Friday, November 17, 2006

My first blog!

This is my first blog. Well, technically it's my second. But it's the first you'll ever see on this page, since I don't know what I'm doing, and the 1st one I created last night is nowhere to be found. I'm off work today, so I thought I'd try to figure out more about this whole blogging thing. It's too bad I haven't been doing this for a long time, because a lot of exciting things have happened in the downtown area since we've been here. "Downtown" encompasses quite a bit. It includes fun places and fun things to do, beautiful homes and old neighborhoods. It also includes the neighborhood we live in, which is right on the edge of all of that. Our street is literally the dividing line between some of the wealthiest people in Raleigh and some of the poorest. We live here on purpose. Our neighborhood might be described as ghetto-fabulous. Ask me on a bad day, though, and the "fabulous" part might not be on my lips. I am easily discouraged, which is one reason I am starting this blog, so I can be reminded of the faithfulness of God as I recount all He has done and taught. We love being able to live in a community where there are prostitutes and drug houses and darkness. Let me rephrase that. We don't love that the darkness is there, but because it is there, we are grateful to be able to be lights among it. We are not doing this alone, either. Our church offers much support and wisdom, as all of the pastors and their families, along with many other church members live in this community or similar ones. My roommate Nicole and I currently live in one half of a duplex where 6 guys from TCC (as we like to call our church, for short) live on the other side. We are grateful for their help with reaching the community and for giving us insight in helping those around us. God's faithfulness abounds through my weakness, doubts, and many fears!