Who has a Birthday without cake?

Today we hosted our weekly Homework Huddle at Eagle's Pointe Apartments.  Every week we meet a very special group of kids, help them with their homework, share a snack, and play games.

Last week we had several new kids, and immediately bonded with them.  As we were working today, the whole group broke out in a chorus of "Happy Birthday" to one of our new little friends who just turned 8.  He was beaming from ear to ear.

As we left, our new little buddy thanked us and asked if we could come back on Saturday and Sunday...He gave us big hugs.  As we said our "goodbyes" I asked him if he was going to go home to have cake?  He said his mom told him she would buy him a cake.  Then he said, well she always says that, but comes home without it and tells me that she can't afford it.

What?  A birthday without cake??  Then the little girl behind him, says that that happens at her house, too.

My head started whirling.  Was this little girl telling him that so he wouldn't feel bad, or did that really happen at her house, too?

Next week I will start logging names, addresses and, of course, birth dates at homework huddle.  I will start soliciting my friends this week to start creating Birthday Kits.  Wouldn't it be great to gather up aluminum pans, cake mixes, frosting, sprinkles, candles, party plates and napkins and even a $15 Wal-Mart gift card?  We could bless the moms about a week before the child's birthday.

A birthday is special...we celebrate our Lord and Savior's Birthday every year in a huge way....perhaps we can help the "least of these" in a simple little way....I'm sure Jesus would approve.

Left Out.....

I had the pleasure of going to Westview Elementary School to have lunch with one of my friends last Friday.  I hadn't seen her since Christmas, and was looking forward to seeing her.  When I walked in I saw lots of little friends from the Apartment Site I spend a lot of time at.  They all wanted me to sit with them, but I was just there for my friend, Paola, that day.  I surprised her, she had no idea I was coming.  As we sat across from each other, another little boy from the apartment sat next to her.  The two little girls around me asked if I worked at the school, and how I knew Paola and Armondo.

I didn't have to explain.  Paola and Armondo immediately told the two little girls that I was their "FRIEND".  Yip, that is what I am, but the fact that that is how they saw me, was priceless.  They explained to the girls that I come to their apartment and Paola told them that I help her with her reading every week at Homework Huddle.  I was so embarrassed and proud of how they looked at me....I was their Friend, indeed.

Having not seen the kids since Christmas, the conversation turned to one of what they got for Christmas.  My church, Olathe Christian Church, has adopted this apartment complex as a site to create relationships with.  At Christmas they were able to bless the parents with presents and clothes for their kids, but these items were not given to the kids by the church.  The parents received them, wrapped them, and were able to give the presents to the kids from them.  These two little friends didn't know that.  They were just excited to tell me what they got from their parents for Christmas.

Not thinking, I turned to the little girl next to me and asked her what she got for Christmas.  She looked at me with very sad eyes, and said, "I didn't get nothing for Christmas"....My heart sank.  She told me that it had been a bad year.  I asked her where she lived and she told me in an apartment right down the street from school.  Wow!  Wouldn't it be amazing if a church, a family, several families adopted her apartment, too?  Wouldn't it be great if she had a friend to come to lunch?  Wouldn't it be great if she got something, anything, for Christmas?

Did you get anything for Christmas?  Did your kids get anything for Christmas?  Has God provided more than enough for you, that you might be able to share your treasure with others?
Foot in mouth....why did I ask her that?  Haven't stopped thinking about it.  If you are interested in learning more about this little girl's apartment complex and the apartment complex of many other kids like her, contact Mission Southside.  www.missionsouthside.org

It will be one of the most meaningful things you will ever do.

Amy

New Year...New Blog.....It's all about Relationships

I just finished a truly awesome and inspiring book.  If you know me, I don't read much....but this book got me and I got it.  I read it in less than 5 hours, because I couldn't put it down.

Max Lucado hits the nail head on with Outlive Your Life.  If you haven't read it, it is a great way to kick off the new year.........That being said.........

As many of you know I have one of the best jobs in the world, next to being the mom of Jake, Maddie and Carolyn.  I am a Missionary in our own community.  There are people here who don't know who Jesus is, or perhaps they have heard of him, but don't have a personal relationship with him.  There are people in our county who are living in poverty, they are sleeping on the floor, they are scraping every dime together to pay their rent at the beginning of the month, and have nothing left for food.  Some are single moms working two-thee jobs, but because of a car accident, find themselves unable to work, and quickly become homeless....This is going on all around us, in our 1st World, Johnson County, and many times we just choose to look away.

I used to drive by an apartment complex that is about 2 miles from my house.  For 14 years I thought, man that is an eyesore, they should really doze it.  One year ago, I was moved to go drop off some backsnacks because of a week of snow days.  Some friends of mine and I started a backsnack program for Middle School kids in Gardner and Olathe 4 years ago.  These kids were significantly below the poverty level, and many of them hungry on the weekends.  Anyway.....I felt moved one snow day that these kiddos who usually get breakfast and lunch at school, were sitting at home for 8 days, without anything.  We showed up at this apartment complex and dropped off some bags....met the owner....and from there we started a RELATIONSHIP with this community.

We started providing Help in this life, and Hope for the next.  We started meeting the families, hearing of some of the struggles, and quickly fell in love with the parents and kids who live there.  We learned of some struggles because of language barriers, and started a Homework Huddle every Wednesday to help kids learn English, help them with reading and math, and engage with them by playing educational games.  But, the most important thing that we started doing, was creating a RELATIONSHIP....This was not a "project", this was not a feel good about serving one time, and leave RELATIONSHIP....This was a TRUE, spend time with, and get to know FRIENDSHIP.....

One year later I reflect....I drive by this apartment now and crane my head to see if Gladis is walking her baby, if Brendon and his sister are playing on the playground, if any of our friends are sitting at the playground picnic table, if Litzi is practicing her volleyball.  The families who live here are some of the best friends I have ever had.  We might be separated economically, I may live in a bigger house, but we have the same goals for our children, and many a love for this man called Jesus.  This man who didn't see the difference between the poor and the rich, the healthy and the lame, the woman at the well and me.  He saw us all as equals and offers the same promise of salvation to all of us, through Him.

As I write this today, my prayer to anyone reading is that you might feel the same passion for what Jesus did....feeding the masses, hearing the stories of struggles, sharing what you have been blessed with.

The goal of Mission Southside, whom I have the pleasure of "working" for, is to establish Site Teams at many identified communities in Southern Johnson County.  This story is about one site, but there are 20 other sites who need this type of relationship.  Do you have friends, family, a church who would come alongside these communities, with intentionality, and purpose of sharing the love of Jesus and creating a relationship with the least of these?  Would you do what Jesus did and share what you know and have, and invest of yourself, not just your earthly treasure?  I hope you can and will.  It will be the biggest blessing you and your family could every receive.

Amy