organizing community meals, mentoring youth, organizing weekly youth events, soccer camps, and family camps. As well as hosting a two missions teams coming in from the states.

Please pray for me!! This summer is going to be a great learning experience, but it will come with its difficulties. God has led me to VUM and I am so excited to see how His love is infiltrating the many broken homes in East Vancouver. I have been blessed with amazing friends and family that have supported me through many years of camp and cross-cultural missions, and this is another really cool opportunity God has blessed me with.