DinoMights.

Today we took the DinoMights to Feed my Starving Children, and then had a "Winter Break Party."

18,000 children die of hunger EACH day. Feed my Starving Children is committed to feeding God's children both hungry in body and spirit. They provide a sense of hope and some sense of sustainability in many places around the world.

Feed my Starving Children

The DinoMights demonstrated their "off the ice" team work skills today as they packaged up meals.

I am the program assistant, helping with the academic aspect of DinoMights.
The mission of DinoMights is "to equip our urban youth to develop physical, academic, social, and spiritual excellence."

DinoMights "hockey in the hood" builds positive long term relationships with adults.
John, who I respect SO MUCH founded the program in 1995 and is now the pastor of Living Stones Covenant church.

Needs.

In High School I remember taking an Introductory Psychology class and learning about Maslow's Hierarchy of needs. At that time in my life I didn't think a whole lot about what each part of Maslow's Hierarchy meant. I see many forms of injustice each day in my neighbor's lives and on a larger global scale. I am struck by the highest part of the triangle: the need for self-actualization.
Many individuals living in poverty are still teetering on the bottom portion of the triangle: having physiological needs met such as nutritious food, adequate shelter and clothing.
Various factors can contribute to the inability to reach beyond physiological needs. Their are wars, famine, and droughts in certain parts of the world. In the U.S. many forms of poverty are systemic. What can be done to break the cycle of injustice...?

I can choose cynicism or I can choose hope....

Their are many influential organizations working beside those who are hungry, homeless, living in poverty, and facing so many other atrocities..
Here are just a few...


Sojourners
Oxfam
Feed My Starving Children
Food for the Hungry
Urban Homeworks
The Simple Way
Mercy Ships
AmeriCorps
PeaceCorps
Christian Community Development Association
International Justice Mission
Heifer Foundation
Doctors Without Borders


God is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, opens eyes that are blind, frees captives from prison, bringing justice to the nations.

Let justice roll down...

Each day brings unexpected situations as I interact with my neighbors.
I have seen families that I love dearly get evicted from their homes, or experience illness within a family member. I've watched my neighbor who is going through dialysis, and is living in poverty continually open up her home to relatives who need a place to stay for various periods of time. I am often humbled through the interactions I have with those around me.

I've learned through many situations what it means to set boundaries, and to take time for myself.



Late this afternoon I took my neighbor who lives below us to a truancy meeting for school. She has missed 10 days that have been deemed "unexcused" since the beginning of the school year. "L" is a 16 year old teenage Mom, trying her best. She gets fantastic grades in school, and is really respectful. The reason she has missed so many days of school is because when her baby gets sick she has to stay home with her. "L's" Mom is going through dialysis three days a week and could not make the meeting at school to discuss her daughters absences.

As we sat in the stale waiting room listening for our names to be called I thought of what my life was like at 16. Nine years ago I was concerned about who was going to ask me to the school dance, if I was going to make the soccer team, and what clothes were in style. Such a contrast from what my neighbor faces each day; if she will have enough money to get her daughter formula, how she will get her homework done while their are four children living in her house under the age of 5, if her own mother will live to see her graduate from High school, and many other situations that plague her.

Finally after sitting around for over an hour, we were called to an "interview room" to meet with a school representative, and social worker .. The social worker was very understanding and we worked out a plan where "L" can take a bus with her baby girl to school. Her daughter will be able to attend daycare at the YWCA across the street from her school.

I am thankful that we didn't have to have an in-depth court hearing, and that "L" could go home today knowing that she has viable options.

Life is so much about our story. I am so grateful the social worker who met with us took time to hear "L's" story . Building trust and lasting relationships takes time and patience. I am thankful that my neighbor felt that she could bring me into this situation that she was dealing with.

Afterwards we picked up her 7 month old daughter and had a late lunch at Perkins.
We shared a meal and were able to laugh, and talk about regular life things and simply enjoy being.

God, I pray for your mercy to fall down on this family .

Thanksgiving...

This posting is actually written by one of my housemates, Sarah:








"Come Lord Jesus be our guest, and turn this food from damned to blessed."
-Latarra age 11

Gratitude, credit, merit, appreciation. So many words exist to express thankfulness. Yet I have a hard time describing the feelings that overtook me last Wednesday. Let me explain. A while back my roommates and I decided to throw a community Thanksgiving meal. It started small; the family downstairs (we live in a UH duplex), maybe a significant other, and ourselves. But I think more than one of us has the spiritual gift of hospitality. For when we tallied the final guest list we realized 25 adults, 4 babies, and a pre-schooler were coming for dinner!! I’ll also note at least 5 people were invited but couldn’t come.

So before all the tryptophan lulls me to sleep, I will indeed count my blessings instead of sheep and share with you all the experience that has left such a big impact on my gut . . . and my soul.

Blessing #1: Generosity of others.
The idea for this meal came when Youthworks, a partner ministry of Urban Homeworks, offered to provide Thanksgiving meals for urban neighbors wanting to invite over those placed in the “have not” category of life.

Blessing #2: Increased generosity of others.
When some folks working at Bethel Seminary got wind of the meal, they chipped in and made homemade pies and side dishes for the feast.

Blessing #3: Beauty
We were very intentional to create a beautiful environment for our guests: white table cloths, candles, fresh cut flowers, and place cards adorned our tables. Beauty spread from the table to the faces of our guests. When you are valued enough to be invited to a beautiful banquet, it says that YOU must be beautiful to have deserved the invite in the first place.

Blessing #4: Diversity
Our guests were a mixed group of Section 8 families, poor high school students, lonely neighbors, and friends.

Blessing #5: Love
There was nothing in the Wassail, but by the end of the night we were jolly enough to clink glasses with our neighbors and embrace one another. Babies were passed around the room, numbers were exchanged between possible mentors and mentees, and a spirit of service and sacrifice led many to stay for hours to help clean. Relationships were formed and strengthened, and God’s Spirit of Love was present.

As I said earlier, words don’t do justice to the true emotion of the night. I remember reflecting on it all as I drove my students home. It was more than a magical Disney feeling, more than just a good time. I know God blesses those who take care of his poor. So maybe the feeling is blessing #6. If so, it’s the best one. It’s been the longest lasting. I don’t have all the right words to describe it, but here are a few: grace, fortitude, peace, hope.

He Agape PART IV

He Agape pt 4.

Love Feast

“In the days of the early Christians, anyone who was a believer would gather to celebrate the Eucharist together. Economic class and station did not matter. What was important was the unifying faith in Jesus Christ. The Eucharist these early Christians celebrated came in two parts: the bread and wine, and a full meal. As the story goes, Christians were charged with bringing an amount of food proportional to their income. How incredible, awe-inspiring, humbling, convicting, knowing that these early believers, so full of passion, were wiping clean the slate of inequity and celebrating their Savior with all who would come. “

Many times throughout my journey of living in the city I have had humbling moments. I have walked beside various individuals and families through immense amounts of both joy and pain. Through it all my passion and heart for the city beats louder, and I begin to see growth within myself and others. I see hope in the child who begins to recognize what their dreams truly are, or in the father who is so proud of their son for getting the “student of the month award” at school. I love the sharing of life stories, and there is not a better place to do that than around a dinner table.

At 3030 Oakland Avenue it has long since been a tradition to host a “Love Feast.” Friends volunteer to bring food, and the word is spread that a community meal will be taking place at our home. This year as a way to begin the evening Cody led everyone into a time of communion. Afterwards, it was time to share in food and fellowship with one another. I have often thought about meals being such a sacred gathering of people. People began loading up their plates with food and found their way to various areas of the house. We had over 60 people in our home, and 32 kids under the age of 12! Laughter was heard throughout the house, and connections began to form between people. It is my hope that the individuals who came into our home that November evening left with a feeling of community and a glimpse of something beautiful.

In Robert Lupton’s book “Theirs is the Kingdom: Celebrating the Gospel in Urban America”, he states “The world is urbanizing. The city is our opportunity firsthand to see how God is doing his creative work in our day. It is both fearful and wonderful, and invitation to death and incomparable life. And it is ours to discover together.”