LACF Blog for August, 2008

By John Wilson – Executive Director

Today I was a volunteer for Blair High School’s registration. Blair is one of the four public high schools in Pasadena. It was actually my second day working, but today was especially fun. I was the information counselor and the first of several stops for these 10th graders and their accompanying parent.

I met a ton of extremely quality kids today. They were bright, eager, and excited about learning. Each of the students I met with had college as a goal and seemed to be moving in the right direction. It was a hope-filled day for me. I was encouraged about the future. I am also excited that the kids in our STARS program have students like these as examples.

What’s more, as a part of Blair’s program, these 10th graders are required to complete 35 “service” hours. This is cool enough, but even better, two students indicated they want to work with our kids in STARS for their service! Whooo!!!

Something is going right at Blair. If you want to find out how you can get involved at Blair, visit www.adoptaschoolpasadena.org

By John Wilson – Executive Director

One of the bonuses of summer is that occasionally my family gets to join us on trips. This summer, Betsy, Kiley, Jack and Miles joined us on the Adventure Road Trip to Wyoming. It is so fun to see my kids getting to play like that. They got to ride horses, shoot .22 rifles, shoot bow and arrow, canoe, climb, play in the dirt and even play some pretty serious dodgeball.

The best part for me though is getting to see my kids LOVED by the students on the trip. Stereotypes would cause you to believe that my kids may not be safe or that they will hear and see things that may be harmful to them. But from my experience, this is opposite of the truth. My children were played with, hugged, carried, helped, encouraged, cheered for, supported and loved more by this group of students than any other similar setting I’ve been in. It is humbling to see.

The kids we work with have lots of obstacles that they have to overcome in life. They have a lot working against them. But give them a chance to thrive and you too will be humbled.

Thanks Eddie, David C, Alex, Jacory, Charlie, Victor, David H, Diana, Perla, Grace, Thomas, and the rest of the gang from Wyoming 08 for a great week!

Thoughts about Wyoming from a 14 year old girl

“On the Wyoming trip I experienced something I’ve never felt before.. God spoke to me and told me that he put me where I live right now for a reason. He put me here so I am able to control me, myself, and I and no other. Also on our last chapel at the Glendo Reservoir the wind blew on me and it dawned on me that God told me to keep faith in him and he will embrace me like the wind and protect me from evil.”

Photo taken just before the horse training

We did an activity where we rode horses… Mike, the wrangler, explained to us that riding a horse is like letting God take the reigns of your life… When I heard that fact, I realized that I need to let God take the reigns of my life.

By Curt Gibson – Associate DIrector

This years trip was so full of amazing experiences for our students; horseback riding across the planes of Wyoming, watching a student ride a BMX bike through the trees, or sleeping under the stars and hearing a 15yr old guy say”I’m running out of wishes because there are so many falling stars”.

Then there is the two day drive home.  Half of the students don’t want to go home… they are down right depressed. They ask if they could live in Wyoming or move in with me.  There are a few who can’t wait to get back to there loving family or there friends.  I also hear how they plan on making all of these changes in the way they live there life when they get home.  I know this is when the work begins. This is when the mentors need to step in, this week we will hope to get all the mentors to make a connection and unpack what has happened this summer.  Pray for them this week.