With such great traction, we've added tutor. CSUS Friend's have represented with Katie and Ashley. Micah, only days from deployment continues to show up faithfully. Ashkan, the Senior Class President from Colombia University tutored while home this week. Ross, the most passionate guy I have ever met...he works with the kids.
Russ runs.
Michelle laughs.
Lex leads.
Stef smiles.
I never dreamed in a million dreams that four years ago when I met for the first time with Principal Steve Lewis that so many would dive in and dream. But we are at a cross roads.
It is the best of times. It is the most challenging of times.
The Best Ahead
Children are starting to believe that change is possible. Rather than suppressing the pain, they are beginning to open up and share what they are feeling. They explain with exquisite detail the derailment of hope in their life, their home, their circumstance. Now , because of so many amazing readers of this blog and listeners to the podcast, volunteers are making life better.
A few weeks ago Stef held a little girl. I had not seen the girl smile. As Stef helped her get a snack, they joked, danced and pranced around the playground. Observing everything in my mind's view faded to black and white, but still high contrast.
As if a Hollywood Movie trailer had been produced for this moment, everything seemed to go into slow motion. At that moment, it was just Stef and the Princess. Stef's smile was contagious. The little Princess smiled. It was the first time I had seen her smile.
I saw hope in her smile.
Yet, even now, I embrace the challenge to meet the socio-emotional needs. We have addressed health care and are thriving. But now they trust us and I don't want the smile to fade.
Each story comes with a detail and and basic human need that must be addressed. Those details take time and people power. We stand in need of approximately 20-30 people who have two-hours a week. FAITHFULLY! These kids set their clock by the teams arrival. We have no skill, just availability.
ZERO SPECIAL SKILLS are needed, just a heart of compassion, a quick training, and an unbreakable endurance to do the same segment of 2 hours each week.
Smiles.
Pain.
Promise.
Purpose.
Hope.
I can supply the all of the above. You are the answer.
Dream.
JAS
For More of Stef's Snapshot Stories
Stef's Be Change Album
