Twice a year, a Saskatchewan cattle rancher packs a bag and gets on a flight to Chilliwack.

The visits are no vacation for Khristina who spends time on the streets with homeless and drug-addicted people, many of whom have come to know her well.

Her reason for coming to Chilliwack is to find her son.

害羞草研究所淚 just spend time with him and love on him,害羞草研究所� said Khristina, whose last name The Progress agreed not to use to protect her son.

Khristina said her now-26-year-old son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism in school, where he was bullied because of his disability. Eventually the family got him a service dog, but she said the school system wouldn害羞草研究所檛 allow the dog in school, and finally all the meddling 害羞草研究所渞uined害羞草研究所� the dog.

Her family did battle with the school district, the Saskatchewan government, the human rights commission, but to no avail. Her son became addicted to drugs, and then she decided to sent him to the Chilliwack Men害羞草研究所檚 Centre in Yarrow, a substance recovery program part of Adult & Teen Challenge B.C.

That was 2016, but after he went through the program, he ended up on the streets of Chilliwack.

害羞草研究所淵ou can lead a horse to water but you can害羞草研究所檛 make it drink,害羞草研究所� Khristina told this reporter during a conversation in Salish Park last Wednesday (Jan. 18).

害羞草研究所淣obody wants to be a drug addict.害羞草研究所�

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For a few years, her son would call to check in occasionally but two years ago the calls stopped. So now she comes to Chilliwack, immerses herself in the people she comes to know on the streets, and tries to find her son.

On this most recent visit, she arrived on Jan. 9 and stayed for 10 days. This time, despite him not knowing when his mother would arrive, the two connected right away.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 called divine intervention,害羞草研究所� Khristina said. 害羞草研究所淗e finds me.害羞草研究所�

Spending time with people living on the streets has been very eye-opening for Khristina. She has learned how many individuals addicted to illegal opioids are numbing the pain from various traumas, many of them sexual in nature.

害羞草研究所淪ociety likes to blame these people,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淏ut they just didn害羞草研究所檛 have coping skills. I say to people criticizing them, how many drinks have you had? We are judging these people who, they didn害羞草研究所檛 realize this is where it would end up.害羞草研究所�

Walking the streets and sitting with homeless people, Khristina is undercover in a way, and gets a glimpse into what it feels like to be at the pointy end of public scorn. She also sees the generosity.

Soon after arriving, she said she was over by the bottle depot when someone offered her some cans, which she accepted and passed on. She was also offered a sandwich, and then clothes by another person.

But she also sees the derision heaped upon those who are addicted and unhoused. Mocking words yelled from a vehicle. Police bullying them to move on.

She is particularly angered by the treatment she saw in some local fast-food establishments, and wants people to know about it.

At the McDonald害羞草研究所檚 by the Yale Road overpass, Khristina said the restaurant is divided in half, on one side regular patrons, the other is usually homeless people getting a coffee, taking a break. While sitting on the 害羞草研究所渨rong害羞草研究所� half one day reading a book during her visit, she said she was ordered to leave by a security guard and she was shocked by it.

害羞草研究所淚 don害羞草研究所檛 know what their problem is, it害羞草研究所檚 like segregation, the homeless go this way. And I害羞草研究所檝e watched, the other side of the restaurant doesn害羞草研究所檛 get hassled.害羞草研究所�

Overall she said the treatment of those on the streets is about a 50/50 split between nice and rude.

What Khristina also does during her visits is fill backpacks with toiletries, water bottles, notepads and pens, snacks, some for men, some for women, and she hands them out when she can.

害羞草研究所淚 just meet people where they are at,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 can relate and have empathy because my son is one of them. I害羞草研究所檓 basically doing street ministry. You know when they are ready to hear it. Just being present is important.

害羞草研究所淭hey are somebody害羞草研究所檚 kid. Somebody害羞草研究所檚 father, uncle, brother, grandfather. They are loved.害羞草研究所�

Wearing a 害羞草研究所淛esus is Lord害羞草研究所� pin, talking to The Progress at Salish Park, Khristina was asked what she saw in her son害羞草研究所檚 future.

害羞草研究所滸od only knows. I know the plan for us is hope and a future. I know my son will be clean one day.害羞草研究所�

As for where he happened to be that day, the day before she returned to her rural life in Saskatchewan, she can害羞草研究所檛 call him to ask. And meeting up didn害羞草研究所檛 happen.

害羞草研究所淚 guess I害羞草研究所檓 not meant to see him today,害羞草研究所� Khristina said.

害羞草研究所滻 spent time with him, and that has to be enough.害羞草研究所�

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:
editor@theprogress.com