Sunday, Feb. 28, 2010

VANCOUVER, Canada -- As the Olympic games wraps up today, a satisfied glow settles over the women of the Great Room at Linwood House Ministries in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.  Meet the thirteen "radical hostesses"  -- women who have journeyed through hard times, and often life on the streets, and who are now reaching out to share their growth and healing with other women.  Throughout the Olympics, these hostesses have given tours of their community – the Downtown Eastside, welcomed and served visitors in the sacred space of the Great Room, and gathered women from the street to enjoy some of thecreative artists that perform almost daily.  In cooperation with More Than Gold, a network of Christian faith communities, they have worked very long days, and they have experienced the thrill of serving and the excitement of participating.  They are true champions!

As Gwen McVicker, executive director for Linwood House Ministries, exclaims, "Our hostesses continue to amaze us all with their endless supply of love, their servant hearts, and their courage and strength to push through some of their own challenges in order to be part of something bigger. For many months we have talked with anticipation about how God would surprise us in these days."  And God has surprised and delighted these women at every turn.

McVicker tells some of the stories of the past two weeks in her own words:

-In the last two days, we were truly surprised as we were gifted with tickets for two Olympic events! So yesterday our staff members took five hostesses to one of the curling matches and there was a lot of excitement in the air as the group headed off for their own Olympic experience. Then, five more hostesses enjoyed a Victory Ceremony (where Canada was presented with another medal!)

-On Thursday night the Great Room was transformed into a prayer labyrinth as a team came to pray into the issue of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in our city. It was a sacred time, and so beautiful to see and hear the prayers of so many going up for freedom and justice for men, women and children here and around the world. As I sat at one of the prayer stations and prayed for the many men and women who advertise their bodies in local newspapers and websites in Vancouver, I was reminded again of how every single person has a story, hopes and dreams and a purpose that extends far beyond their current reality. May it be so, for every person living in slavery in Vancouver, in Canada and in every nation.

-Friday afternoon I was gifted with a glimpse into the story of a new friend I'll call Cynthia. She had never been in the Great Room before, but easily settled in with something warm to drink and a safe, quiet corner to share. She looked at me and told me how much she is struggling with her addiction. "It's like a great big monster", she said, "it's foaming at the mouth, and all I want to do is take a big sledge hammer and kill it." And then she said this. "My soul is tired. It's so, so tired." My heart broke a little in that moment, but I was reminded of what a great privilege it is to be part of providing soul rest to friends who are broken and hurting. And I was also reminded of how much we are all in need of soul rest. Thank you, Cynthia, for reminding me of that today.

-Yesterday afternoon Rachel Starr Thomsom and Carolyn Currey of Soli Deo Gloria Ballet--a poet and a ballet dancer--came to the Great Room to share their gifts with us, and it was absolutely beautiful. Combining music, spoken word and dance, they shared an amazing message about the journey of life, full of joys and sorrows, despair and hope, and ultimately healing and freedom. During the performance, the poet asked, "Are these chains on my soul? I cannot crack this death. I cannot find the way." The dancer twirled and leapt as these words and music filled the Great Room in response, "My chains are gone, I've been set free. My God my Saviour has ransomed me. And like a flood, His mercy reigns, unending love, amazing grace". It was a beautiful moment for all who were there. One of the hostesses shared that she had never seen ballet before, and was so moved to experience it for the first time.

-Later in the day, we were surprised again as Peter Struk and John-Joseph Honasan arrived at the Great Room with dinner for everyone and the gift of music to be shared. We quickly assembled a team of our hostesses to go into the streets to invite women in. I'm reminded of the story of the banquet prepared, only for no one to come and so the hosts were directed to go into the streets to invite strangers in to the party. We were not disappointed. Within minutes the Great Room was full with about 15 new friends who came to eat, meet new friends, see the Great Room for the first time and enjoy the music. You could see the excitement in the faces of our hostesses, who quickly got to work mingling and serving our new friends. Once again, we were so encouraged to hear the music of JJ who sang for us, but more than that to hear his story. He is from the Philippines and has a heart for the issue of sex trafficking because several of his female relatives have been victims themselves.

-Our hostesses continue to be amazing!!! They are working so hard, and seem to have an endless supply of love to give as they serve others. It is such a privilege to be part oft his amazing circle of women.

-"Are these chains on my soul?
I cannot crack this death.
I cannot find the way."            

 Please continue to pray for the hundreds upon hundreds of women in the downtown Eastside who are asking that question this very moment, that they will find the way to peace, freedom and a life renewed in purpose, just as it was always intended.

Caption: Rachel Starr Thomsom and Carolyn Currey ofSoli Deo Gloria Ballet perform at the Great Room in the Downtown Eastside.

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