Tea and Sweatpants...

Manna Truck is a ministry I've blogged about at different times. It is one that God has used to shape me as a woman, a mother, and a friend.

It's been about a year now since we first started Manna Truck in New Columbia Villa. I visit them monthly and every other month we bring bags of clothing for the kids. Almost every month we are able to also supply the family with basic hygiene products and cleaning supplies. It began with making some calls and asking if we could come visit. The first few meetings were akward and full of expectations. Several of these mother were excited to find another organization to meet their needs. Most of them seemed to have hopes to minipulate us into doing work for them and supplying needs. It started with a relationship like that but Nick and I were determined that God would allow it to be more than that if we were obedient.

The first few months Nick had to nearly push me out the door to go visit these women. I always enjoyed time with them when conversation actually got going but it seemed like pulling teeth to get them to talk even like an acquaintance. Now, a year later, I am excited to see them and find ways to engage in love beyond those monthly "need" visits. Wanted to share some stories about how the Holy Spirit has allowed his Love to reign.

I wrote a while back about two of these moms here . The update is that the relationships DID continue to grow. Mom 1 welcomes me into her home at just about any time day or night. She still has many walls up but I'm proud of her for allowing me to get this close. Mom 2 has become a good friend. Still hard to get ahold of but she's more and more honest with every interaction I have with her. She came to church once, has been to a summer BBQ at our home, and constantly reminds me through texting that she's praying for us!

Another mom came into the picture about February and it's been a wild ride since. Her two children have so much joy and express that every time I see them. She has come to several summer BBQs at our home and we talk on an almost weekly basis. This is HUGE as she has a tendency to withdrawal from the world and seep into depression.

I just recently wrote about another mom here and what a wild ride it has been with this family. On Sunday she brought me traditional head scarfs that had just been sent to her from her family in Saudi Arabia as a thank you gift.

I am so proud of these women, their children, and the one husband in the picture. They've allowed me enough into their lives to love on them. They teach me daily about who God is calling me to be. I desire to have strength and love like they have. In the next month we'll be adding more families to our visitation list and I'm excited for another year of growing with these new moms. Please keep praying for us. As we go deeper we find greater needs. So many needs we cannot meet but just trust the Lord for.

I don't even know where to begin with this post. I am actually part of an incredible experience that breaks all cultural boundaries.

There's this child, we'll call her Tasaline, she is 12. Nick first met her volunteering in her class at Rosa Parks. They spent lots of time together as she had a knack for getting into trouble. So, she was sent out of the room to study math with Mr. Mucci. One saturday two years ago I met Tasaline and she was so kind and polite. I couldn't believe she was one to cause any trouble.

The following summer B Town kids began and I saw Tasaline show up with her 3 younger siblings every Saturday. Again, a sweet girl whom I enjoyed being around.

A year ago in September I began to show up at her home to supply the family with clothing and cleaning supplies though our Manna Truck ministry. For almost 9 months my relationship with her mother (we'll call her Amina) was void of emotion and discussion. Her language is very limited (they've only been in the states 5 years) and withholding emotion is a cultural expectation.

In June we saw Amina with the 3 youngest kids and Tasaline was nowhere to be found. Through Amina's broken English, the help of her 6 year old daughter, and reading hand motions we found out Tasaline was in the hospital.

A few weeks ago though teary eyes I talked, empathized, and tried to communicate my sorrow for Amina and her experience through this as a mother. She asked me to visit Tasaline with her the next day in the hospital.

The cultural barriers that came down in that moment alone was amazing. For her to show emotion, share that with me, and invite me to accompany her to visit her daughter was HUGE!

We pulled up to the hospital and I realized in that moment that her daughter was in the mental ward. I had a new understanding of the whole situation. Tasaline was thrilled to see me and to know she was missed. I simply sat and witnessed the love shared between Amina and Tasline and saw how much they missed each other.

Since that moment Tasline's been transfered to a transitional mental institution, her mother has invited me along several visits, and Tasline is yearning to come home.

Just yesterday another cultural boundary was crossed, Amina hugged me when she saw me! It is not custom for Somali to touch another unless they are very good friends or family so I've withheld my temptations to greet with hugs and handshakes but yesterday she initiated the hug and I embraced her with a silent thankful prayer for how the Holy Spirit is moving.

What a month you have been! You took me on a wild journey and showed me I had strength and support I never knew I had. If it weren't for so many supportive people in my life I wouldn't have made it through. You took me to some beautiful emotional/spiritual mountain tops and some scary dark valleys. I am thankful for you my month of June but please don't be offended if I act a bit excited that August is upon us.

I plan to blog about the following reflections as time permits:
1. Somali friend, her daughter, a mental institution and a beautiful mother-daughter bond.
2. Manna Truck mothers and the lasting effects of committing a year to these women.
3. Thoughts about adoption and how the boys are doing
4. The "internal darkness" that even Mother Teresa experienced.

One woman is a dedicated nurse in Oregon. Her heart is devoted to her husband and his ministry as a children's pastor and her one year old sweet baby boy. Her ability to overcome substantial life glitches and to support others through theirs astounds me. My favorite thing about her is her wisdom and knowledge.

One woman is a dedicated school teacher in Idaho that is currently finding her place in understanding and serving those victimized by modern day slavery. She is an amazing teacher because she loves learning herself! Her recent topic of study is modern day slavery and her recent prayer is finding her roll in that. My favorite thing about her is her ability to find joy and life in the tiniest of things.

One woman is a student. She is currently working on her masters in Public Health (or maybe it's public nursing or something like that). Her studies take her to a far away land where her faith is put on the line. She spends her evenings and weekends with sexually exploited women and teaching them basic sex ed. My favorite thing about her is her deep passion. She is deeply passionate and prays life into all that she sees and hears and touches.

One woman is a school teacher in Idaho and is living the nomadic life. Her commitment as a mother and wife infuse her creativity. She and her husband have been gifted with a talent to make all things beautiful. They are currently homeless (staying with friends/family) for the time while they search for the perfect home to restore into something wonderful. My favorite thing about her is the way she makes ordinary events or objects into something extraordinary.

One woman is a bilingual teacher in Washington specializing in math. She is also a dedicated mother and wife with a huge heart. She is small in size but has enough love in her for all the children she's ever met who have had a disadvantage in life because of the language they spoke. Her undying devotion for equal educational opportunities for children of all cultures and languages is inspiring. My favorite thing about her is her beautiful ability to listen and truly hear others when they speak.

These women inspire me and love me in ways that only God could have known when He brought me to them. I just spent a day and night with these women and my heart is full. I am able to come home and love my husband better and my children better and be inspired in who I am a as child of God. Thank you dear friends for being so wonderful. Life would be so strange and boring without you.