Today (Fri. the 26) Joe, DJ and I began with an adventure to Chinatown. It was a very interesting community. One of the highlights for me was the “Sun Yat Sen” Garden. On our way to the Garden one of the VANOC volunteers approached us asking for one of our pins. We were able to share the pin and had a wonderful chat about the area and the special cars used by VANOC. You can by one at a discount after the Olympics. We were then approached by a young man who looked very much in need of rehab. He asked for money to buy food. I told him that I would not give him money but would buy his lunch. I discovered that he is well known, unwelcome and actually banned for the mall. He waited outside while I got him lunch. I attempted to place him with a shelter, told him where he could get help and shared with him about the power of God to help him. He was grateful for lunch but wanted nothing to do the shelter or Jesus. Please pray for this man and others like him. Life on the streets is harsh and difficult.
A few minutes later we went to a nice little Chinese restaurant for lunch, it allowed us to get in from the rain for a bit. After lunch , as we were leaving Joe quietly paid for the lunch of a Vancouver Policeman. This man patrols his “beat” via bicycle even in the rain. He and our waitress were amazed by Joe’s kindness and at first suspicious. It was a really a wonderful act of kindness, and a great witness. I am sure they will remember Joe and D.J. for a long time.
Later we found ourselves near the athletes’ village and the Russian Pavilion for the next Winter Games. We stopped to listen to a choir of teenagers sing in Russian. The teens were all first and second generation Russians who live Vancouver. The biggest surprise was they were with “More Than Gold” and were singing praise music. (I figured this out when I heard “This is the Day” in English with and odd accent) We had a fun visit with them, they invited us to Sochi for the next Winter Olympics, I am sure there is someone out there that would like to send me to Siberia! Actually it is North of Turkey on the Black Sea, not very far from the Iranian border.
We headed back to the College to prepare for our Shift. The shift was quite eventful, all of Canada is happy for the day Team Canada won their hockey game and they have the most Gold s (at the moment ) We again meet and visit with a very interesting mix of people. Most it seems think that free hot chocolate should be a permanent fixture at the transit stops.
This morning Eric left our team to return home. Many of us will leave on Sunday, We will all be home by Tuesday . Pray for safe and uneventful travel as we make our way back home. Pray for those we leave behind in Vancouver. Pray that God will bless the Churches as they minister to their community.
Please remember the people of Haiti and Chile suffering from devastating quakes, and the areas that are impacted by the tsunami.
