Joyfully Joutfitted

I just cannot say it enough…I love the people I work with! They are so much fun!

Last Friday we decided to take a trip to Cripple Creek, an old mining town that is now known for its gambling and casinos! I have never gambled before and thought it would be a fun thing to do with my friends before leaving CO!

Of course though, everything is more fun with costumes!!

So before we left, we all headed to the local Arc (similar to Goodwill) and look for the best JOUTFITS we could find. In case you don’t know what a joutfit is…it is an outfit made completely of jean material.

Man, did we find some good stuff. I really cannot believe that these clothes were actually made, actually worn by people before!

We’re a good looking family huh?

Just look at those jumpers, that jouncho (jean pouncho), my dress? Seriously? We look good.

Before heading up to Cripple Creek, we stopped by (of course) Chick-fil-a for dinner. People couldn’t stop starring. It was hilarious!

We finally made it to Cripple Creek’s casinos!! We fit right in there (not!). It was not at all what I expected! It was a lot of fun though! I can see how gambling gets addicting! I played a few slot machines and watched Nik play a table game. I ended up only losing about $12. I thought that was pretty good for a night of super fun!

As we were getting into my car, which I happened to park in front of a local bar, we heard what sounded like karaoke. Well, we were right! and we had no choice except to go inside and participate! There would be no better way to end the evening!

There were approximately 30 people in the bar, mostly locals, a baby, a few guys dressed in pastel polos, and Jesse’s twin.  We were the only ones in joutfits, duh. and everyone stared.

We chose to sing “Sweet Home Colorado.”

I’ll let you enjoy the performance for yourself.

Eggs-tra special eggs

For the family night before Easter, we took the chance to decorate eggs!

 

I kinda thought the kids would hate doing this and complain the whole time, but that wasn’t the case at all. They actually really got into the competition of making your egg look like a staff member. It was really funny to see the results.

I personally think that I should have won, but they said a kid had to win. Oh well!

It was really fun to get to watch the kids be just that, kids. I really loved sitting with them as they played with the different colors, put stickers on their eggs, and laugh.

It’s moments like those that I will carry with me as I leave the DHP. Moments of sweet tenderness of sharing life with these kids.

Foot Hockey

Oh “staff days,” how I will miss thee.

I just love being with my co-workers and doing extreme things.

Even if something isn’t extreme…you can bet that the DHP staff will somehow make it extreme.

For example, a simple game of foot hockey can lead to multiple injuries.

but man, do we have some fun. It always gets competitive and is a matter of life or death. I am happy to announce that I had a couple assists and my team won 2 or the 4 games haha.

Seeds

This past week, Nik, my friend and co-worker did his devotion on Matthew 13:3-8, where the famer is sowing seeds and they are landing on all sorts of ground: rocks, paths where birds ate up the seeds, in dirt scorched by the sun, among thorns, and good soil.

He used this scripture as a basis to demonstrate that we are just like our kids. We just happen to have grown up differently, so our “plant” looks a little different. He was emphasizing that it is not “us” versus “them” but that we are all the same and had our “path” been a little different, we could have been a different plant, or not even have been a plant, but choked out by rape, hunger, abuse, or scorched by neglect, cold, drugs.

I had never really heard that spin on it, but I liked it.

George had a great quote that I thought really helped summarize what Nik was trying to say.

“We’re all beggars just trying to show the other beggars where the bread is.”

Isn’t that a beautiful reminder for us as believers? We are beggars made rich in Christ!!

I also just finished reading Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne. It’s a pretty radical book, but one of those ones that gives me the goose-bumps and challenges me in some unreal ways. (more blogs on this later hopefully)

He had a section in this book about this parable as well. I really loved what he said about it too.

He quotes a German theologian who says “In [Jesus’s] seed parable, he depicts not only the unstoppable growth of the reign of God, but also the frightening smallness and hiddenness of its beginning: still more, he describes the superior power of the opponents who threaten the work of God from beginning to end.”  (like the lives these resident’s have)

He goes on to explain that the power of God is not like a violent, quick revolution that takes over power, but rather it starts small (like a seed), grows silently, faces setbacks (sun, birds, rocky soil, abusive parents, drugs, sex exploitation, jail) but nevertheless permeates the world with love.

Claiborne highlights that this parable is also to encourage people of the Lord to continue sowing seeds. “Sow it everywhere, even when Herod cuts it down, and even when the world’s riches try to choke it. You never know when it will spring up and make great fruit.”

Man. If that isn’t challenging. It’s just not natural for us. We (well, I) face defeat and want to quit. I am quick to give up a hope for change. I am quick to become lazy. I am quick to quit. But no! I need to continue to sow that seed and permeate the world with love.

9 Month Update

These updates seem to get harder to write with each month’s passing.

I don’t know if it is because I don’t want to face the fact that my year here is almost finished, if I have just gotten used to being here, if I am taking less pictures, forgetting more and having a hard time separating the months, or if I am just lazier. Maybe it is a combination!

Well, this past month has been filled with a lot of fun and also a lot of sadness. I’ll talk about the good first

My birthday!

I think this is the first year that I have actually “worked” on my birthday. I take that as a true sign of adulthood. It was a really great birthday too and I am glad I got to celebrate with the residents and my co-workers. I woke up to a breakfast of my favorite foods from Stephanie, a beautiful birthday banner and a visit from this little guy! You may remember him from  here or here. (Ignore how sleepy I look, it had been a long night before, but more on that later)

Then Steph and Kallie surprised me with these incredible and forever to be treasured books. My love language is words and they so kindly put together a book of notes and letters from people I love and care about…one from the residents and my friends here at the Dale House, and another with notes from my friends back home! It was so sweet and thoughtful! I absolutely love it!

 

<----My primary, S, then surprised me with this beautiful flower arrangement that she had designed! It was so special to have something from her that she had worked on for me!

Allan then threw in a HUGE surprise! ---->

I am so excited to go!

 

 

Bowling!

Now, I am not a bowler, which is why I am using this time to brag about my one good roll in all of my 24 years! I got a strike! It really was a highlight of the month!

Timber!

Now, let me paint you the scene. It is April 2nd around 11:30. All the girls, except for my primary, S, are in girl’s residence sleeping. The wind is howling. There is a huge banging noise because a tree keeps slamming against the house. The vent slats keep knocking, and I cannot sleep because it is so scary (and I am like my mother and since my primary wasn’t home, I wasn’t sleeping). My primary was supposed to get off work at 11pm. She called and said she had to stay a little later and could get a ride home. At 1 am, she was still not home, the wind was still brutal, and I was still not sleeping. I decided to call her work. I wasn’t expecting them to answer, but they did and her boss told me she had been done working for a while but was waiting on her ride. I asked to speak to S, and she said she would be leaving in 10 minutes. That would mean she would get home at 1:30. I said okay and tried to close my eyes and rest until she got home.

Well at 2 am I woke up to a terrible BANG. The floor shook and scared me and Stephanie to death.

I got a text message from a resident living in the transition apartments (which are above girl’s residence) that informed me what the unknown BANG was…a HUGE tree that really could have done some damage.He was texting me to make sure we were all alright. Isn’t that nice? The Lord was really watching out for us here. See that little porch? That’s girl’s residence. See the two windows? That is where one girl sleeps. Seriously protection. Thank you Jesus!

The only damage done to the house was this little corner! WOW!

After calming back down a little bit, I then realized that S still wasn’t home. Oh man.

I called her work again to find out that she had left a little bit ago. Around 3 a.m. she finally arrived home. I was so mad, worried, and frustrated but most of all I was just relieved that she was okay and home finally. We’d have a lot to talk about the next day!

The Run-away

One of the hardest parts of working at the DHP is that you invest your life and love into these kids. You really see potential in them and frustration grows out of them not being able to realize their worth and value in the sight of the Lord.

That is how I felt with my primary, S. (the same one as above). She is so fantastic. She is talented and kind.

She also has a terrible life, a struggle with alcohol, sex, and other battles everyday in her mind.

She decided she didn’t want to fight them anymore.

Two Sunday nights ago I got a text message from her mentor asking if I knew what was up with S. I had been sick all weekend with strep throat so I hadn’t really talked to anyone about any of the residents.

I thought she was doing good though.  The week before, we had talked about what she was struggling with and how we could help her. She seemed to be doing better, being honest, and admitting she was struggling…all signs of improvement.

Well, I was wrong.

Later that night, I found out that S had just had enough. She left the house before family night dinner.

I didn’t get to say good-bye. I didn’t get to try to talk her into staying. I didn’t get to tell her that I loved her and didn’t want her to make these decisions. I didn’t get to tell her she was worth more than drugs, alcohol, boys, and these other things that she is a slave too.

I miss her a lot. It’s hard to invest in a kid and then see them leave. She is so fantastic. She is a child of God. I pray I get to see her before I leave the Springs. Please keep her in your thoughts. Pray that she is safe. Pray that she knows she is loved. Pray that she can discover her value and the love of God.

Changes

Last week in Core meeting, we got BIG news. The biggest in 15 years.

One of the most amazingly talented, kind, wonderfully wise permanent staff members is leaving and taking a job at the military base here in the Springs.

She wept as she told us. The training staff was silent. The room really felt stiff.

I was just so shocked. My first thoughts were just complete amazement and disbelief.

How could the DHP go on without her? She helps us out so much here! She really knows the answers to everything and is just so wise and loving in her interactions with the residents. My brother then reminded me that the Lord is in control. He knew this was coming and he has a plan for the DHP. It was a good reminder for me. The DHP is not George’s place, or Kevin’s place or Anne’s place (or other permanent staff’s place). It is THE LORD’s PLACE. I really do feel like this place is a sanctuary for the Lord and He has special concern for it.

It is hard for me to trust Him in situation’s like these, but I know he is faithful.

I am so grateful that I got to work under this amazing woman. I have learned so much and feel like I could watch her and learn for her for years and years. She is talented, blessed, and awesome.

She will be missed.

The Final Month

As I start this last month, I ask for continued prayer:

-that I won’t get lazy and I can finish strong here

-for really holy times with the residents for me to show them how much they mean to me and how they have changed my life.

-for really rich times with my friends here and that we can enjoy each other’s company well

I CANNOT believe how fast this year has gone. I still have so much to learn!!! It is just really amazing to think back to how I got here, how the Lord really provided this year for me, how he has challenged me, grown me, encouraged me, blessed me.

Oh I wish each of you could come here and meet my DHP family.

I leave you with this verse to encourage both you and me in this last month!

Vindicate the weak and fatherless; Do justice to the afflicted and
destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; Deliver them out of the hand of the wicked.
—Psalm 82:3-4

A Challenge

George often recounts a story he heard from a time he saw Henri Nouwen speak before he died. (JEALOUS)

Nouwen asked :

“What do you think it is that God is going to ask you at the pearly gates when you die?

Will it be how many cars did you have? What church did you go to? Were you president of your company?

No, it won’t be these questions.

Rather, God will ask ‘What did you do for the least of these?’”

 

That’s such a challenge for me, especially as I prepare to leave the Dale House, where I live in the midst of “the least.” It’s easy to do something to help when it’s my job, but how can I continue to actively, with my life, do something for “the least” as I leave this job? I am fearful I will become lazy and not seek out injustices or those who need love the most. It will be so easy for me to form a new, easy, simple life, full of school work, Allan, making new friends, getting used to living in a new place, etc., etc.. but I don’t want that to happen. I want my life to be full in the way Christ intended it to be full, and for me, that means seeking out and working with the hurting. I don’t want to forget that.

I truly hope that I will not ever be “comfortable” in my life. That doesn’t mean that I hope discomfort on myself, but it does meant that I hope that I am always bothered by the injustice in our world and pushed to do something to help. I hope that I don’t get comfortable in a middle class lifestyle and forget that there are hungry, cold, lonely kids out there just begging to be loved.

It’s hard in our world to do that, especially for me. It is not what we are taught and it is hard for me to fight the battle against desiring money, beauty, cool gadgets, nice clothes, etc. It will be a fight for me to remember that question, but I hope when I meet Jesus that I can honestly stand in front of him, unashamed and tell him that I did love the least, that I bought him chic-fil-a when he was hungry, that I gave him a coke when he was thirsty, and a shirt when he was naked. I hope I can say that I bought him ice cream on a hot day and played cards with him when he was bored.

That’s the challenge for me, and I think it’s the challenge for all of us too.