Today was a field work day. After our new routine of breakfast, some form of caffeine, and a few pages in our daily packet devotional (compliments of Bob), the group prepared for another day of intense missional experiences. And intense it was...
Luke and Thomas were the first to be dropped off at Venice Beach for the day. Kelsey and I were dropped off a little farther down the strip as well for some quiet time and our new volunteer work at a place called "A Window Between Worlds." Josh and Bruce then headed to a street in Santa Monica where they planned to frequent coffee shops for meaningful conversation.
Kelsey and I were early for our 12pm volunteer appointment, so we had some quiet reflection time in Cafe Collage (to Luke and Thomas: We got there first! :.D hehe). Then we began the walk towards the most peaceful, residential road in the Venice Area. The non-profit organization is located in an apartment/house complex that looks really secretive at first glance. You would honestly never know it was there if not for the small label on the intercom box out front. (Let me just start out by saying that having to use one of those intercom systems to be "buzzed" into a place was a really cool experience and made me feel extra important.) Then began the amazing process of learning all about the place.
We took a tour and met Cathy, the woman who founded A Window Between Worlds, which trains leaders in art therapy to help out women and children who live in shelters because they are or were victims of domestic violence. The place is completely covered in this amazing artwork that inspires everyone, no matter the talent of the person or the materials used. Kelsey and I met the 7 or 8 women who have basically trained over 200 leaders that take the program back to just as many shelters around the United States, "even Alaska and Hawaii" (they were fond of telling us). Our jobs for the day consisted of cutting out paper hands for an event coming up, painting envelopes, addressing and stuffing the most personalized thank-you letters I have ever seen an organization make into beautiful envelopes, cleaning and re-molding colored clay, and carrying art books from the office into the training room.
Because of my love of art and Kelsey's passion for social work, we enjoyed everything about the place and hope to become even more familiar with the people in it. The most outgoing and bubbly of the group, Christy, has already made a special bond with Kelsey over the song "God Bless the Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts and showed us her own spiritually-filled artwork, which Kelsey is hoping will lead to more conversations about the subject in the future. I can't even explain how it affected me to hear and read about the stories of women and children survivors of domestic abuse while seeing the artwork they created - basically unearthing their deepest secrets, fears, and hidden lives. It's amazing the blessing that I have in my parents and loving family.
Though our work was simple and repetitive, just doing those easy tasks seemed to be a Godsend to them - they were so sweet, even giving us hugs before we left (something I haven't seen a lot of here when knowing people for such a short time.) I know Kelsey and I both enjoyed the day, finding our niche in different areas of the work we did and interactions we had. We plan to go back every Wednesday and Friday.
Team time tonight unearthed some struggles for all groups, however.
Here are some areas for prayer:
1. Both Josh and Bruce, and Luke and Thomas have dealt with the disappointment of having several of their key people of outreach being strangely absent for the past two days.
2. Schedule frustrations have come up due to lack of our key mode of transportation (aka. our bikes are broken...sad day.)
3. Issues with finding the "right words to say" and ways to broach more spiritual conversation.
4. Distractions of all kinds.
We are doing our best to remain encouraged and energized for each new day. As the team is figuring out how to effectively and purposely "love" as Jesus did, we want to thank everyone again and again for their continued love and support of us.
Blessings, Storm
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