City Kidz....blessings

blessings come from heaven, they are unexpected and irreplaceable. today i experienced a blessing. let me tell you about it.

to start out, last week was vbs (vacation bible school) at my church. we collected money for the organization City Kidz... but you'll hear more about that later. on sunday, we had a wrap up for the end of our program... kind of a celebration. i got to talk about the money we raised.... here's what i said.

"This past week has been AMAZING! I got the privilege to be at SonRock Kids Camp VBS and get to know some of the kids in our church and community a little better. Back in May when we had the very first VBS meeting, we talked about what mission we would sponsor throughout the week this year. I was SO EXCITED when the team decided to sponsor City Kidz.

Over the past few years, I have been involved with City Kidz as a volunteer. City Kidz is an organization that works to inspire, instill, and impact the lives of the inner-city kids of Hamilton.

The first day I stepped onto the City Kidz bus, I didn't know what to expect. I had grow up in the country and I KNEW there was kids out there that we hungry and sad, but I'd never experienced it first-hand. And I didn't. Not the first day I was there, or the second... or the third or fourth or fifth... I really didn't know what child poverty was until I had been volunteering at City Kidz for my THIRD YEAR.

I will never forget that day. His name is Daniel. He is six years old. He lives on Sanford Ave. His smile is a white as snow and as wide as the Pacific Ocean. One day, Daniel and I started to talk. I think I asked him how his week was. With a beaming smile he answered me, "Mommy got money this week." at first it didn't all click, but Daniel continued, "she's gonna buy something special." It all seemed so nice. We talked a bit about some nice toys and luxuries that Daniel would love to get. And then right before I was about to leave, Daniel said, "we're gonna have enough food this week."

We're gonna have enough food this week. Those words came from a six year old child. It was the first time that I really knew that there was really something wrong going on in Downtown Hamilton. It was the first time that I knew there was a child I loved who may go a week without a meal.

But congregation. The story doesn't end there. And it won't. Daniel is at City Kidz and He loves it!! Every Saturday morning in the school year, Daniel goes to the Saturday Morning Program at the Playhouse Theatre on Sherman Ave. He gets a weekly home visit from Captain Gina and Bus Driver Fred. All because of City Kidz. Yes, Daniel's life will be hard, but he knows two of the most important things in life. Daniel knows that Jesus loves him, and so does the City Kidz Team.

I do have one more story. This one puts a smile on my face every time I think about it. It's about Timmy. Four. Lives at the second bus stop we go to. It was winter, December 22, my bus team and I was handing out Christmas presents. We walked up the steps to Timmy's house and knocked the door. When we gave him his present he just had to open it right away, he could NOT wait till Christmas came. After he opened it, I turned to him and said, "Timmy, do you like it?" right away, without any hesitation came, "I LOVE IT!!"

Because of City Kidz, children like Daniel and Timmy know that they are loved. They know that they should never give up, and that with Jesus, they can do ANYTHING! This is what City Kidz tires to do for ALL of the kids in the city with programs that reach out to OUR city and OUR kids.

One of the programs the City Kidz has to offer is called "Summer to Remember." This program works to raise money and send inner-city kids to camp for one week. During this past week at SonRock Kids Camp VBS, we challenged the kids of our church and community to raise $280 to send 8 kids to a summer camp for one week. Through God's blessing, we FAR surpassed that goal. Today I feel very privileged to tell you that we raised not just $280 but instead $775. As of now, we are not sending just 8 underprivileged kids to camp, but instead 22 and a half!"

but raising $775 is not the only blessing... today someone from my church (cor and joanne ubbles) came by my house... they were so moved and blessed by my speech that they gave money for City Kidz. Im not sure how much they gave, but its a blessing! PRAISE THE LORD!