That picture is from 2005. I'm holding Eoin and Hailey's just behind me. We had literally just packed up everything we owned, chucked it in a container (with the help of some friends) and flown to Budapest, Hungary to begin our ministry with GEM-Ks.
Here's a picture from our most recent conference this August (2010) in Wisla, Poland. Five years of GEM-K Ministry and we loved every second of it. Wouldn't change a moment. In fact, I'm really going to miss it.... a lot. These teens are amazing.
GEM-K Conference 2010 was one for the books! It was our first time running a camp in Poland. Turns out Wisla is an awesome place to run a teen camp. There was a folk festival going on which meant lots of live music, arcades and stalls. There was a high ropes course, zip-line and huge hamster ball thing that you climbed in and rolled down a hill strapped inside. There was the water park with its massive toilet bowl slide and then there was all the fun we had just hanging out. Honestly, we probably didn't need all that other entertainment, these teens kept me laughing all week long.
Our theme for the week was "What Fills Your Heart, Guides Your Life." We asked, "what is the heart?" and "why is God so concerned with it in the Bible?" We painted the picture of a God who is in pursuit of our hearts. We spoke about the need to protect our hearts and even took a day-trip to Auschwitz to consider what can happen when our hearts are led astray. We finished by exploring the full life God has for us when we enter into that relationship with him.
July 5th-12th 2010 saw me joining up with ten others from Ireland to run a Zest4Kidz summer camp for prison girls aged 10-18 in Belarus. The week was life-changing.
When the girls first arrived in single-file you could see right away that their souls were heavy. They found it hard to smile or even seem interested in the camp they were visiting. They just kept their heads down and waited for orders from the prison guards.
The week consisted of morning talks and discussion groups, lots of games, crafts and sports. We soon found out that the Irish aren't too talented at Volleyball but that we can hold our own in Pioneer Ball (a national sport in Belarus). The activities provided a context for interaction with the girls and an avenue for us to let them know they are loved. Perhaps the most significant times we had with the girls was in the evenings when we could sit and share stories with one another.
I was blown away to find out the minor crimes these girls had committed in order to be in prison. One girl had taken her Mother's mobile to make some calls and her own mother reported her to the police and testified against her! Unfortunately this girl's story wasn't that unique. Most of the girls come from abusive homes where drugs and alcohol are destroying the families. Many of the girls had scars on their arms from attempted suicide and almost all had not received any visits while in prison. There have been 10 visitors to the prison since January 2010 and Zest4Kidz are about half of those.
On the first day a girl named Ira walked up to me and said she'd like me to ask her some questions. I was impressed with her courage to walk up to a stranger so I asked her to tell me her story. She too came from a broken home. Her father had died when she was young and her mother was a heavy drinker and would abuse her. She said she was scared because three days after our camp she was being released from the prison to go back to that abusive home.
We're currently trying to enroll Ira into a Zest4Kidz mentoring program.
I wish you could have seen the girls as we were leaving. They were alive! They were happy. We brought hope into their lives but they ended up changing our lives. Can't wait to see them again!
Here's a quick interview with Katya, one of the first girls Zest4Kidz had the opportunity to help in Belarus. Katya now meets with girls in prison letting them know that there is hope and that they are loved. She is an excellent role-model.
I told Eoin and Moia the story of Samson last night for the first time. It was quite an experience. I tend to re-enact every scene for effect and had to work hard to keep it appropriate for the young audience. The story's not exactly PG-13 but it's always been one of my favorites. A true story of redemption.
Anyways, I came across the picture above today and thought I'd pass it and a whole series of word pictures along to you. Each picture is inspired by a book of the Bible. There's some great stuff in there. Enjoy.
This is the first summer where I have been able to run summer practices for my basketball teams. In the past we didn't have the resources to maintain practices through the summer so this is a real blessing. I'm trying to install a brand new offensive system into all team levels so having this summer is a huge advantage. There is also the potential for me to begin coaching at the club level if an U14 team materializes. I'm praying it does.
In just under a week I'll be on my way to Minsk, Belarus as part of a Zest4Kidz team. We'll be working with a girl's prison. But this isn't any ordinary prison. It's a maximum security prison for kids aged 10-18, most serving 10 year sentences. In Belarus parenthood isn't a right, it's a privilege and the State can take away children from their parents who they deem unfit. However, the State usually finds such parents when their kids commit crimes of survival, whether it be stealing food or money. The girls are then placed in a reformatory prison. During their time there, their only visitors outside of the jail system are charity workers from Zest4Kidz who have worked hard to build relationships and gain access into such institutions.
We'll be running a summer camp to build relationships with the girls which will hopefully lead to them entering the Zest4Kidz mentoring program once they leave prison.
I'm really excited to be seeing first hand what Zest4Kidz does overseas. Your prayers are appreciated.
Hailey and I recently began the Insanity workout program. It is intense. Lots of cardio, power and speed. Feels good to be on a regular workout schedule again.
We spent just over two weeks in California for a family holiday. It was so good to be able to spend time with Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends. The trip was refreshing. We also were able to share with three churches who have partnered with us.
If you asked the kids what their highlight of the trip was they'd probably say something like, "Chuck E Cheese" or "hanging with our cousins," or "going to the beach." If you asked Hailey and I you'd probably hear something like "sun, sun or sun."
Not sure when we'll next be back in the States but I'm already looking forward to it.
Had a great afternoon with four GEM-Ks right here in Dublin. Hailey and I sat for hours chatting with two Ireland-based GEM-Ks and two GEM-Ks from France. Great convos on our doorstep.
