Vacation BIble School - 19

Wednesday

So here I am. Lying in bed. 12 hours post VBS's ending and I cannot stop thinking about Gods faithfulness. He is so good and orchestrates things together in such a beautiful way. There is no question whose handy work my life and ministry is. In 2011, VBS was the first time I ever took any kids from Allen hills outside of the community. It was a huge step of faith to sign them up and take 6 kids to the 'castle' we call church... Since then, a rotation of 10 kids have been coming on a regular basis every Wednesday night and also on some Sunday mornings. 3 of our players even went on the 5th and 6th grade retreat with STS (youth group). And just this week as many as 19 kids experienced VBS. it's so amazing how I turn into mom mode with the kids, especially when we are traveling somewhere outside if their community. The trust and love I feel from these kids is one I can't explain. As they hang all over me or run after my car as I am pulling in, I think of how the little children swarmed Jesus. I am no Jesus, but Jesus is love. And my prayer is that at the end of the day, these kids know they are loved, they are wanted, they are accepted.

It was so beautiful to see the warmth the kids received from every person they encountered at the church. The volunteer teachers are heroic. I knew they were praying for my kids so so much and wanted to see the kids open their hearts to Jesus more than anyone could. They wanted to take care of their basic needs by offering to buy breakfast for the whole group so the kids were not hungry. Everyone rallied around these little ones and supported them so much. :) this makes my heart so happy, I can only imagine how happy it makes their Father in Heaven. 

I feel that the Lord has given me the ability to really know my kids. 

I know Jon Corey's mind travels 1000 miles/minute. Something is going on in he heart. Sometimes in the car, he just stares off at the road and gets lost into deep thoughts. I'm not sure what those thoughts are, nor do I need to know. I just know he needs someone to love and support him unconditionally. 

Zamira will be the first to tell you if you have something on your teeth. She will also be the first to laugh at herself!

Keshon is a simple dude. Not so concerned with the process of learning right, as much as he is just being right or knowing where right is so he can know how to tell others to get there.

Keshon

Deharius is a yougin, but wants to ride with the big boys. In order to be heard as the youngest, he acts out and up. He is so passionate. He brings so much life to everything he puts his heart into. I just pray the Lord can grab onto this little guy's heart.

DJ has such a tender heart. He loves hard and he's so open to new things. He will never be the center of attention in a group, yet he is such a leader. I have a special attachment to D.J. because one day I went to his apartment to get him for soccer and I saw him witness his father get arrested. This week I have heard nothing but good reports from his teachers. However, on the last day he had a really hard time with one of his classmates. Now that I think about it, he was very clingy to me that morning as we went around to drop everyone off at their classroom. Anyways, later that morning I happened to be in the hallway as they were walking to assembly so his teacher quickly informed me about D.J.'s disposition. I pulled D.J. to the side and asked him what was wrong. He mumbled his words about being angry at his classmate, then he just started crying. I pulled him to a different hallway with less people and just let him cry. I held him next to me and every few moments he would look straight in my eyes to see my reaction. I'm not sure he has ever felt the safety to cry. I don't know that he has ever felt safe with tears. I knew the tears were not related to his classmate. Life isn't easy for this 8 year old. Especially, when you see so many other children around you that don't seem to have any of the problems you do.

D.J.

God has a special plan for each and every one of us. Unfortunately, many of the kids I work with do not realize it. Or they do not feel the empowerment to make goals and achieve them. It's not easy for me to think about all the darkness we are up against. The generations of sins that have manifested in a place like Allen Hills. But Our God is stronger! I believe He can do it and that He will do it.