$3.50

I know my mom is dying for pictures but I keep forgetting the cord I need to put them on here. Mom, I'll do it soon!

I have to tell this story that I wish I had a picture to accompany it. There is a man in the neighborhood named Gerry. He's probably 70 years old and he's got some sort of mental disability. But, he is harmless and kind as can be. He's also known as the neighborhood yard man and can do anything anytime...for a fee though. He's always got a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and has to pay for his habit!

My lawn mower has been broke for a few months. One of the neighbor boys was earning some dollars and brought it home busted. After weeks of promising to get it fixed there it sat in my garage, broke. So, Gerry had been promising to come over and fix it, still though, for a fee.

Finally I gave in and him and another fellow came over. He was grunting, and pulling and lifting and then he needed a wire hanger. Everything, down to the lawn mowers, in this neighborhood is ghetto. Almost every mower I've seen has the part wired shut that automatically keeps it turned on whether or not you're holding the 'keep it on' lever (safe, right Dad?). Well, as I was weeding my garden in the backyard it was music to my ears when I heard the rumble of my ghetto old lawn mower. Gerry had worked his magic yet again and had the ol' beater up and running.

However, that wasn't the end. In his broken speech he asked if I had any money. Those that know me know that I never have cash (for example, parking at the hosptial a few nights ago...). So i went and looked in my purse. Usually I try to sweet talk Gerry into a free deal, but I figured this deserved some pay. All I could find were three crumpled up dollar bills and the 50 cents in my pocket. I gave Gerry $3.50 and he rode away on his old bike with the milk crate basket happy as a clam.

Alot of people in the neighborhood write Gerry off. Not only is he a child of God, but he is a true asset to this neighborhood and what it means to live community. He came back last night needing gas for his mower. I agreed if it equaled a free lawn mowing while I'm out of town. I threw in a fresh baked muffin (by the kids...) and it was a deal.

This is living in community :).

4:09 AM

It was 10:10pm. There was a child pounding at my door. I was obviously in bed (old lady, yes) and just assumed it was someone wanting to play. I planned on just letting them keep pounding. It didn't stop. Luckily, there was an intern staying with me for the night that thought she better stop the pounding. She hollered up the stairs, "Jessi, it's ____, and she wants you to take her mom to the hospital." In a split second I had my feet running down the stairs with my keys. In that brief moment all rational thoughts were out the window and I couldn't get to her house fast enough, though it's just four doors down. The two little girls got in the car and mom came out. She was barely breathing and consistantly has bad asthma and other health problems. Between gasps she told me how to get to the hospital (and joked about how she easily forgets I'm not from Detroit) and we arrived at the ER.

She walked in, we parked. The parking attendant gave me grace as yet again I had absolutely no cash. I walked in with the twin girls, one in each hand. They had never been to the ER and were anxious to see what it looked like. They also were straining there eyes to find their mother and assure themsevles that she was ok. We had to walk through a metal detector. Though, not too much down here shocks me. We couldn't see her when I walked in. A little panic set in as I knew the condition she was in. The social worker sitting at the desk was no help and I felt so much sadness about how indignantly she treated those that walked in. Eventually, a kind woman who heard me describing her told me where she was and there was a kind brown nurse taking good care of her.

We waited a little bit but after her first treatment they took her 'back' (not sure what that means!). So I took the girls home at 11:00pm. I told the mom to call me back when she was done, both of us assuming she'd spend the night. When we got home three-year-old sister was standing at the door. I found the oldest sister and asked her to put the kids to bed and gave her the update on her mother.

I crawled back up the stairs to sleep and quickly began calculating the hours before I'd have to be up. Somewhere between sleep at 4:09 AM they were finished at the hospital and mom called me. I sprung to my feet back quickly down the stairs and out the door to get her. My rational thoughts of hours until i have to get up were quickly gone as I went to retrieve her. She was smiling, she was breathing, and she was exhausted. I told her the kids were doing great and we'd get them tomorrow for camp. She stumbled into the house, hopefully to peace and quiet and a bed. Hopefully, she's sleeping soundly now, and breathing better too.

I woke up this morning and wiped the sleep from my eyes. Immediately though, I was grateful that I was just four doors down and able to act as the ambulance. I love this family to pieces and would do it again for them or anyone, any time of the day.

Pray for our families.

june 18th, what?

WOW, I can't believe it's the middle of June already. I've been a million places, done a million things, and still have a smile on my face!

My three days in Harlem were awesome. I was blown away by this organization that we visisted. But, also encouraged that we are doing lots of things right and can definitely learn some things from them as well. We were very tired and saturated with information by the time we left. But, it was perfect timing as I really try and get my head around this new position leading programs. So far, so good.

Then I flew straight from NYC to Sioux Falls and had a perfect quick visit. I picked a great weekend and got to be a part of so many things. A proposal, cd release party, a wedding, coffee dates, goodbye to the Swarts and saw all the girlfriends!, celebration for Richie and Al, old friends, camp fires and so much more. It was great to be home. Not to forget just spending time sleeping in and being with my family. My sister bought a house too!!!! It was so fun to be home to see it and be with her for such an exciting thing (it's furnished too, what?!)

Then right back at work at 8 AM the next morning. Two summer interns arrived to help me out and camps began Monday morning! Just the three days we've had so far have been awesome. Anyone that knows me or remembers high school I love to be busy and I love to do a lot of things at one time. Well, I found the right job for that! We had two camps running yesterday. One from Dana's basement as it was supposed to be outside and it rained. But, God is good and we had a great day and saw lots of smiles and heard lots of laughs. The kids are having a great time. We have another week of camp next week and then I leave with the kids for a week of camp in Grand Rapids. They can't stop talking about it!

I'll add some pictures at the end of the week. Not that the week really ends. But, I absolutely love my job. I enjoy coming to work every day and love being a part of this life here at City Mission. It's a great feeling!!

Hope you are all well! Enjoy the sun!

summer is here!

I am so grateful for the change of pace summer always brings! Though it's still busy, it's a different kind of busy where sleeping in is 7:00 and still being at work on time. Who would have ever thought, right?

A few pictures to share with you what I've been up to:

This is Ariana and Bryon. They live down the street. We've been chalking like crazy with a little mix of bubble blowing and bocce ball playing in between.

A cool evening after mowing the lawn. This is a pretty popular event at my house (probably because they get dinner out of the deal). They love this slide that is made for three year olds. They call it their house (Thanks Don and Devon!!!)

My humble little garden. This is my first gardening adventure. I have potatoes, lettuces, tomatoes, watermelon, peppers, herbs, and broccoli growing. There is an incredible program in Detroit called the Greening of Detroit which I paid $5 and they have given me tons of seeds and hot and cold crops. It is awesome! The kids have loved helping me and admitted yesterday they water my garden when I'm 'gone' (i haven't been 'gone' yet...). I'm glad they get to experience and learn gardening.

Breakfast for dinner. Terry, Ashawn, Javon, Geniah, and Brandi. They love pancakes for dinner and I love making the. This was after the previously mentioned mowing day. We spend lots of time around this picnic table on my front porch. It's a beautiful thing.

There's a little sneak peak for you. Lots of fun had between camp lists, summer programs, work days and endless registration forms! I'm heading out fo Harlem tomorrow to check out Harlem Children's Zone (www.hcz.org). This is a ministry very similar to ours but much larger. We are excited to see how they do it (Prince Harry was just there too!). Then straight from Harlem I'm flying to good ol' South Dakota on Thursday through Tuesday. I am so excited to be home to see my much missed family and visit some friends too. Look me up if you're in the area!

Love you!