There's not really an easy way to say this, but my Texas summer is coming to its close. My junior high kids have spent their last day at Summer JAM, and they'll be heading to Camp of the Hills next week. In about a week, my internship at Fortress will be over and I'll start heading back to Nashville. I would say heading back home, but I've really gained a home in Fort Worth over the last two months, and even though Nashville is my home, I hate that I have to leave this city. It's been pointed out to me that this problem would all but go away if Arkansas were removed from the map. Do you believe in miracles?
As I'm getting ready for my final week here and thinking about the last seven weeks, I'm realizing that I have been incredibly blessed, both here and in Nashville, and that I have a lot to be thankful for. Seriously, a whole lot (sorry, this is more for my benefit than for yours):
For the Summer JAM interns. For Payton and Claudia, for Cathy and Shelby, for Sarah and Sasha, for Chris and Michelle. Without these 8 kids from cities and schools all over Texas and Oklahoma, this would have been a completely different summer (and not for the better). I came to Fort Worth knowing two people (my cousin and his wife) and by the end of my first week of work I had gained an incredible, hilarious, committed, and godly group of friends. God brought nine specific people together for a specific reason, and I am awestruck at the beauty of His plan, even if I don't fully understand it.
For the staff and volunteers at Fortress. For Aundrea and Ms. D, for Dani and Daniel, for Stacy and Terri, for Brianna and Kelsey and Shanique, for the mentors in the Ignite program, for the youth groups from Tyler, Decatur, Round Rock, Little Rock, Searcy, and Conway who have sent mission teams to Fortress this summer, and for the past staff of Fortress and Fortress Church. These people have given a LOT of their time and energy to be the hands and feet of Christ in the Southside. Kelsey, Brianna, and Shanique practically run the Building Blocks program for the youngest Fortress kids. Dani and Daniel planned Summer JAM while they were working in Fortress's after school program. Stacy and Terri go way beyond their job descriptions every day to make Fortress the great organization that it is. Aundrea and Ms. D do literally whatever is needed to keep Fortess running. The Ignite mentoring program is probably the #1 reason why I wish Vanderbilt was in Ft. Worth, so I could be a part of it. The past of Fortress and the Fortress Church is a powerful testimony to the plans and workings of our God. Countless other people have contributed time, energy, and resources toward the incredible stronghold for the Kingdom that is Fortress, and I am just as thankful for them.
For the Fortress kids:
For the little guys in Building Blocks: Willy and Billy and J-Mac and Peanut and Ray and Topanga and Alijah and Leonard and Caylon and a lot whose names I never learned. Something about hearing those kids scream the ABCs from across the building just makes me happy. Something about hearing them sing Jesus Loves Me just gives me hope.
For the youngest group at Summer JAM (Army). For Brenshay and Calei, for Ja'Caila and JaQuesha, for Mickayla and Unique (never was a child more aptly named), for Aisha and Ashley, for Asia and Robert, for Aalivia and Rodney. These kids were the absolute best during games. I had fun because they had fun, and I had joy because they showed me how. When Christ said that only those like children could know the joys of the kingdom, he was talking about these guys.
For the second youngest (Navy). For Derron and Lonnie, for Klarence and Elijah, for Kaliya and Lanajia, for Clara and Lilly, for Chassidy and Lazayiveya, for Devonte and Ja'Vuntae and Semierria. These kids just make me laugh, and for that I could not be more thankful.
For the second oldest group (Marines). For Alyssa and Daisy, for Keondrick and Dekendrick, for JJ and JayShawn, for Kya and Xzayvier, for Ian and Aidan and Taylor. The future is so bright for these kids. They give me hope, that maybe mankind isn't finished just yet.
For the oldest kids, my kids, the junior high, the Air Force. For Britney and Cameron, for Chance and Breanna, for Jaialyn and Johnisha, for Brandon and Yasmeen, for Roy and Dre'Shawn, for Deabre and Adrian. These kids have caused me more stress and frustration than any group I have ever encountered. But for some reason I love them. They have tested my patience and my faith, and I've come out stronger because of it. What an indescribable blessing!
For the men and women I met on Lancaster Avenue. For Hector and Junior, for Joyce and Rodney, for Michael and Laura, for Clint and Dominic, for Carlos. For, once again, those whose names I never learned or have already forgotten. I'm still struggling with many of the lessons I learned talking to these people. I spoke with a man who, while waiting for a mat to sleep on in a shelter, told me what I great life he's had. Carlos told me in a single breath that, by walking up and down Lancaster with water, bagels, and prayer, I was both doing the Lord's work and also enabling people to stay on the streets without looking for jobs. The people I've met on Lancaster have made me question the meaning of words like treasure and home and blessing.
For the leadership and the entire family at Ethos in Nashville. For Dave and Sydney, for Brandon and Courtney, for Luke and Heather, for Will and Caity, for literally hundreds of others. For mission teams in Moldova and in Guatemala and in Honduras and across the world. For new churches and schools in India. For everyone who wants nothing more than to Love God, Love Others, and to Awaken a Movement. His movement.
For the one and only Peace, Love, House Church. For Todd and Andrew, for Brett and Charity, for Kacy and Ryane, for Jennifer and Annie, for Jamie and Garrett, for Mitchell and Shawn, for Mary Leigh and Shane, for Chad and Katie, for Elizabeth and Parker and George. For all of our families. For prayer and praise and the Spirit of God.
For Harpeth Hills and the HHYG. For Jason and Jennifer and Ayesha and Keith and Kim and David and Chris Anne and Mark and Beth and Laura. For all the teachers and interns and camp counselors through the years. For my grade who I haven't seen in way too long. It's hard to describe what these people have done for me. They made me into somebody that's willing to try to let Christ make me into somebody new.
I'm thankful for a lot more things and a lot more people. If you're reading this, chances are I'm thankful for you. I'm obviously thankful for the love that let sinners kill it so that their sins could be forgotten one day. I'm thankful that the nails I drove into him couldn't hold him down. I'm thankful that God is the judge so that we don't have to be. I'm thankful that the Spirit cries to God when we don't know how.
Christ, thank you
Father, thank you
Spriit, thank you
As I'm getting ready for my final week here and thinking about the last seven weeks, I'm realizing that I have been incredibly blessed, both here and in Nashville, and that I have a lot to be thankful for. Seriously, a whole lot (sorry, this is more for my benefit than for yours):
For the Summer JAM interns. For Payton and Claudia, for Cathy and Shelby, for Sarah and Sasha, for Chris and Michelle. Without these 8 kids from cities and schools all over Texas and Oklahoma, this would have been a completely different summer (and not for the better). I came to Fort Worth knowing two people (my cousin and his wife) and by the end of my first week of work I had gained an incredible, hilarious, committed, and godly group of friends. God brought nine specific people together for a specific reason, and I am awestruck at the beauty of His plan, even if I don't fully understand it.
For the staff and volunteers at Fortress. For Aundrea and Ms. D, for Dani and Daniel, for Stacy and Terri, for Brianna and Kelsey and Shanique, for the mentors in the Ignite program, for the youth groups from Tyler, Decatur, Round Rock, Little Rock, Searcy, and Conway who have sent mission teams to Fortress this summer, and for the past staff of Fortress and Fortress Church. These people have given a LOT of their time and energy to be the hands and feet of Christ in the Southside. Kelsey, Brianna, and Shanique practically run the Building Blocks program for the youngest Fortress kids. Dani and Daniel planned Summer JAM while they were working in Fortress's after school program. Stacy and Terri go way beyond their job descriptions every day to make Fortress the great organization that it is. Aundrea and Ms. D do literally whatever is needed to keep Fortess running. The Ignite mentoring program is probably the #1 reason why I wish Vanderbilt was in Ft. Worth, so I could be a part of it. The past of Fortress and the Fortress Church is a powerful testimony to the plans and workings of our God. Countless other people have contributed time, energy, and resources toward the incredible stronghold for the Kingdom that is Fortress, and I am just as thankful for them.
For the Fortress kids:
For the little guys in Building Blocks: Willy and Billy and J-Mac and Peanut and Ray and Topanga and Alijah and Leonard and Caylon and a lot whose names I never learned. Something about hearing those kids scream the ABCs from across the building just makes me happy. Something about hearing them sing Jesus Loves Me just gives me hope.
For the youngest group at Summer JAM (Army). For Brenshay and Calei, for Ja'Caila and JaQuesha, for Mickayla and Unique (never was a child more aptly named), for Aisha and Ashley, for Asia and Robert, for Aalivia and Rodney. These kids were the absolute best during games. I had fun because they had fun, and I had joy because they showed me how. When Christ said that only those like children could know the joys of the kingdom, he was talking about these guys.
For the second youngest (Navy). For Derron and Lonnie, for Klarence and Elijah, for Kaliya and Lanajia, for Clara and Lilly, for Chassidy and Lazayiveya, for Devonte and Ja'Vuntae and Semierria. These kids just make me laugh, and for that I could not be more thankful.
For the second oldest group (Marines). For Alyssa and Daisy, for Keondrick and Dekendrick, for JJ and JayShawn, for Kya and Xzayvier, for Ian and Aidan and Taylor. The future is so bright for these kids. They give me hope, that maybe mankind isn't finished just yet.
For the oldest kids, my kids, the junior high, the Air Force. For Britney and Cameron, for Chance and Breanna, for Jaialyn and Johnisha, for Brandon and Yasmeen, for Roy and Dre'Shawn, for Deabre and Adrian. These kids have caused me more stress and frustration than any group I have ever encountered. But for some reason I love them. They have tested my patience and my faith, and I've come out stronger because of it. What an indescribable blessing!
For the men and women I met on Lancaster Avenue. For Hector and Junior, for Joyce and Rodney, for Michael and Laura, for Clint and Dominic, for Carlos. For, once again, those whose names I never learned or have already forgotten. I'm still struggling with many of the lessons I learned talking to these people. I spoke with a man who, while waiting for a mat to sleep on in a shelter, told me what I great life he's had. Carlos told me in a single breath that, by walking up and down Lancaster with water, bagels, and prayer, I was both doing the Lord's work and also enabling people to stay on the streets without looking for jobs. The people I've met on Lancaster have made me question the meaning of words like treasure and home and blessing.
For the leadership and the entire family at Ethos in Nashville. For Dave and Sydney, for Brandon and Courtney, for Luke and Heather, for Will and Caity, for literally hundreds of others. For mission teams in Moldova and in Guatemala and in Honduras and across the world. For new churches and schools in India. For everyone who wants nothing more than to Love God, Love Others, and to Awaken a Movement. His movement.
For the one and only Peace, Love, House Church. For Todd and Andrew, for Brett and Charity, for Kacy and Ryane, for Jennifer and Annie, for Jamie and Garrett, for Mitchell and Shawn, for Mary Leigh and Shane, for Chad and Katie, for Elizabeth and Parker and George. For all of our families. For prayer and praise and the Spirit of God.
For Harpeth Hills and the HHYG. For Jason and Jennifer and Ayesha and Keith and Kim and David and Chris Anne and Mark and Beth and Laura. For all the teachers and interns and camp counselors through the years. For my grade who I haven't seen in way too long. It's hard to describe what these people have done for me. They made me into somebody that's willing to try to let Christ make me into somebody new.
I'm thankful for a lot more things and a lot more people. If you're reading this, chances are I'm thankful for you. I'm obviously thankful for the love that let sinners kill it so that their sins could be forgotten one day. I'm thankful that the nails I drove into him couldn't hold him down. I'm thankful that God is the judge so that we don't have to be. I'm thankful that the Spirit cries to God when we don't know how.
Christ, thank you
Father, thank you
Spriit, thank you
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