Timotheose - A son in the Faith

Just a little update. Gio and I are doing well, if not a little sore and a bit tired but the Lord is teaching us tons.

We left the house on Saturday evening after having a great meal with the community, a church service and then participating in the evening prayer time. I planned it to be something of a psychologically impactful moment as I shut the door on all of the great times, laughter and love that I had experienced during the week and I must admit that my heart was heavy as we headed out into the streets.

We have been staying at the First United Church, or more literally sleeping on the pew seats which are long, hard benches. It has taken some getting used to as our backs get pretty sore but thankfully it is inside and it is warm.

On Sunday we participated in a poverty awareness raising event called the Poverty Olympics. It started with a parade down E. Hastings and culminated in a skit/presentation of the Poverty Games at the Japanese Language School. The media where there but frankly the reason we and a good number of the residents of the DES was to get some food and five bucks!!! I for one felt a great amount of solidarity and fellowship during the event. We finished the day with a service at Granview Cavalry Baptist Church where some excellent hot soup was served along with a fairly controversial sermon on human sexuality. The person giving the sermon came from the L'Abri community here in BC and I hope to go there and learn from their community sometime this year.

Today I had a hot shower, washed my clothes and watched a movie in a drop in centre called Lifeskills just across from Oppenheimer Park. We watched 'Into the Wild' and I must admit to being quite profoundly moved by the story in light of what I was doing and where I was.

My feet are sore, I have a few blisters 'cause we walk wherever we go and I carry all of my worldly 'possessions' in a black plastic bag with me which is getting heavier as I go. I now have two blankets, a change of clothes and some toiletries so it is getting heavier. Small comforts but comforts nonetheless.

Please continue to pray for all the poor here in Vancouver and around the world, but most specifically in our own backyards.


Maranatha