Home.
Family.
Community.
Fun.
Laughter.
Soccer.
Those are some words that come to mind when I think of my time here so far. Not even specifically Gainesville, but more so the neighborhood I have been blessed to reside in for the next 8 months.
When I was accepted to CGA, I remember being asked if I would be okay with living in predominantly Spanish neighborhood situated in a trailer park about 5 minutes away from the office.
“Yeah! That sounds fun!” I said.
Honestly, I was expecting an unsafe neighborhood with all the awfulness the comes to mind when one thinks of “unsafeness”.
The Lord gently changed that view and what I have experienced is the exact opposite.
That same evening I moved in, we had 4 boys (ages 8-11) knocking down our door to play soccer with them. At any given time, you can expect the doorbell to ring, a knock on the door, or kids standing on the porch making weird noises. Sometimes, you get home from the grocery store, park your car, see a bike racing down the road and immediately get bombarded by kids who invite themselves into the house before you can fully open the door.
Last Monday, I went with my house mentor to help with ESL class for the women in the neighborhood. At the end of class, we did role playing and it was the most fun I’ve had teaching English since Month 5 of the Race in Vietnam. I was laughing, the two women I was paired with were cracking me up and so joy filled that you couldn’t sit there and think of all the things you have to do or should be getting done.
This neighborhood is filled with life and love and a feel of family. Jesus is here and He is in this neighborhood whether this neighborhood recognizes it or not. Y’all, I could not be more excited to live here!
