A class of Grade 11 students from Cedars Christian School in Prince George has returned from a life changing "mission adventure" to the east side of downtown Vancouver last week.
"This trip has really opened my eyes," said Cedars student Abby Worthington. "It's so easy to be judgmental and to say these people have made bad choices but lots of them were born into it and to hear it from them, to hear their stories, it changes the way you look at them."
Vancouver's Downtown Eastside is notorious of the desperate conditions of many of its residents, with homelessness, mental health issues and drug addiction all too common.
"They call it the poorest part of Vancouver," said Shane Nelson, vice-principal at the school, who accompanied the students on their mission along with parents and school alumni.
"It's a unique community on the Eastside and many of these people are protective of the kids who come and visit them. They seem to want to take care of the kids, visit with them and tell them their stories."
At first, the students were a bit apprehensive and uncertain about what was to come as they approached many of the regulars in the area.
But with all nervousness aside, they went off on their "downtown plunge."
"They did seem a bit unsure at first and their senses were certainly activated on the streets." Nelson said.
But the students were encouraged to share their lunch and mostly share themselves.
"They are challenged to see these people as human beings, as God's image and as themselves," he said.
This was the 15th year that Grade 11 students from Cedars Christian School have made the trip as part of their curriculum.
Their mission adventures have been part of Youth With A Mission, an evangelical interdenominational non-profit Christian missionary.
It encompasses a global movement of Christians from many ages, cultures and Christian traditions dedicated to serving throughout the world.
"The program runs in line with our mission to educate and equip for restorative work," Nelson said.
Cedars offers children from grades Kindergarten to 12, a Christian perspective in every aspect of their daily education.
And one way is to bring them out of their usual surroundings and to immerse them in unfamiliar situations.
This opens up new perspectives by seeing staff and students in a different light, according to Nelson.
"It allows students to see the brokenness and then to reflect and see it within themselves. We are all one in the same," he said.
"Students wrestle with all sorts of issues and the issues they see on the Eastside, these are issues they don't read from books. They have the opportunity to see homelessness and addiction first hand and then try and find solutions to see what they can do in society."
During the four days, the students stayed at a local church.
"I definitely have a closer relationship with my class and also with God," said student Craig Hein.
"We had reflective moments and those are the moments I miss. The trip also brought about a different mentality in me. It was amplified, the way I look at people."
For fellow student Aiden Ceaser, seeing the contrast from the Eastside and Gastown was eye opening.
"It changed my mentality, too. I made a point to stop and say hi to everyone," Ceaser said.
"And we also became closer as friends, friends who care."
From helping serve food, to approaching homeless people at Oppenheimer Park and visiting seniors at a nearby home for the elderly, students were in the thick of it.
"I honestly didn't know what to expect," said Joel Nelson.
"We were walking downtown, and then next thing we knew we were helping serve lunch to 200 people. It was a definite highlight."
Some of the stories students heard will never be forgotten.
"A woman told me she began drinking when she was just six years old because her father was abusing her. It eased her pain. It broke my heart because it made me think of my younger sister," Worthington said.
Visiting the elderly was an eye opener for Evelyn De Fauw.
"Just having a conversation with them and hearing all of their wisdom and experiences, that was a highlight for me," De Fauw said. "I sat with a lady who had a stroke. I told her I wanted to be a nurse and we talked about how it's more than just physically looking after someone. It's much more than that."
During the excursions, students continued to be welcomed with open arms.
"They think they need to be different at first, then they realize that these people are just like themselves. They don't need to be careful," Nelson said.
For students at Cedars, the mission adventure is often one that is remembered at graduation and one which students continue to recall for years to come.
For Worthington, it is especially one she will keep close to her heart.
"We can learn so much from them," Worthington said. "These people are so used to being hated and ignored. That's why its so important to love them."
