Tea and Sweatpants...

God has been answering prayers and I am so excited about it! I am working at King Elementary School in N Portland with the YMCA. There are only four children currently enrolled there but I believe God will find ways to grow the program. Here has been the response when I tell people about me taking the position there...
*Eyes pop out of their head and they say, be tough...
*"I subbed there one day and a kid got scissors thrown at him"
*"I worked there for a week and a kid said 'F.... you'"
*"Get to know the music teacher, she saved me when all the kids walked out"
*"Do you have any experience with tough kids??"
*"That should be interesting"
*"Call me if you need help, I know how tough those kids are. One has eased up on me now but I've known her for 2 years."

Anyway, it should be a pretty sweet challenge! I am praying that I can empower these children to change the face of the Y program at that school. I am praying that I can be a support to these children amongst their frustrations. I am also praying that more children would be drawn to this Christian organization and the God that inspired it.

It's official, I do have a job! I am working for the YMCA before/after school program. I was hired as a site director and will tell more about it later. I have been working at the camp to train until school starts next week. Here is a silly story about something that happened while I was there...
I have been really working with the 6 year old boys group and little boys love to talk about discus ting things. There was about 5 of them who were talking about burping and farting and such so I finally said..."no more talking about bodily functions..." one of the other boys said, "okay, lets talk about barfing." Before I could speak another boy piped up and said "NO, that is also a bubbly malfunction!" They all looked at me to see if he was correct but I couldn't stop laughing. So, the new thing at Y camp is "bubbly malfunctions" and the little boys are yelling at each other..."no more bubbly malfunctions!"

This is the name of someone I met at Night Strike on Friday night. When he told us his name he explained that he has about 7 aliases and this was his most common one. When he said this the motions that came with the name ended with swinging hips like a hula dancer. Night Strike has become a way for God to put me in my place...weekly! I have had the chance to take on different roles there; handing out clothing, hostessing, and taking night strike out from under the bridge and to other parts of Portland. I think the most important thing that I have learned is how God uses simple conversations to teach me things. Time happens to be the most valuable thing I can offer and I still don't give enough of it. I heard a leader of Night Strike explain what makes it unique. Portland is know nation-wide for being one of the most giving cities. We give money, food, blankets, clothes, medicine, and probably even drugs. However, people have become so accustom to giving they've forgotten why they give. The most valuable thing we have to offer is Love. Love is often shown not just through how much we give but how we give. Night strike is time we set aside to give in a very unique and loving way. We sit on the sticky floor next to people, we listen to people ramble about the things they are passionate about, and we keep an open heart to what others might have to offer us. Giving in Love is also about receiving in Love. So I challenge you, family and friends, give and receive in love this week even for just an extra hour. It just might change your life, much like it is doing in mine.

Good report from the vet yesterday, he is doing better! He still isn't 100% and there isn't a guarantee he will keep his eye yet, but he is looking good. His cone is off and he is playing with toys again. The one in the picture his grandma gave to him, he loves this squeaky cow. For those of you who were willing to pray for a puppy, thanks. I really mean that, God answered prayer and I know Chance will heal fine on his own!

I went downtown yesterday to find a fingerprint place that is so new it's not even listed on Google yet, so I didn't know what I would find. My directions sent me to the heart of the city. When I got off the bus not one, but two people asked me where things were! I didn't exactly have an answer for them but the point is they asked! I looked like I knew where I was going and that I was from here:) That made my day. I then found the building I was supposed to go into and learned that it was an old bank that was built in like 1902, this is a picture I took from the stairs. I was loving this old building, maybe I'll take you there if you come to visit some time!

I have been going down to the community center lately to work out and it's been a mostly good experience. The weight/aerobic room is tiny but it works! As a side note, our shower clogged and is out of service for about 24 hours, thus forcing the need to use the community center showers. I've showered in many showers...gyms, hotels, home,(some very old and some very new) but none like this. My shower today was an entire aerobic experience in itself. Let me walk you through this experience, don't worry I'll keep it at a G rating. I walked in to find clean showers, this is more than I expected. I got all set up and found the first obstacle; turning the water on. You know those annoying hand washers that you push down rapidly and hope to get a total of 15 seconds of warm water? Well, that was how this shower worked. When you get these stupid things for washing your hands the most annoying part is when you're all soaped up and have to get the water going again...same situation but worse with soap all over your face. Here was the real experience...this was either designed by a very tall person or a complete idiot. The shower head didn't move, it only sprayed one way full force...parallel to the ground, directly into the wall across from it. So here I am pumping the water thing and getting blasted in the face with high powered water, to remove the soap from my eyes. The true aerobic experience happened when I had to rinse the soap off the rest of my body...the water didn't reach so I was jumping in the shower. Needless to say, my workout today lasted a lot longer than I expected. I really hope the shower is unclogged in the morning for a better shower.

Friday: I had the chance to be a participant in the community of Night Strike. Nick blogged about it so you can check the details there. But, last night here are a few things are learned from the homeless that I met. First, I got to see Lance and Sandra Jean again and God has blessed them with an apartment!!!! What an answer to prayer. This is a couple who I could talk so much about, they have amazing knowledge of the homeless in Portland and have been sharing some of that with me. But, what I wanted to say was that I was informed that if anyone is sitting or laying on ANY street or sidewalk in the whole city of Portland, the police will either ticket you or take you away. Now, I met another man named Mario who got to experience Night Strike for the first time who lived in Beaverton. He was telling me about how the police were even stricter out there about homeless. So...if the city isn't providing a fresh start (can't get a job without an address, can't get an apartment without a job...) then that still leaves a problem of homelessness. Then, if you can't be homeless in Portland or any of the surrounding suburbs, what are the homeless to do? Anyway, food for thought for now, I'll blog more on this another time.

Saturday:
I got to spend my day roaming downtown with my BFF Jolleen. What a joy it is to be in a wonderful city with someone you love! I highly recommend the rush of jumping the light rail to train to bus to get to Made in OR, Powell's, and the Saturday Market. What a bustling time with crowds of people...I loved it!

My evening didn't go so well. After Celina and I had just had a talk about Exodus (which was wonderful) and were ready to get jammies on, we took Chance out. MY DOG HATES CATS, I HATE CATS (unless they are declawed an indoors and cuddling with someone else)! Well, one had roamed into our back yard and Chance chased it into a corner bush. The cat let out a few scratches and my puppy my very well loose an eye...literally. We had to go to the Emergency Vet and opted not to do the $3,000 surgery and pray that it will heal with the meds they gave him. If he doesn't heal alone they will have to remove his eye. I am so choked up even as I type this...Hence the reason I'm blogging at 2 am. I never thought I would be one of those who would ask for prayer for a pet...but will you pray? Even if you can't think of praying for a pet, think of praying for our finances and we have unexpected vet bills. I think I finally got a closer glimpse as to why moms freak out when their children get hurt. I just hate to see my puppy in so much pain.