A Journey to Mars

July is already here. Its gone so fast. We've lived in Seattle for 10 months.

I went across the street today to hand out sandwiches to the day laborers, dealers and prostitutes. I saw my buddy Ramone. I chat with him every so often, usually he has the fog of alcohol on his breath, but for some reason, not today. He spoke at a normal pace today too which was nice as usually he's slurring so bad I cant really follow his train of thought. I asked why he wasn't drunk today and he said that he has to check in with 'someone' everyday because he got in a fistfight with a police officer a couple weeks ago. He plans on drinking later tonight after the fact. He went on to tell me some more of his story that I haven't heard before... about how he has lived on the street since he was 11 years old. I cant imagine.

We were interrupted by the loud shout of a fairly large woman walking in our direction. "Hey ya'll!" she said. Ramone turned and gave her a hug, greeting her like a ex-girlfriend whom he's on good terms with. He turned and introduced me as 'H'oel... Joel with a Spanish twist, I think. "Hoel!" she exclaimed, "so nice to meet you!" All the while popping my bubble of personal space and moving around quite jittery like... I had to keep shuffling my feet so as to not be bumped into. Ramone stepped aside as she introduced herself: "My name is Sherrell, but you can call me Mama Dee!" Nice to meet you Mama Dee" I said. Ramone told her that I was from the church across the street. "Have you ever been to Mt Zion baptist church?" She asked. "No." I answered. She went on to tell me about how she sings in the gospel choir there, how she grew up in church and the "Holy Spirit, not the Holy Ghost" had gotten ahold of her as a child. She had been "washed in the blood of Jessuuuusss! saved by the power of Jessuuuussss! sanctified by Jessuuussss!" Continuing she said that her father was the pastor of the church... "Mr., Dr, Reverend, Father TD Wright!" She said that she wasn't trying to make "no claim to be famous, she wasn't born with a silver spoon in her mouth you know!" Although she is married to Bill Gates...

All the while she was preaching me the gospel, getting more and more gregarious, a man walked up behind us. He was wearing a basketball warm up suit and staring at his cell phone. Finally Mama Dee said "Baby! Introduce yourself to this young man!" "Hi, I'm Tuffy" he said. "My man!" Mama Dee said.

By man, she means 'customer.'

They left.

I left too, the crack dealer a couple feet away seemed to be more and more agitated by our discussion by the minute.

Sarah and I are doing well. We're both adjusting to her new full time schedule. I've started to think about how I'm going to bring in some income after my internship and I feel that God is telling me to pursue my art. I'm working on a website, Ill post the link when it's available. I'm also meeting with some local artists on the 16th, they're going to give me the rundown on the Seattle art scene, critique some of my stuff and perhaps give me some pointers on how to get into some galleries up here. Galleries are usually booked 6 months out so I need to start now.

I've been going through the Lay-Counselor training here at MH, I'm learning a lot and I would like to share a quote with you that stood out to me today in the book "Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands" by Paul David Tripp.

'The Church is not a theological classroom. It is a conversion, confession, repentance, reconciliation, forgiveness, and sanctification center, where flawed people place their trust in Christ, gather to know and love Him better, and learn to love others as He designed. The church is messy and inefficient, but it is God's wonderful mess - the place where he radically transforms hearts and lives.'

This stood out to me because it is Mars Hill. As much as MH is about theology, we have love. We care about people and I experience these sanctifying relationships on a weekly and daily basis. Sarah and I are so blessed by the people who support us with friendship, prayer and finances.

We love you all.
Grace and peace to you.