Cortney Lake's family, friends hold vigils of hope for her return

The family and friends of missing Cortney Lake gathered at three separate vigils forhopeFriday.

Lake, 24, has been missing since June 7 and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary has called her disappearance suspicious.

• 'Worst nightmare': Family of missing Cortney Lake plans vigils, pleads for safe return
• 'Just no answers': Father of missing woman's son pleads for her return
• Disappearance of Cortney Lake, 24, 'suspicious', RNC says

Lake's aunt, Glenda Power, addressed the crowd at the vigil in Mount Pearl, where Lake lives with her mother, on behalf of the family.

"We're falling apart while we're holding each other together," she said.

"The amount of love that has poured out from the community is incredible, it is part of what keeps us together. We get our strength from you."

The other two vigils took place in Marystown, where Lake has many relatives, and St. Lawrence, where Lake's father and brother live.

On Friday, the RNC said investigators have conducted several ground searches around Powers Pond in Mount Pearl and in the areas of Seal Cove andGalway.

"She is precious to us. She is loved. She is missed," Power said.

The RNC said they have received several calls and tips from the public about Lake's disappearance and are encouraging anyone with information to contact themor Crime Stoppers.

A group of women at the vigil sang "This Little Light of Mine" to encourage people to keep the light on a symbolic gesture of hope until Lake returns home.

"Our prayer is that your light will guide Cortney home," Pastor Bruce Newman of Bethesda Pentecostal Church said to the crowd.

Power talked about the support the family has received through social media, in particular from the people who joined the family'sFacebook groupcalled "Help usfind Cortney!"

"They see that Cortney matters. They see that Cortney is our beloved and they want her to come home. And what that tells us a family is that you care. And us knowing that, it strengthens us, it encourages us.Because you know what? There havebeen some really bad days. And every day is hard to get through," she said.

"Every night we're going to bed without her. But then every morning, the sun comes up and there's a new optimism that this will be the day. And there will not be a morning without that optimism until she is back in our arms again."