Hyaets, Tree of Life

Charlotte, also known as the Queen City, thanks to the German Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg. Home to more than 731,000 "Charlotteans," and growing. Second largest banking city in the United States. Famous for the Charlotte Bobcats and the Carolina Panthers.

While you may be enraptured by these facts and the beautiful skyline, don't be fooled by the facade. Charlotte is home to a large number of impoverished individuals and families. According to the US Census Bureau, 9.4% of families and 12.8% of individuals live below the poverty level. For those just visiting the city, one would not normally see anything out of the ordinary. Charlotte is a city built around the life of your average middle and upper class citizen. For those that don't fall into either of those categories and struggle to make ends meet, life isn't so easy.

Just travel to the outskirts of downtown, to a neighborhood called Enderly Park, and you'll meet some of those that aren't so fortunate. The people that make up this community are you everyday people, struck with unfortunate circumstances. Adults, trying to pay last months dues, kids, just wanting to play, but with seemingly no where to go and teenagers stuck in between. I've only been here for a few days, but the stories I've heard from those in the neighborhood are heartbreaking, and almost hopeless. Thankfully, there is hope. God laid on the heart of two couples to move to an area in Charlotte that no one else wanted to live. This cooperative of people, listening to the needs of those in the neighborhood has become known as "Hyaets," meaning "Tree of Life." That's what it's become in Enderly Park. Hyaets strives to meet the basic needs of these people, and build lasting relationships with them. The kids have a place to play after school and during summer, while the adults have people to talk to that are willing to help them with their problems.

I've only been here a few days, but have already been blown away by the selflessness, and Christ-like characteristics of these two families. I know this summer will be trying at times, but not without a cause. God's called me here for reasons I may not fully understand yet, but I'm excited to learn. :)