Greetings from East Garfield Park! I’m finishing up my
fourth week in Chicago, my third week of my placement at Breakthrough Urban
Ministries, and I just finished my first drumming class at Frist Church of the
Brethren.
Even though I’ve only been here for a few weeks there have
already been many lessons learned. 1) Communication is key, 2) Confirm,
confirm, confirm, and 3) When the weatherman says there is a 10% chance of rain
you should always take your umbrella; if you don’t take your umbrella you’ll
end up standing in the pouring down rain for thirty minutes while waiting on a
bus.
We can’t learn a lesson unless something bad happens or
something goes wrong, right? There have been many struggles in the last few
weeks; struggles so hard and frustrating that I wanted to give up. Then there
was a series of thoughts that entered my mind: why am I doing this? What am I
here for? What am I supposed to learn? Then I realized a common theme. “I”
These are very self-centered thoughts. I was trying to do these things on my
own. I can’t do any of this on my own. I really had to change my way of
thinking about this year of service. What does God have in store for me? What
does God want me to learn? Why does God have me here for this year? These are
questions I don’t know the answers to, and I probably won’t get the answers
right away. I have to be open to what He has for me and be ready for it at the
time He chooses.
Now, let me talk a little about my jobs. Breakthrough Urban
Ministries is an organization that has many community outreaches. I’m working
with the Breakthrough Youth Network in the second grade class. The last week
and a half was a bit crazy with the teachers’ strike, but we managed to get
through it. Yesterday was the first day back to school for the kids and they
were absolutely wild! It was quite the rough day. I imagine it was because they
were back in school and didn’t have as much time to release some of their
energy, so it came out when they were with us after school. Each day gets better,
but there are still some struggles. I’d ask that you pray these wrinkles would
be ironed out soon.
This evening was the first drumming class at First Church of
the Brethren and it was so much fun! We have a professional drummer come in and
teach the kids how to play. I’m learning right along with them. We had five
kids tonight with three of them being returning youth from when the church had
the program in years past, and the other two were brand new! I was very
encouraged by this tonight! We aren’t learning on a traditional drum set, but
rather African hand drums. I was having just as much fun playing these drums as
the kids were! I’m really excited about next week!
Some other struggles have been some very real ones. I have
never really considered myself to be “privileged”, but since moving up here to
this neighborhood, I realized I am privileged beyond my wildest imagination. Also,
I’ve never felt like a minority until I was the only white person on the bus. I’ve
never known what it was like to have people stare, point, and whisper and know
they were talking about me. I’ve heard comments like, “What does that white boy
think he’s doing over here?” I remember not only being the only white person on
the bus, but having the only empty seat next to me on the bus. I remember
feeling like someone with a highly contagious disease that no one wanted to
catch. The people getting on the bus were asking if there were seats available
and others on the bus were pointing to the seat next to me. They would ask
repeatedly and the response was, “There’s a seat next to that white guy.” To which
the individuals getting on the bus would reply, “I’m not sitting next to him.” I
had no idea how to take that. I still don’t. As an out, gay man I’ve had people
yell inappropriate things in my direction. I’ve been able to let those things
role off my back and not have a negative effect on me. For some reason, being
the only white person on a bus, or being the white guy that walks up the block
to the train is so much more daunting than anything anyone has ever said or
done to me for being gay. This has been and will continue to be a tremendous
learning experience.
I would ask that you all continue to pray for God’s leading
every step of the way throughout this year. I have a strong feeling that He is
leading me in a direction and I’m so willing and ready to go and extremely excited
to follow this leading. I will keep you all informed as opportunities present
themselves. Some things I’d ask you to pray for: 1) The struggles I’ve been
having adjusting to my work placement, 2) my roommates as they adjust to their
work placements, 3) that God will reveal Himself to me and lead me in the
direction I should be going.
Finally, I’ve received a few emails asking if there are any
things I need. After being here for almost a month there are a few things I do
need. If anyone would like to take care of these needs, I would greatly
appreciate it: 1) Postage Stamps, 2) Backpack (nothing fancy, no flashy
colors or patterns), 3) Light jacket for fall (walking and
waiting on the train could be a bit chilly in the upcoming weeks and months), 4) Bibles (I’m really making it a point
to get into God’s word and study it and learn it. I have a couple translations
but would love to have a few more. I currently have the King James Version
(KJV), The Message, and the New American Standard Bible (NASB). I am open to
any translation that would help me in studying God’s word)
Thank you all so much for your love, support and
encouragement!
Blessings and the Peace of Christ to you all!
