It's not about your age

As you know my primary role is working with youth, kids of the ages from 11-14. This can be an interesting age as so much is going on in their busy consistently changing lives. But over my time here I have been able to branch out and been able to build relationships with the families that these youth come from. During the last four months we have for the first time been able to be more intentional with seeking out the mothers for the purpose of building relationship with them. Myself along with a few other young ladies I work with have been able to partner alone side of a local church and bring the mothers we are connected with though our kids to their weekly Mom’s Arise program.

This program has been such a blessing to myself as well as everyone I see attending it. It has provided the time and space to be able to mentor in a walking alongside them through life kind of way. It is a very daunting role to play, I feel unable most of the time to offer any kind of advice or comfort to so many of their tough situations.

Recently I watched the movie “The pursuit of happiness” which is about a man and his child just barely getting by in their life. He has a lot of potential but cannot seem to get a chance to prove himself or to get anywhere. He fights hard and realizes that sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. He then steps out with a lot of faith and signs on for an unpaid internship which has a 1 in 20 chance of him being employed after a couple months. During this time he has to sink to lining up at 5 p.m. every day to stay in a shelter as he fought for his chance in life for happiness.

This movie reminded in so many ways of the situations a lot of the moms and people in the communities I work in are in. Situations that leave them feeling like they have no options and will only make their situation worse if they try anything different. There are no easy answers to so many of the stories, situations and circumstances I hear and are shared in confidence. I do not have the wisdom to offer or solutions that will “fix” their “problem”.

One day late Nov I was overwhelmed and burdened by the many things going wrong in one woman’s life which was affecting her entire family. I was burdened in a way that made me tired and frustrated. I met together with my supervisor and community director for advice and what was said to me frustrated me greatly but has been something that I have not been able to forget and is a constant good reminder for me. He said “When you are seeking wisdom you go to someone who is older then you for wisdom, when these woman are seeking wisdom they do not think about your age but they come to you because you have wisdom they do not”. He proceeded to remind me that I am unable to offer any kind of advice that will do any good but I do know the One who is able to provide everything that they need. I am not in the position I am in because I have the answers or because I am able to do anything about it. I am in those position to walk along side and to journey together with them as a sister.

It has been such a joy to get to know these woman but also such a learning experience as I am shown how little there is that I am able to offer because everything I have in is because of what I have in Christ. It has also been such an encouragement in the last few weeks to see such a change in just one of our mom’s. She is a mother who we thought would never come out to something like this and she would have preferred never to come out but as she puts it “I didn't want to come at first but eventually I gave in and came around”. She doesn't miss a day now and has completely changed from a hard woman who stiffened in hugs and would not speak to laughing so hard she cries and being moved to tears for others, in speaking and sharing willingly. Sure there may be a long way to go but we have a relationship and see is willing in ways she wasn't before. What potential this brings for the New Year as we continue meeting together regularly.

Please pray regularly for our moms and for our weekly gatherings with them on Wednesday mornings. Pray for opportunities and openness to be able to speak with them about the gospel and for acceptance in their hearts to make in their own. If you will mark your calendars Wednesday mornings or Tuesday nights be in pray for Mom’s Arise.