Posts tagged: Solidarity
Unemployment 2012, is completely different than circa 2010. The way I viewed it God gave me an opportunity to put into practice all those things he taught from the experience in 2010. I remember where I was weak and where I was strong; where I failed and where I conquered. Thus, I have spent the first month vowing to myself I would not make the same mistakes twice.
Thankfully, my soul is in an amazing place. My heart is content. I do not know where God is going. What I know is He is moving; He is guiding; He will make sure I am fine.
I am at SOLFul because I love my city - Fullerton. I am at SOLFul because I am unemployed. I am at SOLFul because I know my God is present and He will provide. I am at SOLFul because in reality there is no place I would rather be - even when it is extremely and profoundly difficult.
The days at SOLFul can be long and hard. The fifth graders can be a challenge, but I enjoy it, because I know through prayer and faithfulness - Fullerton can be changed. I long for Fullerton to be changed. I long for Richman to be changed. I know five weeks this summer will not change the community - but it can begin to redefine and breathe life into a community. This is my prayer. This is my hope.
Every day, I’ve been praying for these fifth graders I am walking with this summer. I hope I can find a way to interact with these kids come the fall quarter of grad school. We shall see.
I have been told I am great with kids; however, children are not something I usually volunteer to work with. I have been journeying into relationships with 12 and 8 year old nieces I inherited through my brother’s marriage. I have no problem volunteering for VBS at my church - but even then it still isn’t my comfort zone. I drop in for a week and drop out. I love middle schoolers and high schoolers. I can hang out with them hours and hours at a time - days upon days. Yet, children are a different story. This summer, because of unemployment, I choose to volunteer with children, four days a week for five days.
It is outside of my comfort zone.
God works in some pretty fun ways. Days before being laid off I tweeted about having a longing for a new Jesus-adventure. Somehow, my gut tells me this is what God had in store all along.
Hanging with children four hours a day does not give me energy - in fact - I am drained faster from children then I am just about anything else. Children are not the first thing I jump into, when I’m there it’s amazing - but it just takes an extra push for me to get my toes into the water and once the toes get in the water there is no looking back.
One week in and I’m grateful I have this opportunity. I don’t know what God is fully up to or how He is stirring but I do know this is where I need to be this summer. What comes next? I do not know. God is moving. I get to pursue and expect God to move.
In the meantime I get to hang out with fifth graders and pray for them, hoping they will encounter Jesus.
Couldn’t think of anything better to do with my summer. My Jesus-adventure has begun.
I am unemployed. I got laid off. My summer went from being not so busy to absolutely empty.
Inside the city I love, Fullerton, there is an opportunity for the church to be the church. Create programs to step in the gap for lack of summer school in our city. It is a beautiful thing.
SOLFUL is not about a church, or two churches, or even the amazing faith based non-profit Solidarity. It is about being the church to the incredible city of Fullerton which has a gaping need. It is about stepping into what God is stirring in our city and putting Him on display.
It is beautiful.
Last year 14 churches partnered together for the sake of the Jesus, the Gospel and the Kingdom. This is year three and for the first two years I was working. I didn’t have the opportunity to even contemplate volunteering. However, this year I was laid off and am wide open.
How could I not step into this?
To find out more - check out this: http://fullertonact.com/solful/
God will provide for me, so why not take a risk and step into this opportunity? I’m excited to see how God changes me in this experience. I will let God shape me in this. My God will show up. He will refine me - through unemployment and SOLFUL.
It’s time to hang out with some fifth graders all summer.
Boo-yah?
