Drama

I want to be sketchy since this is a public blog.....but there has been a lot of drama with the ministry I volunteer with, Homestead.  These girls are so brave to leave everything and everyone they've known to come here and start a new way of life.  They have no idea where to start and have few tools to draw on.  Many are giving up drugs and are facing pain they haven't had to feel in a long time.  They have such strong emotions they don't know how to handle.  They are just figuring out Who God is and all He can be in their lives.  It is very cool to watch them learn how to reach out to Him and how to rest in His arms but they are overwhelmed and scared and its all so new for them and so hard.  The girls really lean on each other and help each other but there is so much togetherness and they don't have all the skills they need to get along so its super stressful.  And as they resort to old, destructive patterns which don't work here, it causes drama and difficult situations for all of us.  We are exploring new territory and finding that the secular system has severe limits in helping them.  All we can do sometimes is pray with them and hold them.  They are so hungry for God and want Him so much but also don't know how to reach Him or how to accept all He offers.  And it is hard.  The house Mom, Sandy, has such a hard job and really no breaks.  God is loving the girls through her.  She makes mistakes, we all do, but the girls know she loves them.  Some meaningful quotes I've  heard from the girls lately:  After being told "I love you", one of the girls said, "I'm not used to that, I've never really had that."  After a huge rage, we were discussing strengths and pointed out that one of the gals is strong and she said, "hell yes I'm strong" then quickly teared up and said, "but I'm not really all that strong."  When I was up all night with a gal in the ER even though I felt like crap, one of the girls said, "I don't understand why you are doing this for me."  These girls are amazing.  Will you please pray for them?  They are T, C, D, S, and T.  Pray God continues to give us wisdom, too, and strength and endless compassion.  

Home

Yesterday I got up and had quiet time on the porch with Cheerios and iced coffee and was joined by Joel.  We showered up then took off for campus as he had to work.  I hung out in the coffee shop, oh, I blogged from there, and then I walked to the bookstore.  I bought Scott a coffee mug and Dad a putter cover then went back to the library.  Joel came out and said he could get off work early,  this gave us time to walk over to a market area for lunch.  We walked under the freeway to a part of LA I hadn't been in before. It felt like a foreign country.  And I was starting to feel sad about leaving Joel.

We decided to eat Thai food because the Mexican was just a bit too authentic And the other choice was burgers.  We ate and Joel,bought a Royals hat then walked the long way back to his house.  I packed and we eventually left for the airport.  Mike drove us in his car which was a huge relief because Joel is not ready for the freeway in his car and LAX can be crazy busy.  I hugged Joel hard, hugged Mike, then Joel said he got the last hug.  I went into the aiort and began my uneventful trip home through Phoenix.  It was good to see Scott and I talked all the way back to Manhattan.  The roads in Kansas are like driving on velvet compared to all the other states I drove in on my trip (6 by the way-- Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California).  

Today Scott is still,asleep and I feel lonely, tired, a bit disoriented, and happy to be home all at the same time.  I still feel like I'm with Joel, that I could just walk into his kitchen and eat my leftover Thai food or say hi to his friends.  I need to talk to him today and get settled in here.  And I need lots of sleep.  Off to teach water jog then go grocery shopping!

Monday night with Joel

We relaxed all evening and I napped then Joel left for a meeting.  Yes, he drove his new car with the manual transmission.  I walked to the grocery store two blocks away to get Joel some stamps and coconut oil.  When I got back, I wanted to sit in Joel's room and wad but I realized I have such a short time here so I went out back to join his friends.  There are 11 people that live in the DKA house, about half are girls.  Each are unique and very nice.  I like them all.  I invited Jill who was in the living room to join me and then sat and talked with Hunter and Allison, Jill, and Sarah until Joel returned.  mike came shortly after that.  He is 24, a lot of fun, super friendly and helpful.  I enjoyed talking to the kids.  Allison's mom's name is Debbie Clark and she's a clinical social worker.  Turns out Sarah's mom is too!  After awhile, Clarisse came blowing in full of hugs.  She came just to see me!  We had a great time just hanging out chatting.  At some point they set up tables for their variation of beer pong, called triangle pong.  After a brief debate in front of me on whether or not to drink with me there, they unanimously decided to go for it!  It looked like so much fun, I joined them!  Joel didn't know what to think about me chugging my beers on my turn as he was sipping his.  You gotta get back in the game!  We didn't drink all that much at all but we did laugh quite a bit.  The kids got a kick out of me putting a pic of it on my Facebook wall.  

I turned in to bed eventually and Joel came to get his guitars to play then slept on the couch again.  

I slep well again then We got up this morning and had Cheerios on the front porch then got ready and walked on campus for Joel's job number two out of three jobs.  He works in the cinematic arts room in the basement of the library.  I am set up in a courtyard outside a coffee shop within the library.  He works til one then we'll grab a bite to eat then Mike will take me to the airport.  Joel decided he's not ready after all to drive his stick car to the airport.  Whew!  

I've had such a great visit here.  I still can't believe I drove here by myself.  In some ways it seems like a huge deal but then it seems like not that big a deal at all!  God was with me for sure.  I really like Joel's friends and his house and lifestyle.  I don't care for the driving here at all and think the standard transmission may be less than ideal.  He is thrilled with his car, though.  I saw parts of LA that I hadn't seen before this time which I liked but there are too many people and cars.  I really felt more of a culture shock this time that I had on my previous visits.  So excellent to spend time with Joel.  He's such a great kid.  

Joel Monday

I woke up at seven Cali time and it was super quiet at the house.  I slept really well.  I made my way to the front porch and there was poor Jill, Joel s ex.  She'd been locked out of her apartment and stayed with a friend who had to leave for work.  We sat and chatted for quite awhile.  She s cue and nice.  I hope she and Joel work out the friendship.  Joel just isn't ready for something serious right now.  We drank iced coffee and ate Cheerios and i did my Bible study.  Joel got up around nine so i showered and made him done eggs.
We decided to go to Santa Monica so we got back on the freeway and went about 20 miles.  Santa Monica is pretty, remind me somewhat of the plaza area in kc.  We walked around and got Joel some shorts in a thrift store Hannah and Leah would have loved.  We went to the pier and had coffee then meet Joel s friend Mike. We went to the arcade and played a few games including air hockey then i had to go put my feet in the ocean. The beach was crazy crowded and Mike showed me the sand crabs.  Yuck.
We then spent the next hour or so driving around to restaurants that were all closed and grabbed a buffer at Islands.  I think that makes about five burgers in a row for me now.
One more crazy trip on the freeway and we are now back at the house testing.

Joel Day One

I am tired which makes it even more surreal that I am here.... Joel and I have organized his room, folded his laundry, taught him to drive a stick, walked across campus to Chipotle, bought a meal for a homeless person and grocery shopped all since I got here.  He is now playing his guitar for me.  

I am.alive and.in LA

I am still shaKing from the Los Angeles freeway but i am here.i thought was doing great then the freeway started doing insane things.i called Joel panicked then found his exit and had to  change like 50 lanes but i am here!

Almost There!

I drove 650 miles today.  Finished one book on cd and started another.  Stopped in Salina, Utah and ate at a Mexican restaurant for an early dinner then back on the road.  Scott and I texted and talked and planned ahead and i drove right to the Clarion Suites he reserved for me in St George, Utah.  I saw the pool while checking in, threw my stuff in the room and changed and was out in the pool within 5 minutes.  I tread water then relaxed and shut my eyes then sat in the hot tub.  Back in the room I did my Bible study then finally got my blog to post!  Am now lying in bed trying to unwind. 

Tomorrow I only have 391 miles to drive and I will be with Joel.