2 Years In The Community!

I belong to a very cool church here in Seattle, Union Church, a plant from University Presbyterian Church in the U District. (UPC in turn was originally a plant from Seattle 1st Presbyterian!) We do things a little differently than most churches. On the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays, we meet like any other church in worship ("Eternally Connected"). On the 2nd Sunday, we meet, but worship is more focused in small groups & discussions ("Internally Alive"). On the 4th Sundays, we meet together at a home or somewhere in the community ("Externally Focused").

My small group, "Generation to Generation" has been meeting with the wonderful folks at a retirement home in Seattle for 2 years as of last Sunday. We get together and mingle, and sing classic hymns in worship. I finally got around to taking some pics this week!




Leah played the keyboard this week













My pooch Midas visits, too!













Pauline has a lot of love. Holding Josh & Molly's new baby













Pauline, Molly & cute new daughter. This pic captures the spirit of "Generation to Generation"!










Lynn really enjoys Midas!

Tijuana/San Diego Trip

I just got back from a trip to Tijuana and San Diego! This was my first big trip since I got home from my big around-the-USA trip last spring.

My church, Union Church, sponsored a trip to Tijuana through "Homes Without Boundaries" to build a home for a qualified family. Since I signed up to go, I decided to spend a few days afterward in San Diego where I have some family.

A group of about 15 of us flew down to San Diego on Wednesday 2/18, stayed at La Jolla Presbyterian in La Jolla on Wednesday night, then drove down to Tijuana on Thursday morning. On Thursday, we worked on mixing the concrete in the foundation forms. It included a lot of shoveling and mixing- it's hard work! After work was completed on Thursday, we headed to a local orphanage that has been hosting groups like ours for years.

On Friday, we started working on the framing and painting the siding. By the end of the day on Friday, we had the walls up. On Saturday, we worked on putting up the roof and windows.

On Sunday, we came in to finish the roofing work and install bunk beds for the children. We took pictures, then said our goodbyes and headed for home.

Kudos to the folks on the team who really knew what to do! (Most of us were grunts :) What an amazing experience joining together to help folks in need.

I stayed with my Uncle Butch in San Diego from Sunday until I headed home on Thursday. I had a great time visiting my cousins Eric & Susan, Uncle Dick & Aunt Suzie and Aunt Joyce & Uncle Maurice. I really feel at home in San Diego, it's a beautiful part of the country.