Louisiana part one, landscapes.

Heritage is an interesting thing, it follows you around wherever you go. From very young age a deep sense of heritage was instilled in me; I've always felt linked in some way to my family history. Last spring I felt particularly burdened to return to Louisiana with my father to begin exploring our heritage down there (begin for me, he has been doing this kind of thing for years). There is a generation in that area that still speaks french, but the language is quickly, and very sadly, dying among the cajun people; I developed the desire to meet some of these people, beginning with our family, and to photograph them and the area. 

At the time I shared my thoughts with my dad, hoping that in the next year or so we'd be able to make the first trip together. A few days later my mom called telling me that she had a plan, and in typical Hardee fashion, a last-minute trip formed; few weeks later, my father, my younger sister, and I were on the road heading for Mississippi and Louisiana. 

We only had a couple days, and I feel like it was barely a beginning, but it is amazing the connections that can be made over 2 days. I met some of my 1st, 3rd and 4th cousins, and 2 great great aunts one of whom's mother tongue is french. We learned details of our family history, and heard so many stories. What a soulful trip it was, learning about a once rejected, almost forgotten people, who's culture is still quietly alive, just below the surface. I look forward to returning, I expect this will be an ongoing project for quite some time. 

So, here are a few of the landscape images from the small city of Lake Charles and from the bayous that run beside the highway... 

Prayer for the city.

I had the privilege of being involved in organizing 48 hours of prayer for Montreal in a prayer room that was created downtown this past weekend. I was a really beautiful time of intercession and unity among believers. We were praying specifically for the downtown borough Ville Marie. I was asked to photograph specific key areas in Ville Marie that are somewhat representative of certain aspects and industries in the city so that we could pray over these places and the activities that take place at each of them.

The corner of St. Catherine and St. Laurent- praying for those caught in the sex industry

Place Des Arts- praying for the arts community

McGill University- praying for education

UQAM- praying for education

Concordia University- praying for education

Atwater parc- praying for the city's homeless

Place Ville Marie- praying for the business community

A man raising his hands in worship during the 48 hours of prayer for Montreal

Welcome, 2011.

One of the things I love about flying is that it forces me to sit still; it removes me from my normal world into an in-between where I can more easily reflect. Usually I don’t sleep the much night before flying, so I’m tired; too tired to read or make friends with other passengers, but not quite enough to fall asleep. So I get to let my mind wander.

Today’s airplane experience was no exception. I was up late last night spending time with good friends, packing, and talking with my little sisters. The soundtrack to my first flight was The Tallest Man on Earth, which is perfect for daydreaming. I was excited to see the Charlotte skyline from above just before settling in for the flight. 

I’ve been thinking through the past month or so and all that has happened and all that the Lord has done in my heart and mind. I am constantly amazed at how he works and his grace in my life. I am so thankful for the rich family heritage that I have been given, and the part that I play in my family’s story. I am thankful for the blessing and opportunity it has been for me to spend these months in Montreal. I am learning bit-by-bit more of the fullness and beauty of the body of Christ and what real fellowship looks like among broken people. I have seen Jesus work in some seemingly impossible situations to bring reconciliation. I am thankful to be able to enjoy such an incredible and unique culture. I am thankful for my many friends that are all over who continue to encourage and support me. How did I get so lucky to have such fantastic people around me? I am incredibly blessed to have them showing love and truth into my life.

This New Year is one of the first I have entered into with few expectations. It is an adventure following Jesus, and I am excited to see what we’ll do together in 2011.

Detroit Airport, 1/2/11

from the darkroom.

Here is a little sample of the 35mm work I've been doing in my darkroom. All photos were shot in Montreal. I love black and white. I love this city. 

Parc Jarry

Storefront, Parc-Extension

Metro Outremont

My neighborhood, Parc-Extension

Downtown Montreal

My Neighborhood, Parc-Extension

Metro Jean-Talon

Metro Jean-Talon/Metro Beaubien

Metro BerryUQAM

Metro BerryUQAM

Mont Royal

A little bit of Toronto

Montreal is a Laboratory.

Right now I'm sitting by a window in La Grand Bibliotheque in downtown Montreal and have been reflecting on all that has happened over the past 6 weeks. First of all, I cannot believe its been 6 weeks already! Time has a way of tricking us, the more we fill it the faster it goes by. My time in Montreal certainly has been very very full, which is why blogging has fallen by the wayside, I've needed the time to process all that has happened before I could really write about it.

The only word I can think of to describe this DTS is holistic, it has been challenging and exciting and thought provoking in so many way; in areas such as personal spiritual growth, ministry in an urban context both theoretically and practically, community life, finding areas to get involved in the city. I've learned so much about the Christian network in Montreal, it is so small that everyone must work together. Every ministry is very connected with every other ministry in the city, I find this so unique, especially after living in places where there seems to be more division in the church than there is unity.

The past few weeks I've begun helping at St. James, a drop-in center for the homeless and destitute. Most of the folks who come are dealing with serious substance abuse problems and in most cases mental instability. St. James offers them the opportunity to spend their days off the streets, have a meal, take a nap, make art, and enter into a supportive community. The staff also helps them with handling their finances, and finding jobs and apartments. Mainly all that I do at St. James is build friendships with those who come and helping the staff with whatever they need. There is such a beautiful community among the men and women who come to the center, in spite of their circumstances they show so much love to each other. 

Last week we spent time with a (brilliant) man named Glen Smith, the head of Christian Direction. Together we went through what the bible has to say about cities, looking at God's heart for the city, and the call of believers in cities. Afterwards we took all that we learned in scripture and all that the Lord was speaking to us individually through scripture and each developed a 'theology for cities'. I was most moved by the Jeremiah 29, when God calls Israel who is shamed and in exile, to become intimately rooted in the city of Babylon and its structure (socially, economically, culturally), praying on behalf of the city, because "in its welfare, you will find your welfare" (Jer 29:7). He calls them to live as the people of God in this foreign place, seeking redemption and goodness for the city.

We also spoke with Glen about what this means practically for a city like Montreal. We met his daughter who has begun a project with some kids in poor neighborhoods, teaching them basic financial skills and budgeting. They recently gave this group of children $100 and have helped them start a business making chocolates to sell over the holidays. The kids decided themselves that whatever profits they make will be given to a charity. What an awesome and creative idea! Not only are they teaching kids how handle money and giving them practical experience, but most of these children come from broken families and live in difficult circumstances and Glen's daughter and the staff are believe in them and are showing them how to work hard and persevere.

I am so blessed to have been GIVEN everything I need for a darkroom, which I set up in my laundry room. I'm working on a handful of different photo project which are all really exciting.

Yesterday I had a meeting with a wonderful lady named Daria who is the director of 24/7Prayer in Canada. Daria is also involved with organizations that are working to bring awareness to the sex and human trafficking industry in Montreal. I learned that Montreal has one of the biggest human trafficking industries in North America, but what is crazy is that it is so well organized and hidden. We talked about what is happening in Montreal and how I (and Amy, another girl in ywam) can be involved. Right now Montreal doesn't have a prayer room, but we talked about what we could do to get momentum going in the city to start one. We will start working on the details of having a city-wide 48 hr prayer event with all the churches in an area in the middle of the major Universities as well as near where there is a lot of prostitution.

Please be praying for me and the DTS team. Pray for us as we are each finding our place to get involved in and serve the city. Pray that we will be open to what the Lord is speaking to us during our weeks of training. Pray for unity within our community, we have definitely been facing the challenges of living in close contact with people from other cultures and who came with different expectations. Pray that my French will continue to improve. Pray that the rest of my support will come in the next 1.5 months.

I'd like to thank everyone who has encouraged me over the past month and a half, you really have no idea how much it means to me.

a beautiful beginning. DTS days 1.5

I arrived in Montreal monday evening after a a long drive and a few quick visits with my best friend, one of my dad's college friends, and my family in New Jersey. The immigration process wasn't nearly as terrifying as I had imagined it would be and thankfully I had no problems getting a "non-salaried religious workers visa." When we first pulled up to my brother's apartment, he ran out to meet us, gave me a big hug and said "welcome home." I spent the part of the week with my family, shopping, walking around the city, visiting a museum, and seeing friends. We threw my dad a surprise 50th birthday party (a month early...) with all our friends from up here, it was so wonderful, like a huge family reunion.

I moved into my apartment Thursday afternoon, and the DTS started Friday. We met at 8 am at the Jeunesse En Mission (YWAM) office at 8am to be given a task and to meet everyone. Our DTS has ten people from all over the world; 2 men from France, 2 men from Holland, 1 man from Brazil, 3 ladies from Canada (2 anglophones, 1 francophone), 1 lady from Switzerland, and me. The DTS staff gave each of a list of places and things around the city we needed to find and photograph, and a metro card. It seemed easy enough except they gave us no addresses and no map, and some of the places were pretty specific, for instance we had to photograph the 4th floor of one of the local libraries.

My partner was Jisca, a girl from Sherbrooke, a town about two hours from here. We managed to get find a handful of maps and metro maps and made a plan of the best way to find as many spots on the list. The first place we went to was pretty tricky, and we ended up wasting an hour and a half walking around aimlessly and waiting for a bus that never came. We decided after that to ask folks for help so we wouldn't waste so much time. We made it to about 7 spots before running into 3 other teams (who were chilling in the library). At that point we all decided that we were tired and wanted to take a break from the game so we all went to a little cafe and hung out until it was time to go to our rendezvous.

It was being forced to spend time figuring my way around the city, and even though it was just for a day I feel like I have a pretty good handle on the metro system. I've also enjoyed getting to know my group, everyone is from such different backgrounds and were all brought here by unique reasons circumstances. I've also spoken so much more french in just the past two days than I have in quite a while!

This morning (sat), one of the DTS staff members took a few of us to the Jean-Talon market, a HUGE farmers market with local produce, meats and cheeses, and pastry and bread shops. It was really fun! A few of us girls bought some produce for our apartment and did a little more exploring.

Thats all for now, things will really get rolling around here on Monday. Next week will be one of mostly orientation, and I believe we will begin studying Genesis together.

I really love this city.

Support letter

Friends and family,

Many of you know my time in school at Belhaven is coming to a close and I will be graduating this summer. My experience in college has been exciting and challenging both artistically and spiritually and I am looking forward to the next season in my life.

This coming October I hope to attend the Urban Cultures Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Montréal with the Christian ministry with Youth With A Mission. Most of my life I have been traveling with my family to Quebec for both missions and to spend time with friends, and now I feel the Lord is calling me to spend some extended time there working in ministry.

The heart of YWAM’s outreach in Montréal is to initiate love towards those in the city, by ministering through the arts, social justice programs, church planting, working with immigrants and refugees, working with college students and building relationships with those of other cultures and religions.

The purpose of the DTS program is to gain an understanding of post-modern urban culture and to learn how to live as incarnational followers of Christ and to minister in that context. During our time we will participate in classroom training and bible study, work along side local ministries, serve as a ministry intern, and participate in evangelism projects just to name a few. I am also really excited to have the to opportunity to operate in the artistic gifts of dance and photography, gifts that the Lord has given me and I have spent the past several years learning to use well.

The Lord has burdened my heart for this great multi-cultural and French speaking city and I am looking forward to serving him in any capacity.

I am asking for your prayers and personal support. The cost of the 8-month program is $9000, which includes transportation, tuition (classes and ministry), and living expenses. I am trusting the Lord to help me raise support by 10/1/10 and people such as yourself will be important in accomplishing this.

Any help you can give is much appreciated. I will be updating supporters regularly through emails, letters and a blog.

Financial support can be mailed to:

The Journey

4101 Northview Dr. Suite C-2

Jackson, MS 39206

(Please make checks out to The Journey with "Alyce, Montreal) in the memo