Kaylene's Poem

We had each of the Next Level students work on a creative project to express something they've learned this past semester. 

Our hope was that it would cause them to reflect on what they're learning and make it more of their own as they put fresh expression to it. I wish I could share every single thing they shared, but I want to at least give you a glimpse. Attached you will find a poem Kaylene wrote that wrestles with the depravity of human nature and God's grace to us in the moment by moment choices. It's just beautiful! 

I share it with you because every single one of you are playing a part in kids like Kaylene being transformed by the Gospel of Jesus, and I would hate for many of you to miss out on seeing some of the fruit that's coming from your day in and day out service.

Give the Gift of Mercy

Over the last few years we suggested to our donors and mentors that instead of buying the small gifts we traditionally give to our close friends, they would consider making a donation to Mercy Street in honor of their friends.  

And, it’s back by popular demand.

Give the gift of mercy by making a donation to Mercy Street in honor of those special friends on your list.  Rather than fight the hustle and bustle at the mall or sweat over the hot stove, just email emily@mercystreetdallas.org with a list of names and addresses of those you want to recognize in this way.  You can mail your donation to the address below or give through our online giving and we will send them a special Christmas card acknowledging the gift.  

By giving the gift of Mercy, you are helping us meet our needs and exposing your friends to the work God is doing in West Dallas through Mercy Street while freeing up some more time to spend with those friends and family. 

Praying your Christmas season is filled with Jesus,

The Mercy Street Family

Mentees & The Marriage Supper of The Lamb

by Sarah Flores

As we all know, being involved in mutually transforming relationships with students can sometimes be challenging.  There are seasons when we may wonder what in the world we are doing and if any real change is occurring.   It can be hard and discouraging.  But then the Lord in his goodness and grace, often gives of glimpses of the beautiful ways He’s at work, not only in students’ lives but in our own lives.

Several weeks ago, Sam and I had the privilege of traveling to Atlanta, Georgia for a dear friend’s wedding.  And if getting to go to a wedding isn’t enough to make a girl happy, well just add in the fact that we got to take the groom’s mentee with us…talk about a fun adventure!!  We have known Wilmer for years as Sam and I mentor his brother Eric and sister Amy, so it was our great joy to have him as our traveling partner.  Although I must confess, I did have a few concerns about how Wilmer would respond to so many new things like flying on an airplane, wearing a tux, and interacting with lots of people he did not know.  

Well, let me just say that I was humbled and amazed with Wilmer’s maturity and obvious love for his mentor and the Lord.  We arrived in Atlanta for the wedding, and immediately he jumped right in and had a blast.  Highlights of the weekend included skeet shooting and golf cart driving on the property as well as hanging out with his mentor’s family before the wedding.  But I would say our highlight of having Wilmer with us was seeing him volunteer to get up and share at the rehearsal dinner.  He was nervous.  Who isn’t nervous when getting up to speak at a special occasion?  But he wanted to, and Sam went up to the front with him.  Wilmer took the microphone, introduced himself and thanked his mentor.  He thanked him for being like the father he never had.  And in raw, manly transparency, he cried…and it was beautiful!  Many were so touched by Wilmer’s words and emotions.  

I was so grateful to see this 15-year-old young man share his heart, and then I felt so thankful for the impact that Mercy Street is making in the lives of young people in West Dallas.  I was thankful that the Lord has provided mentors, Bible study leaders, and amazing leadership and staff that are committed to many students just like Wilmer.  And the Lord is working.  He’s teaching them about what it means to be a godly man or woman.  He’s teaching them respect for others and how to communicate it.  He’s teaching them about His great love for them.  And on our last day in Atlanta, after a beautiful wedding of two believers, we got to talk about the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and my heart was joyful and thankful because I know that one day I will get to be at the grandest celebration of all, and Wilmer will be there too!  

Pine Cove Reflections by mentor, Jesse Dax

The sound of tires crunching over the gravel as the bus pulled up into the camp mixed with the yelling, cheering, stomping, pounding of the Pine Cove counselors.  Right then I instantly knew this was going to be an amazing week for the kids of West Dallas.

Summer camp at Pine Cove Outback was an intensive time of encouragement and accomplishment for our West Dallas campers with everything wrapped in the Gospel.  The Pine Cove Staff served with such encouraging hearts throughout the entire week, where it was a balmy 97 degrees everyday!  Nevertheless from the time we arrived on the bus to the time we left, the counselors were yelling cheers, giving words of encouragement, and even shedding tears with them.  Energy levels were kept high all day long boosted by counselors leading cheers before meals and performing skits and stories at lunch. 

All the campers had a chance to participate in engaging activities like basketball, dodgeball, swimming, archery, ziplines, rock-climbing, and more.  For some campers, just seeing how many stars were in the night sky was something new and worth taking the time to stop and look at.

A pivotal element of camp was the daily time of worship and bible study.  While the high schoolers woke up early for an extra bible study in the morning, all campers had a time of bible study after lunch with additional worship and bible study every night.  The Mercy Street staff delivered several outstanding messages of what it means to follow God, what Christ has done for us, and how to be a servant leader.  By the end of camp, it was inspiring to see how these kids had changed.  What stuck with me the most was seeing them drop their guard a bit, singing during worship with arms wrapped around the shoulders of the person next to them.

On the night before we left, the high school students stayed up late to have s’mores around a campfire.  This was a time of spontaneous song and fun -- definitely with no shortage of songs!  At the end of the night, there was a time of reflection with the campers and many heartfelt words poured out.  “I have learned how truly selfish I am.” “Mercy Street is a great place and is helping us change West Dallas.”  “I have been mad at God for the last two years for taking away my friend” followed by tears then hugs from others to show support.

Before we left, all campers had a chance to share what they learned throughout the week and again so many wonderful comments. “I know that God has a plan for me.” “I know better what it looks like to be a leader.” “I learned that God is in control of my life.”

I wish I could say that when we got back to Mercy Street all the kids’ parents were there, excited to see them again, telling them how much they missed them and asking them all about camp.  But in reality that was not the case for all of them.  Many family members were there to take the kids home, but for some nobody was there.  Those that had noone show up all made it home by Mercy Street staff or walked if they were close enough.  But it hurt my heart to see two brothers from the dorm I was partnered with have nobody show up for them after they were gone an entire week. They had to abruptly reenter the life they were able to put on pause while at camp.  The older brother, only in middle school, helped his younger brother gather their luggage as they started walking a couple of blocks home to their apartment.  Watching this, I wished camp could go on forever for many of them, as some wanted, but I thank God for Mercy Street and Pine Cove and how He is using them to show His love.  The next time you see your mentee ask them, How was archery? What was your counselor like? What did you do during free time? What did you learn?  You may be the only one that does.

Reading & Play Camp

by Sarah Troop

The kids arrived in the van, signed in, found a book or two and made their way to a comfortable reading spot.  A bright eight-year old named Ronald caught my eye and he agreed to sit and read with me.  He chose to tackle Dr. Seuss and did a phenomenal job!  Ronald covered every base: the author’s name, who illustrated the book, and every word of the story.  I was impressed. 

After they read a book or two, they filled out a sheet noting the title, author, and how many pages. Ronald was so excited to document his accomplishments. He was also excited to jump rope and hang out when he finished.  

Looking around the yard of Mercy Street, seeing kids in the middle of summer engaging in reading, was encouraging.  Instead of sitting in front of a television, not using their brain, they were actively using their brain and improving their little minds.

I am a strong advocate of reading and education. Education is the key to success and facilitator of choice.  Sixty-six children had an opportunity to exercise their reading skills. There were many different levels of reading ability. Thanks to Mercy Street, those sixty-six children each took a step toward a higher level. Mercy Street Reading Camp provided a fun place to have intentional reading time with people who care. I hope when I come back next year, there will be more kids wanting to read.

Oaks of Righteousness

by Julie Rodgers

Gold and black balloons floated above every table at Mercy Street, and large banners hung from the rafters, saying: “Congratulations Mercy Street Graduates!” On May 12th, we celebrated the first class of seniors that had made the 8 year journey with their mentors—all the way from their scrawny little 4th grade days to the proud moment when they walked across the stage to receive their high school diplomas.

To an innocent bystander, it looked like a group of typical high school kids: fun-loving, care-free jokesters who are on a roller coaster catapulting them into college campuses and careers. But to Catherine Richards, Nathaniel Eubanks, Terese Stevenson, Alan Morrison, and a slew of other mentors, it was a group of young heroes who have persevered through countless obstacles during the past 8 years to arrive at this milestone—high school graduation.

Trey Hill challenged the students to remain planted in fertile soil, so they might grow into oaks of righteousness like those described in Isaiah 61. He said that in order for a tree to be successfully transplanted, it’s essential for some of the soil in which it was originally planted to be carried with the tree into its new environment. In the same way, our seniors will need to remain rooted in the rich soil that’s enabled them to flourish into the men and women they are today: their families, mentors, positive friendships, and (most importantly) their relationship with the Lord. He encouraged them to continue nurturing these relationships as they enter into the next phase of their lives, rather than cutting old ties and creating a whole new identity.

The students wrapped up the celebration with reports about where they will be going as they enter into the next phase of their lives. Most of them are college-bound, with some attending four year universities like UTA or TWU, and some phasing in slowly at El Centro or Mountain View Community College. Each one of them is thinking critically about the future, however, and each is grateful for those who have been beside them when the future didn’t look near as promising as it does today. We saw a glimpse of the dream of Mercy Street taking root at the graduation celebration, signs of a new generation of leaders slowly growing into oaks of
righteousness that will point our community toward a mighty Savior!

Graduating Senior Q & A Spotlight: Xaiver & Brent

by Brent Baker

1. What was your first impression of Xavier?

My first impression of Xavier was a big, quiet middle school boy (I looked “up” to him almost from day one…) who didn’t know how to interact well with strangers. And I could tell almost immediately I was perceived as a stranger. Though many of Xavier’s friends were involved in the mentor program, I could still tell it felt strange for him to have a mentor. Xavier didn’t reject me by any means, but he was slow to enjoy my company, questions, and role in his life.
Consequentially, one of my first goals as a mentor was to find out what role (1) Xavier wanted me to play in his life and (2) what role I needed to play in his life.

2. What is one of your favorite memories with each other?

One of my favorite memories with Xavier before his graduation weekend was the day we drove together to a campsite at a lake where Mercy Street was hosting an event. It was the first time
we spent an entire day together instead of a period of a few hours. I think Xavier was surprised I had decent taste in music and I learned that day that it was possible for an individual to have
a 12-dollar meal at McDonald’s (Xavier ordered four cheeseburgers and a milkshake and fries). Though that was a couple years into the mentorship program, it was truly the first time I sensed that Xavier actually enjoyed spending time with me. Though a friendship-relationship is not absolutely essential to a mentoring relationship, it sure does help build trust and secures the longevity of the relationship. If you can enjoy one another you can stick together much longer.

3. What has been most difficult about this relationship?

I work in with high school students as a major part of my job/career, so I am familiar with the age-barrier in mentoring relationships. But when you consider not only age-barriers,
but cultural-social barriers, it creates a more difficult situation. The cultural-social side is the tougher part because it means at no point in my life can I relate to some of Xavier’s everyday
circumstances. It’s one thing to say, “When I was your age I experienced that” and sense rolling eyes from a teenager. But it’s another thing to say, “At no point in my life have I known
what that is like” and sense rolling eyes from a teenager. Breaking through that cultural-social barrier has been more difficult. The teenager isn’t mature enough to know that you do not have to share common circumstances to relate to one another’s stories. So building that understanding and trust takes time, questions, and the mentor seeking to understand the mentee without necessarily receiving anything in return.

4. How has the Lord transformed you in this relationship?

I am convinced that whatever role I feel called to and find myself in, God is just as interested in what he is doing in my life as in the life of the person or group I am trying to reach and serve. I am no less God’s child than Xavier, and the care God has for him is no more or less than the care he has for me. So though this program may seem beneficial for the “recipient” and solely an act of service from the “donor”, the truth is much different. Giving away your life is just as important as gaining it from Someone else. And we are never more transformed to the image of Christ than when we offer our life for someone else. When we do that, it changes us.
Specifically speaking, I have seen myself become more patient in pursuing others through my relationship with Xavier. Many say you care about someone as you share things in common, and there is truth in that. But I personally have learned to care for someone with whom I have little in common. And it reminds me of the patient pursuit and love of God for me. Xavier, in this sense, has been my mentor.

5. Favorite thing to do together?

Xavier and I love to eat hamburgers and fries, go to Best Buy, talk about football, and even dream about what his future might look like (though I probably enjoyed that aspect more than he did).  Continue Reading...