Claire Hevel

My Plans for Next Year

Instead of heading off straight to college, the Lord has directed my decisions straight into Mission Year! I have dedicated myself to this opportunity that will, hopefully, do nothing less than stretch, change, and challenge me and my daily vocation.

One of the neatest things, I think, about Mission Year is how 6 or 7 people, myself included, from all over the states have the chance to come and live together to seek the same vision and passions. I am so blessed to have this opportunity and I can’t wait to adventure into a year of serving, relating, growing, and above all else- loving.

About Mission Year

Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…

Claire Hevel's Blog

Summer Days / Jun 11, 04:15 PM

It’s crazy how long it has been sense I’ve been on here to blog. Days are flying by and it’s hard to think that my mission year is coming to a close end. The summer has come so fast. It feels like yesterday when I first met my team and drove down to Atlanta Georgia to start our year off and now we are leaving again for Atlanta this Thursday for an urban festival. Unbelieveable.

It’s almost like I want to say, “hey! whoever created mission year – A year isn’t long enough. no fair! there is too much to be done…how can I possibly end this?” But the thing is, my mission year isn’t ending in August….there is no finish line that I am crossing – no trophy or pat on the back waiting for me. There isn’t this “secret to life” that I am supposed to understand now.

This year has been a journey. It’s been a beginning. It’s been a step. It’s been a process. It’s been life. You can’t neatly compartamentalize life- You can’t just finish mission year. It doesn’t make sense in my head that way. You change…God changes you. He’ll show up for you…He will make you like Jesus…weather you know it or not. It’s inevitable. And that’s what mission year is. It’s the step into seeing and experiencing that for real – for seeing and experiencing how good God really is and who He has carefully created you to be in His Kingdom here on earth.

There are lots of thoughts going through my head as to what to say about what I anticipate and hope to happen in these last couple of months. I guess I’m just more hopeful of a beginning then I am sad for an ending. And it’s a beautiful thing.

And that’s all I really have to say right now. Aftercare is about to start so I need to go. Peace.

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Mrs. Goodwin / Jan 17, 09:47 AM

I first met Mrs. Goodwin during one of the first times I walked through my neighborhood here in Southwest. She was sitting outside with her grand-daughter. I was with Matt and Seth and we walked by without saying anything. I hesitated, turned my head, and said hello. I then continued the conversation by asking her where the local library was. Before I knew it I was talking to Carmen (her grand-daughter) about her home schooling and church. I don’t remember much from that first day. But since then Mrs. Goodwin has been consistent in my life.

I don’t go to Mrs. Goodwin’s house expecting to talk with her about everything that had happened to me during the week: how I feel about the kids at Cornerstone or what we have been cooking or how my family is – no, Mrs. Goodwin isn’t too interested in things like that. Somehow, just by the way she looks at you, you can tell that she is interested in more then just talk. She looks at how I am feeling about what I am saying and what is going on in my heart. She wants to know what I believe in. She wants to make sure that I am reading the word and am studying some kind of book or bible study. She wants to know about me, not the trivial things that happen in life, but me, as a person, as an individual – she wants to know what I have passion for, what I am insecure about, who I love and why I love them. She wants to know where my heart is and if my faith is completely in Jesus.

And let me tell you, Mrs. Goodwin does a lot more talking to me then I do talking to her. She wants me to know things. She wants to pour out her knowledge and love into my life. She wants me to know how to have peace and how to be completely content in the love that God has for me. Mrs. Goodwin wants me to know that, because of Christ, it is possible for people to love each other no matter what their skin color is. She wants me to know that the only way to get through struggles in life is to have a personal relationship with the Lord. She wants me to know how powerful He is and how sovereign His love is.

Mrs. Goodwin is pretty sick: she takes more medication then I can count. Carmen is home schooled so she can take care of her grandmother. A day does not go by when I am not in prayer for Mrs. Goodwin. Her health is deteriorating – her physical strength, mind, eyes, and body are slowly becoming less and less. But see, I tend to forget about those things. I forget how much physical pain she is in because Mrs. Goodwin’s heart is bigger then all of that. Her joy, peace, faith, and goodness are all that you see – everything else is placed beneath the shadow of her light that is love.

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Christmas Break and Back / Jan 8, 11:24 AM

Family and friends, it has been a long time sense I have updated on this blog. December was a busy month & Christmas Break came very fast. I was back at home for a quick two weeks. I did a bad job of managing my time wisely because all I wanted to do was sleep and take things very slowly. However, I did manage to enjoy each day as it came and it was such a blessing to get to see people’s faces and talk with them in person.

I returned to Philly last night. It was really hard and emotionally draining to have to say so many goodbyes and hellos all within a 24 hour period. Leaving home and coming back has definitely been bitter sweet. I feel very refreshed and ready to be here in Southwest, while at the same time I deeply miss family and friends – seeing them for such a short while was almost like a tease; but I think that if I just concentrate on what is going on here, getting back into the rhythm of things will happen happily.

Hope your holidays were a blessing. I will try to update more this month. Peace be with you.

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