Beautiful Baby

Isn't she a beauty? Baby Amber and mother Trish came to visit us on Friday and while her mother is holding her in the top picture, a few of us were wanting to claim her as our own. She's moved into our neighbourhood now so we hope to see her more often.

How Is Our Friend Lorna?

How does she do it? If you follow us on Facebook you'll have seen regular updates on our friend and colleague Lorna McLachlan as she's battled with cancer.

Lorna was diagnosed with cancer shortly after she came to Partners in Hope about 12 years ago. We've all learned with her as she's faced life and death, suffering and regaining strength.

In recent weeks and months that cycle seems to have sped up with the struggles and strengthening periods having shorter periods of time. Lorna has faced seemingly imminent death on several occasions and has had life renewed. As recent as a couple of weeks ago Lorna's health was very precarious. She was admitted to hospital by ambulance and a variety of things were challenging to her ongoing health. She laid very quietly on her bed and slept so much. Her skin was deeply jaundiced. A variety of drains and tubes helped her along. It seemed as though her journey were nearing an end.

We've taken pictures of her awake, asleep, sitting, laying, chatting, being helped by nurses. If food made it near her mouth we photographed it because it was the event of the day!!

Amazingly, if you were to see her today, she looks pretty good. While she still spends almost all of the day on the bed, her skin is pink, she smiles and chats, she prays and listens as we read God's word together. She's "hanging in there."

I just thought you'd like to know.

Fall 2009 Schedule of Christian 12 Step Meetings

This is our most recent list of Christian 12-Step meetings we are aware of in our area. We encourage your support of these meetings for your personal growth and for support of others in their new life with God in recovery.

Tuesday 5:45 pm – Broadway Church – Broadway and Slocan - Contact: Chris 604-253-2700
Tuesday 7:00 pm – Living Waters – 782 E. Hastings – Contact: Richard: 604-682-3269 x 2621
Tuesday 7:00pm – North Shore Alliance – 201 E 23rd. Contact: Melissa 604-929-9826
Wednesday 7:00 pm – 1st Nazarene – 21st and Kingsway - Contact Steve: 604-916-9599
Wednesday 7:00 pm – Cityview Baptist Church – 4370 Sophia – Contact Graham: 604-876-6752
Thursday 6:30pm – COH Recovery, Community of Hope, 535 E. Broadway. Contact Terry - Maurice McElrea Bldg
Thursday 7:30 pm – Mission Possible, 543 Powell Street – Contact Elsie: 604-215-0335
Friday 6:00 pm – Belkin House – 555 Homer Street – Contact Carlos: 604-681-3405
Friday 7:00pm –1641 E 1st Ave – Salvation Army Building – Contact Michael: 604-307-2543
Friday 6:00pm – MR Inter Church - 21299 River Road, Maple Ridge. Contact: Lorne 604-319-6538
Saturday – 4pm – Richmond Faith - 11960 Montego Street, Richmond – Contact Joseph: 604-304-4234
Saturday – 6pm – Richmond MB – 10200 #5Rd, Richmond – Contact Ron: 604-271-2103
Sunday – aft – Relate Church – Robson Square – Contact Archie: 604-767-1761

More meetings will be starting in September so keep coming back to check the new information as it becomes available. If you know of other Christian meetings in our area we'd love to expand the list and publish details about your group. Send your information to: office@partnersinhope.ca

Volunteer Appreciation BBQ

The rain held off. Those who came to be apppreciated chopped food, set up tables, barbequed, served food, and cleaned up. Not a bad deal. That's really what makes us Partners in Hope. We're an extended family who help one another and enjoy each other in the process. We owe it all to God who has healed our hearts and given us a reason to be with life and with each other today. For that we say "Thank you" to God. On behalf of Partners in Hope, thank you to all our volunteers who in small and large ways extend love and acceptance and encouragement and help to others all year long. You are a great bunch!!!

Gathering to Say Good-Bye

Although good-bye is challenging, we were grateful to gather on Sunday with Lynn's family to say good-bye. Lynn passed away from a heart attack and she'll be missed by friends in Partners in Hope and Immanuel Church. We pray God's peace and comfort for Lynn's family and those here who's lives were touched by Lynn.

Work Team - Women of Hope House Upgrade

It looks beautiful! They worked hard inside and outside and the whole house sparkles because of it. A youth group from Everett Washington came to visit us on Monday ready to work and work they did! They painted and washed and mixed concrete and chopped branches and pulled weeds and power washed yard furniture and on and on. You'll see some of what they did in the pictures below and then I've also put a slide show with more faces. Thanks to all who helped organize and then do the work. It was a great day.

For the rest of the pictures have a look at the slide show below: