Cookie Cookies and more Cookies!

On Sunday we had a neighborhood cookie decorating party! The purpose of the party was to build community within our neighborhood. I would say over the past few months we have initiated conversations and started building relationships with those in our neighborhood. I know many of the kids because they attend Unity. Children are typically the vehicle that relationships are formed through. I love being able to walk through the neighborhood and not only recognize faces, but actually know the faces. Our house has been intentional about making ourself a visible presence in our neighborhood. The cookie party was another vehicle for us to build trust and credibilty with our neighbors.

Jamie and spent about 8 or so hours in the kitchen Saturday baking sugar cookies, chocolate truffles, mint truffles, buckeyes, and almond biscotti. Both of us love to bake and baking is so much more fun when you do it together.

The kids decorated cookies and made gift baskets to deliver to the elderly in the neighborhood. The gift baskets were just wrapping paper and an empty yogurt container. Super cute!

Delivering the baskets was the highlight for many the kids, esp the older boys that were there.

Javion and Ian, they are absolutely precious and have the sweetest family.

My favorite thing about the party was that most of the people that came were kids and adults with which we had already had a prior connection. We hand delievered invitations to the whole neighborhood, but the majority of the people who came were those that already knew us. It important that we didn't just have the big Halloween party and then stop. We are using the Halloween party as a catalyst for other events and other more personal connections.

Another great thing about our the events in our neighborhood is that the Mission Year house is not the only group in the neighborhood interested in creating community. We have made some great friends who have lived in the neighborhood for several years and have been intentional about reaching out to the community. The great thing about having us there is that we have brought many of the these individuals together and now we have several families and households planning events and activities together. Neighbors working together are so much more effective than doing it alone. Working together is also a great way to pull your resources. Our church New Community Church once again donated supplies for our party. Some of us have time to donate some of us have resources, both are necessary.

But parties and events aren't enough. They are definitely a good way to begin to establish initial connections but they are only the first step. After we come back from the Christmas holidays I want to continue to develop my friendships with some of the people I have met. That's where it can be hard, you really have to step out of your comfort zone. But through relationships you can begin to see God transform your life and maybe even someone else's in the process.