It was truly a blessing to have the opportunity to go to the detention center last night. Gary missed out on it because of it nasty cold and that is too bad.
There were 15 boys in our first group. No new faces in the bunch --- which is always nice because then we don't have that struggle of trying to remember a new name again. The lesson was on 2 King 2: 13-25 with the theme of "respect". To see the kids listening so attentively is the blessing we receive. Some of these young men have been with us for months and so they are really getting a good measure of God's Word. We sang the Christmas Carol "Mary's Boy Child" which basically tells the Christmas Story in a nutshell. Towards the end of the song some of the boys were joining in on the chorus.
One young man, Ty -- who we know does NOT have a good home life (and has been with us for a long time)........his prayer request was "to live a good life". Please keep Ty in your prayers -- he really is a nice young man with potential. Also, please pray for Harold. Harold has been in and out of the JDC many times. He is very quiet and reserved......but as he listens to our lesson....his facial expressions are ones of interest and questioning. He is NEVER disruptive in any way....but also comes from a VERY troubled home.
We could give you so many names.......and if you would like one "of your very own".....let us know --- we have numerous ones we could give out.
Then came the girls --- 5 of them. They had on new uniforms. The old orange ones were getting worn out and they were replaced with a very pretty rose/burgundy color. You can imagine that with their coal black hair --- they actually looked lovely. We really had thought that 20 kids could be handled in one bunch....but Julie and I were glad that we had this time alone with the girls. Just the five of them and so we could have some more "personal" conversations. We went through the lesson and then we sang the Christmas Carol......and then request after request. One of them said "we should just sing all the songs on this paper". Then Tianna said "it's the first Sunday of the month coming up.....are we going to have church?!?!?" We tried to explain that our "normal" time was the 2nd Sunday of the month. Well that didn't cut it......"I won't be here then!" So the plan is to have church next Sunday and we will sing lots of songs and go over the Christmas Story. The girls said they will be practicing the songs "in the back". Then we will also do the 2nd Sunday. As Julie said "I'm a pushover when they ask like that"..... me too!!!!
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On another note ---- Gary and a neighbor, Don, have been working at getting the new generator hooked up for the parsonage. They have run into several klinkers -- none of their doing. Looks like it will still be a while before it gets up and running....hopefully before any big storm comes along.
Speaking of the weather --- the weather man said to enjoy today because the weekend will be VERY COLD. Rats!!
Hope you are all blessed in whatever you do!!
Gary and Barb
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