Habi-nings, Community Life, and Trip to Mexico

A much needed update is in store, as I have not written a blog since February!!  We have been quite busy, so here is my best attempt to catch up without writing a book in this post.

Shortly after Easter, Karl and I decided that we will be moving to Decatur, GA after this YAV year.  Karl applied for seminary at McCormick (Chicago), San Francisco and Columbia (Decatur) and got into all three of those choices.  That meant that we had some decision making to do, and after weighing a lot of pros and cons and speaking with numerous people from those areas, we settled on Columbia.  Between the faculty at Columbia, friends living there, "small town" feel of the city, and the job prospects for me, Decatur seemed like a great fit.

Working at Habitat has been absolutely perfect for me, and I think that I have found my vocational call through this organization.  I love the mission of Habitat and love that I can use my critical thinking and problem solving skills while working in a relational, human services environment.  I have started pursuing some different positions with Habitat affiliates in the Atlanta area, and hopefully I will be able to find a good fit for next year.

Habitat Photo Shoot

Work has been great over the past few months.  I have been keeping busy with a number of special "A Brush with Kindness" build days.  We most recently hosted 425 Home Depot Volunteers for a huge neighborhood improvement day.  In the course of 6 hours, we worked with 4 families to clean their yards and paint their homes, we framed 2 new construction houses, built roof trusses for 2 new homes, cleaned up common spaces in the neighborhood, abated graffiti, finished the last details of a new home and dedicated it to a family.

Besides "Habilife," things are going really well with our community and house life.  Our backyard continues to keep us busy with fun projects, thanks to the initiative of Karl and his creativity and determination.  Our chickens are doing well, supplying us with about 60 eggs a week, our gardens are starting to spring up and will hopefully be yielding fruit soon, and we have purchased the  materials to build an outdoor shower.  Not only is the physical state of our house flourishing, our community life is blossoming too.  We are in the middle of a book study, reading "The Heart of Christianity", which has resulted in deep, enriching discussions about our thoughts on God, Christ, the Bible and what they mean to us as individuals and as part of the greater body of Christianity.  If you haven't read the book, I highly recommend it!

Habi-crew at our new office!

Promoting Habitat for Humanity Tucson on Facebook

Home Depot Volunteers

Lastly, I want to share about an experience Karl and I had this past weekend.  We traveled to Douglas, AZ and Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico last weekend to learn about Frontera de Cristo, a borderlands ministry sponsored by the PC(USA) church.  Frontera de Cristo works with partner organizations in both the US and Mexico to offer support in six areas  of ministry:  Church Development, Health Ministry, Family Ministry, the New Hope Community Center, Mission Education and the Just Trade Center.

During our time at the border, the director of Frontera de Cristo took us along the wall running for about 10 miles, dividing the towns of Douglas, AZ and Agua Prieta, Sonora.  When we were standing there looking at the elaborate system of trenching, barbed wire, and 18 foot long bollards, my mind was racing as I felt an onslaught of emotions - confusion, anger, sadness, perplexity, shock, woefulness.  As we stood on one side of the wall, we were literally fifteen feet away from homes on both side of the border.  This community that used to coexist, has now been divided by a dreadful eyesore and symbol of animosity.

I understand that the "problem" of immigration is very complex and that there are many layers to its solution.  One thing I do know though is that we, meaning Mexicans and Americans, are not that different when you look at the human side of things.  Yes, we may have learned a different language as a child, were born in a different medical center, went to different schools, ate different food or shopped at different stores.  But a hug feels the same, whether it is from someone who speaks Spanish or English, and tears come from the same place, laughter is still contagious, hearts still ache with pain and love still carries on.  My eyes and heart were opened to the hurt that is experienced at the borders of our country this weekend, and I hope that as I continue living daily life, removed from those locations, that I do not forget those feelings I felt and continue to hold those people and places in my heart and prayers.