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