Finally things are feeling a little more normal in Seattle. And by normal I mean, I feel like I'm back into the Seattle rhythm. Slowly but probably at the rate I can handle I'm reconnecting with old friends, and finding more and more why I loved this place in the first place. And adapting to a different mindset has been quite the learning experience to say the least.
I guess a good thing for me to talk about would be the community here. This is John Swanger's last week as head pastor of Scum of the Earth Church, Seattle, and although he, his son, and wife will be dearly missed I think we're all excited to see what the future has in store for this little grass roots church in the U-district.
As far as the house I'm living in right now, officially named Our House, is getting back into a rhythm as well. Although this last week has been a hard week for all of us, and learning how to support each other, as well as our visitors, we've begun the process of starting community dinners again. And the neighboring houses that have started this year have begun dialogue with us about how to gather as a larger community in the Wallingford neighborhood. It's exciting to see what having four houses full of brothers and sisters in the same neighborhood holds as possibilities. We're starting with maybe a rotating breakfast with each other, and might grow into even bigger things.
Our House is also involved in another circle of friends as well, where the conversation has been just as good. This community is sort of my bridge from my friends here from school, to the time I've spent as a part of the christian traveling community this last year. There's an apartment on capitol hill, a house in ballard, and our house, and gathering together to have talks about being a light in Seattle has been so encouraging. These houses have also been hosting a large number of the post Christian Summer Camp travelers. We're beginning to band together in order to learn what it may look like to shine the light of G-d in the midst of a potential chaos of an economic depression. And not only that, but we've been given the opportunity to help the Murder House in ballard become a more sustainable living environment. We've begun the process of converting the house to run on solar panels, windmills, a greenhouse, chicken coop, rabbit hutch, and compost. It's a blessing to have the opportunity to learn about these things by practicing them on a house that's been threatened with demolishing for the last three years.
And the process of preparing for my trip to Uganda is still in the works as well. I've begun the process of asking people for financial support, and have been accepted for a scholarship from First Presbyterian Church, Colorado Springs, CO.
After a few weeks in Seattle, and can't help but be thankful for G-d's placing me here in a community like this. May the L-rd be praised for the way he takes care of all of us.
Marcus just got to Pennsylvania to spend more time with our friends the Matheneys again. Gary and Seth made it to Minneapolis, last I've heard. And Bailey is in Chicago, spending some time with Nicky.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support, but please don't stop praying for us and the various things we've found G-d calling us to.
P.S.: I apologize if I've been bad at getting back to you as of late. I will do my best to be better about that, but until that day I ask for your mercy and understanding.
