It is Saturday morning and I just completed a 45 minute power walk in my neighborhood.  It was a quiet walk.  I took a different route this morning and veered into a neighborhood north of mine.  It is the Cathedral Neighborhood just north of 18th Street and Central Avenue.  It is a beautiful neighborhood that surrounds the Resurrection Catholic School.  This neighborhood does not have the trash problems like my neighborhood and that the lawns and landscaping are immaculate. Many people in that neighborhood were raised in this area and have remained here as adults. 

When I first moved into this area, I would never go out for walks.  I played it safe and had no desire to venture far from my house.  The biggest reason I stayed close to home was fear...fear of the unknown.  What if I would get lost?  What if someone approached me that was inappropriate?  If you live your life by WHAT IFS...you miss out on a lot in life.  Fear is very powerful thing.  It can stifle you and hold you back!  If it was not for my husband...I know I would be living a stagnant life.  He has always nudged me to accomplish many great things and two of things included moving into this neighborhood and finishing my college degree.  I am the type of person that likes to dig in her heels and not move one inch due to fear.  Isn't that sad?   

I wanted to share that perception is not always reality.  When it comes to living in an urban neighborhood, there are negative perceptions in the media, word of mouth and etc.  Do things happen here in this area...yes, but they also happen in every city in the surrounding Kansas City area.  Those of us that live in an urban area play outside, sit on our front porches, and share life like anyone else.  I can tell you that my family lives a very rewarding and satisfying life just like families do in a suburban area.  We are here to stay...we are here to make a difference...and we are here to serve. 

In closing, I wan to extend a SPECIAL INVITE to anyone following this blog...if any of you ever want to visit my neighborhood and see what I am writing about...you are invited!.  During your visit, we could stop by the local Mexican Ice Cream store and then sit on my front porch and have a wonderful visit.  Also, my church, Grandview Park Presbyterian Church, is a bi-lingual church in which everything is translated in English and Spanish.  If you would like to experience a bi-lingual service...let me know and you can join in the  fellowship and fun of the church congregation. 

Why Live an Urban Life?

Why Live an Urban Life? 

March 25, 2012 / 1 p.m.

Lisa Take

Almost six years ago, my husband, daughter and I moved up to KC, KS from Overland Park, KS.  I remember one of my good friends asking me "Why would you do that"?!  The answer is very simple...our faith was the driving force.  We believed there was work to be done and that God was telling us to leave the familiarity and comforts of a suburban life.  He wanted us to join an exciting movement that involved compassion, acceptance, and most importantly, love.  

Was the move from a suburban life to an urban life easy?  I would be lying if I did not say no.  I admit that I had doubts and regrets.  On the opposite end of the spectrum was my husband.  I remember one specific conversation my husband and I one week after our life changing move.  I remember him telling me that I was grieving and that over time, I would feel better about our new life.  The first year or two after the move, I still struggled a bit.  However, it was during those times that I came to the realization that my neighborhood was changing ME MORE than I was changing my neighborhood.  That was an important revelation in my life!  

My neighbors have taught me a lot about culture and the commonalities that all cultures share.  For example, we all share: love, family, faith, the desire for a safe neighborhood and a good education, and most importantly, making the best of our circumstances.  It really comes down to attitude and how you live life. 

Since we moved to KC, KS, God has worked in heart in many ways.  I am now more accepting of everything around me and I see the beauty in many things in my urban neighborhood.  There are some things that do bother me and specifically, trash is at the top of the list.  There is trash everywhere!  Littering is a common occurrence.  It drives me absolutely crazy!  Once I am done with school, my neighbor and I are going to start as recycling/trash kids club.  We are going to recruit and educate the kids on the importance of not littering and restoring and maintaining God's world.

Since we moved into our urban neighborhood, four other faith-driven families have moved into the Prescott neighborhood.  In fact, I met an individual yesterday that wants to move into our neighborhood; however, she is having a hard time convincing her husband to take the big plunge.  He has similar concerns that I had when my husband and I first started discussing the possibility of moving here.  

Through our family and the ministries of the other families... many good works have occurred.  For example... 

• a bike club was created
• more than 40 houses have been repaired and painted
• more than 700 youths have moved into our neighborhood the last two summers to serve
• the redevelopment of an abandoned house for the purpose of serving homeless women and their children
• a deep compassion, love, and understanding for our undocumented neighbors

In closing, there are many exciting things going on in my urban neighborhood and I am so proud to be a part of it!