Sunday, March 22, 2009

Sunset in Detroit

Yesterday was the big day. 

I packed up all of my belongings and moved out of Detroit, into the suburbs. 

This last week, my neighbor Abbie and I went for a walk and we saw the most spectacular sunset on the horizon on Michigan Ave. Michigan Ave usually isn't glaring with beauty but the sunset that we saw made it look amazing.

Every time I take a step into a new chapter of my life, God gives me a sign. This was my sign... a sunset, and it seemed appropriate to post a picture of this glorious sunset, shining on a city that has seen its share of less than glorious days. 


Stay tuned for the sunrise ... rising in Northville (MI). 


Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Storm

I found a live streaming this morning of North Cleveland Church of God, the church I was a member of when I lived in Tennessee. 

Pastor Maloney was my pastor in Michigan, prior to my moving to Tennessee and moved to Tennessee the month after I moved. He and his wife Sharon are my Spiritual parents and if it weren't for their walk with the Lord and investment in me, I don't know where I would be today. They are the Elijahs in my life.

Today was a timely message for me today. It was a reminder that God is with me and has a purpose for the storm I'm facing right now.  Thank God for His lifelines of hope and obedient men of God who preach the word of God, even in the middle of their own storms. 

Here is the link to today's sermon. We all need to hear this message from time to time.


Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Twists and Turns in the Road of Life

A month ago I was met with demands at my job in which I wasn't sure I could meet expectations. Although overwhelming, I worked as hard as I could and trusted God with the outcome.

A couple of weeks ago, I was laid off from my job. 

It was unfortunate, but a learning experience. 

Although I was doing everything I possibly could and was successful in many aspects, the company was struggling and it succumbed to the pressure of the economy. 

I've learned so much from this experience and have made decisions to transition my career into things I love and can do with my God given talents. 

Its a stretch and a big step of faith. 

I've leaned on what I know and its time to step up and do more - relying on God.

More to come ... if you're reading this please pray for me. 
I really need it about now.

Sunday, February 08, 2009

Snow in Northville

We had yet another snow storm. 
Thank God for 4-wheel drive !
I found myself partaking its beauty in the Northville area of Hines Park.

Click here for Northville Snow Pictures.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Snowy Detroit


It snowed last week (like it has been doing every other day!)

I drove around Detroit, partaking in it's "winter wonderland". 

Click here to see my pictures of Snowy Detroit: Link to Snowy Detroit Gallery

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

In Memory of Peter Hartmann

I got a call last night from Marvin, a guy I used to work with at Gringer and Sons, the appliance store in NYC. 

A fellow coworker, Peter suddenly passed away. I would have said unexpectedly, but his lifestyle warranted an early end - it was just unknown as to when. You see, Peter was a drug addict. Peter probably didn't get an obituary or funeral, so I am writing this in remembrance of him.

Until I moved to NYC, I had never met a heroin addict at least not that I knew of and especially a functional one. Peter was my assistant manager. He was a patient guy, always helping me with my naive and stupid mistakes because I was new. He covered for everyone, taking the brunt and working hard to make sure the store was running smoothly. He was very good at what he did. 

One day, I noticed an odd look in his eye and a friend at work confided to me that Peter had a heroin problem. At first, I was in disbelief but later the slight warning signs started to appear. He would nod often, he always wore long sleeves - never showing his arms, he would spend a long time in the bathroom at the same times everyday and the list went on. I was shocked and grieved - my eyes were opened to a dark side of life and an everyday reality for some. 

Peter was an only child. His mother raised him with the assistance of his grandparents, because his biological father was a supposedly evil man in which she stayed away from. Not knowing his father and what knowledge he did have of his father left a big gaping hole in his life. A hole he unknowingly tried for years to fill. 

Peter had a common law wife of many years, Nancy. They did drugs together too. He and Nancy had a little girl, Melanie. Peter did everything in his power to be a good dad to his daughter. and was very involved in her life. He told me once, he was making up for the Dad he thought should have been there for him.

Peter's addiction worsened over the years that we worked together and it eventually took more and more control of his life. He started to slip and eventually fell. He was fired because of his sometimes erratic and irresponsible behavior. He had been with the company for many, many years.

There were times I wanted to tell him about the way out- Jesus Christ and eventually I did. I would pray for him often, even waking up in the middle of the night burdened for his soul.

Unfortunately, he found no way out and it eventually led to his death. 

On January 19th, Peter was found unconscious and later dead in his jail cell. 

He died alone.

There are many Peters in this world, whether we we realize it or not. 
Hurting with intense inner turmoil and pain, turning to a drug or another vice to mask the pain - only for the drug to take control and bring destruction.

Ask God to open your eyes to see what's around you. I don't know if I could have prevented Peter's untimely death, but I do think sometimes I wished I could've done more.

God might use you to reach out and prevent another "Peter" to spiral downward to ultimate destruction and death.
 

Monday, January 26, 2009

Birthdays...

For the first time in my life, I attempted to dodge my birthday. Yes. Pretend its not there - just another ordinary day. I guess now that I'm closer to 40 than ever, I don't want to think about getting older. 

Normally I broadcast my birthday to everyone who will listen.

I woke up this morning, made my usual big cup of coffee, sat down, turned on the computer and only to find I had 40 email messages! Yes, 40. Wow. Normally I'll have 10, half are spam or news updates. Most of them weren't... they were birthday greetings! Wow!!! They keep coming too.

I feel so loved. I can't believe that people even took the time to remember me. I guess I've been under the radar since my big move back to Michigan.

Thanks everyone. I sincerely appreciate it.


Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Adventure Continues ...

Time has gone by quickly. It's already 2009. 

My new life in Detroit has started to come together.

The biggest breakthroughs are that I have a new job and a new church. 

I was hired by a large kitchen appliance company to be their field sales and marketing representative. It was a job that was created by the owner of the company as part of his marketing strategy vision several years ago and I just happened to be the person who had the right fit for the job. 
Coincidence? I don't think so. 
I'm convinced there in a bigger purpose, only God knows. I have been stretched in my abilities and faith like never before. The economic climate and conditions I'm working in are not the most optimistic. But I believe and know that God is able to do and accomplish the impossible - if we dare believe (and I am believing). My story is like Daniel. I have been put in a position that requires of me great skill and knowledge in terrible conditions and pessimism. In the end, God will reveal Himself as the impossible is accomplished - eyes will open like never before and it will be a miracle. I often find myself at the right place at the right time, talking to important people. I have had favor with almost everyone I meet. 
This is the next level for me personally in living for Christ and fulfilling my God given purpose. I don't see the entire picture and its difficult at times.  I ask for your prayers and will keep you updated. 
Truthfully, this is a frightening place to be and live - partially because of the economy and what is expected of me.

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 
above all that we ask or think, 
according to the power that works in us. 
Ephesians 3:20




Sunday, January 04, 2009

Back?

I am often asked "why did you move back here?" and sometimes given funny looks when I tell people I live in the city of Detroit. 

I took a leap of faith - literally. Am I nuts? Probably so. 

Anybody who follows Christ can be looked at as nuts, especially by someone who is not a Christian. We're not living according to this world and all it has to offer but instead walking by faith.

If I didn't have the resolve and peace that I'm where I'm supposed to be, I wouldn't be able to stand and persevere.

Thank God for His peace. Do you have His resolve? Will you be able to persevere into God's promised land?

I am reminded ...



Be strong and steady, always enthusiastic about the Lord's work for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. 1 Cor 15:58



Monday, December 15, 2008

My Noisy Turtles



Several years ago, my roommates Diana and Shirley and I decided we wanted a pet. We weren't allowed to have cats or dogs, so we decided on something small and easy to care for - turtles.
Once we came to the decision, Diana and I made a trek down to Chinatown (where they are sold on the street) on a warm afternoon and brought home our new beloved little pets Tobie, Shelly and Fluffy. They were so tiny, cute and scared after we brought them home. We bought them a tank, a light and a rock - watching them grow and seeing how they lived. They like to get on their rock, under the light, stretch their legs and stack themselves. It's quite cute to watch the little turtle sandwich. Later Fluffy died and we were left with two turtles.
As time went by, the roommates and I went our separate ways. I ended up with the turtles and have since taken them to Detroit with me. They have grown from the size of my thumb to the size of my fist. They have caused quite a stir lately. My landlord (who lives below me), claims that the turtles make too much noise and keep him up at night. I realize they don't bark or meow - after all they're turtles. They don't make any noise. I guess he can hear them swimming - his bedroom is below the room the room they live in. This has caused quite a contention in my house and my landlord has all but asked me to break my lease and find another place to live. All of this because of "noisy" turtles. It's crazy.
I was at a work party and I met this guy who was telling me about his nieces and nephews. He likes to sing Old McDonald had a farm with them and sometimes stumps them by saying "Old McDonald had a turtle..." - knowing they don't make noises. I said to the guy... funny you say that... let me tell you about my landlord...
Sad, very sad. How could Tobie and Shelly cause so much trouble? How dare they??!?




Update:
I have since worked things out with the landlord. Tobey and Shelly sleep in a bucket in the bathroom at night and are contently happy about it.

I am moving in March!

Friday, October 03, 2008

Living in the 3-1-3

I am working on a project to help Metro Life World Outreach with their fundraising project. They are a church in the Corktown area of Detroit. It's situated in one of the poorer and crime infested areas of Detroit. The presentation is a reminder the realities of what life is like in the throes of everyday Detroit.
The presentation brings you back to the reality that you really don't have to go to Lebanon or Afghanistan to live in or see urban devastation and ruin, because the same devastation is right here in the US. I went to the neighborhood to take some photos. for the presentation These are just a fraction of the remnants and ruins of Detroit. Unfortunately, this dire need is often ignored. I'm honored to be able to volunteer for a church like Metro Life. They work with the people, mainly the children and teens in the community to give them hope and a way out of the circumstances that could await them in the cycle of poverty.

Please pray for the city of Detroit. If you would like to know more about the work of Metro Life, Pastor Matt Cripps and the good news gang, please send me an email at hollyeklund@me.com.

See the pictures below...




A closed, boarded up and graffiti ridden elementary school.
Inside some of the closed schools are books and other usable material left to go to waste.





An old abandoned factory where people live.



Another old abandoned factory. Would you want to live across the street from this?


Just a couple of houses



This house could almost be a work of graffiti art. What a shame when there are people without a roof over their head in all places of the world.





Tuesday, September 23, 2008

NYC Update


I returned back to NYC for a few days last week for a visit. 

I had no plans to return as soon as I did, but it seemed "divinely" set up. A friend of mine found some extremely cheap tickets online and bought them so we could have a fun weekend - me and three other ladies. One by one, each person had to back out of the trip until I was left going to NYC by myself. 

I was thinking to myself .... "why God are you sending me on this visit and what are you wanting to do through it?".  I spent time with friends and was able to get some real quality one on one time, without being in a rush. I had brunch, sightseeing and all the good stuff. Living in NYC, life for me was always a rush or a quest to get rest between being in a rush. 

I was able to spend a lot of time with Peck, one of my very best friends who attended Harvest Church with me. She has been mourning the loss of all of her friends moving away. Every last friend of hers literally up and relocated in the past year- including myself. 

I stopped by the Harvest Center to see Gina teaching ESL classes. Gina was formerly my assistant teacher and translator, who was raised up to take over my ESL classes. She is doing an amazing job and her work is far surpassing mine - this is what I was praying for. 

I went to Gringer to see all my guys. I spent 2 hours just catching up. They were like my brothers and we spent time together like a family reunion. The highlight of the visit was seeing Eddie. Some of you might recall Eddie from my previous newsletters. He and I struck a special friendship - he lived in the South Bronx and knew the streets for many, many years (he was 60 years old). God moved in his life and throughout the course of our friendship, he kicked a longtime heroin and alcohol addiction - all with God's help. He testifies today clean and sober, giving God all the glory. When I stopped by that day, he showed me something beautiful... his wedding ring. After 27 years and 4 children, he married his longtime mate Desi and can now legally call her his wife. WOW. I can't tell you how man conversations we had over marriage and making things right - now they are! I pray that God will continue to put back the pieces of his life. I ask you to join me. Young men in the community, most of whom are fatherless look up to him and open up to him. If God sent me to the Bronx just for Eddie - it was well worth it because of the younger men that can be reached-through a transformed God fearing man from the block.

I also returned to Harvest Church and saw all my friends, brothers and sisters. They are so beautiful and seeing them made my heart jump for joy. I miss them all so dearly and pray that they will continue the work without growing weary. 

(picture below is Eddie in 2006)


 

Monday, September 01, 2008

My First Breakfast

Today I cooked for the first time in my kitchen at my new place in Detroit. 

I made pancakes! Of course I didn't eat them all but it was fun making them!



I also tried out my new Allclad frying pan - my housewarming present to myself before moving. It cooks as nice as it looks!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Welcome to Detroit


Here I am. This is the sign I saw early that morning when I drove up to my new apartment in my new neighborhood.

I was greeted by my new landlord and saw for the first time my new place. Its a cute  1 bedroom on a peaceful and safe tree-lined block. 

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

My Journey Back Home

As life brings us all kinds of news with twists and turns, my also life has turned a corner.

After prayerful consideration and seeking wise counsel, I decided to move back to the Detroit area- the place where I was born and raised. It was a heart wrenching decision to leave the Bronx, the ministry and my job - everything was going well and life was good. I felt it was time to move on and it was time to move back home.

Not all my roots are pleasant roots. In fact, "home" has represented to me the land of pain and suffering. God has brought me though a long process of uprooting and replanting the hardships and hurts in my life. One day I asked God with tears and anguish in my heart why He would bring me back to the "land of pain". I told Him I would trust Him and be obedient to what He asked me to do - after all He's God. I heard a still small voice in my heart - God's voice and this is what He said to me --
"Daughter, I will bless you and use you in greater ways than before. Seek me and I will be with you every step of the way. The land of your greatest pain will also be the land of your greatest victory. Trust me and follow every step I put before you. It will be like you never imagined or thought. You must trust me and not look back to the former, but the latter. I'm opening doors even now says the Lord. It will be worth it."

I've only just begun the new journey around the corner. As I move and settle into my new apartment, I have peace - peace which passes all understanding and a promise from God.


Thursday, June 05, 2008

Go Red Wings!

They won!

It was an amazing game and a nail biter all the way to the end.

Hockeytown lives on!

I wish I were he one who took this picture ....

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Red Wings Continued

After staying up way too late to watch the Red Wings in triple overtime, they lost.

I'm still not giving up hope!

Monday, June 02, 2008

Red Wings Playoffs

I sit here watching the Detroit Red Wings - biting my nails and as they play in overtime in the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

If they win, they will take the Stanley Cup.

Being from the Detroit area, I will always love the Red Wings.



Saturday, May 31, 2008

She got the job!

Hey Everyone......... just an update that Cuyler got an awesome job with Christian Dior! She started last week. All of her hard work payed off! She gets full benefits, great hours, a good work atmosphere and free stuff!!

I get to reap the benefits of elegant face cream and perfume!!

Congratulations!!!

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

To Catch a Kitty: Hunting in the Bronx

Last Saturday night, we were awakened by strange noises.

Curious about it, I opened the front door and when looking around I spotted a scared little kitten running away. Those strange noises were coming from a very frightened and cold baby kitty.

Wanting to rescue it, Cuyler and I put on our hat and boots, searching the yard and the neighbor's yard with a flashlight for the poor little kitty. No such luck.

Throughout the night, you could hear it crying and when we would try to find it, it was nowhere to be found.

Finally after two consecutive nights of hearing kitten cries and getting no sleep, Cuyler comes home from work with a trapping cage. Where on earth she found something like that in Manhattan is beyond me.

So she set it up, hoping and praying that we get the kitten and nothing else small and furry!
If it caught anything else, I declared I wouldn't go 10 feet near it!

The next morning, the cage was empty. Nothing yet - or so we thought.

Cuyler left for work and I jumped in the shower. After showering I heard noises outside and I knew what had happened. We caught a kitten!!

I went outside and sure enough, there was a scared little kitty in this little trap. It was really freaked out too!

My neighbor let us borrow a small cage, in which we kept the kitty until we could figure out what to do with it.


She ended up with the ASPCA.
She was treated with antibiotics and a week later, placed up for adoption.

Sunday, February 24, 2008

My Roommates

I have two roommates, Shirley and Cuyler. I have lived with Shirley for the past four years and Cuyler joined us last August.

Originally, from Colorado Cuyler moved to NYC via Texas and found us through a friend of a friend. Normally we only have Christian roommates in our house (because it's most compatible with our personal values, ministry involvements and lifestyles) but as Shirley and I prayed about a new roommate, God put Cuyler on our hearts as our choice for a new roommate.
It was a good decision. We love her. She is such a blessing.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Snow in the City

We had a little snow storm yesterday. NYC is most beautiful when it snows. It brings a silent, fresh purity to an otherwise dirty, noisy and bustling city.

Imagine if the City of New York were to turn from their wickedness - I mean the whole city were to forsake their destructive ways and turn to Christ. A transformation would take place. The peace in the city would be like a holy hush, surpassing the temporal purity and beauty of a fresh snowfall. The best part, is that it wouldn't melt and turn black from the dirt - it would be forever and incorruptible. The beauty would be beyond measure.

What would it take for this to happen?


Pray for our city.

New York City needs a permanent transformation.


Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Ps 51:7

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Missions Conference in Florida


I went to Good Shepherd Church of God in Pahokee, FL last weekend to attend their missions conference. They are a longtime sponsor of the work I do with Urban Harvest Ministries.
I travel there every year and give a report to the congregation of the work at UHM.

Each time I go, we have a great time and this year was no exception. One of the highlights and a nice surprise was seeing an old friend of mine from school, Silvina Gonzales. She is originally from Uruguay and is a medical missionary traveling all over South America. During her stay in the US to attend the seminary several years ago, we became very good friends. She is an amazing woman in her work and accomplishments.

Here is just one of many articles talking about her work:


Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Prodigal Weight Watcher Update

I weighed in on Monday night and I lost 1.6 pounds!

I made it through my birthday and stayed on track - cake and all!!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

My Birthday

It was my birthday Saturday.

The cake does NOT have a carrot for every year of my age.
I'm really 22!!!!