Sorry for not writing this last week, I didn't realize it had been that long.  Last week we actually didn't have any groups so mostly we served at different places and one day we had a free day, which was fantastic and just what everyone needed.  

  Since I don't have anything in particular to talk about, I'm going to tell you about my favorite ministy site here.  It's called BARM (Bay Area Rescue Mission).  They have a half way house for adults and a culinary program, but we work with the King's Club, an afterschool program for children 1st-12th grade.  It's in Richmond which is the #10 most violent city in the nation.  If that statistic doesn't help you understand what these kids deal with on a daily basis, one of the students there was shot 2 weeks ago, she most likely dealing drugs at the time because her father is a prominent drug lord in the neighborhood and he made his children follow in his footsteps.  She was 14. 

  This ministry is so beautiful because it is our opportunity to show these kids that they are loved, not just by us but by God.  And the people running the program, there are 4 of them, are teaching the gospel.  These kids aren't getting just the old Sunday school stories, they were going through the beatitudes last month and of course the easter story this month.  One day I had a group of high school students trying to remember a verse and one of the 7th graders not only quote it but tell us where it came from. SHOCKED!  These kids know their stuff and proclaim Christ!  Unfortunately they have a limited number of mentors and therefore still struggle with bad attitudes, disrespect, hurtful words, etc. 

  These kids have soo much potential though.  Man can they dance and dang do they have dreams!  One of my favorite little boys, Malklym, wants to be an engineer AND an architect, if I say just one he will correct me.  Many of the girls want to be nurses or doctors, one boy told me he wanted to be a lawyer.  They have dreams, they have goals, but where do they get lost?  I can't answer that clearly or concisely. 




My boy bout to dougie

 

   Please be praying for these children, that God will guard their ears, eyes, and hearts against the temptations and evils of the world.  Pray for the staff, they are burdened with the hurts of these children and a love for them and that's a lot for just 4 people.  Pray for finances, recently they had to sell a large chunk of their playground because they Rescue Mission was about to go under.  Pray for God's love to surround the Richmond neighborhood and that people would start stepping out and living in the "rough" parts of town.  We need to believe that Our God is greater than the evils of this world!!




Now that it's sunny I can play basketball with the fellas