When I move you move (just like that)

One of my favorite stories in the Old Testament is the account of the Israelites journey through the wilderness.  Through that rocky and unpredictable time, God was using experiences to not only teach them true trust, but to prepare them to be the people of God He had called them to be.  To prepare them to inhabit the land that he wanted to use to bless all people through them, as foretold long before to their father Abraham.

In this long and painful journey, they were instructed to watch the cloud above the arc by day, and the fire by night.  When the cloud moved, they moved.  When it stayed, they stayed.  Waiting, watching, trusting.

I always hope, in this story, that it got easier for them.  You know, like after awhile it was second nature to trust God fully and rely on his timing.  However, when I look at my own journey in  following God, I can't say that each new wilderness has gotten easier, or that I really understand fully what trusting in God truly means.

God has been using a particular situation in my life to teach me new levels of trust.  As you know from stories in this blog, God has been very intentional about giving me a heart for Chicago, and in particular, for East Garfield Park.   I have walked forward in faith and can see God working in me and through me as I continue to commit here.  The practical next step was finding a home to buy, and after much searching and praying and all kinds of obstacles, we found a place that seemed like it was the right step.  When we walked in, this is the first thing I saw:

We had just been through looking at house after house where we were going to have to ask people, who had been renting for years, to leave.  I was losing sleep over from the conflict it created in my spirit.  When we walked into this vacant building, and saw this, I sensed God was moving.  The fire was moving,  and I was committed to following, in all of the unpredictability, in all of my human doubt.

These past 3 months of working with trying to get this house has been one of the most intense experiences of my life.  There were a couple of times lately where I stepped back and asked God if I had been too eager? Had I mis-read his leading?  I won't bore you with every detail, but over and over there seemed to be things that were happening that needed a miracle to get through.  Every time, when I was on the brink of doubt, a piece of the puzzle would get solved.  We would take a step forward.  The cloud would move.

We are on the last leg, the last week or two of closing.  The numbers from the lender came back low, so my project manager and I are working to make something happen with them.  I've committed every cent from every savings account.  The seller's lawyer threatened to pull out if we weren't closed by the 31st but so far she has stayed in the game.  The title has been cleared from demolition court. The bank has approved the short-sale and allowed 2 extensions.  The architect is waiting.  The contractor is waiting.  And we are waiting, watching the cloud.

I will ask you to pray with me for faith and trust as I wait on God.  For blessings on this house and whoever will own it and bless this neighborhood with their presence.  For the things God wants to accomplish here.  For the Prince of Peace to reign.  For my wonderful roommates Hillary, Josh and Brian and I, as we make plans for the future, even in the unknown.  Chicago just witnessed their 500th homicide in 2012.  The man was only 40, and had grown up on my old block here in EGP.  We long to continue to make this our home, to live alongside these neighbors as they become our friends and family, and to see Christ's love spread like wildfire.   I long to have a house where "Hesed" can be experienced - lovingkindness and tender mercy.  I imagine families and foster kids and open houses and block parties, joy and love and sharing.  I imagine the kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.

and then, God...

waited.

Becoming the Beloved Community

"Noncooperation and boycotts are not ends themselves; they are merely means to awaken a sense of moral shame in the opponent. The end is redemption and reconciliation. The aftermath of nonviolence is the creation of the beloved community."  Martin Luther King Jr.

When one fights injustice, it is easy to get caught up and feel that the action in of itself is the goal, when really, the goal is deeper.  The goal is to become the Beloved Community.

This past 6 weeks I have had the privilege of attending Breakthrough's "Race Conversations" class.  The goal of the class is to talk about issues of Race, Privilege and Inequality in a safe space where experiences can be shared and where everyone can leave with a better understanding of each other and the racial divide that still exists in our city and country.

These times have been heavy, sad, but have also greatly deepened my understanding of what my now neighbors face on a daily basis.  It also reminds me that before becoming one, and before even moving to action, we need operate from a paradigm that includes perspectives outside of just our own.  

I have had the privilege of having my roommate Josh join me at the class, which has allowed for many great discussions on the walk home and with our other two roommates.  We've also become close with the others in the class, and look forward to these new friendships remaining past the 6 weeks we've been together.

A couple of weeks back my and I ventured out to a great little vintage theater here in the city, Music Box, to see "The House I live in", a documentary about the current judicial system as it pertains to the War on Drugs and race.  I would highly recommend gathering some friends together to see it.   Another great clip to check out is an interview with Michelle Alexander, author of "The New Jim Crow'. 

Change your paradigm by becoming informed 
Take action
Become the Beloved Community

and then, God...smiled

(For more information on the next Race Conversations: Becoming the Beloved Community class, contact Breakthrough at breakthrough.org).

Packing Boxes, Putting down roots.

There have been many changes since we distributed the invitation to join our Community House.  Two dear friends jumped on board - Brothers-in-Christ who have been following what we have been doing this past year.  With their commitment and with conversations and prayers of discernment, I decided to pursue a home purchase with vigor.   We got an amazing relator who grew up in the West Side and are close to closing on a house in the neighborhood - stay tuned!

Until then, we are lucky to be moving into an apartment owned by a friend only blocks from our current place, and a mere 2 blocks from Breakthrough Urban Ministries.  This gives us the ability to rent month-to-month until we are free and clear to move into the new place, without leaving the neighborhood.  We are excited to finally be all together in one place to start molding our vision for this next phase.  There are dreams of food co-ops, farmers markets, jam making, cooking classes, food distribution and community nights, brainstorming on ways to bless and empower those around us.  

With the excitement comes plenty of sadness as well.  We are moving out of a building and block that we have come to dearly, dearly love.  Countless neighbors have told us that they will miss us and that we are the best neighbors they have ever had.  This is very humbling to me, and shows the generosity with which we were welcomed.  

I am deeply saddened when I hear our neighborhood described in a negative light, or when the first thing people want to know is if I feel safe.  I feel sorry for everyone who can only go off of a 2D perspective fed to them by the news.  We who live here are the lucky ones - the ones who get a 3D perspective.  The stories of the love, community and joy that are beautiful parts of this neighborhood.

I am so grateful for the things I have learned this year, and the relationships I have been privileged to be a part of.  As my downstairs neighbor put it when I told her we were moving from the building: "Well, we will just build on what we have started here!"  

and then, God...amazed me.


“Love is what carries you, for it is always there, even in the dark, or most in the dark, but shining out at times like gold stitches in a piece of embroidery. ”
- Wendell Berry, from Hannah Coulter

Our block's own water park!

My new (to me) bike, B Magee!

                        

Enjoying the Chicago summer

Taking Shawny to the Museum

Week in Oregon and Montana with my lovely family!

Spending time with Grandpa Bob

So much fun riding the train to Montana with my dear cousin Erin Catherine, just back from Senegal!

Join us!

A well-known Portland Church, Imago Dei, recently invited a panel of African-American male leaders to speak on “The Black Male Experience” (http://www.imagodeicommunity.com/sunday/sermon-archive/ title “holla”).   

One of the thoughts a member of the panel expressed was that “Black people don’t want your help.  They want to share in your humanity.” This truth gave words to the exact feeling that drew the four women of the Monroe House (Hannah, Hillary, Gayle and Lauren) to East Garfield last July to begin on an endeavor of intentional community.

Almost a year after our move we have not only found the phrase tried and true, but have come to believe that it is the key to overcoming the racial divisions that have such deep roots in our city.   By doing life together with families on our block and in our building, we have been able to see beyond skin color and culture, and embrace each other as human beings and recognize the image of God in each person.

The desire to share in people’s humanity also informs how we define “ministry” in our neighborhood.  Instead of basing our activities around the question “how are we going to help people?” (Which often ends up being very top-down)  we ask, “How can we share in each other’s humanity?”  We have left “outreach activities” for daily life activities. Little ways of having needs that make us equal such as borrowing a mixer or using a neighbor’s washing machine.  We have found some great common ground with our neighbors, so nights and weekends tend to be full of laughter, reading books, making crafts, and one of our favorites having meals together.

Sharing in humanity with those outside of our doors has to begin with our own commitment to each other.  Those living in the Monroe House are not just roommates, but are living life through love, vulnerability, and accountability.  We believe in simplicity, making room for time and resources to be best used to aid those in need and releasing the control with which money and power often keeps our society in bondage.  The value of creative and loving problem solving is held high, both inside our home and outside of our doors.

We welcome you to come experience our lives first hand!  You can start by checking out our blogs (Hillary- believethatlovewins.blogspot.com) emailing us, stopping by for an afternoon, and joining us for one of our monthly potlucks.

The mission of the Monroe House is to provide a loving environment, rooted in Jesus, where we can share in each other's humanity and honor the image of God in each person that walks through our doors. We see love as the way to overcome barriers that separate us and we seek to practice this love with reckless abandon.

         We would love you to be a part of it!

Photo-Gallery

(For weekly photographs, follow me on Instagram or Twitter: @hannahbonham)

Let's Celebrate LIFE!

The dandelions are out, the trees are blooming, the birds have returned.  Life is all around us, winter has come and gone, but not without a few celebrations of it's own.

Pam-Pam and KK (Pamela and Makayla) turned 5 and 6, born just a year and a week apart.  They continue to be bright spots in my day.  I have the privilege of getting them ready for school each morning and walking them there.  We talk about all kinds of things, sing songs and play "I spy".  Pam declared that we are "just like a big family!" I couldn't agree more!

My beautiful roommate, Hillary, also celebrated a birthday.  We met years ago when she was new to the city and a leader in the college ministry at Willow Chicago that I was heading up.  A couple of years later she also became a roommate at the Roscoe house, and it was during some of those late night chats that we dreamt about living together again someday, and ways we could be a part of bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.  I am truly blessed by her presence in the Community House, and love the many ways we get to do life together!

A couple months back, I found an incredible deal on flights to Portland advertised for only 3 dates - 2 being my parent's birthdays, March 3 and 7.  Little did I know that a month before I this trip  I would lose my dear Grandmommy, who's name I carry (Catherine) and who has always been my special grandparent.  What a gift from God to be able to be with family while I was still grieving the loss.
 

Our Sierra completed 17 years and is becoming more and more of a woman every day, doing the hard work of a balancing school with being a young mom.  We have great late night chats and enjoy watching Nevaeh, now 9 months, whenever she needs a break.  I love her like my own sister!

Our upstairs neighbor's best friend's son also had a birthday! Here we got to experience a REAL dance party, and how these kids learn some pretty interesting dance moves a little too early...

Johnathan turned 14 and I asked him what he learned as a 13 year old and what he wants to see his 14th year be like.  He said "being 13 I learned that running with the bad kids is not good, and that hopefully being 14 I can find some good friends who don't want to do bad stuff."  There were no friends there to celebrate with, only us two from downstairs and his siblings.  I cried myself to sleep that night.

Moments like those are hard, where you realize what our kids here are up against and what little you can do about it.  When there isn't money left for the baby's milk and the only money thats around comes from drug sales.  Where gun shots ring out and deals happen in front of the house.  Where we are woken up from screaming matches and watch abandoned buildings occupied by families with kids  burn as a result of domestic disputes.

But flowers still bloom, the bird sing and we celebrate that Love wins.

and then, God...

reminded us that He. Is. Here.

Thankful

Ever since I started working with and loving the wonderful communnity of 5Loaves at Willow Chicago, I have opted to stay in the city for both Thanksgiving and Christmas, making time for traditions with my homeless brothers and sisters. Many great memories were made in the Roscoe house these past four years withThanksgiving Dinners and Christmas Open-houses. Over and over, I have found that being a family and a support system is a much better way to approach homelessness, and to offer the kind of normal experiences that the rest of the world is doing on those days that they may be missing out otherwise. In doing so, we have not only created family for those without, but we have been over and above blessed.

(Here are a few that we grabbed for a picture this year!)

This year I felt conflicted with also feeling that being in the neighborhood would be an important activity for the day! Luckily, our 5Loaves family was able to participate in a free Thanksgiving meal that Tapas Valencia puts on every year, which was a great treat for everyone and left time for me to go back and be a part of things going on in the house. I was excited to have my cousin Erin with me for the second year, and we were lucky that her brother Jesse flew in from NYC to join us as well!

Jesse, Erin and I arrived back at the house to find the downstairs family Thanksgiving in full swing! Several car loads of cousins had arrived the night before, bringing back home some dear ones that we hadn't seen since the summer.

Several of the girls slept in our spare room the night before, and the kids all came up to do hand turkeys while they waited for the food. We truly felt like one big building family!

The days after things quieted down, giving us time for some of our favorite activities.

Life is full, and we are thankful to God for His many blessings!

and then, God...

Smiled :)

Impromptu babysitting for the ever growing and cutest

baby, Nevaeh!

Watching Elf and making snowflakes!

Learning Dutch Blitz!

Learning about who our block was named after!

Dinner potlucks and community time!