Hi, Americans!
We just returned last night from four nights and days in Vancouver, BC. Chinatown was on our list of places to visit. We had been there briefly in 2006, and we returned to spend more time this year. It was my first visit to another major city (Vancouver is Canada's third largest and North America's second most densely populated city) since beginning the worship ministry through Operation Nightwatch in downtown Portland.
I saw Vancouver and Chinatown through new eyes, through the lives and condition of some of the folks on the street. This and upcoming posts will highlight some of the quirks and contrasts of street scenes in another city.
The Potter's Place Mission is on Hastings Street, just on the edge of Chinatown. The folks above are waiting for the mission to open to get coffee and perhaps a meal. It is 2-3 blocks from the heart of the hard-core drug and mental illness population's hangout. One door, three crosses. The folks on the street here are the ones in better shape, of course. Some can't get that far--or stay that focused.
One mile to the west is the financial capital of western Canada--and more tourists from more countries than most Americans know about. But the cross is here at the Potter's Place Mission serving the few.
But He answered them, "You give them something to eat." (Mark 6:34a)
In upcoming posts I'll be doing a daily series of reports and reflections from the Vancouver trip. Stay tuned.
Shalom,
Pastor Roger
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