So it begins!

Welcome to the beginning of the 2015-2016 school year!!!!  We are currently in our first week of school here in Duval County and the two:fiftytwo After School Program is underway.  We have 15 kids enrolled and 12 of them are returning students!  There were questions as to whether or not a few of them would come back due to some families moving away.  Thankfully, for right now, those few are able to continue in our ministry and continue to build relationships with us and God.  As the kids get used to structure once again at school and our program, please pray that they get acclimated smoothly and that our relationships with their families and teachers would help create a safe environment in their lives where they can Live the truth of the gospel, Learn as scholars, and Lead their community forward.

This is Amaria.  This is her second year with us and she is now in 3rd grade.  I had the privilege of reading a book called Pool Party with her Monday and Tuesday.  When we got to a part in the book where the dog couldn't see color, Amaria started asking questions about colorblindness.  She wanted to know what her dog saw when it looked at her.  Here are the pictures I showed her.  She giggled saying, "That's weird."

Something else that has been encouraging me lately is the number of former two:fiftytwo students there are in our Connect Middle School Program.  Now that I help out with the middle schoolers every Monday and Thursday, I get to continue those relationships and talk through some more "mature" subjects.  Middle school is another whole ballgame.  If you have taught both elementary and middle school, you know exactly what I mean.  At Connect, there are more advanced Bible lessons, life skills, cooking classes, art lessons, games and sports, as well as guest speakers.  While I was in Wisconsin a couple weeks ago, I received this picture in a text while the middle school program was going on.  There goes Diallo waving while they were in the middle of a cooking lesson.  Diallo was an usher at my wedding and I'm blessed to have the opportunity to spend time with him, at least a couple times each week.  Please pray that these middle school students start their year off with good first impressions, discover more and more about who they are and how God created them, and that they learn to put others before themselves.

For all you students, teachers, parents of students, parents of teachers, etc., may God bless your school year and may you acknowledge him in all your ways.