transition; reflections on a journey.

So much has happened in the month since I last posted anything on this blog. I left Montreal two weeks ago to come back to the Carolinas for a few months. My last few weeks of DTS in were spent processing and reflecting together and individually on our 8 month journey. It was a really good way to finish; there was just a sense, as we went through the last weeks, of the weight of all the Lord had done in each of our lives this year.

We were each required to do a presentation on our internships and sort of sum up what we've learned about ourselves through the process of this year. It was good for me to spend some time thinking through my art process (photography was part of my internship) and how I've grown. What has come to be so real for me in the past months through art making and life is that I see evidence of the Lord's work and presence everywhere. He is there with the things that are broken and hurting and he is found in beauty and joy. This brings me to a place of such wonder, joy and worship; a place where I wish to truly live and experience this life with God with abandon, allowing my photography to come out of that place.

I've also been reflecting a lot on what I've learned about the church and how my perspectives have changed. Its a bit strange being home, where, at least by comparison, Christianity is quite saturated into the culture. I realized at some point this past week, while thinking about the church in Quebec versus the church in Charlotte, that you almost cannot compare the two, they are just in completely different places.

That being said, the big question in Quebec is what should the church look like in a culture that is moving quickly into Post-Christendom, a culture which in recent history has walked away from the church, and barely recognizes the gospel? What's more, the few churches that are there, hardly reflect the culture of Quebec, rather they are like the evangelical, English-speaking missionaries' church culture of 40 years ago. It is a strange dichotomy. Its kind of like when you were a kid and you were given hand-me-down clothes from your cousins in Vermont; it was generous of them to give you their clothes, but they didn't always fit right, and the styles in Vermont are pretty different from what people wore back where you grew up. Sometimes you wanted to pick out your own clothes, but maybe their's were nicer than what you could afford, so you took them anyways. This is a bit like the church in Quebec, a reflection of the English speaking/American church model, complete with translated songs and books. What some Christian leaders and thinkers are realizing is that the American model is for the American people, and in Quebec it simply isn't working.

I have a lot more going on in my head on this subject, but thats as much as I'm going to write about it for now(stay tuned for more!). I love the Christians of Quebec, they have a profound love for Christ, and I've experienced such beautiful community among them. And now what I pray is for a missional, grassroots movement of the gospel coming from the French-speaking Quebecois heart.

My time at home has been very relaxing so far, I'm enjoying my time with family and friends. I am currently in the process of raising monthly financial support for my work up in Quebec. Please consider supporting me on this journey. You can donate through this blog using paypal or for other ways let me know and I can get you more information. Also please pray with me that God would prepare my heart and mind for my return to Montreal to live and serve among the people that I love so much. It is such a joy knowing that I will be returning soon.
                                                                                                             

Metro Parc 

Stairs at the Fraternité Monastique Des Frères De Jérusalem

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

a quick update..

It has been busy month for me.. and I don’t think I would really be doing anyone justice to try to sum up everything, so I won’t.

A few weeks ago a man speaker named Jeff Pratt came and spent a week with us. All I knew about him was that he would be speaking to us about spiritual disciplines. I was excited, at last someone would clear things up for me in this broad and necessary subject. I had no idea that we would have very little actual discussion on spiritual disciplines. Jeff led us into many times of real self-examination and times alone with God to face the realities of our relationships with him, for good and for bad. For me it was kind of scary; I naturally have a difficult time opening myself up to the Lord fully, it is easier at times to keep him at an arms length than to truly become vulnerable. But what a beautiful and honest time it was. Spiritual disciplines are so much more about living than the theories I had always made them, and there is no formula, there cannot be. It has been so good to enter into communion with the Lord with no agenda other than enjoying his presence.

Much has continued to develop during my time here, one of which is my involvement with 24/7 prayer Canada. Plans are moving forward for a 48hour prayer event in the beginning of January, which I am really excited about!

I’m looking forward to heading home at Christmas for two weeks, and I’m looking forward to seeing lots of you then.

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.