School Year is Almost Here! (bet you can't guess my tone)

A little over a week ago, our five-week long summer day camp came to a close.  Kids anywhere from 5 to 12 years old came to dance, paint, play, sing, and ate.  I ran the sports station for the second summer in a row and I had a blast.  We jumped, we ran, we played kickball, basketball, football, and lastly, dodgeball!  We hoped to build relationships with kids and parents that have been involved with camp in previous years so we were excited to see many campers return to camp.  Although I wasn't at camp every day this year, I did grow in understanding of how love and relationships are crucial to development for everybody.

(If you are on facebook, you can check some camp pictures on the 2nd Mile Ministries page.)

https://www.facebook.com/2ndMileMinistries

In my experience at the after-school program, if you give a kid a book and ask them to read it and write about it and walk away, chances are it won't happen.  If you give a kid a book and ask them to read it and write about it but sit with them instead and ask them questions about it or relate it to life, chances are they will not only recall more of the book, but respect and trust is slowly built for future encounters.  Relationships are huge.  I read a quote somewhere that said, "Kids that are loved at home go to school to learn.  Kids that aren't loved at home go to school to be loved."  When I think of some of the kids that act out at the local elementary schools, I realize that this statement is very true for a lot of kids in our neighborhood.  I'm not saying that the parents of these kids don't love them, but perhaps a lack of time and energy to build relationships with their kids due to long hours at work and no one at home to care for and watch them causes kids to seek this need elsewhere.

In about a week, kids all over Florida will begin their school year with lots of expectations and pressures put on them to succeed.  It is our hope as an after-school program to enter into the lives of students and families in a positive way that not only hopes to help with the child's education, but in every way (spiritually, socially, physically, etc.).  The two:fiftytwo After School Program hopes to help each student to live the truth of the gospel, learn as scholars, and lead their community forward.  The best leaders for this neighborhood are living in it right now.  We hope to raise leaders that have God-given abilities and skills to lead the development of their own communities.  This will take a long time but I know that God is able to make this happen.

As of right now, there are 7 kids officially signed up for the program, with 9 more being pursued.  With potentially 16 kids in our program, this will be the most we've ever had, which could lead to more problems, but also more structure.  North Shore Elementary and Brentwood Elementary schools, where we draw kids from, both have extended hours this year due to their test scores last year.  This means that two:fiftytwo will have the kids for less time.  Please pray that as we plan what elements of the program to cut or lessen that we'd have God's interests in mind first.

Where last year I co-led the after school program, this year I'm the sole director.  I will have two people helping me every day which is a huge blessing.  Please pray for us to trust in God when situations are easy or difficult.  Please pray that our love and relationships with students and families grow into something beautiful and pleasing to the Lord.

In comparison to last year, I'm feeling more optimistic about the upcoming school year.  Even though the summer is almost gone, seeing the kids in the next grade up and learning new things is cool to me.  If you are a student or a teacher, you are in my prayers.