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| 11/08/08 BBQ |
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Kids, Cookies and Canadians
We recently hosted a team from Stanley Park Church in Canada. They hosted a great day with our kids club with great games, food and activities. Here's some from the cookie decorating...
Friday, October 10, 2008
Some more phone pictures...
Each week we spend time on South 9th Street in Modesto at a corridor of residential motels. Almost every meaningful change we've seen has come from spending time in this most notorious place in our city. Here's a few snap shots from around S. 9th St.
This is James. He's a friend officially still on 9th Street but (thank God) off South 9th Street...out of the motels and into a studio apartment. James loves to be with people and was just happy to come out and sit a while.
This is Arlene. She has had multiple strokes and is 71 years old. She doesn't remember much and has ended up in the motels on South 9th Street. She has no contactable family, no connection and no memory. She is stuck. She is funny, ornery, can't hear well so she speaks really loud and has had a life with a house and children and something just went wrong along the way. If by some miracle you happen to know her, please comment in this blog with your contact info so we can help get her connected. We've tried most of what we know how to do.
This is Ken. Ken is sick and lives alone. He has about 20% lung capacity. The team we just hosted from Stanley Park Church in Canada met Ken and heard about his not being able to patch the roof in his 5th wheel and the rainy season coming on. They moved with compassion and determination to help him get the drip bucket from out of the center of his bed. Ken is a quiet, proud, compassionate man who has been a truck driver, a bohemian musician, a diesel engineer and a husband and father. It is a pleasure getting to know him. He lives just off South 9th Street.
This is what it looks like to drive someone off 9th St. This is a friend that we have been getting to know for a couple of years. On this day (a couple of weeks ago now) she ran up to our van as we were leaving a motel and let us know she had gotten a spot at the recovery center. She was so excited to get out of there. Due to some technical things she is back out near 9th St. but working and determined to get things cleared up so she can go back in. Good things are coming.
All of these kids we met living in a S. 9th St. motel. They are all out and while still not in a great living situation, their lives are getting better and more hopeful and healthy all the time. We pick them up every Saturday for a snack, fun play time in a nice park and a Bible lesson.
There's hope for people in hopeless places. God is always there. He moves us to be there too.
This is James. He's a friend officially still on 9th Street but (thank God) off South 9th Street...out of the motels and into a studio apartment. James loves to be with people and was just happy to come out and sit a while.
This is Arlene. She has had multiple strokes and is 71 years old. She doesn't remember much and has ended up in the motels on South 9th Street. She has no contactable family, no connection and no memory. She is stuck. She is funny, ornery, can't hear well so she speaks really loud and has had a life with a house and children and something just went wrong along the way. If by some miracle you happen to know her, please comment in this blog with your contact info so we can help get her connected. We've tried most of what we know how to do.
This is Ken. Ken is sick and lives alone. He has about 20% lung capacity. The team we just hosted from Stanley Park Church in Canada met Ken and heard about his not being able to patch the roof in his 5th wheel and the rainy season coming on. They moved with compassion and determination to help him get the drip bucket from out of the center of his bed. Ken is a quiet, proud, compassionate man who has been a truck driver, a bohemian musician, a diesel engineer and a husband and father. It is a pleasure getting to know him. He lives just off South 9th Street.
This is what it looks like to drive someone off 9th St. This is a friend that we have been getting to know for a couple of years. On this day (a couple of weeks ago now) she ran up to our van as we were leaving a motel and let us know she had gotten a spot at the recovery center. She was so excited to get out of there. Due to some technical things she is back out near 9th St. but working and determined to get things cleared up so she can go back in. Good things are coming.
All of these kids we met living in a S. 9th St. motel. They are all out and while still not in a great living situation, their lives are getting better and more hopeful and healthy all the time. We pick them up every Saturday for a snack, fun play time in a nice park and a Bible lesson.
There's hope for people in hopeless places. God is always there. He moves us to be there too.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Pictures from my day...by Chris
Originally posted at cwhitler.blogspot.com
This is the inside of Viva Taco...it is a bus that is a Mexican restaurant. This is (left to right) Arlie, Jimmy's Dad, Pastor Sustar, Sylvester (owner and proprietor and cooking at the moment), John and Jimmy. We love the bus. The bus is good. The bus is here. It was good to be at the bus again. I would suggest the chicken burrito supreme...hot, freshly made and a quality like no other taco truck I've encountered (for my non-Californian readers, we get the best tacos from establishments that have 4 wheels and motors). This is an good picture from my day. Here's another taken by Joseph, the "super" at the Budget Inn on S. 9th St...
These were pretty fun and easy to be in. There are others.
There was the intense warfare of getting relationships right. There was prayer at the 9th street bridge. There was the picture of friends walking into one of the darkest, most depraved places I know of and calling for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done. A picture of mercy as I saw people giving dignity to a broken man. I was in a picture of a family wracked by sickness and sadness. My mind took a snap shot of merciful hands asking for healing. A picture of hope super-imposed. Now an image of woundedness and grief...of a life never affirmed by a mother or father and even now a greater Father weighing in, filling up, setting free. On to, a circle of friends handing the dead parts over to Jesus. It is harder than it looks in the pictures. Next a scene of obligations fulfilled and letting go. Finally, my family with ice cream and laughter.
And in all of these pictures from today, there is a theme, a thread that links them all together. I don't know how these all fit into the same album but I close the cover on my day and the simple label on the front says, "Joy".
This is the inside of Viva Taco...it is a bus that is a Mexican restaurant. This is (left to right) Arlie, Jimmy's Dad, Pastor Sustar, Sylvester (owner and proprietor and cooking at the moment), John and Jimmy. We love the bus. The bus is good. The bus is here. It was good to be at the bus again. I would suggest the chicken burrito supreme...hot, freshly made and a quality like no other taco truck I've encountered (for my non-Californian readers, we get the best tacos from establishments that have 4 wheels and motors). This is an good picture from my day. Here's another taken by Joseph, the "super" at the Budget Inn on S. 9th St...
These were pretty fun and easy to be in. There are others.
There was the intense warfare of getting relationships right. There was prayer at the 9th street bridge. There was the picture of friends walking into one of the darkest, most depraved places I know of and calling for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done. A picture of mercy as I saw people giving dignity to a broken man. I was in a picture of a family wracked by sickness and sadness. My mind took a snap shot of merciful hands asking for healing. A picture of hope super-imposed. Now an image of woundedness and grief...of a life never affirmed by a mother or father and even now a greater Father weighing in, filling up, setting free. On to, a circle of friends handing the dead parts over to Jesus. It is harder than it looks in the pictures. Next a scene of obligations fulfilled and letting go. Finally, my family with ice cream and laughter.
And in all of these pictures from today, there is a theme, a thread that links them all together. I don't know how these all fit into the same album but I close the cover on my day and the simple label on the front says, "Joy".
Friday, July 25, 2008
Aaron's Thai videos
Aaron from our community has spent July in Thailand working with our friends at Compasio. Here's some videos from his time...
Monday, June 23, 2008
A new message from Chris
Listen to a new message from Chris about ministry opportunity and how you can activate and get involved...Glonk here.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Thailand audio report
Hey everybody, for an audio report from Jimmy and Aaron about their recent trip to Thailand...Glonk here!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
A Thialand story by Jimmy
Ali is a two-year-old boy who runs the streets of Mae Sot, Thailand. He has no father and his mother is very sick, immobilized by an undiagnosed illness. Ali wears a t-shirt with no pants or covering of any kind. He begs for food and money, uses the side of the road as a bathroom, and sometimes sleeps on the street with three other children ranging from 4 to 12 years old. Ali’s mother was in a hospital on the outskirts of town.
After being kicked out her home, and having no legal status or money, a hopelessness that could kill the strongest person was working deep in her heart. I approached her with careful consideration as she was on the hospital bed with her covering removed, exposing what could be left of her dignity. Sia, Tik, Aaron, and I planned to transport her to a clinic a few miles away.
As I lifted her off the hospital bed and into my arms, she grabbed the bed-rail and hung onto it with all her strength. She was terrified. Sia told me that her former husband (who married another woman while she was in the hospital) regularly beat her. I removed her hand from the bed and placed her in the truck. When we arrived at the clinic, I lifted her from the truck and she began trying to roll out of my arms onto the ground, wincing in pain.
As I tried to keep her from falling and keep her covered as she was only wearing a hospital gown, I took her arm that was closest to me and put it around my neck, making her feel snug around me. She turned, locked eyes with me, relaxed her tired muscles, and fell exhausted into my arms. She found no reason to be afraid. I cradled her like a newborn baby and made my way into the clinic whispering into her ear, “Jesus loves you so much.”
This is our only hope.
I was honored and broken to have been given this chance to carry her to rest and safety. Jesus stood humbly before Pontious Pilate, not lifting His voice to defend. He only stood there patiently, gracefully. He told Pilate that His kingdom was not of this world, that He was born into this one to bear witness to the truth. Nothing in this world would triumph over Jesus. He stood with His face resolute, waiting for Pilate to respond. Nothing could distract Him from the torture and death He was about to embrace, nothing would keep Him from laying down His precious life for all Pilate, confused and cornered by gentle majesty asked Jesus, “What is truth?”
Jesus stood in front of him. He looked into his eyes, answering his question with silent presence. Truth. Like a song in my heart it swells to a perfect pitch and rhythm. It lasts as long as I allow. It wants to choke the death out of me, but remains a gentleman. Waiting, holding for the moment to come through, Truth rescues and lifts me up to gaze into His eyes and touch His face. A call for help becomes a call to worship. I fall on my own will into His forever arms, finding no fault in Him. He carries me to rest and safety.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thailand trip
Hello everyone!
Aaron and I have returned from a life
and perspective altering time in Thailand. The plan at
the beginning of our trip (to venture into the jungle
for dentistry work) crumbled as the atmosphere on the
border was a little tense. We believe that God used
this as an opportunity to put us in the middle of the
desperate situation we originally intended to be
involved with.
Mae Sot, Thailand is a town that
borders Burma. Because of the appalling atrocities
being committed by the Military Junta in Burma, many
Burmese/Karen people have fled into the safety of
Thailand. Not everyone seeking refuge in Thailand is
blessed enough to receive legal or refugee status, so
many are there illegally. Among those people are
children who are not even having their most basic
needs met. These children are turned out into the
streets of Mae Sot to beg for food and money. This is
a terrible problem presenting so many safety and
health issues, and puts the children at even greater
risk of abuses such as slave labor, prostitution, and
disease. Some of the kids beg all day for their
parents and themselves, then sleep under a parked
vehicle, tables in the marketplace, or on the
sidewalk.
Aaron and I had the honor of working with a friend who
has given her life to rescuing these kids. Everyday we
sought out the street kids, fed them, tried to connect
them with safety, and just worked to be a support to
them in their suffering. This was heart-wrenching
work, and something that has influenced real change in
all of our lives. These kids need fathers and mothers.
They need safety and education. They have a future,
and we will give what we can that they may live life
abundantly. The love of Jesus is demonstrated in a
tangible way, and we will do what He commands.
“The compassion of Jesus is not generous benevolence,
it is a consuming fire.”
-Brennan Manning
Thank you all for helping us financially to do the
work that God is calling us to. Thank you for going
with us. God bless you.
Jim Sustar
Aaron and I have returned from a life
and perspective altering time in Thailand. The plan at
the beginning of our trip (to venture into the jungle
for dentistry work) crumbled as the atmosphere on the
border was a little tense. We believe that God used
this as an opportunity to put us in the middle of the
desperate situation we originally intended to be
involved with.
Mae Sot, Thailand is a town that
borders Burma. Because of the appalling atrocities
being committed by the Military Junta in Burma, many
Burmese/Karen people have fled into the safety of
Thailand. Not everyone seeking refuge in Thailand is
blessed enough to receive legal or refugee status, so
many are there illegally. Among those people are
children who are not even having their most basic
needs met. These children are turned out into the
streets of Mae Sot to beg for food and money. This is
a terrible problem presenting so many safety and
health issues, and puts the children at even greater
risk of abuses such as slave labor, prostitution, and
disease. Some of the kids beg all day for their
parents and themselves, then sleep under a parked
vehicle, tables in the marketplace, or on the
sidewalk.
Aaron and I had the honor of working with a friend who
has given her life to rescuing these kids. Everyday we
sought out the street kids, fed them, tried to connect
them with safety, and just worked to be a support to
them in their suffering. This was heart-wrenching
work, and something that has influenced real change in
all of our lives. These kids need fathers and mothers.
They need safety and education. They have a future,
and we will give what we can that they may live life
abundantly. The love of Jesus is demonstrated in a
tangible way, and we will do what He commands.
“The compassion of Jesus is not generous benevolence,
it is a consuming fire.”
-Brennan Manning
Thank you all for helping us financially to do the
work that God is calling us to. Thank you for going
with us. God bless you.
Jim Sustar
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Alrighty, let's get this blog rollin'
Hey everybody, Chris here trying to get our little YWAM Modesto blog going. There is much happening in our little community. Jim and Aaron are finishing up a visit to Thailand connecting with Al and Joanne Brown at Compasio and Kathleen at YWAM's Home of Joy. Please pray for the guys on thier way home Thursday. They have many stories to share. We'll be keeping you posted.
In our home community here in Modesto it has been a sad couple of weeks. Two of the neighborhoods we serve in and have many friends have been rocked by gang violence. Several shootings over the past weeks have necessitated community response. Here are a couple of ways from the bee that you can be involved...
The Modesto Police Department and the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department, along with the city of Modesto, Stanislaus County, Modesto City Schools and the Stanislaus County Office of Education, are hosting a community forum on gangs and violence Wednesday at 7 p.m. The forum, called "Break the Cycle," will be held in the Modesto High School cafeteria at 18 H St.
Area residents are invited to participate in a "March Against Gang Violence" from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 24. The march will start at the Stanislaus County Courthouse in downtown Modesto and end at Modesto High School. The event is sponsored by the Community Action Coalition of Stanislaus County, the city of Modesto, the Stanislaus County Office of Education, the Stanislaus County Community Gang Task Force, the police and sheriff's departments, the Hispanic Leadership Council, the NAACP and the Weed and Seed program. For information, call Jeremiah Williams at 568-3096.
Also on May 24, the community is invited to participate in the "Raw and Real Hip-Hop Symposium" about youth-on-youth violence, a collaborative effort of community mentors and educators. The event is sponsored by the NAACP, the King-Kennedy Memorial Center and Fathers Who Care. Details on the location of the event will be announced soon. For more information, call Jai Gullatt at 408-0277.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
YWAM Modesto Newsletter
Hey all, thought I'd let you know our new newsletter is done! I know newsletter can conjure feelings of boring statistics and a long commitment, but not this one...it's a five minute read about good news. Go ahead...
Download it here!
Download it here!
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Local news...
Here's a link to our local paper's articles about the recent city council vote to make dumpster diving a misdemeaner ($500 fine and up to 6 months in jail!) Aaron did a great job at city council letting the council know how much this would affecct honest people's income. We know quite a few people that recycle just to have a bit in their pocket to feel normal. It's hard, honest work and earns a couple of bucks for a few hours of searching. Kudos to our local paper for lots of recent coverage about the homeless and issues on S 9th St. It's been nice to find out about social justice issues through the paper. Some ok coverage...
Read the stories here.
Read the stories here.
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