LaFayette

some friends


a street in town


the drive home


the art of Zach, a young homeless man living in LaFayette. His dad, Floyd, comes to Highlands sometimes, and is currently staying in the home of church friends.


the tracks

trains,friends, questions

liz climbs at Rock Town, a great climbing spot about 3 miles from LaFayette. This is the perfect example of just one of the many assets the town of LaFayette has to offer. I know a lot of climbers from the Chattanooga area, and I have yet to talk to any of them who have actually spent any time in the town, even though they climb just outside of it on a regular basis. A big prayer for me these days is that God would raise up leaders in LaFayette who see potential in their town and use their power to utilize their assets.


Lookout Mountain, looking foggy as it often does. My little car cruises up and down every day... poor little car.


Brian sitting on the bridge in LaFayette. I spend most of my time here these days. My focus right now, beyond internal church evaluations, is the poor of LaFayette, more specifically the homeless community. Brian and several others have been extremely generous with their time and come with me on different days of the week. Today Brian came with me at 7am. Tomorrow Trey will join me. I am hoping to gain a presense in the community by simply being seen. Sometimes I feel slightly purposeless, or at least a little idle... but I keep reminding myself that even if one person recognizes me later and trusts me a little more because of it, it was worth every minute.


Joya. I got the job of being her nanny by talking to her mom on the phone about Hope for Chattanooga, an organization which she works for and is now partnering with Highlands on a job-training program. This has been a huge blessing in countless ways. Joya and her brother Jonathan are great kids and have taught me things (like how to play Dora the Explorer and learn some pretty killer Spanish, and shooting hoops. i'm gettin beta.). Their mother has also been a blessing to the work in LaFayette. Although the programs have not started yet, I'm pumped to get some of the people I am meeting to be involved.

That's all for now. sorry for the lack of pictures. Some of the work lately has been kind of personal and tender for the people I am meeting, and I don't want to invade their lives with pictures. Hopefully I will be able to provide some visuals for you all at some point soon!

playing/working hard

So here I am, using the WI-FI at Erlanger Hospital. It's free, and I am glad. Mostly, I feel that this courtesy probably saves them a lot of hasseling from the people who spend a better part of their day trying not to get anything scary from the person next to them.

But don't worry too much, because there really isn't so much of an emergency. I am here with my friend Liz, who fractured her wrist while long boarding. We are waiting in the room that is for waiting.

In other, my internshiply news, the church has asked if I will join thme as a member of the staff, after my internship has ended. I have accepted a position that will focus on mercy ministry, and will simply continue my internship through this year, probably finishing up in May.

Right now, the main focus of my research is Hispanics living in the area. I am also trying to get some firm contacts with the homeless population of the town. This is exactly as difficult as it sounds.

Please pray that I will use my time wisely. It is difficult to get solid blocks of time in LaFayette, as I am working every evening and am also taking two classes. I am also about to start my Senior paper.

That's all for now. the nurse just called "Tammy-Rae!!!" into Triage 1, and that is where I will take my leave. for now.