My first 3 Weeks in Canada...Some reflections

I am in Canada now. The House that i live in is located in the downtown East Side(DTES) of Vancouver. There are about 12 people who stay here as well. I say about because some nights people from the street sleep on the couch and at a few point there have been people who are getting ready to go into rehab programs a need a place to stay until they can get in so they are not out on the streets. Then there are the visitors who come by and there is rarely a dinner meal that has been less than 15 people around the table. The door is in constant motion and it is great...
The Image that is used to remind us how to balance our daily life is the picture of a wheel. The inside is the time for Solitude and reflection--time to rest with God and gain his strength and insight for the rest--It is the center, the hub in which all else is held together.
And then there is the spokes which are the time spent in the community and reaching out. With out a strong community the practice and use of the wheel is weak and easily broken each part needing to bear a part of the load.
The outer rim is ministry where life hits the road and gets involved with the world around. The action and getting out into the community we are surrounded by.
This is how we are encouraged to spend our days... a time with God, time with community, and time with our neighbours. I spent the first three weeks mostly exploring the streets and the new surrounding i have found myself in. I at first was amazed at how much there was around here with the outreaches and people trying to help. It seemed as if there was a different organization on every corner, then i learned that the reason why it is so thick in this part is that there is very little help elsewhere and so the DTES has become like a section quarantined for the lepers and fatally ill. People don't want to be bothered by it so they have shoved it into one area where they can ignore the problems, yet for the people here it becomes increasingly difficult to get out because they are continually rejected elsewhere. There is one thing that i have noticed while being here so far, and that is the community that is built up here on the streets. The People know they need each other to survive. This reminds me of something i had read from Dietrich Bonhoeffer (Paraphrasing the basics because i cannot find the exact quote at the moment...) when we cling to the community we will inevitably chock the life out of the very community we profess to love and need, but the community that is centered on Christ will be able to live and thrive being willing to sacrifice so that the community may live.
This is the community that is found down there, yet you don't get much better from the organizations that are trying to go about systematically giving help to those who need it, missing the relationship that is necessary to a whole restoration both body and soul.
In some of my down time i have been reading a book called "there's is The Kingdom" by Robert D. Lupton, and this story is something that i have had some good reflection on:
(This is kind of long and the last part of this post so enjoy pondering when you have time.)


"It was front-page news, the biggest happening to hit town in recent memory. Rev.Jarius, the distinguished pastor of Capernaum First Church, actually had fallen on his knees in the dust before an uneducated Galilean teacher, begging. a parent, even a dignified one, will do desperate things when his child is dying. Rev. Jarius publicly humbled himself, pleading for the life of his daughter. And the Teacher agreed to heal her. This was no small event.
The crowds surged toward the Jarius home as people pushed and shoved to get a decent spot to view this spectacle. Suddenly the Teacher halted in the middle of the road. Turning around, he asked: 'who toughed my clothes?' An absurd question when the masses are pressing in hard upon you.
But the Teacher persisted. 'Someone has touched me.' It was not the ordinary jostling of crowds. It was an intentional pull on his robe, an insistent tug. He had felt this touch a thousand times before from people who wanted something from him. Someone had grabbed his garment, intruded upon him and he felt the drain. 'Virtue has gone out of me.' He said.
(--Master i know the feeling. When i am on my way to meet an important person and a homeless person grabs my arm, insisting on talking to me right then with no concern for my time, no consideration for the harm that might be caused by delay, it drains my energy. Care and compassion leave me. Impatience and irritation rush in. I want to respond with a quick hand out or some equally demeaning put-off.)
It was a poor person of course, who emerged trembling from the crowd. A woman with an incurable bleeding sore. A social outcast, impatient, clutching. She wanted a fix, and she got it by grabbing onto Jesus. He felt the drain. The woman was cured but Jesus lost virtue--perhaps a decline of his compassion or a twinge of impatience. Whatever, it was a clear signal to him that he must stop immediately regardless of the gravity of the situation at Jarius home. Cure without personal care was not the Father's way. He must not go on.
(But master, shouldn't i honor the commitments I've made to others? I need to respect their time. If i allow the urgent intrusions of poor people to control my schedule, I'll become known as irresponsible and undependable. I must maintain my priorities. Isn't that right?)
She knelt before him, Healed but not heard. Then the teacher listened. The woman's story was one of misery, alienation, and desperation. It was a story that toughed the Teacher's heart. Too long a story for the anxious disciples. Horribly long for the Jarius family. But there was no rushing the woman. No expediting, no referring.
The Teacher listened attentively until the woman knew she was understood and cared for deeply. Only then he spoke. He affirmed the woman as a person of deep faith. He proclaimed that it was Her faith--not some magical power in his robe--that healed her. His words brought wholeness to her wounded spirit, healing far deeper than a physical cure. Then the Teacher, full of virtue, continued on to the Jarius home.
But it was too late. The worst already had happened. A runner broke through the crowd bearing the tragic news. 'The child just died.' Rev. Jarius was stunned. The disciples were outraged. The crowd began to murmur, 'if only...ifonly.'
(I understand, Master, why it is important to personally care for the needy ones. But it seems unwise to lose such an important opportunity. Maybe I've helped a homeless family find food and lodging, but I've had to cancel an appointment with a busy person whose influence could do a great deal for the poor. What if i can't reschedule the appointment? What if a greater harm has been done?
But the Teacher was calm. He wasn't affected by the outcry. Although the bleeding woman was not on his planned itinerary, he did not rationalize giving a quick cure just because his day was a busy one. He did things the Father's way. He knew that whatever coincidences now had to be orchestrated, whatever supernatural events arranged or perceptions altered, the Father would attend to these details.
'Don't lose faith,' he encouraged the grief stricken and morally outraged. 'She isn't really dead.' Some jeered. The mourners wailed. They ad seen the dead girl, and they knew that an opportunity was forever lost. But the few who believed that one can never lose by doing things the Father's way were invited into the child's bedroom for a behind the scene glimpse of an invisible reality. One of the men there learned the lesson and said it again for us in a letter: 'Make every effort to add to your faith virtue"(2Peter 1:5)

I am In Iowa again...(I love circles!)

Well plans never cease to change...the week with my mom turned into a little more than two weeks of unpacking boxes and setting up house in her new apartmentin Longbeach California, and now i am back in Iowa to pick up my belongings that i left behind and then head back out.
We arrive in the evening at mom's apartment on Tuesday night and about an hour after we were there a seventeen year old boy got shot in a drive by right next to my mom's house. I learned that night that my mother had never heard gun shots before...and she learned that i had. We had several talks over the next couple of weeks about how to live where she lives, levels of safety, what is just being caucious and what is settingn up barricades to ministry. to what can she do and what does she feel comfortable doing. I saw a new side of my mom that week that i had not seen before. Please pray for my mom's neighbours as they greive the loss of a friend, and please keep my mom in your prayers as she learns where and how to be the hands and feet of Jesus in her new surroundings.

More plans have changed since i have come back too Orange City, Iowa. I was planning on just a few days and then hopping my 1969 VW Bug with my belongings piled inside and heading back out. But the Bug that was in the shop while i was gone ended up not being fixed by the time i got back (more than 6weeks later) because the mechanic thinks that the bug will not make the trip without some other work done with the engine. So i finally came to the hard decision of selling the bug and heading out without the beloved Bluebug. So almost a week later i am still here in Iowa getting the details squared away.

There are no regrets though; the time back here in Iowa has been wonderful and i relize just how much i will miss it here. And the future days ahead are breight...I am looking forward to meeting up with the Servants team in Vancouver, BC on October 1st, and a good friends wedding on September 26 (woohoo Kevin!)

Looking forward to new adventures and new plans changing, catch ya later!

So Much Can Happen in a few Days Time

The most beautiful 360 degree View and "relaxation" by a lake with Rock formations and forests surrounding it the wonderful company of a beloved sister, her family and my dear Daddy; that was how i spent my time for the past 6 days--completely oblivious to the world around us we were able to enjoy God's creation, some deep honest conversations, and some really good family time as well. My nephew William hiked the whole way with us which i thought was rather impressive since we went more than 17miles and he is only 3 (almost 4yrs). I will post some pictures once i figure out how (sorry for my lack of technology)
We were in the Serra National Forest (Ansel Adams Wilderness) at a lake called Lillian Lake. We camped at about 8868ft elevation and daddy and i hiked up a peak that was 10000 at least. Most gorgeous view from up there.

When we returned back to the world on Monday (Aug. 11) we got the message that My Sister Christine had her baby on Sunday night August 10. William Raymond Lewis was born 8lbs and 21 inches. Cutest little thing! --i mean baby not thing... anyway. we brought Christine and William home from the hospital today and they are taking a nap as i type. My mom is coming up Thursday to spend the weekend here with her and then mom and i will spend the next week together.

The time with my family and the time in the wilderness has been a continual learning experience and revealing who i am in Him. Thank you for your prayers.
Grace and Peace to you all.

O Baby Where art Thou?

STILL Waiting..........

The baby is still in the cooker and everyone is waiting expectantly
when my sister laughed really hard today Bill (the father to be) was ready to toss her into the car and head to the hospital.

But we are enjoying the time together until the time comes, like today Christine, Bill and i went golfing (it was the first time for Christine and i)...i have decided not to become a pro-golfer, scoring a whopping 65 on a small course with a par of 27. but it was a ton of fun.

When i visited my dad we spent a couple days lost in the world of art, imagination and spiritual talk, and then went for a leisurely day of hiking ....

...A tip (that the wise already Know); Bring WATER on a hike!

So we pick our trail and are looking for a bit of exercise and after the first half hour of going up,up, up; we come to the top of a ridge. Feeling pretty confident about picking a good trail, (Laughing off the "WARNING" sign just a few yards down the ridge) we merrily plunge down the other side, naming and singing silly songs as we go, down, down, down, down, down, down......Still going DOWN. Going down hill when you are on a loop trail means only one thing--at some point you will go back up!

On our 4 hour hike we forgot our water bottles in the car; The trail ended up being either straight up or straight down the whole way....we like to think that if we had brought water with us it would not have been hard at all...(truth is we are out of shape according to my aching calf muscles.)

It really has been a blessing being able to spend some quality time here in California with my family and sharing with them more about what lays ahead while enjoying now with them. I also have now finished reading the 3 of the books that i brought with me and now need to write some reflections on what i read for the training...i feel like i am back in school trying to decide which paper to write first...

THank you all for your prayers of safe travel and good family time.

O, Sweet Bus trips...

After starting a bus ride on Wednesday afternoon i have now arrived in Modesto California!
My sister is definitely ready to have a baby any day now, but he knew to wait until his Auntie ruth was around to appear.
I was dropped off at the bus depot in Sioux City on Wednesday in the early afternoon and bought my tickets (thanks again for the ride...and for pointing out the art center that was near by). I willingly waited the couple more hours for the bus at the Art center about a block away...i could not have wanted a better place to wait for the bus.
The bus ride was full of fascinating people (some were really hilarious). It is amazing what a few days (and for some a week) of travel can do to people. To make this shorter i will give a list of some highlights:
*a half a day of no air conditioning
*the life story of 15 people
*a bus that shuts the engine off periodically from Denver, Colorado to Salt Lake City, Utah (i lost count at 13 times) a guy with great leadership skills (though he could have lead in more positive directions) who got half the bus blaming the bus driver for the traffic and for the bus breaking down...which of course lead the way for a very sarcastic bus driver as we rode on; who would periodically throw up his hands and say "that was it, he was going to call for a new bus and driver"....and the hilarious theatrical lasted for at least 5 hours!
*A guy who can talk about his cell phone for 2 1/2 hours (really i did not know there was so much one could say about a cell phone)
*and of course the token male who wanted to impress me by crushing a can with his bear hands...
*an accident that blocked the pass we were on through the Rockies so that the bus turned around after waiting more than an hour, we took a detour that lasted 3 hours longer. As we passed by Lake Tahoe and all the resorts and golf courses there was a lot of jeering at the people who would spend time and money in such a place like that for such a cost, all the while knowing what was really meant was that each person was wishing that was them instead of the circumstances that lead them to be on that bus at that time. (my mind probably pondered this fact more deeply as i read my book that was talking, in the chapter i was on, about how the rich spend ...)

Other than that i had a lot of sleep and almost finished my book (about fifty pages short). Riding the bus was more amusing than i remembered it being. i must give Kudos to the dude that sat next to me one of the nights. He had gotten so fed up with the cramped sleeping situations in the seats he climbed up into the open overhead luggage compartments and spread out up there for more than a couple of hours...ingenious! i just wish he had woken me up so i knew i could spread out on the seats too instead of having my bag under my feet hugging the window at my side trying not to roll over on the man who was NOT beside me!

I look forward to this time with my family. Thanks for your prayers as i traveled here to California!

Departure Day

"And now, O Lord, for what do i wait?.." Psalm 39:7

Well the plan was to leave today or tomorrow...but that doesn't seem like it will be the case. The bug needs some special work before i leave so i am waiting for that to be done and then i will hit the road. i am trying to be patient as the car gets fixed and i am constantly reminded that all things happen in HIS timing--obviously not mine.
So i wait... and wait.......

Thank you to everybody that i got to know from being in Iowa; thanks for your love and friendship through the past five years. i have not left yet and i am starting to miss you all already. If the Lord wills i hope to return and visit some day.

On the home front:
My sister Christine out in California does not think that the baby will be patient and wait till the due date at the beginning of August. So i might be an auntie again before i reach California.
My mom may have found an apartment so i may be visiting her in her new home or else helping her move there.

Servants Training:
I am reading a book called "Rich Christians in an Age of Poverty". So far it has been talking about the division between poor and Rich in our world today, and then about the heart God has for the poor. Time and time again the old testament and the new testament speak of how God defends the poor and how he takes care of them and commands those who have to give to those who have not... The book is an interesting read. If you are at all interested in God's heart for the poor and want a book to read about it, this one is very good. Even when i am not reading i have been thinking about what i have read.
Also the following link is to a 30 days of prayer for Burma(Myanmar) after the Cyclone hit. It includes things to pray for the country and some history and current issues in Burma. http://www.creativeworldjustice.com/30DaystoChangeBurma.pdf

May the Lord Bless and keep you to day as always.

"Put on then as God's Chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and PATIENCE, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all else put on LOVE which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the Peace of Christ rule in your Hearts..." Colosians 3:12-14

In Orange City still

Life continues here in Orange City. I am caught between the daily happenings here at the bridge, finishing up with catering at Northwestern College and packing for going back to California. It is a slower pace for the summer and i have been taking advantage of the time, doing a bit of painting and drawing, reading books as i work through the reading list for Servants and writing reflections on the readings. My time is also filling up with saying goodbyes as i prepare to leave. good byes are hard (saying much more than that might invoke a long monologue--i will keep it simple this time).
My plans at this time are to go hiking near Deluth Minesota. I have been looking at different trails near the area, and also to visit some friends and their island on my way home to California
Plans are to leave around July 10. My sister Rebecca and her family are passing through on the 4th of July on their way to Colorado and John's family Cabin.
Well it is about time to go to the pool with some of the residents and the kids. What wonderful blessings of water in the warm days of summer.