Spring 2024

Greetings YVR Chapel Friends, 

The year 2023 concluded on a high note, with more than 850 employees and passengers coming to the Chapel to enjoy our December Drop-In Open House.  We also had a very positive response to Chaplain Mark Anderson's idea of a "Pause... for Peace" theme.  He created a large world map with no national borders, just land and sea, and the seas were full of these repeating words: “Peace on earth, as the waters cover the sea.”  Everyone was invited to pause and write their hope or prayer for peace, and we welcomed posts in all languages from persons of all faiths and no faith. 

People Stories 
As a Chapel Team, we have the privilege of meeting hundreds of travellers and employees who share their stories with us, and it's our honour to be able to provide personal support.  With their permission I share some of these stories with the hope of demonstrating our empathy towards them, and the care they are receiving from the GVRD community.  
1.  A YVR employee from Aleppo Syria, shared with me their sorrow at what has happened to their hometown and nation. The employee is proud of their people, some 14 million who have made new homes in countries around the world, as they have done in Canada. However, there is also suffering, where this individual’s own mother can never leave Syria again, because she went to Turkey to visit, but had to be smuggled back in to get home. The employee will never be able to see her again. Still, this person is grateful (and always smiling!) because of the blessings of safety and security that their family now enjoy in Canada, while also being grateful for the technology that enables connection between family here in Canada and in Syria.  
2.  A Kurdish refugee-claimant family was recently brought to the Chapel. As you may know, Kurdish people have no country of their own and this family had to leave because of threats to their lives. 'Refugee claimants' are persons who manage to get to Canada but have no government or private sponsorship. They must appear in a court hearing within one month of arrival and prove their need for acceptance into Canada. This family with two young children had traveled long hours from their homeland to Montreal and then to Vancouver, and had nowhere to go. (Canadian organizations at the airport are designed to mostly assist officially accepted refugees, such as Afghans or Ukrainians; other refugee claimants must provide for themselves).
This story ends well, because there are people and organizations who are ready to help refugees with accommodation, food and next steps in their lives.  We called one of the leaders in the Richmond Muslim community and they were able to come and help this family, get them to a hotel for one night, and then plan for the following month.  For people of other faiths or no faith connection, our YVR Chapel team will engage groups in Vancouver like the Salvation Army's Belkin House and specially designed Family & Women's Shelters. The Federal Government also provides support through groups that we can contact, such as Mosaic Newcomer Refuge, Respite Housing Society, and Immigration Services Society. 

Special Announcement  We are pleased to officially welcome Drew Pankrath to the VAC Board, where he will serve as Vancouver Airport Authority’s Representative.  

Blessings in all the ways that you also serve your community, 
Dennis, for the Chapel Team

Please note:  Our AGM is scheduled for Saturday April 27, 10:30-12:00 noon at YVR

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