Pastors visits, babies everywhere, chai tea, longs walks, lots of coffee, broken English and hand gestures, an amazing farmers market and very cool restaurants. Joe and I are so blessed to have followed through with one of our dreams and we moved to Clarkston,Ga. Clarkston is located in east Atlanta, about a rock throw from Stone Mountain and Decatur. However, just a few miles away from the lazer shows and Eddies Attic lies a completely different world.
 |
| Joe and I in front of our new house |
Clarkston is the city where most of the refugees in the state live. To put it painfully simple- a refugee is someone that had to run away from their country because it was either unsafe for them to stay there, or they were exiled and not allowed to come back. If a person with the legal status of refugee flies into the Atlanta Airport, the government relocates them to Clarkston. That means people from all over the world, who have felt forced to leave their home for one reason or another have ended up in Clarkston. On any given day there may be over 40 languages represented in the public schools, and in recent years CNN actually referred to Clarkston as the most diverse square mile in the world. Being so close to Atlanta, and knowing there were thousands and thousands of refugees living there, I thought Clarkston would be a little bit more... hurried. On the contrary, as Joe likes to put it- the area feels much more like an Urban Mayberry.
I am also very aware that Clarkston has got to be the easiest place to move ever. The population of Clarkston started to change in the 90's when "they" decided it would be a good place for the refugees to go. Since then, my impression is that there have been a lot of "Clarkston Originals" that have left the area. That means that the current make up of the community is a few originals that stuck it out, loads of refugees from all over the world, and new crew of surprisingly upbeat people that just moved to Clarksotn knowing its weird, and loving it. The walking/ biking game here is strong- so basically, all you have to do to meet people is pretend like you are doing yard work, or go on a walk and you will meet someone.
Joe and I just started working at Perimeter Church as part of their new Residency Program. For us that means we are both working full time with their City Transformation team, and having classes/training one day a week. City transformation is essentially a fancy way of describing all the departments in the church that have to do with outreach in the local community. As this explores the option of getting more involved in Clarkston, Joe and I get to help by meeting people, listening to their stories, and just be learners of our new community. It's a dream job for us, and we have loved it so far.
I would like to address that I am no longer with my beloved students from Good News.... and yes. This is crushing to my heart. My life had become outlandashly unbalanced, and I miss my students, but I love seeing my husband, talking to my friends and family, and sleeping an average amount. "My" students are really the Lords and He is demanding that I trust him with those precious hearts.
Most of the other residents (who work in other departments) have impressive career goals during our time here... my goals on the other hand align more with that of a turtle. I have been running so hard for the past couple years, steel fisted on what I had no control over.
And now I am tired. I am so painfully aware of my weaknesses, and so hungry to learn. So, I have renamed by blog Life In a Mile. Slow down, see my community, walk the trail. Experience all the world has to offer me in this crazy square mile city I now call home. The world is here, literally in my backyard, and I have a lot of listening to do.
Joe and I just started working at Perimeter Church as part of their new Residency Program. For us that means we are both working full time with their City Transformation team, and having classes/training one day a week. City transformation is essentially a fancy way of describing all the departments in the church that have to do with outreach in the local community. As this explores the option of getting more involved in Clarkston, Joe and I get to help by meeting people, listening to their stories, and just be learners of our new community. It's a dream job for us, and we have loved it so far.
I would like to address that I am no longer with my beloved students from Good News.... and yes. This is crushing to my heart. My life had become outlandashly unbalanced, and I miss my students, but I love seeing my husband, talking to my friends and family, and sleeping an average amount. "My" students are really the Lords and He is demanding that I trust him with those precious hearts.
Most of the other residents (who work in other departments) have impressive career goals during our time here... my goals on the other hand align more with that of a turtle. I have been running so hard for the past couple years, steel fisted on what I had no control over.
And now I am tired. I am so painfully aware of my weaknesses, and so hungry to learn. So, I have renamed by blog Life In a Mile. Slow down, see my community, walk the trail. Experience all the world has to offer me in this crazy square mile city I now call home. The world is here, literally in my backyard, and I have a lot of listening to do.
