Boys and Girls Club

So I just finished my first week at the Boys and Girls Club at Emmons Elementary in Mishawaka. I must say, I was pretty afraid that it would be too overwhelming at first. But after a few days, I have really begun to love it, though it is still a little overwhelming.

A little about the Emmons Elementary Boys and Girls Club:
- 80% of the kids live below the poverty line, making them the poorest school in Mishawaka.
- 90% of the kids in the program do not have father figures in their lives.
- There are a few kid's who cry when they have to leave in the afternoon to go home, because their home lives are so bad. They love being at the club, because there are people who pay attention to them and people to play with. At home, their parents simply do not care.

It really is incredible going into work and immediately being mauled with affection by 5 kids. They jump on my lap, give me hugs, etc. A lot of the kid's have problems, but they have so much potential.

Adren, a kindergartner, is one of my favorites. He's got long, messy, red hair and he's hilarious. He's got a REALLY bad home life though. He's one of the kid's who cries when he has to go home, because he has nobody to play with at home. I love playing Legos with him, because he gets into it like no kid I've ever seen. The way his eyes light up and the way he chews his tongue and crinkles his eyebrows when he's putting together his lego spaceship makes me think he's got so much potential. He's such a dreamer, my goal for him is to become an engineer when he grows up. I probably won't be around long enough to see that happen, but if he sticks around in the Boys and Girls Club.... maybe it will.

Anyways, just wanted to share how things were going at the BNG Club. Be in prayer for me, that I can have an incredible impact on these kids.

Blessings,
Josh