7/2/08 Update - Belated again..

There was more structure put into place for our program today and it really seemed to help. We had about the same number of kids as yesterday, but there were about five new kids who took the place of the ones who didn't come today. Which means we could have a really large group tomorrow. Yeah! The older boys are very lovable with joy in their hearts, but they put off this tough front with each other. They have street smarts and know how to protect themselves, but I want to badly for them to let their guards down. I'm going to be looking for opportunities to see what their life is really life outside this program. I hope to play football with them. The smile on Damari's face every time I threw the football to him, melted my heart. He caught it maybe one out of every ten times, but he was still smiling and so happy. Judy and Leonard weren't there today, and I hope it is not because they had to go to a shelter. Lord, help their family to build their life back up to where they once were. Provide for them, allowing them to see you working in their lives. Lord, allow me to meet these kids where they are at, as you always do with us. Help me to better understand where they are coming from. Let me love these kids without thinking about how hard it will be to leave them at the end of the summer. Show me what you want me to do with this experience. Whether it be making this my lifestyle or spending more time in the inner-city. I pray that you will have laid it on my heart by the end of my time here.