With a Little Help from My Friends

Saying Goodbye to Living in Vancouver

The living-in-Vancouver chapter of my life is about to end. In a few weeks I will move on with Nathan by my side, marrying him and beginning our lives together. We are excited for this. For now, I type surrounded by haphazardly packed boxes, feeling odd and wondering how to say goodbye to Vancouver amidst all the COVID-19 restrictions.

This Vancouver chapter has been a joyous one for me - one associated with opportunity, enriching Church life, growing up a bit, and good friendships. To quote The Beatles, I can’t help but notice that I’ve enjoyed my time in Vancouver “with a little help from my friends.” I’d like to tell you about them (though admit that this list isn’t exhaustive of people, photos or memories).

Kalea Appelt

At four years old, Kalea is my youngest friend here. Her parents, Bryan & KJ, are good friends too. Kalea will shout “Bethy!” when she sees me, and I always come away from seeing her feeling happier and lighter than before. I enjoy her company, her gentleness, her curiosity, her kindness, her imagination and her cheekiness (“Is that a gift in your bag for me?”). She has offered me the type of friendship I lost in being far from my nephews. I will miss Kalea deeply.

Ainsley Kensall

I worked with Ainsley for my first year in Vancouver and we’ve remained really close since. I’ve stayed at Ainsley’s four different houses during our friendship, including spending one week at her’s during my first month in town (where I shared a bed with her dog…). She’s a friend who spends time together with Nate and I, and she introduced me to her family. I joined Ainsley on a work trip with her Dad, boating to Malibu BC - one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I’ve celebrated all of my birthdays out here with Ainsley, and couldn’t count how many crepe-brunches we’ve had together.

Savannah Koop

For two years Savannah and I lived together and worked together. Savannah was the first friend of mine to meet Nate (spying him out in the early dating days) and was the best housemate whilst I dated. As a local, she welcomed me into her family’s home and into her rich friendship group. Together we road-tripped to Oregon, camped and snowshoed with her friends. Savannah has been a friend who I talk about faith with, and has offered me challenge and conviction when I need it. Most of all, our friendship has been full of fun.

Trixie Ling

Trixie gave me friendship in my Church community. For years she ran our Church’s Community Night Dinner that I keenly attended, and where I got to know Nate. She introduced me to cool breweries all over the city and inspired me to support local businesses. I’ve taken photos for Trixie’s social enterprise, Flavours of Hope, and remain impressed and impacted by Trixie’s gumption to create hospitality and welcome for newcomer women. Trixie took photos of Nate proposing to me, and has been a genuinely equal friend to the both of us.

Georgie Read

As I adjusted to working for YWAM Vancouver without Savannah and Ainsley around, Georgie arrived. We bonded over a plethora of commonalities, such a sustainable living, healthy eating and dating guys away from our families. I’m grateful for our coffee dates, double dates and meals together, chattering in and out of work. I’m also grateful for our Sunday night texts, “Hey, do you need ginger? I bought too much.”

Alex Lopes

Like Trixie, Alex was one of my first friends at Church. Early on I confided in her about dating that-Nathan-guy. As a French citizen who met and married a Canadian, Alex was a well of wisdom for me in navigating dating in a country far from my family. Alex and her husband Jeff are good friends to Nate and I, and we’ve roared with laughter at games nights together. One day, we’ll visit them in their new home in Nice, France.

Book Club

I’ve been part of a monthly Book Club organised by Ainsley as an unsubtle strategy to bring together her friends. It worked. We’ve been in each other’s homes, shared food, shared stories and drank wine together. Book Club has been a special source of friendship and community for me. I really value Brooke, Dali, Emily, Kelsey, Joy and Ainsley.

The Britts

Brittni Arthur and Brittany Nelson invited me into their adventures, often beginning with, “Hey Beth, we’ve borrowed a car!”. With them I went to Seattle and Whistler for the first time. Together we made The Brighton our local pub, discovering that Karaoke night is very loud and that the outdoor seating in Summer really is lovely. I’m grateful for their friendship and banter - “Two Britts and a Brit”.

Joel & Fiona Pel

Joel & Fiona are friends to both Nate and I - we felt welcome into their home. We volunteered alongside Joel and Fiona at Community Night dinner, as well as enjoying games nights, hangs and meals at their place. Nate and I have both been impressed and inspired by the warmth and fun we’ve found in their friendship, and many times I’ve found myself thinking, “I want to be like that…”.

Jisoo & Doug Vis

Jisoo and Doug invited Nate and I into their Small Group at our Church. We’re indebted to them for the sense of community they created for us, as well as for their initiative and all the times they fed us. They are fun!

Sam Kim

I enjoyed working at YWAM Vancouver alongside Sam. He impressed me with his sincerity, kindness and commitment to working well. Nate and I spent a lot of time enjoying Sam’s company - over dinner, over games or in breweries.

Shinae Gorsalitz

Shinae was my original BC tour guide back in 2014 after meeting in Hawaii in 2011. I stayed with her in Abbotsford for a week and was impressed with the beauty of BC, eventually coming back for more than three years. Shinae has stayed close, visited me here, sat in on one of my lectures and cheered me on from afar.

Scott, Jeremy & Katrina

For the most-part of our dating, Nathan lived in a house with Jeremy and Scott, and Jeremy’s girlfriend Katrina as a regular too. I enjoyed spending time with Nate at his house, getting to know these friends of his. They were great housemates for Nate and I to date around. I liked our movie nights and visits to The Drive.

YWAM Vancouver

Last but not least, I’ve found friendship in my day-to-day life working for YWAM Vancouver. Whether it’s been sharing an office with Jonathan (borrowing his books or asking for cooking tips), meeting every week with Jordan (reviewing the weekend and the books we’re reading), chattering at lunch time or bantering with the Leadership Team, I have enjoyed my work because I have enjoyed the people I worked with.