New Places New Faces

And here I will reside for the next year. A house to myself...for a little while. I think that I can handle it. No internet for now, but hey, there are plenty of places that have wifi. So, I guess, that is where I will get what I need as far as internet goes. I can deal with that. Last night was the first night that I actually stayed at my new house. It was all good except for that stupid dog who would not quit barking all night long last night. Man oh man...that dumb dog.

I look at my neighborhood and I could think what most probably think. Dirty. Disgusting. Ugly. Hopeless. Trashy. Ghetto. Good for nothing, South Side. I could agree with all of that. I could say that my neighborhood is all of those things. I probably would have at one point. The truth is that I cannot say this anymore. As I look at broken and desolate places, I can see nothing other than God's glory and hope. Where there is brokenness and pain, there is only room for hope and for God to work. It leaves room for his Kingdom to expand and become so much more. It leaves room for the hand of God and the hope of God. Yes, it is not the best part of town and yes, it can be a bit scary, but I am grateful for the opportunity to live there. I am grateful for speaking louder in my life than my own personal wants and my own personal greed. God has provided. Yeah, I miss California and I am itching to get out there, but if it is God's will, it will happen. The truth is that I have already fallen in love with the students that I work with here.

Today, I spent my day at the Urban Light Education Center. I am an academic coach. Ha, I know...riiiiight. Today I got the terrible three of the third graders and they were great. A bit unmotivated at times, but great. As we sat there and talked through their homework, I saw the beauty of God in them. It is so incredible how you can see such the character of God in a child. It was great to work with them as they asked me about my life. They wanted to know about my family and if it was a good family. They wanted to know if I was a baby mama. They want to come over to play playstation and hang out. They want to know my life, who I am, and where I came from. As they were asking me these questions, I saw a bit into their lives as well. I saw into their lives and what they see in their own lives or those around them. I saw the pain and fear that some of them had to deal with. I also saw how God has a protective cover over these kids' lives. I saw how he loves them and cares for them and has provided them with what they need. I saw how Leslie and Toddrick do care for the children and how they want nothing but the best for them. Most of all, I saw a future for these students. I saw how they will get through and they will not give up. A bit motivational speakeresque, I know, but it is the truth.

Hey there life for the next year, nice to meet you.