I’m 31. If I were born in sub-saharan Africa I’d be well past my mid-life crisis. Fortunately, here in America I’m still considered relatively young by most. However, by HOPE team standards, I’m ancient. I’m a whole decade older than about half our team. I’m half a decade older than our next oldest team member. Heck, I’m older than my HOPE director, who graciously broke his own requirements by allowing me to do the program. Hopies are supposed to be between ages 18 and 29. I’m glad to be the exception.
The majority of my teammates have known from the beginning that they would go back to college after the summer. A few of have had to make more difficult decisions about what’s next. That’s probably been the most frequently asked (and most dreaded) question directed toward me in recent days: “What’s next?” That’s to be expected as I am 31 and have been zigzagging across a peculiar career path for the past decade.
Well, I’d tossed around a lot of ideas: going back overseas, staying on at Jeff. St., getting a “real job” for a while, pursuing that career as a circus performer that so many have suggested. But all these ideas lost out, for the present time anyway. So, to answer the question, I’m going back to school. On August 18th, I’ll start taking some prerequisites at Jefferson Community and Technical College (JCTC) here in Louisville. Eventually I hope to get into nursing or some other medical profession. I can visualize many of you with your jaws on the ground at this point.
Well this is not as out of nowhere as it may seem. Way back during my most recent term in West Africa (2006-2008), I began to notice and respect the medical professionals who would come to use their healing and caring skills to serve others and serve the Lord. I visited our Baptist hospital in Nalerigu, Ghana and was overwhelmed with admiration for the services and ministries they provided there. I recall having the “crazy thought” of going back to school to acquire some of those medical skills. Since then that has been a recurring idea of mine. The main thing that has held me back is the idea of having to give up at least two or three years to get the necessary training. That’s not a big deal when you’re 21. But 31? Well, General Douglas MacArthur said, “Youth is not a period of time. It is a state of mind, a result of the will, a quality of the imagination, a victory of courage over timidity, of the taste for adventure over the love of comfort.” I love that. I want to live it.
So now is the time. I’m going back to school. Whatever degree I wind up with, I know I want to use those skills to care for people’s bodies and share with them the Remedy for their soul’s sickness as well.
August 9, 2009
August 2, 2009
August Newsletter (the end)
Greetings friends and family!
August? Already? Sure enough. That means the end of my HOPE term here at Jefferson Street Baptist Center. So, of course, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the past months of work, service, and life in a homeless shelter. Unfortunately, summing up the past 11 months in a short newsletter is nearly impossible (but I’ll do what I can). There have been some great times and some tough times, but through it all, God has been awesome.
The Lord has done a great work in my heart. He has taught me many valuable lessons about homelessness, addictions, mental illness, relationships, servanthood, and myself. I’ve also been used by God, despite my inadequacies. There were times when the Lord orchestrated amazingly perfect opportunities to minister his truth. Other times He allowed me to minister profoundly through a simple word or gesture. Besides, working in and through me, I’ve also seen the Lord move in the lives of some of the folks we are ministering to. I’ve been blessed to see great change in some of our residents. I’ve even seen a few of them move out and move on to successful lives.
These are the parts of life we enjoy thinking about and sharing with others in conversations and blogs. But there is another side of life which is not always sunshine and rainbows. This darker side of life is just as real and often just as common, whether we like to admit it or not. Yet I’ve found that even in this more grueling side of life, God is still awesome. In fact, some of the most amazing aspects of God’s “Godness” are only seen when He is helping us through adversity and trials.
For example, in our anxiety, we find that God is faithful. In our uncertainty, we find that God is wise. In our fear, we find that God is a refuge. In our despair, we find that God is a comforter. In our disappointment, we find that God is sovereign. In our weakness, we find that God is strong. In our failures, we find that God is merciful.
Over the past months, I’ve experienced all these realities. I’ve been a mess and a failure in many ways. Yet at all times, God has been lovingly heroic. When it’s all said and done, my experience here at Jeff. Street will not be about me and what I’ve done, but about what the Lord has done. He has done great things, in both good times and bad.
I will truly be sad to move out of Jeff. Street on August 14th. I will miss many things about this place. First and foremost, I’ll miss a lot of wonderful people: my teammates, the staff, our neighbors – the residents, and the Day Shelter guests. I’ll also miss the morning commute: down two flights of stairs. I’ll miss sharing meals with the residents and my teammates. I’ll miss being forced, daily, to minister to “the least of these.” I’ll miss starting work at 6:30 AM (well . . . maybe not). I’ll miss the HOPE team’s weekly “Prayer and Share.” I’ll miss going with our residents to museums, baseball games, and the bowling alley. I’ll miss all this and much more.
Fortunately, I won’t miss Louisville because I’m sticking around for a while. (Stay tuned for the upcoming “what’s next” blog.) As a result, I look forward to visiting and volunteering at Jeff. Street as long as I’m still in town. I truly love this place and all the folks involved.
I hope that you will not forget about Jeff. Street after my departure. I mentioned it briefly in my last newsletter, but I want to encourage you again to continue being a blessing to the homeless by donating to Jefferson Street Baptist Center. Currently, Jeff. Street is experiencing some financial strain because we recently decided to stop accepting government funding because it would not allow us to minister in the most faithful way. We fully expect the Lord to provide for this ministry through His church. To learn more about donating (goods, food, or money) to Jeff. Street, you can visit www.jeffersonstreet.org and click on the “Donate Now” tab. To begin receiving the insightful and informational Jeff. Street newsletter, just send an email to info@jeffersonstreet.org or go to our website.
One last time, thank you so much for your prayer support and/or financial support throughout my days here at Jeff. Street. It’s been a great blessing to have never been concerned about money while serving here. I’ve also felt truly loved by the assurance of your prayers. Thank you and may the Lord bless you for the role you’ve played in our serving “the least of these.”
To Donate to JSBC | Send your tax-deductible donation to
Jefferson Street Baptist Center | 733 East Jefferson St | Louisville, KY 40202
Visit the HOPE website at www.hopeforlouisville.com
Visit our online journal at www.hopeblog.wordpress.com
Visit Jeff. Street’s site at www.jeffersonsonstreet.org
August? Already? Sure enough. That means the end of my HOPE term here at Jefferson Street Baptist Center. So, of course, I’ve been reflecting a lot on the past months of work, service, and life in a homeless shelter. Unfortunately, summing up the past 11 months in a short newsletter is nearly impossible (but I’ll do what I can). There have been some great times and some tough times, but through it all, God has been awesome.
The Lord has done a great work in my heart. He has taught me many valuable lessons about homelessness, addictions, mental illness, relationships, servanthood, and myself. I’ve also been used by God, despite my inadequacies. There were times when the Lord orchestrated amazingly perfect opportunities to minister his truth. Other times He allowed me to minister profoundly through a simple word or gesture. Besides, working in and through me, I’ve also seen the Lord move in the lives of some of the folks we are ministering to. I’ve been blessed to see great change in some of our residents. I’ve even seen a few of them move out and move on to successful lives.
These are the parts of life we enjoy thinking about and sharing with others in conversations and blogs. But there is another side of life which is not always sunshine and rainbows. This darker side of life is just as real and often just as common, whether we like to admit it or not. Yet I’ve found that even in this more grueling side of life, God is still awesome. In fact, some of the most amazing aspects of God’s “Godness” are only seen when He is helping us through adversity and trials.
For example, in our anxiety, we find that God is faithful. In our uncertainty, we find that God is wise. In our fear, we find that God is a refuge. In our despair, we find that God is a comforter. In our disappointment, we find that God is sovereign. In our weakness, we find that God is strong. In our failures, we find that God is merciful.
Over the past months, I’ve experienced all these realities. I’ve been a mess and a failure in many ways. Yet at all times, God has been lovingly heroic. When it’s all said and done, my experience here at Jeff. Street will not be about me and what I’ve done, but about what the Lord has done. He has done great things, in both good times and bad.
I will truly be sad to move out of Jeff. Street on August 14th. I will miss many things about this place. First and foremost, I’ll miss a lot of wonderful people: my teammates, the staff, our neighbors – the residents, and the Day Shelter guests. I’ll also miss the morning commute: down two flights of stairs. I’ll miss sharing meals with the residents and my teammates. I’ll miss being forced, daily, to minister to “the least of these.” I’ll miss starting work at 6:30 AM (well . . . maybe not). I’ll miss the HOPE team’s weekly “Prayer and Share.” I’ll miss going with our residents to museums, baseball games, and the bowling alley. I’ll miss all this and much more.
Fortunately, I won’t miss Louisville because I’m sticking around for a while. (Stay tuned for the upcoming “what’s next” blog.) As a result, I look forward to visiting and volunteering at Jeff. Street as long as I’m still in town. I truly love this place and all the folks involved.
I hope that you will not forget about Jeff. Street after my departure. I mentioned it briefly in my last newsletter, but I want to encourage you again to continue being a blessing to the homeless by donating to Jefferson Street Baptist Center. Currently, Jeff. Street is experiencing some financial strain because we recently decided to stop accepting government funding because it would not allow us to minister in the most faithful way. We fully expect the Lord to provide for this ministry through His church. To learn more about donating (goods, food, or money) to Jeff. Street, you can visit www.jeffersonstreet.org and click on the “Donate Now” tab. To begin receiving the insightful and informational Jeff. Street newsletter, just send an email to info@jeffersonstreet.org or go to our website.
One last time, thank you so much for your prayer support and/or financial support throughout my days here at Jeff. Street. It’s been a great blessing to have never been concerned about money while serving here. I’ve also felt truly loved by the assurance of your prayers. Thank you and may the Lord bless you for the role you’ve played in our serving “the least of these.”
To Donate to JSBC | Send your tax-deductible donation to
Jefferson Street Baptist Center | 733 East Jefferson St | Louisville, KY 40202
Visit the HOPE website at www.hopeforlouisville.com
Visit our online journal at www.hopeblog.wordpress.com
Visit Jeff. Street’s site at www.jeffersonsonstreet.org
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