Emmy Johnson
Why I'm doing Mission Year...
What does a college graduate who is not ready to settle into the routine of “the real world” do?
Mission Year.
I learned about Mission Year at Urbana 06 over Christmas break in St. Louis, Missouri. There I attended seminars on issues of social justice and decided to venture into the room with 135,874 organizations to talk to people who have completed this particular program. As I talked with Mission Year representatives they told me how the program includes studies of social justice, all while being able to see real-life issues in the neighborhood you reside in for the year. Their motto is “Love God. Love people. Nothing else matters,” which is the heart of Jesus’ work in so many words. Mission Year seemed too good to be true with how much it lined up with what the Lord has put on my heart for quite awhile, and when I visited one of the Chicago sites I knew I wanted to be a part of their program.
My goal for the year is not to “save” my neighborhood, but to learn from it. Learn from my roommates, neighbors and community. Learn what it means to love people, put my trust in the Lord and how to make seeking social justice a lifestyle. I believe actions speak louder than words and being a part of Mission year is my attempt at doing so.
About Mission Year
Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…
Emmy Johnson's Blog
April Update. / Apr 18, 04:17 PM
LOVING CINDY.
“If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.”
1 Corinthians 13:3
Living where we do there are a lot of faces from the streets that become familiar quite quickly. One of these faces is a lady my roommates and I continually saw on the corner begging for money. What distinguished her from other familiar beggars was that she held a sign saying she was deaf. All of us were curious if that was in fact true, or not, until after we got back from Christmas break.
On our second night back from break, two of my roommates and I were walking back from a MARTA station after a meeting. This familiar lady was walking a few paces ahead of us and we decided to catch up and try talking to her.
After finding out “Cindy” truly was hearing impaired and could read lips, we also found out she was staying in an abandoned house not far from us. We all talked almost the entire walk home, at times resorting to writing notes in a journal back and forth to aid communication. By the end of our walk, Cindy and I had plans to meet up one of the mornings the following week so she could walk with me to Crossroads and get her identification card. One of my roommates gave her a watch to use to ensure Cindy would make it on time to meet me and walk to Crossroads. We gave her a hug and were on our way home.
I never saw Cindy that following week and often wondered what became of her. About a month later the same roommate that gave her the watch told me she saw her across the tracks at a MARTA stop; Cindy mouthed that she was in a program and doing well. I assumed that night in January was the last I would see of Cindy and was glad to hear she was alive and doing well.
Towards the end of March I saw Cindy on the same corner on which I first saw her, only this time she was not begging for money. She looked better, but still quite weathered. We gave each other a big hug and she said she was still in the program, but that she was waiting for someone to pick her up. We chatted for a few minutes and I was on my way again, happy to have seen her.
A couple of days ago I was walking home from Crossroads on my way to New Life for S.A.Y. Yes! when I saw Cindy back on her corner, begging with the sign I grew accustom to seeing attached to her before we met. Like usual, Cindy came over and greeted me with a big hug. She told me she was still in the program, but there was only a week left. She was just begging to get some money for lunch. I asked her what would happen after that week, and Cindy mouthed that she wasn’t sure but she would be alright. I handed her an apple, told her to take care, and to come visit me at Crossroads if she needs help finding a place to stay once her program was over.
After this last interaction with Cindy, a part of me wonders if she was telling me the whole truth. I want to trust her and believe she actually is in a program and trying to get things together, but I have no way of knowing for sure. But I’ve realized that ultimately it does not matter if she is or not. My job is not to judge where she is at in life, but to love her and let her know someone cares about her in our brief visits with one another.
PRAISES *I have met my financial goal and our team continues to get closer to our $60,000 goal. *I had a great spring break with my family in Albuquerque. *I am getting closer to figuring out life after Mission Year.
PRAYER REQUESTS *Pray for the remaining $10,468 to come in for our team. *Pray for the S.A.Y. Yes! summer program in the works for the months of June and July. *Pray for Saturday outreach to continue to go well and relationships to strengthen for the time remaining.
TEAM TOTAL
Amount Raised: $49,532
Amount Remaining: $10,468
Here Comes Spring! / Mar 13, 03:15 PM
MI CASA ES SU CASA
Becoming a part of the neighborhood…
Since learning of Mission Year, I kept revisiting this idea of becoming a part of the community . This is partly what drew me to the program, but I wasn’t sure how that was going to happen. I knew it was about building relationships and experiencing life as people in the inner-city experience it, but I continued to anticipate the feeling of belonging. Even though I learned the concept of what to expect, I was still having trouble envisioning it.
After almost 6 months of living here , I can say I’m finally feeling the vision. It’s no longer “Mission Year” to me. At some point it’s become living life with new friends in a new place and I am thankful for the opportunity and experience no matter what the future holds for me.
FOR EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON…A TIME TO MOURN
ECCLESIASTES 3
The Last part of February was sort of a whirlwind. As some of you may know, my Grandpa Cole (Mom’s Dad) has battled dementia with traces of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s for the last 15 years. My uncle and his wife have been the primary caregivers since my Grandma passed away in 1999, with my mom (and often my step-dad) making the three hour trip to help out almost every-other weekend.
He was admitted to the hospital Friday, February 15th with pneumonia, and was up and down the next few days. My family and I decided I needed to fly home and spend some time with him. So I was back in Bloomington that evening and was at the hospital by Thursday. It was a great day for him, better than he’d had in awhile, and he used his well- known sense of humor to let me know he thought “I needed a new hair piece.” He fell asleep Friday afternoon and passed away on Saturday, the 23rd.
I am grateful I was able to go home and be with my family during that time and get those last couple of days with my grandpa. I take comfort in the fact that his mind is closer to wholeness than it has been in the last 15 years. Please pray for my family as they adjust to their new lifestyle without my grandfather.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
As of March 11th, 2008 I have officially raised 100% of my goal!!! This is through both one-time donations (I currently have $11,090 in) and those of you who have pledged to support me each month (I have $1,000 total pledged for the rest of my time here). I feel so blessed that all my funds have been covered and am so thankful for everyone’s support. I could not do it with out y’all! The support raising process has been a growing experience in itself and through it I have felt God’s faithfulness. I will continue to keep you updated on our team progress, and if you feel led to help support some of my fellow team members who are struggling please let me know and I’ll get you the information you need to make a financial contribution. Thanks again!!!
Team Progress:
Amount Needed ~ $60,000
Amount Raised ~$48,878
Amount Remaining ~ $11,122
February Update / Feb 14, 11:13 AM
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
KING DAY: A REAL HOLIDAY
Looking back on my education, I feel I had teachers that taught me the impact Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had on our Country’s history. As I get older, I am seeing that this is not necessarily true for everyone. However, in spite of my background, I have never treated the holiday as such.
This year, having the opportunity to be in Atlanta on MLK Day was an awesome experience. Along with schools being closed, much of the city closes down too, and takes part in various activities and celebrations.
Three of my roommates and myself headed down to Sweet Auburn (where the King Center and Memorial is located) with some neighbors to catch the King Day March. It was almost an all day event to get to the King Center, steak out a spot to watch the march, see the house King grew up in, and stroll around King’s childhood stomping grounds.
My roommates and I were also able to take part in a evening tribute to King at the Center where I was reminded that King stood for change in other areas in addition to civil rights. He was an advocate for peace and social justice — and I was able to appreciate the work of Dr. King in a new way.
A BUSY MONTH
The past month was jammed packed with Mission Year and church activities. We had two sleepovers, one with Kadijah and Yolanda (pictured, middle schoolers from S.A.Y. Yes!), and one with Laura’s high school, varsity basketball team. We had fun eating junk food, staying up later, and spending time with the girls. We also took a trip with the other Mission Year teams to Birmingham and visited the Civil Rights Institute. I enjoyed going through the museum as it was very visual and laid out chronologically, so we could “walk through history.” Lastly, we had a Super Bowl party at the church. There was a good combination of neighbors and members of our church there, so we were able to watch the game, eat, and have a good time of fellowship. Football was one of the biggest things I missed last fall, but being able to see that upset almost made up for it.
SCHIZO WEATHER
Since being back from Christmas break we have had weather ranging from the lower 70s to the lower 30s —- with snow! The snow we got was nothing compared to the weather the northern states are receiving this year, however, it did snow more than once and one day we accumulated almost an inch!
PRAISES *Financial support continues to come in. *I was able to help a neighbor get identification through Crossroads, which will allow her to apply for jobs. *Outreach has gone really well since being back from Christmas.
PRAYER REQUESTS *For the rest of my financial support to come in. *The S.A.Y. Yes! Center, as it is going through a transitional stage and there are talks of a summer program. *For my relationships with certain neighbors and that I would dig deeper into them.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
As of February 7th, 2008, I have officially raised 84% of my goal. This means I have $1,865 dollars left to raise over the next 5 months. Each month I get my financial report I am so encouraged and excited to see the amount of financial support grow. I have felt more than blessed through the various support I have received this year. If you have yet had a chance to contribute financially and are interested, please make checks payable to Mission Year and write my account number (07-0036) on the memo line to ensure the tax deductibility of your donation. You can also visit my blog page (www.missionyear.org/blog/emmyjohnson) to set up donations electronically. Lastly, if you have decided to make a monthly contribution, please remember to indicate this so Mission Year can adjust my support total accordingly. Thanks!
Team Progress: ~ Total Support Goal: $60,000 ~ Total Amount Received: $43,708 (73% raised) ~ Amount Remaining: $16,292
2008... It's gonna be great. / Jan 14, 12:43 PM
After living in Atlanta for four months, and being forced to take public transportation, I feel like I finally know how to get around. However, being from Illinois, I am very used to places being laid out in grids, but I am finding that places often are not. Having a landmark helps me keep my bearings when I am out and about in the city. The Bank of America building (the pointy one with the lit up top) is my landmark in Atlanta. When I am outside of the city enough to see the skyline all I have to do is locate my landmark and I know right away where I am. However, if I am far enough away from this particular building that I cannot see it, but not far enough out to see the skyline I sometimes feel out of sorts, almost like I have lost my way. Especially if it is “uncharted” territory.
Living in an area that has many poor, drug-addicted, and/or homeless inhabitants has been quite an experience. I have made friends with the like, and learn more about their lives with each visit we have. Some times we just shoot the breeze, other times they allow me a glimpse into their life and background, giving me a better picture of the person I am looking at. Most of them have grown up in Atlanta and many were born and raised in the Bluff.
Right after we moved in, the first questions that would come to mind were always along the lines of : “Why are they still here? Did they ever try to ‘get out’?” I have learned that sometimes the answer to these questions is that they have tried to “get out,” but other times people have not tried and do not want to “get out.” This is their life and they wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I guess I just always assumed everyone living in the inner-city was trying to leave, but this is definitely not the case. It’s almost as if some people here feel the Bluff is their “Bank of America building,” and if they were to leave they would feel like they have lost their way as well, venturing into uncharted territory.
I know this is a simple thought, and some of you may be thinking, “Really, Emmy?” but I think realizing this has aided my ability to connect, build relationships with neighbors, and truly look at them as people and not just projects.
In a previous update I mentioned we read Beyond Charity. Part of the book talks about the concept of Shalom (see reference below). I wish for “inner-city” Shalom in my neighbor’s lives, which I would have thought was quite the contradiction before, but now see how Shalom can take on so many different forms depending on each individual life.
Hoping you find your Shalom in 2008.
Shalom
“...everything good you would want for yourself and wishing that same quality of life for your neighbors and friends.”
-John Perkins
As of January 4th, 2008, I have officially raised 76% of my goal. This means I have $2, 885 dollars left to raise over the next 7 months. It is an incredible blessing to have this much of my support raised at this point, and confirmation that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. If you are interested in contributing financially, please make checks payable to Mission Year and write my account number (07-0036) on the memo line to ensure the tax deductibility of your donation. You can also click on the red “Donate Now” button on the upper right side of this page to set up donations electronically. Lastly, if you have decided to make a monthly contribution, please remember to indicate this so Mission Year can adjust my support total accordingly. Thanks!
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