I should blog everyday...

I have so much to say its overwhelming... So I'm going to give you a bunch of mini posts.

--Its going around--
This past week at Urban Arts "the plague" made its way around... It started with one little girl who came to camp sick... and little by little people got sick. Including me. Really sick. I won't go into detail, but lets just say tacos and oreos... Friday I slept most of the day sleeping and traying to get healthy. Don't worry I had TWO mom's to bring me the things I needed to feel better :) I felt well enough (barely) to go watch the performance. I just sat on the side trying not to infect anyone... The kids were great! It is so fun to see them pull it all together in the end and perform.

--I saw Canada...from the other side of the river--
On Saturday it was decided that Donna and I needed to find something to do... We only got away with sitting around for so long, until Jessi "kicked us out." She sent us to the Riverwalk.
At first we headed in the wrong direction and the best thing we saw was the redwings stadium (Which was pretty cool...). On our way back we saw a party boat... with some very excited people. Donna took a picture... We waved... Then we realized... it was a gay pride cruise... haha. Other than that the River Walk wasn't too eventful... There was a walk for some disease going on. It would have helped to have someone who knew what there was to see... and for both of us not too still be weak from getting over being sick. But, I'm going to be honest, the Canadian side of the river looked a little more exciting... There may have been a carnival on that side... and that might have helped :) When we got back we went to see "My Sisters Keeper" with Jessi... so good!

--It's real life here--
At our church (lifechurchcanton.org) they're going through a series about the check engine light in your life... and this week was about not worrying. At home in Brainerd and at school in Orange City, you know that the economy is affecting people... lower enrollment at school, harder to get summer jobs, among other things... but it's nothing too drastic, from what I see... but being here in Detroit, in the Motor City... its real. The economy and the car industry affect everyone around here... seriously, everyone. It's not a poor people thing... The people we go to church with are some of the people who are losing their jobs. Its incredible... incredible worries, incredible struggles, incredible poverty, incredible faith.
Today Donna and I sat in on a meeting at City Mission (after at least 2 people told us we didn't need to go yesterday... and then this morning Dana called us at 8:30 to tell us to come to the 8:00 meeting... yep!). Really though, I'm glad we got to be a part of it. The meeting was about City Missions vision and their new and changing vision for Brightmoor. Right now they are focused on a small part of the neighborhood. Start small and focus there instead of spreading too thin and not doing any good. Now they want to extend there boundaries and really take over Brightmoor and they're starting a church. It's... well, incredible. City Mission doesn't have much money... and they want to expand... because God wants them to expand. They see the need, feel God's call, and are stepping up. Most of the staff isn't getting paid... or getting paid much and they still come in everyday and pour into the kids, work on the curriculum, write grants, do whatever needs to happen. wow.

--I miss the kids--
This week most of the kids are at camp with Jessi. After spending two weeks with them non-stop... two days without them has been a little lonely. There are still some kids around in the neighborhood but no programs at city mission. I don't know what I'm going to do when I leave them for good... but let's not talk about that.
Don't worry we still have plenty to do without Jessi and the kids. She left us a good sized list... which includes getting camp forms. This is a job and half. But really, if a few people don't get back to us soon... we're running down on the list. "Come back from camp!"

--Purity and Holiness--
This is the name of the Bible study we're doing. Honestly, the first week when we learned what the Bible study was, I wasn't too excited to do another purity study... been there, done that. But this is different... it is more about living a pure and holy life than just avoiding sexual impurity. I think I mentioned this... but the pastor of the church co-wrote the book, so both of them come in and talk with us... its pretty sweet.
A few things that stuck out from tonight:
- Purity is not about being perfect-> its about the intent of the heart to do things God's way.
- "There are better reasons to be pure and holy than to be impure and unholy."
- The way girls dress and the way it affects guys, is not just a girl problem. It's a guy problem too. [This is not said enough! Way too often girls are told that basically it is their problem that guys look at them when they dress in certain ways... tonight Bob said "guys this is your problem you need to learn to look away and walk away (II Tim 2:22)" I realize that this isn't something incredibly profound... its just not said enough and I was glad to hear it].
- For you Steggy girls... who have attended the sex talks only you will understand this: Sandi Kinnsinger special. We talked about it... for a long time.
--On a rant about something Bob asked if the women had ever felt uncomfortable because of the way I guy looks at you. Being a couple of white girls in the ghetto... yeah, Donna and I have felt that. Playing basketball in the streets is real common around here and today we drove through a game of about eight guys in their 20's-ish...yep, felt it!


Well its getting to be past my bedtime...
Pictures will come as soon as I get my camera cord back. I promise.