March was a busy month here at Jerusalem Farm, as I've been told it always is! Spring break service trip groups from Loyola-Chicago, Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, Michigan), Saint Xavier University (South Chicago), and Bishop Miege High School (here in Kansas City!) came to share life with us and serve our community of homeowners here in Northeast KC. Having 16-20 extra people in the house each week was simultaneously exhausting and life-giving. So much of what I’m doing here is new for me - from home repair to making peanut butter, hummus, jam, and oatmeal bread from scratch for lunch each week with the groups. and it’s as rejuvenating (and humbling) as I hoped it’d be.
After three busy weeks of groups, we spent a lazy Saturday evening as a community, enjoying the early-spring warmth and one another. Slacklining, cold beer, relaxing in the front yard... And as the house is never really empty, we also had a wonderful couchsurfer named Will with us for the weekend! Will was in town from St. Louis for a photography conference, and he gifted us with all of the photos in the youtube video posted here. Will’s generosity (and talent!) is overwhelming, and his video demonstrates the love and warmth that I’ve felt since being a part of Jerusalem Farm but haven’t been able to put into words. Also, could these kids be cuter?