Today we made tie dyed tee shirts and the kids were so creative and they all loved it. I was very impressed with their abilities, behavior, and joy. One sweet little kindergartner, Madeline, was exceptionally gifted. She has a very gentle spirit. Lawana and Dallas helped the children host a lemonade stand right in the middle of the South Bronx! They had a wonderful time. They raised lots of money for Kenya. One little boy Kenyan was a star seller but had a little trouble with product delivery. As soon as a customer would pay he would give his leader the money, then get the lemonade and drink it it himself! He's certainly a very exciting little boy.
During the day while they were selling lemonade, a fight escalated between two women on the street about 10 yards away. One woman even pulled out a knife. They quickly relocated the stand but it was noted by Dallas that none of the children even really noticed what was going on. It's sad to think that they are so used to hearing people scream and fight that they have the ability to block it out to an extent.
Mary Helen and bill played water games to try and alleviate some of the heat wave. The kids had a blast. One little girl asked bill when we were leaving, said she was sad and would miss us, and that the last group left and we are leaving just like them. This is another bleak reminder of the unstable lives these children are living. They are so used to things changing and people leaving that they are clinging to anything that they can have ongoing relationship with.
Shari and John had another good successful day with brained builders. LaShunda, who has arrived early every time since the late incidents, had the kids acting out their business tactics for making a sale at the lemonade stand and then writing about it. The kids really got into it. Kim and Rhoda had another successful day with bible. The kids seem to really like hearing e stories and its sweet to hear them talk about God from their point of view. Reagan and Ruth Abigail had an awesome day with music. the kids made their own guitars with paper plates, paint sticks (donated by Germantown hardware so shop there!) and rubber bands. They were pretty awesome. They also made drums out of coffee cans, tape and used pencils for drumsticks. The kids are learning about rhythm and their seem to be some musical standouts among the kids. Speaking of Ruth Abigail, she is feeling under the weather and so everyone please say an extra prayer for her tonight. She needs healing and strength to feel better and power through this tough week especially when she is feeling ill.
Our lunch today was quite a strange concoction. It started out its a spiral pasta base that was topped with a cheese sauce containing sweet potato pieces and then pieces of beef hot dog. Hmmmm. Most of us took a few bites and quickly retreated to the snack bags or our backpacks for any remnants of popcorn, apples, etc. after a very long but awesome day 2, we hopped on the subway and road up to the north Bronx where we had a great Chinese meal. The restaurant had a tablecloth. Seems like its been forever since we've been in civilization, but its only been two days. The neighborhood here is crowded and very dirty, and I mean VERY dirty. However, even with all the dirt and sadness I have seen lots of joy among many people of the neighborhood. We are so quick to feel afraid but sometimes a brief moment of eye contact and the simple exchange of a smile say everything without anyone speaking a word. I'm like you. You're like me. The only thing that is really different between us are the circumstances we were born into. If not for the Grace of God I might have been born here, but I might not be as strong as some of these people and been able to live and deal as they do. These people have a strength and determination about them. In our bible study led by Bill and Mary Helen, John spoke of a single dad who picked up his wild child, Qadaffi. He appeared to be struggling but he stayed for the last activity if the day before he left with his son. He disciplined his son and smiled with him, but you can tell that they struggle to have any semblance of normalcy at all. This is what we are encountering here. We can't even comprehend what life is like here.
A house on Beekman is truly a light in this neighborhood. They are not just hosting bible camp here but influencing these children in hopes of changing their lives for the best. They are a constant good. I was thinking, we are not here to "make them better" but to be examples of what it is like to love God with everything you have by loving even those that are so often neglected. Titus 2:7 says "and you yourself must be an example to me by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching." And while we are having a blast here laughing and playing, learning and creating, I hope they see the seriousness of our love. That we love them because we love god. And God is the sustainer of all, even in their darkest moments as well as the bright ones.
Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We ask for stamina, peace, and perseverance over these next few days. Tomorrow we have a scavenger hunt in Central Park so we will be taking 100 kids on the subway! And while this gives me horrible anxiety, I can't wait to see them in action!
Blessings!
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