Hey everyone!
God has brought me some interesting places in my life recently. I have sort of just been following him around. He started brewing a heart for Grand Rapids, MI in me in October. He told me to come, so... long story short, I just arrived here a few days ago! I first stayed at an intentional community called Jesus People USA in Chicago, IL. People live there and reach out the their community. It's been going on since the 70s with the Christian hippies. It was a huge culture shock for me and an incredible example of giving up everything to follow Christ. I really encourage you to learn more about it and would love to tell you more if you ask! Here's the website:
www.jpusa.org
Here's a video with a reflection of my first day there:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZH4tDyEvg0
After that, I took the train to Grand Rapids, MI. I'm staying with an amazing family. They are passionate followers of Christ... young Christian hippies and are also VEGETARIANS! It's so perfect. Jen is a photographer who does documentary photography for really great things. One of her recent projects is taking pictures throughout adoptions. She takes pictures of the birth mom, the baby, the process, the adopting family with the new baby, etc. and compiles it together in an album to give to both the birth and adoptive moms. It's a really great ministry giving each a connection to the other and hopefully some peace in the process. She is also working on documentary photography for the poverty here in Grand Rapids to explain where it comes from and why it is here. Her husband, Rich, is a social worker for homeless and disabled adults. They have three daughters: Lily, Rose and Daisy (And they are all under 4!). That's a picture of them above to the left (minus Daisy, of course, because she is a very recent addition)! I'm sleeping on their couch right now.
I had an interview today at an adult foster home for female adults with mental disabilities as a live-in staff member. The interview went well, but I am not feeling a whole lot of peace about it for various reasons. Jen, Rich, and Amy (Amy is their best friend. She is incredible and I'm actually moving over to their house tonight... which won't be a huge change since they all practically live together anyway!) have been praying that I won't get the job and will have to live with them! Ha. I think they might have something there. They have a God-given dream of starting a community much like Jesus People USA or The Simple Way (in Philadelphia that Shane Claiborne started... who they are pretty good friends with). I am just being flexible with what God is doing because I have learned that I get a good divine slap in the face any time I make plans of my own. This isn't about me. But I do feel like God placed me here with these people for a very good reason and I am drawn to be an aide in this dream of theirs. I have had no choice but to trust God since I left everything at home. It's wonderful. I am discovering really what it means that it is almost impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God and that people (including myself) really can't have any idea what that means unless they give up everything (including familiarity and direction). We don't realize how much God can provide for us. We don't need ANYTHING. As long as we are following Him, He will give us everything we need. Just the other day, I knew I couldn't afford to buy food on the train and I was going to have to miss dinner. But someone at JPUSA (keep in mind, these people have NO money) caught me as I was walking out the door and handed me a bag of food that was all the perfect amount of everything I needed nutrition-wise saying, "Take this, it's cheaper than buying food on the train."
So don't worry about what you will eat or drink. God will provide. And he loves to do it at the last second. It's his way of ripping you out of your own control and self-created security into his loving arms and will. Believe me, it's a much better place to be.
3 comments:
Rae, WOW. WOW. WOW. Amen Sister. Whew! What you are going through right now is so exciting! I encourage to journal it all as you will look back at these days with great joy. It is such an exciting time in your life. There are so many seasons in life, and I pray you will greatly enjoy this one as God shows you how good He is!! My prayer is that during this time that your roots will grow down deep into Him, and this will establish something that will change your entire life.
That is so cute that the 3 daughters are names of flowers! It sounds like you have met some amazing people, I would like to meet them myself!
We will be in Chicago in August and driving up to Green Bay, Wisonsin for a few days also while staying at Zach's home town of Valparaiso Indiana. How far is all of this from where you now live? It would be great to come see you!!!
Love you girl. laura
Thank you for your encouraging words!! I really miss you a lot. It would be so wonderful to see you! Chicago is only about 3 hours driving distance from where I am. I might even be able to take the train or megabus to meet you there if that would be better (even though I would love for you to come here and meet everyone!). Let me know :)) Love you!
Rae!!! I am so sad that I wasn't able to see you before you leave!!! Sorry guys that it has taken me so long to post! I have been so busy with college apps and scholarship CRAP!!! It's driving me up the wall! Plus, on top of the I am at the tail end of gettting all my stuff moved, trying to do well my senior year, have time with my friends, and hanging out with a new guy... (:
Last Thursday I had an audition for a music scholarship for this school in Eugene called NWChristian college! I played two songs that I wrote and a worship song, he said really great things about my voice and about my writing. i was informed yesterday that i got the scholarship, its for a thousand dollars every year which isn't alot but its a start! I have to make a decision between LIFE and NWCC. Its going to be hard, I am going to visit the LIFE campus a week from today for 3days. I am nervous because I dunno if God is going to call me there or not. A big part of me wants to stay here in Oregon and be a big sister, and be able to stay connected with my Audgey poo! Now there is this new boy factor...! But I am going to do what ever God calls me to do! Right now I am leaning more toward Eugene because they have offered me already 5,000 dollars a year in scholarships... so yeah! But my life is really great right now. God is revealing himself to me in so many ways. I feel closer to him than I ever have. But lately I have had trouble praying, I read my bible ALOT! but prayer just hasn't come easliy lately. What do I do about that? I love you guys! You are amazing!
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