20 Things to know about the Fox-Moore Fortress

Things to know about living in the Fox-Moore Fortress

1. After each meal, it is commonplace to offer the suggestion of "I think this needed more garlic/bacon."
2. There is a strict no-talking through closed bedroom doors rule.
3. Gandolf loves having more space to run around in. In fact he just loves to run... up and down the hallway at full speed. Beware flying cats.
4. We have 3 toilets in the house. That's a safe number for us.
5. The phrase "I apologize for my _______________" is used an average of 18.3 times per day.
6. Always leave the house walking backwards. It's not a superstitious thing, it's a 'Gandolf loves to run outside' thing.
7. We go through a gallon of Orange Juice every 3 days or so.
8. One of the benefits to this arrangement is that the size of our libraries has doubled. Bibliophiles rejoice.
9. Disney tunes are likely to be heard during dish washing times. Join in if you know the words.
10. Household chores are spread out over 4 people, 4x the help, 4x the procrastination.
11. Waffles are on Tuesday nights. Dress is super casual, shoes are optional, waffles flavors vary from week to week.
12. For simple marital miscommunications, an interpreter is usually available upon request.
13. If you desire to enter the house, you'll likely be asked if you're an axe murderer. If you're not, come on in!
14. Don't be put off by the sound of a loud, high pitched, squeal/sneezy-sounding hiccup.... It's normal...for Telly.
15. Netflix + Wii = happy roommates
16. Brandi likes green bananas. Telly likes ones yellow ones with brown spots. Together, all bananas are acceptable.
17. The "baby bump" room refers to the guest room. Don't be alarmed, no human in the house is expecting. But the pink of the walls plus the curious bump around the waist-line of the room has the tabloids going.
18. When we scouted the house, the smallest bedroom was going to be an office, with the sewing stuff stored in there. Then it became the office/sewing room. Now fabric scraps are littered everywhere, the closet is full of projects, and the men usually just poke their heads inside.
19. For your convenience, an eye poking device is located in the living room. In case of emergency, break glass.
20. Books are organized by genre in different rooms. Poetry is in the Fox's room. For kid's literature and coffee table books, stick to the living room. Cook books are in the dining room. General reference, theology, and craft books are in the sewing room/study. General Fiction, SciFi, Classical literature, LOtR, and miscellaneous collections can be found in the baby bump room. See Chris Fox at the circulation desk for more specific information.



For all those that raised their eyebrows and slightly questioned (in a loving way) the implementation of such a crazy plan, know this: Three months into the adventure, it's been amazing. To have a friend at home when my hubby is not, to share in joys and be comforted in sorrows, it's been a blessing.

Headlines

Despite the long hiatus that both Jon and I have taken from updating y'all on our progress as a married unit, let me assure all of you that we are in fact, still married. Just to catch you up, here are some of the recent headlines in our life:

Jon gets job with coffee giant

Thanks to some persistence, Jon has been working at Starbucks since the beginning of July. It's been a difficult adjustment (for a non-coffee drinker/non-morning person especially) but he's been doing great. He gets around 32-37 hrs. a week, the health benefits are great, and he enjoys the people aspect of it (I don't mind the free frappachino's every once in a while either).

Chantelle slides into temp job with Penske

The agency I was doing substitute teaching through also handles temp positions in the Rock Hill/Charlotte area. They found a data entry job for me in Charlotte (about 20 min. away) that was supposed to last about 2 months. So far I've been here for 4 months. They offered me the chance to stay on permanently, but the hours (usually over 45 / week, and mandatory every other Saturday) have been too rough on my family/home life. Also, I want to get back into the classroom, and subbing (though less profitable) is a better way to get my foot in the door.

Long-time friends share house; lose sanity

It started off as a crazy idea to help Jon and I stay in town and save money. It's turned into one of the greatest ideas ever (well, except for sliced bread). Jon and I have known and loved Brandi and Chris Fox for over 4 years. We share many eccentricities, personality traits, and passions. After lots of prayer, questions, and considerations, we decided live together. We've got a decent sized house with a floor plan that suits all of us well. There are lots of up, a couple downs, and tons of love, all of which I hope to write about in another blog pretty soon.

Church hires new intern

The EFCA church we attend was excited to offer Jon the chance to intern with our beloved EPIC pastor Ken. He's taken over the oversee-ment of a couple of ministries, preached a few times, and is learning some great management pointers from the hyper-organized Ken-in-Chief. His 8 hrs. a week at the church help get him through the disheveled mornings at Starbucks. Jon's also working on his Pastoral Connection Form and will be working on his ordination through the EFC in the next few months. We're still not sure what the Lord has for his professional future, but things are nice right now.

Despite the long hiatus that both Jon and I have taken from updating y'all on our progress as a married unit, let me assure all of you that we are in fact, still married. Just to catch you up, here are some of the recent headlines in our life:

Jon gets job with coffee giant

Thanks to some persistence, Jon has been working at Starbucks since the beginning of July. It's been a difficult adjustment (for a non-coffee drinker/non-morning person especially) but he's been doing great. He gets around 32-37 hrs. a week, the health benefits are great, and he enjoys the people aspect of it (I don't mind the free frappachino's every once in a while either).

Chantelle slides into temp job with Penske

The agency I was doing substitute teaching through also handles temp positions in the Rock Hill/Charlotte area. They found a data entry job for me in Charlotte (about 20 min. away) that was supposed to last about 2 months. So far I've been here for 4 months. They offered me the chance to stay on permanently, but the hours (usually over 45 / week, and mandatory every other Saturday) have been too rough on my family/home life. Also, I want to get back into the classroom, and subbing (though less profitable) is a better way to get my foot in the door.

Long-time friends share house; lose sanity

It started off as a crazy idea to help Jon and I stay in town and save money. It's turned into one of the greatest ideas ever (well, except for sliced bread). Jon and I have known and loved Brandi and Chris Fox for over 4 years. We share many eccentricities, personality traits, and passions. After lots of prayer, questions, and considerations, we decided live together. We've got a decent sized house with a floor plan that suits all of us well. There are lots of up, a couple downs, and tons of love, all of which I hope to write about in another blog pretty soon.

Church hires new intern

The EFCA church we attend was excited to offer Jon the chance to intern with our beloved EPIC pastor Ken. He's taken over the oversee-ment of a couple of ministries, preached a few times, and is learning some great management pointers from the hyper-organized Ken-in-Chief. His 8 hrs. a week at the church help get him through the disheveled mornings at Starbucks. Jon's also working on his Pastoral Connection Form and will be working on his ordination through the EFC in the next few months. We're still not sure what the Lord has for his professional future, but things are nice right now.

Moore's are still pet-less.

Jon still won't let me have a cat, or dog, or fish, or bird, or miniature horse. Gandolf - the Foxes skitzoid crazy but sometimes bearably cute cat - will have to do for now.

These are some of the main things happening in our lives, but I hope to fill you in on some of the more quirky, funny, insightful things that happen.


Jon still won't let me have a cat, or dog, or fish, or bird, or miniature horse. Gandolf - the Foxes skitzoid crazy but sometimes bearably cute cat - will have to do for now.

These are some of the main things happening in our lives, but I hope to fill you in on some of the more quirky, funny, insightful things that happen.

Jacksonville, Day 3

We got back to work today, a little more tired than yesterday from our work, ultimate frisbee, and a few competitive games of spades. Today brought a few more conversations with people from the neighborhood. As a result, we've heard some good reports about the reputation 2nd mile is developing in the community. We heard going in that some people have praised their efforts and asked where they get all the "nice white people." Today we heard firsthand from a lady who stopped a couple of team members, and hearing we were with 2nd mile she glowed about the wonderful things they bring to the neighborhood. this supports our thoughts that while we may not get to preach the Gospel directly, we are supporting the long term health of the team here and helping them open doors for Gospel conversations.

At the school where we volunteer in the afternoons, we also got high praise from one of the principles and several teachers, even though we just gave a little time to move boxes into storage. It amazes me that even small gestures can have such striking impact. One small church that 2nd Mile has partnered with has commented that they have been a breath of fresh air, and though the initial partnership was hesitant, they have had such a change of heart that they are offering a building which they cannot maintain as a rent-free base of operations.

Today sparked not only a greater appreciation for 2nd Mile but also a greater conviction that this Brentwood neighborhood looks a lot like some of the neighborhoods in Rock Hill. We spent a fair part of our downtime dreaming and considering how God might use Manchester and other churches to reach into the lives of people along the Saluda Street/ Cherry Rd. corridor. Those discussions were intensified as we spent our evening devotional looking at the host Scripture that reveals God's commitment to justice and the poor. With those verses ringing in my ears, I'm more convinced than ever that 2nd Mile may be a long term investment for our church. There are plenty more chances to send teams either for work projects like the renovation of the proposed building offered by Pearl Street Baptist (they hope to get the building in use by the Spring) or through service and relationship building (there is a particular need for people who can counsel some of these at risk teens through the host of challenges they face). 2nd Mile probably won't ever be a bedrock or primary ministry for us, but it's a fantastic secondary opportunity to see long term how the Gospel will bear fruit, and it gives a unique opportunity as a training ground for what God may call us to do in Rock Hill. It's impossible to be a part of this and not be excited about what God will bring. So, as we did tonight, we dream, pray, and delight at the hope of Christ's redemption to others.

Jacksonville, Day 2

Well, today we began our trip in earnest, and it's been what I expected, if not exactly what I hoped for. Overall,this promises to be a rewarding trip, with much to think on and be excited by for weeks to come.

After breakfast and quiet time, we headed out to do street clean-up (trash, mowing, edging; etc.). It started out a tad rough because lots of the equipment we had on hand is.... well let's just call it temperamental. Fortunately, Les Unruh and Eric Ness are excellent field repairmen, and by the end of the morning had more equipment running than we needed. Our goal for the week is to fix up sections of 2 roads that run on either side of the 2nd mile ministry house. Even with the challenge of initially doing all the edging without aid of power tools, I think we're on target to get it all done. In the afternoon, we shifted gears and went to a local elementary school, where we cleaned up their stage, which had been getting used as storage for old books. I think we will continue to be there the rest of the week doing similar service projects.

It may not seem like much, but as Eric very wisely said, our aim really can't be for major breakthroughs. We're really just support staff who help provide credibility and opportunity for the 2nd mile staff who do the real and hard work of building relationships and trust long after we're gone. And it's important to remember that this Gospel ministry, but it is not the Gospel. The Gospel is the message of salvation through Christ, and we may never get to share that message. What we do is show redemption applied, that the promise of the Gospel is true, and that is an exciting opportunity.

The Challenge for me is that I love the deep conversation, the grand story of someone's life and how God is speaking to them, but so far we haven't really had those. We stand out as outsiders, and people are polite but not in general terribly friendly. They genuinely appreciate our presence and work, but we probably won't have those big conversations. I hope we do, but it's more important that we can stand out enough for Ruth or Marc or the rest of the staff to have those down the line.

Two guys that have really stood out for us have been Earnest and AJ. They are local guys who hang out with the gang here a lot, so we've had some chance to goof off and talk a bit. I'm hoping for more opportunity over the course of the week to know them more.

a Few random things I've enjoyed learning so far-

1. One of the interns here is the daughter of our district superintendent

2. I am not old, but playing frisbee with these guys, I am reminded that I am not as young as I like to think.

3. Rachel is now a quarter of a century old.

4. Eric cannot dance, but he plays a pretty good game of spades.

Jacksonville-Day 1

So an opportunity arose recently to be part of a team from Manchester going to Jacksonville, FL for a service trip with 2nd Mile Ministries. Their aim is to reach into one of the poorest sectors of Jacksonville through relational ministry. I didn't think it was going to work out to go based on cost plus work scheduling, but a few weeks ago, Telly encouraged me to consider going with Chris (our roommate). Apparently, God liked the idea too, because my store manager gave me the week off, and to top it off, the church's giving covered the cost of everyone on the team.

So, 7 of us packed up and headed down this morning. The team here is pretty sweet. We spent the evening with 2 of the staff members, and a house full of interns. It's been great to learn all kinds of new things about the team, and get to hear stories from our new friends (one of the interns is the daughter of our EFCA district superintendent).

Most of what we've done to date has been settling in... basic orientation and a tour of the area. In some ways, it's not that unusual... rough neighborhoods here look like rough neighborhoods in Rock Hill. I think the thing that strikes me the most is how much of the neighborhood is empty. Condemned buildings abound. I am curious how the community will react to us. I keep hearing that we stand out in an awkward way, since we're the strange white people. Growing up with Mom and Dad involved in a camp for minorities and having the examples of so many relationships crossing racial lines, it seems really odd for me. I feel at home here as much as anywhere. I'm interested to see how God leads conversations over the course of the week.

For now, good night Rock Hill and hello Jacksonville!

An update on general things

So here's the general update, because we haven't done that in a while.

1. We're staying in Rock Hill! God has provided.

2. We BOTH got jobs! God definitely provided.

3. Jon is working at Starbucks. He's in week three, and still struggling to get things down. His co-workers are being very gracious and understanding.

4. Jon will also be working with our church, Manchester Creek Community Church, in an internship/portfolio building/working on ordination capacity. God has spoken.

5. I'm doing a temp job (1-2 months) doing data entry at a trucking company in Charlotte. It's full time and will dump me out at the beginning of the school year to start subbing again. God is working it out.

6. We're getting a new place! After a year of love and charm with the Awkward Stair (i.e. 417 Union Ave) we've decided to move. We were looking for a bit more room, a more updated place (namely a dishwasher) and a way to ramp up our part in the community. God found us a home.

7. We're moving in with the Foxes! Brandi and Chris Fox, long time friends (fellow married couple) came up with a random idea for us to move in together to maybe save some expenses, learn from each other, and provide a place for friends to feel welcome. Some benefits are:
a) a bigger place, one we couldn't afford on our own, for about the same rent
b) shared utilities (financial plus)
c) learning from eachother in terms of cooking, budgeting, being good stewards, etc.
d) a new way of life; we'll be forced to share (that's a good thing) and compromise (as if marriage doesn't teach you that enough) living more simply (separately both couples have way too much stuff....collectively...well, there WILL be a yard sale)
e) I get a cat. Well, I share the Fox's cat, but it's still exciting
f)opening our home to the community; this house has enough space so we can have Waffles, Pasta & Panthers, and other special gatherings in a setting where people feel free to relax and not be crowded.
g) love; you know how great it is when you come home from a tough day and your spouse is there to comfort you? Well now you have your spouse, one of your best friends, and your best friend's spouse, who will comfort your spouse, when your spouse is stressed from helping you de-stress from your hard day.



So there it is. That's about what we've been up to.

Contingencies.

As you may or may not know ....actually, I hate that phrase, because you either know or you don't. There are only two options in that scenario, so why make it blatantly obvious and waste words using the phrase? ANYWAY....

As some of you may know, The next month will be a very telling time for Jon and I. Currently we are unemployed. I can't be a sub if school's not in session. Jon can't be a student worker at RTS if he's not longer a student. So we're job hunting. We're beating every bush, shrub, weed, and tree we can find trying to find some income, really ANY income. We would LOVE to stay in Rock Hill. We really feel that God is calling us to do more work in this city, and we can't deny how strong the bonds are with many of the people here. Additionally, Jon's been offered the opportunity to do more work with our local church to help bolster his resume. We don't want to leave.

But the truth of the matter is, if we don't have any for source of income in the upcoming week, things have to change. Here are our four options as we know of them, so that when God does tell us which one, we can communicate with you in code : "Option #3 has arrived people, all clear" or "Option one is here. Meet at 07:30."


Option #1 If neither of us has a "for sure" job offer in the next week, we pack things up and move in with my parents down in Columbia. God has been gracious in giving them a home and with ample space for us to mooch off of as long as we would need to (THANKS MA and PA!). We'd move down there, save some rent money, and begin the job hunting process all over again. This take us away from Rock Hill, so it's not ideal, but we go where the Lord puts us.

Option #2 If one of us is able to secure a job in the next week then we might be able to stay in the place we are in now. It would mean scrimping by, and ultimately we wouldn't be able to stay for long because we can't live here on a minimum wage paycheck. We have some very generous friends at the our church who have offered us the use of their winter home while they're humidity free up north. Again, God has been gracious in providing us this option if we need it. Because it would mean storing our furniture, and it wouldn't be permanent, it's not ideal. But we WILL go where the Lord puts us.

Option #3 If we both get jobs relatively soon, we should be able to afford to continue living in our current place; "The Awkward Stair" as we've affectionately called it for the last 10 months. This would be great and Jon could keep his church opportunity. We could continue building the friendships we have started and contribute to a community we love. This would be nearly ideal, but WE WILL GO where the Lord puts us.

Option #4 If one or both of us gets a job soon, we've hatched a crazy idea with another married couple to move in together (that's right, 2 married couples under 1 roof). The benefits would be saving on rent/utilities/other bills, building a friendship to a higher level, and being able to help each other grow in all sorts of ways. This option has too many "what if's" and "only if's" to count, but it is a fun idea to think about while you're doing dishes. this would also be nearly ideal, but none the less, WE WILL GO WHERE THE LORD PUTS US.

Friday, June 18th is pretty much our deadline for the first option. If neither of us have something by then, it's "Hello Mom and Dad!"

Please pray for us. We need so much of God's direction in our lives. Pray that he will provide jobs, where ever he sends us. Pray that he will be glorified through all the muddled-ness of this time. And pray wherever we are sent next, that there is a dishwasher.