Week 22 - LALA Land

This week marked our fifth month on the bus - a milestone that shocks me in two directions. Part of me can not believe how fast this time has gone by. I long for a way to slow down and learn how to better savor the time still to come, but then I'm reminded by experience that time never seems to slow down. In fact, the longer I live, time has remained remarkably consistent in seeming to unceasingly speed up. 

I am also shocked at how much we have done and coincidentally how much I am already forgetting. Just earlier today I was reminded of one of our stops in Texas (right around thanksgiving) and reflected on that time with the same fondness and haziness you might have over a memory from years ago. I'm telling myself that it's hard to recall the early months on the bus only because of how full they were of both new people and experiences, but there is an equally good chance my memory is just not as strong as I would like it to be. Either way I'm glad we heeded the advice of older, wiser, and more forgetful people: to write everything down.

Joining us in celebrating five months on the road were Rachel and Seneca - two of our good friends from back home. Seneca’s family is from Southern California and hosted us with the same easygoing hospitality we might find back in South Carolina. They met our greatest need by making space on the curb for our bus to park (and forewarning all the neighbors to avoid any conflict), and then went above and beyond the call of duty by taking us for a cruise on their sailboat, connecting us with a local nonprofit to work with, and providing us a seat at their supper table to celebrate Carl’s birthday (Seneca’s Dad). Along with Carl, we had the privilege of spending some quality time with Kary (Mother), Sally (sister), Kappy (another sister), Win (Grandfather), Carlitta (Grandmother), and especially Hans (German Short-haired Pointer). The Fuller family was a big part of what made this week so special. 

Josh, Seneca, and Rachel

Pickle Ball

Josh is the captain now

Kary - the Queen

You are playing checkers, i’m playing backgammon

Carl, Kary, and the bus

Hans and Josh really had an intimate connection

Bus time - I Like Davis’s face in this one

Card games joined by Bailey and a mamacita mug

Tour de California

Surf city BABYYYYY

Show em’ whatcha workin’ with

Every week offers its own opportunities and pace in regard to service work. This week was a bit slower paced which allowed us to capitalize on catching up and hanging out with our friends, but in addition to the fun of pickleball, bike rides, surfing, and card games Rachel and Seneca also got to serve alongside us as two cool opportunities came our way. 

The first opportunity was a friend of a friend of a friend that was recently diagnosed with leukemia. She is not much older than us and considering the circumstances of her world recently turning upside down she is doing remarkably well. We wanted to help out with anything that would lighten her load. That ultimately lead us to rebuilding some outdoor shelving at her house that was water damaged and also doing some weeding and pruning in her yard (luckily Rachel and Seneca both have green thumbs and made quick work of that). 

Seneca and Rachel getting AFTER it! (the shelves are in the background)

The second opportunity was volunteering with KidWorks - an afterschool program serving kids from pre-k through highschool. In their own words they are a nonprofit with the vision of, “transforming challenging neighborhoods in Central Santa Ana by building on the strengths and potential in the community through education, character formation, and personal development”. From my perspective the word that rang true about KidWorks is it is a safe haven. A place for kids that otherwise would have nowhere to go and nobody to go to for help. 

Rachel and Seneca sharing their wisdom

An Absolute SCREAMER of a kick

During our days volunteering there we got to play lots of soccer, jump rope, assist with homework, and read Dr. Suess for literacy week. While playing soccer I met a kid around 8 years old who was a good teammate, a hustler, and brought a ton of energy to the concrete pitch (For the sake of this blog I will be referring to that  kid as “Joel”). I was playing keeper and Joel was hanging back on defense and at one point, kind of out of nowhere, Joel shared with me that his dad had died last week. I stood completely disarmed not knowing what to say as a wave of different emotions rushed over me. A moment later the ball was back on our side of the court and Joel energetically ran off to make a play - smiling and celebrating with his friends after a goal was scored.

My heart broke for Joel at that moment. Here is a kid with so much potential and joy and energy that is going through something hard and real and ugly, far sooner than anyone should. He has just been handed another severe disadvantage in a world where the cards were already stacked against him and he is not old enough to fully comprehend that. 

I spent the rest of the afternoon by Joel’s  side. He generously shared his chips with me during snack, we worked on assignments together, and he told me how excited he was for a field trip at school the next day. I wanted more than anything to be a good influence and role model forJoel. When he asked if I would be back again I was glad to tell him that I would, but also sad to be reminded that I was not a permanent figure for him to count on. Two days later when we were back at KidWorks Joel wasn't there. His classmates said he was sick and didn't come to school either. My heart deflated a little more. Even though it was only accelerating the inevitable, I still was hoping for one more afternoon by Joel’s side. 

The good news is that KidWorks isn't going anywhere and with 50 employees and even more local volunteers Joel will have many pillars to lean on and eyes to help him see. In time, I hope that Joel also gets to hear the other good news - that he will always have a heavenly father that Loves him and desires a relationship with him. A father that will be with him even after he graduates from KidWorks helping to guide and support through the storms of life. A father who apart from, nothing else really matters.

People often ask us what the hardest part about living on the bus is - for me it's the Joel scenarios. Situations where there is a long term need that we can’t fulfill and ultimately drive away from. Covering leaky roofs with tarps, hanging drywall, cleaning airplane hangers, building dirt tracks, chicken coops, and shelves - these things are fun and fulfilling and easy. But meeting the Joel’s… that's the hardest part. Another person recently asked us if we think we are gonna be okay when this trip is over. It was a genuine question - we are living out our dream and they were concerned we may get depressed when trying to settle back into something less nomadic. Because of “the Joel’s” I think I will be fine. I am looking forward to  being settled down and having roots in a community, and I am excited for the day when I am met with a long term need and do not have to drive away.

Josh, Davis, and Joel (this guys name actually is Joel)

Squeaky clean