When plans changed...

 

 

June ended with some tough questions and decisions.

 

Dennyza was not be able to move for legal reasons

until the next court date over a month later.

 

School was ending and summer in the hood was only beginning.

 

We are so thankful for the prayers and support we have felt. 

 

Over half of our time here, Dennyza has been with us.

 

I may have an identity crisis after she moves out.

 

One of my favorite parts of the past few weeks has been the Tall Ships Festival!

 

Sailboats from around the world dock in ports on the East Coast this summer.

 

This year one of the ports was Penns Landing, Philadelphia!

 

We spent a night enjoying lots of people, huge ships, and impressive fireworks.

 

 

German, French, American, and Canadian ships were there.

 

Each ship had its own crew and unique uniform.

There were several ships you could board and tour.

 

It was such a wonderful learning experience!

 

 

 

Hard work, helping hands, and many prayers...

 

The new kitchen in the first floor of our building was completed just in time

 for Summer Bible School. 

 

 

This kitchen is the "church kitchen." It used every other Sunday for fellowship meals, Summer Bible School, Tuesday Bible Studies, and anytime kids want to bake cookies, etc.

So for us, this is a pretty big deal.

 

Dennyza's new favorite game is Monopoly Deal.

Any willing player she cohorts into a challenge or a tournament given enough time.

We are also playing the license plate game. A map of USA is on our fridge and each state we see she checks off. We now have 43 of 50 states.

 

 

Another big deal...we found bed bugs.

 

I didn't sleep very well the next few nights.

 

Immediately, Orion and Tristan sealed the room to stop contamination and they "took care of the problem." I am praying that all the unwanted creatures have died.

Tristan & I took an afternoon off and went to Kelly Drive.

 

 

Orion & Lynnelle and Tristan & I were the superintendents for Summer Bible School.

So Summer Bible School arrived and for two weeks we were immensely busy.

We are so thankful to God for a great year!

 

 

The next few days we will be helping Dennyza pack.
We are specifically praying that God would be near
her as she makes yet another big transition.

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you."
Isaiah 41:10
 

 



Grace for the Journey

 

In the past month, there has been so many tears and so many good laughs!

Life right now has me checking the mirror for gray hair.

Some of the best and incredibly special moments are the following pictures.

And then there are some days where it feels as if we are on an emotional level E.

Shortly after Dennyza moved in, I remember a case worker telling us that it is

going to get much harder before it gets easier.

He was right.

But it is in those intense, emotional moments that we claim the verse:

"My grace is sufficient for you,

for my power is made perfect in weakness..."

 

A few times in the past month, we had other kids over for an afternoon or evening.

 

Wednesday night girls Bible study is over.
The last night’s project was making blankets for a local adoption agency.

 

My Tuesday night class has been working hard all year.
They memorized the Books of the Bible.
And as promised, we went to Wendy’s and everybody got a Frosty.

 

The Blue Ball, Calvary, and Open Door youth group spent the day at Sixth Street.
They painted, cleaned, power washed, etc.
It was SO nice to have some of those huge projects off the list!

Tristan is spending more time fixing bikes.

 

 

Roselle moved back to Lancaster this past week. We are going to miss her!

1,000 piece puzzle that Roselle & Dennyza completed

 

But for the most part, our lives right now revolve around Dennyza.
She really means the world to us!

 

Friday nights, Dennyza needs to create the supper menu and then together we do our best. She wanted to do a seafood night. She knew about this crab shack in south Philly.
So I drove and once again she was the GPS.
And once we arrived, I was ever so glad that she was with me!

 

There is been a lot of half days as this is the last month and half of school. I’m so grateful for the relationship that she has with people from church!
When she spends an afternoon or evening at someone else’s house, she comes home with stories, laugher, or new games to play!

Dennyza spent the afternoon with Lynelle planting window boxes!

 

 

Dennyza is incredibly intelligent…with a desire to answer all the questions

that flash through her mind.

We were driving home from a therapy appointment the other day…

“You will eat approximately 35,000 chocolate cookies in your lifetime. Unless you are a Mennonite, then that number probably doubles, don’t you think?”

A snail can sleep up to three years.

Do you think that blind people dream in color? Japan has square watermelons.

It is against the law in Switzerland to slam a car door.

What language do deaf people think in?

It has been such an honor to meet some of her friends, teachers, etc. that make up her support team. Can I go shopping with…and her mom? Can we plan to do something with…?

Heidi & Dennyza on Memorial Day

 

Or her favorite question right now…Can we visit your mom? I want to see the puppies again!

 

By the next time I write, she will living with Galen & Marlene in Souderton. They come to Sixth Street Church so she will be able to stay connected to family and friends. This weekend we are camping with them, next week shopping for curtains and paint. We are intentionally spending time with Galen & Marlene hoping to make the transition into their home as smooth as possible for her.

Most of the time, we have no idea what we are doing.

We do not know how to parent a 16 year old.

But we walk with Jesus…and that makes all the difference.

I guess that is actually how most of life is.

And as God leads, He gives grace for the journey.



Jesus in the Courtroom

 

It was a date that loomed ahead of us. Dennyza is a witness, needing to testify.

 

As the tidal wave of emotions die down, my mind has yesterday on replay.

 

In every moment, we saw God's hand.

 

Dennyza chose the color hot pink for her team!

It was fun, visible symbol of people who love and care about her. Our lawyers,

child advocate, and some friends dressed in pink...

 

"Dennyza Awareness" she called it.

 

It felt as if time stopped. Each moment defined by small details. Moments that make up minutes and minutes that then become hours. Finally our case was called.

 

Tears of fear and knowing what was ahead ... But she was so brave!

And then there was this moment, the fear dissipated.

 

The truth was spoken.

 

The moment a police officer in the room excused himself to get tissues.

He was listening to her story and he felt her pain.

 

The moment when a man was pronounced guilty.

 

The moment she stopped shaking when she realized the hardest part of her day was over.

 

The moment before we left court to finally go home...

One of the child advocates, pulled our team into a circle and we bowed our heads to pray.

 

  Jesus walked each step before us.

 

Thank you so much for your prayers! We were specifically praying for three things:

1. Feel safe in the court room

2. Courage to tell the truth

3. Deal with emotions correctly after it's over

 

God answered above and beyond what we could have hoped for.

 

Now the trauma of yesterday is simply something that we will be discussing.

 

Today brings school and a dentist appointment and tomorrow an all day school trip to Six Flags...

With a weekend that we are looking forward to very much!

 

 

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name; you are mine. 
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior... Isaiah 43:1-2

 

 



Eastern State Penitentiary

 

Learning is such a gift!

 

 

 

 

Your voice and footsteps will echo down the empty corridors.

 

Cellblocks are windy with thousands of untold stories of people who lived or worked here.

 

 

 

deserted cell

 

 

Benjamin Franklin and several others designed this complex.

 

Eastern State Penitentiary opened as solitary confinement in October, 1829.

 

Because the number of prisoners kept rising, solitary confinement was quickly abolished.

 

 

 

 

All five of  the Buzzard brothers, from the Welsh Mountain area 

between 1800 and 1900, served time at Eastern State.  

 

Alphonse "Scarface" Capone, Chicago’s most famous mob boss, spent eight months here.

 

There were many women prisoners at Eastern State.

 

In 1961, one prisoner stole the guards keys and opened a corridor of cells,

creating the worst riot in prison history.

 

 

Prison's Greenhouse

 

 

We saw barber and dentist chairs. Prisoners helped with maintenance.

 

They eventually had a baseball league.  

 

 In January of 1970, the last prisoner was transferred and Eastern State Penitentiary closed.

 

 

One thing is for sure: history proves that human nature has not changed.

 

But Jesus Christ is also the same yesterday, today, and forever.

 

And as long as we keep making mistakes, Christ offers healing and redemption for our hearts.

 

 

 

 It was such a gift to learn about some of the people who lived or worked here.

 

 

 

 

 



He walks before us...

 

"The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you..."

 

 

Meet Dennyza!

 

She is a beautiful 16 year old girl whose smile is absolutely precious.

 

She has so much energy!

 

She moved in April 14th and will be living with us until the middle of June.

 

She is incredibly intelligent and has a heart for kids!

 

Her story is painful and sad.

 

But she keeps choosing Jesus and we are so excited about what God has in store for her!

 

Our lives revolve around her right now...and we are so blessed to have her here.

 

Yes, she really did climb the tree for a picture!

 

 

 

We had a surprise 17th birthday party for Sierra!

Dennyza, Zia, Serria, Dorcas, and Roselle

 

 

 

Tristan has spent so many hours in Stale Air Basement. And the project is finally complete!

 

He painted everything a beautiful sky blue!

 

It serves as women's lodging for Summer Bible School.

 

Things keep getting added to his project list...but at least he can cross this project off! 

 

 

 

 

We took a short trip to the country for a greenhouse!

 

 

Dennyza helped me plant the flowers in the window boxes.

 

 

 

 

Since the weather is warm, Tristan spends many hours fixing bikes!

 

Kids and adults ring the doorbell, "Can I get some air?"

 

It is a great way to meet new people but also teach kids how to fix their own bikes.

 

Chatting about life after his bike was fixed

 

 

Tristan & I took a day off last week.

 

It didn't turn out quite the way we expected but flexibility is more important!

 

It was a much needed break and each others undivided attention.

 

We had fun exploring the city and found some beautiful getaways!

 

 

Life has drastically changed in the past month.

 

It is only temporary...the court dates, social workers, school, and the many appointments.

 

But God is walking before us each step of the way.

 

And we choose to place our trust in Him.

 

 

 



The Promise of Spring!

 

 

The sun is shining! And just the other day, I heard the promise of spring...

 

THE ICE CREAM TRUCK!!!

 

 

Dorean, Tristan, and Ahzeem

 There were several days in March that school was cancelled because of snow! The doorbell didn't stop ringing and it felt like my oven was on all day. But the snow was perfect for snowball fights!

 

Moesha

 

 

MaKayla was in my Tuesday night class several years ago.

She simply has the sweetest smile.

"Girl," she said when she found out that I don't make fried chicken at least once a week...

"I gona be over here frying you some chicken fore ya know it!"

 

She took several plates of cookies home to share with her family.

 

 Tristan has spent MANY days in Stale Air Basement. He is remodeling and giving it the much needed fresh coat of paint. He is also coordinating a commercial kitchen project. It will be in the first floor of our building. Hopefully that will begin soon!

 

Homework Club:   Dorcas helping Jamie catch up on months of unfinished homework

 

Our goal is youth night once a month. We want Tuesday night teachers to be involved if possible. It helps establish relationships and build trust when you can relate outside the classroom setting.

Minute-to-win-Games!   Roselle, Diamond, Giani, & Wygina

 

 

We LOVE watching kids and youth taking opportunities to share!

 

Nelson and Tristan made cookies one afternoon.

I snapped their picture and then Tristan walked him to the door. I watched from my window as Nelson walked down the sidewalk. 

His school teacher from Ludlow was walking to her car.

Nelson showed her his cookies and then promptly gave her half of his plate!  



 

 

 

 

On Wednesday evenings, we do one hour of Bible Study and one hour of helping others.

We made cookies and took them to the Police Station!

 

 

 

 

 

Tiffany's 5th grade class at Pleasant Valley is raising money to help

kids come to camp this year!

 

 

 

 

"Faith does not eliminate questions.

But faith knows where to take them."

~ Elizabeth Elliot

 

 

This past month was a hard one. The brokenness and hurt in the lives of the innocent children and youth is so sad. Sometimes it is hard to know how to help or what to say.

But the praying and fasting for one soul makes all the tears worth it. There is a war for our souls. This is why we celebrate the death and resurrection of Christ.

He is the answer. He has the power. And He is the Great Physician that offers healing.

Healing in my heart and an open invitation to all who wish!

 

 

 

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light...”

~Matthew 11:28-30

 

 



Serving Another Way...

 

 

 

 

Tristan & I have the privilege of serving at Sunday Breakfast each Tuesday!

 

We help serve the noon meal.

 

The cooks in this kitchen know what their doing...And they do it well!

 

Rice, Chili, and donated bagels from Panera Bread

 

Upon arrival we don kitchen attire. Sometime we hand out trays... other days we actually fill the plate. Our job depends on how many other people are helping in the kitchen that day.  

 

One group of many .... College students from Indiana

 

Some of the Overcomers work in the kitchen and we enjoy interacting with them each week!

They provide and share many laughs. Before we serve the meals, one of the kitchen staff prays, dedicating the food and our work to God!

 

Chicken Nuggets, String Cheese, Cesar Salad, and Bread

 

Lunch is generally a smaller crowd than supper with about 75 -150 people.

 

 

 

 

Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission serves as a shelter for homeless men.  

 

Homeless belongings check in ... One bag per person

 

 

We only see a very small part of what this mission is.

 

OVERCOMER PROGRAM!

"In addition to meeting basic life needs for men, the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission enables those men who are committed to a positive life change to address their problems through an intensive 16-month program. Ultimately, the goal of this program is for these men to return to the community as self-sufficient individuals, contributing to Philadelphia’s economy and quality of life."

http://www.sundaybreakfast.org/what-we-do/mens-program/

 

 

NEW PROGRAM - GARDEN!

 They are starting a garden this spring! It is part of classes for some of the Overcomers and volunteers from the community can be involved. If I have the opportunity to help I will post pictures! The following Facebook link is contains more information:

Facebook Garden Picture

 

 

 

So to Sunday Breakfast...

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to meet new people and serve people in another way!

 

We enjoy every minute of it!