Looking back over the past year, and even beyond that, I have come to realize that God has placed many situations and people in my life who have taught me lessons and prepared me to take part in the World Race. One of those has been working and spending time with "my kids". Over the past two years I have been blessed with the opportunity of mentoring and building relationships with several kids in a neighborhood near downtown Raleigh. Every time I go home after spending time with them I am amazed by the opportunity God has given me to be a part of their lives. These kids have taught me more than I may ever be able to teach them. They have taught me about childlike trust, receiving and giving unconditional love, patience, and so many more life lessons.
I met "my kids" two years ago when Dave, my college pastor at the time, invited me to go to the neighborhood once a week and help the children in the community with their homework. The help was open to any of the children and there were about six of us who regularly volunteered: Dave, Ang, Christina, Mitchell, Caitlyn, and myself. As the past two years have gone by the relationships that I and my friends have built with the kids have grown and they have become a part of our lives outside of the weekly tutor sessions.
My kids" range from age 3 to 15 living in two different neighborhoods.How many of them are present depends on the day and event taking place. At any given time my friends and I can find ourselves working with five kids or surrounded by an upwards of thirty children demanding our attention.It never ceases to be overwhelming,but I never leave without plenty of hugs, maybe some food from the parents,a lesson learned,
and excited for the next time I will see them.These kids and their families in a way
feel like they have become my family in Raleigh. They recognize my car and run out to
meet me when I drive up and I begin to feel at home as I turn the corner into the neighborhood. My friends Ang, Christina, Caitlyn, and I often have sleepovers with the girls. The four of us along with Dave and some other guys take all of the kids to the
park, give them rides to church, along with weekly helping them with homework.
Within the past year the families have begun to invite us to their cultural celebrations and birthday parties.
So how does this relate to the World Race? In several ways and God has recently been
showing me how he has used "my kids" to teach me lessons. First, spending time
with the kids and their families has given me an opportunity to be immersed in a culture
different from my own, try different foods, and attend religious celebrations while still in Raleigh. It has also taught me to be comfortable in even when everyone around me is speaking a language that I cannot understand. Even without being able to speak the language well I have learned that communication is still possible, and more so, when you act out of love towards someone they will always understand, even with out words.
"My kids" have given me a glimpse into the love God has for me as my Daddy. As much as I love these kids and think that I would do anything for them, it does not compare to my Daddy's love for me. And on the days I leave frustrated because they were not listening to directions or smeared icing all over my back seat, I know in my heart that I still love and can't wait to spend more time with them. Just as even when I sin against God, I know that without a doubt when I go to Him again He will welcome me with open arms of love. I knew these things before, but now I understand from a different perspective. It's amazing how God can use children to teach adults so many lessons!
I am a strong believer that before God calls me out to the nations to be His light, he desired me to be His light in Raleigh. Through spending time with "my kids" and investing in them I realize what He was instructing me to do. Playing with the kids is amazing, but it is in the moments when I am in the car with them and they ask to listen to the "Jesus music", sing along, and begin to ask questions about God, or we are having a girls night and have the opportunity to do Bible study with them that my heart really becomes excited. My desire and prayer for "my kids" is for them to understand that the reason I love them so much is because God loves them even more as His children. One day they won't just be "my kids", but my brothers and sisters in Christ!
