January: This is a pretty slow month for us, this past year we began visiting our kids once a month as a team in January, it was probably one of the best things we’ve done yet. In January of ’09 I got to experience hope with some of my kids, I began to form relationships with them, they are lasting, that have created a respect between us, and that have allowed them to see that I am not a bad person.
February: We experienced a fire together, of a family that has nothing but continues to be loyal in attending church, we began to pray for Ms. Karen and Pastor Mike as they prepared for Kidney transplants that would happen later in the year. I spent time with Ms. Karen convincing a 16 year old that abortion was not the answer, and eventually she listened. I took three teenagers to a local police community meeting and it’s opened a few doors to a relationship with the local police department. We hosted our Second Love night a night to appreciate and love our kids in ways they don’t expect, each year is full of surprises. And for the second year in a row Abe Lincoln showed up, and the kids loved it!
March: We began booking missions teams, dreaming about the block party and I began to think about quitting my nanny job to do full-time ministry. We hosted a spring-fling on the parking lot, welcomed a new member Liz to our team and continued to grow as a team.
April: Two of our teenagers made a commitment to take a purity vow in their relationships, they came to me and told me they were ready. We shared a special dinner and took them to purchase purity rings. At least one of them is still staying strong in her vow. This month we also found out we’d be welcoming a baby into our worlds in 9 months, it was something that was scary, happy and sad all wrapped into one. We started Teen Nights a program for teens to come and hang out from 9-midnight two Fridays a month. It’s had it’s ups and downs, however we’ve really gotten to know some kids we may not have otherwise, and finally in April we hosted the first ever Charm City/Grace Building Bridges project that was a super success.
May: We met new friends from Nebraska, hosted MetroKidz Sunday, that rocked my socks off, We watched four of our kids go off to prom for the first time and prepared for Graduation. I experience love from my kids like never before, from being hugged in a tearful sermon, to watching them chase my car down Payson street. Ms. Karen and Pastor Mike swapped kidneys!
June: Graduation (Drake and Dray), Block Party time, Moved our MetroKidz site, began our first ever four week long summer camp. Hosted our first missions team and I officially left my nannying gig to do full-time missions.
July: Summer camp started, the largest team we’ve ever had arrived from Michigan and was amazing. Courtney Starr hosted a screen printing class three days a week, for a select group of teens and I experienced tragedy first hand as five year old “R” got shot, just feet away from our church van. Not only did I experience tragedy, I got to experience miracles and welcome a new family into our lives through this tragedy. Friends from all over the place stepped up to help us love this little girl and this family.
August: We met friends from North Carolina, I booked an awesome trip I would anxiously await, we hosted a Teen Sports Camp, experienced love in ways we never had and ended our summer with a bang! I met “A” a prostitute my heart had fallen in love with and got to reunite her with her family. God worked out a miracle and we were able to bless our kids with supplies to go back to school. At the end of the summer, I was offered a job in the school, where I had partnered that summer to see things happen, I accepted.
September: We continued to watch “R” recover, met new friends through a new group of volunteers, continued to be blessed and continued to reach out to our community.
October: I began Operation Beautiful, with pink beads, loving women, homeless women, prostitutes, teen girls, whoever who had lost hope and the understanding that God made them beautiful. I continued to form relationships with the dealers in our neighborhood and would eventually start meeting them for Breakfast.
November: I had the opportunity to travel to Atlanta for the National Youth Workers Conference, I got to relax, meet new friends and reunite with old ones. I continued my relationships with the dealers, having Wednesday morning doughnuts with them, and allowing them to share their stories. I got to watch “A” relapse and pull herself out again and finally I got to hand over the reigns to the Thanksgiving Dinner and go on vacation!
December: God worked miracles supplying much when we had nothing, we got loved on in ways we could have never imagined this month. When Toys for Tots didn’t come through on time we were blessed with a gift that allowed us to throw another rockin’ Christmas party. Toys for Tots eventually came through and we were able to bless our community in ways we never imagined, the Santa Van, The Santa visits, the gifts that meant so much to the kids who received them and the families that made it all happen. We changed the format of our Christmas party this year and it was awesome. And Finally on the very last day of ’09 we welcomed a new life into our MetroKidz group, Drake A. Diggs was born weighing in at 8 lbs and 13oz.
This year has broke me, built me and taught me, I am so excited to see what God has in store for us in 2010!
About colleen