The other night we held our first all team meeting for all the medical/dental coordinators.  This is a team of people who have given countless hours as volunteers to structure the health aspects of the compassion clinics.  They have the hard work of organizing manuals, forms, training, supplies, etc.

and they do it as volunteers.

I knew going into the dinner and meeting that I was incredibly appreciative of that team, but I walked away feeling even more inspired...

Last week was a really exciting time for the Apartment Complex Initiative.  The ministry was the cover story of the Oregonian.  In a well written article the journalist chronicled the ways in which Christ followers are living out their faith by moving in and coming alongside apartment dwellers. Also, the role of the local churches in serving those residents and "adopting" the complex.

More importantly, last week was exciting because it was the first community event at Stone Creek Apartments, the second ACI location.  This is significant because it shows that more people and churches are catching the vision and running with it.  It is also significant in the outreach journey of the complex itself.

The event caught me completely off guard and in the end I felt so excited and energized by the volutneers, the ideas, and the response of the residents....

Miracles. By definition a miracle is "a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency." Compassion Vancouver was a miraculous event. Over and over again the surprising took us by surprise. One of these was the working together of various churches from various denominational backgrounds. All willing to lay down the mantle of ownership and be willing to be part of something greater than the parts. In a day of churches carving out a "name" for themselves on this day the Church....

The weeks leading up to Compassion Vancouver were chaos. Posting fliers, hanging posters, and printing those fliers and posters minutes prior to their needed delivery. In one afternoon we lost all of our one eye clinic partner in the morning only to gain a new one by afternoon and then another by the evening of that same day. In that last week volunteers flooded the online signup, social service agencies came out of the woodwork to join in, and last minute doctors volunteered. That last week was chaotic. Who’s buying the hotdog buns?! Who’s picking up the coffee? Do we have enough shuttle drivers? What about garbage cans!? Recycling for water bottles? Do we have enough water bottles? Even amidst the chaos, however, were reminders of what we’re all about.

Timing is everything. I know this. I know God has a plan. He always comes thru. It
seldom looks like I think it’s going to but He usually lets me in on the plan eventually,
even if it’s after the fact. It’s just when you’re in the midst of it, when you decide to take
this blind leap of faith, it can be easy to forget; especially when you feel like you’re the
only one on the ride.

I have had the great privilege to experience that “click” a few times in my life; that
amazing feeling when you can just tell you’ve stepped into what God has been putting
into place. As I met with a church deacon about a week ago I was fortunate enough
to feel that coming together. As we shared our hearts for ministry in the community I
could see how God had been lining up the pieces for months to get both their church and
Stonecreek ready for this moment. I don’t mind saying it was a huge relief. I knew it
would come eventually but had no idea if it was going to be two weeks, two months, or
two years down the road. I am very thankful it’s not the latter.

We have our first church/community event coming up at the end of August. We still
don’t know exactly what it will look like but I do feel comforted in knowing that we are
in His plan together. That’s partnership.

Waking up before the sunrise on a Saturday morning during the last week of my summer vacation was a difficult task, but I knew it would be worth it - and I was right. From finding a system to best assess medical patients and see as many as possible, to scarfing down lunch because we were overwhelmed with tasks, every last minute of the clinic was hectic and amazing at the same time. The patients were so grateful, the volunteers so friendly, and the medical staff so gracious - it was evident that God was in our presence to help the helpless on this day. One specific elderly man and I somewhat got to know each other and he made my day. He was able to see the doctor, grab some lunch, have dental work done, and make it back to medical follow-up before the day was over. It seemed that I was always in the right area of the clinic when I would run into him and answer his questions or escort him to his next appointment. He was so appreciative of the c are he received and left the clinic with a huge smile. He is just one of the hundreds of reasons that donating my Saturday to strangers will be a fond memory of mine for some time and I look forward to volunteering at another clinic in the very near future.

In early May as I began to mentally compose the summer kids ministry God gave me a picture for the summer. It was the scene in which Jesus took a midnight stroll across a lake. As the apostles where in the boat fighting the waves "Jesus was about to pass by" but their fear of him stopped Jesus. Jesus turned and looked at them. It startles me, scares me, awes me, settles my anxious heart to see him there, standing in the wind and waves....looking at me.
Rockwood is full, bursting, ripe, white for the harvest. In January of this year God asked me to face my fears. So I began the street ministry. Now I fall all over myself in love with these people. Last week while I stood on the corner with one of my favorite ladies she pointed out a group of guys walking past and related the story of the man they beat up the night before. At the same time a stream of sirens blared past on their way to the store behind us. Another robbing, another beating, another proof of brokenness.
God gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have ever lasting life. Christ died for them. So we live, and walk, and breath, and love our neighbors.
The first time I met Elena she said, "There's something special about Rockwood." I agree. That's why we're all here. His blood pumps through these streets.