Mission Year's vision is "to inspire and join in with a movement of people committed to loving God and loving people in neighborhoods across the country...to develop lifelong disciples, leaders, and advocates who will transform the church, the city, and the world...to see the church unified, cultures reconciled, neighborhoods revitalized, and the world redeemed."
During my senior year in college, I was having a really hard time "driving by." Rice is so close to so many very urban impoverished areas, where people are not getting to experience fullness of life, or even the basic needs I was so abundantly provided for in school. Whenever I drove by a group of homeless people sitting under a bridge, sweating their brains out (I can't imagine how bad it would be in Houston with no A/C) or a shanty house right next to a brand new condoand I was constantly asking myself and God, "well, what am I supposed to think about this, and what am I supposed to do?" And that's when a friend recommended me to Mission Year! Now, for one year, I won't be driving by any longer! In September, I will be a part of the Mission Year team in Houston, Texas. Along with a group of five other 18-30 year old women, I will live at 3322 Beluah Street in the Third Ward, one of the six historic neighborhoods near downtown, and currently an urban area that has a high concentration of low-income families. Mission Year involves a couple different intentionally formulated components that enable me to best serve and help the people in the Third Ward. The first is an internship placement with a local non-profit called CAN Do Houston, where I will work during the week and get immersed in learning about how to be a part of addressing one specific need of the people in the Third Ward – healthy living opportunities. CAN Do will make up a big portion of my time during Mission Year, and I’m really excited to get to join into their vision, which is to prevent and reduce childhood obesity through grassroots initiatives, empowering individuals in neighborhoods at greater risk for childhood obesity to advocate for changes in healthy eating and active living in their communities. They do this through filling the gap between existing resources (government and other non-profits, like the food bank and community gardens), and neighborhoods in need of them. I will also have intentional time set aside on get to know the girls I'm living with (yay new sisters!!!) and the community I'm moving to on Saturday and Sunday. Those days will be set aside for getting out into the neighborhood and engage with the people I live next to -- so far Mission Year has told us to be prepared to knock on doors and intentionally get to know the neighbors, play chess with them, as well as invite these people over for dinner (and practice hospitality) on Saturday nights – which you can come to, if you’ll be in Houston! Mission Year really wants volunteers to get fully immersed in their community, which is why I'll also be abandoning my car for a year and shopping for food and other resources within the Third Ward, going to Church in the Third Ward, and taking the bus to work, home, church, the store, etc. (all with my roommates of course, we will be acting as a family unit to keep each other safe). Finally, there will be a lot of study and devotional time (group and personal) in the Bible and in other literature that will lead us through a curriculum about institutions that contribute to poverty, homelessness, inequality, etc! I can't wait to get to know some of the people in the Third Ward. To hear their stories and what they want to do in life. To understand the societal factors holding them back. And and what things they need to feel safe and healthy and free. This summer I was really luck to get to think a lot about what people need to feel safe to pursue life in peace, which I think everyone should be able to do! As far as I can see, people need food, shelter, safety, and then, super-duper importantly, Community! I've been so blessed over the past year to get immersed in being loved in the context of a community with the Navigators ministry on Rice's campus, and have made friends I literally can trust with everything, could ask anything from, and get to share deep spiritual bonds with, too. There's been a ton of internal healing from fears and wounds and mis-trusts that I didn't even know existed in this context. Especially just knowing there's a place I can go home and be safe and KNOWN in total acceptance, with no shame leveled against me, even when I do things that are wrong. It's amazing, like taking a bath in love that doesn't demand anything back. The power of community has really changed my life. And so I really think that's fullness of life, paired with all the health and education and quiet spaces to enjoy the beauty of the world that God wants for people! In order to work as a full time volunteer with Mission Year in my nonprofit placement, I am fundraising $10,000 this summer and over the course of the next year, to cover the basic food, shelter, and clothing needs I will have. The purpose of this fundraising is to support my full-time work with my nonprofit and in the neighborhood I will be living in. Please considering donating to me this year, if you feel so led. Contributions can be one-time, or monthly. The link for giving can be found here. https://missionyear.thankyou4caring.org/larisalamere And if money is not a way you can support, then please email me if I can add you to my prayer support network. I am specifically praying that God will lead me to one or two women in the Third Ward that I can bond with deeply and form meaningful and lasting spiritual relationships with. I am praying that I can find some women, along with the other girls in my house, to really have genuine conversations with, that I can be reliable and present for the girls (sisters!!!) around me, that we can pray and seek God, Love! Real Love! and whole physical, emotional, and psychological health together, so we can be infectious women who are beneficial to our families, friends, and in our workplaces. I will be reaching out periodically through the year with prayer requests for the people I am working with and for myself. My email is [email protected]. My phone number is 832.941.2181. The first six weeks of the program we will be doing a technology fast from cell phones, so please contact me via my email, [email protected] Love and encouragement as well as questions are more than welcome!!!!!!!!!
1 Comment
Kristin Thompson
9/1/2016 08:20:25 am
I will be sending my prayers your way to have an amazing year! I love you so much, and I am very proud of you!
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Author/soil science research assistant @ Rice U/ Archives
March 2017
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