Cold calls to Warm Interactions.

All I had was a number, 10 digits that represented something I did not yet know.  I hate the phone, for anyone who has lived me we I would rather never answer a phone call. As a kid and teen and even adult I would leave it ringing for someone else to get and picking up isn’t even the worst part, making cold call phone calls is even worse.

I dialed these 10 numbers and waiting, in my mind ran the subconscious scribe I had run through my mind for the past 15 minutes. “Hello”, “Hi, my name is Janelle I’m a camp leader”, and I waited. What else should I say; I didn’t know who I was calling, only that they had an 11 year old they wanted to come to camp. Before I knew it was out rightly asked her where she lived and told her I’d come over to drop off a form for her. Minutes later I was standing at a door waiting for not sure who to open the door.

Next morning I dial those same 10 numbers, “Hi, its Janelle I met you yesterday”. For the life of me I couldn’t remember her name. “I was wondering if I could come over around 10 with a friend, we’d like to get to know you more”, (because that doesn’t sound creepy or anything). “Sure, that’s fine”, she sounded a little uncertain but I took it as a confident yes.

An hour later I was again standing at the same door with my co-worker waiting for her to answer, not super sure how I was going to introduce them since I still could only remember that her name started with an F. I didn’t need to worry; she eagerly opened the door, introducing herself and invited us up stairs. We spent the next hour visiting getting to know her and her story.

. The next day she came out and joined out Mom’s group in the local Community Center and we made homemade pasta together. She is a beautiful woman, a strong outgoing personality and she is very excited to have made friends in the community. As we discussed grace in relation to being a neighbor she shared her thoughts and ideas and I thanked God for the boldness He gave me to make that cold call because two days later it meant she was immersed in a loving group of woman who desire to love and support her as they share the love of Jesus Christ with her. 

A prideful heart softened

I faced the stairs and the daunting task ahead. Pride had again reared its ugly head as it fought hard against authority, its eyes only focused on self, and its rights above others. The consequence had been given 20 minutes to sit in the office. As I took the first step I wondering where I would find this young man. Where He would be hiding, avoiding what had been required of him. I reach the top and glance into the office. There, still, quite with a low bent head sat the one just a few minutes had been fighting vigorously.

I bent down and looking up into his eyes, “Thank you, thank you for being here, I am proud of you, I know it was hard”. I looked deep, wanting to hear the wrestle going on inside of him and quietly asked him if he would like to talk more. He slowly uttered a first word. What is normal a boy of many words and little thought was suddenly choosing his words very carefully.  He spoke honestly, of frustration of anger, of the raw, really feelings mixed of what he knew was right and wrong.

As he spoke slowly and more controlled than I had ever seen in the past I was able to confirm and agree of the struggle he was explaining to me, pride, an ugly beast relentless to have its own way. He expressed his yearning for more and he spoke with a rich understand of the conflict it causes with the leaders. He spoke in quiet, sad tones. “Are you done?”  I asked him.

You see this young man has been a part of the youth program for 4 years and he only has one more week left as He is graduating and off to high school next year.  In barely a whisper he responded that he didn't know. I slowed prodded him with question to tell me the ways he had grown since he had come, what had happened over the previous four years and weather those years had been good and fruitful ones. I encouraged him that something that had been such a great thing for so many years did not need to end on this note. We discussed Romans 5:4 and Galatians 5, of perseverance and character, of the fruits of the spirit and the way we are taught, refined and built. He listened quietly. As we finished he thanked me and I was able to prayer for him before he ran off to join the other kids to play. 

Invitation to join me in the mission of reaching, raising and restoring!

Let me share with you about a nonprofit organization in Toronto called UrbanPromise Toronto whose mission it is to Reach children with the love of Jesus to Raise them into leaders who Restore their communities!

I joined UrbanPromise Toronto for a 2 year internship 3 years ago and this past September I joined them as a full time staff member to reach the kids and youth in Warden Woods Scarborough with the love of Jesus Christ and to raise the youth there to be leaders who do love Jesus and make a difference in their communities that are broken in family, in relationship, in love, that are wounded due to gangs and violence.

Let me share a story with you about Dashawn, he is 9 years old and lives not with his mother or his father but with his mother’s ex-boyfriend because he is the only one who cares for me. His mother in fact is missing and wanted by authorities. Dashawn also lives with his three younger half-sisters, only one of them in fact is the blood relation to the ex-boyfriend caring for these four children.  

I first met Dashawn and his “family” this past fall when Dashawn started coming out to camp. He had little self-discipline and large amounts of anger. He struggled in camp to follow the rules of respecting self, others, leader, property and God and often time would end up being suspended due to his behavior After watched him for a while we realized that Dashawn was actually a very orderly kid, and disorder or not knowing what to expect really threw him off in what came out as anger. 

The leaders at camp continued to work with him creating for him his own personal chart showing each transition in a day at camp, he could then earn a sticker for each transition he did well and if he earned all of his stickers he was able to come the next day to camp and so. In two weeks Dashawn went from being suspended every day to earning back every day of the week! He had been empowered in making small decisions that where encouraged and whether he had a good day or not he was loved and always given another chance! 

Today Dashawn is a sweet fun loving boy, now don’t get me wrong he is still the same little boy but something has shifted. This past week as I was in the kitchen I could over hear the boys in the next room having a bible study and he was explained to the other kids what preaching was, this kid who 8 months ago didn’t really know anything about Jesus. We have also gotten to know his younger sisters and desire and hope for them to be able to come to camp in future years! We have also been able to pray with and for and support the ex-boyfriend who gives of himself to care for these children.

I am so excited about the things that are happening in so many children and youth that I have come to know during my time with UrbanPromise Toronto! For the past month I have been interviewing youth who desire to give back to their communities by being a part of summer camp this year and have a chance to be leaders to the younger kids in their communities and to tell them about God!

As a missionary to this community I am financially supported 100% through donations of committed monthly supports and one time donors! Currently I am need of monthly donors to partner with me and the work of UrbanPromise Toronto in a financial way.  My financial goal is $2500 a month and I am currently sitting at 77% of this. If you are interested in joining me in this mission in partnering with me financially I would love to speak more with you.

You can sign up as a monthly donor or make a donation at www.urbanpromise.com “donate” and “support a missionary”.

Thank you for your consideration and support!

Contact Info:

janelle@urbanpromise.com

Tough woman in a durag

She frantically ran to retrieve her coffee, a smoke in one hand, and a Styrofoam cup in the other. 
"Did I miss craft time?"
I smile happy to see this  special woman.
"Yes" I responded, "it was from 10 till 1".
Catching her breath the words split out, "Oh shit, I really like craft time, I'm sorry I missed it,I've just been so busy."

We stood just outside of the community center together, she steadily sipped away at her coffee between her smokes. Dressed in tight blue jeans and a black tank top her hair pulled back and hidden behind a durag. 

"I went back to my ex-boss and asked for some work, I'm a hustler now." she said proudly. "That's why I am dressed like this, it's my hustling cloths."
Carefully I choose my words and asked what work she was doing.
"Cleaning cars, you know I never knew how big windshields where until I was cleaning them."

She looked down as she rubbed her tough leather like hands, "It's hard work, I'm not as young as a once was you know,  it's hard on my hands their were all puffy and shit this morning, but the big cars are worth more money."
She rambled on about her grown son need 3 root canals and not having enough money which is why she picked up this job.
"He is a bit of a workaholic, my ex-boss, that's why he liked me, I worked hard, but that was six years ago, shit I'm a lot older now."

She takes on about live on the block, of the daily fears of those who watch the block and of the threats and the hash reality of the past. She finished up with her normal declaration:
"All I know is God is good, He's been watching out for me all this time and He is good that is all I know, you know."
This woman is a strong woman and she has a great faith that God loves her and is looking out for her. She sipped down the last drop of coffee, throw the butt of the cigarette and rushed off down the sidewalk, 
"Love you girls," she shouted over her shoulder and she was gone again. 

Lord Jesus protect her today in the strength and comfort of your everlasting arms. 

My list of reasons to give thanks Apr 29

Beautiful weather

It being warm enough for flip flops

Talking with a mom as she shared her journey with me

Playing at the park with 2 year old boy

Adorable boy holding onto my hand

Adorable boy stomping his feet to get me to chase him

Praying over 2 year old boy as he swung, that he would be a man after God’s own heart.

Sitting outside and having a bible study with a few moms

Running into three sisters walking back to school from lunch

Tearful 5 year old girl upset about a cupcake

Helping older sister to listen to younger sister

Having a group hug at the end after walking them to school

Watching 5 of my girls play soccer tonight

Sitting on the sideline with little 5 year olds to 10 and 11 year old boys to high school students in the back all sitting out on the grass cheering the Warden soccer team on

Tearful 13 year old as she worked through her hurt feels by the coach’s words

Cheering up my girls after a loss with half melted cookies

Walking my girls home

Hanging out at the community center with random kids

Running into more random kids on the way home

Chatting with a new mom on her porch for 15 mins

Having be able to spend the majority of the day out in the sun

A day to make pies

Homes are to be shared, to laugh in, to share in and to create in. Today was a wonderful day; I was able to have 5 of my young 14 year old friends over to my home. We were able to share lives, conversation, learn how to make apple pie, create a huge mess of crumble all over the floor and laugh an awful lot.

As I walked them home quite exhausted we stopped to play at the park. As I watched them race for the swing, screaming at the top of their lungs through the rays of light streaming through the trees I just breathed in deep. I love seeing those moments of complete freedom and live bursting out of them. They are 14 years old and far more adult like than I desire. In these brief moments of child likeness I find great joy as the fully abandon any image they strive to keep, all pressure from peers and just release in abundant joy and freedom.

As I was busy washing a counter full of dishes and vacuuming up about a half a bowl of crumble from the floor I reflected on the afternoon and was grateful for not only the time I could have them in my home but relationship I have with each of them. For the truth they are eager to receive, for the curious questions they have, for the countless times I remind them to lower their voices, for the amount of times we are able to laugh together. For the moments of trying to get them to leave when they discovered the Q-tips in the bathroom and are all over excited to clean their ears. I am thankful for the hugs goodbye at the end of the day, and for the fact that I get to journey with them not just today but tomorrow and the day after that. 

First encounter with Easter

Most of the children and youth that come out to our after school programs have some understanding, some history and some form of experience with Christianity. Catholic school, family influence or church attendance or having grown up in UPT after school programs are all factors in this.

Often kids know about Jonah and the big whale, David and the giant, Noah and the big boat and other biblical historical figures. Often times what I find our time of studying the bible together does is it teaching them about having a relationship with  Jesus Christ rather than having the title, label or identity of being a Christian because they were born into a Christian home, taught to be a Christian or have attended a church or catholic school. It is a lot of conversations around it being personal, live changing and real, relationship rather than religion sort of stuff.

Last Thursday we shared the Easter story with our kids and youth through reading the story and having hands on activities to have an opportunity of experiencing the Easter story. They got to taste vinegar, hammer a nail, carry and cross and other tangible things like that. At the end of the day Sonya ask if we could talk because she had some questions. Sonya has been coming to camp for just over a month now and she is believes in the Muslim faith. She had some questions about Jesus and we talked for over a ½ hour about Jesus, sin, result of sin, death, a merciful God, how we can receive life in heaven and so on. As we stood at the bus stop on the way home she said to me, “I knew what Easter was about until today, and I still don’t really understand it”.

Five days later we sat down together and read through the entire Easter story. Her questions astonished me and we didn't have enough time as we talked through all the significance and meaning in just a few short chapters. Please prayer for Sonya as we continue to reading through and discuss the truth of the Bible and Jesus Christ.