8.26.2008

some recent pictures

a few recent pictures have been added if you want to see:

photobucket.com/traindevie
password:(youngerbrothersfirstname)-(lastname)

Sudden and perhaps unexpected

A long time ago in December of last year, when marcus and I decided to take a trip traveling, we set out with a number of things in mind. We both set out to learn about Christian Community and a desire to see the way that different parts of the body of Christ, and we both new that there would come a time in the fall when we would probably move on to something else.

Then in February we ended up traveling with some other folks and G-d gave us a school bus with a vision. And so from that time on we began learning about Christian Community specifically a nomadic Christian Community through practicing this lifestyle for close to six months.

Now it is almost September (my projected end date for traveling), and all of the members of the "Train de Vie" had been feeling for a while that is was time to move on to something else. So we began praying for insight on what to do. And while we didn't pray nearly as much as we could have nor as much as we would have desired to, G-d gave us an answer to our prayers.

During our stay at Cornerstone music festival we met a lot of different people from all over the place and participated in our own unprofessional version of networking. So while we were staying at the new Scum of the Earth building in Denver with the decision making date, in regards to the bus, drawing near, a friend of ours from Cornerstone showed up.

Brandon stayed with for a couple of weeks being a G-d-send of encouragement, not really knowing our position with the bus. Yet, without knowing our position with the bus, he began telling about some of his visions and desires for the future. And soon enough we began to see his passions for G-d and music. He told us that he had a dream of obtaining a bus to convert to veggie oil, so that he could help ensure the future of some of the music he is a part of. In fact, he told us that some of the other members in his band had come to the conclusion that if they weren't able to tour in a manner more caring for G-d's creation, they wouldn't tour.

So we began talking and praying about how his visiting us unexpectedly like this, our individual needs for the future, and our desire to continue to bless other with the things G-d had given us. And to put it simply, we felt like this was the door G-d had opened for us, and him. So we felt like this was a wonderful opportunity to practice our understanding of the Scriptures telling us to "freely give as we freely had received." And now our friend Brandon has a school bus with a wonderful mural on it, and many other things, that G-d has provided through the beautiful people who have helped us along the way.


So what this means:

For now the Train de Vie crew is now on it's way to Christian Summer Camp in Idaho, and Train de Vie has a new first mate named brandon who has taken it to Portland, for its first steps in a new life. I have plans to spend some time in Seattle after Christian Summer camp for which Gary will come along for (for we don't know how long), Marcus and Bailey will make their way to Michigan and then to some other placed back East with ending plans in Denver again, and Adam has made his arrangements to live in an apartment in Denver.

We want to thank you again for your continuous prayers. If you would like to continue praying for us that would be greatly appreciated, as well as your prayers for Brandon and inevitable future of adventures.


What will happen with this blog in the future will be posted soon.

Thanks for taking the time to read this

8.19.2008

Mansion Kids*

I want to begin by apologizing for the delay in posting on this blog, because I realize that many of our friends and family read this blog to know how we are doing and how to be praying for us. And, we really don't have an excuse for not having posted anything. Our collective apologies.

To give you an update however,.....

The last few weeks have been filled with daily tasks and good conversations. We've torn out old furnaces from the basement (piece by piece), made planting beds, and given more tours than I would have ever expected.

Our average week has looked a little like this:
Sundays; help with the Scum of the Earth Bike Shop, and Church in the evening.
Mondays; normally includes some sort of dumpster-diving adventure to pick up produce, juice, breads, pastries, tortillas, "LARA BARS", and ....
Tuesdays; Vegan community dinner at Josh Peebles' house
Wednesdays; Help with the Scum of the Earth Bike Shop, Bread Baking Class at the Denver Civic Center, and an occasional movie at the Tin Man
Thursdays; a stop by the Derailer Bike Shop, a house dinner, and meeting (to check in with each other
Fridays; normally left unplanned
and Saturdays; normally includes some sort of gather of friends
However, we try to begin every day in prayer together, and normally there is at least one of us at the house working on one thing or the other.

Since our last posting our friend Brandon from Alaska has come to stay with us and therby given us much encouragement.
Our friend Mando has also moved from staying with our friends Johno, Sarah, Aaron, and Julia to staying with us most nights.
And most importantly Bailey has returned from her trip to Florida and is once again in the ranks of the formerly known as "bus kids".

Marcus has been on the hunt for a job and I've spent some time working for United Restaurant Supply Inc. in Colorado Springs and then come back to Denver and begun my short stint in Driving a Petty Cab for Colorado Rickshaw in Downtown Denver in the evenings. Which brings to mind the hot topic of the last few weeks; the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

With the Democratic National Convention approaching Denver is preparing to host the largest group of visitors it has ever seen. And supposedly driving a Petty Cab during this time will be quite the adventure.

This time could deffinitly use a lot of prayer concerning the interaction between protesters, convention goers, and the people of denver who will be trying to live through this potential storm of events.

After our time here, the majority of the people staying at Scum's new building are planning to go up to Idaho, to spend some time with our friends at a camp out called Christian Summer Camp.

Please be praying for the upcoming weeks, during which I think all of us will be experiencing a lot of changes and times of transition in our lives.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, and I will be sure to have something posted with more detail in the near future.


*Once upon a time our traveling band of hooligans was dubbed the bus kids, however, all of us hated this. But as of the other day, we've been dubbed the mansion kids, due to the size of the house we've been staying in.
Still don't know how to feel about this...