God is Faithful!!!!

Hey everyone,
As Sarah mentioned before, the two of us haven't done the greatest job sharing what life has been like for us the past few months.  Before we moved into Frogtown, we both talked with lots of family and friends about what we were about to do, many of whom expressed interest in hearing how it went.  Thus, the creation of our blog :)  We are excited to have all of you along with us for the journey as God is teaching us and moving in our lives. 

Here is a recent story of God's faithfulness in my life.

Our house in Frogtown is 10 miles from Bethel University where we both go to school.  Right now, I have a car (our old Durango) and feel so blessed to have had it this past summer so that I was able to get around and see my parents when I needed to (thank you mom and dad).  However, the car is getting old and doesn't start in the winter time.  Sarah has a car, but certain days our schedules are very different from one another.  My parents and I discussed the option of selling the Durango and getting a used car for me this year.  Actually, regardless the Durango is going because it is so old.  However, there is no way I would be able to pay for gas, insurance, repairs, and the rest of the bills that come with having a car for a whole year.  I was beginning to worry about it a little bit because I need some way of getting to school, to a grocery store, and wherever I am going to volunteer; one of the commitments I made as an Urban Neighbor is to volunteer somewhere regularly. 

As some of you know, God has put a passion in my heart to be with people going through homelessness.  I wanted to get more connected with a ministry, transitional housing organization, or housing program of some sort and volunteer there this year.  One night this past summer, I was surfing the web, looking at some sweet ministries and I came across a place in downtown St. Paul called The Listening House (http://listeninghouse.org/admin/).  As I searched the website, I immediately fell in love with it, because not only does it meet needs but it emphasizes the dignity and personhood of those going through homelessness as well as the importance of building relationships and community with them.  There was also another ministry I was interested in called Free Arts (http://www.freeartsminnesota.org/) where I would be doing art with formerly homeless kids to build healthy relationships with them and allow them to heal from tramatic experiences, but the Lord closed the door on that one.  I also was able to talk with another Urban Neighbor who has spent time at the Listening House, and after some prayer, I knew that was where I am supposed to be this year.

So, I needed a way to get to school in Arden Hills, back home to Frogtown, downtown St. Paul to The Listening House, and places like a grocery store.  I had a Durango that wouldn't last too much longer, a bank account that couldn't pay the expenses of a car, and a God who is much bigger than all of that!  Thankfully the latter came through!  Sarah and I had been taking the bus that stops at the end of our street to the Rosedale Mall, and then Bethel's free shuttle from the mall to Bethel as a way of getting to school.  But I didn't know if I would be able to get everywhere else I needed to by bus all the time.  Especially because most people I talked to were very critical of the bus system and didn't seem to think it was a reliable method of transportation.  As I was praying one morning, I went to the metro transit website, and looked up a bus route that would go from my house to The Listening House.  This is where God completely blew me away.  The same bus route that takes me from my street to the Rosedale Mall so I can go to Bethel, also has a stop one block from The Listening House!!  It runs from 7:20 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. every half hour every day.  It also has a stop right by a Cub Foods located between Bethel and my house.  This one bus route can take me to school, my house, where I volunteer, and a grocery store almost whenever I need to!  I am able to get by without a car, so I can still have money to pay for rent and groceries!  God is SO faithful!!!  He will provide when we seek to do His will!!

To add to the amazing faithfulness of Jesus, this past weekend Sarah and I got an email from Bethel's Student Life Office to commuters announcing that for the first time, Bethel is offering through metro transit a college metro pass of unlimited rides for a whole semester for only $140.  To give you an idea, I spend about $80 or so a month on bus fares.  This will save me roughly $500 this school year!!!  I just got mine today and will use it tomorrow morning :)  I am so blown away by how God has blessed Sarah and I throughout this whole thing starting from us meeting in the laundry room at Bethel where she told me about Urban Neighbors to now.  It's pretty incredible.

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
-Psalm 33:4

May you experience His faithfulness too as you trust Him with everything in life!!

Shalom,
Mindy