Today is my last day of work. And I’m kind of bummed.
Yesterday, the staff at Grace & Peace Community Center made us a Puerto Rican lunch and it tasted FANTASTIC! One of my favorite items was alcapudias. It’s made out of plantains and meat and some other stuff. It tasted so good. I’m a fan of Puerto Rican food. And also Colombian. And then I’ve had cemitas and tortas from the Mexican restaurants here. Oh man! I’ve had so many different types of food here, and each culture makes it a little bit differently.
During the lunch, the staff said how grateful they were on how we have helped for the past few weeks and how we have truly been a blessing. Emotions began welling up in me that I hadn’t even realized were there before. Even though I’ve been serving them here at Grace & Peace, I feel like I have received much more. Watching these people follow God and be a true blessing to the community has inspired me to do the same thing when I go back home. I’ve learned so much from these people and I’ll truly miss them.
I’ll try to summarize my week: We took a tour on Saturday of a church in La Villita and learned a lot about the community and the way politics and church can work together, but also have to be separate. The church we visited had a boxing ring on the floor below the sanctuary, which was awesome. We were supposedly also on the Latin King gang territory, which is supposedly one of the largest gangs in the nation. It has about over 1,000 members nationwide. My jaw dropped.
On Sunday, we brought dinner over to a Mexican family and just hung out with them. I mostly played with the kids. They kept calling me “Hannah Montana” and then laughing. But once I got the game “I Spy” going, they quickly got wrapped up in the game and kept asking me what was next. The family was really nice, and again, we had to use our broken Spanish and hand signals to communicate with some of the family members. The dad spoke English though and he would translate a lot.
As for the past week at work, I’ve been sorting through clothes in order to keep some for the shelter/apartment place we have here for women who have suffered from domestic violence and then the rest would be given away to the community. I work with Jordan, a 16 year old boy, who lives in the area and is doing community service. I ask him a lot of questions about the gangs and just life in the inner city. He says things like, “Well, I gotta dress good to keep my swag. I don’t wanna be lookin all huff and all.” FYI, huff means “lame”. I also learn a lot of new terminology from Jordan as well. Lol.
I’m going to miss my roommates, the other teams, and all the people I’ve met here. We all have grown pretty close and I’ve really enjoyed meeting them. I plan on keeping in touch with a lot of people here. Even though it’s only been 5 weeks, we all have gone through some intense emotional experiences and understanding God’s love for the inner city and justice. We’ve been studying the book of Amos and man, that book is amazing. It’s definitely grown to be one of my favorite in the Bible. While it’s been an intense study, each of us goes in and says, “Are you ready to get emotionally torn apart and have Amos ruin our lives?” Then we all laugh. I believe it’s because while Amos and just CUP in general tears up emotionally and mentally, we really see the value in all and hunger for more of it. We have a retreat this weekend where we get to spend more time with each other and say our goodbyes. Once the retreat ends, CUP is over.
I’m also excited to go back home to Arizona and see my family and friends there. I feel like a different person and I always keep asking God that the change that He has made here in me continues and that I don’t forget what I’ve learned here. I already see that happening as I have applied for an internship down in Tucson that has a lot of programs that out reach to the community. I’m praying that I get it and that God will continue to open my eyes to the world around me.
So, here’s to the trip! There’s more to tell, but I only have so much time. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. I arrive back in Arizona on Monday and will be hitting the ground running with all that I have to do once I get home. So I hope to see you soon!
Bye!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A Whole Other World
I had my first experience with the gangs here in Chicago. It was scary, but also made me want to go hide in a corner and cry for the gang members at the same time.
What happened exactly was we went to an old paint factory that the church bought and wants to use and renovate for the future. It needs a lot of work, so in the mean time, they are using it for storage for donation items and rent out some of it to other local ministries. We did some yard work around it today, and then helped unload about 300 bikes into the building. All the bikes were donated by a community and were going to be fixed up and given out to the kids in the community. But some unwanted company had seen the huge semi of bikes and followed it to our building.
At first, they didn't do anything but stand on the side and watch. It was a couple of African American guys who were probably around the ages of 14 to 20. But soon, they got closer and closer to the bikes. Eventually, they started stealing some or trying to steal some. Some guys who were with us stood up to them. They got in there faces and said, "You aren't taking these bikes!" They were also young African American men, who were doing community service hours. Basically, they were guys who had once done wrong, but were trying to get their lives back on track and do good things. They stood between us and the gang members, knowing exactly what the gang members were capable up. They were my heroes and I never admired anyone so much in my life.
We eventually found a way to get the bikes in and unload them in a safer way. The members were still outside, and were threatening that they would come back later tonight and steal the bikes. An older guy from the community center I work with, named Jose Vega, was also threatened by them. Jose... he's just one of my favorite people. I love this guy. He's like late 50s, early 60s, and is just amazing. He's from Puerto Rico and I just truly enjoy working with him. But, when Jose went up to them and said, "Hey, we're just a ministry trying to do some stuff for the kids. Just please go away, or we'll call the police." One of the gang members said, "Look, if you call the police, I don't care what happens to me, but we'll come here and blow everyone up." Jose looked at them and said, "Fine. But look man, these are bikes that are going to be donated to the children. If you want to steal from the children, go ahead. This isn't about us. It's for the kids." And Jose walked away. I already knew that I loved and respected that man, but my admiration went up for him even more.
As we drove away, finished with all the bikes, we all were just glad that we got out OK. Jose pointed out that things could have gotten a lot worse. His grandson, Jordan, was with us, and I began talking to him about gang stuff, because he seemed to know a lot more about it. As he and I talked, he told me, "They were the four corners gang. They're an all black gang. But man, all I had to do was make a phone call and some Jaivers would have come and things would have gone down." I was curious and asked more about what he was saying. He said, "The Jaivers are a Latin gang. If the four corners had gone onto their territory, WHEW! They would have been done for." As Jordan explained more, I got sadder and sadder. He explained to me the names, the territories, and the race of each gang. There are A LOT, so I don't know each and every gang in Chicago. But he said, "You see, it's all about race and territory here. And respect, which is very little. My whole family are Jaiver disciples. I used to be one, but I got out. That's why I try to stick around the church. It keeps me off the streets."
I can't explain to you how sad and frustrated the situation makes me. Talking with Jordan and seeing the gang members up close, made the situation very real to me. I knew that there was still a lot of racial segregation in Chicago, and that the gangs were all based on race, but when it's in your face, it makes things so much more..... real, and so sad. I wanted to cry because how sad it all was. We were all in danger, over some bikes. Some bikes that didn't even work.
What also makes me sad is realizing how much more families and parents are involved in gangs. Jordan told me that his whole family, cousins, brothers, etc. were part of the gang. It's not like a choice these kids even specifically make. They are BORN into this life. The life of dealing drugs, fighting over territory, racial segregation, and violence. It's not something that's just bad luck or they stumble into, it's how they grow up.
More and more, the brokenness of the inner city is being revealed to me. Saturday, we ran into a drumline, and man, they were awesome. We actually all had lunch together. It was a FREE lunch too, which was paid for by this Puerto Rican guy named Tony, who felt like treating good kids. You see, what was special about this drumline, was that they were there to help and try to keep kids off the street. They try to teach kids how to play drums and do performances, to show that kids can strive for something else than just the gang life.
One of the kids, named Zairus, told us a little bit about his life. He said how he had been writing music since he was little, but his parents never supported it. He has always stayed away from the gang life, but when he goes home, every time and every day, someone is bugging him about selling drugs or a fighting that is going down. He said, "It happens every day. My parents don't support me with my music dream, and my friends and family are trying to get me into a gang all the time. But I know this is what I want and love to do. This is the way to go. So I just keep pushing forward and doing what I know is right." We asked him his age, because he sounded like 25 or so. He was 19.
The life here for these people breaks my heart. The system is so messed up here. But the thing is, I feel like that it may even be similar in Arizona. These two worlds, the one I live in, and the gang world, seem to be so hidden from each other, that I've been wondering how much I've missed. It seems like I've been missing a whole other world that has been happening right in my own backyard.
What happened exactly was we went to an old paint factory that the church bought and wants to use and renovate for the future. It needs a lot of work, so in the mean time, they are using it for storage for donation items and rent out some of it to other local ministries. We did some yard work around it today, and then helped unload about 300 bikes into the building. All the bikes were donated by a community and were going to be fixed up and given out to the kids in the community. But some unwanted company had seen the huge semi of bikes and followed it to our building.
At first, they didn't do anything but stand on the side and watch. It was a couple of African American guys who were probably around the ages of 14 to 20. But soon, they got closer and closer to the bikes. Eventually, they started stealing some or trying to steal some. Some guys who were with us stood up to them. They got in there faces and said, "You aren't taking these bikes!" They were also young African American men, who were doing community service hours. Basically, they were guys who had once done wrong, but were trying to get their lives back on track and do good things. They stood between us and the gang members, knowing exactly what the gang members were capable up. They were my heroes and I never admired anyone so much in my life.
We eventually found a way to get the bikes in and unload them in a safer way. The members were still outside, and were threatening that they would come back later tonight and steal the bikes. An older guy from the community center I work with, named Jose Vega, was also threatened by them. Jose... he's just one of my favorite people. I love this guy. He's like late 50s, early 60s, and is just amazing. He's from Puerto Rico and I just truly enjoy working with him. But, when Jose went up to them and said, "Hey, we're just a ministry trying to do some stuff for the kids. Just please go away, or we'll call the police." One of the gang members said, "Look, if you call the police, I don't care what happens to me, but we'll come here and blow everyone up." Jose looked at them and said, "Fine. But look man, these are bikes that are going to be donated to the children. If you want to steal from the children, go ahead. This isn't about us. It's for the kids." And Jose walked away. I already knew that I loved and respected that man, but my admiration went up for him even more.
As we drove away, finished with all the bikes, we all were just glad that we got out OK. Jose pointed out that things could have gotten a lot worse. His grandson, Jordan, was with us, and I began talking to him about gang stuff, because he seemed to know a lot more about it. As he and I talked, he told me, "They were the four corners gang. They're an all black gang. But man, all I had to do was make a phone call and some Jaivers would have come and things would have gone down." I was curious and asked more about what he was saying. He said, "The Jaivers are a Latin gang. If the four corners had gone onto their territory, WHEW! They would have been done for." As Jordan explained more, I got sadder and sadder. He explained to me the names, the territories, and the race of each gang. There are A LOT, so I don't know each and every gang in Chicago. But he said, "You see, it's all about race and territory here. And respect, which is very little. My whole family are Jaiver disciples. I used to be one, but I got out. That's why I try to stick around the church. It keeps me off the streets."
I can't explain to you how sad and frustrated the situation makes me. Talking with Jordan and seeing the gang members up close, made the situation very real to me. I knew that there was still a lot of racial segregation in Chicago, and that the gangs were all based on race, but when it's in your face, it makes things so much more..... real, and so sad. I wanted to cry because how sad it all was. We were all in danger, over some bikes. Some bikes that didn't even work.
What also makes me sad is realizing how much more families and parents are involved in gangs. Jordan told me that his whole family, cousins, brothers, etc. were part of the gang. It's not like a choice these kids even specifically make. They are BORN into this life. The life of dealing drugs, fighting over territory, racial segregation, and violence. It's not something that's just bad luck or they stumble into, it's how they grow up.
More and more, the brokenness of the inner city is being revealed to me. Saturday, we ran into a drumline, and man, they were awesome. We actually all had lunch together. It was a FREE lunch too, which was paid for by this Puerto Rican guy named Tony, who felt like treating good kids. You see, what was special about this drumline, was that they were there to help and try to keep kids off the street. They try to teach kids how to play drums and do performances, to show that kids can strive for something else than just the gang life.
One of the kids, named Zairus, told us a little bit about his life. He said how he had been writing music since he was little, but his parents never supported it. He has always stayed away from the gang life, but when he goes home, every time and every day, someone is bugging him about selling drugs or a fighting that is going down. He said, "It happens every day. My parents don't support me with my music dream, and my friends and family are trying to get me into a gang all the time. But I know this is what I want and love to do. This is the way to go. So I just keep pushing forward and doing what I know is right." We asked him his age, because he sounded like 25 or so. He was 19.
The life here for these people breaks my heart. The system is so messed up here. But the thing is, I feel like that it may even be similar in Arizona. These two worlds, the one I live in, and the gang world, seem to be so hidden from each other, that I've been wondering how much I've missed. It seems like I've been missing a whole other world that has been happening right in my own backyard.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Even in Chicago, Arizona's problems follow me
So Arizona had that whole illegal immigration law thing pass (It's been a while, so I forget the name). I remember the huge uproar it sparked and the conversations that it brought up. People said it was allowing racial profiling. Others found it was just another way for the government to uphold the law. Where was I in the mist of all this controversy? Smack dab in the middle.
I remember when I first heard about the whole thing, I sided with the Hispanics. I was like, "It's not right for the government to tear families apart!" and just thought "that was that". Then one of my close friends was reading about it and said, "You know, I don't see what the big deal is about the whole law thing. I mean, it doesn't sound bad to me. If they're illegal, they're illegal." I tried to calmly explain my view on the whole thing and she replied back and we went back and forth calmly a little bit. But I remember one point at snapping at her as it seemed she just wasn't going to see my side. We then finally just agreed to disagree and left it at that.
But I remember thinking, "You know, maybe it's time I start doing research on this thing myself. I want to see what this law is really about." I didn't want to be ignorant about the issue.
I didn't really know where to begin, so I began asking A LOT of my friends. The problem was, I was on a college campus with mostly upper middle class white Americans. A lot of them did say, "Well racial profiling is wrong and I don't like that they break apart families, but well... it's illegal." And I had many friends who went to explain in great detail why illegal immigration is bad. But the thing is, none of them knew about the issue personally. None of them (and I must include myself) have ever been racially profiled against or even had to worry about a family member being deported.
But, I was hearing mainly one side. I didn't realize it, but it wasn't until I met someone who had and is STILL dealing with it personally that I realized there was a whole other side to the story I hadn't heard about.
To keep it short, I got into an argument with a close Hispanic friend of mine. It wasn't something where I was like, "Yeah! We should deport all illegals." I just brought up the issue and stated that I was trying to look at it from both sides. Well.... he got really angry and I was shocked by his responses. I had not met anyone who felt so strongly about the issue.
I felt hurt after it. I remember walking away, crying, thinking that I would never read or bring up politics again if it cost me my friends, especially close and important ones.
While this argument happened about over a month ago, I still think about our argument a lot... well, I can't even call it an argument. We'll say "encounter". It's because here, I'm learning about racial profiling and segregation. Not only that it still exists, but the hurt that goes along with it. I began hearing stories from people who were African American, Asian American, and Latin American. They expressed their feelings and some very painful memories. I was shocked and walked away saddened. Not just saddened, but also convicted and heart broken. I kept asking myself, "How could I have turned such a blind eye? How could I have been so ignorant?"
I realized that there's still a lot I don't understand. I was talking with my director who is Latino (techincally Columbian and Argentine). I remember her saying, "There's some stories that I only tell because I feel God telling me to share my story. I know I'm called to share them, but afterwards, I always feel so broken and exhausted. And it's because I had to reach so far down in myself to a place that is so full of pain and brokenness, that it just emotionally drains me. And a lot of people, don't want to revisit that pain, or don't want to be so emotionally evoked like that."
We talked about it some more and she gave me some things I could read. She said, "You will never understand what the pain is fully like. But at least, you can meet someone half way and catch a glimpse. You won't be asking them to emotionally reveal themselves to the point where they are naked." So, I think I will do that.
Luckily for me, many of my friends understood that I was ignorant and tried not to get mad at me. As for that Hispanic friend and I, we're still close thankfully. We talked it out a bit and reached an understanding. But I sit here now, thinking not only of him, but of all my other Hispanic friends and even, friends of other cultures, minorities, and races. How much hurt have they gone through that I'm totally unaware about? How ignorant have I been? And how many times have they silently forgiven me for my blindness and ignorance and thought, "Hannah has no idea, and never will."
And I guess, I just want to say, "I'm sorry" to all my friends, especially the ones who are a completely different culture and race. I'm sorry for my ignorance. But, I also want to let you know that I respect you. I really do. To go on the way you have, and to smile at me and even befriend me, you all are truly great people.
I know there's a lot I don't understand, but I ask people to please be patient with me. There's a lot I will never understand, but I'll do my best to try. With all my actions and all the laws that get passed, I'm beginning to understand that it effects someone somewhere out there on a very deep and life changing level. And it's time, I start thinking about them and not turning a blind eye to stay in my comfort zone.
Sorry if this blog offended you or you think I'm over exaggerating. It's my feelings.
So, even in Chicago, Arizona's problems follow me. I thought that I'd get away from all this racial profling and immigration talk. Ha. It's one of our main focuses. But now, I've also learned that it's not just an Arizona problem. It's everyone's problem.
I remember when I first heard about the whole thing, I sided with the Hispanics. I was like, "It's not right for the government to tear families apart!" and just thought "that was that". Then one of my close friends was reading about it and said, "You know, I don't see what the big deal is about the whole law thing. I mean, it doesn't sound bad to me. If they're illegal, they're illegal." I tried to calmly explain my view on the whole thing and she replied back and we went back and forth calmly a little bit. But I remember one point at snapping at her as it seemed she just wasn't going to see my side. We then finally just agreed to disagree and left it at that.
But I remember thinking, "You know, maybe it's time I start doing research on this thing myself. I want to see what this law is really about." I didn't want to be ignorant about the issue.
I didn't really know where to begin, so I began asking A LOT of my friends. The problem was, I was on a college campus with mostly upper middle class white Americans. A lot of them did say, "Well racial profiling is wrong and I don't like that they break apart families, but well... it's illegal." And I had many friends who went to explain in great detail why illegal immigration is bad. But the thing is, none of them knew about the issue personally. None of them (and I must include myself) have ever been racially profiled against or even had to worry about a family member being deported.
But, I was hearing mainly one side. I didn't realize it, but it wasn't until I met someone who had and is STILL dealing with it personally that I realized there was a whole other side to the story I hadn't heard about.
To keep it short, I got into an argument with a close Hispanic friend of mine. It wasn't something where I was like, "Yeah! We should deport all illegals." I just brought up the issue and stated that I was trying to look at it from both sides. Well.... he got really angry and I was shocked by his responses. I had not met anyone who felt so strongly about the issue.
I felt hurt after it. I remember walking away, crying, thinking that I would never read or bring up politics again if it cost me my friends, especially close and important ones.
While this argument happened about over a month ago, I still think about our argument a lot... well, I can't even call it an argument. We'll say "encounter". It's because here, I'm learning about racial profiling and segregation. Not only that it still exists, but the hurt that goes along with it. I began hearing stories from people who were African American, Asian American, and Latin American. They expressed their feelings and some very painful memories. I was shocked and walked away saddened. Not just saddened, but also convicted and heart broken. I kept asking myself, "How could I have turned such a blind eye? How could I have been so ignorant?"
I realized that there's still a lot I don't understand. I was talking with my director who is Latino (techincally Columbian and Argentine). I remember her saying, "There's some stories that I only tell because I feel God telling me to share my story. I know I'm called to share them, but afterwards, I always feel so broken and exhausted. And it's because I had to reach so far down in myself to a place that is so full of pain and brokenness, that it just emotionally drains me. And a lot of people, don't want to revisit that pain, or don't want to be so emotionally evoked like that."
We talked about it some more and she gave me some things I could read. She said, "You will never understand what the pain is fully like. But at least, you can meet someone half way and catch a glimpse. You won't be asking them to emotionally reveal themselves to the point where they are naked." So, I think I will do that.
Luckily for me, many of my friends understood that I was ignorant and tried not to get mad at me. As for that Hispanic friend and I, we're still close thankfully. We talked it out a bit and reached an understanding. But I sit here now, thinking not only of him, but of all my other Hispanic friends and even, friends of other cultures, minorities, and races. How much hurt have they gone through that I'm totally unaware about? How ignorant have I been? And how many times have they silently forgiven me for my blindness and ignorance and thought, "Hannah has no idea, and never will."
And I guess, I just want to say, "I'm sorry" to all my friends, especially the ones who are a completely different culture and race. I'm sorry for my ignorance. But, I also want to let you know that I respect you. I really do. To go on the way you have, and to smile at me and even befriend me, you all are truly great people.
I know there's a lot I don't understand, but I ask people to please be patient with me. There's a lot I will never understand, but I'll do my best to try. With all my actions and all the laws that get passed, I'm beginning to understand that it effects someone somewhere out there on a very deep and life changing level. And it's time, I start thinking about them and not turning a blind eye to stay in my comfort zone.
Sorry if this blog offended you or you think I'm over exaggerating. It's my feelings.
So, even in Chicago, Arizona's problems follow me. I thought that I'd get away from all this racial profling and immigration talk. Ha. It's one of our main focuses. But now, I've also learned that it's not just an Arizona problem. It's everyone's problem.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
My Chicago Adventure So Far
Well well, I’m in Chicago.
I’ve been here for two weeks, and I really don’t know what to say about it all. I have so many emotions and thoughts running through me, it’s hard to process exactly what I’m thinking.
For the first week or so, we just did a bunch of training and sight seeing. We went from neighborhood to neighborhood, seeing what different cultures lived there and how churches were reaching out to their community. That was really interesting and pretty cool. What was sad about it though was the way all the communities are pretty divided. I never knew how racially divided Chicago was. I remember sitting on the bus, leaving one of the African American communities and watching the buildings change. It was like within a few blocks, suddenly, the buildings went from sort of shabby looking to really well kept. I knew that I was suddenly in a richer and nicer part of the Chicago. The people who got on the bus were different too. They were usually white or just dressed differently. I believe the cause is called gentrification. That was the first time I actually saw the result of it.
I live in the Puerto Rican community. Part of my trip involves just learning to be a part of my community and reaching out to them at the same time. So, we live like them. We have no car, so we only take public transportation. We have a budget to spend on groceries and go to the laundry mat. At the laundry mat, everyone speaks Spanish. I usually can only talk to the kids, because they’re the ones that know both Spanish and English. Sometimes we play “Guess that Spanish word” where they say a word in Spanish and we have to guess what it means. I’m also practicing rolling my r’s so I don’t sound so white when I speak. I'm failing pretty bad, but everyone gets a good laugh as I try. Haha. And any of the adults I speak with, they’re usually patient and we use hand signals to communicate.
The church and community center I work with are great. Right now, I’m just doing a lot of random jobs at the community center, from administrative work, to cooking, to watching over kids.
What I do admire about the Latino community so far is how welcoming everyone is. We went to a block party, and just showed up at a person’s house. This woman named Yvette welcomed us in with wide arms, served us food immediately, and introduced us to practically her whole family, from her mom to her 10th cousin. I felt like I was a part of the family. The Latinos’ hospitality just blows me away as we get invited over for dinner or to hang out.
One of my favorite people that I met so far was a woman named Migdalia. We went into her beauty salon and asked to speak with her just to hear her story. She walked up to us with 2 cell phones in her hands and her head set blinking and asked how she could help us. We told her that Sandra (my director) had sent us and asked if we could just talk to her, but if she was busy, that was OK too since we came in unannounced. Immediately, she hugged us and said, “God bless you!” She asked for a minute or two to deal with the calls and she’d be with us. She then sat for 30 to 40 minutes with us, just talking about her life and how God had been there for her in her toughest times. I don’t think I even told the woman my name, but she made me feel so loved and like I was her family. She was definitely one of my highlights of the trip.
There’s so much more to say and all the stuff I’m learning just blows my mind. I’m still processing it all. It’s been a very interesting adventure here, learning about the inner-city of Chicago.
Random Parts: My director, Sandra, was the lead worship singing at Urbana. This woman blows my mind! She leads our Bible Studies and I walk away feeling like I need to go change the world. I also met the president of InterVarsity. He was pretty fun and relaxed. I’m also the only one from Arizona. Heck, I’m the only one from the Southwest/Rocky Mountain region.
So, if you’re reading this, keep praying for me. I’m still not sure how I’m changing or even how to handle all this information, but I know God is doing stuff. Also pray that my Spanish gets better and that we can really connect with some of the people here.
Love you all! Bye!
I’ve been here for two weeks, and I really don’t know what to say about it all. I have so many emotions and thoughts running through me, it’s hard to process exactly what I’m thinking.
For the first week or so, we just did a bunch of training and sight seeing. We went from neighborhood to neighborhood, seeing what different cultures lived there and how churches were reaching out to their community. That was really interesting and pretty cool. What was sad about it though was the way all the communities are pretty divided. I never knew how racially divided Chicago was. I remember sitting on the bus, leaving one of the African American communities and watching the buildings change. It was like within a few blocks, suddenly, the buildings went from sort of shabby looking to really well kept. I knew that I was suddenly in a richer and nicer part of the Chicago. The people who got on the bus were different too. They were usually white or just dressed differently. I believe the cause is called gentrification. That was the first time I actually saw the result of it.
I live in the Puerto Rican community. Part of my trip involves just learning to be a part of my community and reaching out to them at the same time. So, we live like them. We have no car, so we only take public transportation. We have a budget to spend on groceries and go to the laundry mat. At the laundry mat, everyone speaks Spanish. I usually can only talk to the kids, because they’re the ones that know both Spanish and English. Sometimes we play “Guess that Spanish word” where they say a word in Spanish and we have to guess what it means. I’m also practicing rolling my r’s so I don’t sound so white when I speak. I'm failing pretty bad, but everyone gets a good laugh as I try. Haha. And any of the adults I speak with, they’re usually patient and we use hand signals to communicate.
The church and community center I work with are great. Right now, I’m just doing a lot of random jobs at the community center, from administrative work, to cooking, to watching over kids.
What I do admire about the Latino community so far is how welcoming everyone is. We went to a block party, and just showed up at a person’s house. This woman named Yvette welcomed us in with wide arms, served us food immediately, and introduced us to practically her whole family, from her mom to her 10th cousin. I felt like I was a part of the family. The Latinos’ hospitality just blows me away as we get invited over for dinner or to hang out.
One of my favorite people that I met so far was a woman named Migdalia. We went into her beauty salon and asked to speak with her just to hear her story. She walked up to us with 2 cell phones in her hands and her head set blinking and asked how she could help us. We told her that Sandra (my director) had sent us and asked if we could just talk to her, but if she was busy, that was OK too since we came in unannounced. Immediately, she hugged us and said, “God bless you!” She asked for a minute or two to deal with the calls and she’d be with us. She then sat for 30 to 40 minutes with us, just talking about her life and how God had been there for her in her toughest times. I don’t think I even told the woman my name, but she made me feel so loved and like I was her family. She was definitely one of my highlights of the trip.
There’s so much more to say and all the stuff I’m learning just blows my mind. I’m still processing it all. It’s been a very interesting adventure here, learning about the inner-city of Chicago.
Random Parts: My director, Sandra, was the lead worship singing at Urbana. This woman blows my mind! She leads our Bible Studies and I walk away feeling like I need to go change the world. I also met the president of InterVarsity. He was pretty fun and relaxed. I’m also the only one from Arizona. Heck, I’m the only one from the Southwest/Rocky Mountain region.
So, if you’re reading this, keep praying for me. I’m still not sure how I’m changing or even how to handle all this information, but I know God is doing stuff. Also pray that my Spanish gets better and that we can really connect with some of the people here.
Love you all! Bye!
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