I've been trying to think of a nice, simple story I can share that could help to describe the experiences I've had the last month, but I've given that up. I cannot share one short story, because life at Charis House does not come in any form of short stories. Although I have settled into a schedule, I enter each day with the knowledge that I will encounter at least one situation that will force me to stand back for a second and think, "Wow, this is different."

There have been lots of highlights with the residents this past month. In the beginning of the month another staff and myself organized a slumber party night, complete with a take away and a viewing of The X Factor (The English version of American Idol). I have really enjoyed the weekend shifts because it offers an opportunity for me to just sit and talk with the women. However, just hanging out with the women does not always mean everything is peaceful and happy. This night ended with a challenging situation because halfway through our party, I had to answer the door to a set of 6 policemen bringing home a resident. I found myself standing at the door and experiencing a sadness I've felt many times at the House. A sadness of simply being a witness of women falling back into patterns that have lead them to living in the house in the beginning. Seeing those policemen and the resident, I felt completely at a loss for what to say, what to do, and how to comfort, yet confront issues that really needed to be addressed. The on-call staff at the House came down quickly and said all the right things. It was a spark of relief to see the situation calmed and a knowledge that God works so much, each day, through the staff who sometime just know what to say.

With all the challenging situations, there have most definitely come really meaningful times as well. The English take real pride in preparing "proper Sunday dinners." Last Sunday, a staff prepared a huge dinner and invited all the women to join. It was a wonderfully carefree time at the House. I've come to realize the need to recognize these times as they happen and appreciate them even more as they are happening. Sharing a meal with fun chat and laughter while enjoying a delicious English meal was a time I can use later when the stresses and sadness that the House can produce seems too much.

One activity Charis House staff does every day that I've found true comfort in has been their daily prayer times. I have learned how important deliberate, daily prayer is not just for myself, but for all that we interact with. As staff, we begin each day together in prayer and we come back together after lunch to spend anywhere from 5-30 minutes in prayer. Sometimes we just sit in silence, but most often we just sit and pray for each situation that the women are encountering at that time. It is a pray style that I have had to adjust to. Coming from a very Lutheran background, when we say Amen the prayers over. At our House prayer times, we just sit. When someone says Amen, another will start with another prayer. It's different, but has become a real outlet for asking for help for situations that are helpless without prayer.

I've been busy busy as Charis House prepares for a Thanksgiving celebration! Woo hoo! Charis House celebrates its opening, fourteen years ago on Saturday, November 22nd. I have been helping to advertise and plan this day long event for a while now. I invite you to join with us in praying for a successful event in which news of Charis House is spread within the community and support is raised. I will surely describe the day in detail in my next entry, until then Gods peace and love from Buxton.

My First Goodbye

Charis House has a wonderfully large, bright room that residents call the dining room. Its a focal point for community building because it has a few key ingrediants: the sunshine, food, and just an area to sit and talk. This is where I met Sioma a few days after arriving in Buxton.

Sioma is of Indian descent, but was born and raised in England's Lake District. We have a lot in common and she was one of the first people in Buxton that I just really clicked with. She is twenty-two, a recent university graduate in education, and was pregnant. We talked for almost an hour the first day we meet. It was a light chat with talks of baby names and funny university stories, but conversation just flowed. Sioma fled her family after knowledge of her pregnancy. They were not supportive and a simple version of her story was they did not want her to be a part of the family with a baby out of wedlock. About three weeks after I arrived, Sioma gave birth to a GORGEOUS baby girl. She named her, Jurmriah. Jurmriah instantly took over Charis House. Everyone wanted to hold her and just stare. I held her often, becoming increasingly less scared that I might break her.

I went on Sioma's first walks with Jurmriah. I pushed the buggie as we described the many new and exciting scenes to a sleeping baby. These walks were so much fun. Sioma and I would make guesses as to what Jurmriah would become as we walked her through the park to look at the Autumn trees and the screaming youngsters on the swings.

Sioma has found a new house near Jurmriah's father. She moved out on Thursday, but before they left I got to spend a whole afternoon baking with her! We were just sitting around one Saturday, marveling at the baby, as we often did, when Sioma decided we should make a cake. It was a simple "Victorian sponge" that she knew the recipe for. While we were at it, she whipped up some butter-cream icing for the top too. Cake often brings people together and we enjoyed eating it with many of the other residents who smelled it and came to join.

4 OZ flour
4 OZ butter
4 OZ sugar
2 eggs
*This makes a pretty small cake. We doubled it and made a pretty standard sized one.
Butter cream icing - we made our own:
300 OZ icing sugar
3 OZ butter

Sioma has left now and I encourage prayers for a peace within her and the uncertainity of her future, maybe even while enjoying a slice of her delecious cake.

What do you do when it rains? You jump in the puddles!

Hiya everyone! I am sending a smile to each of you from Buxton, England! I arrived in Buxton in late August and was met by a very chilly air and lots of rain. Thankfully, I quickly met a three year old who helped to put Buxton's weather patterns in perspective for me. He happily explained that when it rains, you just jump in the puddles. I now carry a rain jacket everywhere I go and am starting to see the chilly air as "refreshing."

I will be spending the year volunteering at a women's refuge called Charis House. Charis House strives to be a Christian foundation for women who need a home. The house is an old hotel building, which is an ideal setting for a refuge. The staff work hard to help rooms look well-kept and each resident has an assigned kitchen space in addition to several lounges.

The refuge was founded by two women, Hazel and Debbie, whom I work closely with and admire so much. Their vision for the house is to maintain a Christian atmosphere by staffing those who practice the Christian faith. The women who live here are invited to join in with worship opportunities, but are not forced to participate. Residents are allowed to stay in the house for up to two years. I love the idea that the house is not just a place to spend a few weeks. It is a home to help re-develop a stable way of life, while creating a community to come back too.

The Bigger Picture
Over the years Charis House has expanded beyond just the house into Good News Family Care. GNFC consists of four main parts including The Farm, Community Support, Nursery, and Charis House.

The Farm is located a few miles just outside Buxton and is BEAUTIFUL! The farm serves as a volunteer opportunity for women living in the house to help care for the animals and gardens. Charis House is able to use the eggs produced to sell free-range eggs as part of their fund raising efforts. GNFC is hopeful that one day the farm project will be expanded to include a rehabilitation unit as well.

There are two staff who lead a community support team. These staff devote their time to minister to the women who have since left the house. In addition to providing lifestyle support, they help to coordinate fellowship opportunities with current residents in the house. The support team works to be the community that reminds these old residents they can always come back to the house for a cup of tea.

The nursery includes children up to six years of age who live in the house or in the Buxton community. I have recently started going with the three and four year olds to the Buxton pool once a week. I have only helped in this massive event twice, but I am sure that this will lead to further blog stories.

First Impressions
Charis house is full of life all the time. The beginning weeks where exhaustively full of figuring out names and finding my way around. After just one month, I have seen Rosie and her daughter move out after two years. I have held and marveled at a new baby girl named Jurmiah. There are always stories to be told from the house and I look forward to sharing some with you! Thanks to each of you for your prayers and continued support through letters and email.

Gods Peace!