Background: If you remember our month of outreaches in March (affectionately referred to as "March Madness"), you'll remember that we partnered with New York City Urban Project (NYCUP), part of InterVarsity. Well, this summer we're partnering with them again for their Summer Immersion Project, and as a result of that I have a team of six awesome interns! They're here to serve and to learn, but I'm already learning loads from them...
Today's lesson:
God doesn't just love me. He likes me, too.
Mind = blown. Think about it for a while.
I hope it encourages you as much as it encouraged me.
Monday, June 24, 2013
Thursday, March 28, 2013
No Doubt about It!
"No doubt about it: children are a gift from the Lord" (Psalm 127:3).
One of our team members read this verse today during our debrief, and I heard it differently than I ever have before. To be honest, I think every other time I've read it or heard it I've thought, yeah, a gift I'm missing out on because I don't have children of my own. But today I thought, they really are. Thank you, God, that I get to work with this most precious gift all the time.
This month has been awesome. Tiring, hard, exhausting, emotional-- yes. But bottom line, it has been absolutely awesomely incredible. Each week has had its own highlights and its own challenges, but this fourth and final week was unlike any of the others on so many levels. We went into it knowing some of the challenges: we'd be short-staffed on Monday, we wouldn't be allowed to talk about Jesus, and the children we'd be serving would be some of the most at-risk kids we'd seen all month. But we couldn't have known the highlights, and we definitely couldn't have known how most of those highlights would be because of the challenges.
- The extra program day on Monday allowed Isaac, Danielle, and me to take more active roles in leading groups and activities. Leading groups meant that we got to know the kids better than we would have otherwise, and it was a blessing to each of us personally to watch those relationships grow throughout the week. I think that our personal connection to specific kids gave us extra energy and enthusiasm for our final week.
- I asked our volunteers how it had been for them not being allowed to speak about Jesus. They said they'd been struck by how much easier it is to talk about Jesus than it is to act like him-- and that they'd learned so much more about him in the process.
- We had braced ourselves for the challenges of working with kids in or at risk of being placed in foster care. We expected behavior issues and anger issues. But I don't think any of us expected kids who loved to be loved and loved to love back so readily and enthusiastically.
Today was the last day of "Brain Camp" (the program at the school). All week we've wondered what the school thought of our program. Today the vice principal came up to me and said "would you keep us in mind to do this again next year??" Oh lady, you have no idea how much we were hoping you'd say that!
We invited the kids to come to Padre Plaza tomorrow. I drew maps for every kid in the red group because they were so concerned that their parents might not let them come if they didn't know exactly where it was. I'm nervous that their parents still might not let them come. Pray with us that their parents will bring them, that they will come, that they will hear about Jesus, that they'll sign up to come to camp, that this will be the beginning of a long-term relationship with Jesus and with us.
There's another verse in the same chapter that says "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders' work is pointless" (v 1). That's been so true of our March Madness month. He's shown us again and again that he's in this, that he has been building this outreach and building the relationships with these children. We serve a big God. So we're asking him big things. Can you ask him with us? There's no doubt about it that he loves these kids even more than we do-- and that's saying a lot!
One of our team members read this verse today during our debrief, and I heard it differently than I ever have before. To be honest, I think every other time I've read it or heard it I've thought, yeah, a gift I'm missing out on because I don't have children of my own. But today I thought, they really are. Thank you, God, that I get to work with this most precious gift all the time.
This month has been awesome. Tiring, hard, exhausting, emotional-- yes. But bottom line, it has been absolutely awesomely incredible. Each week has had its own highlights and its own challenges, but this fourth and final week was unlike any of the others on so many levels. We went into it knowing some of the challenges: we'd be short-staffed on Monday, we wouldn't be allowed to talk about Jesus, and the children we'd be serving would be some of the most at-risk kids we'd seen all month. But we couldn't have known the highlights, and we definitely couldn't have known how most of those highlights would be because of the challenges.
- The extra program day on Monday allowed Isaac, Danielle, and me to take more active roles in leading groups and activities. Leading groups meant that we got to know the kids better than we would have otherwise, and it was a blessing to each of us personally to watch those relationships grow throughout the week. I think that our personal connection to specific kids gave us extra energy and enthusiasm for our final week.
- I asked our volunteers how it had been for them not being allowed to speak about Jesus. They said they'd been struck by how much easier it is to talk about Jesus than it is to act like him-- and that they'd learned so much more about him in the process.
- We had braced ourselves for the challenges of working with kids in or at risk of being placed in foster care. We expected behavior issues and anger issues. But I don't think any of us expected kids who loved to be loved and loved to love back so readily and enthusiastically.
Today was the last day of "Brain Camp" (the program at the school). All week we've wondered what the school thought of our program. Today the vice principal came up to me and said "would you keep us in mind to do this again next year??" Oh lady, you have no idea how much we were hoping you'd say that!
We invited the kids to come to Padre Plaza tomorrow. I drew maps for every kid in the red group because they were so concerned that their parents might not let them come if they didn't know exactly where it was. I'm nervous that their parents still might not let them come. Pray with us that their parents will bring them, that they will come, that they will hear about Jesus, that they'll sign up to come to camp, that this will be the beginning of a long-term relationship with Jesus and with us.
There's another verse in the same chapter that says "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders' work is pointless" (v 1). That's been so true of our March Madness month. He's shown us again and again that he's in this, that he has been building this outreach and building the relationships with these children. We serve a big God. So we're asking him big things. Can you ask him with us? There's no doubt about it that he loves these kids even more than we do-- and that's saying a lot!
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Sad for Thursday
Did you have fun today? -- I asked Tania, one of the girls from the group I led on Monday.
"So much fun," she responded. "But I'm sad."
Why are you sad??
"Cuz tomorrow's Thursday."
Huh? Why does that make you sad?
"Because this is gonna be over!"
So I told her about Padre Plaza and how we'll be there on Friday and she should come then, too. She asked several questions to make sure she knew exactly which park I meant.
"What time??"
1 o'clock.
"In the morning?!"
No, in the afternoon.
"Wait, when is that?"
You eat lunch at noon, right?
"No, 12:30."
Okay, you eat lunch at 12:30. And then it's 1 o'clock right after that. That 1 o'clock.
"Oh, that 1 o'clock! Okay great! I'm gonna ask my mom if she'll bring me!"
I sure hope she comes. But either way, I agree with her. I'm kind of sad tomorrow's Thursday and that this is gonna be over soon, too. Don't get me wrong; I'm excited to sleep. But after I've slept a bit, I'm gonna miss all this March Madness. It's been pretty awesome.
"So much fun," she responded. "But I'm sad."
Why are you sad??
"Cuz tomorrow's Thursday."
Huh? Why does that make you sad?
"Because this is gonna be over!"
So I told her about Padre Plaza and how we'll be there on Friday and she should come then, too. She asked several questions to make sure she knew exactly which park I meant.
"What time??"
1 o'clock.
"In the morning?!"
No, in the afternoon.
"Wait, when is that?"
You eat lunch at noon, right?
"No, 12:30."
Okay, you eat lunch at 12:30. And then it's 1 o'clock right after that. That 1 o'clock.
"Oh, that 1 o'clock! Okay great! I'm gonna ask my mom if she'll bring me!"
I sure hope she comes. But either way, I agree with her. I'm kind of sad tomorrow's Thursday and that this is gonna be over soon, too. Don't get me wrong; I'm excited to sleep. But after I've slept a bit, I'm gonna miss all this March Madness. It's been pretty awesome.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
An Eclectic Cast
Thank you to everyone who prayed. After I posted that last entry, another of my volunteers canceled. God, that's not what I meant by providing enough volunteers. And then my friend Eleanor (who had come up for our East Harlem outreach and was part of the original Padre Plaza team) texted me that one of her friends from Tennessee was in NYC for his spring break with some friends and that they wanted to volunteer with us for the day! Oh yes, that is more what I had in mind!!!
I woke up this morning to more cancellations of people who had said they'd help. At some point though, you just have to say Okay God, this one's yours. Please equip us to do this. I don't know how, but please do something.
When I got to the office this morning, someone else canceled. Okay, it's time to swallow my pride and tell the vice principal that we're short-staffed. So I emailed her and asked if we could combine groups since our numbers were so much lower than we'd anticipated. Imagine my joy when she responded, "Actually, our numbers are a lot lower than we'd expected too; a bunch of kids forgot about it today. So that should work well, and you'll have a bigger group the rest of the week."
A few NYCUP students arrived early and joined us. Two of the kids still in our current mentoring program in Manhattan had spring break and agreed to help out. One of my former NJ students rode the bus in and lent a hand as well. The two guys from Tennessee who gave an afternoon of their spring break. The president of the IVCF chapter at Columbia who heard about the need. My roommate who left the restaurant in all its craziness because she knew I was so short-handed. Several camp counselors who live in the city. And suddenly, we actually looked like a legitimate team of volunteers.
I remember hearing once that God doesn't always deliver in the eleventh hour. Sometimes he waits until the thirteenth hour. But he always delivers. I know this wasn't a matter of life and death, but it was a pretty big deal to me and, as I've been learning, God really does care about the details of my life. And boy, did it feel like we were in the thirteenth hour. But God showed up. And it was awesome. I know that we don't get to see the whole picture right away, but I'm already thankful that I had the chance to lead a group (usually I just get to equip my volunteers to lead) and to have the interactions I did with the kids we served today. I'm pretty psyched to go back tomorrow with a full volunteer staff. But the team today was a pretty awesome reminder that God really does want us there, sharing his love (though wordlessly) with the children in that school!
I woke up this morning to more cancellations of people who had said they'd help. At some point though, you just have to say Okay God, this one's yours. Please equip us to do this. I don't know how, but please do something.
When I got to the office this morning, someone else canceled. Okay, it's time to swallow my pride and tell the vice principal that we're short-staffed. So I emailed her and asked if we could combine groups since our numbers were so much lower than we'd anticipated. Imagine my joy when she responded, "Actually, our numbers are a lot lower than we'd expected too; a bunch of kids forgot about it today. So that should work well, and you'll have a bigger group the rest of the week."
A few NYCUP students arrived early and joined us. Two of the kids still in our current mentoring program in Manhattan had spring break and agreed to help out. One of my former NJ students rode the bus in and lent a hand as well. The two guys from Tennessee who gave an afternoon of their spring break. The president of the IVCF chapter at Columbia who heard about the need. My roommate who left the restaurant in all its craziness because she knew I was so short-handed. Several camp counselors who live in the city. And suddenly, we actually looked like a legitimate team of volunteers.
I remember hearing once that God doesn't always deliver in the eleventh hour. Sometimes he waits until the thirteenth hour. But he always delivers. I know this wasn't a matter of life and death, but it was a pretty big deal to me and, as I've been learning, God really does care about the details of my life. And boy, did it feel like we were in the thirteenth hour. But God showed up. And it was awesome. I know that we don't get to see the whole picture right away, but I'm already thankful that I had the chance to lead a group (usually I just get to equip my volunteers to lead) and to have the interactions I did with the kids we served today. I'm pretty psyched to go back tomorrow with a full volunteer staff. But the team today was a pretty awesome reminder that God really does want us there, sharing his love (though wordlessly) with the children in that school!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
The Last Round
Well, here we go. The home stretch. Tomorrow afternoon is the beginning of the end. And this week, just like all the others before it, will be different than anything we've done to this point. And I'm kind of nervous about it.
See, we got this awesome opportunity to partner with a charter school that serves primarily foster kids or those at risk of being placed in the foster system. I know-- cool, right? But there are two stipulations: 1. We have to run it Monday-Thursday (instead of our usual Tuesday-Friday) and 2. We can't talk about God, Jesus, or anything religious. Maybe these should have been deal-breakers, but we made the decision to go with it.
I'll take the second obstacle first. Last year, when faced with the same stipulation at the school where we'd been planning to hold our outreach, I knew God wanted us to walk away and not compromise. Have I gone soft? I keep wondering. But this year, I really think that God wants us to be at this school. It's in the exact neighborhood where we are trying to be long-term; and these are exactly the kinds of kids we are hoping to serve. Maybe that's why I feel differently about this one-- it's not a one-off event; it's the beginning of building a relationship. This is the "give them a reason to ask of the hope that is in you" phase of the relationship. So please pray that the kids will experience the love of Jesus through each of the leaders this week, even when we are not allowed to use our words just yet.
The first obstacle is actually more daunting to me right now. Monday is tomorrow. This camp session begins at 1pm. Our volunteers arrive at 4pm. I think it's safe to say that even if you're not very time-conscious, you'll agree that those time-frames don't make for good news. So we started recruiting. And recruiting. And begging. And pleading. And three days ago we had enough volunteers signed up to make it happen. And then a couple dropped out. And then one more. And then another. And another. Oh, and then two more. And I am trying not to freak out that we're at the eleventh hour without enough volunteers. Lord, you want us here, right? Will you supply our needs to make this happen because you have called us to this task?
So please pray that he will. And that we will build this relationship with the school in a way that allows us to partner with them longer-term. Pray that these same kids come to Padre Plaza on Friday for our special closing event (where we ARE allowed to talk about Jesus!) and that they'll hear about and understand the love they've been experiencing all week up to that point.
Pray that we have energy to make it through this last week. Pray that we have joy throughout it. Pray that we would genuinely love these kids with the love of Jesus. Pray that they'll feel it and know it's different than anything else they've experienced. And please, please pray that we have enough help tomorrow to pull this off....
See, we got this awesome opportunity to partner with a charter school that serves primarily foster kids or those at risk of being placed in the foster system. I know-- cool, right? But there are two stipulations: 1. We have to run it Monday-Thursday (instead of our usual Tuesday-Friday) and 2. We can't talk about God, Jesus, or anything religious. Maybe these should have been deal-breakers, but we made the decision to go with it.
I'll take the second obstacle first. Last year, when faced with the same stipulation at the school where we'd been planning to hold our outreach, I knew God wanted us to walk away and not compromise. Have I gone soft? I keep wondering. But this year, I really think that God wants us to be at this school. It's in the exact neighborhood where we are trying to be long-term; and these are exactly the kinds of kids we are hoping to serve. Maybe that's why I feel differently about this one-- it's not a one-off event; it's the beginning of building a relationship. This is the "give them a reason to ask of the hope that is in you" phase of the relationship. So please pray that the kids will experience the love of Jesus through each of the leaders this week, even when we are not allowed to use our words just yet.
The first obstacle is actually more daunting to me right now. Monday is tomorrow. This camp session begins at 1pm. Our volunteers arrive at 4pm. I think it's safe to say that even if you're not very time-conscious, you'll agree that those time-frames don't make for good news. So we started recruiting. And recruiting. And begging. And pleading. And three days ago we had enough volunteers signed up to make it happen. And then a couple dropped out. And then one more. And then another. And another. Oh, and then two more. And I am trying not to freak out that we're at the eleventh hour without enough volunteers. Lord, you want us here, right? Will you supply our needs to make this happen because you have called us to this task?
So please pray that he will. And that we will build this relationship with the school in a way that allows us to partner with them longer-term. Pray that these same kids come to Padre Plaza on Friday for our special closing event (where we ARE allowed to talk about Jesus!) and that they'll hear about and understand the love they've been experiencing all week up to that point.
Pray that we have energy to make it through this last week. Pray that we have joy throughout it. Pray that we would genuinely love these kids with the love of Jesus. Pray that they'll feel it and know it's different than anything else they've experienced. And please, please pray that we have enough help tomorrow to pull this off....
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Unwanted or Welcome?
I take it for granted all too often, but I'm blessed to have parents who understand my calling to work with inner city kids. I realize this blessing usually when I see the look in people's eyes as I explain what I do or the neighborhoods I sometimes spend time in. Those same people usually ask hesitantly, "How do your parents feel about this??" and I can look them in the eye and say confidently, "They are fully supportive." And I want to explain to them how my parents understand that, ultimately, I'm just as safe on a street corner in the South Bronx as I am on a porch in the middle of suburban Maryland. Because whether I'm in the South Bronx or South Philly or England or Maryland or Haiti, Jesus holds my life in his hands. And he loves me even more than my parents do. And that's saying a whole lot.
I've said all that because some of you might be concerned when you read the rest of this story. Don't worry, I'm even going to call my 'rents before I post this story so they don't have to learn about it on my blog. But it's kind of cool, isn't it, that I know they aren't going to encourage me to start looking for a different line of work or tell me to pull the plug on this ministry? Don't get me wrong; I'm sure they're going to pray even harder for our safety. They'll probably urge me to be careful and not to walk alone. But they know, as I know, that Jesus holds my life in his hands.
I tell myself that all the time, but I'll still admit that today made me a little nervous.
A couple saw Isaac setting up our sound equipment today. Isaac had gone ahead with a couple of the guys to start setting up before the rest of the team arrived. We're not really sure what made this couple so angry-- if they'd seen us there before or if they were just making assumptions about what we were there to do. But whatever sparked it, they were less than happy to see Isaac and the other guys preparing for our event. They told him that we weren't welcome in the community, and they told him we'd better watch ourselves lest we end up with a bullet in the head. After a few more curses and racial slurs, they eventually left when they didn't get a reaction from Isaac.
When Danielle and I arrived with the rest of the group a few minutes later, Isaac was still a little shaken. When he told Danielle and me what had happened, we were a little shaken, too. I'm not just responsible for myself anymore. Am I putting these other people in danger? kept going through my head; and I started looking at passers-by with suspicion and fear that I just haven't felt before.
As Isaac processed what had just happened, he saw a dad standing on the edges of the park. This dad, Ralph, had brought his daughter for the second day and was standing there happily watching her play with the volunteers and other children. Isaac struck up a conversation with him, asking what he thought. Were we hurting rather than helping? Were we meeting a need at all? Or were we somehow being selfish and just making ourselves feel better at others' expense?
Ralph's response was reassuring to all of us. He told Isaac his own story, told what the neighborhood had been like over the past 30 years he'd lived there, and told him that he was so, so thankful that we were there to provide this camp for the kids. Isaac thanked him and explained how grateful he was for the conversation. "No," Ralph said, "I'm the one who is blessed to have met all of you."
I don't know about that; but we were blessed by Ralph today. We told Mike (who runs Padre Plaza) about the first incident, and he reminded us of his favorite truth: "when the light turns yellow, you can step on the brake or step on the gas!" He reminded us that there will be opposition wherever we go, and the test is whether we're going to back down or keep trusting Jesus.
He's right. South Bronx, South Philly, England, Maryland, Haiti. There will always be opposition. And I'm not immune. I know I'm where God wants me; but I get scared, too. And now that I'm responsible for other people, I feel a certain weight that hasn't been there before. But Jesus holds my life (all of our lives!) in his hands and asks me (us!) to trust him. And I do. Imperfectly at times, but those are the times I'm most thankful for friends to hold up my arms. So pray for us. Pray for our ministry. Pray for our effectiveness. Pray for our safety. And pray for our faith. Because I think that Satan would like that to be shaken more than anything else, and if we lose our faith in God's love and protection over us, we'll know fear in whole new ways.
(P.S. I just got off the phone with my 'rents, and I was right. My dad said "Maybe this is just proof that you guys need to be there all the time"; and my mom said "It's a good reminder to pray for your safety." So like I said, I'm blessed that my parents not only understand my calling but are also part of the team that holds up my arms!)
I've said all that because some of you might be concerned when you read the rest of this story. Don't worry, I'm even going to call my 'rents before I post this story so they don't have to learn about it on my blog. But it's kind of cool, isn't it, that I know they aren't going to encourage me to start looking for a different line of work or tell me to pull the plug on this ministry? Don't get me wrong; I'm sure they're going to pray even harder for our safety. They'll probably urge me to be careful and not to walk alone. But they know, as I know, that Jesus holds my life in his hands.
I tell myself that all the time, but I'll still admit that today made me a little nervous.
A couple saw Isaac setting up our sound equipment today. Isaac had gone ahead with a couple of the guys to start setting up before the rest of the team arrived. We're not really sure what made this couple so angry-- if they'd seen us there before or if they were just making assumptions about what we were there to do. But whatever sparked it, they were less than happy to see Isaac and the other guys preparing for our event. They told him that we weren't welcome in the community, and they told him we'd better watch ourselves lest we end up with a bullet in the head. After a few more curses and racial slurs, they eventually left when they didn't get a reaction from Isaac.
When Danielle and I arrived with the rest of the group a few minutes later, Isaac was still a little shaken. When he told Danielle and me what had happened, we were a little shaken, too. I'm not just responsible for myself anymore. Am I putting these other people in danger? kept going through my head; and I started looking at passers-by with suspicion and fear that I just haven't felt before.
As Isaac processed what had just happened, he saw a dad standing on the edges of the park. This dad, Ralph, had brought his daughter for the second day and was standing there happily watching her play with the volunteers and other children. Isaac struck up a conversation with him, asking what he thought. Were we hurting rather than helping? Were we meeting a need at all? Or were we somehow being selfish and just making ourselves feel better at others' expense?
Ralph's response was reassuring to all of us. He told Isaac his own story, told what the neighborhood had been like over the past 30 years he'd lived there, and told him that he was so, so thankful that we were there to provide this camp for the kids. Isaac thanked him and explained how grateful he was for the conversation. "No," Ralph said, "I'm the one who is blessed to have met all of you."
I don't know about that; but we were blessed by Ralph today. We told Mike (who runs Padre Plaza) about the first incident, and he reminded us of his favorite truth: "when the light turns yellow, you can step on the brake or step on the gas!" He reminded us that there will be opposition wherever we go, and the test is whether we're going to back down or keep trusting Jesus.
He's right. South Bronx, South Philly, England, Maryland, Haiti. There will always be opposition. And I'm not immune. I know I'm where God wants me; but I get scared, too. And now that I'm responsible for other people, I feel a certain weight that hasn't been there before. But Jesus holds my life (all of our lives!) in his hands and asks me (us!) to trust him. And I do. Imperfectly at times, but those are the times I'm most thankful for friends to hold up my arms. So pray for us. Pray for our ministry. Pray for our effectiveness. Pray for our safety. And pray for our faith. Because I think that Satan would like that to be shaken more than anything else, and if we lose our faith in God's love and protection over us, we'll know fear in whole new ways.
(P.S. I just got off the phone with my 'rents, and I was right. My dad said "Maybe this is just proof that you guys need to be there all the time"; and my mom said "It's a good reminder to pray for your safety." So like I said, I'm blessed that my parents not only understand my calling but are also part of the team that holds up my arms!)
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
FAT Christians
"What we need is some FAT Christians," says Jonathan-- pretty much on repeat during NYCUP. "Flexible. Adaptable. Teachable. FAT."
And when you're working with 50 college students in East Harlem or the South Bronx and things like bad weather, gang fights, and sickness happen, you realize how right he is.
It's Week 3. Ready, go! Or..... not so fast.... We're supposed to be outside this week, back at Padre Plaza in the South Bronx. But the forecast was 100% chance of rain as of yesterday, and we had to decide to cancel today's program or go for it. So Jonathan planned a LOGOFF (Local, Green, Organic, Fair, Free) scavenger hunt for some of the students, and the other thirty-five students were going to work with us to get everything in order for the rest of the week.
At least that's how I had understood the conversation. But I'm learning that not everyone thinks the way I do, and when I don't double check, sometimes I get part way through the day and find out that we've been thinking different things all along. Today I made this discovery as all but four of the college students filed past me excited to head out for their scavenger hunt.
Oops.
I found Jonathan and we quickly figured out that we'd been talking about different things each time we'd touched base about the plans for the afternoon. And the four remaining college students were standing at attention, ready for instructions about what they were supposed to do.... Yet everything I had planned for them required a lot more than four people to participate.
Flexible.
Adaptable.
Teachable.
Even when you happen to be a Type A personality who likes nothing more than to have all her ducks in a row on the first day of an outreach. Some lessons are harder to learn than others. But sometimes it's good to test exactly how FAT you really can be.
And when you're working with 50 college students in East Harlem or the South Bronx and things like bad weather, gang fights, and sickness happen, you realize how right he is.
It's Week 3. Ready, go! Or..... not so fast.... We're supposed to be outside this week, back at Padre Plaza in the South Bronx. But the forecast was 100% chance of rain as of yesterday, and we had to decide to cancel today's program or go for it. So Jonathan planned a LOGOFF (Local, Green, Organic, Fair, Free) scavenger hunt for some of the students, and the other thirty-five students were going to work with us to get everything in order for the rest of the week.
At least that's how I had understood the conversation. But I'm learning that not everyone thinks the way I do, and when I don't double check, sometimes I get part way through the day and find out that we've been thinking different things all along. Today I made this discovery as all but four of the college students filed past me excited to head out for their scavenger hunt.
Oops.
I found Jonathan and we quickly figured out that we'd been talking about different things each time we'd touched base about the plans for the afternoon. And the four remaining college students were standing at attention, ready for instructions about what they were supposed to do.... Yet everything I had planned for them required a lot more than four people to participate.
Flexible.
Adaptable.
Teachable.
Even when you happen to be a Type A personality who likes nothing more than to have all her ducks in a row on the first day of an outreach. Some lessons are harder to learn than others. But sometimes it's good to test exactly how FAT you really can be.
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