$6,000 by December 31!

Update: We did it!  We raised $6,440 as of December 31, 2013!  Happy New Year!!! 

2013 has been the best programmatic and missional year for DOOR Hollywood, based on reviews, evaluations, and depth of discussions. From the local teenaged Discerners leading conversations on the painful backstories of gentrification; from Dwellers continuing to strengthen partnerships with local homeless relief agencies; from walking into the reality of racial reconciliation in the name of Jesus, Marvin and I were blown away by the responses to the questions we posed. We were blessed by the emotion showed from our Discover participants who stated feeling like their “eyes had been opened.” We prayerfully celebrate as former Dwellers start digging deeper into social justice right here in Hollywood.

2013 has also been our hardest financial year in our history. Due to a perfect storm of major Presbyterian and Mennonite events this past summer, our Discover participant numbers were painfully low, the primary source of our budget. After DOOR Hollywood’s most successful silent auction to date last May, an event that highlighted the grit of ministry that matters, we held a Christmas Store fundraiser over the weekend with Hollywood Presbyterian Church. Robert Lupton’s “Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help” served as a launchpad as we worked with a combination of Discerners, Dwellers, and local residents and congregants to limit practices that might strip dignity from the folks most affected by the sale.

We set an audacious fundraising goal of $30,000 for the year, almost 3 times what past years have brought in, and today have come in at a little over $24,000. This gives us 3 weeks to close our $6,000 gap and start 2014 with renewed enthusiasm and energy to keep asking these questions, to keep pressing ahead at bridging the justice Jesus calls us towards with the reality of situations in our city, to create even more opportunities for local and traveling youth to connect their faith to attentive action and possibly, change. Help us keep shining a light on the unheard stories of God’s faithfulness and love, right here, right now, in Hollywood.  Click here to help us reach our goal!  - Matthew & Marvin

Both And, by City Director Matthew

Ilé at Mama's International Tamales

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of auditing a Fuller Seminary class on Henri Nouwen with Dwell alumni, Will Quay.  Professor Wil Hernandez urged us to consider Nouwen’s thinking on the damaging nature of “either/or” mentalities.  Either I win, or you do.  The disciples argued about who would be closest to Jesus.  Either you, or me.  Either/or mentality shoved native peoples off of this land, made for you and me. 

A recent statement by Pope Francis, circulating widely on Facebook right now, echoes this danger: “Today everything comes under the laws of competition and the survival of the fittest, where the powerful feed upon the powerless.  As a consequence, masses of people find themselves excluded and marginalized: without work, without possibilities, without any means of escape.”

Instead, doesn’t Jesus encourage us to think inclusively, to say both you AND you AND I can sit at the table of God?  The would-be stone throwers AND the woman who was to receive death by stoning?  The warden and the prisoner.  The Mexican and the United States-ian.  You AND me.

DOOR has been encouraging me in this sense of invitation for years now.  I recently had to write a one-sentence description of Hollywood for the Young Adult Volunteer site.  Here’s what I came up with: “In a city known for its storytelling and its very famous residents, Hollywood YAVs learn the joys of mutual hospitality with their Central and South American neighbors while uncovering the overlooked stories of the largest and most diverse homeless population in the country.”  We have been inviting homeless and housed to the table for years now, and the stories are rich and painful, moving and convicting, human and emotional and joyful. 

Dwellers and Discover group listen to Ilé describe the empowering
work of Mama's.

And yet, I’m still challenged.  I was at a coffeeshop last week, and a man named Brad sat down next to me, as there was room at my table.  Brad talked about ancient Egyptian philosophies and the conflict with modern expressions of Christianity.  Brad told me he opted to be without a home because he didn’t need the trappings of capitalism.  Brad was brilliant.  Brad was intimidating.  We had a nice conversation.  We listened.  And on my walk home, I swear God uses my iPod to send me messages, because Ani DiFranco’s “Garden of Simple” came on, and the line “science chases money and money chases it’s tail and the best minds of my generation can’t make bail.”

God, how have we become so competitive?  How is it that some can have so much and some so little?  How do some get so lost in the shuffle, so stuck in the prison of losing?  Is Brad the one without, or am I, even with my apartment and my iPod?  Who decides?

And this has been a great and terrible year for DOOR.  We had some of the best program and discussions I’ve ever heard, from the downfalls of gentrification to the reality of the hard work of racial reconciliation.  We had the lowest number of visitors we’ve ever had, which for a non-profit educational ministry has financial implications. 

Can we sit with BOTH our success AND our failure?  Can we celebrate even in hard times?  Can we invite people to come even when we’re not sure if there will be food on the table?

Brad bought me a coffee. 

I invite you to come break tamales with us at DOOR, either for a day, a week, or a year.  I promise, God’s faithfulness will not be in question, and is likely to blow us all away.

Dweller Brent Vlog Update!

Life in Hollywood is a huge transition.  Dweller, Brent talks about the transition from high school to intentional Christian community: the joys of being in LA, the work and lessons of engaging with homeless individuals, and even some love for creating bicycles.  Enjoy!

Unveiling, by Dweller John

During the day, people often come to the church looking for help of various sorts (clothes, food, housing, etc.). I had a man named Bobby simply ask if he could use the phone as he only had 5 minutes left on his prepaid phone, which he promptly showed me. He explained that he was not from Los Angeles and just needed to get home. Bobby came into the church with the sole purpose of using the phone. Little did he know more would happen.

As we sat in front of the phone, Bobby started explaining his story. He was originally from New Jersey, coming from Atlanta, and did not find what he was looking for here. His company in Georgia ended up letting him go. He heard that the company had a branch in Los Angeles and decided to make the trip out here to find work. He was unable to find work at the branch here, resulting in a heart struck man, homeless man. Bobby had a very manly demeanor. He looked like he had been a boxer of some sort back in his day. As he was explaining this entire scenario his eyes started to tear up a tiny bit, surprisingly so.

Bobby picked up the phone and started dialing a man high up in a company in Georgia. There was no answer and he explained that the voicemail told him to text message a phone number for him to call you back. I texted the number and Bobby continued.

He explained that he hadn't been home to New Jersey in 7 years. During this time, he had grandson born. That grandson is now 6 years old. Bobby had never met him. He also told me about his now 8 year old granddaughter. The tears started to run down his cheek. Bobby exclaimed that he was so upset that he was not there for them. He was not there to be a grandpa. The look on his face was one of sorrow, his eyes turning red. Bobby started to apologize for crying. He explained that this was the first time he had ever said that to anyone. We talked for a little bit more before the phone rang.

I answered and spoke with a man about Bobby. It was not but a 3 minute conversation before the man had to hang up the phone as he was rather busy. He said that he knew Bobby, and understood the situation. Bobby and the man knew each other from their work in Atlanta. He again said he would call back, but this time I gave him Bobby's cell phone number to call.

Bobby had let up the tears and calmed down. He thanked me for speaking with him about the situation. He said that no one, in all of the places he had been looking for help, would listen to what he had to say. Bobby realized one thing. He wanted to see his grandson more than get back to work in Georgia.

As I looked at the time, I realized that Bobby and I had been speaking for over an hour. I said that I needed to get back to what I was doing and Bobby understood. Before he left, we prayed. Bobby slowly left the church with no idea where to go. As I walked back into church, I heard Bobby's phone ring. I looked back and saw Bobby smiling, looking up and pointing. Considering he only had 5 minutes left on the phone, the call must've been short, but important.

I don't know what happened thereafter. I have not seen Bobby back at the church since. I don't know if he made his way back to Atlanta or to New Jersey. I do know one thing though. I saw Bobby smiling. Something in that phone call changed his mood. 

C.S. Lewis speaks about 'unveiling' ourselves before God. "We must choose to uncover before God and reveal the concerns, questions, and even doubts or complaints that we have concealed deep within us." Bobby unveiled himself in this conversation with me. He found that he wanted not to be in work, but with family. In doing so, it seems that he found what he'd been looking for deep in his heart. Seeing another person unveil who they are before me was moving.

Lewis goes on to say "We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us."As I continue this work, I can only hope to unveil myself before God. Knowing what is in me is something that it hard to put into words. I challenge myself and all of you reading to try and unveil yourself before the Lord.

-John

Building a Bike, by Dweller Tara

New Dweller Tara is well into her blogging.  We welcomed her, Brent, Freddie, Laura, Chantel, and John a few weeks ago.  It's been a wonderful whirlwind to say the least.  You can keep up with Tara and all her housemates by clicking here: www.facebook.com/DOORHollywoodDwell.  Peace to you: Matthew & Marvin

Week 3 has come to a close. I’ve officially started my job at PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and our community hours have begun. I also found a bike to get me around the city! Let’s start with that because it’s probably what I’m most excited about. Here it is:

Brent and I went to The Bicycle Kitchen and “made bikes”…well, sort of. It’s basically a bike junkyard and you find parts that you like and you build your own bike. It’s a much cheaper way of doing things, and you don’t HAVE to pay any certain amount. The “cooks” give you an estimate based on the parts you’ll need and the amount of work you’ll need to put into it, but if you can’t pay that, then they’ll take whatever you can pay. It’s more like a donation than anything else. They have some bikes that come pretty much complete, which is how this one came. It just needed some adjustments and some TLC, and it was good to go! It took more time than just buying one, but doing it this way has made me appreciate my bike so much more. I’m like a proud bike mom. Plus it will be a cheaper, healthier, and more sustainable way of getting to work (and anywhere else in the city).

I started at PATH this past Tuesday and really like it already! Laura works there with me and they bring us along on pretty much everything: meetings, street outreach, transporting clients, etc. so we’ve already had a lot of cool experiences. Going out on the streets and checking in with “clients” has been great. We offer them water and food, see how they’re doing, listen to them and get to know them, and usually ask if they’ve thought anymore about coming into the shelter. There have already been many moments where I’ve seen the Gospel really being lived out…particularly Matthew 25:37-40:

“Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

DOOR’s motto is “See the face of God in the city” and it could not be more spot on. In just this one week, I’ve been so humbled and inspired to do God’s work, no matter how messy, complicated, sad, or frustrating it might be. Now that’s not to say I won’t take care of myself – don’t worry, mom and dad! They’ve drilled self-care into us so much, and PATH even has scheduled self-care days where we go do something fun to take our minds off the crazy work we do......Tara

Hollywood Discern In Action!

Our Assistant Director, Marvin Wadlow Jr and Kyle Wahe, our third year Discern team captain, have launched an amazing summer of seeing the face of God in our own city with our team.  It involves art and video projects, service work, prayer time, learning how to interview well, learning how to create resumes, and listening and sharing each other's stories and testimonies.  Here's some fun photos of the team mid-way through the summer.  They are also working nearly full-time at Alexandria House, a transitional home for women and children, PATH Gramercy (a daycare of a similar nature to Alexandria House), and YoungLife Hollywood.

Please pray for Odalys, Christian, Madee, Arthur, Wendy, Pule, and Kevyn, and check them out on our facebook page often.  With Christ's Love, Matthew

See the face of God in Hollywood, in each other, in those who come to serve and learn, in those who have lived here their entire lives, in those who are living on the streets, in those who are living in mansions, in celebrities and nobodies.  See God's face in all.

 

The Beauty of Inconvenience

I admit it.  I like 7-Eleven.  Popping a quick protein bar, quick coffee, or, dare I say it, a nitrite-laden hot dog for some "real food" from time to time.  I love the convenience, the maximizing my workdays and not spending too much time or money on eating.  

I'm also the hypochondriac kid who learned about "tampered with" food a wee-bit too young (ref: the 80's stories of tampered/poisoned Tylenol and Lipton Soup packs).  If it's open, looks a little imperfect, dirty, I wouldn't eat it.

My wife comes from a wiser, thriftier, heartier camp than I.  Many early marriage arguments involved her picking out, back from the bottom of our kitchen trash can, a block of cheese I had just tossed.  "What, ONE mold spot and the entire block is garbage?" she smirked as she cut off the tiny blue corner.  I admit, I was a little over-paranoid.

You can imagine the internal stretch I experienced when one of our 2011 Dwellers, ben adam, showed up and spoke of all the glories and benefits of dumpster diving.  I put on my good "city-director-love-everyone show," but inside, I admit I was siding with his housemates who were a bit grossed out that breakfast food options had come from the dumpster behind a bagel shop.  

But last Wednesday, I finally volunteered to serve in the Food Ministry that my family has been benefiting from for almost a year.  It was really a beautiful experience.  Obvious fact I learn: our country wastes, or opts against, tons of good food.  Literally.  Apparently, there are many versions of my former self seeing a slightly dirty or damaged package, and not buying it.  That food, on it's expiration date, is sent off to places like the LA Food Bank and other food re-distribution organizations.  It's still edible, just not marketable.  After those tons of food items go, there is even still some left, and my wife, and the lessons of ben adam, have urged me to embrace this new diet.

Andrea, who's been doing this for over a year, met and trained me at a local grocery store at 9am.  We ask for the "spoils".  An employee wheels out 7 grocery carts of eggs, bread, desserts, produce, some even organic, frozen meats of all kinds, even chocolate bars sometimes.  We load up our vans, drive to two other stores, same process. 

Along the way, I get to know Andrea, about her family.  She obviously knows the store employees who come out, knows the process, has great moments of kindness and catching up.  She teaches me that Heidi, God bless her soul, used to do this all by herself for 5 years.  Slowly but very surely, it has grown into a great community effort, and here we are.   And this is just one of the days of the week.  The others involve gathering the same foods and distributing it to local shelters and youth homes.  Again, there's more than enough NOT being sold.  Totally blew my mind.

After picking it up, we arrange it carefully under umbrellas on a driveway.  A committed group of us come, donate some money to help cover gas for the weekly pick-ups.  You are to take what you need, and be thoughtful to not take everything for yourself.  People respect this, love this.  People pray for one another and family members over bags of bread, over ears of corn, over this very "inconvenient" and beautiful ministry.

As I ate my Vietnamese Spring Rolls with peanut sauce that day, (something I had picked up a few hours earlier), I thought how much this beats 7-eleven to a pulp, anyday.  It is DECISIVELY NOT convenient. Took 4 hours. But I met Andrea, heard the history of the ministry, met John and Carlos and Emma and Peter and countless others who had bagged up the food at the stores before we came.  I prayed for people along the way, and was prayed for myself.

And, I felt an internal "thank God" for ben adam and my wife's stretching and nudging.  We are saving hundreds of dollars on groceries, eating so much better than ever before as we can opt for more organics and fair-traded products when we need to buy, and we are on a weekly family food adventure, that we get to share with many other families.  Yogurt lasts a long time after it's expiration date.  And a bag of Kale that got accidentally slashed open by an Exacto-knife on delivery just needs a wash.  Tastes fine.

Our Dwell program is focused on stretching young adults to a simpler and more interconnected way of living.  I've led this for five years here in Hollywood, and sheepishly recognize it took me awhile to embrace something like this.  But, nonetheless, we are all works in progress, and thank God we're designed this way.  It's so much better to work together for everyone's benefit.  So much better, indeed, and way more delicious.  - Matthew

Why I Do What I Do, by Dweller Savanah

People ask me all the time why I work with the most vulnerable and at-risk people on the streets. Why wouldn’t I help the people on the edge of homelessness, so they don’t fall down to the bottom? Why wouldn’t I focus on those easiest to help and help as many people as I can?

My answer has a few different parts. If we are looking at a very shallow view of the issue, I would say: Money. To house one person on the streets costs very little money relative to the amount of money it takes to keep someone on the streets. If you add up every ER cost, every police encounter, every social service expense, the numbers are astounding. House this person and the numbers go down significantly.

But that’s not why I care. I care because when I am talking to a woman with matted hair, diseased feet and urine soaked blankets next to her, she teaches me something. She teaches me that she has a story and a life that I will never have. She teaches me something about strength and perseverance and stubbornness. She teaches me to appreciate life and appreciate something as simple as a new bra. She teaches me that it does not matter what a person looks like, smells like or talks like, it is something deep down that matters. She gives me this wisdom and I get the opportunity to dream with her about a better life. And that is something that no other job is quite like.

I’m not sure if you’ve ever sat down and talked to someone who has not been talked to in a very long time, but there’s some magic in it. Sometimes the person breaks out into long stories and speeches and everything they have ever memorized, sometimes, without a filter, they will tell you ever painful memory, every happy memory and every important moment in their lives. And sometimes, they won’t say anything at all…but their eyes light up and they stare and wonder why you are talking to them and why you care and wonder if you are just using them. This look should not be taken lightly. This look is often a skeptic, but sometimes filled with just enough hope that you know that this person in front of you is still in there; this person has a future and a past and their own dreams. I remember that each person on this earth is connected, each person has a story, each person has wishes and hopes and fears. And each person deserves the chance to live the life that they want to live.

There’s a man that I see quite frequently that other agencies say won’t talk and doesn’t want services. Maybe I am just a little more stubborn than they are. Day after day we go and see this man and slowly but surely he opens up to us. When he speaks, it is rapid with a thick accent a lot of hand signals. His big hands point to his head and say that he needs help. He points to his mouth and says he is hungry. We hand him a lunch and he slowly but surely puts each morsel in his mouth and points at his head again. He tells us he hears things and wants medication. We realize that the man who has been seen throwing things, screaming and sitting shirtless on the Boulevard, was simply afraid of what was going on in his head. This man couldn’t open up because he was afraid. While this man’s problems are much deeper than a single magic pill, it gives us a stepping stone to a more trusting relationship. People claim that those experiencing homelessness are lazy or don’t want help. I disagree. I think each person who sleeps on the ground wants to sleep in a real bed and have people around them that they love. The problem is that the world we live in is not set up for the masses. It is set up for the few people who are lucky enough to be born into privilege. It is set up so if you look a certain way, act a certain way or believe certain things, you are sent to the bottom. Someone has to speak up or nothing will change.

On a daily basis, I see injustices in the world. Why is it that if a white, rich man in Ohio doesn’t wake up one morning, everyone who is anyone seems to know and care. But if a man in LA who lives on the streets falls into his own deep sleep—no one cries. No one knows. It’s not news—it’s daily life. Too many people die in this world without a single real relationship. Too many people live without being heard. Too many people suffer in silence. I do what I do so at least someone hears. I do what I do because I want to hear. Sometimes all it takes is an ear to listen. Sometimes it takes more. But it is always worth the try.

A wise man once said, “It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do little.”

So I try to do a little.

Am I Still Working? - by Dweller Kendra

yes, i didn’t get fired for those of you wondering. i know it’s been a long time since i’ve posted anything about my friend’s place. it’s been busy and full of new opportunities to learn. my co-worker and i had the opportunity to take one of our young male clients to court for a loitering citation that he received from the cops while sitting in front of our gate-waiting for our agency to open. he was wanting to be first in line so that he could receive a shower, get some new clothes, and eat breakfast. he’s a brillant young man and was actually one of six who got the citation to show up and attempt to clear his ticket. luckily, when we got to the court office, we found out charges had never been filed. i wish you could have seen brian’s face as he fist-pumped me to show his excitement and relief about not having to  actually go to court.

another woman i have to mention is alina. alina and i have gotten to be really great friends. she is 19 and tougher than i would ever know how to be. alina has been on her own since she was 12 years old, and traveled to L.A. from New York City on her own. She has been in and out of school, and has been experimenting with meth while she stays on the streets of hollywood. she transitions in and out of shelters, but recently has been making HUGE changes for herself.she got a job at a local grocery store and started saving her money.she made a $100 deposit to the W.O.O.W program-a transitional housing program that encourages healthy behaviors to improve a person’s overall wellness.she has quit using meth.she has surrounded herself with people who want her to succeed.she has started to believe in herself.alina’s brother passed away when she was 10, and she asked me to come and be with her while she visited her brother’s grave for the very first time. i love the work i do-it’s meaningful, beautiful, and life-changing.

i have decided that this kind of work is what i want to do for the rest of my life. i’m not anxious or stressed about what this next year brings for me, because i know where i’m meant to be. God has given me a gift to work with young people experiencing homelessness and i see His loving care and grace every day when i talk and get to know them. i know for sure that i want to continue my education in social work and for now that’s enough..

and when i need a break, i get to walk these adorable little pups 

DOOR HOLLYWOOD 2013!

DOOR Hollywood Spring, Summer, and Fall 2013

Looking to serve, learn, and experience the face of God through the people of Los Angeles?

Sign up NOW for:

DISCOVER: weeklong service learning project June through August.

DISCERN: Summer-long internships for individuals looking for leadership experiences in urban missions

DWELL: year-long service and intentional Christian community living