Useful Web Browsing; Wired Discipleship

Alright, close your other Safari window, I know Facebook is open in it, and you too are wondering why!? Its only 9am and your status has changed 3 times?! I know, I have already changed mine 4 times, and contemplated joining mafia wars.

Sound familiar?

We are all SO guilty of using our free computer time on quasi-empty(yet fun/informative) things such as Facebook and AOL Instant Messenger.

I have a solution. Start browsing with purpose. Be clear on what you are searching for--know that this is hard and takes time. The internet has so much powerful information on it, hone your search!

To get you started, I have for you an awesome 15 minute youtube video about "Validation (re. modern day discipleship). Additionally, check out the other link, "The 8 Irresistible principals".

We live in a wired world. Might as well wire in effectively and set your browser to "spiritual nourishment!"

Love you all!

Traci

ps: If you like this concept check out stumbleupon.com This is a great site to have a custom search bar ready for you, whenever your little heart desires some computer face time.

Trick-or-Treat...for a cause!

Hey ya'll,

Just thought I would update you with a little project we are planning. As many of you are aware, social justice is a pillar of our program. One thing I remember doing as a teenager was to Trick-or-Treat for an organization called UNICEF. I know we were able to raise a good bit of money doing it, so I brought the idea up with other members of the house. Everyone agreed that we would take to the neighborhood streets and ask for donations. To open up to a larger audience, I have created a donation page for anyone to donate money if they so choose. Please do not feel obligated, but I wanted to give the opportunity to anyone who might wish to participate. Below is a link to the page; just click and follow the directions on the page to make a donation. Thanks for all your support!

http://inside.unicefusa.org/goto/SJWNewOrleans

~Rebekah

Rebuilding Alex's House

Hey Ya'll, Traci here again...

It is mid-October and I find myself in the midst of something great at my work; I am in the process of helping to rebuild a home from start to finish! I am working on the lovely corner of Lizardi and Royal Street in the Lower Ninth Ward helping to rebuild Mr. Hubbard’s home that was flooded during Katrina. When I arrived here, I was assigned to this house and so I could start in on documenting my work as I am creating a formalized training program for rebuilding homes for lowernine.org.

At first I was a little tentative to stick to one house for more than a month; I enjoy variety, and commitment scares me, haha. But, after working at this 100 year old house, and helping to lead my own crews, it has become “mine”. I feel such ownership for this house, I want to take care of it, rebuild it to the best of my ability and infuse it with tons of love!

I think something that has made working on Alex’s house even more enjoyable is the fact that I have a great co-worker named Tim. Tim has previous construction experience, so he is the project manager on this site and I have been recently dubbed “his lil partner” by Darren and others. Day in and out we have worked together; sometimes we work with 7 other people hanging drywall, other days it has just been Tim and I sawing pieces of siding and talking about our lives as we wait for our supervisor to pick us up at the end of the day. I find it so powerful to have gotten to know a co-worker so much, so fast, and that we both feel very dedicated to “our house”. Whenever new workers come with us, we divvy up the tasks and both lead our small groups. This has been great since on the days that it is just me and Tim he teaches me certain things, and then I get to demonstrate what I learned to others when necessary.

Overall at Alex’s house I have learned how to install insulation, cut and hang drywall, do residing, and fire proof and weatherize a home. Once the drywall is hung totally, we will help to tape and mud the joints and then hopefully get to do some flooring and painting!

To give you a clearer understanding of what I have been doing, check out the video Tim and I made at “our house”. It was filmed prior to hanging the sheetrock. This link will take you directly to the video, while you are there check out my other videos of NOLA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNToA9i51FU

Shaping the Gift

Feel yourself in suspense and incompleteness

Limbo in God’s hands—

Knowing His work is slow and deliberate

Drip, drip

Rain against the windows

It sounds like possibility

An infinite combination of pitters and patters.

Relax, unwind

Let your spirit massage out the past hurts and pains;

Trust that they were worth it.

This is slow work, that of God.

The anxiety of the future “working out”,

Has a salty taste to it I believe.

Swirl it around in your mouth,

Spit it down the drain

Let the plan go.

Get in the car, windows down

Warm sun on your forearm.

Admire your present skyline—

Love your present…

Inhale the smells, good and bad.

Look to today,

Romp around in today!

Today might be it…

Hold on,

Let go,

Live boldly and thoughtfully.

Your life is a gift.

New Photos from SJW New Orleans!

New Photo's Below!

Hey Readers

Look out below and above! Scroll down to the bottom of our blog or look directly above to check out our up to date St. Joseph Worker photo album. There are pictures of New Orleans, Traci and Rian out and about in the city, and plenty of lowernine.org. Also, be ready for some fresh posts soon! Thanks for the support.