Adopt A Block

Outreach

I know I say it every time I post about our church, but I love our church. We've been doing community outreaches for a while, and now we're doing "Adopt A Block." We go to an "inner city" apartment complex and just get to know the people, and hang with the kids. I was excited, it was like a mini-missions trip!

We had a group of about 15 people from the church, we got there around 11am, unloaded a giant speaker and started pumping some loud tunes to get everyone's attention. The guys got the grill going, and started making the hot dogs, I'm not sure how many they made, but it was A LOT! We gave out bags of chips, water bottles and a lot of candy too. We ran around the playground with the kids, talked to them, got to know them a little bit. Asked about school, what's up in their lives, etc. They live in a high drug area, and the main drug supplier even came by for a while. It was pretty wild. I know my kids live a very sheltered life, and I'm thankful for that, but it was eye opening to think that kids live in this environment just a short ride from my own house.

But, the kids. They were so precious. So full of hope. One boy is in 9th grade, big as a linebacker already and in all AP classes, making all A's and one B. It is my sincere hope that as we keep going down there and really getting to know these kids, we can pour life into them, get them into a good church, and just get them off on the right foot in life. I talked to a lady, Brenda, while we walked around giving hot dogs to some of the older people that don't leave their apartment much, and she told me she's lived there for over 30 years and at this point doesn't think she'll "ever get out."

I can't wait to go again, and I'll be taking the kids next time. This is something I think they need to be a part of and a way for them to learn early on how to give back, and how to help others. It's very easy to get complacent and comfortable in our day to day lives, and not think about these kids who seem to have nothing and no one who cares for them. But we do! And we're here now.