Diving into Dwell, our 4 interns are truly making an impact upon our Los Angeles community. Working at PATH , My Friend's Place , The Oasis of Hollywood , and Door of Hope , these young women are gaining perspectives on the complicated mosaic that is our homelessness and street-life culture. Through building relationships with both their coworkers and their clients, I also believe they are actively playing a role in expanding God's kingdom.
Plans are being made to build a garden in the front of La Casa de la Comunidad, and the prayer and hope is that it may serve as a tool of fellowship and ministry for years to come, as well as provide food for future Dwellers and the neighborhood. Community members and congregants from Hollywood Presbyterian Church are playing a huge role in the start-up!
As for me, I am thrilled to be witnessing the growth, both within the house and within the neighborhood. The Dwellers are challenging themselves to live simply on reduced budgets and reduced use of natural resources and automobiles. They are working hard to live intentionally, and though it is not easy and often turbulent, these four are finding ways to streamline their cooking, cleaning, and communication. Along with prayer mentors, weekly book studies and worship, and regular church attendance, the Dwellers are working hard to remain in prayer, both with each other and independently, over discerning God's will in their lives over the course of this year and beyond.
In fact, one specific prayer was that more men might be interested in serving in Hollywood, given the large population of young men living in the community. In response, I began receiving calls and emails from men around the country (and the world!) who felt a calling towards LA. At this point, we have two Dwellers confirmed for next year and they are both men: one from Mississippi, and one coming to us after serving a year in Peru! Amen.
In preparation for the summer, we have groups contacting us from Arizona, Northern California, Massachusetts, Colorado, and the calls keep coming in. Last month, we hosted a group from Montana, and were blessed by their willingness to reconsider homelessness and really seek to establish dialogue and communication with people that, most admitted, they may have previously tried to ignore. We all learned from each other that week through service and discussion.
I aim to maintain this blog every week or so, so come back often! -Matthew
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