Spring Break Week & Kids Klub Easter Event

Caleb e-mailed me some photos he took on last week's hiking trip in Payson with several teen guys.  I'm sure this made for some great Spring Break memories!

  

During Spring Break, I enjoyed spending time with these lovely little ladies, visiting the Children's Museum of Phoenix.

Another Spring Break event for teens:  Minute-to-Win-it games

For our Kids Klub Easter event yesterday, the children gathered in the auditorium to learn the "real" story of Easter, then headed outside with their classes for a Scavenger Hunt based on items in the story of Jesus' death and resurrection.  Then they traded in their Scavenger Hunt finds for a prize -- a goodie bag and an ice pop!

Many in the Aim Right "family" are gathering in Phoenix, coming from near and far, to celebrate the marriage of Mario and Dora this Saturday.  Mario and Dora met through attending Aim Right programs, and their wedding party includes their mentors and several former interns.  We rejoice in their desire to begin a God-centered marriage and pray that He will bless them with a beautiful wedding day and a beautiful relationship for years to come.

Feed My Starving Children

This is Spring Break week for local schools, and Caleb planned some extra activities for the teens throughout the week.  One addition was a trip to Feed My Starving Children in Tempe on Tuesday evening.  Aim Right took a group of 15 volunteers who joined other local volunteers to package around 42 boxes of food to be distributed to needy individuals around the world (FMSC sends food to nearly 70 countries).

Part of our group's duties was measuring specific ingredients and then bagging them.  Into each bag went a combination of dried veggies, soy, vitamins, and rice.  FMSC had prepared a cooked version of the bagged mixture so participants would have an idea how the ingredients would taste when eaten by the recipients.  I understand that it got mixed reviews.  It's hard when you're competing with Jack in the Box and McDonald's!

Auction Report and some Sobering Stories

This blog should begin to receive more attention now that the auction is over, and the office computer is back from the repair shop.

Since this is the Valley of the Sun, I would typically report to you that God blessed us with a beautiful, sunny auction day. This year, however, Phoenix experienced a two-day dip in temperatures, along with heavy rains and wind. The blessing, though? The heavy rains and wind came on Friday, with Saturday only damp and chilly, a few sprinkles here and there. It may've been a less-than-perfect weather day, but we saw God's blessing, too, in the generosity of the many faithful auction bidders who came. Proceeds totaled over $20,000! The top selling quilt was this one, which brought $1,300.

While I don't have a photo of it, perhaps one of the most surprising sales was a vintage children's car that brought $425.00. A small child could sit in the car, turn the pedals, and make the car go. I was told that two grandmothers purchased the car and split the cost between themselves. The car's donor had rescued it from a trash pile and cleaned it up a bit, but never imagined it would fetch that amount!

This week has been one of reminders of why we are here and why we are called to work with youth in the heart of Phoenix.  A 14-year-old girl, a good friend of several teens who regularly attend Aim Right programs, was murdered by her mother's boyfriend.  In this news video, the teen who does most of the speaking is one we know.

 

You can read or view more here:  Friends, Family Gather in Memory of Slain Phoenix Mom, Daughter.

As if that news isn't enough, the small group of girls I meet with on Thursday evenings had much to say about the police drug search that went on in their school yesterday (located right across from Aim Right).  According to them, students were patted down and searched, with around twenty 7th graders found with drugs in their possession.  Police are still on the lookout for two 16-year-old's who have been a main drug supplier to the students.  I find it interesting that none of this has been reported in the news, since I recently heard a feature on the news about one suspected inebriated student in a suburban neighborhood school.

Those who know the names of the dealers are afraid to "snitch" to school or police officials, fearing the consequences if someone should find out they did the telling.  In a culture of fear, darkness, and evil, God help us to:

"take up the shield of faith [to] extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit...praying at all times in the Spirit with all prayer and supplication."  Ephesians 6:16-18

Teen Night 2.15.13....+ A few other Things

 Caleb talked about change to teens on Friday evening, challenging them to take a look at their lives and assess if they are headed down the path God wants them to go.

Sunnyslope Mennonite Church is hosting the Conservative Mennonite Church Pastors' Conference this week.  Aim Right has a booth there and also provided lunch for several ministers yesterday.  Since there was no school on Monday, several teens came along to help serve the meal.

Kurt Warner donated these items for our benefit auction.  I've been told that it is unusual for a quarterback to wear gloves, but it's something that Warner was known to wear during games.

  

Kids Klub 2.06.13

Children enjoyed a hot dog meal, games, story, and hat-making yesterday evening.  The crew from New Horizons did a super job of jumping in and coordinating the food, craft, and other sites for us.  With around 70 kids in attendance, there wasn't a dull moment!

I've observed that the kids who came to Rec Center on Wednesday and today and also came to Kids Klub yesterday evening have really seemed to develop a special bond with these volunteers.  It reminds me of the theme of the Kids Klub story that was read to the children -- when you're doing what God has gifted you to do, it's like a hat that fits perfectly.  

Interacting with children is a hat that these volunteers wear very well!

Sunshine & New Horizons

A group of young adult volunteers from New Horizons in Colorado arrived safely this morning.

They have already been blessing us with their service -- baking some yummy cookies for Kids Klub this evening and opening the Rec Center this afternoon for kids to play.

One of those "miscellaneous" posts!

It's that time of the year when I'm focusing more on our auction blog than this one, but I wanted to post some recent photos.  Kids Klub classes made these cross necklaces and learned what each of the colors stood for:

Black - Our sin

Red - Jesus' blood

White - Jesus' cleansing

Green - Growing to be more like Jesus

Yellow - Heaven's streets of gold

On Hat Night, this little guy wore a creative choice!

 Some of the nice items we have received for the auction:

Beginning on Wednesday of this week, we are hosting a group of volunteers from New Horizons in Colorado.   They will be busy with children's ministry, manual labor, and much more.  On Saturday, they will fire up the griddles and bless community families with a yummy breakfast!