Breaking Free and considering what we've learned

This week we've been focusing on having compassion like Jesus had compassion. I think Jesus would be caring for the ladies of Breaking Free, a community of women freed from the life of prostitution and sexual exploitation caring for others in the same circumstances. Their mission is to "end all forms of prostitution and sex trafficking." We prepared a lunch together and delivered it to where they were holding classes, learning a little more about the organization .We wanted to serve them our best and serve them well.

During our lunch together - our final meal -  we debriefed the week.
"God is approachable to every culture."
"I feel like BUMP reinvigorated my drive to serve and solve the problems society faces today."
"God calls us to discomfort to stretch ourselves and draw us nearer to Him."
"Look at Minneapolis and St. Paul and other cultures more similarly to us and to be bold and engaging."

Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

This week we saw, hopefully, what Jesus sees. Our hearts were moved with compassion. Hopefully, prayerfully, that will lead us all to action.

Swan Lake EFC Speed BUMP team 

Refugees - who they are and why they are here

Off to Richfield, headquarters of Arrive Ministries  (actually located in the old EFCA national office building) to learn about the refugees who are here and why they came from warm climates of Thailand, Somalia and the like, to the frozen tundra of Minnesota. We heard the heartbreaking refugee story of Abdirahman Roble, an employee of Arrive helping Somali refugees. In his desperate state, someone took all his money and ID, leaving him in Thailand while leading him to believe he was actually in the UK. And to do this, he left his 9-months pregnant wife under a tree with hope for a better life for all of them? Oppressing the oppressed is the worst. It was a graphic visual of "the harrassed" we were studying in our devotionals. So thankful God sees and hears and moves on their behalf!

Hearing a heartbreaking refugee story at Arrive Ministries

After lunch and a short break, we traveled to  Harvest Community Gardens , a ministry of  First EFC in Maplewood.  Jon Addington told the story of the garden's history and how God moved a church with an inward focus to look outward and focus on loving and serving their neighbors through gardening. The team helped collect fliers announcing the prior week's VBS and collect the trash and compost from the 1100+plot garden on 9 acres of land.

The evening was spent helping the ladies who lead the Garden Kids Club - a VBS-style program held every Tuesday in the garden. After walking the paths of the garden with a sign and a bell to invite the gardener's children, 20 kids came and played and heard the story of Moses and how God transformed him and that Jesus transforms us. The craft for the night was making butterflies, another example of transformation. Some kids spoke no English but we managed to have fun, love on them and communicate.

Working on packets for newly arriving refugees in a variety of languages

A second night of travel showers took us to MacLaurin CSF, another great ministry on the U of M St. Paul campus. Redirects always present new learning opportunities!

Day Camp at the Salvation Army Eastside

This day starts early with 8am breakfast at the Payne Avenue worship and service center. All day, every weekday for the summer this Salvation Army location hosts a day camp for elementary age students. Each week has a theme and this week's theme was arts & entertainment.

The Speed BUMP team ate breakfast with the students and prepared for the opening. They shared their music and in true partnership, the SA kids taught what they've been learning for the summer. It was going to be a day of learning with and from each other.

Next up the team gave the students some drawing lessons and played some games. The kids put together photo albums of their adventures for the summer and shared their favorite stories.

Then the highlight: break-dancing lessons from Sarah Kelly of Hip Hope! It was fun and we learned you have to be physically fit for this kind of workout! We danced and had fun for two hours - lunch was late and welcome, especially for the guys!

Afternoon game time included board games and as many rounds of 9-Square as the team and kids could squeeze in the remaining hours. "Wait - it's time to go already? Will we be seeing these kids again?" It was amazing to watch relationships bloom in such a short amount of time and the 8 hours flew by.

For dinner the team enjoyed the "tradition" of Blue Door Pub Blucys for dinner with our host, John Hutton at Knox. It was clear his heart for ministry to international students. The team was taken with his humility as he shared the story of how God made provision for Knox to be used for serving internationals studying in the Cities.

Plumbing problems forced the usual change in schedule and we were allowed to use showers at the
Hospitality Center for Chinese on the University of Minnesota's St. Paul campus. allowing us to see yet another way to "go" to those God has brought to us. Change can be good.

Worship and a view of the city with new eyes

The first day of Speed BUMP is a long day of listening, learning and observing under the trained eye of John Mayer, executive director of City Vision. If you have “eyes to see and ears to hear,” God is doing an extraordinary thing in these Twin Cities – He is bringing the nations to us.

Knowledge of the history of the city helps us to understand the current culture of the city. Some stories are unique – St. Paul was formerly named “Pigs Eye” – and some are common to all – the interstate system made way by taking property in the poorer neighborhoods. How people got here, why they stay here and who they are was part of the day’s journey.

After worship with our host church, Trinity City Church, St. Paul, and lunch with Pastor Bryan and Nick, we headed out on Summit Avenue towards downtown then just a few blocks out to a Hmong mall. We learned the story of the Hmong, observed the culture and enjoyed the best bubble tea around in more flavors than the best ice cream places. Of note were the families and the generations represented in each. Other cultures don’t live in isolation like we do and age is valued.

Displays of every product imaginable at a Hmong mall in St. Paul

Crossing the river to Minneapolis, we explored the Phillips neighborhood, believed by some to have representatives of every nation in the world. At one time dubbed “Murderapolis,” the neighborhood is known to have over 100 languages spoken. We visited a Somali mall, shared Somali tea and visited with friends of John’s. The men and women were largely separated there, including in the mosque above the mall.

The many gorgeous fabrics in on of the Twin Cities' Somali malls

As we left, we parked near a corner where the 1% and the 99% live as "neighbors." At this intersection, there was a single family home that sold for $1,000,000 with a backyard that bordered a home where as many as 40 people were living in the residence, according to the last census. Across the street an eclectic home with murals and sculptures, reminding us of the presence of a large hippie culture that is a part of Minneapolis. These cities are unique in their diversity on every block.

After a quick stop at the Electric Fetus, we debriefed for dinner at the Midtown Global Market. Our eyes (and taste buds) were opened to things we had not seen on our previous trips to the Cities. God is bringing the nations to our doorstep and presenting opportunities for the Gospel to be shared without having to travel or learn a language. We can even share to those who will return to countries with closed borders.

John Mayer and the team from Swan Lake EFC, Cottonwood, MN (and our lovely host from Safari)

“...for such a time as this…” Esther 4:14