Saturday, December 13, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Available with Low Expectations
We recently went through a transition in changing our Vision Onward night with the kids to Friday nights. We were trying to accomodate the schedules of those who were interested in volunteering, which can become quite difficult. There were church schedules, sports schedules, social schedules, work schedules and so forth. . . .we all know how that goes.
Since we began VO nights with the west side kids, we have had it on three different nights. We started on Wednesday nights, then moved to Thursday nights and now currently to Friday nights. What is interesting about this to me is that it doesn't matter at all to our VO kids what night we meet- - - -they are ALWAYS available. These children do not have schedules. They simply can't afford to be involved in activities.
When I first realized this, it was quite sad to me and I started thinking, "how can we get these children sponsored so they can be involved in the same activities that the east side kids are?"
Then as I began to think more about it, I have come to believe it is probably a GOOD thing they are not so busy! They are always available for whatever it is we want to do with them and whenever we want to do it.
Not only are they available, they have low expectations. They do not expect to have some kind of amazing presentation or entertainment. They just want to come hang out with us. It took me a while to "get this" because I am so used to a different set of expectations- - -my children and even my own. I wanted to have the best games, the best curriculum, the best entertainment, yada, yada, yada.
These children do not need any of that, they simply want to be loved. They want hugs so we give out LOTS of those. They want to be listened to and it's easy to do that. And we must not forget, they love to be fed, so we always do that. It is as simple as that!
So many times I try to complicate things when they are really quite simple. Jesus never told us we had to have the best curriculum or the best entertainment to bring people to him. He simply tells us to "LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND and to "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF". It really is all about LOVE and being available to receive it and to give it and THAT is nothing fancy.
So, in the end, I am so thankful that our VO kids are exactly the way they are - -available with low expectations.
Since we began VO nights with the west side kids, we have had it on three different nights. We started on Wednesday nights, then moved to Thursday nights and now currently to Friday nights. What is interesting about this to me is that it doesn't matter at all to our VO kids what night we meet- - - -they are ALWAYS available. These children do not have schedules. They simply can't afford to be involved in activities.
When I first realized this, it was quite sad to me and I started thinking, "how can we get these children sponsored so they can be involved in the same activities that the east side kids are?"
Then as I began to think more about it, I have come to believe it is probably a GOOD thing they are not so busy! They are always available for whatever it is we want to do with them and whenever we want to do it.
Not only are they available, they have low expectations. They do not expect to have some kind of amazing presentation or entertainment. They just want to come hang out with us. It took me a while to "get this" because I am so used to a different set of expectations- - -my children and even my own. I wanted to have the best games, the best curriculum, the best entertainment, yada, yada, yada.
These children do not need any of that, they simply want to be loved. They want hugs so we give out LOTS of those. They want to be listened to and it's easy to do that. And we must not forget, they love to be fed, so we always do that. It is as simple as that!
So many times I try to complicate things when they are really quite simple. Jesus never told us we had to have the best curriculum or the best entertainment to bring people to him. He simply tells us to "LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND and to "LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF". It really is all about LOVE and being available to receive it and to give it and THAT is nothing fancy.
So, in the end, I am so thankful that our VO kids are exactly the way they are - -available with low expectations.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Stage Art Dance at Walk This Way 2008
Thank you Stage Art Productions for your hard work in preparing and teaching the children this dance for Walk This Way 2008!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Changing to Friday Night
Dear Friends,
We wanted to make everyone aware that we will be changing our weekly time with the kids to Friday nights. We have had many conflicting schedules with our volunteers and it seems that Friday nights works best.
We will be starting a new curriculum from House of Faith Ministries. They write their own curriculum specifically for inner city kids and for children who have never been churched.
Now that are group has become large enough, we will also be breaking up age ranges into a couple different classes so we can become more intimate with the children and give them more attention.
Some of you have expressed interest in volunteering so we wanted to give everyone the option to get involved on Friday nights. We will need teachers, tutors, small groups or families to provide food, bus drivers and nursery care for the babies and toddlers. We would love to have enough volunteers to create a rotating schedule.
If you would like to be involved, please email us at jeff@visiononward.org and let us know what area you would like to serve in.
Thank you,
Jeff Holley
We wanted to make everyone aware that we will be changing our weekly time with the kids to Friday nights. We have had many conflicting schedules with our volunteers and it seems that Friday nights works best.
We will be starting a new curriculum from House of Faith Ministries. They write their own curriculum specifically for inner city kids and for children who have never been churched.
Now that are group has become large enough, we will also be breaking up age ranges into a couple different classes so we can become more intimate with the children and give them more attention.
Some of you have expressed interest in volunteering so we wanted to give everyone the option to get involved on Friday nights. We will need teachers, tutors, small groups or families to provide food, bus drivers and nursery care for the babies and toddlers. We would love to have enough volunteers to create a rotating schedule.
If you would like to be involved, please email us at jeff@visiononward.org and let us know what area you would like to serve in.
Thank you,
Jeff Holley
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