Final Summer Reflections

Crystal

 Final Art Show

       At the start of this internship, I was ready to make an impact, ready to see a new side of Bellflower. But what I found was so much more. I’ve realized where my place is in this city by helping others find theirs. It’s incredible to think that my mom & I moved to Bellflower when I was five, and this summer, I worked I worked with kids around that age who call this city their home.

       The best thing about interning with Kingdom Causes is the ability to see faith driven dreams become real in our everyday lives. Simple tasks such as setting up a community art show became what I looked forward to in my weeks spent here. I learned so much about myself as a leader and as a person. I know what my weaknesses are, and what I need to work on. I also know what my strengths are and where it is that I shine. 

       Most importantly, I’ve learned what the heartbeat of my city sounds like. It sounds like a mother’s “Thank you” or a child’s smile at their artwork or a neighbor’s patience as we help them find a place to call home. There’s a certain rhythm to the heartbeat of Bellflower. It goes, Struggle. Triumph. Repeat. 

      Our staff has taught me so much and has shed insane amounts of grace. It’s been a busy summer and it’s been a tough one as well. Despite all the chaos, God has shown me what His peace really looks like. It’s not the absence of struggles we should be hoping for, but the presence of His Spirit in the midst of them.

En Agape,

Crystal R. Luque

Ashley

Community BBQ @ Caruthers Park

This summer has been filled with so much joy, laughter, and hard work. I have learned so much these past couple of months while working for Kingdom Causes. Not only did I learn about event planning, time management, and community development, but I also learned more about God. Summer of 2015 has been the most memorable summer I have ever had.

I have learned so much about God this past summer and it is something that I never want to give up. I not only learned, but I saw God moving through people that I encountered in my role this summer. Even though I saw people in their struggles, I saw more people filled with gratefulness and love for God than I have ever seen. Our neighbors said so much with just their smile and that is one 

thing I will always remember.

One of the biggest lessons I learned was with regards to perspective. I got the full experience of my internship when I was able to put myself into another person's shoes. I got to understand as much as I could about someone and their situation when I just tried to see things in their eyes. At times, it was really difficult but doing so made me grow and I am glad that I was able to have this experience.

As this internship comes to an end, I will remember all the fun times I have had with the amazing people in the office and the great experiences I have gotten through this internship. I will truly miss the Kingdom Causes staff and am so grateful that I got this opportunity.

Ryan

My time interning at Kingdom Causes has come to an end. It's really a bittersweet moment. Sure I don't have to work anymore, and I get to go back to school soon (Yes I said, "get"), but I also have to leave a wonderful place and wonderful people. Everyone here has been a great help to me. I would name them all, but that would take too long, and I'm not THAT sentimental.

I am very thankful for the opportunity I was given to work here. I learned a lot about the inner workings of non-profits and finances. I gained and improved many valuable skills as well. Sure, there were challenges, but those challenges helped me grow and develop. I will never forget my experience working at Kingdom Causes.

Thank you all for supporting me, but most of all, thank you for supporting Bellflower.

Others-Centered Parenting

My daughter Emma likes to pretend that she can read. She’ll often flip through the pages of a memorized book and “read” to her younger brother. I was caught off guard the other day, though, when she picked a textbook (I think she thought it was a Bible) and began “reading” this story to me:

“Once upon a time there was a woman who had done bad things. So the mean people made a circle around her and were going to throw rocks at her. But Jesus stopped them. He said, ‘Haven’t you done bad things too? Then you can’t throw rocks at this woman’. The End”

I was stunned… where had she heard this Biblical account of the adulterous woman before? It’s not a typical choice for preschool Sunday School classes!! Then I suddenly remembered that I was the one who had told her that story a few months back.

Our family has continued to be involved with a young, homeless friend (I wrote about her a while back here). This friend, Samantha*, has weathered many highs and lows over the past few months. Addiction, life on the streets, a shattered home life, and various other barriers have kept her from being able to realize her God given potential and worth. Both of my kids (ages 4 and 2) know Samantha well, and she is very caring and compassionate toward them. However, Emma is a pretty observant 4 year old, and it wasn’t long before she would ask me more pressing questions about Samantha. Why doesn’t she have anywhere to live? Why does she look like that? Why isn’t she allowed to stay at our house anymore? She also began to resent the time that I spent with Samantha, not understanding why she had to join us all the time… “Why can’t it just be our family?!”

One day, we were driving home discussing a phone call I had received from Samantha. Emma could tell that it had upset me, so we were talking about it.

Emma: Did Samantha do something bad?

Me: Well, she didn’t make a good decision.

Emma: Well, I think she’s bad! She shouldn’t be able to come over anymore! 

Me: That’s not the way it works, Emma. We all make bad decisions sometimes, but God forgives us and gives us another chance; so we can do that for Samantha, too.

(I then told her… in preschool terms… the story of the adulterous woman above and what it means to “judge” someone as bad/good.)

I had all but forgotten about that conversation in the car until Emma “read” the story to me last week. I asked her if she remembered the reason why I told her that story. She did. In crystal clear detail she explained, “we need to keep helping Samantha even if we don’t want to because she has had a hard life and that’s why she makes bad decisions.”

At this point, my eyes were filled with tears. I continue to be hopeful that Samantha’s life will change… But honestly, there have been times when I’ve wondered if it’s worth it. All the hours, the “inconvenience” to my family or finances, the constant up and down… it’s hard! But this conversation with Emma brought me to tears because it reminded me about why we have tried to make service to others part of our family’s DNA.

When we serve, we’re sanctified. Sure, the person we’re helping may benefit, but each member of our family also gets a little closer to the heart of God with each “inconvenience” that we deal with on behalf of the marginalized.

My kids are learning that the world doesn’t revolve around them, that loving others is the best way to show that you love Jesus, and that sometimes loving others is Hard Work. My husband and I are still trying to navigate what this all looks like, but we’re thankful for the many families that have modeled this type of “missional parenting” to us.

I hope that when Emma remembers her childhood, she remembers a loving and warm family environment, lots of fun… but also a Jesus-centered family that put others’ needs above their own. That’s the goal, at least!

-Abbey :) 

*not her real name

P.S. We’re thinking about hosting a “Service-minded Families” training at Kingdom Causes sometime soon. It would be a few hours of learning together how to make service a family priority (for all stages of life, kids ages, etc). If this is something you are interested in learning more about for your family… comment here, email me at anishimoto@kcbellflower.org, or call 562-804-2189. Thanks!