A Perfect Fit

It's been awhile since I checked in. I have been very busy! I taught my first time on Heaventrain. The most people I've ever taught before was probably 25-50. I knew it was going to stretch me and challenge me. I'm so glad I took the step!  I had a total of 784 kids and families on Heaventrain that Saturday. I hope to repeat this experience again.
 I have been without a job since March. I was contemplating returning to school. I also was looking for a job in the Central neighborhood. I had been sending out resumes and only a few hits with little hope of a job.
I filled my time by volunteering in the Central community. I mentor with CMHA PAL, the Police Athletic League. I am very impressed with the young lady I mentor. She is smart, energetic and full of life! We both love to watch Cake Boss and tacos are one of our favorite foods.

The latest development, I now have a job. To my surprise I found a perfect fit! I am an Americorps member with Lighthouse, Inc and the Communities First Association. In November they hired me, and another lady from the community, to do asset based community development in the Central neighborhood. I receive a monthly stipend, education stipend, and my volunteering with tutoring, mentoring, and Heaventrain can count towards my hours needed for the job. I think it's pretty cool!

I was surprised when I met the other Americorps member Lighthouse hired. She is the mother of the young lady I mentor! We will be working side by side. We spent a couple of days in training in Chi-town, with 30 other Americorps members from around the US. We met at the Cinacle Sisters Retreat Center, a convent and retreat facility. It's very quiet and serene, a perfect place to spend a personal retreat.

I tutor at East Tech High School once a week. I have never been a tutor before but thanks to our great group of former teachers who have experience, I am learning a lot.

The group of tutors last year saw a measured improvement in the students and experienced an average growth of 2-3 grade levels in reading and math.

 It has not been easy this year. With all the shake up and changing of schools there have been difficulties. My first week one of my young men was suspended. Then I find out he is transferring to another school. I'll start with another new young man this coming week.

My other student is bright and an excellent reader. He comes each week on his own and is eager to read together. Our typical schedule, he starts by reading out loud for 30 minutes and then he writes in his journal another 20 minutes. The last 20 minutes we work on his homework.  He usually brings his math homework. I think I'll pick up Algebra for Dummies the next time I'm at the library. I sure could use a refresher course.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. Thank you for the nice comments each week. I'd love to hear about your own Americorps experiences or asset based community development going on in your communities.

Achieving the Dream

I met a young man and his mother this Saturday who had a special gift to give us at Heaventrain. They stopped by to say thank you to Pastor Phil and Heaventrain. He and his mother pulled up in their car and came running over to the van.

"I saw the blue bus and wanted to come and say thanks. I attended Heaventrain as a young man at Morris Black. Heaventrain came every week. It helped me stay grounded and in school. I'm achieving my dream because of you guys being in my life. This year I'm a freshman at Hiram College studying Computer Programming."

The mission of Lighthouse, Inc. is to equip and empower kids in Central with the resources and opportunities to reach their potential. 

I think of POTENTIAL as the Possibility and Opportunity To Empower Natural Talent In A Leader. 

Better Than Bacon Part 2

I meet so many amazing kids on Heaventrain. Some of them just stand out and you really fall in love with them. Nyja, loves Saturday when the bus comes to her neighborhood. Grandma can be given the credit for creating this love. Attending Heaventrain is a family affair. Grandma Church has been coming to Heaventrain  for 30 years. In the early years she came with her son. Today she faithfully bring her two grandbabies.

Nyja wakes everybody up early on Saturday so they won't miss the Heaventrain, she tries to eat her breakfast but grandma says it just isn't worth the effort to try to get her to eat, and quickly adds even when it's a crisp piece of bacon. She is just too excited to do anything but get to the bus stop. Nyja rushes everybody out the door and runs toward the bus. Grandma walks with a cane and she tries her best to keep up, but Nyja is clear across the field by the time she comes around the corner. 

Nyja greets all the Heaventrain staff with a smile and a hug. "Oh goodness, that bus makes her a different kid." Her grandma says, "when she leaves the bus she tells me about the songs, asks questions, and asks how many days till the bus comes back. She talks all day long and tells everyone she sees about Heaventrain. She would be happy if she could just live on the bus with you guys." Grandma laughs and winks, "She sometimes drives me crazy and I have you to thank for it!" 

Conversations With Families

Conversations with Families 

Heaventrain is...

"...the best because my grandkids want to come and visit me every Saturday." 

After Davion's first Heaventrain visit,  he called his grandma every night asking if Heaventrain was coming tomorrow. Now when the bus comes around the corner he gets so excited. I watch him every week running up to his grandma, pointing laughing and jumping up and down.

Heaventrain is...

"...the best thing going on in the neighborhood."

Heaventrain Saturday is...

"...the only day I let my kids out of the house."

A young mother yesterday at Garden Valley was frantically looking for her kids. Another mom walks up to her and says, "Your kids are safe they are on the bus. It just takes a while for them to finish but they are good. Don't worry they watch out for the kids on Saturdays!"

This is me standing outside the bus at Woodhill.

Doesn't that hot dog look good?  Who can resist a fresh hot dog!

I've held puppies, babies, watched baby strollers, bikes, skateboards, even a 5 lb frozen Christmas ham for kids on Heaventrain.

Yesterday a young man came running from a carnival with his hot dog still warm. It was hot off the grill. 

I laughed when he walked up to me and asked if I would hold it for him while he was on the blue bus. 

So here I am standing in line with the two ladies watching the two baby strollers and I'm standing holding a hotdog and his drink.

Fainting Goat or Leaping Lamb

My heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. — Psalm 16:9 (NKJV)

This is for the Women of Faith Blog Hop, subscribe to the newsletter, and join the conversation.

Are you a Leaping Lamb or a Fainting Goat? 


Excerpt...Humanly speaking, they (fainting goats) are like women who refuse to face the truth. They don’t recognize that God is in control and in the situation that startled them. They just faint and go to La-la Land until the distress passes by. Of course, when they come to, the circumstances are still there.  The leaping lamb is joyful and the goat doesn't want to deal with the struggles they are facing. Instead they just exit-the circumstances and ignore the problem.


I struggled a little with this comparison of a lamb or goat.  Like the goat, there have been many times when I want to duck out. Right now I am at a place, not matured by any means, but a place of joy in the midst of life. In urban ministry there is always going to be someone who is far worse than my current circumstances. I know where my next meal is going to come from...I have a safe place to sleep....and it can go on and on. Then after reading the comment from 


 In this passage of Scripture I like the verse right before it. I am always thinking of the Lord and because He is near, I never need to stumble or to fall. -Psalm 16:8 (LAB). 
 The result of being and listening to Him is PEACE today, tomorrow, and into the future. The promise of a relationship with Him is HOPE. No matter what the circumstances our petitions are heard, in fact, He was there before, it was spoken in our prayer. It is not taking Him by surprise. He is making a way for us to see HIm working in the circumstances. Our gift is to HOPE, BELIEVE and to dwell in PEACE.

Na-Na and Man Man

I see a lot of nicknames on Heaventrain

Na-Na

Man Man

Ma-Ma

even Dollar and Money

 then some really cute names

Divine Blessin, grandaughter to one of my good friends Vonita

and two sisters

Cherish and Charity, the two girls my blog is named after...

I'll never forget one little guy.

One day I was signing kids in and a cute little guy about two years old-big eyes and curly black hair came walking up with his big brother.

I turned and looked at the little brother...

"What is your name?"

He replied, "Man Man"

I wrote Man-Man on the sheet

and, "What is your last name?

He said, "Stink Stink!!!"

His brother and I laughed so hard we started crying. 

I see this little guy every week and never forget the first time I met Man Man Stink Stink, aka Amad.

Love is...a Tattoo, Sticker, and Hug

I had a great day with my kids on Heaventrain yesterday. We had the youth group from Xalt Youth Ministries visiting from Salisbury, North Carolina. At the first stop, I think they fell in love with the Heaventrain kids. I heard one of the them say, "I don't want to leave." 

The teens painted tattoos, created chalk art, jumped rope, laughed, played, hugged the kids all day, 

and even sang Happy Birthday to a little girl at Outhwaite.

The  Xalt youth group verse is from 1 Corinthians 10:31, paraphrased...In whatever you do exalt Christ." 




 I noticed a little guy was hanging around instead of leaving when Heaventrain was finished. I asked him if he was ok and he said that some kids were waiting to jump him.


"Can you walk me home?"


On Heaventrain there is one rule Do not leave the bus and get out of view. I decided I couldn't take him home." Then the would be attacker came up and taunted him. Another girl came and said, 'He isn't going to fight you, then laughed, and walked away."

 Pray for preschool, elementary, middle, and high school kids in the Central community. The kids are fighting, growing up too fast, and sometimes killing each other. 


The CMSD school year starts in a couple of weeks. Please pray for the security, students, staff, and faculty in the Central Community. Some of the schools include:Marion Sterling, George Washington Carver, Central Academy, and East Tech High School. 

Chalk Art

Fun for all ages....

One face done and one to go....

Chalk art brings out...

even the CMHA Police.

At Outhwaite two police cruisers pulled up during Heaventrain. The officer said, "I'm gonna write you a ticket with chalk." He proceeded to entertain the kids with chalk art cartoon characters....

the other officer drew Squidworth...

They entertained the kids with jokes and talked to them.

At Outhwaite as we were leaving one of the teens wrote this message...

God is Love

God Loves You

... just yesterday a young man was shot and killed in this same parking lot. The message of hope displayed for all to see in beautiful hues...God loves You!

Baked

The ultimate sweat machine. The temperature on Heaventrain was 97 degrees with a heat index of 104. YIKES!

Then, I climbed into a black car that was sitting in 97 degree heat for 2 hours with the windows rolled up. 
Death Valley California had nothing on this heat. I could have baked cookies in the heat, fried an egg, and probably cooked a rare prime rib. It sucked the air right out of your lungs. To make matters worse, The air didn't work and the windows wouldn't roll down.

At every red light, I opened the doors, to let the cool 97 degree air blow through the car.

A Fear of Poor People

Kuddos to Meg Miller and her honesty, Learning to Love Like Jesus. I have to confess I've never felt like that but I love her honesty and will be following her blog and this journey.

Concrete for a Bed

When the Heaventrain bus pulled up I saw a pile of clothes by the black iron fence. It was curled up in a tight ball. A shirt and pants. Nothing unsual.

Then I saw a shoe with a foot attached to it. It was a Heaventrain kid!

My heart sunk to the bottom of my chest. Here was a little boy sleeping on the cold concrete. He came to Heaventrain but fell asleep before he could get on the bus.

I walked over and tried to wake him up. His little head rolled to the side and he was back to sleep. He was using the cold concrete for a pillow.

 It looked uncomfortable.

He looked forgotten.

It was sad.

He smelled of urine.

His clothes were covered with dirt.

But this was one of my kids and I could not leave him like this.

I sat down next to the fence and picked him up. He took his head and put it on my shoulder and went right back to sleep.

While I was sitting there I started seeing myself as this little boy. Wrapped up in my Heavenly Father's arms finding quiet rest.

He slept for two hours on my shoulder. As the kids were leaving a little girl came up, put him on her back, and carried him home.

Urban ministry is unique.

It is not predictable.

It takes you out of your comfort zone.

It can be amazing.

It can be heart-breaking.

Experiencing it can be the best thing that every happens to you.

Sharing

Question: Would you share your lunch if you thought you might not have any food for dinner?

 I'm not sure if I would. The Heaventrain kids are better than me! I watch the children share their food with each other all the time.

In fact, they will always share their food. Today when we ran out of food on Heaventrain at Cedar. We went from 200 a week to about 300 today.

4 year old boy: Is there any food left?
Me: I'm sorry we ran out.

Answer: I watched a family: big bro about 10 , little bro, and two lil' mamas. Take their food out of their bags and share it with him.

The little guy ate everything they gave him right there.

"I was hungry and you fed Me"

Then I remembered I had bottled water in my van so I gave him a couple of them and he went on his way.

" I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink."

Women of Faith Conference in Cleveland

">He does not weigh out his love for us grain by grain; he doesn't squeeze out forgiveness one tiny drop at a time. Not our God—he pours out mercy in a flood. He loves us more than we know. He's unrestrained. Excessive. Outrageous. OVER THE TOP.
 Join Lighthouse, Inc. for the awesome OVER THE TOP event September 17-18 at Quicken Loans Arena, and purchase your tickets through Kristen Batten.Tickets are $89.00, which is the group rate and $10.00 off the individual ticket price. Then $5 of your ticket cost goes back to Lighthouse, Inc. for ministry. 

 

It's an open group so feel free to share with your friends, family, Sunday school and work colleagues. Contact Kristen Batten, for further questions.

Sharing the Vision

Lighthouse, Inc. has been a part of Central Cleveland for 30 years. It all started with Rev. Phil Batten and a BIG vision. On July 12, 2010 Phil was recognized for his service and commitment to the inner city of Cleveland.

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and then Andy shared about sight and vision

Checking Up On Faith

I love it when I feel like God is sending a message and it's tailor made just for me! It hasn't happened very often, in fact I can think of only one other time. It's in those times that I realize that I am not a number to Him. He knows me intimately enough that he sometimes provides even before I bow my head and pray. Have you had one of these moments?

I live in a neighborhood where the crime seems to be increasing. Since we moved here two years ago we have had the car broken into and a catalytic converter stolen from our truck.  The neighborhood has quite a few gangs and prostitution around the clock. This really didn't make me feel unsafe.

Day 1
Recently, though a couple of houses down the street were broken into.

Day 2
The the next door neighbors shed was vandalized and items were stolen.

I needed money for a security system but didn't have it!

Day 3
Next night, the lady across the street house was ransacked while she slept.
With each passing day I was loosing sleep and worried that something was going to happen.

Day 4
The next night, at 3AM a man goes running in front of our house screaming, "Call the police, I've been robbed!"

Four nights in a row and four neighbors were robbed.

Day 5
Then the next night, our next door neighbor started screaming in our window, "Someone is trying to break into your garage!"

Make that FIVE nights, and it looked like the fifth time it would be our house.
Thankfully, when we checked on the garage everything was in its place. Since our neighbors were up, I spent most of the night sitting on their front porch and my husband drove around the neighborhood looking for any suspicious activity.

Another sleepless night.

Day 6

In the morning we called a security company and got an estimate. The estimate was for over $1,700 dollars. Having that piece of mind was going to cost me! Security is not cheap.

Day 7
We asked the company if they would take a couple of installment payments-thankfully they agreed. I remember thinking, "Thank you Lord for allowing them to take the payments instead of the lump sum." At that time I was so grateful and I knew He was looking out for me. He was pouring out His love for me! I had just experienced it. It's easier for me to understand faith when I can feel it, touch, it and see it in action.

But God's love for me and you is over the top and abundant!

Not ten minutes after finishing the phone call with security company, I walked into my house. Laying on the floor was a little envelope that had come through the mail slot in our door. I picked it up and I couldn't believe my eyes! Before I opened it I could tell it was a check. It was a reimbursement for our real estate taxes. Not a little check, like a couple hundred dollars, it was for more than enough for the security system.


Have you ever had a moment like this when you have to pause and pinch yourself because it seemed to good to be true? You know the feeling. The hair stands up on your arms and you get the chills. You start to remember all the times before when God has provided for your needs. I realized I was in one of those moments. I was holding my faith in my hands. I was seeing it, touching it and feeling it! We serve a generous Father who pours out His love for us-ABUNDANTLY. Whether you're waiting for an answer to your prayers. Hoping to hear that you have a new job. Our looking to see Him show himself to you so you know that you are not alone. He is there.

A Love So Deep

My grandparents just celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary. I sat down with them to learn more about how they met and this is their story.


One evening when Grandma was visiting her girlfriends house in California she met my grandpa. Grandma says, " All of a sudden a handsome slender man came around the corner."  He was her "prince charming." Charming indeed as he came around the corner in - nothing but a bathrobe. A passion was ignited between them on that day. Shortly after they started seeing each other. Grandpa tells of taking a paper route together so they could be with each other every day.  They started dating in January and on May 13, 1950, five months later, they were married.

They had been only married a couple of months when Grandpa was called up for active duty in Korea. With tears and goodbyes to each other they made a promise. They would write each other every day.

True Colors

 The Heaventrain line was starting to fill up and I was making my rounds asking the kids if they had a good week. I was delighted to hear from a little girl that she was learning her colors at school. Her brother was listening and started quizzing her.


"What color is the bus?" She responded, "Blue." "What color is your shirt?" and she responded with more confidence, "Pink" Which she added," and that is my favorite color." Then her brother pointed to a friends' face and said, "What color is this?" I was immediately interested in seeing what she was going to say. It took her a little while she kind of turned her face to the side and just stood there then answered,"Brown." Her brother instead corrected her with, "Dark-skinned?" Then he pointed to another child's face in line." And what color is this?" She replied, "Dark-skinned." The young man seemed to argue a little bit with her. In fact her told her that he was light-skinned and not dark-skinned. Then her brother pointed to another child, she replied, 'Dark-skinned." Then back at the boy who said he was light-skinned and not dark-skinned. She replied, "Light-skinned,"

Then he pointed to my face. I was expecting her to say, "White" and instead she said, "Just like him,"she pointed to the young man in line next to me," She is light-skinned!" Her brother looked at me, then her, then back at me and smiled.  I was proud of her brother for not correcting her and giving her a lesson in race that day. That would come soon enough.

 I learned a lesson that day about being color blind vs. race blind. I was reminded how children are so innocent and impressionable. She was not color blind. I had witnessed this with my own eyes that she knew her colors. Instead she seemed to be race blind when it came to the color of someone's skin.

I was reminded of an excerpt from a song War/No More Trouble on Playing for Change and it goes something like...when the color of someone's skin is not more important than the color of their eyes.