the mountain before us would become a plain in our eyes

This week has been extremely interesting thus far.

Monday was quite the eventual day. I came home from work, extremely excited and uber thankful that I'd reached quota + some (over 100%!? say what!? Thank you God for the energy, and heavy lifters for extra boxes!) only to receive a phone call. Basically, PR is ahead and some of us have been temporarily (and possibly permanently) cut.

Shoot.

Now what?

Well, there have been others in the same boat, and one of the opportunities presented to us is to either clean the Crossings or volunteer with a kid's ministry.

I chose to volunteer. ;) Kids? Sign me up!

So far I've only been at 2nd Mile Ministries for two days and it's one of the most exhausting and emotionally draining things I've ever done. It's also one of the most heart-changing experiences I've gone through. These kids grow up in a neighborhood much rougher (and diverse, I might add) than any I've lived in. I have no idea what their meal plans look like, but it's probably more Mickey D's and less homegrown & fresh than I'm used to. As for parents and siblings, let's just say they probably have a very different family structure.

But that just makes me want to love them more.

I'm not very good at this. I mean, I work with white, privileged, well-behaved (for the most part, anyhow) kids in nursery or when babysitting. And it's rarely more than four of them at a time. Here there are seven or eight of them and they're loud (or don't talk! that's almost worse) and don't listen, but how can you blame them for having good manners if they aren't taught that at home?

I could go on and on, only to say: I love volunteering. [I also love work! I want to work! Which is a change in heart as well. But, I have found that I love earning money to spend it, and that is an area that needs to be curbed. Saving money or budgeting to spend on others...is so much more rewarding than selfish spending.] Loving on kids and people is challenging, but over time, results will come. I may not be here to see them, but someone else will. This summer has been showing me that I want to see fruit in the lives of others, but sometimes you have to do the hard work. Someone will see the ends, it might not be me, and that's ok. It's humbling. And it makes me excited to go home and do the dirty work. Maybe someday, perhaps through one-on-ones and such, I will see fruit! And that excites me.

A verse I found yesterday pointed out to me why I haven't seen fruit from my life and out of others. God is showing me that I really must give of my time to others, being bold in sharing and loving and giving and investing. Through that, with His grace, there will be fruit!

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. —2 Corinthians 9:6

love, amelia