City Beauty

When I first stepped into the Lowell neighborhood I did not know what to expect. I had the misconception that Central Fresno was a scary place not to be visited especially not alone. It did not help that during my orientation for Wise Old Tutoring (WOO) a man being chased jumped over the fence and ran through the back yard of the house! I thought Central Fresno was mostly abandoned dirty buildings that I overlooked while driving to North Fresno. This summer Fresno Urban Internship (FUI) has placed me in the exact neighborhood that I was fearful of. I am now walking the same streets, using the same stores, and building relationships with people who live here. I am realizing that that God is found in the city. He does not overpass it or ignore it like the countless times I have. God thrives here.

This summer I have had several opportunities to meet with some of the children that I met throughout WOO. We have played games, taken walks to the Splash Park, and enjoyed a week attending Vocational Bible School this summer. Walking with these children using both the streets and the alleys has helped me not to be fearful but watchful. I am striving to watch and look for God’s beauty. His beauty is seen when children see people they know and stop and talk to one another; when a mom offers me cold water after walking in the heat, and when a mom makes more food than needed in order for her daughters to take food to their neighbors. There is truly a sense of community and loyalty in Central Fresno that I would have never imagined existed here.

Two weeks ago while walking in Lowell I seen a homeless man walking down the Glenn/San Pablo alley. I recognized him from the Food Ministry that I have been serving at. I ran through the alley and called his name in order to say Hi to him and see how he was doing. After doing this I realized and laughed to myself that what I just did was something that I would have never dreamed about doing before. What was once the unknown is becoming clearer. I now realize that Central Fresno is full of individual people with their own stories. I have opened myself up to listen to these stories and pray for individuals living in poverty rather than grouping then under one kind of people. FUI has taught me about injustices individuals face. It has also challenged me to rely on God’s leading to build relationships and share the hope I have in Christ with individuals here in the city while learning what true community is from the city.

-Laura Gonzales