So, buying the house seems to have fallen through. We couldn't fix our credit score enough to get the loan to buy the house. I'm really worried about what that means for my family and myself. Mom emailed Pastor Paul at my church and asked if there was anyone who wanted to buy our house to rent to us for the next year until we can fix our credit and get the loan. We haven't heard back yet though. I'm really concerned that he's not going to help us. I don't think he likes me very much and I'm nervous that he will take that out on my family.
Last year when our church first started talking about leaving the ELCA I wrote him a letter detailing why I thought it was the wrong move. I did that in September and didn't hear back from him until like November. His letter back was pretty curt and didn't really seem pleasant. Now, I could very easily be reading into it emotions that aren't there and I acknowledge that possibility. However, when I stood up in our town hall meetings to discuss this issue he seemed to not be happy to see me. It could be something else. I'll be honest, I haven't dealt with him much before this, so it could just be his personality, but I don't know.
If he doesn't help us with the house because of me, I'm going to be so upset. I don't know how I will handle that. I'm not going to do anything stupid, but it's probably not going to be very productive either.
I feel like through all of this madness God and I have become pretty tight. But I still doubt that this will all work out. Like, I know in my head He is going to take care of my family and me, but in my heart I feel like I'm going to be let down. Why do I feel like this? I mean, He's God! He can do whatever the hell he wants. Maybe that's why it scares me. He can do what He wants. Like, maybe He wants my family to in essence be homeless. Maybe He want's me to suffer for some reason. I don't know, and that terrifies me. Does that make me a bad Christian? Probably...
Oh! So, I'm going on the Common Ground retreat tonight. I'm not staying over, because I have way too much work, but I'm going to go for a while. I'm really looking forward to it. I heard great things about the one from last year, and I'm hoping this will give me a chance to work somethings out with God.
Right now, I have a ton of homework and a headache that is rivaling a migraine. So I'm going to go to Un Mundo and work for a couple hours and drink some coffee and eat some lunch/dinner and hope everything works out.
Showing posts with label ELCA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ELCA. Show all posts
Friday, September 10, 2010
Friday, July 31, 2009
Jesus, Justice and Jazz '09
New Orleans was amazing. I don't think I've ever experienced anything like it. We had worship in the Superdome. Listening to all 38,000 of us singing with the house band was an incredibly moving experience. There was a crazy amount of conga lines going. And SO MUCH DANCING!!!! My favorite song by far was He Lifts You Up by Audio Adrenaline
The week wasn't just about worship, but about service as well. My group helped to paint Room 310 in the Charles R. Drew Elementary School. It was a lot of work and by lunch most of us were in horrible moods, but in the end it was well worth it. We also got to know the guy in charge of the renovations on the school. His name is Troy. He hasn't left NOLA in over 4 years. He lost everything in Katrina, but is still working to get more and more schools open. He really is an incredible man.
Speaking of Katrina, you would be amazed how much is left to be done in the recovery from the storms of that fall. Everywhere we went there were houses and other buildings that are STILL boarded up. It's been 4 years since Katrina and Rita hit the gulf, and the levy broke. It is amazing how much work there is left to do. I mean, there are families still living in FEMA trailers. I know they wouldn't stand a chance with out them, but the trailers are smaller than my dorm room in Woodlawn. That is great for a short term fix, but not for as long as these people have been forced to live in them. There just isn't the man power to rebuild any faster than they are.
One of the things that was so cool about this trip was seeing how the 38,000 of us were such a presence in the city. You couldn't go anywhere without seeing some high schoolers wearing brightly colored t-shirts. It was incredible. We descended on that city like a swarm of non-destructive locust. The mayor of NOLA told us that the amount of we would accomplish in 3 days would take the city 3 years to complete normally.
In the mass gatherings we would have worship, then would listen to different speakers. It was really cool. I picked up on the recurring theme of how one person can change the world. It was an awesome time of affirmation for me. There was one speaker who literally said to not lose our idealism. That is something I needed to hear. It was also really cool how the Superdome was full of other people who are committed to changing the world.
I've been home from New Orleans for about 5 days now. I've spent those days resting and unpacking from the trip. Even still, I get really fired up thinking about the trip. I am so thankful I was able to go. It was most definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
The week wasn't just about worship, but about service as well. My group helped to paint Room 310 in the Charles R. Drew Elementary School. It was a lot of work and by lunch most of us were in horrible moods, but in the end it was well worth it. We also got to know the guy in charge of the renovations on the school. His name is Troy. He hasn't left NOLA in over 4 years. He lost everything in Katrina, but is still working to get more and more schools open. He really is an incredible man.
Speaking of Katrina, you would be amazed how much is left to be done in the recovery from the storms of that fall. Everywhere we went there were houses and other buildings that are STILL boarded up. It's been 4 years since Katrina and Rita hit the gulf, and the levy broke. It is amazing how much work there is left to do. I mean, there are families still living in FEMA trailers. I know they wouldn't stand a chance with out them, but the trailers are smaller than my dorm room in Woodlawn. That is great for a short term fix, but not for as long as these people have been forced to live in them. There just isn't the man power to rebuild any faster than they are.
One of the things that was so cool about this trip was seeing how the 38,000 of us were such a presence in the city. You couldn't go anywhere without seeing some high schoolers wearing brightly colored t-shirts. It was incredible. We descended on that city like a swarm of non-destructive locust. The mayor of NOLA told us that the amount of we would accomplish in 3 days would take the city 3 years to complete normally.
In the mass gatherings we would have worship, then would listen to different speakers. It was really cool. I picked up on the recurring theme of how one person can change the world. It was an awesome time of affirmation for me. There was one speaker who literally said to not lose our idealism. That is something I needed to hear. It was also really cool how the Superdome was full of other people who are committed to changing the world.
I've been home from New Orleans for about 5 days now. I've spent those days resting and unpacking from the trip. Even still, I get really fired up thinking about the trip. I am so thankful I was able to go. It was most definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Monday, July 20, 2009
New Orleans
As of 2 hours ago I decided to go to New Orleans for the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Joyce called and told me she had an extra stop, and after about 20 minutes of talking with mom and dad about it they said they are cool with me going. So, I'll be in New Orleans for the next week. I'm pretty pumped, since I've never been there. Also, Kate will be there and other people from Witt. It will be great. I'll take pics and update when I get back. Hope you all have a great week!!!
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