Finding True Treasure in our Neighborhood
by Carla Booker, Neighborhood Youth Ministries staffPictured: Carla (center) serves ice cream during one of our Family Fun Nights.
Melissa deals with the stress of the neighborhood by simply withdrawing. A strong student with an effervescent personality, she rarely ventures out into her own community but prefers to spend her "hang out" time in neighboring communities where summer days tend to be a bit less dramatic.
She allowed me to convince her to attend our final Family Fun Night at Elmhurst Park. On this evening, I watched Melissa flit from table to table socializing with adults and youth alike. She jumped to her feet to applaud and encourage the youth who performed in the talent show. And then she joined in and danced a dance of celebration with neighbors on her left and right.
Later on, when the party had come to its close, Melissa shared with me that she had a glimpse of the community that was possible right in her own "backyard." She realized that the beautiful time that she'd been a part of was not just for more fortunate or resourced communities, but that there is a treasure to be found here in the streets of Dorchester!
Melissa now wants to be a part of bringing such things to her neighborhood. I pray that God would bless this desire and to let His kingdom come in her heart as well as our neighborhood.
