A View From the Top

This past weekend, I went with my fellow interns, some of our American friends, and some Nepali refugee friends to Mt. Yonah in Helen, GA to tube, hike, and camp. I think the last time I actually went camping was maybe 5 years ago, so it was definitely good to get out in nature and enjoy some time away from the craziness of Clarkston. For me personally, it was good to get away and reflect on what God has been showing me over the past month and a half. Part of me wished I could have stayed on Mt. Yonah longer, just to have that time to prepare for the week ahead, especially since things are starting to get pretty busy.

Volunteering in Clarkston has begun to take on new forms. Outside of doing ministry directly with my team, I am looking forward to volunteering some of my time out of the week with World Relief, one of the many refugee service agencies in the Atlanta area and the only one that is openly Evangelical. Starting in September, I will be volunteering once a week at a community bike shop that is opening at the Clarkston Community Center, showing kids and adults alike how to repair their own bikes. With my limited knowledge (having only been cycling for a couple of months now), I will probably just stick with changing tires, inner tubes, saddles, etc. Still, I'm looking forward to the relationships that will come from volunteering there and also with World Relief. Praying that this will be a time of fruitfulness that will be refreshing and not of busyness where I'm just totally stressed all day every day.

The crew.

We got about halfway up the mountain in time to see the sunset.

From the top!

"Wandering from Nation to Nation"

Hard to believe that it's been a month since I moved here. A lot can happen in a 4-week span; more than I could have ever imagined. Living in Kristopher Woods Apts. opens up a plethora of opportunities to start relationships with internationals from 20+ countries, ranging from Cuba to Burma. And because of the refugee presence, it's easy to see the tension between them and many of the American citizens here. At the same time, I have never seen such a challenging example of what it means to literally "live in community."

Growing up in suburban America has its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, I was never exposed to crime, violence, abuse, and other forms of suffering. For me, it was a safe (and sheltered) lifestyle. Negatively speaking, I was completely ignorant of and desensitized to the needs of the world around me. Little did I know, the world was only an hour and a half from my doorstep.

Ironically, God has brought this sheltered, suburban, middle-class, post-college dude to an environment that is, in most ways, opposite of how I've lived most of my life. I've never been rich, but when I look at the needs of people here and how they live life on a day-to-day basis, I feel like I have more stuff than I need. I look back at moments in my life where I spent loads of money on things I "needed" only to now wonder why I ever wanted them in the first place. Suddenly, I feel uncomfortably aware of my own greed, of my own selfishness. But also, I am growing more aware of how utterly desperate I am for the Lord's mercy and grace to help in time of need.

I'm in awe of the Lord's desire to bring me here and often I wonder, "Why?" Lately, I believe He has revealed to me that part of the reason He has brought me to Clarkston is to humble me. Nobody can be truly humble. Pride is a sin we battle on a daily basis, but by the grace of God and the Holy Spirit living in us we pursue humility, as Christ humbled Himself to the point of dying a humiliating death on a cross for our sins. There's so much need just in this one apartment complex and just thinking about it is draining. I am daily inconvenienced by the needs of people and I praise God for this because He is using it as part of His desire to complete the good work He began in me.

The more I have gotten to know refugees and their families, the more aware I have become of the struggles they face. There is domestic, emotional, and mental instability that manifests itself in disturbing ways. Part of it is cultural, part of it is religion-based, but the heart of it reveals a brokenness and a longing for truth. They are looking for answers to their problems, to shed light on the darkness they face, but aren't we all? In Christ, we won't always know why things happen the way they do or why we experience certain events, feelings, and circumstances, but He provides the only real joy and peace required to satisfy our broken, wandering souls. He is gathering His children from all corners of the earth to build His kingdom and display His glory. I'm so thankful that He has made me a part of His work to make this small, southern town a beacon of light to the nations.

A homemade Nepali meal of noodles and momo's!

Nepali kids from the apartments.

                      

Some Muslim neighbors from Iraq.

The interns.

Choir group that visited Clarkston from NC. They are the Karenni people from Burma (Myanmar).

When they were few in number,
of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people, he allowed no one to oppress them;
he rebuked kings on their account, saying, “Touch not my anointed ones,
do my prophets no harm!" - Psalm 105:12-15

Arrival

Clarkston is a living paradox. If you've grown up in a small town, the atmosphere here and the layout of the town will remind you of a place more familiar. I grew up in a small town and went to college in a small town. By now, I should be well-adjusted to living in areas that are on the outskirts of major cities while maintaining their own distinct qualities as a suburban community. But Clarkston is unlike anything I've ever experienced.

It's been a week since I moved to the area and I don't think I could have prepared myself enough for the transition. This town has the familiarity of every small town I've ever lived in, but the abundance of refugees and immigrants from diverse backgrounds living here makes me feel like I'm living in another country altogether. Though it is different, it feels good knowing that this is exactly where the Lord wants me to be. This is a new chapter out of many that I will go through and I could not imagine a better place to be in this season of life than in Clarkston. The Lord is doing amazing things here and the fact that He has even put me here to build relationships with refugees is humbling. It's another reminder of how amazing His grace truly is and how I can do nothing to earn it.

For now, I pray He will provide direction as I continue to meet people and put a burden on my heart for the nations represented here. One need in particular that I have seen is bike repairs. So many people here ride bikes and are constantly having problems with them. Perhaps this will be one opportunity out of many to serve the people of Kristopher Woods (my apt. complex). If that's the case, then it makes so much sense why my interest in cycling has grown over the past couple of months. It may be that God has given me this hobby to be used as a tool to serve and share the love of Christ, in addition to simply providing a service for a physical need.

Pictures to come soon.