Goodbye 2020

I've never run a marathon before, but I'd imagine the water stations throughout the race are a much welcomed gift for the runners as they either rehydrate or pour it on themselves to cool them down for the remainder of the race. I feel as though 2020 and beyond, for many, has been like running a marathon, but with no training whatsoever. We all desperately want the race to be over, but alas, it goes on for who knows how long.

Being able to spend a week to relax and be with family during Christmas week was a desperately needed water station for me.

Now back to the race. 

In a couple weeks, the middle and high school BLOCK program will begin meeting virtually on zoom. It has been repeatedly mentioned that the students that have been coming just want to meet up and hang out like they used to and not be on zoom, and I feel those desires myself. Doing ministry virtually has been like running with legs tied together. We've had great moments at camp, and even some amazing Bible studies since going virtual, but of course we hope and plan for the days when we can safely meet back together. On December 12th, we were able to meet up in person with families and others in the community and put on an outdoor family movie night. We watched Jingle Jangle (a Christmas musical on Netflix in case you're interested)! We had about 35 people show up throughout the night ranging from 3 years old to people in their 60s. Spread out in lawn chairs on our basketball court, families enjoyed hot chocolate, coffee, and popcorn with their movie. I'm excited to do this type of event again in the future!

My hope and vision for leading BLOCK virtually would be that we'd be able to reconnect with students that have been in our programs previously and that'd they would be the foundation for what BLOCK is. As students who've known each other for years regularly come, I pray and hope this creates a sense of belonging as many students and families have been isolated from each other for months. Please pray for the right students to show up. I can often feel the pressure to perform well in many aspects of life, and I don't want my identity to be bound to worldly success in ministry. I trust that God will use the next months to grow me, to humble me, and to use me as the marathon continues.

I'm reminded of Hebrews 12:1-2 which says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." The sin that clings to me often is pride, self-pity, resentment, and judgment. Lord, I throw this all aside for your name's sake. Let 2021 be a year we look back on with gratitude.

Question: How do we run this race that is set before us with endurance?

Answer: By looking to Jesus, who endured the cross for us, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God!

 

November (please read all the way to the end)

BLOCK Middle and High School Program: Starting in January of 2021, I will be taking over the BLOCK program. The previous program director will be stepping down but still hopes to participate when he can. In my history with 2nd Mile, I directed the after school program for two years, directed the middle school program for a little less than a year, and have only attended the high school program on a voluntary basis. I'm not gonna lie, I feel way out of my depth with this older age group. If I've known a student for many years, obviously it's easier to know where they're coming from, their families, their personalities, their future goals, etc. But new students, especially those with no previous connection to 2nd Mile or to church or to God (or even white people in the hood), I suppose that's where leaning on the Lord comes in. Next week Friday, 2nd Mile will be hosting an Outdoor Family Movie Night (socially distanced of course) with the hopes of bringing the relationships we've built back to the church for some good Christmas fun. Not meeting in person on a weekly basis has been a big speed bump in ministry, as I'm sure it is across the nation. Please pray that this night would be safe, enjoyable, and would have a big turnout (hopefully not too big where it becomes unsafe).

In case you want to watch what we will be watching, check out Jingle Jangle on Netflix. It's a family friendly musical and more importantly, has a cast where the majority of the actors are people of color. It's magical and entertaining. Get your hot chocolate, pop that popcorn, light a fire (only if you have a fireplace) and tap your feet with your family.

As We Gather: This newish program for the more elderly of folks has been going great. Created in order to allow members of that age bracket to connect, socialize, and learn about God, technology, and a host of other topics, As We Gather has been doing something brand new in the world of 2nd Mile--specifically reach out to non-youth. A few weeks ago I was asked to join the zoom call and talk about music and perform a few pieces of music. I miss being a part of a huge symphony, even a string quartet, playing with others, but it was good to get the old viola out and perform for others again. I played a few movements from the Bach Cello Suites to differentiate some different emotions that music has allowed me to express growing up (a slow and minor key for sadness, a peaceful major key to relax me or calm me down, and an energetically fast major key to pump me up). The response was great and then conversations began about people listening to different types of music to help facilitate their own moods. From what I've heard, participants in As We Gather have made art together, done daily devotionals together, and learned about different topics including health. We've also been blessed with an intern who specializes in computers, so she has been able to set up these seniors with laptops that we've received and help them troubleshoot, get online, and logged into zoom.

Max Update: Flashback one year, and Max would often vomit after feedings (maybe once a day). Since February or March of 2020, he has not thrown up. We were never really sure if the pukage was due to reflux or just a sensitive gag reflex. Without explanation or understanding, this has stopped and we have been so grateful to have to do less vomit laundry. This has since translated to more peed-on laundry but that's another story. Not puking anymore has given him more interest in tasting different foods. He would suck the life and flavor out of a chip or a bite of an apple, but swallowing, or "sending to his tummy" as we tell him, has been a difficult skill to master. Still sensitive to swallowing solids, Max could take up to an hour to swallow one bite of food. Chewing and moving food to his cheeks once inside of his mouth is hard for him to do. There has been progress, but it has been so slow that it's been hard for us to imagine him ever getting off his feeding tube. We just couldn't see it.

Fast forward to last week.

We noticed after being given a chip, he'd come back asking for another, only this time, it would only be a few minutes later. "He must've dropped it," I thought. But sure enough, he was doing a little bit of chewing and swallowing his bites with more consistency. On the long drive home from visiting family, he was eating Cheetos Puffs left and right. It seems that something may be clicking. This is honestly the first time in a long time where I could imagine him eating normally. This picture of him says a lot. It shows my hopes in getting him to eat more (I've never used that "plate" before with any sort of optimism). It shows him eating at the table (we rarely are able to eat our meals together due to his strict feeding schedule). It shows his face that I can't quite tell if it's just his normal silliness, him being shy, or prideful, or a "why are you taking a picture of me Dad?" face. Please pray for continued momentum in eating, patience and endurance on our end, and most of all a grateful heart in all circumstances.

Easy way to help us this holiday season: Do you shop on Amazon? Did you know that if you designate 2nd Mile Ministries as your charity of choice, Amazon will donate to us a small percentage of the amount you spend? It's no cost to you and it helps us out in a big way!

How to set it up is just a few clicks.

1. Go to Account & Lists and look for AmazonSmile Charity Lists

2. Click Get Started at the top or bottom of the page.

3. Type in 2nd Mile Ministries and select the one located in Jacksonville, FL.

4. Boom! All done.

It's important to note, IF YOU SHOP ONLINE AT AMAZON.COM, THE DONATION WILL NOT GO THROUGH. YOU NEED TO SHOP ONLINE AT SMILE.AMAZON.COM AND THE DONATION WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE GENERATED. You'll still be able to purchase the same exact things as before, only now Amazon knows to designate a little of their money to our ministry through your purchases. Easy peasy.