Here we grow---

Experiencing Beauty from Ashes in the most tangible way.

The past week at the garden has been so incredible. Showing up one afternoon after work to find 3 zucchinis ready to take home!

From garden to table. What an amazing feeling to pick a fresh vegetable from a seed that I planted in the ground, then bring it home, cut it up and cook it to serve to my community house. God is so cool.

Then going back on Wednesday to find a few more. It is so incredible to look at the pictures as the process of growth has occurred. Sometimes if we dont keep a close eye we can miss change even if it is in a small way.

Also spotted my first cantaloupe growing!!

This is the cantaloupe & pumpkin bed that is growing out of control! Next to it on the right are the cucumbers.

Just 5 weeks ago, the same garden bed.

That is how I feel about our house, our building, the neighborhood. If we dont keep rejoicing & looking back on moments that we have grown from then we might miss the experience.
Its been only 6 weeks now that we have been living in E. Garfield Park.
None of us can believe that is it! Seems like we've been there for a long while considering how well we have gotten to know the families in our building thus far. We are so in love with them.
Now that we've had time to establish some traditions with them such as reading together at night, happy & sads of the day, sharing meals, eating healthy snacks, playing outside & staying active, & we are also endeavoring on the difficult journey of teaching non violent conflict resolution (this is tough!)

Bedtime stories

This past week the little kids in our building started school! I drove Mikala to school a few mornings since their mom Minesha has to work so early in the mornings.
Mikala just started Kindergarten & is so precious!! We really love her, Pamela (who just started pre-K) and their older sister Sierra who has become a dear friend of ours! Still waiting on her little baby to arrive, she is due any day now.

Mikala in her adorable little Kindergarten uniform. I love taking her to school :)

Sierra was watching a movie with us last night & we were laughing over how she can set her plate on her pregnant belly. Adorable.
She is going to be a great momma.

Sunday evening we hosted house church at our place. This is also a new endeavor that a few friends & I are launching called In the Garden Ministries.
Yesterday night Malissa & I taught on Isaiah 2-6. We have spent the past month of our get togethers in Isaiah. It just seems like God keeps bringing us back to that and we are learning so much through studying together, communion, common prayers, & shared meals.
Last night we talked about the common theme of human pride for the people of Israel and how God has to break us down to rebuild us in the image we were made for, to truly live for the Kingdom. In Isaiah 6 God's true glory is shown & Isaiah asks to be sent to the people with this message of hope. The people are offered a choice to see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, & be healed rather than just continuing on their broken way. God is a God of love, desires us to seek hope & restoration. We are given the promise of Beauty from Ashes. We also have the choice not to be a part of this. Either way God will continue to be a God of love, hope, & holiness.

Last night I also shared the poem that I included in the last post because it has remained on my heart daily and through that I was able to recognize that God really has ordained this ministry & our time together by prompting each of us to seek the Spirit in all things. One of our main focuses is to support each other in our own personal ministry and also come together to collectively learn, listen, & grown.

Last night was bit a hectic simply because some of the kids from the building wanted to come to house church so of course we let them hangout. Its a completely different experience having church in your living room with kids all over the place playing. Above all things though it warmed our hearts just to have them there. For all we know this may be there only 'church' experience and we can rejoice in their child like presence and pray that seeds of love & truth are being planted.
After the message we shared a meal together, all four of us who live in the house were there as well as kids from both floors.

Oh how our love for each other has grown.

Just a little shout out to my lovely housemates Gayle, Lauren, & Hannah.
Thanks for being amazing, pure of heart, & centered on the truth. xo
Hopefully soon enough we will name our house and maybe even have a few new members!

Thanks for reading,

Go in peace.