Everybody's doing it now... I have been blogging since 2001. I was on livejournal for a very long time and actually, that's where I met some of my closest friends. I loved LJ, although now I have abandoned it for Facebook.
I think when I didn't have kids I had time to blog. Now that I have kids, I have more fodder but not time. BOO! Something has got to give. My friend KN just started her blog a few days ago and she's already up to four posts. I haven't blogged since 2012. Oops... I am feeling a bit guilty.
Okay, here I go...
What have I been doing since October, 2012. A whole lot! Shizz got real in November when my colleague (Elisa) and I began working with a family whose 19 year old son was missing and was later found murdered in an abandoned warehouse in South Hayward. I tell you, I cannot imagine the grief and the anger that they wake up to every single morning. It's a very sad story and this family has become more than just "clients" they have become family. Sitting with them daily, trying to help them navigate systems that are in place to help them but that are so confusing when you are experiencing trauma. Working with the media and law enforcement to help this family get the justice that they deserve. It was at that moment that I realized that my ministry would take on a whole different meaning. My ministry has always been about service. I'm a total Martha when it comes down to it. I'm no stranger to serving the community.
Elisa and I worked all through November and December. In January, we knew what needed to be done. We knew that we needed to help other families whose children were missing or whose loved ones had been murdered. There are families out there that need help getting the assistance they need to get through these traumatic moments in their lives. Our ministry was born: South County Family Services.
We are currently working to raise money so that we can pay for the filing fee for a non-profit status. It's $850 and where that sounds like a drop in the bucket for some people, it's a lot for us. It's hard to get the attention and the word out because this is just not a "feel good" kind of thing. It would be easier if we knitted blankets for sick kiddos or read to people at convalescent homes. And to be honest, those types of activities are needed and are certainly a comfort to those that they are serving. Looking for missing kids or helping people after their loved ones have been murdered doesn't bring a smile to peoples faces. This is what Jesus has called us to do. So you know what we do? We march through it and know that we will have the money soon and work towards our goals. We are being creative though and that's what's got me feeling really good about things! We are going to do a Tamalera fundraiser. Up to 10 people can get up to four hours of instructional tamale and salsa making by 3 of the best tamaleras in the world. Okay maybe not the world but certainly in our circle here. It's going to be great! I'm looking forward to it. Not only will they learn to make tamales, they will get to enjoy some margaritas and learn a little bit of history of the tamal. You know you want to... There are other things that we have come up with but we're not firm on things yet. It'll all work out, we know it.
So I think that I'm done with this entry. It's not nearly as entertaining as some but it's certainly not boring either. Life is rarely ever boring around here.
