Comments on Conversion Diary: This is how you build a community

I know this is an "old" story, but I found you via...

2009-05-08T07:49:00.000-05:00

I know this is an "old" story, but I found you via mylifeonthewildside a month ago and just tracked the story of you and the girls back to the beginning. So cool! There are so many terrific things about it. Today, though, the thing that strikes me is how absolutely amazing it is when God meets entirely different needs of people, just by bringing them together. The girls have become part of your journey, your story. And you have become part of theirs. Their lives will be different for having known you.

You are being salt & light.

One other thought. I set out, with one neighbor friend, several years back, to work on building community in our neighborhood. We distributed a flyer announcing a "Happy Hour" on a summer Friday night. We started at 6:30 in our driveway. The flyer said to bring beverages (wine, beer, Mike's, juice boxes, water bottles) and an appetizer. And the rule was we stay outside. This wasn't a clean-your-house-for-the-neighbors kind of thing. This was a come-as-you-are kinda thing. And, you know what? They came! It was an "if you build it, they will come" situation. What in the world had we all been doing on Friday nights? Our yard was full of kids and adults of all ages. Amazing! We asked someone if they would host next week, and a rotation began. We did this for many years and the neighborhood is different today for having done it. Just an idea!

This is turning into a wonderful, amazing experien...

2008-06-18T12:18:00.000-05:00

This is turning into a wonderful, amazing experience for all of you! Praise God for His mighty works!!

I will repeat what I have read over and over in yo...

2008-06-17T07:53:00.000-05:00

I will repeat what I have read over and over in your comments. What a beautiful thing you are doing. I read the "the girls" post, which somehow I missed the first time around and it really does give such a warm feeling. What you are doing is such a good thing. I am glad it is working out. And I am glad that their parents understand to instruct their children to be helpful. One of the main reasons I (and I think other parents) get exasperated when children are over is that they make such messes and expect to be waited on. And then they leave, leave you with a mess. But maybe I am being short sighted and I need to see things through the eyes of God. That is hard for me. I am trying.

This is so lovely. What you are doing for those ki...

2008-06-17T06:37:00.000-05:00

This is so lovely. What you are doing for those kids, and their families, is brilliant.

Perhaps community can be as losely defined as "peo...

2008-06-16T23:44:00.000-05:00

Perhaps community can be as losely defined as "people who God puts in our lives to learn from." If so then community is everywhere. We are as linked to our fellow church goers as we are to the patient sales girl at the mall and the little girls next door. Maybe we can depend on each other by hoping to share our gifts with each other, even in the smallest way.

It's funny. I found your blog via rocksinmydryer ...

2008-06-16T22:19:00.000-05:00

It's funny. I found your blog via rocksinmydryer and the post she linked to was "the girls" and how you opened up to God's plan for that.

I feel like I have gotten to see the beautiful story being weaved by God from there...AWESOME!

Too bad there are NO KIDS in my neighborhood or el...

2008-06-16T15:08:00.000-05:00

Too bad there are NO KIDS in my neighborhood or else I'd be trolling around the streets looking for my own little helpers! I think your situation sounds super fun.

God has done the exact same thing in the same way ...

2008-06-16T13:40:00.000-05:00

God has done the exact same thing in the same way in our neighborhood. We really wanted to build relationships with our neighbors several years ago but had no idea how. Our church asked us to be a host home for a summer backyard bible club. We did, the kids came...and they stayed. And stayed. Four years later and our home is home base for all the neighborhood kids and we have made friends with several of the parents. Now it isn't unusual to find us in a neighbor's backyard or at an ice cream shop with them in the evening. It all happened as a result of the neighborhood kids. And God, of course.

I love the way so many of the themes you've been w...

2008-06-15T22:52:00.000-05:00

I love the way so many of the themes you've been writing about lately are all converging and coming to fruition in your life! I wrote a post linking to these topics and encouraging people to visit, think about it, and engage in the discussion. It is definitely NOT the world's greatest post, and I don't know how many people will even read it, but I wanted to let you know!

Yes, it is very simple, but not even possible with...

2008-06-15T19:14:00.000-05:00

Yes, it is very simple, but not even possible without the Lord's prompting of your actions, the softening of your heart, and the willingness you have shone. Thanks for sharing yur sweet story of friendship!

In our community, there is a local message board w...

2008-06-15T14:14:00.000-05:00

In our community, there is a local message board where people of all walks of life can discuss local happenings, Politics, Religion, personal issues, etc. We often get together for lunch, a couple's BBQ, or a girl's night out. I've made so many great friends from it and even have people willing to watch my child if I need a break since my husband works on an offshore oil rig. (Talk about the internet being the town water well!)

I think it is wonderful what you have started in your neighborhood. Those girls are going to benefit greatly from being a part of your family. I envy them, actually! It would have been wonderful to have had a family like yours growing up instead of being a latch-key kid sitting at home by myself all those years!

I've been following this story...and I am in awe! ...

2008-06-15T07:38:00.000-05:00

I've been following this story...and I am in awe! God can do so much with so little....

Great post! It is so amazing how God can work in ...

2008-06-15T06:39:00.000-05:00

Great post! It is so amazing how God can work in situations that seem impossible to us. Sometimes we need to chuck our own grand schemes and simply let Him work!

I agree that the impact YOU are having on the girl...

2008-06-15T01:02:00.000-05:00

I agree that the impact YOU are having on the girls is great. If your suburban neighborhood is anything like mine, babies won't be a reality in their family, and siblings may be scarce.

It's a HUGE thing to show kids how they can be of service to others. That's an immense life lesson.

Keep us posted!

I love this post! It is so true, nobody can do thi...

2008-06-14T22:48:00.000-05:00

I love this post! It is so true, nobody can do this amazingly hard job alone. The experience these girls are having with you and your family will help guide them through life.

"Could the secret to revitalizing the American com...

2008-06-14T21:49:00.000-05:00

"Could the secret to revitalizing the American community be as simple as turning to God to ask for his guidance, and then looking around to see how we can immediately start giving help to -- and accepting help from -- the people who live around us?"

______________________________

Yes, I think it's so terribly simple ... and maybe sometimes we don't want it to be because ... well, because people suck basically, and we want to try to put in place a whole lot of models and formulas and plans to guard ourselves against each other, against being hurt by each other.

And so we go further into ourselves, with less community ...

Sorry to be all moonish here, but it's just so HARD being in community with each other.

And that's why reading this was just so inspiring to me :) Thanks for posting.

I hope they do stick around in the neighborhood lo...

2008-06-14T18:55:00.000-05:00

I hope they do stick around in the neighborhood long enough to see your kids grow up! What a wonderful experience for everyone. Even if some people do end up moving on, I it is still a life changing experience for everyone and will reap blessings both now and in the future. I'm glad you've been sharing this story with us.

Thank you for standing in the gap for these little...

2008-06-14T18:53:00.000-05:00

Thank you for standing in the gap for these little girls and their families! God answers our prayers in the most unexpected and beautiful ways.

I read your book list and found it interesting. Have you by chance read anything by Brennan Manning? Abba's Child perhaps or The Ragamuffin Gospel.

Amazing reads!

So often when there is some problem, like the isol...

2008-06-14T18:45:00.000-05:00

So often when there is some problem, like the isolation problem, we don't look at ourselves as being the solution. We expect it to come from outside. I am new to the neighborhood we're in, but I do know there aren't families with children around, so I will have to look a bit harder, but I guess it's the looking that's important.

What a beautiful post. As I began reading I was t...

2008-06-14T18:43:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful post. As I began reading I was thinking, "Not in my neighborhood..." but the conclusion made me think that perhaps I just need God's hand intervening too, and need to open my eyes to what He shows me. Thanks for this thoughtful and inspiring look into your "community".

YES! Being open to God's gifts is an area I strug...

2008-06-14T17:15:00.000-05:00

YES! Being open to God's gifts is an area I struggle with. Oh I'm good at GIVING - it's the receiving I have trouble with. I'm afraid of not being perfect - or good enough when the fact is I know I am not, but HE is and me love ME!?!? I'm so glad that you have opened yourself to His blessings and are sharing with all of us. I found your blog at just the right time - a time when I feel like I'm all alone and sliding under. Thank you. Thank you for sharing.

Exactly. And, by the way, you are also seeing how...

2008-06-14T14:31:00.000-05:00

Exactly. And, by the way, you are also seeing how it is possible to have 6 or 8 or 10 kids - as they get older, they help out and actually make things easier with the little ones.