Camp Memories by Ashleigh Phillips

Ashleigh (2nd from the left on the bottom row) & her cabin!

Love hard.  Those are the only words I heard as I prayed about spending the week at Pine Cove with Mercy Street. It was early Sunday morning and I had decided to go just a few days before.  I had been hoping to hear a little bit more that day.  I'm not sure exactly what.  But two words, Lord?  Love hard.

I drove down with the girls in my cabin: 8th grade girls. I was nervous. See, at that age they are old enough to realize that I am not, and never have been, cool. They probably figured this out about 5 minutes into the drive when I tried to lighten the silence by playing a Toby Mac cd. He was really cool in the 90s. 

It didn't take me long to learn names. Jada with the awesome hair. Shelby with the gentle smile. Daisha with the servant heart. Vivica with that explosive laugh. Brandi with observant eyes. Jaquelyn with the swag. These were my girls. They were beautiful and full of life. They were also slow to get ready in the morning, even slower to actually leave the cabin. They were loud during quiet hour and silent during camp cheers. They did not want to run between activities. And anytime there was a 12 year old boy around they pretended not to know me.  So there we were at Pine Cove, between the pool and the carnival and the horseback riding and the archery and the blobbing and the basketball, I ran and cheered and timed showers and prayed and prayed and prayed. 

These girls were strong. And it catches my heart because life has demanded they be strong. They've built these walls so high it can feel impossible to get through. But if we're shut out, how much more are they trapped within? Love has to be harder than their walls. Harder than my fears and insecurities. Harder than is safe. There is no restraint in this love. No withholding. It's total abandonment to a moment, to a week, to a cabin of 8th grade girls.

Ashleigh and her Pine Cove Counselor

I drove home by myself the last night of the trip. Completely spent, I was facing upcoming travel and work deadlines with nothing left but a really awkward t-shirt tan. And the prayer that I prayed that night was a simple one. God, I said, I'm exhausted.  But then I saw all these stars up in that Texas sky and I thought about how much more lies ahead for us, how we're here for a little while to do this one thing: to be relentless in our love. And then I was glad to be exhausted because earth seems the right place to be tired. Love hard.

Is Mentor Training Really Worth The Time?

Dear Mercy Street Staff -

I wanted to share with you that every time I go to Mentor training I walk away feeling challenged to step up my game.  I feel the flame within my heart renewed and remember how grateful I am to be a part of this ministry. I am encouraged and re-energized! Now mind you, I also end up feeling guilty because I am not doing enough! But I guess it all balances out, right? 

One of the cool things that happened at the training this past Saturday was when one of the other mentors voiced exactly how I was feeling!  I never wanted to share those feelings because I felt guilty and embarrassed.  I realized then that the only way to encourage each other in this mentoring ministry is to be vulnerable and to be honest wtih one another about our struggles.  Mentoring is not easy! Geez even "uncle Bill" often slips! That sure was a relief! 

I am amazed at how God paired me specifically with Gabby.  She is more than my mentee, she is my little sister, she is my spiritual daughter, she is my joy and I love her.  

Thank you!

Kind Regards,
Martha DeLeon

Thank you, Emerging Leaders!

A HUGE thank you, to the Emerging Leaders of the Dallas AIA Association, who help a fundraiser in our honor recently, stay posted to the blog to hear the results.  Read more about the event here!

Southwest Airlines seems to think so...

Giving it up to Southwest Airlines and our buddy, Dan Shallcross, who stopped by with a boat load of school supplies for West Dallas kiddos who return to school on August 24th!  Thank you Jesus, for you are our Great Provider. 

Bikes Galore

From Karen: My boys and I are working on collecting used bikes for your organization.  The two boys are speaking with the principles from their schools to see if they can have a bike drive, so keep your fingers crossed.

Mentoring at Mercy Street : An Adventure with the Holy Spirit

For almost 7 years Bill and I have had the privilege of mentoring a sister and brother through the mentoring ministry of Mercy Street in West Dallas.  As with any relationship that involves a commitment, such as marriage, parenting, joining a church or taking a new job, you never fully know what lies ahead but you do know that this is something God is calling you to do.  That was true for us  as we said "yes" when asked to consider being mentors. Our experience has truly been an adventure as God has taught us that mentoring is His work and that we are wholely dependent on Him and merely part of His plan for redemption in the lives of our mentees.  We have seen these children grow and change before our eyes just as our own children have grown up and left the nest, often in spite of our imperfect parenting or mentoring. 

So why mentor? What difference has it made?   Paul says in II Corinthians 2:6-8 "For God, who said,"Light shall shine out of darkness", is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing."  Mentors are bringers and bearers of this Light which shines in our hearts because we have been called out of the darkness of our sin by His grace. You don't have to have all the answers because Jesus is the answer.

Mercy Street's mandate is "To be used of God to spark Christ-honoring community restoration by engaging in mutually-transforming relationships with the future leaders of West Dallas."  When we became mentors to Mariah and Ivan, I was not aware of this mandate but later heard Trey Hill, Mercy Street's founder and executive director, articulate it at an urban missions conference.  I realized then that being a mentor had transformed me, too.  My prayer life deepened as many times things in my mentee's life were beyond my control and I realized I had no one but the Lord to call upon.  The more I prayed the more I saw God faithfully do things that were "above and beyond all that I could ask or think." 

At Graduation

The first year was challenging as Mariah and Ivan got to know us and we them.  It took time for them to trust that Bill and I were committed to seeing them through the ups and downs in their lives.  Mercy Street provided training for us as mentors and encouraged and guided us but in the end we had take the principals and apply them in unique and special ways.  That first summer Mariah attended camp with Mercy Street. When she got off the bus back in Dallas she was a different girl.  She had committed her life to Christ!  Two years later Ivan also committed his heart to Christ at camp. There have been so many unexpected twists and turns for both of them since then but all under the sovereign control and purposes of God for their lives.  Now 18, Mariah graduated June 1st from a christian boarding school and plans to begin college this Fall.  Ivan at 16 is still in school and wants to live for the Lord.  God continues to write His story in each of our lives, teaching us His ways and molding us into the people He wants us to be.  Mentoring has blessed us in ways we never could have imagined and we are so glad the Lord has knit our families together in His love.

God is writing His story in your life, too, and if you sense Him calling you to mentor I can only say "do it!" It will be an adventure with the Holy Spirit that will change you forever.

$83.20 baby!

Verdict in: "My girls sold the last cup :)  We are sending Mercy Street $83.20. :)"