Emory Bull
NEW ORLEANS!!!
Hello everyone! I am so excited to report that NEW ORLEANS will be my home city for the next year of my life. Things here are a little crazy as I start to prepare. I have to give my two weeks notice at work this week, still looking for a renter for my townhouse, and have no idea where the financing stands as of this point. The ironic thing is I feel less stressed now with three weeks left, than I did a month ago! I want to give a quick thanks out to everyone who came down to Charleston and supported me last Wednesday night for my “Dinner Theater” featuring the Kings’ Kids! It meant so much to me to look out and see friends and family from all different places that had made the effort to come. THANK YOU! Please continue to pray that I find a renter, as well as the financial support, so that I can put the details of this mission to ease.
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…
Emory Bull's Blog
For My Auntie / Mar 3, 01:13 PM
This blog is dedicated to my wonderful Aunt Sharon, who faithfully supports me.
An update on the past four months…. I’ve been extremely lazy in updating this blog so here’s the run down of all we’ve been experiencing over the past few months. Mostly spirits have been high, we’ve seen a lot of really great things happen. Our relationships have deepened and people don’t think we moved into the neighborhood because we are prostitutes or in need of drugs anymore…at least I think we’ve nipped that belief in the bud. Coming back after Christmas break was extremely hard. Harder than I imagined it would be. The first week everyone was so excited to see us back, the second week, routine was back and with the weather being frigid we didn’t see many people and we stayed pretty holed up in our house. Let me tell you what happens when five women stayed holed up together in a two bedroom one bath house….community. We have had some of our best and worst moments since our return and looking back over the past two months it’s obvious to see how much we’ve grown together. We not only are acting more like sisters than ever before, but we have found ways to encourage each other, ways to talk to each other, ways to reach out even when someone is completely closed off. To proceed these great moments, there were a lot of screams, cutting of eyes, frustrated sighs and moans, and if you are me…sleeping. I found that was the best way to stay away from strife. However, in doing that I also completely isolated myself and felt more lonely that I ever dreamed possible with such tight living quarters. I’m happy to report that together, the five of us have learned how to pray better, be more empathetic, and available to each other. Sounds mushy…I know…this blog is following a release of tension, and a community feeling of rejeuvenation. Winter months were hard, but prosperous. We were all experiencing burn out, but now are getting fired up for all that is coming.
Grace / Nov 29, 10:43 AM
Over Thanksgiving it’s tradition to sit and think about what you’re thankful for. This Thanksgiving was a little different for me in many ways, number one being not with my family or even in my home state. However, it was one of the best Thanksgiving’s I’ve experienced within my lifetime thus far. The major difference however, inspired by the Ragamuffin Gospel, I was thinking about how many times I’ve completely screwed up. Not exactly how many things I“m thankful for, but how many times God and his awesome grace has had to cover my butt. I realize this is sounding depressing ,but I assure you that this thought process was just the opposite. I sat and thought about how someone can love me that much to know my every mistake, my every bad move and still love me with such fervor that it causes me to stir with excitement just thinking about all that I still have that is so not deserved. God is so good.
Monday, our blessed Sabbath / Oct 10, 04:23 PM
I’m really starting to enjoy Mondays…mainly because it’s my connection day to the outside world!! So much to tell, but I’ll be brief. Yesterday, a church member invited us into her home for a wonderful welcome feast complete with ALL of the Nawlin’s trimmings! Yes, Nawlin’s…it’s no longer called New Orleans if you’re local. We’ve all started our service sites and are becoming accustomed to them quite well. Our sites range from elementary school P.E teacher, to drug prevention program advocate, to construction with lots in between! Four of us are also helping at a homeless teens shelter and that will start once are background checks are approved….if they’re approved :) Hope everyone is well, miss and love you all!
The week in review.... / Sep 26, 03:04 PM
To catch everyone up on my week in review… Sunday, first time attending our church…Great people, Great music, may have to be rededicated every Sunday so the Pastor’s invitation message will be shorter…Monday, Training…the death of my cell phone, really good house discussion…Tuesday, more training, and attended a neighborhood ACORN meeting about cleaning up the neighborhood in every way from physcially picking up debris to cleaning up the drug activity. Wednesday, attended a revival at our church, First Pilgrim Baptist, this time we heard a great sermon, along with wonderful music and people. Thursday, while others from my group attened the protests in Jena, LA…my sweet tooth opted me to stay at home, eat beignents from the French Quarter, and check out our community service site. Friday,more training, Katrina video…sadly and controversially, the govenor of LA refused federal help. Saturday, attended TWO different choir rehersals at the church and ran errands. It has been a busy week. We experienced some plumbing problems around Wed., so none of us were able to shower until today…but we smell great now and the flies are starting to leave…
Notes of the Neighborhood... / Sep 26, 03:02 PM
Wow, so I’ve had quite a few experiences since I’ve moved here…my roommate Kenzie sums them up best saying “ I feel like we are trapped in a movie”. This life to us is a little surreal. We’ve met a great 13 yr. old named Dexter. He’s been a great tour guide of our new surroundings. He’s shown us a build your own bike shop, a completely free volunteer library, a garden where you grow your own vegetables, and gymnastics room that offers free yoga classes. We are also in the midst of several artists. They held an open art show last night that was pretty interesting….one house solely covered in bright cellophane…the other an expression of the house post Katrina, pre-rebuilding, with weights and fishing lures. We as a team are running a little low on food…however we have a wonderful testimony of what is needed has been provided. Our new church has given us all of the leftovers from the school lunches, our teammates at the other house made us a huge pot of chili, and a stranger from Cali. is making us dinner in exchange for a ride that was given. Instead of attending the protests in Jena, MS yesterday with the rest of my team…I opted to follow my sweet tooth and go with Kenzie to Cafe du Monde and gorge on the wonderful delicacy of beingnets….South Carolina has got to pick up on this pastry if it wants me to return…
