Boys Day 2

The end of the school year is only a few weeks away.  For any of you teachers out there, I bet you can't wait for some rest in the summer.  With the big Florida testing over with, many teachers in this neighborhood coast, go on more field trips, watch more movies, and try to have more fun in their classrooms.  The FCAT is a big indicator on whether or not a student will go on to the next grade.  Helping out in the North Shore Elementary offices, it's sad to see students who, according to their age, should be one or even two grades higher than where they are.

As a worker in an after school program, I have noticed that the past couple of weeks have been a bit more difficult to get the students to want to read or want to do a worksheet that isn't their homework.  Our creativity has had to step it up a notch.  We went from individual reading time, which we call DEAR time (drop everything and read), to partner reading where an adult facilitates specific questions about the book or about grammar/vocabulary.  Although there have been difficulties with the school year finishing, I've actually been generally more excited.  Knowing there's always that chance that a student will move away or not join our program next year makes me want to take advantage of any opportunity I can to help them, love them, care.  If you've watched a couple of the last episodes of The Office, you might remember when Darryl left his job at the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company without saying goodbye (he didn't like goodbyes).  Then when he was seen at work gathering some things, all his co-workers suddenly wanted to hang out, grab lunch, spend time.  I would hate to have to lose something to know how much I miss it.

Hopefully in the next couple weeks, I will have had time to sit down, really think about this past school year, all God has taught me, put me through, and be able to give you some highlights, one of which I'm sure will include Boys Day 2.

Our second boys day was this past Saturday and we went to Hanna Park.  This park has hiking, camping, fishing, but the section we spent all our time at was the beach.  Adults included me, roommates Marc and Evanda, and neighborhood friend Ernest.  Students included Alex (4th grade), Ferrell (2nd), Diallo (5th), Mekhi (2nd), and Emery (5th) who was a part of two:fiftytwo last year.  We got to the beach, parked, went over some ground rules, then went for the ocean.  Most of these kids don't get the opportunity to go the beach too often.  It was awesome!  The waves were in good form, we dug some holes, made some sand castles, buried some people, play catch with the football, played baseball in the water, and ate apples.  Yes, apples.  After our 3 hours in the sun, we headed back home and got some McDonald's on the way.  These kids love them some McDonald's.  I could write about the beach for a long time.  Each kid was interested in different things.  Alex loved baseball and attacking the waves, Emery was content with his shovel digging holes, wanting to make a hot tub.  Ferrell, who I know could be a child-comedian if he wanted, said "I need to go work on my tan," on more than one occasion.  It was fun to partake in their excitement.  It was great!

Alex escaping from his sand grave.

Ferrell enjoying the water.

Emery, Diallo, Alex, and Mekhi playing catch with the unseen football.

With the school year nearing its end, we are beginning to get prepared for the summer day camp.  My mindset can sometimes drift to the summer prematurely and forget about the now.

Please pray:
-As a staff, that God would give us the drive and strength to be intentional with the next few weeks, hoping the kids grow in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and men.
-God would provide not only the supplies needed for summer day camp, but also the right volunteers, the right students from the neighborhood, the right instruction, etc.

True Rest

Have you had a long day?  Are you tired?  Is reading this blog pulling much needed energy from you at this moment?  Sometimes a whole day of scheduled duties goes by and I fall into bed, just to get enough sleep to do the same thing the next day.  Sometimes the days blend together.  My calendar is the only thing that jolts my brain to remember the day of the week.  For me, and maybe for you too, the more tasks and things on the schedule, the more lines drawn on the calendar, more or less resemble prison bars to me.

Once every month, the full-time staff members are required to take a "personal retreat day" which basically means an entire day to devote to the Lord, meditating on the word, reflecting on the past month, praying, resting, worshiping, etc.  I was skeptical at first, thinking that I had to go through a certain method, checking off things I needed to reflect on, but after that first time, I was excited to experience the next one.  This past Thursday was my most recent retreat day.  Normally it falls on a Saturday but this unique situation of the middle of the week and having a borrowed car at the time allowed for me to spend my retreat day outside of the Brentwood neighborhood.

I decided that early morning, right after a healthy Apple Jacks breakfast, I'd drive myself to the beach (about 25 minutes away from where I live)  I was hoping that the early time of this week day would mean barely any beach goers.  I parked the car, left my shoes and socks, my towel, my wallet, and my backpack behind and proceeded to the beach on foot...barefoot.  I walked the path to the beach, probably about 9:15am, and the sun was still pretty low which meant a beautifully bright reflection from the water and into my unexpecting eyes.  I approached the water, looked to my right, to my left, a few ambitious walkers here and there but not too many people.  With no intention of finding a spot to sit, I picked a direction, put my headphones in, and began to walk.  Look at all the seashells.  Look at the waves.  Look how far out into the ocean I can see.  I can't even see the end.  Someone in Africa might be looking in my direction thinking the same thing.  After almost an hour of walking and enjoying the vast blue water on my left, the side of my face warm from the sun, I turned and headed back.  (Not very profound to the story, but I did indeed turn around.)  As I recall, this is the first time I've ever gone to the beach by myself.  I definitely enjoy taking intentional alone time, and even though the beach began to get more populous, me alone with my thoughts and praise to God was awesome.

I needed that rest.

Last night I went to a showing of one of the most powerful and intense movies I've ever seen.  I'm not talking about any Hollywood films but rather a documentary called Nefarious, which I looked up means "wicked or criminal".  It was about global sex trafficking.  Honestly, I didn't know this fact until I already made plans to see it.  It was a faith-based film with interviews from former prostitutes, former pimps, former sex clients and unveiled the hurt, pain, helplessness that many women and children experience.  It is definitely worth watching and understanding, but I know that if you're like me and knew that it would be hard to watch and learn of what terribly evil things are happening, you wouldn't want to watch it.  You probably won't watch it.  I'm not being judgmental.  I'm right there with you.  I fear bringing pain on myself.  Even if the pain is not directly effecting me, learning of other people's pain in hard for me.

A 10 year old girl, raped by her father.  Now she's a prostitute.  People in poor Cambodian villages consider mothers blessed if they have a daughter because they can sell them into sex slavery for money to buy TVs and cell phones.  Billboards in Thailand advertise women as more delicious than a fresh durian.  The average prostitute starts prostituting between 12 and 13 years old.  These stats one after another are hard to believe and even harder to face as someone who has very little idea of these things happening.  I don't really know how to respond to a documentary like that.  What can I do but make others aware and pray?

The most powerful part of the movie was probably when a couple of ex-prostitutes talked about how they got out of that lifestyle.  The answer.  Jesus.  One of them should've died from too much cocaine, but she called out to Jesus and survived.  The other had a dream where Jesus and her were sitting on a bench.  His eyes didn't judge, didn't lust, didn't condemn, just loved.  He knew everything she had ever done and still loved her.  You could see as they were retelling their stories that they there was an incredible weight lifted from their shoulders.  Hope was born.

Anyway, there's this thing in the Bible called the Sabbath.  Most Christians might believe the word is synonymous with Sunday, just a word.  I know I did.  I think having an intentional day of rest, true rest, not just taking naps or not working, is one of trusting the Holy Spirit and following His leading.

Please take time to pray.

-Pray for these women trapped in a life where they'd rather be dead than alive because of all the abuse.

-Pray for courage to face these facts yourself with a burdened heart.  The worst day of your life may seem like heaven to some.

-Pray for my heart, that I don't just get worked up about these things and easily angered at everybody. I do pray that whoever reads this does not feel judged for not knowing about these things or for doing nothing.  I pray that you would take time to pray and open your heart for the broken people around the world who do exist despite not seeing them with your eyes.

Fernando Ortega's "I Stretched Out My Hands"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRhujopTr9k

A Special Request

Today is the first of May, 2013.  It's less than two months before 2nd Mile Ministries begins its 5th Annual Summer Day Camp!  I'm super pumped to be in Jacksonville this summer.  The first summer that I lived in Jacksonville (2010), the camp was the main event.  Everybody was hype (energized) and so many kids got to hear the gospel message.  I haven't been in Jacksonville for a summer since that year and I'm excited to experience similar excitement as well as developments and changes made to the camp the past few years.

When the school year is over on June 7th, 2nd Mile has two weeks to plan different camp stations which include dance, arts and crafts, Bible lessons, music, sports, and challenge circle.  Our camp director has been busy planning already and compiling lists of things needed for camp to run well.

Take a quick look at some things we need for camp.
http://www.2ndmile-jax.com/camp-summer-2013/

If you want to send any of those items, you can send them to 325 W. 22nd St., Jacksonville, FL 32206.  Or if you'd rather donate online, you can donate at 2ndmile-jax.com and specify what you'd like your donation to be used for.

If you have worked at kid's camps before and have ideas for a fun Friday activity for between 50-60 kids, please let me know.  You can email me at lilvollmer@gmail.com.  Feel free to comment with ideas on this blog.

Prayer requests (which I realize I don't often offer)
-That our after school program leaders would continue to run all the way through the finish line of the school year without slowing up on discipline and educational-focused activities.
-That we'd make the most of whatever God provides for us this summer for camp.
-That the summer interns come energized and willing to serve and love the community.
-That Christ would be glorified and that'd it be clear that it is because of Him that any hearts would be changed for Him.

For your meditation and listening time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jjpK7Kn2IM