Week 1 of the two:fiftytwo After School Program is done and I'm excited to see in what ways God transforms these kids, their families, and us as well. As of right now, we have 11 kids, 5 from last year and 6 new kids. In case you are curious, the veteran kids are Diallo and Challah (brother, sister), Charity and Chassidy (sisters), and Alex. I feel that this year is going to be much more organized and on point (slang down here for on the right track or right on).
On Monday, I got to see the kids for the first time since last May. I was excited. I went with Marc to pick up 5 kids from Brentwood Elementary at 3. We pulled up to the pick-up area and Alex and Diallo yelled in excitement, "Mr. Andrew!" Huge smiles on their faces, they came in the big white van up to the passenger seat where I was and gave me a group hug. I missed those kids. It's these kids that I'm intentionally pouring my time and love into for this next school year. Since being back in Jacksonville, there has been more drive, more importance put on every situation, every encounter, every opportunity to speak, do, act, rest. It's hard to explain. It's like, if you think of the smell of oranges, you can imagine they smell good. Only when you actually smell an orange do your senses leap at the citrus scent.
A couple times a week, I walk to the basketball court in the morning and play a game called "31." It's a good exercise game when there's nobody else to play with at the court. I start the stopwatch and see how quickly I can make 10 layups, 10 free throws, 10 three-pointers, and 1 halfcourt shot. Sometimes I wonder what people walking by think of this white guy running with intent on the court, shooting with determination, all by himself. Yesterday, as I was walking back home (about 3-4 blocks away from the court), a nice white car playing loud music that sounded like it could have been on Soul Train drove past me, turned around, and put his window down. A little nervous about this guy approaching me in his car, I was asked, "You stay in that house right there?"
To my relief, wanting to be friendly, I replied, "That yellow house? Yep, I stay there."
"I saw you guys had mowed your lawn the other day with a push mower. Any time y'all want, you can borrow my lawn mower. It did a terrible job. I'm your neighbor Riley."
"Thanks man, I'm Andrew. Nice to meet you."
"Alright now, I'm your neighbor. Any time." He drove away and it felt good to hear someone from my block had our backs. When he reinforced that he was our neighbor, it was as if he was saying, "You don't need to struggle with a cheep mower when I'm two doors down and can share." That's one thing I love about the inner city culture. People are so much better at borrowing and sharing resources. I think many of us grow up in a culture where everyone needs their own car, their own computer, their own phone, their own rolling pin, their own whatever. It was cool to know that Riley was watching out for us "white folk" who are generally new to the neighborhood, or at least that street. It reminds me of living a life under our own strength, not relying on God as our soul/sole satisfaction. We got our own weak push-mowers and we struggle with them when God has the sufficient resources we need. Jesus once said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30).
This morning, the Young Adults Ministry at the church I go to was helping out 2nd Mile with some demolition on the building we hope to move into. We took out doorframes, metal cross bars, hanging electrical things, pipes, wires, glass windows, etc. We mostly worked on the second floor and I gotta tell ya, there's something satisfying about throwing a huge metal or wood piece with nails sticking out of it 20 feet down to the unexpecting ground below. I felt dangerous and helpful at the same time. Just a few more building blocks in the ministry's cathedral.
Just from the first week of school, I'm already getting to see some cool things with the new kids. Here's a list of them.
Mekhi and Ferrell (2nd grade boys)
Michaella and Tommieyah (3rd grade girls)
Laila (4th grade girl)
Kayla (5th grade girl)
I will hopefully in the coming weeks give you more details on who these kids are as I get to know them. They are pretty awesome.
One initiative we are trying to focus on more this year is building relationships with the entire families of these kids. Last year, we really only got to talk to parents when they picked their kids up from the program. This year, we are hoping once a month to plan some sort of get-together or something just to get to engage and have fun with the families.
Please pray:
-That relationships with the kids, the families, with our neighbors, with guys at the basketball courts would be built on the foundation of Christ's love for us and them rather than for only being friends.
-For Chassidy (3rd grade girl) who had a rough Thursday, had a difficult time handling herself. There's some deep hurting going on in that family, just not sure exactly what it is.
-That I'd be diligent with support raising as it has been difficult to do that due to wanting to go full-steam ahead into the school year and what I'm doing here.
Hope you are blessed by this song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iG2wUL1vTY
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