finally back

About 6 months ago, while riding on a train from New York City to Montreal, I began writing. I was trying to as honestly as possible to begin reflecting and processing through the experiences I had had in the months prior: all that I had learned through the dts, and life outside of it; what I was beginning to understand about community; what I was beginning to understand about myself. My attitude at that moment was somewhere between joyful and confused... mostly confused though, it is harder to understand things while you are still in the middle of them.

A few weeks ago I was back on that same train riding through those beautiful mountains and I began writing again. Naturally my perspective was very different, although once again I was in a very reflective mood (gotta love the mountains, they inspire). It was lovely to spend those hours alone, soaking the view and good music, thinking, praying, wondering. Maybe its because it is fall (which happens to be one of my favorite things), but I'm pretty sure that train through those mountains is magic.

Maybe someday I'll be able to make sense enough of what I've written in all of these attempts to process life to share with the some of you. Maybe not, we'll see.

But at last here I am, back in the city and full of anticipation!
I realized why I have been terrible about updating this blog, usually I use photos to tell the story of what is happening with me, but due to quite a bit of trouble with my luggage, the camera I usually use (along with some of my darkroom equipment) hasn't quite made it yet (fortunately my cameras will be here any day now, however if anyone wishes to contribute to the safely-ship-Alyce's-darkroom-equipment-to-Quebec fund please feel free to do so with the donation button at the bottom of the page). So here is a brief update on whats happening with me:

I've started taking french classes, which takes up quite a bit of time, but I'm learning and reviewing much grammar and things that I've forgotten. I started helping out again at St. James drop in center for the homeless; I'm helping more in the art room now than before, which is really fun, and I've learned quite a bit from the guys who come there. I've been doing lots of different things for ywam; doing some work on the website, preparing for the a big ywam conference on the challenge of post-Christendom we are hosting this spring. We are also in the middle of a lot of transition (which is both exciting and frustrating, to say the least), so there have been many conversations about our vision, ideas and plans for the upcoming season, and how our presence in the city and the christian community should change or adjust, if we will have another dts, if we will do something completely different (feel free to email me for specific ways you can pray about this with us).

Thankyouthankyouthankyou to all of those who have encouraged and supported me. It means more than you know.

As I was writing this the mailman came to the door with the box containing my camera, running shoes, extra hard drive, and a few other things I've been missing. woohoo!

you're invited.

Camryn Anne

The people I'm closest to are usually the hardest for me to take honest portraits of.. I guess there are some people of whom I know so many sides it is harder for me to do them justice in a photograph. This was the case with my baby sister Cammi; it took three attempts (bless her heart, she is patient with me) over a span of one month and two countries to finally get portraits of her that I was satisfied with. Here are a few of them.. she is a cutie. 

a little catching up..

A few b&w pictures from this summer in Charlotte. 

missions and good friends

I love hearing about what God is doing.

The other night I was able to spend some time with couple of sweet friends, catching up and enjoying the evening. It seems we are each being led in pretty different directions, but there is always something connecting us.. perhaps because we grew up together, or because in spite of heading to different corners of the world, our hearts are in similar places.

One of the girls, Sarah Kate, is leaving today(!!) for India for 6 weeks. She spent three months in India a couple of years ago with a missions group, and the place and people really took hold of her heart. So now she is going back, seeking the Lord about what her longterm involvement there should be, and helping at Asha House-a home for orphaned and at-risk children. Sarah shared with us about the children she will be reunited with and some interesting interactions she had with people there. She came alive the more she talked about India and the ministries there.

What a joy it is to hear about what is happening in missions around the world; there is always so much hope when someone is led into missions. It gives me energy and makes me excited about pursuing the things that I'm being led towards. 

a quick trip.

Last week I went with my family to Montréal for a week. This visit had been planned for some time, it had been a while since we had all been together with Brendan and Caroline without any ministry happening, and originally this trip was supposed to be when I went up to Montréal to stay, before plans changed.

It was so lovely to be there in the summertime; everything is so very alive! You can imagine in a place that stays frozen for so much of the year, the months of warm weather will be lived fully.. unlike in the south where the heat is often unbearable. Almost everyday was spent outside enjoying the city and our time together as a family and with good friends.

It was a good respite from this odd in-between preparation time. I was sad to leave.

I want to thank you all for showing me support over the last week or so! Over the past few days a number of folks have decided to support me financially on this journey of ministry. I still need 17 individuals or families to commit to supporting me with $30 a month, please pray about joining me in this. You can give with the paypal donate button at the bottom of this blog, or for other ways email me at alycehardee@gmail.com

Downtown Montréal during the fashion and design festival

My ridiculously cool siblings

Dear Friends,

My time over the course of this summer has been both busy and unpredictable, some things have changed and I have been less consistent in communication.

And so, dear friends, it is time for me to inform you of my recent decisions. 

I came home at the beginning of June and immediately began the communication process of raising support to return to Montreal at the beginning of August to work with Youth With A Mission. However, as seems to happen sometimes, my support raising efforts have been slower and more difficult than I had anticipated. After a couple of weeks of prayer, talking with people I trust, and more worrying than I should have allowed myself, I decided to push back my return to Montreal until I raise more consistent financial support (as opposed to moving and hoping for the best).

This was a hard decision to make because my heart is really with the people of Québec and my desire is to return as soon as possible. Whats more, my commitment with YWAM is supposed to begin Sept 1, so I now risk being late and missing the beginning of the Urban Cultures course that I'll be helping with, among other things. However I feel like the Lord is asking me to trust his timing and provision and am at peace with waiting to see what he does. 

So now I am again in the humbling place of asking you for help. 

This past year has been a learning experience of the sometimes precarious finances of a missionary, and the immense blessing of friends who believe in what you are doing. What has happened many times is that I've been unexpectedly blessed by supporters with large gifts, which is wonderful. However now, as I have committed to serving more longterm with YWAM Montreal, I really need people to support me in smaller amounts on a monthly basis. 

What I am asking for at this point is for 20 more individuals or families to commit to giving $30 a month for at least the next year. 

I know for some this amount is quite easy and for others it is a burden, but please pray and consider this. If you have any questions or would like more information on the ministry of YWAM Montreal and the best ways to please do not hesitate to ask me. As always, there is a paypal donate button at the bottom of this blog.

And my favorite part, here is a small sample of the photography I have worked on this summer...

              

Photographs of a Montagnard family living as refugees in the States

Eddy and Ashley

ZCWA summer dance conference rehearsals

ZCWA summer dance conference nursing home outreach