Jessica O'Brien's Blog
Paint fumes here I come! / 07.17.08, 10:14 AM
Hey everybody! Yeah, I know it’s been a while. (Thanks Sara, for reminding me to keep blogging!!) I have missed writing blogs, but I think part of me has avoided it because every time I go to blog, it leads my thoughts back to the reality of leaving. And I just don’t want to face it at times.
This summer has been one of peace. This statement means more to me than you may know. At the end of the school year, teens I am close to, neighbors I had gotten to know, said they were worried that the rivals gangs would fight in Little Village worse than ever. In response to what we had heard from all of them, my roommates and I went on a prayer walk. We walked around the neighborhood, around the parks, around the graffiti, and prayed. I asked that God would be glorified this summer, that all violent anticipations people had for this summer would be radically not fulfilled. That this would be a summer of peace. Half way through the summer, this is what I have seen. I pray that this will continue as we live Little Village, and Mission Year in 2 weeks.
Today, as I sit in the Social Justice High School office of Ana, the social worker and friend, I have worked with this year, Yvette came in. Yvette will be a senior at SoJo this fall, and is geeked about college. I cherish the moments, these kids, young adults I should say, seek me out to share how they are, and what their hopes are. I was warmed as she asked if we could hang out before we go. I smiled even more when she asked if I could help her with her college application stuff when we hang out. Yvette, I will miss you, your laughs, and your self-less love for others. I have been blessed by knowing her, and she inspires me to continue serving God in public schools, and through social work.
Today after school I will helping Joanna paint the playground near our house. On our prayer walk a few months ago, as we prayed against the gang tension in our community, we came across the jungle gym kindergarten through 4th graders use. It was covered with every type of graffiti, from obscenities to infinite amounts of gang symbols. Since then, Joanna was motivated to contact the school for permission, and buy paint to paint over the playground. Today, I am blessed to be able to take part in washing away and covering symbols that have hurt and discouraged our community for too long. Especially before we leave, it’s a blessing to get to leave this behind for our community, for our home. May it renew hope in our neighborhood that God is bigger than gangs, bigger than our struggles, and He will never leave us in them.
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And now that park looks hott, girl. If I were a kindergartener that would be the place to BE. :)
By Andrea / Jul 17, 02:29 PM / #