Vancouver

O Canada! O Canada!

I now understand and agree with this song. 

I. Love. Canada.

A few weeks, I was asked to go on a trip to Vancouver, Canada, I accepted, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. 

I went on a 5 person team to hang out with some friends who wok on a college campus. We worked in their offices, organizing and inventorying, and we also facilitated a staff retreat for them. Two from our team lead the retreat, while the rest of us provided childcare for their kids, so they could have the best atmosphere possible to focus and to learn. (The women were so so grateful for our services and it made me realize that I didn't ever think about church planters' difficulty finding childcare. When you think about it, who's going to leave their baby in a day care full of strangers in a foreign country? This detail made keeping the kiddos that much more challenging because they had never been away from Mom, but also really gave God a chance to work in our hearts to develop patience and trust for those around us.)

There's not much to share about the retreat itself, but there is so much to share about the trip.

Let's just jump straight to the mountains.

I go to the Smoky Mountains every year and their beauty is always astounding, but these mountains were different. Maybe because they had snow. Maybe because they were so big. Maybe because it was rainy. I don't know, but even in the fog and the cold, there was beauty all around us.

Snow topped mountains and trees, cascading waterfalls. I think there are few things that are prettier. 

Going back in chronological order..

We took off from Nashville early Tuesday morning at 6:00. After lots of turbulence, a connecting flight (that we almost missed) and Starbucks, we made it to Seattle, where we would drive over the border into Canada.

But what's the good in going to Seattle without stopping on Pike Street?

There's the Pike Place Fish Market, where they throw fish and sing. It's just a great atmosphere.

There's Pike's Place, the "original Starbucks." (The first one was actually at 2000 Western Avenue)

and the best Mexican salad I've ever had from a cute little shop named Michou.

There's just something about the people in Seattle that just look so put together. Even though it was rainy and gross, people still wore their pumps and fur jackets. In our tshirts and leggings, we looked only a little out of place..

After being tourists for a while, we made our way across the border and into our destination city.

While in the city, we visited some friends we have at a church up there and helped them with various things. In return, they took us to the International House of Gelato, and yes, it was every bit as glorious as it seems. 

218 flavors of gelato.

218 flavors means 218 samples only to decide to get the first that one you tried 💁🏼

A photo posted by Lauren Reed (@_laurenreed_) on Nov 4, 2015 at 11:23pm PST

Apple pie gelato brings the American delicacy to a whole new level honestly.

We also went to Granville Island. On Granville Island, there are a whole bunch of little touristy shops with souvenirs and snacks. We went to the public market that is also there with produce, coffee, and flowers.

Where I got the best bagel sandwich of my entire life. 

(This is the view from the dock and isn't it just so pretty) 

Vancouver is interesting..I didn't realize how culturally diverse it is. On every corner you turn, you see a different restaurant type, you hear a different language, you smell a new food. It's amazing. And to then realize that's exactly what Heaven is like is a humbling moment more than words can say.

"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 2:9-11

To actually facilitate the staff retreat, we went to Manning Park, where we literally went off the map. No TV. No internet. No cell service. Nada. And if we're being honest, it was actually kind of nice. 

It was a chance to realize just how entirely too consumed we are by wanting to be constantly connected. I had so many good moments with the Lord and His people while being disconnected that made me wonder how many moments I have missed out on before.

While we were off the grid, it snowed and you can bet that this girl built snowmen and had snowball fights with the kids.

We also made "fake snow" for the little boy's trucks to drive through from shaving cream and corn starch. 

It's literally just spray some shaving cream, add some corn starch, mix, and repeat until reached desired consistency. So easy and we got hours of play from it.

I can't say too much about we saw at the church for safety reasons, but God has His hand on Vancouver and is fighting hard for that city. I left part of my heart in Vancouver when we drove away from the cascades, but I now see my God's beauty in new ways: people, languages, snow, baby laughter.

                          Vancouver, I hope I get to visit you again, sooner rather than later.

~Lauren

note: I can not disclose the name of the church for reasons relating to the well being of the church. Like here, there is persecution, but there, it could end in the disbanning of the church.