Just wanted to post some updates on the new (since July) living situation....
There is an organization in the Twin Cities called Urban Homeworks....(see urbanhomeworks.com for more information), but they through funding are able to take over condemned duplexes in the inner city, fix them up to be a liveable space to live, rent out 1/2 to a low income family and the other half to young adults who are interested in learning more about the inner city life & what that means as a Christian. It forces us to live in an intentional community as a house. In no way are we thinking that by living there we will someway better our neighbors, but more to learn ourselves about living in solidarity with others, outside of our comfort zone. Once a month we have a meeting with all the other urban homeworks houses and have speakers come and talk to us about different issues in the inner city such as poverty, prostitution, homelessness, etc which have all been very enlightening. We are also required to do so many hours of community service per month. This allows us to see the real life issues going on by experiencing them with individuals rather than just hearing about them.
I joined Urban Homeworks this July. I was placed with 4 other girls which I prayed about a lot....who couldn't have been more perfect roommates. Everyone has different backgrounds in life, and has their own unique purpose in our house. I have learned SO much from them, and have very much enjoyed living in a house that cares about eachother through encouragement, having deep conversations about life, sharing experiences, and being intentional about spending quality time with oneanother. Often times when I tell people I live with 4 other girls, they think I'm crazy and are just sure that it's a miserable situation, but it's truly been a great, great year so far. I feel as though I have grown in many ways this year through this experience.
Here are some pictures of our lovely house...
Our house from across the street...our neighborhood is often defined as the "ghetto" although I would disagree after living there for awhile...
Living Room...
Dining Room...
Kitchen...
My Bedroom...
Extra room upstairs often used for relaxing guitar/violin playing or book reading....
And...last but not least....our amazing fake flowers:) Love em!!
