News from the Vancouver Airport Chapel - SPRING 2020
Unfortunately the Chapel at YVR has had to close for the time being, as Airport Authority decided that all volunteers at the airport were putting themselves at risk with the COVID-19 virus. I am so grateful to Rozalind Wee for keeping the Chapel area safe and clean for the weeks before this closure, and I'm appreciative to her and SA Major David Holliday for taking good care of our Chapel guests and our Volunteer Team during this challenging time. We will inform you when we re-open, and when our AGM will be held.
Please pray for CEO Craig Richmond and all YVR Community members as they face the challenges of this crisis. Thank you!
People Stories:
Our Associate Chaplains have been faithfully serving at YVR until recently, and here's how Rev. Dan Bautista was able to be of service to two passengers:
1. Airline representatives brought a young man to the Chapel who had arrived to play in a professional sports event (still planned at the time). Sadly he had been informed that his brother had passed away in New York and he needed to return to NYC in just a few hours. Dan spent much of that waiting time with this young athlete and was able to support him in his loss with some uplifting words of Scripture. He left sensing God's comfort and with a new sense of hope, and we have been praying for him and his family, especially in light of conditions in NYC just now.
2. That same day Dan was on his 'rounds' in the terminal when an older lady approached him speaking Spanish. Being from The Philippines, Dan knew some words and responded to her. She immediately began to cry and said, "I need help!" She and her three sons had moved from Colombia years before, became Canadian citizens and now the two older boys have their own families. When the youngest son recently got married, he suddenly announced to his live-in mother, "It's time for you to go." With no other family or friends in Toronto, she decided to fly to Vancouver and start life over again.
The lady then said, "I have a pension and I'm willing to work, but I don't know where to stay." Dan helped her contact shelters in the city and thankfully one of them was able to house her. She was able to make her own way downtown and called Dan to tell him how grateful she was for his assistance. This story has a good possible ending, and we trust that she will find a new place in our city to belong and contribute in the days ahead!
Prayer requests:
1. Long-term Salvation Army Associate Chaplain, Major Ron Trickett, passed away on March 15. Everyone loved Ron and he will be dearly missed! Please pray for Doreen and their family as they decide how to celebrate Ron's life, under the current circumstances.
2. Chaplain Emeritus Layne Daggett has been UBC Rehab Centre for 6 weeks, recovering from earlier surgery and a broken bone. Please pray for him and his wife Helena and their family. He hopes to be home on March 30!
3. Associate Chaplain Carol McLean is still serving in Jerusalem. Please pray for her health and safety, as well as for some eye treatment needed, and for God's continuing comfort in the recent loss of her mother.
With gratitude,
Dennis, for the Chapel Team
