Our First Day!

I've been praying for volunteers to step up, and to go deeper, with the kids at Edison Gardens. Despite not having a BIG group of volunteers, I decided to go ahead and open up the After School Study Center on Monday, September 22, 2008, knowing that God would bless us and provide what was needed.

As I walked in the back door with my one volunteer, and friend, Kathy, I made the comment that I hope we would have some kids today. As I was driving to Edison Gardens, I noticed three of the boys walking home from school along Edison Road. Before Kathy and I even had time to open up the blinds, we heard a knock on the back door that we had just come in. It was the three boys I'd seen walking home! I was excited with having just three children there!!

The boys sat down, opened up their book bags, and started working on their homework without any prompting. Kathy had never been to Edison Gardens before, or to a Son City Kids Event, so this was a new experience for her. Kathy is such a blessing to me. She has two teenage children that both love Jesus that she is home schooling, while working as the Computer Lab Instructor at Northpoint Elementary School in Granger.

Kathy made the comment that she was impressed that the Edison Gardens kids wanted to learn, and she was also impressed by the quality of their work. The kids were happy that she was there, and enjoyed talking to her.

Kathy and I attempted to get a snack ready for the kids. Two boxes of Little Debbie snack cakes, that I was planning to serve, were missing! Once again, we were blessed with left-over Reese snack packs, and ice cream cups, from a recent Son City Kids Event, plus Gatorade to drink.

Before we knew it, we had more children come to the Community Center, and more, and more, and more! We had a couple of the boys that were already there, bring down chairs from upstairs, so we could all be together downstairs. We set up one table for homework, and when the kids were finished with that, they could move on to the game table. We ended up with 15 children and an empty refrigerator! As we get more volunteers, we will need to spread out more. It will probably be best to have the games upstairs, and the homework and snacks downstairs.

We had one little one ask if she could come even though she wasn't old enough for school yet. We invited her in, and she kept asking what could she do while the older kids were working on their homework. I asked her if she would like to read a story with me, and she excitedly said "yes!" So we read a Winnie the Pooh book, and she began to yawn, and get sleepy. She was standing next to me, with my arm around her, and I asked if she would like to sit on my knee. She said "no" so we kept reading standing up! I would really love to put a loveseat, or a sofa, in the Community Center to make it a more cozy environment for the kids. I asked her if she liked to color, and she said "yes." I am planning to print some coloring sheets for next week, for her, and for others that may like them.

Mattie, from the Housing Authority of South Bend, stopped in to make sure that I didn't need any help. From a recent email I sent, she thought I might be the only one there with an apartment full of kids! Mattie is such a blessing to the Edison Gardens neighborhood. Many of the kids know and love her. She is just as excited as we are about the Edison Gardens After School Study Center, and truly cares about the kids that live there.

We began clean-up a few minutes before 5 p.m. Mattie asked a couple of the children to help sweep the floor, and to take out the garbage, which they did without hesitation.

The kids asked if we would be back next Monday. I said yes, but that we may have to switch to another day. They then responded with "can you come every day?" ... can you come on "Mondays and Wednesdays?" I truly wish we could...that I could.

I was happy to see so many of our kids there on day 1. I knew these were good kids from volunteering at Edison Gardens for more than 4 years, but I was impressed at the good study habits they had, at how much they want to learn, and at how much they love being around us!

I can't wait to see what next week will bring!!!