Casa Shalom is an “intentional Christian housing community,” and most of us who live there are still trying to figure out what that means and how to live up to the name “shalom.” In spite of our imperfections, the community in our apartment is genuine. Through our diversity in age, personality, and interests, there is great respect, love, and lots of laughter.

Why “Growing Awareness Urban Farm?” What do tomato seedlings and chicken coops have to do with East Central Ministries? Awareness precedes change is the Growing Awareness slogan. We believe that in order for change to happen, change in an attitude, a heart, a relationship, or a neighborhood, there must first be a vision for change; we must be able to imagine something different.

We’d like to give you a brief update on One Hope Centro de Vida Health Center. We have now been in our new facility for 2 years and are seeing about 100 clients a month. In addition to three weekly medical clinics we also have about 2 dental clinics a month. One Hope is a very unique clinic because it is community originated and community run.

Hurray!!! After over 5 years of blood, sweat, and tears One Hope Centro de Vida’s dental clinic is ready to start seeing patients. A prerequisite for getting dental care is to attend a class on oral hygiene. We are training 2 dental “promotoras” to teach others about dental hygiene so they too will be eligible for dental care. On April 20th we are having an open house. Over 60 local dentists have been personally invited to come and see the beautiful facility and hopefully find it in their heart to volunteer.

It’s that sweet smoky smell of wood stoves being stoked for the first time this year. It’s that fluorescent shade of yellow that blankets the trees right at sunset. It’s that cozy feeling you get when you curl up on the couch with the family… it’s winter!

On Saturday, June 26 ECM gathered with a group of about 100 community volunteers to erect Creation Park, formerly our parking lot.

Whhhhyyyy do we do it? Why do we turn the ministry upside down every spring and plant thousands of seedlings? Is it because we love plants? Is it because we need fundraisers? Is it because we are glutens for punishment? Yes. But mostly we do it for the people. We love the people. The neighbors planting, the customers roaming around and asking questions and the youth learning about growing their own food.

Ten years ago a young couple was forcibly removed from their family farm, after it was sold to an American- based Corporation. They received no compensation. Homeless and destitute, they moved to the city looking in vain for work. Finally, broke, tired and hungry, they were forced to leave their home country in search of a meager living in a country where they would be viewed as “aliens” and “strangers”.

You wouldn’t believe the crowd that lined up outside the building before the show began. We didn’t do any paid advertising for the show and only sent out flyers to our close connections, and yet people were gathering in ever growing circles 30 minutes before the show was scheduled to begin.