Is hard!
I feel like things here are moving slowly. That is different from the pace that i most enjoy going at. However, I am constantly learning to be patient. I meet people regularly and have started making conscious efforts to get to know the community that I now live in.
Being here so far has been:
exciting
scary
frustrating
overwhelming
slow
Some things that we are trying to make happen:
1.We are looking to get a karaoke machine. I have been told 4 times by 4 different people that as soon as we get the karaoke set up, all of the people from our neighbor club will be in here. YEAH! So we are looking for the karaoke machine. I am trying to figure out how to get one.
2.We have planned/scheduled story and craft time for kids every Saturday. That will start in October!
3. I am trying to determine how/where i can serve best here.
While I wait for these things to get going, the Lord has been throwing me around a little (when i say a little, I really mean it feels like he is drop kicking me constantly) My thoughts and heart have been challenged in so many way: The roaches, the patience, the sp. warfare, my depravity.
However, in the midst of all those things He has given me people to show me where to focus my attention and to challenge my thoughts and attitudes.
One of the things that increases my affections for the Lord is wrestling with scripture. Right now I am wrestling with Matthew 5 (specifically vs. 38-42) Insight, anyone?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Things I have learned
It is exciting the things that I have learned since being in OK. I have learned these lessons in places that I would never have guessed.
lesson 1: Stop stereotyping
It was my unspoken understanding that people in poorer settings tend to be more democratic. It makes sense because democrats tend to focus more on the individual rather than the large organization. However, in Valley Brook, OK this is not the case. Most of the people that live here are rather anti democratic policy. They tend to prefer watching FOX news and will gladly stand in your face and argue politics if you fall on the more liberal side. It was such an interesting thing for me to see. I guess I need to learn that people really can't be placed in a box.
lesson 2: Insects can teach huge spiritual lessons
I have hated roaches for forever. Mostly because they are just so ugly and nasty and I think the are one of the most demonic creatures. With the house the blessing of a house to live in, came the blessing of thousands of awful demonic creatures. This has been a problem through the course of my stay that is now getting under control. As i was talking with my roommate about how they got as bad as they were, she explained that around 6 months ago, she started to see a few. Before she knew it, she wasn't even able to go in the kitchen anymore there were so many. I started to reflect on the reasons I hate roaches so much and a lesson hit me. Many times in our lives we begin to dabble in sin (whatever that may be). Maybe it is once or twice at first. A lie here, a spiteful word there don't seem like a huge deal. However, one time emerges into a second and a third and before you know it, sin has spread to an uncontrollable level. Like the roaches in the house, you don't realize it until someone comes in and says (me moving into the house) this is out of control. That is when restoration starts. It takes community (jamie and jessi and HGM girls) to help with the problem. However, nothing is going to change unless the root of the problem is addressed. Last night my roommate moved the fridge and stove in order to uncover the colonies living there. After spraying them completely, she will sweep them up and the issue will begin to lessen. Although I hate the problem, the pictures the Lord has allowed us to see in the midst of it is incredible.
These are just the things I have learned in the first week.
lesson 1: Stop stereotyping
It was my unspoken understanding that people in poorer settings tend to be more democratic. It makes sense because democrats tend to focus more on the individual rather than the large organization. However, in Valley Brook, OK this is not the case. Most of the people that live here are rather anti democratic policy. They tend to prefer watching FOX news and will gladly stand in your face and argue politics if you fall on the more liberal side. It was such an interesting thing for me to see. I guess I need to learn that people really can't be placed in a box.
lesson 2: Insects can teach huge spiritual lessons
I have hated roaches for forever. Mostly because they are just so ugly and nasty and I think the are one of the most demonic creatures. With the house the blessing of a house to live in, came the blessing of thousands of awful demonic creatures. This has been a problem through the course of my stay that is now getting under control. As i was talking with my roommate about how they got as bad as they were, she explained that around 6 months ago, she started to see a few. Before she knew it, she wasn't even able to go in the kitchen anymore there were so many. I started to reflect on the reasons I hate roaches so much and a lesson hit me. Many times in our lives we begin to dabble in sin (whatever that may be). Maybe it is once or twice at first. A lie here, a spiteful word there don't seem like a huge deal. However, one time emerges into a second and a third and before you know it, sin has spread to an uncontrollable level. Like the roaches in the house, you don't realize it until someone comes in and says (me moving into the house) this is out of control. That is when restoration starts. It takes community (jamie and jessi and HGM girls) to help with the problem. However, nothing is going to change unless the root of the problem is addressed. Last night my roommate moved the fridge and stove in order to uncover the colonies living there. After spraying them completely, she will sweep them up and the issue will begin to lessen. Although I hate the problem, the pictures the Lord has allowed us to see in the midst of it is incredible.
These are just the things I have learned in the first week.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Strange happenings
This week has been so busy. I almost don't have any time that isn't allocated to some project or responsibility. That is wonderful from one standpoint because boredom was one of my fears coming here. Oh, but that has not been a problem. Boredom has been eradicated from my recent days in peculiar ways:
New experiences filled my days and nights: 1.Slam Poetry. I have maybe heard of this in passing, but in reality, I had no idea what it was. It was the Wednesday night activity of a church youth group. I left feeling motivated and enthralled at the great power of words. How thrilling to see the tongue (such a painful weapon of destruction) being used to motivate and encourage those that heard.
Thursday held some moments where I was scratching my head wondering "really?" A man who started a business to help nonprofits came into the coffee shop. He makes crosses and sells them in the coffee shop. One of the regulars was sitting in the shop talking about Obama's most recent speech. He was livid about Obama's new plan. However, this cross maker said that people just need to prioritize their finances. this is how the conversation went:
Regular: Tell me this who does the idea of having to have car insurance hurt?
Cross-maker: No one
R: Are you kidding me, a single mother has to feed her kids so she has to have enough money for gas and food to feed them, but if she is having to pay insurance she isn't able to feed her children. She gets stopped by police gets a ticket for no insurance and then can't pay anything else. Her car gets taken away and she has no way of working to feed her family.
CM: She just shouldn't drive then
R: She has to go to a job and to the store and to school.
CM: She has feet doesn't she?
R: Are you kidding me. Is anyone able to get a job these days? The jobs in walking distance are in the clubs.
CM: Silence
Jamie and I (thinking): really, are you serious. Do you ever take a second from your sheltered life with your wife being the worker to look at others in this world?
The conversation was way more heated and longer than that, but that was the main part. If the regular hadn't been here, i would have had a hard time not telling this guy off as well. The ignorance of this man made me so sick.
Thursday I also got to experience HGM's girls night. What a fun gab fest that turned into, surprisingly, I sat back in silence in order to soak it all in. On the foggy drive home, I hit a brick or a curb so hard that it tore two holes in my brand new tire's wall.
I walked to work friday morning to have enough time to play skipbo and talk with the regulars. Shortly after, Jamie came with her daughter and we journeyed home to attack the kitchen. With rain boots and big yellow gloves i was prepped to handle the thing that i hated so much: Roaches. Around 30 secs into our quest, I was done. It was at that point that Jessi opened a drawer and what can only be described as a herd of roaches ran out. I turned and walked straight into the living room. I chose to do work on the carpets instead. Jamie and Jessi quickly discovered the tribes of roaches and they did their best to gather courage and handle the situation. This was far worse than I have ever experienced. However, I honestly think this challenge is good for me.
Like John had said to me, it is easy for people to talk about helping and serving the poor. Rarely is it seen someone who can live like and with the poor. Although i would consider the house i live in to be on the up end of the neighborhood, i am definitely experiencing the "bug of choice."
On a different note: Jamie and I are in brainstorm mode trying to figure out how to go about getting into the clubs. As of now, our idea is to get woman-friendly gifts. Pray for our journey and the way to be completely paved.
New experiences filled my days and nights: 1.Slam Poetry. I have maybe heard of this in passing, but in reality, I had no idea what it was. It was the Wednesday night activity of a church youth group. I left feeling motivated and enthralled at the great power of words. How thrilling to see the tongue (such a painful weapon of destruction) being used to motivate and encourage those that heard.
Thursday held some moments where I was scratching my head wondering "really?" A man who started a business to help nonprofits came into the coffee shop. He makes crosses and sells them in the coffee shop. One of the regulars was sitting in the shop talking about Obama's most recent speech. He was livid about Obama's new plan. However, this cross maker said that people just need to prioritize their finances. this is how the conversation went:
Regular: Tell me this who does the idea of having to have car insurance hurt?
Cross-maker: No one
R: Are you kidding me, a single mother has to feed her kids so she has to have enough money for gas and food to feed them, but if she is having to pay insurance she isn't able to feed her children. She gets stopped by police gets a ticket for no insurance and then can't pay anything else. Her car gets taken away and she has no way of working to feed her family.
CM: She just shouldn't drive then
R: She has to go to a job and to the store and to school.
CM: She has feet doesn't she?
R: Are you kidding me. Is anyone able to get a job these days? The jobs in walking distance are in the clubs.
CM: Silence
Jamie and I (thinking): really, are you serious. Do you ever take a second from your sheltered life with your wife being the worker to look at others in this world?
The conversation was way more heated and longer than that, but that was the main part. If the regular hadn't been here, i would have had a hard time not telling this guy off as well. The ignorance of this man made me so sick.
Thursday I also got to experience HGM's girls night. What a fun gab fest that turned into, surprisingly, I sat back in silence in order to soak it all in. On the foggy drive home, I hit a brick or a curb so hard that it tore two holes in my brand new tire's wall.
I walked to work friday morning to have enough time to play skipbo and talk with the regulars. Shortly after, Jamie came with her daughter and we journeyed home to attack the kitchen. With rain boots and big yellow gloves i was prepped to handle the thing that i hated so much: Roaches. Around 30 secs into our quest, I was done. It was at that point that Jessi opened a drawer and what can only be described as a herd of roaches ran out. I turned and walked straight into the living room. I chose to do work on the carpets instead. Jamie and Jessi quickly discovered the tribes of roaches and they did their best to gather courage and handle the situation. This was far worse than I have ever experienced. However, I honestly think this challenge is good for me.
Like John had said to me, it is easy for people to talk about helping and serving the poor. Rarely is it seen someone who can live like and with the poor. Although i would consider the house i live in to be on the up end of the neighborhood, i am definitely experiencing the "bug of choice."
On a different note: Jamie and I are in brainstorm mode trying to figure out how to go about getting into the clubs. As of now, our idea is to get woman-friendly gifts. Pray for our journey and the way to be completely paved.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
In the Brook...Valley Brook
I have now officially been here for three days. It has been an experience already in many ways.
Some of you may recall a post that I made a few months ago about my disdain for roaches. Well can I just say that has already been a huge test for me here. The little house that I have been blessed to live in has an abundance of...yes, you guessed it, roaches. Let me just explain the extent: It was around 10 pm and my roomie and I were sitting in the living room. We stepped one foot in the kitchen (which is pretty dirty, that might explain things) and every spot on the floor began to scurry, quickly, away. I can say that I don't enjoy any moving spots, but this was way worse knowing what these moving spots are. Needless to say, I haven't felt like eating any of the food that I bought yet. It is just the feeling of it all that stresses me out.
It is more than likely a head game, but even that has been difficult to control. I haven't slept through the night yet. I woke up yesterday morning and I heard this heavy air being circulated. Because it was hot in the room, i went and stood by the floor vent thinking this would cool me down. I was dumbfounded when I walked to the vent and felt nothing. I messed with the lever and nothing helped. Then I stood up and realized it was my unintentional heavy breathing that was making the sound. (this might seem very dumb, but i think the lack of sleep was a huge factor in the inability to realize what was going on).
Aside from the roaches, everything has been awesome. My days have been quite busy. I am having the opportunity to participate with the Heart of God bootcamp students with this weeks class on handling people in poverty.
Monday: Move in and go to class and then go to Josiah's (Jamie's son) first freshman football game.
Tuesday: Spend the morning getting my room set up. Class and then journey to an apt. complex with many refugees.
Wednesday: Opened coffee shop and had down time to get online.
So far my schedule has worked day to day. Nothing is set in stone yet, but it has been good, really good thus far. We are working on the relationships with the clubs. We have had some opportunities to help.
There have been things that are discouraging, but in a completely different way they have encouraged me.
I will try to add pictures soon.
Some of you may recall a post that I made a few months ago about my disdain for roaches. Well can I just say that has already been a huge test for me here. The little house that I have been blessed to live in has an abundance of...yes, you guessed it, roaches. Let me just explain the extent: It was around 10 pm and my roomie and I were sitting in the living room. We stepped one foot in the kitchen (which is pretty dirty, that might explain things) and every spot on the floor began to scurry, quickly, away. I can say that I don't enjoy any moving spots, but this was way worse knowing what these moving spots are. Needless to say, I haven't felt like eating any of the food that I bought yet. It is just the feeling of it all that stresses me out.
It is more than likely a head game, but even that has been difficult to control. I haven't slept through the night yet. I woke up yesterday morning and I heard this heavy air being circulated. Because it was hot in the room, i went and stood by the floor vent thinking this would cool me down. I was dumbfounded when I walked to the vent and felt nothing. I messed with the lever and nothing helped. Then I stood up and realized it was my unintentional heavy breathing that was making the sound. (this might seem very dumb, but i think the lack of sleep was a huge factor in the inability to realize what was going on).
Aside from the roaches, everything has been awesome. My days have been quite busy. I am having the opportunity to participate with the Heart of God bootcamp students with this weeks class on handling people in poverty.
Monday: Move in and go to class and then go to Josiah's (Jamie's son) first freshman football game.
Tuesday: Spend the morning getting my room set up. Class and then journey to an apt. complex with many refugees.
Wednesday: Opened coffee shop and had down time to get online.
So far my schedule has worked day to day. Nothing is set in stone yet, but it has been good, really good thus far. We are working on the relationships with the clubs. We have had some opportunities to help.
There have been things that are discouraging, but in a completely different way they have encouraged me.
I will try to add pictures soon.
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