Great and Glorious

How many of your friends have been shot?

(Before you wonder and worry if one of my friends got shot, I will tell you, no).  Living in Brentwood for almost two years, I've learned more and more of what residents experience when tragic things happen.  Regardless of my own thoughts or opinions, I can't help but try and sympathize with those around me.  On my way home on the MLK Parkway, I looked down at a one of the main streets and saw four cop cars with their lights on.  Something went down, is now my knee-jerk reaction.  One cop, probably just a small offense, speeding or something like that.  Four cops, either a drug bust or someone got seriously injured, wounded, or killed.  Now, obviously these rules are not set in stone and there are many other possibilities of circumstances, but in my experiences, these tend to be true.  It turns out that a friend of one of my friends died (not sure how), and my friend has been thinking about his own life, when he'll go, if he'll go soon.

I share these things for two reasons.  One: It's just a small reminder that these things are happening.  If I don't hear or see anything bad happening from my point of view, I tend to think the whole world is doing fine.  Two: I don't ever want to write someone's feelings off if they differ from mine.  Meaning, if someone uses buzz words like "racial violence", instead of rolling my eyes and ignoring them, I choose to listen and understand why they might feel that way.

When I say the name Trayvon Martin, what emotion do you feel?  Maybe you are angry at the verdict.  Perhaps you are glad the trial is over and now we can get on with our lives.  Besides, people just want to complain and use the "race card".  Finally, you may have absolutely no opinion.  Maybe, you don't know much about the case and it isn't talked about much in your circles.  Whatever your feelings may be, I can tell you that how you feel or what you say or do will not change the fact that God is sovereign, the most perfect judge, and is in control.  As a staff member of an urban ministry, it is impossible to ignore these topics.  Do I fear for my own safety, knowing that the verdict probably angered some black people in the neighborhood?  Actually, not too much.  When you have a black guy and a non-black guy (usually white) involved in a case, it's pretty certain that the issue of "race" will be discussed.

Right before getting to the church to write this blog, an old woman from the church approached me to talk about our summer camp.  "You guys do a wonderful job.  You should contact a local news station to broadcast some of the good y'all do.  Everyone always only hears about the bad stuff.  There are good things happening here too."

Yes, I have moved into this neighborhood knowing all the dangers and darkness that lurk in the night, and occasionally in direct sunlight.  I know that my next day is not guaranteed, but I also know that I will not die sooner than I'm supposed to.  God knows exactly when my time will be up and has a purpose for it.

I do want to calm any concerns.  I walk to work a lot.  I feel very safe and I recognize many people in the neighborhood on my walks.  More and more people see my face and know I live here.  Most everyone I walk past acknowledges or greets me.  It might just be southern culture (I could be wrong) but many people down here are very cordial towards one another.  There are many good things about this neighborhood that I never had growing up.  I never talked to my neighbors.  When I went to the park with my siblings, there was a good chance that nobody else would be there.

We have one more week of camp.  We've had a ton of fun.  It's been tiring.  I'm going to miss the kids a ton.  Please pray that everyone continues to stay hype to the end of Friday.  Please pray that the kids remember this experience for a long time and know that they had a fun summer and were loved.  We don't know how much they will remember, but we hope that they remember the gospel.  God has been working in the kids' hearts and we are excited to see how this summer will impact their lives in the years to come.

Here's a short video from the 10-12 year olds during music time.  Get it boys!




(Great and glorious, awesome victorious, how great, how great, how great you are to me)
(Strong and mighty, great in glory, how great, how great, how great you are to me)
(Holy, holy is the king of glory, how great, how great, how great you are to me)

Mirrors

If you looked at a picture of me and then looked at a picture of a kid from the Brentwood neighborhood, you may comment on many external differences.  I might be much taller, much older, much whiter, much hairier...on the surface.  How does God see us?  Not one trait better or worse.  Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."  All the things that distinguish us from every other individual that has walked the earth is just a small representation of how creative God is.  It amazes me that He created us.  We don't have to wonder why we weren't made as strong or as smart or as rich or as beautiful as that other person.  We can live in confidence knowing God made us exactly how we are in order to bring Him glory.

There was a time in my life when I was one of the shortest kids in my class.  Always wondered why I couldn't be "normal" height.  There are times where I'd reject the things that distinguished me from other kids.  I tended to be smarter, shorter, skinnier, quieter, athleticker.  Anything that would draw attention to myself, I'd start wishing I was more "normal", the opposite of those things.  Only until college did I start to accept and even embrace the way that God made me.  But it is not, I repeat, is not physical traits, gifts, hobbies, or talents that define me.  I can only say that my identity comes from Jesus Christ and what he has done for me on the cross.  Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  When Jesus lives inside me, although my sinful nature loves to try to convince me otherwise, Jesus is what God sees, not because of anything I've done, but because Jesus took the punishment that my sins deserved.

So why tell you any of this.  Well, to be honest, if I'm living to make myself seem great, it would be like a shepherd leading his sheep into a sandstorm.  I am only a sheep, hoping to point out to any lost or confused sheep to see how great the perfect Shepherd is.

Before the Summer Day Camp started, honestly, I expected that all the kids at camp would take away any remaining energy I had left from the school year.  I'd return next year completely exhausted.  But, something great happened.  As 75 kids funneled into our summer camp, I noticed that some of the activities that we've done over and over again during the school year at two:fiftytwo like hula hooping, jump roping, and drawing with chalk, became so exciting to the kids that were experiencing them for the first time.  Not gonna lie, some of these kids are adorable, smiling when they are told to run from here to there, laughing when volunteers make silly faces or try to dance, joyfully screaming chants of "Who da kang?!?! He da kang!?!?"  (Jesus Christ is the king!)

Two of the five weeks are in the books for Summer Day Camp 2013 and we are just getting started.  The kids have learned worship songs every day, they've done crafts that go with our "King and Me" theme, they've been rained on, fed lunches and healthy snacks ("What are blueberries?" said one kid), and they're in the process of learning who their creator is.

One of my favorite moments so far of camp has to be when the soccer ball team (5 and 6 year olds) came outside for the sports and rec station when it began to rain.  Thinking the rain would let up, I had everybody stand under our huge tent to keep dry, hoping to continue a football lesson on throwing and catching.  When the sprinkles turned to heavy and windy storms and when the ground under the tent began to get wet and flood, I had no choice but to run the kids inside the church five at a time.  Without a game plan for an indoor activity, my creative brain was turned on full power.  How are these wet and hyper kids going to pay any attention, especially if I don't have a plan?  As they lined up on the blue tape on the ground, without a word, I quickly stood straight up with my hands down at my side.  Two or three kids copied, all others still kind of jumping and talking, dripping with distraction.  I raised my arms slowly out at my sides, more and more kids began to get the gist.  As I played this silent version of simon says, I couldn't help but wonder how long this would keep their attention.  "As long as it possibly can?" I thought.  I would squat down.  They would squat down.  I would fall over.  They would fall over then laugh.

I wish I had video of all 20 of them in silly synchronized movements.  It was really cool.

What would it be like to reflect Christ?  Do I obey because I have to?  So that I don't get in trouble for not following directions?  What obedience is pleasing to God?  I would hate to feel like I'm forcing the kids to copy my movements in a game of "mirrors", it's just so cool to me to see them join in without being asked and genuinely enjoy trying to move every way that I am.  It should be out of pure joy that we follow Jesus.  I don't obey just so that I feel joy or laughter.  It's not about what I get out of listening to Him, it's about who He is and what He wants to give us.  Our obedience comes from love.

1 Peter 1:15-16 says, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"  As he is holy, we are commanded to be holy.  We are to reflect him, as in a mirror.  Next time you look into a mirror, instead of making weird faces at yourself (or is that just me?), think about your creator and how God made you very uniquely and for a purpose.  Although we are all made differently, let us worship the Lord together as one body in Christ.

Please pray that our energy increases, our love for the kids grows, and that we begin to see them in light of their eternity.

Enjoy some freeze dance action during dismissal time of camp.  (Yes, that is the Carlton dance being attempted by summer intern Blake in the red shorts.)

(The pictures above are from water day yesterday.  I love the smiles and action shots. It was so much fun!)

YOU AIN'T HYPE!

In little over 44 hours, God willing, about 60 kids will walk through the doors of "the yellow church" and start their five weeks of the summer day camp learning about God, playing Challenge Circle, dancing, singing, arts and craftsing, and having fun.  As many people working the camp would probably agree, we're not really sure what to expect at camp.  How many kids will show up?  Will rainy days mess up plans?  Although there are many unknowns, we wait and trust that those God would have be in the camp would be changed in a very positive way.

Decorations are finally finished.  A cardboard castle was erected, stone walls made, tissue-paper torches "lit", and giant scrolls unrolled.  Our theme this year is "The King and Me" and we hope that all of our Bible lessons and instruction will point to the King of Kings and how He rules over all.  Please pray that in all the planning, and in all the fun, we as staff remember to point the kids to Jesus and how great He is and not how fun and exciting we appear to be.  It's not about us.

One of the favorite cheers at our camp is when the person running Challenge Circle (a circular relay race game) yells "You Ain't Hype" at a specific team and they, in unison, yell back "You Ain't Hype!"  The team that shows the most energy wins points.  Also, during the relays races, teams are awarded points by winning the races but also for being the loudest encouragers of other teams.  There is so much tearing down of other people that happens in the community and we hope that God will work in the kids' hearts.

More updates to come.....

Two In the Books

Year number 2 of the after school program is in the books.  Done.  It reminds me of the end of a track race.  During the race, I try to conserve energy and push to the finish and expend all the speed I can before the finish line.  As the finish enters my vision, I anticipate rest despite feeling tired.  The closing moments are usually the most painful but then when I finish, I can look back on the race and the sport that I love and get excited and forget about the struggles.

I know there have been times this year that the struggles and pain were more illuminated than the triumphs, the positive growth, and the hope I can reflect on now.  In our end-of-the-year evaluations of the two:fiftytwo After School Program, I was very grateful for the section labeled "Highlights."  It had been awhile since I'd really only focused on the positives of the year.  I think the intent of this section was to discuss in what ways the program functioned better this year than the previous year, the first year.  What God brought to my heart were not aspects or changes to the program, but memories. Memories?  I wasn't expecting that.  As I look at some of my top 10 moments from the year, some include just simple interactions with the kids.  Challah laughing uncontrollably when I impersonated an old man, Michaella getting so excited to show us her loose tooth, Diallo's face lighting up when he was asked to explain the gospel to the younger kids, Mekhi going from running around and not being able to sit still in a chair, to sitting quietly, absorbing every piece of educational information, and even opening up more to the adults when before he just seemed very sad all the time.

I thank God for all the ways that this year was harder than the last, in that, we had the "opportunity" to undergo difficult situations in order to obtain more experience and also to thank God for the times that He shows up and works in the kids' hearts.

Here are some of my favorite photos I took with my ipod this school year, looking back.

Diallo and Ferrell cheating during a keep-the-cone-on-your-head relay race

Chassidy and Charity pretending to drive Mr. Marc's car when we took them home.

Diallo, Mr. Andrew, and Ferrell in the van on our way to a field trip

Haha, my sister's Christmas gift to me, face in the snow.

Field trip to the arboretum.  Da boyz

At the beach with my beautiful girlfriend Missi and visiting-sister Erin

Challah wrote a story where I was the Merman (male version of mermaid) King where I helped her find her magic shell.  Dreams do come true

In light of the end of the school year, most all teachers and students get a few well-deserved months off in the summer from all the planning and brain-growth.  In order to foster this "brain-growth" in kids over summers, many people around the country have baseball leagues, tennis lessons, summer camps, and other programs that keep the kids focused.  I heard an interesting study done for white, middle-classed kids versus black, under-privileged kids.  Both groups learn at the same rate during the school year, but there's a significant drop-off in knowledge and remembering facts during those summer months.  Therefore, many black kids return to school having lost much of what they learned previously.  We at 2nd Mile Ministries in the process of planning for our sixth ever Summer Day Camp (SDC), and it's coming quickly.  I will hopefully tell you more details about the different aspects of the camp next week so stay tuned.

Last week we spent two days just decorating for the camp in which the theme will be "The King and Me" (a grammatically correct version of "The King and I").  We want the kids to know that God is the King of Kings, so the idea of His throne will be hammered into the this summer.  Here are some beginning decorations.

Along with SDC preparations, this past weekend we put on our annual rummage sale at Eastside Community Church, where all money that is raised goes towards the summer camp.  This rummage is HUGE!  Tools, furniture, old TV's from way way back in the 90's with VCR's attached, toys, books, clothes, you name it.  It was a ton of work.  It was as if we set up a huge thrift store and then closed it down the next day.  There was some very interesting stuff including this bike helmet with some billiards balls on them.

After lots of sweat, organizing, and hauling furniture, I can look back and see that all the hard work paid off, quite literally too.  We pulled in about $4,500 for camp which will hopefully cover most of what we need to run a successful camp.

Please pray that all the new responsibilities would not overwhelm me, that the planning for the camp is thorough and seeking to serve God by loving the kids, and that those on staff with 2nd Mile would be able to find at the end of these small races (school years, big events, etc.)

Growing Pains

When I was a freshman in high school, there were few that were shorter in height.  By some miracle, my height didn't prevent me from making the basketball team, but did hinder my playing time.  I believe it was right before the basketball season that I began to feel pain in my knees and upper shins.  It wasn't enough discomfort to go to the emergency room, but I did get it checked out when I had my physical.  "Probably growing pains," the doctor declared.  It's about time, I thought.  Walking through the harsassment-filled hallways of high school as a tiny little freshman became a greater challenge than normal, especially now that the pain in my legs caused me to disguise a slight limp.  (For those of you worried out there, I never really got harassed, I didn't tried to draw any attention to myself).

It turns out, I didn't hit my growth spurt until two years later when I had already given up on organized basketball and started running track and cross country.  Relating to basketball, I used to always handle the ball well.  Being lower to the ground, I could dribble quicker and have better control.  I used to guard the other team's shortest or weakest player since there wasn't much expectation for me to rebound the ball.  Nowadays, with my tall appearance, I've had to "guard up" and defend people much bigger and stronger than I.

Although this type of physical growth is normal for pretty much everyone, it doesn't take away from the fact that it can be uncomfortable and hard to deal with.  Growth is sometimes hard to see, especially when you see someone almost every day.  When I go home and I see my nephews are 8 inches taller and their voices are lower, I'm filled with awe at first ("Dang, you grew!") and then I think about the fact that I'm getting older as well and, supposedly, getting more mature and grown up.  I was asked recently, "What ways have you seen yourself grow this year?"  Honestly, I didn't want to answer that question because I wasn't sure I had.  This past school year, I've had more frustrating days at work and been put in many situations that have left me unsure how to handle them.  I think in regards to the after school program, the fact that I can so easily point out what is going wrong reflects on what I choose to focus on; the negative.  This kid talks back to adults now when they didn't before.  That kid never used to call people names.  It's so easy to see what's wrong and try to fix it.  I think one reason I've had more frustration at work is because when I see little or no growth in the kids, it reminds me of my own frustrations with myself not growing the way I would want.

But God has a plan.  Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.  "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  When I look back and seek the positive memories of the year, I see that the biggest growth has been relationships.  The kids at our program are pretty much best friends with other kids in the program, they are more and more trusting of us as their authority figures.  As you may know from the previous blog, we have made an effort to spend time with the kids outside of the program at the parks or at organized Boys and Girls Days.  Sometimes, I feel like a part of their families, someone closer than just a teacher or babysitter.

What got me so in love with serving Brentwood in the first place was imagining these kids in 5, 10, or 15 years down the road, where they'll be, what plans God has for them.  Yesterday, I was at the park playing basketball and throwing the frisbee around and I saw Breon, a once 14 year old boy who came to our summer day camp back in 2010 who had a huge effect on me.  He is now 17, as tall as me, and asked me to play him one-on-one with him.  He still refers to me as DJ Andrew, my name at camp since I helped out with the music selection.  Another kid in the park, when we'd ask him a question, he'd reply with sir or ma'am, even though we are only in our lower to mid 20's.  It was a reality check with being 25 and not in high school or college anymore.

With my grandmother's passing back in March and only one grandparent still alive, it's been strange to think about losing a generation of your family.  This life, although slowly, continues to move forward and all of us grow, mature, get stronger, weaker, wiser, older, and eventually begin their eternity at death.

Have you ever walked in a cemetery?  Alone?  It's extremely humbling.  Suddenly, that TV show you love to watch becomes pointless, friends and family become more important, a fixation on the fragility of your life comes over you.  As a snake sheds its skin in seasons, and a hermit crab moves from shell to bigger shell as it grows, as the dead skin on my back peels after a wicked sunburn attacked the hard-to-reach places on my back, something new emerges.  My older brother is now a dad, even though I still see him as my buddy who I grew up with.  It's crazy to think about.  Look at your life, where you came from.  Generations back, generations forward.  The ol' days.  These new changing times.

It turns out the kids I've invested in this year are growing, and God is a huge part of that growth.  Although it's hard to see the day-to-day growth, the changes are more evident when I think back to the beginning of the school year.

Here are some pictures my sister found for me of my childhood.

 

I think I've grown up (
?)

These things have been on my mind.  Thanks for reading.  Hopefully you've taken some time to contemplate your life and all the characters in it, the people that God used to shape you.

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