After-school

Today at MP’s Big Fish After School Program, we played house, “Duck, Duck, Goose,” Parking Lot Football, and made paper airplanes!

Here is the football crew… Check out that tree shadow over the parking lot!

The kids had a great time throwing their airplanes to see them soar. Simple things are sometimes the most enjoyable : )

Thank you to those of you who carried heavy boxes, lent your garage and time, baked your hearts out, spread the word, prayed for our event, volunteered your time and smiles, and to those who donated items to make our Project Intercept garage sale a success!

We raised $550 toward mentoring programs with MP, and passed on the left-over items to a family who knows where the needs are and will disperse accordingly.

Come out to find some treasures and give to the children in East Austin!!

THIS Saturday, Sept. 6th 7:30 am – 1pm in North Austin: 11007 Hillside Oak Ln. Austin, TX 78750

Money goes to children’s after-school and mentoring programming with MP! (www.mpaustin.org)

If you come at 7:30am, you’ll find: a beautiful triple stroller/ coordinating outfits for triplets, other precious baby/toddler clothes, toddler toys, children’s toys/games/books/puzzles, art work, yummy freshly baked goodies, household/ furniture items, nursing books, Christian books, Disney and other children’s videos,
and teacher posters and classroom books!

We are in need of a few brave souls to help us sort and sell these items! Please email me at cheryl@mpaustin.org if you are willing to lend a hand on Saturday    : )

What better way is there to finish off the school year than to drench all your dearest friends? : )

We are so thankful to The LORD for this first completed after-school year at MP.

We armed ourselves with all the squirt guns, water ballons, hoses,

(and coolers of water?) we could find – and had a blast!

HOW did I not see this coming??

Here is our family: all wet, and looking forward to summer!

We missed each of our mentors and children who could not make it – Lisa, Peter, David, Tiffany, Josh, Mary, Jeremy, Allyson, Max, Luke, Jack, Jenni, Ms. Cookie, Angela, Tyquise and Irene – we’ll wet you next year! : )

Thanks to Joy for all the photos – how did you manage to stay so dry?!

Here are some of our Big Fish After School crew.

Two of our sweet girls went to Kansas over Christmas vacation and have not yet returned. Please pray for Nay Nay and Destiny and their mom Rachel, whatever situation they may be in now. These girls have been in our programming with MP and the REALife Center before us for 3 years and we miss them very much.

We have recently welcomed two new friends, Alicia and DaJuan. These siblings were recruited by Charlsetta (in the light blue above). This picture was taken before they came, but we are thrilled to include them into our little family. We are praying for 4 more children and passing out our fliers in Spanish and English at their elementary schools.

Although they bear heavy burdens, our friends are learning to talk to God – a God who is in control, and who holds them through the tough things they must walk through. 11 outstanding volunteers our consistently pouring into their lives and teaching them about academics, friendship, life, stewardship, joy, and Jesus Christ. We laugh, sing, dance, play, work, think, hug, pray, cry, read, and love each other. We invite you to visit us any Monday, Wednesday, or Friday that AISD has school between 3-5 pm!

We have only 2 weeks to meet together before Christmas break! : ( Because many of our volunteers are college students whose schedule changes each semester, there is a great need for Wednesday volunteers beginning January 16th. If you, or anyone you know, loves children and is available from 2:30 – 5pm on Wednesdays (or Mondays or Fridays), please email me at cheryl@MPAustin.org.

We currently have a sweet group of 8 children, and would love to invite more. We only sign children up if there is a committed mentor for them. 3:1 ratio. This allows quality time spent in building long-term relationships in the name of Christ. So, the more mentors who come, the more children we can love on!

Please pray about the logistics for setting up this next semester. Pray for clear guidance about which children to invite in next, and for loving mentors who will fill the holes we have currently. Thank you for lifting us up. These are His children!

Just thought you might enjoy seeing our Friday after school faces : )

This was how we began early September:

God is INCREDIBLE!
I’ve been extremely busy lately preparing for our first week of the Big Fish After School Program next week, planning for our 2nd Big Fish Club, a missions fair at Regents on Friday night, and our first Cross Trainers on Saturday among other things. It’s easy for me to worry about the details coming together. God keeps reminding me to give it back to Him – His program, His children, His kingdom and purposes and ways.

He reminded me yesterday through 2 Chronicles and King Jehoshaphat – The king stood before the community and said, “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” Through Jahaziel, God replied: “Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s….Take your positions, then stand still and watch the Lords’ Victory.” He asks us to obey and show up, trusting the battle to Him.

Yesterday, a woman named Rebecca donated 12 boxes FULL of children’s Bible story books, games, flash cards, magnets, puzzles, books on tape, teaching materials, coloring books, activity pads, and MORE! I filled an entire bookshelf and still had books in boxes!! All Biblical literature, appropriate for the children who will come to the After School Program. She had only heard a vague rumor of our ministry and was cleaning out her old storage unit.

I cried.

God had supplied above and beyond more than I could ask for or imagine!! Monday will be our first day after school with the children, and I can not WAIT to show the children the treasures they will be able to “buy” with their behavior incentive monies. God is sending His word into the homes of children in East Austin. We will spend Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays using those puzzles, flash cards, and games – building relationships that reflect the character and love of Jesus Christ.

Be encouraged! The God we serve is a good and thoughtful and loving Father.

The following weeks were challenging. (In a word) : ) With every new environment and group dynamics comes a period of transition; we had our initial behavior issues, curriculum kinks, mentor switches, and slight schedule changes. We still have not found a volunteer van driver, but the time I’ve spent driving with the children has turned out to be a gift from God in disguise. Although I am still missing critical time to debrief with our volunteers, I’ve been getting to know the childrens’ families and their neighborhoods, and am able to set the tone for the day with some Wee Sing songs on the way to NYACC from their school.

All that to say that we are settling into spending time together. The last two weeks have been so much fun! As we follow in the rhythm of routine, we are now free to share and bond in a safe environment. What has struck me the most is how much the kids enjoy time to just be children. When given a choice to play a complicated board game, or sit on the floor with wooden blocks and trains – these 7 – 11 year old boys and girls children choose the blocks and trains. When Wee Sing “If You’re Happy and You Know It…” song comes next, the children shout, “Ooh! Ooh! Turn it up!” and “Can we sing that one again?” The freedom to be childlike and innocent is something that they relish. I giggle with them and hug them and praise God for his goodness.

We’re even talking about putting on a Christmas pageant to tell the story of Jesus’ birthday! : )

Today was FULL… I met with one of our sweet volunteers from Big Fish Club this morning, and then drove to Star Ranch Golf Course in Hutto for our Golf Tournament Camp Nikos Fundraiser. It was so fun to greet the 60 golfers coming in to play and send our kiddos to camp. : )

Then it was off to NYACC at 12th & Chicon St. to set up for our “Big Fish” After School Program… God recently sent me a wonderful volunteer Program Facilitator! George moved down from California 3 weeks ago after hearing about MP from a friend and checking out our website. (www.mpaustin.org) He will assist in carrying out the Big Fish Programs (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays after school – and also Thursday evenings). But George had training for his new job at The Four Seasons today, and will on Wednesday – so I set up and such before going to pick up the children from the 2 Elementary schools in the neighborhood: Campbell and Blackshear.

As I was leaving, my 3 After School Mentors showed up to pray and prepare for the children. I put the key into the ignition of our white 15 passenger van, and… nothing. Dead as a doornail. No lights, no beeps, no… nothing. Argh! I’d be late to pick up the children – God, you’re in control! One of my volunteers jumped the van with his Land Rover and gave me enough juice to start up and back out before it died again.

I abandoned the van in the parking lot for my little Mazda and sped off to pick up the children. Now, if you know me very well – you know that my sense of direction is WEAK (if present at all) in this brain God hand-crafted for me. That granted, I have successfully navigated the neighborhood all last week for pick-ups and drop-offs at the beginning and end of each program. Are you proud?

It might have been the pressure of the moment, it might have been because I kept turning the map in my hand around to follow from the “right” perspective, or it might have been a spiritual preying on my directional weakness – but I made an amazing amount of U turns on my way to both schools…. and back….. (One reason why I am not the ideal candidate for “bus driver”… Any volunteers?)

First stop: Campbell Elementary. Charles wasn’t waiting for me as he usually does. The teachers said he would have to stay after school for tutoring Monday – Thursday till 4 0′clock to pass the TAKS test. Charles has had a long history of involvement in the after school/ summer programing with the REALife Center before us. He is “a regular” – and in great need of positive male input and modeling. My heart sank.

Next stop: Blackshear. The kids piled in and we chatted about their day as I turned my neighborhood map around again, marveling at how I did this all last week. Does it make sense to you?

Our time with the kids was sweet and personal. After homework, Miss Linda brought her guitar in, and the kids sang along – passing around small fruit-shaped “maracas”. One of the girls who lives with Charles struggles with instant anger fits. We made friends this past summer, and I enjoy watching her light up when she comes in to join the program. She knows that she is loved here, that she is wanted. When she slams the door in my face, or storms off with a cloud of “hate you’s” – I think of how many times I’ve turned my back on God. How many times do I ignore His presence, and come back later to find His unconditional acceptance? Loving Sandra is a way to thank God for who He is to me – The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. (Exodus)

Nay Nay is one of the cuties who joins us 4 days a week: