Blessings

When the end of the week arrives, it is hard to even know how to sum it all up in one blog post. This is my life for the next ten months, so it sometimes seems strange to talk about it like it's a big deal. But then there are people every day who tell me that this year is a big deal. People seem so amazed at what we're doing here. Why is it so unusual for people to live simply and honestly? Why is it so unusual for people to genuinely love one another? I am realizing that this ideal life is really, really difficult to live out. And it is certainly impossible to live it out perfectly. I've only been here for a month, and already I've learned so much about living intentionally with people. Real, authentic, loving relationships are so hard.

This year is all about relationships. I am living in a house with six other girls. I not only live with these girls, but I also work, cook, shop, clean, and worship with them. We are around each other almost 24/7. It's a good thing we all like each other! But of course conflict arises and we disagree on things from time to time. We were all basically strangers before we moved in together four weeks ago. We have grown close really quickly, but there is still so much unknown. The beautiful thing about living in this kind of community is that we are forced to love each other and to work through conflict immediately when it arises. There is no room to keep things hidden or to ignore problems. We are learning to be real with each other, that none of us are perfect, and that we all have much to offer one another.

Apart from the relationships with my teammates, this year is also about building relationships with people I meet every day. It is amazing how quickly and easily you meet new people when you just look. I have had more interesting and genuine conversations with strangers in the last month than I probably have ever had in my life with similar people. It is shocking to realize how easily we overlook people and opportunities to share life with other human beings on a regular basis. It's amazing how many people I meet just by walking and taking the bus everywhere. I am suddenly forced into relationships, and it's beautiful. So much more rewarding than I ever could have imagined. Like I mentioned above, I am realizing how interconnected all of humanity is. We all have so much to offer to one another. Yet we so easily hide within ourselves, afraid to offer or to receive anything.

I am learning about humility. I am discovering how to let others help me. I am losing hold of my pride in many ways. I am facing uncomfortable truths about how comfortable my life is. Living on $17.50 per week for groceries is a challenge. Seeing the horrible produce available in our local grocery store is saddening. This week I was even hit with the incredible blessing I have in knowing I am deeply loved by so many people. The fact that I can lie in my bed before I fall asleep and read encouraging and sweet letters and cards from family and friends and really know love, this is something that many people don't even get to experience. We are greatly blessed.

Week Two

These days continue to be full, and the weeks are going by slowly. Right now, I'm okay with this. Life is full here, and many exciting things are happening all the time. I am glad for the opportunity to spend the next year of my life here, and I am still eager to see how God will move and work in and around me this year!

This week was busy with real life, starting Saturday in our neighborhood. We've already established a pretty good relationship with one of our neighbors and her children. She invited us to her son's football game Saturday afternoon and even offered all seven of us a ride to the park. We arrived and discovered we were the only white people in a packed park with tons of youth football games going on all day. This was such a beautiful picture of love as this family eagerly welcomed us into their lives and culture. I'm sure we will be present at many more games in the future. The coach made a point to meet all of us, and he said he would give us all t-shirts next week! I think he was serious; community here is so sweet.

On Sunday we attended our church (City of Refuge) for the first time. This was also a really sweet experience. We are able to walk to our church, which is very nice. Everyone was eager to meet and connect with our team when we arrived. The church is very diverse in race, age, and worship style. I'm excited to get involved there this year and to meet many great people. I will keep you all updated with this progression!

Monday marked the first day of work for all of our teams! I went to The Forge for Families Monday through Thursday from 10:30 to 6:30. This week was a lot of training and orientation to what the Forge is and does, and I loved it. The staff that we're working with are really supportive and loving. It feels like a family there. We have been welcomed in eagerly, and that feels great. In the mornings we will be doing a variety of administrative tasks, and in the afternoons we will help with their after-school programs. This week I got to help with the Pre-K/Kindergarten class in the afternoons. I have grown so attached to those kiddos after only four days!

One of the things that has weighed on my hear the most this week is one of the little girls in my class. Kaitlyn is four, and she is in Pre-K at a local school, and comes to the Forge's after-school program.. She is the most precious little girl (she is the tiniest one in the class). She's small and quiet all the time. At first I just thought she was shy, but I'm beginning to be more concerned for her. I have had the chance to help her with her homework this week, and I've discovered that she is unable to recognize her name or to identify letters and numbers. When I spoke with her more, I realized she doesn't know her abc's yet. She has a hard time following directions, and sometimes it seems that she truly doesn't know what is being asked of her. She pesters other kids, but not in the typical way of a bully. My heart breaks for Kaitlyn more and more every day, and I've been praying to be able to break through with love and persistence.

This is just one story of many on my heart this week. The Lord is working in my heart, and I am learning and growing every day. Thank you all for your prayers, love, and support. You all mean so much to me. Continue praying for my week ahead, and be sure to let me know if there are any ways I can be praying for you all.

Until next week. Love to you all.

Becoming a Houstonian

It's incredible that I've been in Houston for 9 days, and with my Mission Year teammates for 7. It feels like a month has passed by since just last week. I have met so many new people who are already a huge part of my life. We have been going through a lot of training for this year that we are entering. I am grateful for the leadership that has been established in Mission Year. My City Directors, Jason and Jenni, have many years of experience in this city, and they truly exemplify what it means to live and love like Jesus. We also were privileged to hear from several Mission Year staff members this week, and it was beautiful to hear their hearts for God's Kingdom and the poor and broken people we all encounter daily in our communities. I have been so encouraged and challenged this week. I feel eager and prepared to begin this year. I'm nervous about the unknown people and circumstances that I will surely encounter, but I am so blessed to have a wonderful community to live and grow with this year.

I found out a few days before I left for Houston that I will be serving at The Forge for Families, right up the street from my new home. We've been meeting there all week for our city-wide orientation, and it's a really nice facility. My team also got to meet with the Forge's volunteer coordinator yesterday morning to discover more of what their mission is and a little bit of what we'll be doing there. I'm pumped. I'll be working there with two of my housemates Monday-Friday from 10:30-6:30. You should check out their website, but I'll just say that this place offers a ton of great programs for people in our community. I'll be helping with some of their after-school programs, and I'm very excited to see what that looks like.

My time in this coffee shop is running out quickly, and I'm not sure if I'll have a chance to get on the internet again today, so I'll share a few prayer requests in the meantime.

Pray:

• for boldness in my neighborhood, that my teammates and I would have confidence in these early days to meet our neighbors and to love them well.
• that I would learn to manage my time here with this new routine and be able to take care of myself in all aspects.
• for unity among my teammates and among all of the teams serving in Houston.
• for safety as we continue to travel around the city and in our neighborhood.

Thanks to everyone who is so supportive of me in every way. I am so eager to share this experience with you all, and I hope you're just as excited to walk with me in this adventure. I will try to update again next Friday when I can use internet!