Last Day of Spring (break)

I only wish today was the last day of Spring season but it's just the last day of Shelterwood Spring Break. Of course that would be mean summer is here, but it will come soon enough. The rain has started but not yet in full swing which means the healing process of the long bitter winter has begun. It has been relatively quiet on campus during the break week. With all the recent intakes; however, we did have a fair number of residents around including two additions during the week. One more guy and one more girl.

Blessings to each of my faithful ministry partners. You are appreciated!

Thorny Ground and Beyond

No matter where you journey, you cannot escape difficult people.  Yes, even in ministry.  Last week I was reading the parable the sower and I specifically noticed the thorny-ground seed.  I realized that those folks are still in the "church."  The worries of life (what other people think) and the desire for gain (personal agenda) make them ineffective (insecure and even detrimental). Wow.  Two things surface:  1) Lord keep me from "sliding" into thorny ground and 2) Give me the strength to deal with those that have.  

Last week, as mentioned before, was "Beyond Shelterwood."  We sent one group of staff and residents to El Paso to serve local families and champion nearby mission/outreach organizations.  This morning in chapel two of the teens shared and I wish I could relay all the stories but suffice it to say they encountered God.  Upon hearing the testimony of a local from El Paso, one of the teens re-committed her life to Christ and both of them chose to be baptized in water.

Back in KC, our groups split in two.  One team worked with Impact Ministries and refurbished a duplex belonging to a missionary to Haiti.  The second team worked with Faith Hope Ministries.  Faith Hope is located downtown and provides food and daytime shelter to the homeless of Kansas City.  Since I worked with Faith Hope I have a few additional details.  We helped them sort a large warehouse of furniture.  When homeless folks are transitioning to independent living they are given furniture from the warehouse.  Kansas City residents have donated to Faith Hope and the warehouse was full of unorganized stacks of donations.  We sorted, moved and tried to provide easy lanes for Faith Hope staff to fill "orders."  We also served hot meals during the day and sorted through bags of donated clothing.  

Next week begins Spring Break for Shelterwood.  Many of the residents will be travelling home to spend time with family and several will stay back, too recent to our program for healthy interaction back at home.  We are now at 29 residents.  15 boys and 14 girls.

  

Smackdown

Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment (aka WWE) came to town last night with the weekly television show, Smackdown.  Corey and I attended with our friend, Jeremy and had a great time.  Live from the Sprint Center, it was filled with a lively cross-culture of Kansas City.  Even though I had a fun time hanging out with Corey, I think what I enjoyed most was realizing that my life has a lot less drama than the WWE.  It was a soap opera with spandex, tattoos, and masks.  Folks held up signs and screamed when their favorite wrestler was announced.  Good times.  

A few notes from  Shelterwood:  our marketing team is doing a fantastic job of bringing in new families.  After an intake this morning we are up to 27.  Another family is scheduled for Friday bringing us to 28.  It's a little stressful as the lone Case Manager handling 28 kids but I am thankful that our vision is slowing unfolding.  Next week is our semi-annual Beyond Week.  We are sending one group to El Paso, TX for a Hispanic missions outreach and the rest (including myself) are staying in KC and participating in serve projects with local non-profits organizations.  I am not a team leader (which is a good thing) so I don't have details yet.  The inaugural Shelterwood basketball league wraps up tonight.  The 4th and final week games.  We will resume with a volleyball league in early March following Spring Break.

First but not last

The famous photo accompanying this latest blog was taken in August 2008 and is know as "First Day in Kansas City."  Now, don't be too fooled by all the smiles; it was a construction zone and we were busy unloading trucks and assembling beds and desks.  The look on Nate's face (back row, second from right) is probably a more accurate depiction of how we all felt.  This was the first day but not the last.  Many faces have already changed and the property has certainly changed and yet God is not finished.  The Doulos train rolls on and I am thankful beyond words that you are on board!

Lots happening lately on campus.  We had free tickets to the Casting Crowns concert at the Sprint Center in downtown KC yesterday.  Both houses attended, over 40 in all.  One of our newest residents is a close friend of the lead singer and so the band sent a slew of tickets.  The Wednesday night inter mural basketball league has created quite the buzz.  Great games, trash talking, lots of smiles and shortage of breath.  Senior directors, kids, teachers, staff and leadtimers are all involved.  It is a glimpse of the Kansas City property vision...another first but not last.  Our chapel season is going strong.  In our last service, one of the Shelterwood residents shared a personal testimony.  For chapel, having one of the kids share was another first . Lastly, this weekend the parents of our Leadtime students are attending the annual family weekend set aside specifically for that program.   Kicks off tonight with dinner and a "talent show" and concludes Sunday morning with a worship service.  Shelterwood Director, Todd Ellet will be sharing preceded by worship led by myself the the Killer B's.

Pressing On

The dog days of winter are still upon us here in Kansas City.  It was 25 this morning and it looked no different from an 80 degree morning in July.  Construction workers were busy remodeling a local store, the local Quick Trip was bustling with coffee mugs, high calorie snacks and commuters fueling up and roads were busy as normal with daily life.  I guess the point is really this:  you just gotta press on.   Some dreary weather doesn't stop folks from living and it shouldn't with me either.  It won't be long before the thunder and lightning of Midwestern spring rolls in.  

A few notes of news from campus:  I am starting an inter mural winter basketball league today in the gym.  Kids, staff, leadtimers.  It's gonna be great.  I'm just trying to motivate folks to get active.  It has been fun listening to the trash-talking all week.  Of course, since I am the one who organized the league, some have accused me of stacking my team.  All in good fun.  It's a 4 week season with 6 teams.  One hour on Wednesday nights.  

Our Leadtime class enjoyed a short spiritual retreat on Monday and Tuesday of this week.  A well deserved getaway while those of us on staff held down the fort and worked in the house.    No new families since last week but we do have an intake today.  Supposed to be a "live" one if you know what I mean.  We'll see how it goes?  Blessings!

Heat wave and new opportunities

Last week's heat wave of consecutive 30 and 40 degree days has caused most of the roadway snow to melt here in KC.  We might actually be able to put away our outdoor Christmas decorations soon if it keeps up? When I let the dog outside it's sort of like the dove on Noah's ark.  Brandy goes out looking for a dry patch and she usually comes back within minutes scratching the back door.  Well, this weekend she stayed out all day!  I didn't exactly offer a burnt sacrifice of thanksgiving like Noah but I did fire up the grill on Sunday and I am thankful.  By the way, the photo was taken on Christmas morning of the street out front our house. 

As mentioned last week, we had some new families come into Shelterwood this week.  Our numbers are gradually going up.  Funny how God works though.  While we get busy worrying about numbers and stats, life and ministry happen under our nose.  Since September 2008 when we started in KC, 42 residents have made their way to Shelterwood.  23 Currently and 19 departures.  The point is simple: don't miss the forest through all the trees.  The next opportunity is all that matters.  I tell people all the time that what I love most about working at Shelterwood is the fact that I am entrusted by God to make a difference TODAY.  I never know how long I will have with a kid.  Maybe a year, maybe a month or two or maybe just a week.  It's a simple task but one we miss often.  No use in fussing over missed opportunities from yesterday but through grace we get another chance today.  

Tardy for January

Apparently I am starting off the new year with a slow first step as evidenced by the tardy blog update. Geesh.  Jena and I made it home safely from Savannah.  It was 50 degrees outside as we drove away and PRESTO...a minus 6 as we pulled into our driveway in Independence.  As matter of fact, all last week it was single digits and below zero outside.  Brrr.  Justin loaded up his stuff a few weeks ago and headed back to Denver to attend the University of Colorado.  He transferred his local college credits and will now finish up at CU.  Things are back to normal at Shelterwood and Doulos.  Last week school resumed for the spring semester and the winter Leadtime class checked in.  We now have 12 big sisters and 5 big brothers.  Our Shelterwood numbers as of today are at 21 with 3 new families/residents coming later this week.  On Friday January 8th, the last of the Denver Shelterwood kids exited the program through graduation.  A great kid and a wonderful family.  As for me, I am still up to the same stuff as the case manager.  I enjoy keeping the administrative wheels turning, spending time with the boys, and sharing some occasional old-time wisdom with the big brothers and house directors.