A Road Report from Belltown
| by Chandra Mullenix | |
 | Andrew and Chandra Mullenix live in Belltown, Seattle and are members of Emmaus Road. Chandra reflects on her experience of listening to the city as one of ER’s group of “neighborhood listeners” and the role of forming relationships with neighbors as the church moves into deeper community involvement. |
I’ve come to realize how much I didn’t know my city or my neighbors. Also, I discover how other people who live in Belltown, are as isolated as I am—we just don’t know each other! And of course they do not know much if anything about my church-Emmaus Road. | |
 | Some of my favorite discoveries since actively seeking to know my neighborhood have been the Low Income Housing Institute (new mixed-use building) and the Belltown P—Patch (community garden). Both of these organizations want to become places for community, but are having a tough time getting there. |
| I’m slowly learning (as a compulsive helper), how folks need to trust one another before accepting assistance. I kind of thought if we just showed up and asked how we could get to work, we’d be given lists and get started, but sometimes we don’t get a response. Other times the reply is ‘No thanks.’ | |
 | All the other ministry work I’ve been involved in has had clear roles, protocols, and outcome criteria. I’m pretty much forced to let go of the control (another tricky thing for me), and allow the Holy Spirit to do the work through me, which is, of course, what always needs to happen in the first place. CM |