Pearl's Before Mine: March/April 2026

You can learn a lot by looking at someone's photo gallery on their phone. If you looked at mine for the past two months, you'd see locations from all over Jacksonville from my running journeys, pictures from when my family visited on their spring break, and many 2nd Mile photos from places outside of the church. This isn't usually the norm, but as the weather gets more enjoyable, and the sun stays out to play for longer and longer each day, there are new opportunities to be outdoors in an ever-growing indoor focused world.

4003 N. Pearl St. has been our home for about 16 years, but the times when we can explore new places and try new things outside of the church, I really cherish. In March, our BLOCK program focused on different cultures. We went to Pepe's Hacienda y Restaurante, a Mexican restaurant and grocery store to try sopas, flan, and hunt for unique produce in the store half. We learned about Japan and made origami butterflies. We learned about China and rolls some turkey dumplings. In April, we focused on "New Things." We learned how to bait, cast, and reel for fish at my pastor's house. We got in kayaks and fought the currents, the imbalances, and the various insects and jumping fish. Some select students who had volunteered during the 3rd quarter got to try ice skating. We also went to the nearest park right in our neighborhood and painted an iconic piece of Jacksonville architecture.

Why?

It all fits together. My goals for the middle and high school program our for the students to learn about themselves, have new experiences, create long-lasting bonds, and to learn about what God wants for them in their lives. I think one of the best ways to learn about ourselves is being put through discomfort, situations that we are not used to, and have shared experiences. As a 7th grader contemplated trying a kayak for the first time, she finally got in, more excited than nervous, and after 10 minutes, came back in at the sight of a spider. But she got in! A different 7th grader took to the ice with the help of a walker looking thing. She was determined to make it all the way around without help and without falling. She fell. She got back up, and accomplished her mission. Another 7th grader (we have a lot of 7th graders) tried painting in the park, he didn't like his painting, so he splattered some chaotic drops of paint everywhere, creating a very dynamic piece of art that looked like it was mid thunder storm.

I've written about the beautiful mess before. I hope that as the school year comes to a close that the students can see how they've overcome "adversity" through the activities we've done, and can look back with pride and gratitude.

BLOCK students are currently working towards earning their end of the year field trip. The high school students decided on Sea World. They have a certain number of requirements including attendance, volunteer hours, and art donations to our art gallery in a few weeks in order the qualify. One of the volunteer events, happening next week, was created and voted on by the students. We are doing a free car wash for the neighborhood!

I'm excited to have more time with them outside the walls of our church and be able to be a part of their development as leaders of their neighborhood.

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Giving day is tomorrow! Many Christian organizations in Jacksonville are participating in Giving Day, where donations will go towards scholarships for our Trailblazers Summer Camp! If you would be interested in giving, our goal is $5,000. The link below is where you can give. Bonus prizes are awarded to the organization with the most donated, with the most unique donors, and also the first donor, so if you live in the Eastern time zone, and want to be the first donation given at midnight tonight, that organization will be awarded a bonus $750. Registration doesn't open until midnight tonight. So a $10 donation could turn into $760!

If you are unable to give financially, an easy way you can support us is to follow us on facebook and instragram, also follow block_brentwood on instagram as well. I'm trying to get to 100 followers.

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