"Your love never fails, it never gives up. It never runs out on me."
Somehow, God never gets tired. He never gets tired of revealing His truth to us or breaking our rhythms to make a way for His plans. He never, ever gets tired of loving us. He does everything, sees everything, knows everything… and yet He never says, “Can you leave me alone for just like two hours? I really need a nap. It’s been a long day.” But here I am, desperate for a nap after being awake for twelve hours. Yet God has created the universe, made us all in His image, loved each of us more than we can begin to imagine, and continues to work in our lives, and He hasn’t even yawned.
God is at work here in Chicago. Even though gunshots and sirens are the soundtrack of so many lives, and fatherlessness is not unusual, and the nearly constant smell of trash and marijuana is not even startling anymore, God is working and revealing Himself in a lot of beautiful things in the midst of Chicago's craziness. The Firehouse is a prime example.
The Firehouse, led by Pastor Phil Jackson, invites youth and young adults to participate in DJ, dance, fashion, poetry, and culinary classes, as well as bible studies and worship/open mic nights, instead of spending their time on the streets. They fully embrace and embody A.R.T, art for redemptive transformation, and they have seen what art can do for people (hint: the results can be pretty amazing!) Below is a picture in The Firehouse, encouraging youth to "Go out and do something great today!" While The Firehouse doesn't necessary look like a typical house of God on the outside, God sure is working inside those painted walls and inside the hearts of everyone who enters that building, and I'm sure it isn't easy. Well, it wouldn't be for us. Luckily, our God is mighty and powerful and tireless.
God is also at work on a smaller scale. I've watched God work in my housemates and my students at work, I've seen it from afar in friends from home, and I've felt His work in myself.
Although I have enjoyed my time with my 1st-3rd grade students at work, and I have learned so much about teaching in general, I think God is calling me to teach older students. Students who have a lot to deal with, and who are really starting to become their own unique individuals with all different stories. God is also at work in my passions, in what gives me life or what starts fires within me. Being in the segregated, violent neighborhood I am in and witnessing the effects and possible consequences of this years presidential election has made me realize that God has given me a heart for people and a growing passion for social justice. Along with a love for music, theatre, and the Spanish language, I think these things are what I am supposed to do, love, and learn about throughout my life. God has used my first three months in Chicago to begin to truly reveal who He has called me to be and what He has called me to do.
For the next seven months, He has called me to be here. He has called me to be in Chicago, with Mission Year, spending my weekdays at Erie Neighborhood House and my weekends meeting and loving neighbors and living in community with my team. He has called me to get outside my comfort zone, to love others in ways I might not be used to, and to put in a very small fraction of the work He is doing here.
And guys, He is doing so much work. He is making disciples, He is breaking rhythms, He is making beautiful things out of the dust in Chicago. And I can't wait to watch Him continue His work over the next seven months. Though there will be times when I get tired of the violence, tired of the noise, tired of my crazy students and of living in community, He will never grow weary. He will never even think of sitting down to rest. What a mighty God we serve!Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom.
Isaiah 40:28
One Thursday night, my team and I attended an event that we were all "too tired" for. After a long week, Thursday nights are normally needed rest time. But this Thursday was different, and we weren't exactly thrilled to have a mandatory event.We hopped on the bus and traveled almost an hour to attend a rally for Laquan McDonald, a 17-year-old who was wrongfully murdered by Chicago Police Officer James Van Dyke. The rally marked the anniversary of his death. Like many of the murders we hear about today, Laquan was doing absolutely nothing wrong. He, ultimately, was murdered for simply being black. For simplybeing. The rally was very moving and motivational for me, and ended up being an experience I will not forget. Being one of maybe 30 white people in a crowd of about 150 people total was eye-opening, and strengthened my desire for all people to desire and fight for justice for the oppressed. To ditch this too-comfortable, stagnant lifestyle we are so used to and to get our hands dirty, to enter into violence, injustice, and heartache, and to fight. At the rally, family members of multiple murdered young men and women shared their experiences and heartbreak. The pain they so visibly felt made a home in my heart as well, and their cries for safety, peace, and justice replayed in my head for days after. It reminded me that it is not enough to sit back and watch them beg for these things- we should be fighting, begging, hurting alongside them. As one speaker at the rally said, "There are no barriers when it comes to justice." We do not deserve more justice than people of color. We do not deserve more power, more safety, more love than those brothers and sisters. But since we have more of these things, why would we not use them to help those who do not? Listen to the cries for justice. Don't just hear them, really listen. Remember that our lives are not more valuable than anyone else's, but at this point in our country, some lives are in danger. Some need protection, safety, love more than others. They so badly need justice. Look into Laquan's Law. I hope you support it, and vocalize how it makes you feel. Help change Chicago by putting new people, people who value all lives, in power. Someone who will give everyone an equal chance. Someone who will actually listen to those cries for justice and respond.
I can't believe October is halfway over- we're almost two months in! These last two months have gone quickly, but you know what they say- time flies when you're having fun. And it's hard not to have fun with a team like mine!
With only five of us, it's easy for all of us to be close and form solid friendships with each other. In the short seven weeks that I've known my teammates, I've learned so much about them, the world, and even myself. Let me tell you a little bit about my teammates so you know some things about the people I call family here in Chicago.
First we have Abi, who at 18 is the youngest, but also the most motherly. She is from Indianapolis, IN. Abi works at Lawndale Christian Health Center, and helps out with a Sunday School class at church. She loves kids and has the most contagious laugh, and is probably the most visually artistic one of us.
Then we have Andrew, who is 20 and from Seattle. Andrew also works at LCHC in the Marketing department. He also loves kids and has an incredible talent and passion for music, style, and justice. The way he sees the world continues to inspire me every day.
Next we have Sterling, who will be 22 in just a week! He's from "The greatest city on Earth...City of fountains...home of the 2015 world champion Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs...Go Chiefs." Sterling works at YMEN, or Young Mens Educational Network. He is an amazing chef and Trivial Pursuit champ.
Last but not least, we have our team leader, Victoria. Victoria is 24 and from Santa Cruz. She also works at LCHC, doing social work in the maternal health department. Her passion for social justice and Christian-based community development is motivational to me. We have connected over musicals and we often have the same random thoughts.
Every team member has a different personality type, making every day conversations, decisions, and challenges interesting, but I wouldn't trade my team for anything... (Okay, maybe sometimes I would but you get it.)
Now that I've mentioned where my team is working, I realize not many people know where I'm working! I work at Erie Neighborhood House here in Little Village. In the mornings I do a lot of data entry and research, but soon I'll be teaching a conversation class with the ESL students once a week. Once school lets out, I help with a program called READS, which helps first-third graders with literacy skills. I work in the computer lab, and I am so blessed by my time with the kids!
