Pontiac dreaming ...

Since God has us staying in Pontiac for the foreseeable future, I have to ask why. We have been praying daily about it because honestly moving is much more appealing and hiding in my house sounds a lot safer, but alas God made me to be relational and calls us to not live in a spirit of fear so instead I pray for what God has us to do. Josh and I are still in the prayer and discussion stage so there is not really much to report. However, I will say that there are many ideas bouncing around. Our church has a challenge for each person to have a block party and build relationships with our neighbors as a way to care for them and bring them to Christ. This totally scares me. However, today I felt he a little nudge of encouragement as I saw and was able to talk to not just one neighbor but two! AND the one has been out of state for 4 years and just moved back! It was encouraging. I love building relationships.

SO while Josh and I still need to pray and talk more, I think that we are going to do it. I don't know what it will look like, but I kind of feel like it is a step out in faith. If no one comes than it will be okay- every step out in faith isn't guaranteed to be a success in our eyes. Right now we are just thinking of having Josh pull the grill in the front and grilling some burgers and hot dogs. I was going to go around and bring invitations. Part of me wants to just throw them in the mailbox and run but I think I am going to go around on my walk and see if I can deliver it in person and talk to them. Perhaps invite them bring side dishes or drinks, etc. I am going to try to take walks often and be outside so I have more opportunities at this relationship building thing.

 I get overwhelmed just writing about it. The cross- cultural barriers, the assumptions, the fears. We are the only white, middle-class family in the midst of a poverty stricken, African American community. I approach the whole thing humbled, unsure, and fearful.... fearful of offending, of opening up my house and being taken advantage of, of who knows what?! Yet, I am reminded in a book I am reading, "Too Busy Not to Pray" by Bill Hybels that when praying mountain moving prayers of faith, Hybels reminds us, "Faith comes by looking at God, not at the mountain." So when I become overwhelmed with the size of this mountain Pontiac, I need to not focus on the size of the mountain that seems impossible and overwhelming and scary, but instead focus on this incredible, mighty, powerful GOD who can do ANYTHING!  

I don't know what God wants us to do but we have been doing lots of dreaming, talking and praying. It is great that we have volunteers to help this community through places like Habitat for Humanity, Grace Centers of Hope, and Lighthouse of Oakland County. Their work is so valuable. But it saddens me how little care these children and families have for their neighborhood, especially the younger ones. Many of older residents take such good care of their yards, houses, and place. But many are now widowed and having more trouble caring for their homes by themselves. I wish we could do more for helping them with some of these home repairs, or that there was a way of doing this. I so badly want  the younger families and kids to take some ownership and pride in their homes and community. I dream of having the local kids pick up the garbage that is just left at the parks....to take care of the spaces they have around them. I dream of seeing my neighborhood care for one another. Helping one another. Serving one another. Yet all around I see so much brokenness. Broken families. Broken homes. Broken trust. The grip of poverty and lack of education, opportunity, community and HOPE is so crippling. Yet, hope  and prayer and God there must be to bring restoration.

So all this to say, I am committed to praying daily for this community in which God has my family. We will take the baby steps he is putting in front of us. And I will trust him with the results. If you would pray with me, I would love the support. Pontiac needs so much prayer. There is so much brokenness that needs God's redemption and restoration. Join me adverting our eyes from the mountain and instead focusing on this great God who can do all things!