It is absolutely incredible to think that I've been in LA for a month already! It doesn't seem so long ago that I stepped off the plane and out onto the busy streets of Los Angeles. Let me try to unpack what has happened since I landed in the Golden State (warning: this may be long post...)
Los Angeles is a monstrously large city. This is not an exaggeration. The city itself spans over 45 by 90 miles, hemmed in by the mountains on one side and the Pacific on the other. On top of being so large, it is extremely dense. The neighborhood that I now live in, Pico-Union of Downtown LA, is one of the most condensed areas of the city in the already overflowing urban area. For this reason, backyards and lawns do not exist. Neighborhood parks are mostly cement. Churches meet in store fronts. Most locals walk, bike, or bus to their destinations due to the incredible amounts of traffic city-wide. This creates traffic not just on the streets, but also on the sidewalks. LA is bustling with businessmen hustling to their downtown jobs, celebrities arriving for a big event, middle class and students working for their steady pay, street vendors trying to make enough for the day, and the homeless searching for a place to rest. People from all sorts of ethnic, social, and economic backgrounds intermix and cross paths everyday. And this is the new world that I have stepped into.
While the city as a whole is daunting, I cannot say the same of my neighborhood in Pico-Union. If the name didn't give it away, Pico-Union is a largely Latino neighborhood. Most corner stores, street front shops, local restaurants, laundromats, mechanics, etc. have all of their signs in Spanish. I would say that over 50% of my neighbors do not know English and are rather surprised to find that this strange, new, blonde girl knows enough Spanish to talk with them and get to know them. Here in Pico-Union, the neighborhood park just a block away from my apartment is the central meeting place. In the evenings from 5 to 8 pm, you can find young mothers with their children, high school boys playing soccer, older men conversing, and ladies sharing the latest local gossip all in the same park. That description makes this park seem large and inviting, when in fact, it is the exact opposite. The park is almost a triangle in shape, with the largest end becoming the "soccer field" where the boys attempt to play a game around what appears to have at one point been a gazebo of sorts. Where the children play on statues of animals that were once painted but have been stripped of their color from the sand, the ground is now mostly cement. A few benches make up the seating area for the ladies to use while they talk and laugh about daily life. It is here that I have begun to enter the local community and forge new relationships with the wonderfully strong and resilient people of Pico-Union.
On the nights that I don't have class or work, I go to the park and join the ladies on the bench. It is an eclectic group of Latina ladies of all ages, from a young mom in her twenties to an older lady in her sixties, and from various countries such as Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Guatemala. At first, they weren't quite sure what to do with this young, white girl that asked to sit down with them. But, after a trial period that lasted about a half hour, they were joking with me and inviting me into their conversations about the weather, cooking, school, men, and raising children. The next night I came to chat with them, they began to give me advice on catching a good man and how to cook traditional Latino meals. Through their stories and everyday struggles, I have been able to see a clearer picture of this neighborhood that I am now living in. Pico-Union was once a very violent area where gangs fought over tagging (graffiti art marking a certain tagger's ingenuity or a gang's territory) and turf and locals were caught in the crossfire. It was only about three years ago that the neighborhood began to take a turn for the better. Previously, the park was an area where the gangs would duke out their power struggles and mothers would never dare bring their children. To see it now as the central hub of social activity speaks of the transformation that has happened in recent years. Police, once viewed with distrust are now respected as they have helped to bring stability and safety to the community. While gang violence does still occur, and it is not uncommon to hear a shooting every couple of months or a police chase each week, the neighborhood is striving to regain its footing and move in a brighter direction.
Having come from a mostly suburban upbringing, this is a pretty marked change in environment. But, I have been extremely blessed by the family that I am renting with. Jeff and Jacquelyn along with their three children have been incredibly hospitable, generous, informative, and encouraging since I arrived. They continue to educate me about the neighborhood, showed me to the best corner store to buy fresh produce, introduced me to the small, local church three blocks away where I now attend, and ask me to share meals with them. It took me only a few days to feel at home in the apartment, the neighborhood and welcomed into their family. I've bonded with their children through racing Lego cars and tickle wars and with Jeff and Jacquelyn over late night conversations about inner city ministry, raising children, and living as counter cultural Christians. It is so wonderful to have such a supportive and encouraging family to live and commune with throughout my time here in LA.
Now that I have been here for a month, I have been blessed with a wonderful faith community. The local church that I have chosen to attend is rather small, but immeasurably hospitable. I first attended the English service, and was warmly greeted by the congregation of 30 or so individuals and asked to join their lunch after the service. Five hours later, I had met almost everyone, enjoyed my first tamale, helped with dishes,and joined in a home worship session. The following Sunday, I attended the Spanish service. If I thought the first service had welcomed me, the Spanish service did even more. Immediately following the service, a woman approached me introducing herself as the pastor's wife, and brought me to the church doors to meet everyone as they left the church building. Most of the congregation only spoke Spanish, but they were all excited to have me join their fellowship. Since those first two Sundays, every time I enter the church, I am warmly greeted with genuine smiles, warm hugs, and exclamations of gladness at seeing me again. The church body there authentically loves and supports each other, not just spiritually, but emotionally and physically. While the worship may not be incredible or flashy, or the sermons particularly deep and theological, their communion as a body of believers is stunningly beautiful and a challenge to me to dive deeper into love with the Lord and His Church.
Being a part of the MATUL (Master of Arts in Transformational Urban Leadership) Program has been a wonderful growing experience as well. Classes this semester are focusing on a theology of poverty and justice, understanding and developing communities of believers, and understanding the mindset, worldview, and spirituality of the poor. My professors are incredibly knowledgeable, having served as Christian community developers for numerous decades, and are deeply in love with the Lord and following Him. Class conversations are challenging, the readings are inspiring, and self-inspection has been eye-opening. My own perspective has already started to broaden and my own self-understanding is growing through that process. The other students in the program are equally inspiring and encouraging, as we all come from diverse backgrounds and have a strong desire to live as servants, bringing about the Kingdom of God. I am excited to continue to develop deep friendships with them as we approach this journey together.
On top of all of this blessing, the Lord has provided me with a job! I am working at a local pizza shop and have already been promoted to a shift lead position. My coworkers represent this diverse city, are all very friendly, and I genuinely enjoy working with all of them. Additionally, it is only a 30 minute walk or a 15 minute bike ride away, meaning I get a bit of exercise in along with a paycheck to provide for my monthly rent.
I could tell more specific stories of interactions with people around LA, but I fear I've already said too much! I'll share more details in upcoming posts as I dive deeper into the community here. If you would like join me in prayer, there are a few things weighing on my heart since arriving here:
First, that the Lord would continue to guide me and my classmates as we move closer and closer to heading overseas and becoming participants in His Kingdom work.
Second, that the Lord would be at work in my local community. Jeff, Jacquelyn, and I will be starting up a women's Bible study for the local Latina ladies (like the ones at the park) in this upcoming week and we will need energy, wisdom, and the movement of the Spirit to start this new discipleship ministry.
Third, that the Lord would continue to provide for tangible needs. Whether that is for the people I have met at the park, the local church, in my program, Jeff and Jacquelyn, or myself, there are a lot of people that have needs that are not being met. Pray that the Lord would work in miraculous ways to provide for these people and for this community that I am just starting to connect with.
Thanks for wanting to stay up-to-date with me and what the Lord is doing! I pray that you would be as blessed by His faithfulness and provision as I have been this past month!
P.S. Sorry that videos from the concert are still not up... technology is not my strong suit. Hopefully coming soon!
