Ten Years of Memories

Two sisters who have been coming to Aim Right for quite a long time (10 years!) graduated from high school in May. We first connected with them through our tutoring program, when they were referred to us by the local elementary school. I thought it would be fun to dig up some photos from the archives and share a decade of memories.

 

2006 Tutoring

 

 

2007 Tutoring

 

After participating in our tutoring program, they began to attend Kids Club, Youth Haven Ranch, and other activities, such as some special outings coordinated with a local women's ministry.

2008 Museum Outing with City of Grace (now Hillsong Phoenix)

 



 

2008 VBS

 2008 Zoo Outing with City of Grace

 

 

Then...they became teenagers!

 

2011 Teen Camp

 

 

2012 Teen Camp

 

 

 

2013 Teen Camp

 

 2013 Banquet with Luis Gonzalez

 

 

2014 Teen Camp

 

2016 Graduation
Gricelda (left) & Maribel (right)

 

Maribel and Gricelda have something that is unfortunately a rarity among many of the youth Aim Right connects with--a stable home with very involved parents. It is their dad who has encouraged them to excel in school and to have dreams of going to college. He was beaming after the graduation as he snapped photo after photo. Maribel has shared with me that her dad wants his children to have opportunities that he was not able to have. Therefore, that earned him the title of "strict parent" at times.

 

These young ladies have made decisions to follow Christ. Their faith has recently been tested through some challenges that face them now that they have completed high school. God answered a big prayer request--a college scholarship for Maribel--but there are other hurdles to get through if she is to begin college this fall. What many of us would take for granted is really a privilege.

 

I'll close with some words that are not my own, but rather that of Amy Medina, who works with a ministry in Tanzania. You can find her full post here.

 

How many other young boys and girls are out there, DNA brimming with Olympic athleticism, or Ivy-League intelligence, or musical genius?  Yet they'll never have a real soccer ball, or a classroom with less than 100 students in it, or a piano to practice.  

 

And it hit me that one of the (many) privileges of being wealthy is the ability to see my children find their potential.  And have a shot at reaching it.  

 

It makes me wonder how many millions of those in poverty are ignored, oppressed, or spat upon, when all they really need is a chance.  Or how often I have taken advantage of my wealth and opportunity and forgotten what a huge privilege my life really is.

 

I've resolved not to forget.  Or waste it.