My living arrangements this year have not been what I imagined when YAGM told me I would be living with a family. I will admit that I first pictured family meals and small children in a cozy house. What I have been blessed with is Mic, Sue, and a family filled with other volunteers.Mic and Sue are two amazingly wonderful people who open their house to ANY, and I mean ANYONE, who needs a place to stay for a bit. For both my visitors from home, my sister Stacie and Matt, Sue has welcomed them to come back any time. And she means it! Sue is one of the Coordinators for the Recovery Support team at Charis House. Mic is a Physics teacher at the local Community School while also leading the Buxton Community Church, where many old residents of Charis House attend. It makes life between Charis House, church, and home very interconnected. This is something I am not used too, but have come to really value and appreciate...at times : )
I live in Mic and Sue's house with several other Charis House volunteers. Jessica is from Germany, Robert is from Hungary, and Tammy is a volunteer turned employee from Canad
a. Included in the Volunteer family is Cida, another Charis House volunteer from Brazil, who lives with House Manager, Hazel. We come from very different parts of the world. In conversations, English is the only language we sort of have in common. Jessica's English is now probably 
better than mine. However, Robert and Cida conversations usually involve lots of smiles, nods, and charades.The volunteer family has had lots of adventures together. We've been able to do some traveling, including Roberts first experience at the beach! We've had long walks and p
icnics, but one of the most treasured times for me has been the Monday night meals we've shared together. We have each cooked a traditional dish from the area of the world we come from. Before each meal shared, we have taken turns saying a blessing, in the native language of each of us. It makes me smile even now, as I think back to the table in Mic and Sue's dining room, and remember sitting, holding hands, and listening to a prayer of thanks said to the GOD we have in common.Last week, Cida turned up at our door with a backpack and ideas of a "picnic." Rob
ert and I put on our shoes and set off for what I thought would be a nice sit in the sun at the park. However, this was one of those
times the language barrier was a bit of a problem. We followed Cida for quite the hike as we journeyed to the top of a very windy hill! I did not bring the appropriate footwear/outerwear. However, Cida did bring a picnic. We hiked to a place called Corbar Cross. It is a large cross positioned on a hill that overlooks Buxton. The three of us sat, eating cheese sandwiches, not talking but just being, underneath the cross. It was a meal shared with people I see God in so so much everyday and have come to love. It reminded me of the community that is so big all across the world that shares in God's love each and everyday.
I have been blessed and I am reminded of that everyday at Charis House. Family is difficult to just create. One of my observations is that the ones who embrace the family concept of the House are the ones who really begin to flourish. My prayers continue to include those who tend to push away the idea of a Charis House family. The ones who still tend to dwell within theirselves. I ask that you include some of these, Jane and Julie and Sarah, in your prayers.Blessings to each of you and your families! I will soon be reunited with mine and that thought is exciting to me!
Aubrey
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