So a few weeks ago we lost a friend, everyone called him "Pop," he was a feisty older man who was homeless, but lived with another friend in the neighborhood. Tomorrow we will remember and celebrate his life. He went into the hospital a few weeks ago. His story is similar to the others, he was an addict, homeless, had many illnesses and just couldn't go on anymore. He didn't have any local family and tracing down his family in South Carolina was not an easy task. The same day that Pop was admitted to the hospital he was put onto life support, he hung on for several weeks and then he left us. I loved Pop, he would come over to the church on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for bread bags. He'd hobble over on his crutches, the poor man could barely walk but he got where he needed to go when he needed to be there. Pop never came to the church on the day his ticket was for, he'd come opposite and cause a fuss in the kitchen, but with his sense of humor and his sweet laugh he'd warm your heart and all you could do was laugh and give him a bag.
My fondest memories of Pop came from the past few months, one day a couple of recliners appeared at the corner of Payson and Lemmon street and that's where Pop and his buddies would sit, day after day, I quickly decided I would make an effort to spend a few minutes with them each day! I laughed with them, prayed with them, explained to them why I hang out in the neighborhood and recently had a conversation about being single. I feel in love with the realness that I found in Pop, the way that whenever he saw me with my big bag, he'd holler across the street, "Ms. Colleen, you got something sweet for me hidin' in that bag." Somedays I had something and he was so grateful...his love for people even with his circumstances shined and was completly evident in the way he acted towards others and with his soft spoken nature.
Tomorrow as we remember Pop, I will tuck the memories of him I have away to remember who he was in my life. My heart breaks now when I look over and the recliners are missing and the guys aren't hanging out there. My heart breaks when I see his friends wandering around looking lost. My heart breaks knowing there was no family to give him the proper burial service and my heart breaks even more because I never took the time to find out if Pop was going to heaven or not...I would like to believe in my heart that he did, but I won't know until I get there. I've been wondering the past few weeks, why it was that with all of the conversations we had, that was never one of them. I know I can't dwell on this, but I will continue to pray that someday I see Pop again!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Corn Maze Pictures
As promised here are some pictures from some of our adventures!
Pastor Mike thought we should take a group pic for his new perfume line!
Pastor Mike thought we should take a group pic for his new perfume line!
These kids are what make my world go round!
Sometimes they just think I am one of them!
There has to be room for a bible or a Miss Colleen between dating couples!
Pastor Mike giving a Smore's making lesson to a bunch of kids who've never made smore's!Monday, October 20, 2008
You can take em' out of the city...
Wow, it's been a few weeks of fun at MK and I can't wait to post pictures! But for now here are a few highlights of the things that have been happening at Metro Kidz
* Last Wednesday we surprised Pastor Mike with a 'Night of Love' for Pastor Appreciation month, the kids have spent the last two weeks, making books, quilts, boxes, frames and even writing a song for Pastor Mike. He was so encouraged and felt really loved...the night ended with a pizza and cupcake dinner in his honor which was a special treat for all of the kids.
*About a week and a half ago I met Bob Wright from CSTM (Center for Short Term Missions) it was extremely unplanned, but extremely awesome. We met about bringing a missions team from Virginia to Charm City for a day in November. This past week I met the youth pastor Lance Overstreet and one of his trip leaders Dave. I took them on a short walk through the neighborhood and introduced them to some of my kids. We're so excited for them to come back and visit us in a couple of weeks!
*Saturday night we took 12 teens out to the country! You can take the kids out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kids! The people out there in Walkersville and Thurmont, MD probably have no idea what hit them! There were a few highlights of the night, getting lost in the maze, teaching teenagers who've never in their life made smore's how to do it and then watching them get excited about roasting marshmallows by the fire. Honestly, I haven't laughed so much in a long time. It was a GREAT night, and lots of great memories were made with the kids and Pastor Mike.
*Sunday was our Fall Church Picnic, at Patapsco State Park, it is always a lot of fun, but yesterday was even more special because we got to encourage Pastor Mike some more with encouragement stones...and a bulb to plant, so that whenever it blooms he'll remember how much we love him. Then we spent the day enjoying awesome testimonies, wonderful food and amazing fellowship! I got to spend time with this woman "M" who I have fall in love with and whom I feel so encouraged by. I am so excited to get to know her even more.
*I've had the opportunity to spend sometime outside of Metro Kidz with some of my kids and I just realize more and more what a great opportunity God has presented before me and I am just so excited about the opportunities he continues to place in front of me
* Last Wednesday we surprised Pastor Mike with a 'Night of Love' for Pastor Appreciation month, the kids have spent the last two weeks, making books, quilts, boxes, frames and even writing a song for Pastor Mike. He was so encouraged and felt really loved...the night ended with a pizza and cupcake dinner in his honor which was a special treat for all of the kids.
*About a week and a half ago I met Bob Wright from CSTM (Center for Short Term Missions) it was extremely unplanned, but extremely awesome. We met about bringing a missions team from Virginia to Charm City for a day in November. This past week I met the youth pastor Lance Overstreet and one of his trip leaders Dave. I took them on a short walk through the neighborhood and introduced them to some of my kids. We're so excited for them to come back and visit us in a couple of weeks!
*Saturday night we took 12 teens out to the country! You can take the kids out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the kids! The people out there in Walkersville and Thurmont, MD probably have no idea what hit them! There were a few highlights of the night, getting lost in the maze, teaching teenagers who've never in their life made smore's how to do it and then watching them get excited about roasting marshmallows by the fire. Honestly, I haven't laughed so much in a long time. It was a GREAT night, and lots of great memories were made with the kids and Pastor Mike.
*Sunday was our Fall Church Picnic, at Patapsco State Park, it is always a lot of fun, but yesterday was even more special because we got to encourage Pastor Mike some more with encouragement stones...and a bulb to plant, so that whenever it blooms he'll remember how much we love him. Then we spent the day enjoying awesome testimonies, wonderful food and amazing fellowship! I got to spend time with this woman "M" who I have fall in love with and whom I feel so encouraged by. I am so excited to get to know her even more.
*I've had the opportunity to spend sometime outside of Metro Kidz with some of my kids and I just realize more and more what a great opportunity God has presented before me and I am just so excited about the opportunities he continues to place in front of me
Thursday, October 9, 2008
It's just a matter of time...
This has been a hard week at Metro Kidz, five shootings in a matter of minutes within just a few miles of the church, leaving two people connected to us dead. My heart broke on Monday night when I heard about these shootings, and didn't really know what I would walk into when i met the kids last night. As they walked through the doors, specifically the teens I could tell they were all carrying a burden and had heavy hearts. One of the boys looked at me and told me about his cousin and then said, "You know Miss Colleen, it's only a matter of time before it's one of us." My heart broke right then and there, I didn't really know what my response was supposed to be, and I had to fight back the tears. It breaks my heart that my kids are walking around thinking about how their lives could end in an instant.
Aside from the heavy feeling that was lingering over us last night, I have reason to believe that last night was one of the BEST nights at Metro Kidz, I watched as six junior classes came together and worked diligently to meet a deadline and it was quiet, and each group was working together as a team as they should. The teen helpers were in there classes and we're actually doing a wonderful job of being a part of what was happening. I later heard from Pastor Mike that last night each of the teens boys were in tune with what was going on, asking good questions and really paying attention to what was happening. Mat has been doing a great job of helping Pastor Mike and I am so excited that he's joined our team!
So there are a few things that we are praying for this week:
Sunday is Friend Day we're praying for the friends that are going to be joining us, for the first time! That God will work in them and that we'll be able to reach out to them in the most effective way.
We're playing for the Jones' family, their family members lost their home in a fire recently and they've been living together, so there are 9+ people living in the same home and it's been stressful on the family.
I'm praying for our teenagers that they'll be protected in this war that is happening in our neighborhood and city right now.
thanks friends!
Aside from the heavy feeling that was lingering over us last night, I have reason to believe that last night was one of the BEST nights at Metro Kidz, I watched as six junior classes came together and worked diligently to meet a deadline and it was quiet, and each group was working together as a team as they should. The teen helpers were in there classes and we're actually doing a wonderful job of being a part of what was happening. I later heard from Pastor Mike that last night each of the teens boys were in tune with what was going on, asking good questions and really paying attention to what was happening. Mat has been doing a great job of helping Pastor Mike and I am so excited that he's joined our team!
So there are a few things that we are praying for this week:
Sunday is Friend Day we're praying for the friends that are going to be joining us, for the first time! That God will work in them and that we'll be able to reach out to them in the most effective way.
We're playing for the Jones' family, their family members lost their home in a fire recently and they've been living together, so there are 9+ people living in the same home and it's been stressful on the family.
I'm praying for our teenagers that they'll be protected in this war that is happening in our neighborhood and city right now.
thanks friends!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Prayer-Shootings
Good morning friends! I have a huge update planned but for now, I'd like to post a quick update asking for prayer, there were 5 total shootings last night in S.W. Baltimore within a few blocks of the church, they've not released the names of the victims yet, but I know that we all have heavy hearts so if you could pray for our M.K. workers, our kids and our neighborhood, we'd appreciate that!
Thanks guys!
Thanks guys!
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