Oct. 6 - Thursday began with breakfast still at Reba Place. Then we packed up our car and hesitantly said our goodbyes. I knew that I was leaving some newly made friends behind. But, one day I hope, pray and believe our paths will cross again.
9 am    We arrived at Jesus People USA (JPUSA)  that morning. When we first arrived, it was obvious that the place had at one time been a hotel or something similar. I later found out that it was once a hotel. In the front lobby was the check in. Each room had it's own mail box for distributing residents mail. Pretty cool! We walked around a little and observed the business of the front lobby. I guess with a "family" of about 500, they are entitled to be a little busy. What do you think?
10 am    Lyda Jackson greets us. In the above picture from left to right is me (Angela), Lyda's husband, Lyda and my husband. Lyda says, "Welcome to the windy city."                                                                                                                                                                                    10  am - 12 pm    We get the short story of JPUSA. You can read about it all on their website. Hers's a synopsis. JPUSA began with the Jesus movement of the 60' and 70's with a bunch of hippies sold out to love for one another and a school bus. They moved to a church that had a shower. Men and women slept separate. Married folks had same sleeping quarters with a partical board for particians and privacy. Later they moved to their present location. The size of their community has always decided the size of their building needs.
Community members live communally and share their resources. What a concept, huh? They do not maintain outside employment. They develop businesses internally. They have three required meetings a week - spiritual, mid-week cell and small group.
12:00 pm     Eat lunch. The kitchen and dining area reminds me of my days with the US Army. Any of you know what I am talking about? During lunch I met Mary Jane Arrington. We briefly talked about why we were visiting. She told me about her son. He is challenged with a Bi-polar Disorder. Both are friends of the commmunity.  Met Nathan Cameron.  He is in charge of the video production for the community, among many other things. We made an arrangement for a young girl I am mentoring to spend a day shadowing Nathan. She dreams of becoming a movie producer, so I am trying to empower her to fulfill her dream. Nathan says the community could use a laptop portable hard drive to expand video production when on the road with various ministries such as the upcoming Seeds
tour and the annual Cornerstone Festival .  . Also met Hilda of Grrrrecords  and Chris Rice from Cornerstone Press.  We finished up about 4 pm or so.     What a day!   9 am - 4 pm just flew right by!  The community did not have room for us to stay and sleep while in Chicago due to a double wedding.  So, we drove to the Days INN and checked into our room. That night it was supper on our own. We ate at the Siam Noodle and Rice located at 4654 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, Illinois. Chucke had the Satay and I had the Kao Moo Dang. Both were under $5.00, tasted great and were hardy portions. After supper, it was back to the hotel and straight to bed for me. I was exhausted!

Oct. 7 - Friday
This was a very busy day filled with activity!
After a quick breakfast of waffles, juice, milk and coffee we headed over to JPUSA.
We met with Lyda and her husband upstairs in their apartment. And, we had a cup of hot tea while we chatted. It was quite small, but cozy. They have a bed built  that kinda hangs from the ceiling. And, they clmb their ladder to get up to bed each night. Kinda cool. Each of the hotel rooms have been converted into efficiency apartments minus a kitchen. But, there is a full service kitchen on each floor and the main big one on the first floor.  Lyda also told us about Friendly Towers.  It is a senior program they "inherited" when they bought the building. JPUSA folks staff it. The seniors have their own dining area, so they have a quiet environment which they prefer.  We talked about: Enterprising Kitchen that supplies cottage industry bath items to upscale boutiques, Inspiration Cafe where disadvantaged people are trained in cullinary skills and hospitality, Concerned Crafts and The Artists Way by Julia Cameron.  Our chat was quite interesting and eye opening.  Next, it was off to Lakefront Sheet Metal Supply.  They can be contacted by calling 773-509-0400.  This business is part of the JPUSA Ministry which largely provides income to the community. It is a large commercial space with forklifts, on-site metal working shop, inventory stock and people all over working busily. As it was sprinkling outside, we walk around the other side of the building to Riverview Self-Storage and parking, another JPUSA business. Mostly JPUSA community members are employed, but they do hire some outside help from the community at large of Chicago.
From there, it was off to lunch at the Cafe Too, a program of Inpiration Corporation. Surprisingly, we were greeted by the director, Margaret Haywood. We ordered lunch. While waiting for our meals to arrive, we discussed business. Margaret said, "The cafe is brand new. So, we will be checking to see how things work out. However, the cafe is open 7 days per week for brunch, lunch and dinner. Students take a pre-employment test, train weeks 1-4 in a class room environment. Then they train weeks 5-13 on site at Cafe Too.  Students are referred through shelters and other non-profits. Some are even homeless refugees. The program is free to students. But, a 13 week commitment is required. This service provides a food service certificate which helps students obtain a cook or customer service position."  After lunch we went to Cornerstone Community Outreach.  Lyda also gave us a tour of Hannah House.  Between the two shelter services, they are able to take women with children and intact families.  The shelter provides 120 days of services at no cost.  But, places 75% of any the persons / families income in a savings escrow account to benefit their client/s when they depart.  Onsite services include: daycare for meetings and training, Beacon Therapeutic - a Chicago mobile mental helath services provider, art stations for children, a soup kitchen, 1 food pantry and a computer lab for job searching and housing needs.  We met with The Campus Kitchen Project of Washington, D.C. during a volunteer orientation for Hannah House.  Their group, which is a leadership development project of D.C.,  was there to volunteer for the day.   Also during our visit to Hannah House, Lyda showed us what she referred to as her "pride and joy".  Lyda sid, "It is a fully equipped playground that was donated by a past employeees family.  In her memory, the equipment was donated and set up.  Most days it is in use.  Unfortunately, however the house needs additional funding to pay for an evening staff person to provide care to the children."

Oct. 9 - Sunday CONTINUED
After Services with JPUSA, We briefly talk with Lyda and a few community members, then it's off to travel the highways. Next community stop is Sugar Mountain Community (SMC). And, I must admit this part of our field trip gets a little sketchy. I was so exhausted by this time, after all of our running around the day before, I didn't do much journaling for the next few days. And, Chuckie didn't take to many pictures, either. So, most of this part of the journal for the next couple of daily entries is mostly by memory. So, anybody out there that reads this part of the journal, and you realize my dates or timing is off a bit, I'd appreciate if you'd get in touch with me. But, here goes to best of my recollection. We get a hotel when we get to Fayetteville, after driving all afternoon and evening straight through. We call and make arrangements that evening to drive up to SMC the next morning from Fayetteville. That evening we had supper at La Huerta, a nice little mexican restuarant. Then, we check into a hotel and get a good nights sleep.

Oct.10 - Monday
SMC is about 17 miles from Fayetteville. And, it is way out in the sticks!!! But, what a piece of heaven, once you find it. For someone, or a family, wanting privacy and the ability to live close to the land, SMC just might be the place for you... The drive up to the property is mostly gravel and dirt. The smell of the abundance of green trees was exhilirating to me. As you drive up, the family dog will greet you as you pull up to the drive and notice the front porch and a swing under a tree. Um. What a picturesque sight. We were greeted by Dorothy and shortly afterward by other community members. Our first day, we were shown around the property. We helped with hauling some wood from another side of the property up to the house that had been cut down for firewood. Then, we worked out in the garden digging up sweet potatoes. It had been quite some time since my hands had been deep into mother natures dirt. But, my mind drifted back to my childhood of the days working with my hands and my Daddy out in our own garden. For me, that afternoon of work was so theraputic. The touch of mother earth reached into my soul and soothed this weary traveler. Between our chores, we had a light lunch. Later that evening, at just about dark time, we had a nice dinner and sat outside around a campfire circle. We talked of the day, some of our hopes, dreams and planned for the next day. Christopher and Sandra, two partners living and helping to build the community, told us a little about their own endeavors. They told us how their earth bus was really a part of their lives and not just transportation. Go to www.earthbus.org to find out what they are about. For more information about the community email Dorothy at dmarcy@earthlink.net or call 479-839-2585. Also, Dorothy, who has a wonderful voice, even sang with me a few songs, while I strummed a little on my guitar. I don't believe that I could have asked for a better day.

Oct.11 - Tuesday
This day began with a hardy breakfast. We had talked the evening before and decided it would be a good day to work on tearing down the landing of a pool the community had been given. The wood would be recycled. They have plans to use the materials for building another living space on the property. So, off we go. And, boy did we work. Pulling nails loose and using claw bars to get stubborn nails loose. Hauling and stacking the boards and 2x4's. What an interesting day. But, it made me think a little. Maybe that day I saved a tree from being needlessly being butchered...Maybe I kept material out of a landfill...That day I felt proud of being human. I lived consciously, softly on mother nature. What a wonderful feeling! That is what I want to do more of, too! That evening, though, I think traveling in so many environments in such a short period of time and the chilly, windy climates of the past few days caught up with me. 'Cause, I wound up in the local emergency room, sick,sick,sick! I couldn't hardly breathe. I got admitted to the hospital and there I remained for the next thee and 1/2 days. I have an acute bouto f bronchitis.  So, the field research came to a sudden halt and I wound up flat on my back. Here I am in the picture above. But, can't you see? As soon as I started feeling a little better, it was back to work, even in the hospital! That is just the way I am. When a job's got to be done, I just do it!

Oct.12 -15    -    Wednesday - Saturday