Kids Connection @ Urban Connection-San Antonio

UCASA 2011!

2011-12-10T15:12:00.006-06:00

Hello, it's Ms. Valerie and I just wanted to say how much fun this experience has been for me. I am very proud to be a part of Urban Connection and can't wait to continue in 2012. CHOPS has been so much fun and I am looking forward to our next field trip to Sam Ash Music Center for our 3rd drum circle!!! Thank you Urban for giving me this wonderful opportunity. The showcase was so much fun and I think that all the kids did such a great job with their performances. Moving on now to 2012 and am looking forward to great new things to happen for Urban Connection!

Introducing:12 Days of a West End Christmas

2011-11-29T16:32:00.003-06:00

New this year, UC-SA is providing 12 days of opportunities to give time, talents, or treasure during the 12 Days of a West End Christmas campaign. Beginning December 1 with 12 Adopt a Park Groups, start the countdown to Christmas by partnering with us to help fulfill our mission to "share the love of Jesus, strengthen relationships, engage individuals and families, and restore genuine community" in the West End of San Antonio.

All we want for Christmas is you. So make your list, check it twice, and let the spirit of giving permeate your Christmas season. We need your help to reach our goals of Healthy Kids, Healthy Families, Healthy Community. Here's a sneak peek to each of the 12 days:

12 Adopt-A-Park Groups (time)—commit to leading a small or large volunteer group to work half-day beautifying the West End Park.

11 Subscriptions (treasure)—purchase or renew a periodical subscription for children’s programs or adult resource center.

10 Homework Helpers (time)—spend an hour a week helping children correctly complete their homework during UCASA.

9 Corporate Sponsors (treasure)—commit your organization to sponsoring UC-SA events, several to choose from.

8 Angel’s Wings 2012 (treasure)—commit to sponsor children for next year’s Christmas gift program.

7 Kids Camp Volunteer Groups (time, talent, treasure)—commit to plan and implement a week of activities for 50-65 children during summer 2012.

6 Days of Camp (treasure)—send 30 UC-SA children to Camp of the Hills during summer of 2012: $50/child or $250/day, totaling $1500.

5 Transportation Partners (time)—donate your time and wheels to help transport neighborhood children and parents to periodic off-site events.

4 Desktop Computers (treasure)—purchase or donate money for new computers for the Family Resource Center.

3 Club Leaders (time, talent)—lead a one-time or recurring scrapbooking, sewing, or gardening class for adult neighbors.

2 UCOA Trip Sponsors (time, talent, treasure)—give resources to enable children to experience the joys and lessons of the great outdoors.

1 Yearly Fund (treasure)—help UC-SA start the year off on good financial footing.

Give now! Visit www.urbanconnection12days.weebly.com to give or for more information on each of the 12 Days of [a West End] Christmas.

FAMILY FUN!

2011-11-03T12:17:00.005-05:00

Family Night, a new addition to UCASA, is a night where parents and family members can come learn, play, and grow with their child. Scheduled the last Friday of each month from 6pm-7pm, a themed activity is planned from games, crafts, cooking, and more.

This October we had a pumpkin carving extravaganza with prizes, treats and goodie bags full of great holiday recipes and activities to carry on the fun at home. A great step to HEALTHY KIDS...HEALTHY FAMILIES...AND A HEALTHY COMMUNITY!

Visit our Facebook page for more photos from our October Family Night http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150355888064093.361589.228426344092&type=1&l=c7d4bbfbaf

Giving Urban Angels Wings

2011-09-22T11:45:00.003-05:00

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."

Each holiday season, angels around the Westend neighborhood are getting wings and taking flight—parents give time through volunteering and service to their community to earn Christmas gifts for their children as a part of UC-SA’s Urban Angels program. Behind each gift earned is a partner “bell ringer” who generously provides the gifts for the program. The 2010 Urban Angels brought together five organizations giving gifts for 27 families (95 children in all) who contributed over 500 volunteer hours to participate in the program. At the heart of Urban Angels lies a pathway to empowerment, hope, and health in the lives of its participants. With wings, parents and children can soar through the holiday season, not only with the toys on their wish list, but with a heightened sense of value of their time and themselves.

Can you be a bell ringer? We need partners--individuals, service groups, church groups, families--to sponsor Urban Angels by contributing and collecting gifts, and partnering with parents to wrap the gifts. Please contact us if you can assist in empowering our neighbors this holiday season.

Hola!

2011-09-07T15:33:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone my name is Janet!

I am one of the new AmeriCorps member for Urban Connection and very excited to be part of this team! First week was great and I hope for many more great ones. It has only been a week that I have spent time with these kids and I can honestly say I enjoy coming everyday. Everyday is something new, being a group leader to these young kids is quite interesting and fun. I am looking forward to my time here at Urban Connection, helping my community, and influencing these kids in a positive way.

Until Next time! Bye!

-Janet

2011-09-07T15:32:00.007-05:00

Hello my name is Valerie!

I am very excited to join the Urban Connection staff and look forward to hanging out with the kids and working hard for the organization. I love to play sports, do art projects, and learn new things everyday. I hope that I can teach the kids new things as well as learn new things from them. First week was great & ready for more :)

something about myself..

2011-09-07T15:32:00.005-05:00

My name is Shontele Thrower and this is my first year working with Urban Connection. I am very excited to have almost finished m first week with the kids here at UC and the staff members. I love helping out the community and workin with the youth and different diversities that I have enteracted with so far. I'm excited to see what the rest of this year will hold as I continue to serve the community and work at Urban Connection.

2011-08-16T15:03:00.003-05:00

IM AM HAPPY TO SAY THAT THIS SUMMER WAS AM ALSOME ONE GETTING TO KNOW THE SAFF AND KIDS WAS A GOOD DEAL. THE ONE THING THAT REALLY STOOK WITH ME THIS SUMMER WAS HOW EACH AND EVERY STAFF BONDED WITH THE KIDS.

2011-08-08T14:48:00.002-05:00

8 weeks has flown by. I cannot remember a day that I did not have an incredible amount of fun. I am sad to say farewell.

I would like to thank everyone, both staff and children, for making this summer one to never forget. I already miss the individuals who have made this summer with Urban Connection so memorable.

Thank you, again. I'll be sure to visit soon.

Love,

Kirk

As promised . . .

2011-08-06T19:32:00.004-05:00

. . . although a bit late, the picture that I reference in my previous post. :)

Esmeralda (l) and Karla (r) work together to do my job for me, along the way showing that friendship can blossom anywhere at anytime over anything.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

Two Great Things

2011-08-03T17:28:00.003-05:00

I want to take a bit of time to talk about two (of many) great things about the kids at Urban Connection. As a preface, I'd like to say that these are some of the sweetest, kindest, and most caring kids I've met - they are protective not just of their younger siblings, but also of each other. There's a camarederie that's welcome to see. :)

Thing one: the older kids do a FANTASTIC job of interacting with my little five- and six-year olds. I have seen so many priceless hugs between petite five-year-olds and sweet 13-year-olds more than twice their size. The game "Birdie on a Perch" facilitates those positive interactions, but the older kids are also genuinely caring. They care about setting good examples for the younger kids, and it's wonderful to see how the younger kids look up to them. A special shoutout to Smiley - several weeks ago the boys were being taught a military march and call-and-response, and Smiley took the lead for the boys and showed them how it was done. I've never seen such great listening from boys of all ages, and Smiley had a great smile on his face the whole time. :)

Thing two: the kids love to help. All I have to do is walk toward the kitchen and three kids run up to me shouting "can we help please?" It's hard to turn down so many voluntary workers, but turn some down I must. However, they have plenty of opportunities to help throughout the day, and thankfully we always have willing helpers. The kids love having that opportunity to be involved and to help their leaders, who give so much to them. It's really great to see.

I'm blogging from Urban right now, but once I get home I'll add a picture that I think epitomizes this relationship - Karla and Esmeralda working together to sweep up a pile of dirt. :)

Cheers!

Names

2011-07-27T23:00:00.003-05:00

I know that I've definitely dropped the ball on blogging, but I have learned so much, now that it's time to write something down, my brain is going a mile a minute.

The past 6 weeks have gone by in a blink. I have been so blessed to spend my days with these teenagers that know more about the world than I did at that age. My kids are so funny. They're negotiators, and play makers. There have been days, that I have to pull my co-workers aside and tell them what my kids say! It's been so interesting to see them build relationships this summer too, especially with each other. I have loved getting to know them and their likes and dislikes, too.

As I've been praying for this summer, for my kids, for the neighborhood, and for God to enlighten my heart, I have been taught so much. I have seen in my kids such a since of perseverance. They never give up. Ever. Wether it's playing knock-out in the gym or trying to convince me to play dodgeball all day, they never give up. Sometimes it can get frustrating when I have to call them by name several times, but eventually, they listen. Even if I tell them "no", they attempt to negotiate with me. And they have faith.

The Lord reminds us in the book of Isaiah:

I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

It's like my kids know this truth. They know that God is before them when they're playing Dodgeball, or Wallball. And they have this confidence that is so admirable, I can only hope to be that secure in God one day.

My kids this summer have had good days and bad, and so have I, but yet, our Savior says that our hope to persevere from one day to the next comes from the fact that we are His and He goes before us.

Crunc City Photos

2011-07-23T20:16:00.019-05:00

I have been planning to create this blog for a little over a week but wanted to ensure I had everyone's permission to post their photos - also post-processing in Photoshop can be a little bit time consuming.

A little over a week ago, Kevin Money volunteered several days of his time to help teach the kids how to dance. It was fun seeing the kids' initial trepidation toward these odd-looking dance steps before eventually embracing it and enjoying themselves. On Friday, the kids who did not leave for the fishing trip gave a performance for the remaining adults and children.

However, before this final performance, I was given the privilege of watching one of my kids and resident dance champion, "Smiley", compete against Mr. Money himself! If only I had the foresight to carry my camera with me all day! After a lengthy and HIGHLY entertaining dance-off, it was concluded by all present that Mr. Money won - although there were definitely no losers that day :)

Posted below are some photos of children and co-workers that were present for the children's' final performance.

*EDIT* I apologize in advance for the quality of the photos. The image compressor on this site doesn't play too well with photoshop :(

East Texas Fishing Trip

2011-07-18T23:16:00.000-05:00

I had the privilege of attending one of the outdoor adventure trips that Urban Connection has been doing for years now. I found out just a few days before the trip was supposed to happen, but I immediately wanted to go since I grew up in East Texas and thought it would be fun to see the kids reaction to being there. On Friday afternoon, we packed up and began our journey with a group of 15 kids. I was a little unsure of how everything was going to work out, but the trip was spectacular! On Saturday morning we all woke up around 4:30 a.m. and despite the looming dark clouds foreshadowing a day full of storms, we were still able to make it out onto the Sabine Lake; the thunder storms unexpectedly shifted and the rain subsided throughout the morning. We had eight separate boats with guides who took us all out on the lake. I was on a boat with Hector and Matthew and our guide was Stephen. He kept calling Matthew by the name of Patrick for some reason, so when they boys got the line on the poles tangled up, they blamed it on invisible "Patrick" and we just laughed. It was amazing to see how generous these individuals were with their time and equipment. The kids caught so many fish! Natalie and Lizbeth caught over 50 fish together with the help of their guides (I bet the boys were not expecting that!). We also caught crab, a sting ray, and a vast array of other fish including croakers, ladyfish, red fish, and speckled trout. After eating bbq and swimming, we had an awards ceremony where trophies and prizes were handed out to the kids for the days catches. We even went on an airboat ride that afternoon in the swamp and were able to see some alligators and learn some history about the area. The kids also got to experience cajun food and even though they were hesitant, most of them really enjoyed the seafood boudin, crawfish etouffee, and gumbo.

I am so grateful that I was able to spend time with this group of kids that went on this trip. I got to learn more about them and even meet some brothers and sisters of the kids I work with normally. As they described it, it was just peaceful. There is something about being in nature that just has a calming effect and I was able to see this in our group. We all can not wait for the next trip :)

Joy

2011-07-15T21:46:00.003-05:00

I love my job. It's true. How can you not love your job AND your life when you walk in the door and children run up to you to bestow their giant hugs on you?!? These last five weeks have been such a blessing to me - I'm still coping with a death in the family this summer, but the joy of these children have kept my spirits and my hopes high.

These children are some of the most joyful children I've met. Jay's face lights up every single morning when we tell him breakfast is ready. Nehemiah sprints into the gym with a huge smile and limitless energy. Lexander smiles when you agree to play with him. Alex burst out into rapid Spanish when he learned I spoke advanced Spanish, and not just English. :) I know I've written about this before, but there is so much love and joy in these children, I'm absolutely blown away.

Kids always remind you to appreciate the little things. For instance: they love pickle day. I happen to hate pickle day, as I am a pickle-hater compelled to open countless pickle packages and to then pour out the odiferous pickle juice. The children are oblivious to my repulsion, but thankfully I am always cognizant of their excitement. They love pickles. They are very upset when their lunch does not contain a pickle. The lesson I learn: eating a favorite food can (and should) make your day.

Lesson number two: You should always try new things. Today I introduced two different yarn projects to the younger kids - braiding and basic friendship bracelet knotting. Some of them picked it up right away - Monica radiated pride and happiness when when she quickly moved through her bracelet. Others struggled but still felt a sense of accomplishment at creating their own bracelet and succeeding at something new. Don't be afraid to try, and don't be afraid to fail, because you can always have lots of fun along the way. :)

2011-07-15T15:35:00.004-05:00

So on thursday we had the kids make houses out of the boxes. They had to build the things they would see in a house. The some of the five and six year olds built lad tops, love seats,bath tubs,sinks and more. It was so funny watching them actually work togeather and put all the ideas togeather. We had a really good time doing it!!!

2011-07-08T19:31:00.000-05:00

"I am a promise, I am a possibility, I am a promise"

That is a line from one of the songs the kids learned while participating in a DEFY (Drug Education for Youth) program this past week at Urban. The kids seemed to really love that song, and so did I. After working at Urban for a month now (where does the time go!), I have come to personally know many of our kids. They have so much potential! The more I work with them, the more I uncover about each and every one of them. This song definitely fit our kids, and I am glad I am able to know them well enough to say that.

After having outside groups come in for the last two weeks, I am excited to have Art Week with Mrs. Jennifer of Urban next week! I look forward to working with my 9-10 year old group on a daily basis again. (I hope they missed me as much as I missed them!) There are so many more exciting things to come for the remainder of the summer, so we will continue to update y'all on those.

-Gayle

Sweet Moments at Camp

2011-07-07T16:30:00.005-05:00

Hey everyone, Danielle here. I was so excited when I first heard that one of our job responsibilities was contributing to the Urban Connection blog, but I’ve somehow had a difficult time remembering to actually write an entry. Attempting to update everyone on the past four weeks would take up much more space than anyone is willing to read, so I’ll pick out some of my favorite parts from the most recent weeks.

I’m one of the leaders for the 9 and 10-year-old group, and I am so thankful that I was assigned to this group of kids. There are definitely challenges to it (they see no good reasons to try and get along with someone they don’t like), but they are such a fun group to be with all day. These kids are torn between growing up and being too cool for some things, but still really wanting to do other things, because they’re still little kids. They are interesting to watch, especially when they try new things. During the second week of camp, we had a lot of really cool lessons where they tried all sorts of new things: team-building activities, dance, drumming. I loved watching them discover something new that several of them were actually really good at it. Even if they weren’t immediately talented at the new activity, the whole group definitely enjoyed that week. Kids this age seem to be becoming more aware of themselves and who they are, and I love getting to watch them choose what defines them.

Last week, Springtown church of Christ brought their youth group out, and the kids had a wonderful time learning so many new things about God. I think my all-time favorite moment at camp so far came that week. It was actually after one of the outside activities, so Miss Ashley was just talking to the kids (bonding time!), asking them what they had learned about God so far that week. Suddenly, the kids were all really excited about sharing everything they had ever learned about God. They were throwing out facts and stories, asking questions, and then asking harder questions (I thought God died on the cross? Are God and Jesus the same person?). Looking around at those 25 kids, every single one with a hand in the air, excited to talk about God, was enough to make my eyes sting. God is so present in this neighborhood and with these kids. It was a really beautiful moment and one that I won’t forget.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:9)

My mind goes to this verse multiple times a day, when I realize that I alone am just not capable of eternal patience and love and understanding. Thankfully I serve a God who is!

There have been several funny moments at camp this summer. I'm grateful that my self-esteem isn't too dependent on the opinions of the kids sometimes. So far, I have been told, "You look like you're 99!" and "Miss, you looked better when you were 20." The kids also enjoying critiquing my athletic ability, or lack thereof. Some of the kids in my group are determined to teach me how to play basketball before the summer is over. Good luck, sweet children.

An Update of Sorts

2011-06-28T22:05:00.000-05:00

Why hello everyone!

We are two weeks into summer, and I definitely love my work at Urban Connection! I am not wearing my rose-colored glasses, as the work definitely has its ups and downs, but overall I find it to be a rewarding, fulfilling experience. Every day I smile as the kids enter the arts and crafts room and approach me (and all the other leaders) with hugs, smiles, and stories.

I think the main thing for me to remember is that I’m working at Urban to serve God and to spread His Love throughout one area of San Antonio. On the way to work today I heard the song “Everlasting God,” with the refrain “Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord . . . ,” and I felt that the song captured the attitude and mindset of our work at UC-SA. First, my strength, which is sometimes sapped by the hours, the drives to and from work, and the work itself, will rise and be renewed when I think about the Lord and ask Him to strengthen me. Second of all, I know I will get that strength because I am waiting on the Lord by serving others. As Jesus says, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Mat. 25:40). My work is not about me and my contributions, but about GOD, and it has been a blessing to see God at work with all these beautiful children.

Speaking of children . . .

Today little Esmeralda greeted me enthusiastically as I walked through the door after my day off, “Miss Laura! We were so worried about you,” complete with adorable hand gestures. I was enjoying my assigned day off, but her genuine concern cheered me and started my day on a great note.

Cheers,

Laura

I am...

2011-06-13T22:49:00.000-05:00

Hi, everybody!
I'm Jen and I'm a rising senior at Trinity University majoring in sociology. I am so excited to be here at Urban Connection this summer and can't wait to get to know all the kids. Here are a few fun facts about me

I'm left-handed
I am originally from Austin!
I love animals
I have 2 brothers- one older and one younger
I spent last summer in Quito, Ecuador working in a shelter/orphanage
I love Sour Lifesaver Gummies... so much
I just got home from a semester abroad in San José, Costa Rica and miss the friends that I made there

God Works in Mysterious Ways

2011-06-13T21:26:00.003-05:00

Hi! My name is Chris.

I recently graduated from Texas State University (December 2010) with a BA in International Business and Japanese, and am excited to be part of Urban Connection during this summer. I originally planned to be in Japan teaching English to grade-school children this fall, but God had different plans for me. I actually do not much like talking about myself on the internet so I will make a list of random facts about my life and personality:

1) I was born here in San Antonio, but have spent half my life outside of Texas - including California, Hawaii, Maryland, and Japan, among others.

2) I LOVE learning new languages, not just Japanese. My friends joke with me that if you put me in a room with someone that speaks a different language, I will be conversing in it by the end of the day.

3) I am a photographer that needs inspiration: if anyone has any suggestions or great locations please feel free to let me know!

4) I was once in 3 different countries within 1 week and have been to the North Korean border.

5) Please bring high-speed rails and subways to Central Texas!

Estoy...

2011-06-12T12:28:00.002-05:00

Hello :)

My name is Gayle and I can not wait to see what this summer has in store at Urban Connection. I have learned so much about the Lincoln Heights neighborhood and the surrounding area in the past week of training and I am excited to learn more!

Here are a few things about myself:

1.) I recently graduated from UTSA with a Psychology major and Biology minor. Go Roadrunners!
2.) I want to work in the healthcare field and I am currently applying to Physicians Assistant school.
3.) Everyone deserves an equal chance no matter what their background is.
4.) I was called to be a part of this program, and I believe God has his hand on the work that Urban Connection does.
5.) Quiero mejorar mi Espanol durante el verano.

I am . . .

2011-06-11T13:23:00.001-05:00

I am Laura Krull, a rising junior at Grinnell College in Iowa, a sociology major, an avid reader, a tennis player, and most importantly, a follower of Christ.

I am a thinker, a dreamer, a believer, and a writer.

I am passionate about what I do. If I’m making pancakes for fellow stressed-out students at 2 in the morning, then I give my all and find the energy to serve others. If I’m playing piano as part of the worship band at school, then I find time in my busy schedule each week to practice so I can better help my fellow Christians praise God. If I’m playing a team tennis match against a rival school, then I give 110% and start cheering for my teammates the moment I leave the court.

If I’m working with kids, then I channel my own inner kid and return to my younger days to better connect with them. I stop worrying about being embarrassed or what other people will think about me and just have fun with those beautiful, small, and innocent human beings. I leave the stresses that come with being an adult behind and to simply help kids have a wonderful time. I’ve done this while babysitting, while working at the church nursery, and while making little friends at the playground, and this summer will be no different. I am excited to finally meet the kids of Lincoln Heights and of neighboring communities next week and to do everything possible to make a difference in their lives during our short time together.

Cheers,

Laura

HhhhEeeeYyyy EVERYONE!!!!!

2011-06-10T10:51:00.002-05:00

HERE SOME THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO KNOW ABOT ME....

1.I HAVE WORKED AT URBAN CONNECTION FALL AND SPRING TREM.(AND NOW FOR THE SUMMER)
2.IM IN COLLEGE TO BE A TEACHER FOR AT RISK CHILDEREN.(I FEEL LIKE GOD HAS GIVEN ME THAT PASSION TO DO THAT AND REALLY CHANGE SOME LIVES.)
3.I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANTONIO TEXAS BUT GREW UP ON THE EASTSIDE OF TOWN FOR A WHILE.
4.I FEEL LIKE GOD HAS GIVEN ME DIFFERENT TALENTS THAT I CAN USE TO HIS GLORY AND I AM VERY EXICTED TO SHARE THEM WITH URBAN CONNECTION.

Hellooooooooooo!

2011-06-09T22:10:00.005-05:00

Hi, everyone!

My name is Erin and I'm super excited to be working with Urban Connection this summer! So excited, in fact, that I trekked down here all the way from Kentucky (with wonderful Ms. Danielle) to be a part of this awesome organization, and more importantly, to spend some time with the kiddos!

I was led here from the University of Kentucky, where I just completed my freshman year. I had the opportunity to spend Spring Break here with some of the kids through the ministry that I'm a part of there, called Cats for Christ. (Cats meaning the Kentucky Wildcats... We don't work with animals, though we do get asked that a lot!) I'm currently studying Biology and Spanish at UK, and I aspire to be a doctor, particularly a pediatrician or a pediatric oncologist.

Beyond that, I love music, books, current events, KIDS, laughter, serving my Lord, spending time with my family (particularly my brothers, who also double as some of my best friends). If there were four statements that would teach you the most about who I am, they could probably be related to song lyrics (because what can't be?). For example:

1. The song "Jesus loves Me," because without that where would I be?

2. You've Got A Friend In Me, from the original Toy Story. I'd choose this song because it reminds me of the hours of Disney movies I watched with my twin brother, Brett, as a child. He is, and always will be, my best friend. I'm a fiercely loyal person, and once you carve out a place in my heart, you'll always have a friend in me.

3. Jump Rope, by Blue October. The chorus of the song talks about how life is like a jump rope; it goes up and down. I'm a pretty optimistic person and this song constantly reminds me never to take things for granted, but also never to be too discouraged.

4. Send Me On My Way, by Rusted Root. This song has the silliest beat and is sometimes difficult to make sense of, just like me. :) I grew up in a small town, and this song perfectly describes my desire to see and experience the world beyond western Kentucky. Also, its impossible to listen to that song and not be happy, and I feel like happy is my normal mode. :)

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to serve your kids this summer! Please feel free to introduce yourself and to ask any questions you may have. I can't wait to meet you all! :)

--Erin

A Long Way from Home!

2011-06-09T20:29:00.003-05:00

Hi everyone! My name is Danielle, and I come from the Bluegrass State. That’s Kentucky in case you weren’t sure, though I think we’re better known for fried chicken than bluegrass. I’m a senior at the University of Kentucky, studying Secondary English Education and Spanish. My campus ministry/church at UK has been coming to Urban Connection for Spring Break and summer trips for several years now, which is how I found out about Urban. Ever since I came for the first time last year, I knew I wanted to spend a summer here if possible. I don’t know exactly what I want to do in the future, but I do know that I want to work with kids, whether that be teaching abroad or in the inner city, or working with a non-profit organization. Wherever I end up, I am so excited to be working with an organization that has such a strong God-centered base and a clear, hopeful vision for the kids, families, and community in this inner city neighborhood. I’ll just do four facts about me:

1. I have a “little” brother, who is now 17, though he’ll always be about 8 years old to me.
2. The best snack is definitely fried pickles and a strawberry limeade from Sonic.
3. I spent last summer in Peru and I’m crossing my fingers to go back as soon as humanly possible.
4. I love the sunshine, which is great since it looks like I’ll be seeing a lot of that this summer!

I hope to see you all around Urban this summer! :)

Danielle

What is Kirk?

2011-06-07T23:46:00.003-05:00

I am Kirk Rodriguez, a new intern at Urban Connection - San Antonio! And my excitement levels are off the charts. But before we all get too pumped, us interns will have to further explain ourselves. Hopefully you've already met Mari (the post(er) below this one), so I suppose it is my turn to let people know what I am.

Simple.

I am a believer in humanity. I believe with the proper amount of both love and information, of both compassion and knowledge, that humanity can overcome greed, prejudice, and hatred. Zac Efron and the crew were right when singing "we're all in this together," and I believe that as more and more people remember the truth within that statement, the better a world we will live in.

And I am a total hippie who loves musicals and existence.

Good Evening, Alamo City!

2011-06-07T22:08:00.003-05:00

Hi there!

My name is Mari! I’m a senior at the University of Texas at Austin majoring in Social Work. I have a huge passion for inner city work, which has taken me as far away as Seattle, Washington for the past two summers and as close to home as the St. John’s Community in Austin during the school year. I am also very active in my church back home. I love kids and watching them interact with the world around them. I enjoy teaching children with hands-on activities and empowering them to be able to problem solve on their own. To get to know me better here is a list of five fun facts about me:

1. I am CPR/ First- Aid certified

2. I love coffee!

3. My parents and younger sister (15 yrs) live in South Austin

4. I have worked at summer camps for the past six years!

5. I love to laugh and I’m usually very high energy

I’m sure I will get to know you all over the next couple of months and I can hardly wait! To the parents, thank you for entrusting Urban Connection with your children; that’s a big deal, and I am thrilled to have a chance to spend the summer with them! Feel free to find me at anytime and introduce yourself!

In His Love,
Mari

And the Bluebonnets Bloom...Again

2011-04-22T11:32:00.003-05:00

They say "April showers bring May flowers." But as I discovered last April on my drive down from Nashville, San Antonio sees a season of flowers long before May begins. The same striking fields of beautiful bluebonnets that welcomed me to a new home a year ago have again sprouted, marking my one year anniversary of South Texas life. Among the various memories of new life, friends, work, apartment, house, culture, and on and on and on, it's the people who are most highlighted in my mind. People who everyday give of their time, their hearts, and their lives to truly live Jesus with their words, actions, and attitudes. I'd like to introduce them to you the way I see them:

Leslie, our joyful, passionate visionary and leader serves wholeheartedly. An avid reader and sponge for learning, she constantly pushes herself and her partners in ministry to grow. She holds the weight of God's calling to this neighborhood on her shoulders. Even still, she is as likely to be seen helping in the food pantry, playing a game with a child, eating at a barbecue, or talking to a walk-in in the office as she is to be seen at her desk. God has gifted her with the humility and focus to keep HIS ministry here on the right track--HE is given all the praise for this, HIS work in the Lincoln Courts.

Chuck, or Charles (as only I call him), while technically our Grant writer, is a shared commodity on the West Side. Chuck knows everyone, and everyone knows Chuck. A willing heart and a focus on God's calling on his life to the West End make Chuck a willing servant for many nonprofits, churches, initiatives, and ministries in the community. I'm hard pressed to recall anything that occurred on the West End in my year here in which Chuck did not have a hand. He is a lover and connector of people, and a living library of knowledge about the people and resources in this community.

Sandra keeps us all on our toes (with our bellies full). Her attention to detail, quest for understanding, and consistent "can-do" attitude inspires all who step through the doors to strive for their own personal best at life. She loves people, and often gives the first (and sometimes only) impression of Urban Connection to people who walk in or call. Who better to make sure people know we love them, and are here to help them find what they need? Her own quest for knowledge and understanding have kept our bellies full over the last few months as she's experimented with cake making and decorating. Yum.

Yolanda is our resident slash-er: grad student/AmeriCorps alumna/garden manager/volunteer coordinator/community coordinator/contract staff/mentor/Urban Angels coordinator/fill in the blank. Over the years she moved from part-time AmeriCorps service member to full-time AmeriCorps service member, to contract staff, allowing her to continue to serve with her characteristic passion the people in the neighborhood. Yolanda does not mince words, or meat--staff parties always have her vegetarian favorites there. We hope God will continue to provide the means and opportunity for this committed servant to stay in the neighborhood.

Jill, my office- and desk-mate, is the quiet voice of reason in the Kids Connection office. Her gentleness and calming presence are a magnet for children, young and old alike--most kiddos will jump at the chance to do any activity with "Ms Jill." Through her guidance and oversight, the years prior to my arrival were a growing and stabilizing time for the Kids programs. She forged partnerships with volunteer groups, corporations, and other organizations whose benefits we still reap today. Though she now splits her time between her own kiddo and the Urban kiddos, Jill brings spades of encouragement and thoughtfulness to all. She balances and equalizes our team in her own deceptively quiet way.

Jennifer's talent surpasses the position she holds in more ways than one. She completes the Kids Connection team, bringing compassion and empathy to all she encounters. Her mere healthy presence daily reminds us of the power of God to conquer any obstacle, of his faithfulness, and of his grace. On the one hand, her flexibility enables me to have peace of mind during the crazy times, on the other hand, it allows her to put her legs over her head. I don't suppose all New York-trained dancers can do that?

I am simultaneously humbled by and proud of the people I work with every day. These are the unsung heroes, the quiet leaders serving in the streets. God makes the wildflowers bloom each April for them, using creation to draw all creation in worship to Him. And somewhere in there, the Texans will dress in white shirts, crouch on the side of the highway, and take pictures with the beautiful, worship-inspiring bluebonnet fields. Maybe next year I'll join those ranks.

Science, Science Everywhere!!

2011-04-07T11:58:00.004-05:00

Last Saturday we loaded up 2 vans with kids & parents and headed to the Girls Inc. Science Festival where there were tons of booths full of fun, interesting Science! Starting off we pretended to be a satellite delivering programs to Earth. One child was Earth sitting in a rotating chair holding a bucket, while another child was the satellite blowing q-tips through a straw(delivering programs) into the bucket. The kids also learned about solar panels and got to create their own lava lamp. Next the girls that were with me, Samantha, Gloria, Maria, & Alfa, were in an Engineering contest. They were challenged to build a structure that was the tallest & the strongest to hold a ball and they WON!! We have some future Engineers among us!

Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles! Another favorite booth was making bubble windows & turning their hands into a bubble using soapy water & CO2! Talk about COOL, the kids loved this & didn't want to leave! In between the booths Radio Disney entertained us with music & some sweet dance moves, which all the girls loved! As our time can to an end, we finished with some fun biology by getting to extract DNA from strawberries! Trinity students did a great job teaching the steps involved with this experiement. It was such a great day & I loved watching the kids light up with excitement as they learned how cool Science can be!

The Twig Book Store

2011-03-23T17:54:00.002-05:00

Going to the Twig Book Store was just one of our many field trips we go on. The kids had gotten to have a book read to them which they loved because Mrs. Anastasia our reader really made the story come to live. Along with the story they got to get into small groups and select a book together that they wanted to buy to have here at Urban.

Dr. Seuss

2011-03-23T17:25:00.003-05:00

For Dr. Seuss's birthday this year we did an activity that the children here at Urban really enjoyed. We first read them Horton Hatched the Egg where Horton the Elephant had to sit on a egg while the mother bird went on vacation . When the egg finally hatched the little baby bird was part bird and part elephant. After reading the book we had them create and name their own types of animals just like in the picture.

2011-02-24T13:37:00.003-06:00

WATCH OUT FOR OUR NEW T-BALL TEAM.

Trinity Basketball!

2011-02-21T13:27:00.003-06:00

Last Friday I had the opportunity to take a couple of kids to watch the Trinity University basketball teams face off against Southwestern University. We got there about halfway through the first half, and it was really awesome to see the joy on the kids faces. Every time that TU got the ball, the kids would yell "Shoot the three" or "DUNKKK IT". We didn't get to see any dunks, but the kids still had a blast.

At halftime they served us pizza and gatorade, and the kids just destroyeddd the pizza. One of the smallest kids ate about 8 slices...which was pretty impressive. After the girls beat Southwestern, we got to go shoot around in one of the other gyms at TU. After about 15 minutes of shooting around, the Lady Tigers came in and shot around with the guys. Some of the guys actually played one on one with them, and put up a good contest against the girls. After the shoot around time was over, some of the guys got the girls' autographs. We then went back to watch the first half of the guys games, and after every block / crossover / three pointer, the guys would just start yelling. The kids were disappointed that we had to leave at halftime, but that definitely did not mean that the fun was over.

When we got back in the van, I let Matt be the "DJ" on the way home. I had no idea that any of these kids were singers! Every single song that came on, I had the voice of 10 kids just singing at the top of their lungs.

But now comes the pretty awesome part of the night. As soon as we got off I-10, we came to the light at Culebra and the I-10 access road. This corner is always very active with people who are on the side of the road asking for money. As soon as DJ Matt saw that the guy was asking for some cash, he quickly shut off the radio and asked if there was anyone who wanted to help this guy out. In about 5 seconds, everyone that had cash passed up a few bucks. It was really amazing to see a bunch of kids be willing to help a guy out. To see the joy on both the mans' face and the kids' face was a really spectacular sight. These kids had no idea who this guy was, no idea what his intentions were or anything, and they were just willing to jump out (not literally) and help this guy. I wish I could have taken a picture of that moment, but taking a picture while driving is completely unsafe and my camera was not accessible at the time.

So here are my two challenges for both you and I:

1.) Find joy in the little things. Whether it's just hanging out with friends, spending time with family, or singing to the top of your lungs to an overplayed Usher song...

2.) Be a helping hand to anyone that needs it. No matter the situation. Just be willing to be Gods' helping hand whenever and wherever.

Till next time!

Who wants to be the next STAR?!?

2011-01-18T12:02:00.006-06:00

Who wants to be the next STAR was a game that was made up by my co-worker Nia and I. It was a last minute activity idea that evolved into a game that is some what like Candy Land. The best part of the game was that you were your own player. The bad part was if you by chance landed on the sun you would burn up and have to go back to the beginning and start all over again, and if you landed on the black hole you would get lost and have to lose a turn. Luckily, there were four stars in different locations throw out the path and if the card with a colored star was drawn you would be able to move either further or closer to the end of the game depending on which color star was chosen. I was amazed how much the kids really liked to play our revised human version of Candy Land. I'm looking forward to see what this week might bring and what new game or activities we will have to come up with on our last minute time.

2011-01-18T11:47:00.004-06:00

!!!!!MKL MARCH!!!!!!

!!!!!AMERICORP!!!!!

!!!!WE HAD A GOOD TIME!!!!

2011-01-04T12:40:00.003-06:00

Urban has been so busy, but over the christmas hoilday we did have UCASA at times. One of the days we took the kids ice skating. The kids were so exicted to go. When we got there, they saw all the people skating and they were ready to get on the ice. However when they got on the ice, some of the kids were so scared because they couldn't really skate on ice. It was new for them, but when they got the hang of it, they loved it. They were saying how they would like to bring their parents. I can say that was a nice and new experience for us all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR....

2011-01-04T12:36:00.002-06:00

2011 is finally here and I am more than excited about what this year has in store! The past year was full of changes and obstacles that I had to overcome, but I'm glad to say that I did overcome! As I look forward I see great things happening for the Urban family. We're about to make some major changes in the structure of our organization, but I believe it's a change that is needed. Change is something that often intimidates others because they don't know what to expect. I feel it's all about what you believe will happen. If you enter something with a high level of expectation then that's what you will get. I've decided from here on out to make everyday a day of great expectation! There may still be challenges that come and go, but in the end I know I will be victorious! Please continue to keep Urban Connection in your prayers as we go forth in the work that God has called us to do....be blessed and prosperous in all you do this year!!!
-K. Smith

Kids Now-a-days...

2010-12-29T19:39:00.006-06:00

We often find ourselves in a discussion about how quickly kids are growing up and how different things are now days - their bodies, problems, even their games and toys. After spending a day at the Frank Garrett with primarily youth and young teens from ages 9-15 (with a couple of 8 & 9 year olds thrown in) I would make the argument that at their roots kids are exactly the same. Our day was mostly filled playing the newly purchased BOARD GAMES...yes BOARD GAMES. Which are not boring at all. My biggest surprise was that the first game off the shelf was Candy Land played by two 11 year olds, a 10 year old and a 9 year old. It was awesome! Slowly but surely the games were flying off the shelves and the kids were asking AmeriCorps to play and teach them how to play the familiar and unfamiliar games. At one point there was even a debate about the direction that the bishop, in chess, can move.

Outside of the obvious game playing that took place, there was so much more happening. The kids were trying something new, playing well together, sharing, there were no fights over games or turns or any of the other usual 2 minute tantrums, and during a game of Uno there was even some double teaming just to beat me. The older kids were also playing with the younger children. As the day progressed I had a couple of kids ask "Can we do art Miss?". After teaching the fun craft of making "friendship bracelets" to a few girls and boys one of the middle schoolers said to me "This art stuff is fun!" I was beaming inside.

The day ended with "Mr. Jones" (Dante) and I forming a verbal contract with two of the younger boys Nestor and Cody. They were each given a loaner basketball to practice some drills that Dante had shown them down on the court and they will show them to him when we return in the New Year. Their improvement will show how much or if they've practiced at all. If there is improvement, they will gain full ownership of the basketball, if not they will return the basketball and it will remain at the gym. They were told the importance of the handshake and the importance of practice and learning fundamentals in order to be successful in playing. This was pretty important especially since they are on Ms. Nikki's basketball team list :) All of the remaining kids helped to clean up and there was actually a sense of appreciation for not what they experienced today but what they'd been experiencing this entire year.

As the year comes to an end I say thank you to the AmeriCorps, the Urban Connection staff, my husband - Dante, and all the other volunteers that have brought back life to the Frank Garrett and created a loving learning environment for the community!

God is working and WE ARE sharing HIS LOVE through
WORD, ACTION & ATTITUDE!

Exercise Time!

2010-11-23T13:34:00.002-06:00

Once a week the kids do different activities. Each week the is always something different, depending on what theme or idea was planned for the week. Last week Mrs. Jennifer, the kids, and I enjoyed an hour of exercise and stretching. At first most of the kids didn't really seem to be into it, but after joining in with them, they seemed to catch on to the idea of doing something new and soon realized they came to like it. Emily one of ours quite little girls wasn't real fund of the activity but soon came to the see that it was fun. Some of the exercises we did were push ups, sit ups, etc. After speaking with some of the kids, I learned that most of them really enjoyed the mat game. Usually, after we exercise and stretch we play a game that causes some thinking, and last weeks game was kind of like follower the leader. Only the difference was that the lead would have to jump from one mat to another in any order until the were none left. We the leader would reach the end the next person in the line would get to be the leader, and so on. It was a game that was not only fun for the kids but also fun for me as well. Although, when it did get to the time when it was my turn, things get a little to difficult and the kids forgot the pattern in which I had went in. Lucky for them Mrs. Jennifer was there to help.

2010-11-12T13:52:00.006-06:00

On Thursday we had the kids go on a scavenger hunt. They had to get one partner and go look for the pieces to a headress. If they needed clues, they had to go to one of the AmeriCorps personel and answer the question to get a clue to where the pieces were. Once they got all the pieces, they had to come inside and put the hat together.Then decide which person out the group was going to take home the hat. The kids had such a good time searching for the pieces and were happy when they got to put it together.

FLOWER PENS!

2010-11-08T14:01:00.005-06:00

Flower pens GOSH don't I love them. The staff and children at Urban Connection have been making flower pens for Operation Christmas Child. The reason why we are all taking are part in this activity is so we can go out and buy gifts for children in need, so we can help the kids who don't always have a Merry Christmas. The kids at Urban Connection are not only thinking about themselves this Christmas, but about another child their age somewhere around the world who doesn't have the things that they might have. The kids at Urban are so excited to make and sell the pens so that they can go get a nice gift for another child who really needs it.

One Month In

2010-11-08T13:31:00.002-06:00

This week completed our first month @ Frank Garrett. Overall things have really been well. There has been a wide variety of children of all ages. They all have interacted very well with one another. If there are only younger kids, the older ones find someway to make themselves fit in. It is hilarious watching the kiddos shoot pool. The different formations of holding the pool stick and trying to get the balls in the pockets. Not only that just seeing them trying to break the balls on the first shot. On a more personal level just being able to interact with the kids and build personal relationships with them on an individual basis has been comforting. Trying to get to know each child, their likes and dislikes, their personal strengths and weaknesses. The Frank Garrett is moving on up and we are going to be Better than Ever!!!!!!

Phase 10

2010-11-05T13:52:00.002-05:00

I have a new favorite game!!! It's called Phase 10.... I'm sure most of you are familiar with it, but for those who aren't, its a must have for the holiday season. I got the opportunity to play with some of the older kids, along with Mrs. Leslie (who by the way taught us how to play the right way). It's basically a new-age version of Jim Rummy, but the cards look similar to uno cards. There are ten different phases that you have to pass. In order to complete a phase there are a certain sets that you must have. For example, in Phase 1 you have to get two sets of three. (A set is cards that are all the same number i.e three 7's). Once you "phase out" you keep playing until someone gets rid of their hand. At that point whatever cards you have in your hand get counted on your score. The first player to beat Phase 10 with the lowest score wins. I know it may seem like alot, but once you get into the rythm of the game it's awesome! It's the perfect game to play when you want to bring people together or just kill some time. I can't wait to play again so be ready Mrs. Leslie!!! Be blessed and prosperous....
-K. Smith

Freeze Tag!!

2010-11-05T09:10:00.004-05:00

So the new favorite outside game to play at UCASA is "freeze tag". For the past two weeks freeze tag was the only game that the kids really wanted to play as soon as they got to UCASA. The most game played before freeze tag was "tag, you it." Most of the older kids had already known about freeze tag, but for the young kids it was a new game that they would really enjoy. The faces the kids make as their playing is to die for! Eduardo, who is one of our youngest and who is the most active when it comes to playing game, make the funnest faces I have ever seen. Now, granted that the kids aren't the best when it come to staying frozen, but they really do enjoy unfreezing the kids who do frezze by going under their legs. They all have a blast and I glad we can all share this experience.

Fall Festival

2010-11-01T13:06:00.001-05:00

Last Friday we had a Fall Festival at the Frank Garrett. It was a blast thanks to all of the help we had from Northside Church of Christ and Christian Heritage School. There was a moon bounce, bobbing for apples, face painting, cupcake walk, basketball, and more!

Here are some pictures I wanted to share of the Fall Festival:

The Fall Festival; a great success!!

Blessings,
Julia

Gift of Movement...

2010-10-25T14:03:00.002-05:00

Recently our Frank Garrett team started a dance class lead by Mrs. Jennifer Jones. I was curious so I sat in on a session this past Friday. Immediately I was blown away by Jennifer's ability to teach basic dance skills to young girls, most of which have never danced before. She would give them an instruction on how to move their body, tell them what the proper dance term for it was, and then have them put all the moves together to see if they remembered. It was amazing to see how well the girls caught on. If there was someone who wasn't getting it Jennifer wouldn't hesitate to show them what to do. Her movements were so elegant and graceful. You could see that dance isn't just something she knows how to do, but she's gifted to do. The fact that she was able to teach beginners almost an entire dance in less than an hour proves this to be true. I look forward to seeing the girls blossom into skillful dancers, as they allow Jennifer's ray of light to shine through them. Be blessed and prosperous...
-K.Smith

2010-10-25T13:49:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I want to dedicate this blog to all the volunteers and Urban supporters. Here's to you!

To all of those out there that support Urban Connection, thank you. We would be nowhere if it weren't for all the love you've shown us, and continue to show. God has blessed us greatly by giving us supporters that truly love what Urban is all about. Your donations, prayers, volunteer work, generosity, and love have helped Urban Connection become the great organization it is today. May God bless all of your lives for the wonderful work you have done for Urban. We love you all, and once again, thanks!

Blessings,
Julia

2010-10-25T13:09:00.002-05:00

We Get It Big @ Frank Garrett!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Week to week and day to day, there are different experiences. Our numbers are low on some days and awesome and other days. We have dance on Monday and Wednesday, arts and crafts on Thursday and rehearsal for Voices of Hope on Friday. Watching the kids interact with on-another and learn things from each other is amazing. The girls do cheers and the boys join in and show their spirit and how they Gigg-a-lo. My vision is to see Frank Garrett grow and the community participate in the Rec Center like back in the Good Ole Days. We are on our way to the top.....Frank Garrett Community Center is Back and in full effect. Until we meet again....I am Ms Nikki and I'm out!!!!!!

2010-10-18T15:25:00.003-05:00

Last thursday was such a good day we took the kids to sunken gardens the kids and i have a alsome time looking at all the different color fish, the different flowers and plants. The urban connection team had made books for the kids so they could have a activity to do on the feild trip we chose to make little books out of color paper. The kids got to draw pictures of what they liked at Suncken Gardens. I was so suprised that some of the kids can actually draw really well and some pictures where so detailed they did better then me at drawing pictures. Overall we had a good time and i cant wait to go again.

Voices of Hope

2010-10-18T15:10:00.002-05:00

Last Friday we held our first rehearsal for our childrens choir. So far we have about ten members and everyone seems to be eager to try something new. Singing is something that I love to do so it's exciting to be able to share my gift with the children. This is the first time being in a choir for most of them so they didn't know what to expect. By the end of rehearsal everyone was anxious to learn more, but it was time to go home. Our first performance will be at the Thanksgiving program, November 21 so we're practicing every Friday for 30 minutes. I can't wait to see the fruits of our labor! Please keep us in your prayers us as we take this amazing journey. Be blessed and prosperous...

-K. Smith

Weekend Fun!

2010-10-18T13:05:00.001-05:00

We had a group come in this Saturday to help with the kids' playground and our garden. They did a wonderful job and I just wanted to share a picture of our beautiful playground!

Thank you Coker United Methodist Church!

- Julia

Maria!

2010-10-15T14:01:00.000-05:00

Recently, I interviewed one of our little girls Maria Guerrero. So here is some information about this wonderful little diva:

Maria's favorite colors are pink and baby blue. She loves to listen to Justin Bieber. Also, she likes to paint her nails. Maria just celebrated her 10th birthday!! She goes to Nelson Elementary and is in the 4th grade. Maria wants to be a teacher when she gets older!

Best Birthday Ever...

2010-10-13T12:43:00.002-05:00

What another amazing week here at Urban! National Night out (Oct 5th) was amazinggg. It was really awesome to see everyone in the community come out for this event and it was an awesome time. This week I was able to interview a kid named Johnny. He reminds me a lot of myself when I was his age. I was a big trouble maker and Johnny always seems to make the days more interesting. He's in 5th grade, and his favorite subject is math. His favorite color is blue. His favorite thing to do in his spare time is to hang out with his friends. He also loves to play sports. This kid is amazing at whatever we're playing in the FG on that day. Football, basketball, soccer, whatever it is, this kid loves to do it. His favorite football team is the Dallas Cowboys and his favorite player is Tony Romo. He also loves the Spurs and his favorite player is Tim Duncan. When Johnny gets older he wants to be a police officer. When I asked him what his favorite food is, he couldn't come up with an answer because he loves everything. That's all for now. Cya!

Reaching out to the Youth of Today and Future of Tomorrow

2010-10-10T14:31:00.004-05:00

Hello All.... Another week at Urban Connection has come and gone. This week, I had the pleasure of connecting with a very intelligent young lady. Her name is Nikia Nealy. Nikia is 9 years old. She is a 4th grade A/B honor roll student at Oak Hills Terrace Elementary. While communicating with Nikia she expressed several interests. I learned that she really likes Volleyball. Her favorite colors are red, blue and like most Diva's of course hot pink. I asked Nikia is there anyone that she admires. She first asked me what did I mean by that and after explaining to her what I meant, she then said "I admire my MOM". She said, "I admire my Mom because she is always there for me to do all the important things that I need and she will never let me down...I LOVE my MOM!" Nikia also said that she likes coming over to the Frank Garrett Community Center. She said she has lots of fun and we help them with the things they ask us to do. I love being able to be a positive influence on the lives of children and letting them know that you can be whoever or whatever you want to be in life with the right guidance and influences. Thank you Urban for allowing us to make a difference in young lives!!!!!

2010-10-08T13:32:00.003-05:00

LORNZE MALAGON
-WHATS UR FAVORITE COLOR? BLUE
-WHATS UR FAVIRITE SHOE TO WARE?JORDAN
-WHATS YOUR FAVORITE TV SHOW?SIMONS
-WHATS YOUR FAVORITE SPORT TO PLAY? FOOTBALL
-HOW OLD ARE YOU? SEVEN
-WHAT GRADE ARE YOU IN?FIRST
-WHATS YOUR FAVORITE FOOD?spaghetti
-WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO FOR FUN? PLAY FOOTBALL

2010-10-08T13:14:00.002-05:00

This week I got the opportunity to interview a very special young lady. Her name is Tiareka Woods and this is her first year with Urban Connection. This vibrant young lady is a seventh grader at Irving Middle School. I asked her a few questions about her experience at the Garrett center, and here's what she had to say....

K: Why do you enjoy coming to the Frank Garrett?

T: It's a place where I can come to relax and take away stress from a busy day at school.

K: What are some things that you would like to see done differently here?

T: There's a lot of history here at Garrett, honestly I don't think anything should change. I love it just the way it is!!

K: Why do you think its important to have programs like this for kids?

T: I think it's a good way to help people in the community get to know each other better. Also it helps us to be involved and to stay out of trouble.

Tiareka is wise beyond her years. When I asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up she said that was her favorite question to answer! She wants to be a veterinarian, an artist, and a fashion designer. With the focus and drive she has, I'm confident that it will happen for her. Being around kids like her make me love doing what I do!!

-K. Smith

Ix-chel

2010-10-07T18:08:00.008-05:00

This last we were given an assign blog to write. The assignment who to chose a child that attened UCASA and learn a little bit more about them. The child I chose is a sweet little girl named Ix-chel. Since UCASA started Ix-chel and I have became close. Her first language is spanish, and I'm in the process of learning spanish, so Ix-chel has been helping me with my spanish speaking skills.

Some questions I ask her were: 1.What is your favorite drink? 2.What is your favorite TV show? 3.Who is your hero? 4.Who is your best friend? 5.What is your favorite color? 6.What grade are you in? 7.How old are you? 8.What sport do you like to play? 9.What do you like to do for fun? 10.What kind of candy do you like?

Her respones were: 1. Apple juice. 2.Hannah Montana. 3. My dad. 4.You. ( Me, Ms. Sabrina) 5.Red. 6. First grade. 7. Six years old. 8. Soccer. 9. Play with toyes. 10.Chocolate.

2010-10-01T15:47:00.003-05:00

This is the completion of another week with Urban Connection. This has been an awesome experience so far. Some days we have lots of children and some days there are just a handful. Next week will be our first official week at Frank Garrett and we are looking forward to the change. This week we prepared for the Grand Event....."Get It Big" @ Frank Garrett. The new and improved. Mrs Leslie and Mrs Jennifer went all out and shopped till they dropped. They purchased new ball, board games, cards, dominoes, ping-pong table, pool table equipment and all sorts of things. We are sooooo.... looking forward to closing this week so we can start our official beginning @ Frank Garrett. I love the interacting with the children. Being able to see different attitudes, behaviors and personalities and deal with it all by being a positive Role Model makes my heart full. I LOVE giving back and being an influence in a child's life. I am Blessed and Blessing others is a JOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inventory

2010-10-01T13:57:00.004-05:00

The week has come to an end and as always it's been a good one! Monday will be the first official day for Urban Connection-Frank Garrett so we've been doing everything needed to get ready. Yesterday the F.G. crew took time to go through the main storage closet and reorganize everything. My "o.c.d" kicked in immediately because it was a complete mess! There were all sorts of raquets, balls of every kind, and other unusual things. We had to go through and decide what we wanted to keep and what we should get rid of. We also got some new games and supplies (thanks Mrs. Leslie!!!!:D). Things are really coming together. I can't wait for the day when the center is filled with people from all over the community coming just to have great, wholesome fun!!!
-K. Smith

2010-10-01T13:33:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was a fun day for the kinder and 1st grade. We made awesome scare crows for the garden. The kids were excited so was I. After we were done the kids put them in the garden and they were all amazed at the way things came out. This was my first time working in the garden. It felt good to be able to connect with the children in a diffrent way. ~Karla

2010-10-01T13:18:00.004-05:00

SCARE CROWS, wow the kinder and first,second, and third graders had such a good time making them. I had such a good time making the scare crows with the kids because it was my first time ever making scare crows and some of the first time for some of the kids as well. We had a good time enjoying everyones company.when the kids where done making the scare crows some had no nose others had no fingers but it was cool cause thats the way they wanted to desgin there crows. Before the kids came and i was doing an example crow i was thinking that it was going to be to complicated for the kids to make but im happy it wasnt they did so good.

Frank Garrett

2010-09-27T14:03:00.000-05:00

We have been having a great time at the Garrett so far. Everyday, more and more kids are added to our list and it's awesome! Last week, we played kickball in the gym and it's always great to see the kids getting along and just having fun. After that, we played a game of dodgeball; kids vs. adults! That was one crazy game. At the end of the day, we brought out some pinatas that the kids made, and they got to bust them open. I'm so thankful that God has blessed us with every single amazing child that we have at Urban. I can't wait to see the blessings that are still to come!
-Julia

2010-09-27T13:49:00.003-05:00

WOW,LAST WEEK WAS SUCH AN AWESOME WEEK. WE TOOK THE KIDS TO THE LIBRARY ON THURSDAY AND THEY GOT TO HEAR STORIES ABOUT HEROES AND THEIR FAMILY CULTURE. WE MADE AND WORKED ON PINATAS ALL WEEK AND ON FRIDAY WE GOT TO GO TO THE FRANK GARRETT AND BUST THEM OPEN. THE KIDS HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME GETTING THE CANDY AND EVERYTHING. WE ALSO PLAYED KICKBALL,AND DODGE BALL WITH THE KIDS AND I HAVE TO SAY I ENJOYED EVERY MOMENT OF JUST BEING AROUND THE KIDS AND PLAYING WITH THEM.

Rain, rain, PLEASE go away...

2010-09-27T12:46:00.003-05:00

How is it going? Another awesome week here at Urban / FG Center, although I must say, this rain has been ridiculous. But despite the weather it's been a lot of fun this week although. I'm still pretty exhausted from all the dodgeball and kickball games that we've had this week. It's been awesome to hang out with the kids at FG and it's pretty awesome to see the relationships that are being built there. It's pretty amazing what a few games of basketball and dodgeball can do to a friendship. It's been two weeks and I feel like I've known these kids for so much longer. The first few days it felt like it would take an act of Congress to get them to listen to whatever we had to say, and now they listen with little to no persuading from us. I look forward to the many more experiences that will come from this. Cya!

A Field Trip to the Library

2010-09-24T14:44:00.002-05:00

Yesterday day our kinder and 1st graders and the opportunity to go the the Bazan Library. They were so excited! They got to have books read to them, and they also got to have a tour. As we were leaving a few of the kids said that they would want to go back. When i asked what their favorite part was, they said the section that had the movies , or the computers that had games for them.

GET IT BIG!

2010-09-24T14:41:00.002-05:00

Things have been going very well at the Frank Garrett. Although the program doesn't officially begin until October 4, we still go over to the gym everyday. We have kids from all over the neighborhood that come do homework, play, or just hang out. There aren't a lot who come as of now, but the ones that do enjoy it more and more each day. I love to see the ones who have been with Urban interact with kids they just met. This is just the beginning of an amazing journey. I look forward to going along for the ride!
-K.Smith

Living the Life @ Urban......

2010-09-24T13:04:00.002-05:00

Hello World, it's just Ms. Nikki again!!!!!! We have completed another week and each week things are just falling into place. We started off @ Garrett with a handful of kids and now we have expanded to almost triple of what we begin with. Everyday we gain new faces and I think that is wonderful. I look forward to the day when there are soooooo many kids and we say "Gosh when are these kids going home".... We face day to day challenges but unfortunately for the kiddos we over power there issues. But I love it because each individual child has their own personality and character. I look forward to the weeks to come and the new kids, new challenges, new supplies/equipment, the fun games and activities. Go Urban!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doing what I Love........

2010-09-22T13:32:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! My name is Karla, this is my first time here at Urban Connection. As a resident of the Lincoln Heights, it's a pleasure to be able to give back to my community. I love working with kids and helping them become better students. I look foward to what this year has in store for me and my new Urban Family.
- Karla

I'm Excited !!!!!

2010-09-22T00:16:00.002-05:00

Hey my Name Is Alexander Isaac ,Im a student Sociology @ The UTSA This is my First year at Urban and working with Ameri Corps. I had a blast the last couple of weeks at Urban its been great working with the kids and spending time with them. I have been humbled by God's mercy for this opportunity to minster and be mistered to/by the kids and people around me. I loved to just be with the kids and let Christ's love flow. I'm so excited for what God has in-store for the Body of Christ @ Urban , and how He will do a tremendous,perfect work in the Staff and In the kids who attend.

First week!

2010-09-18T16:52:00.002-05:00

Well, first things first...my name is Josh (nice to meet you). This is my first time serving with the Americorp/ UCSA program, and it's been really awesome so far. I know your thinking, "But dude...it's only been a week." Well I can tell already that this is going to be an awesomeeee year! I have the opportunity to be a part of the Frank Garret Center project, which I am really looking forward to. I've learned a few things already and am looking forward to the things that God wants me to learn throughout this experience. But here are some tips that I've learned in my first week.

1.) If you see someone in a nice button down shirt, jeans, and work boots, DO NOT call him grandpa. It leads to a horrible beat down that you never saw coming.

2.) There is NO such thing as "too much knockout".

3.) If you lose to the kids at a 3-Point shootout, you will NEVER hear the end of it.

Can't wait for the rest of the year! Cyaa.

Round 3

2010-09-17T14:08:00.001-05:00

Hey guys it's Julia again! Well, it's time for my 3rd term as an americorps and I'm pumped! So far, it's been great. We haven't had any problems, except for a little blow up yesterday. But thats ok, it happens. Working with the older kids at the Frank Garrett has been fun. Mainly we just like to shoot hoops with the kids and today I think we are playing dodgeball. Once again God has blessed us with a great group of americorps. I love each and every one of them and I'm so excited to see God use their talents for the people in this community. We are so blessed! -Julia

2010-09-17T13:11:00.005-05:00

My name is Nia Ruffin this is my first time with urban connection and im so happy to be here.i have grown to most of the kids and some im still getting to know. The kids are such a joy to be around and i love seeing them when i come to urban connection and inter acting with them.

1st Week @ Urban Connections

2010-09-17T12:43:00.003-05:00

Hello, my name is Kuquanda "Nikki" Perkins. This is my first term with Urban Connections. I am delighted to be here. This is an opportunity to give back to the community in which I up-rooted. Urban Connections has given me a chance to be a part of revamping the Frank Garrett Community Center. This is an awesome experience for me. I can give back what was given to me. The Frank Garrett Community Center was formerly known as The Westend Community Center. It was under the direction of Mr. Frank Garrett who coordinated the center for over 45 years. This is why it is now known as the Frank Garrett Community Center. I am here for the children and the community. I am thrilled to be part of Urban Connections/Frank Garrett. The kids are awesome and energetic and I Love It!!!!!!!!!!!!! Take Pride In the Westside!!!!!!

I'm baccccckk!!!

2010-09-17T12:24:00.002-05:00

Just when I thought my run at Urban was over, I'm back at it again! At the end of the summer I was a bit sad because I thought it was the end of the road for me, but boy was I wrong! When I got the news that we could now serve 4 terms as Americorps I was ecstatic. I didn't realize how much I loved and missed being at Urban Connection until I had a month away from it. I contacted Randi, let her know that I wanted to come back and the rest was was history. Now I'm back and I must say it feels good to be here! Even though I've been here for almost two years, it feels like I've got a fresh start. We've got a brand new team, new programs, and I'm loving it! I look forward to seeing what God has in store for me and the rest of the new Urban family. Please keep us in your prayers as we fulfill the work of the kingdom. Be blessed and prosperous

-K. Smith

First day with the kids

2010-09-14T13:55:00.003-05:00

The first day of UCASA went really good. Some kids who had came for the summer program here at urban came back for this school year program. It was such a joy to see them return, and also to see some new faces. I really feel like they had fun, because i know i did! ;)

Meeting, bonding, and working with new members here at urban is an exciting experenice which should only get better. Can't wait to see how things will go.

Although we've come to the end of the road....

2010-08-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

Where did the summer go so fast?

"Let's make it a long goodbye..."

This summer here at Urban Connection has been a life changing experience for me. I learned so much about myself and others while here, as well as the fearfully and wonderfully made children that I had the pleasure of meeting during Kids camp! As I leave this summer behind I take with me such beautiful memories, that all the team members and kids have left in my mind and heart. I wouldn't trade or take back this experience for anything, and I humbly Thank God and give him all the glory, honor, and praise for placing me here at this time, and teaching me so many things along the way. I know I was here for a reason, and I thank him for my sense of fulfillment as this summer closes out. It was a pleasure working with the AmeriCorp team, and all the collective ideas we had that made Kids camp what it was. I thank all the outside help that we received this summer from the various organizations; we honestly couldn't have done it without you! I thank God for you all being here, and the compassion you brought along with you. I have enjoyed the friendships that I have built while here, and relationships that have been formed between the children and families. Each child holds a special place in my heart. I pray that each child has a wonderful school year, and that at least one of us has left a positive impact on their lives. As I leave I would like to share a favorite verse that any and everyone may take with them wherever they go, and may God follow you through it all:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.." -Philippians 4:13

Be blessed in all you do,

Precious

Summer Gone By

2010-08-04T09:18:00.004-05:00

This summer has been amazing. I was thinking, last week, of how much I am going to miss seeing all the kid's smiling faces, my team, and even the Lincoln Courts. It seems like it's all passed so fast. It feels like yesterday, that I was calling all the kids the same name, or sitting in training with group of my new found friends of Americorps. My final summer of college has gone by and I wouldn't have wanted to spend it anywhere else. This internship has been a blessing that apart from God, would have never happened. Even as I write this Gloria, one of my 7 year olds, is sitting in fornt of me trying to cover my eyes while I type, laughing hysterically. You just don't get this kind of experience anywhere else. I know this all sounds disorganized but I just can't find the words to communicate my gratitude for such a fulfilling summer. God bless!

Fear of change.

2010-07-26T15:59:00.001-05:00

Being at urban connection this summer has been such a wonderful experience for me but its also been a change from my normal routine. Usually I would just be at the resturant working in the kitchen. Summers used to consist of sleeping all day and up all night, nothing to productive but it was fun. I recently went to go chill with them cause I haven't in a while and things seemed so different than they used to be. After leaving there I felt kinda sad because it seemed in that instant that life was just changing so rapidly for me. Friends have left for good, my summer at Urban Connection is almost over, I have to move(moving sucks so bad) and I still need to make sure everything goes smoothly this upcoming semester. Starting something new can sometimes be a burden when new obstacles keep popping up out of nowhere. I don't fear change, but for that brief moment I did. For that brief moment I just wanted things to stay the same for just a bit longer because fear and doubt had crept up on me. Then I remembered Philippians 4:6 and I prayed about it. There is nothing for me to fear when I know I have God on my side and he will take care of all my problems if I just have faith in him. There is no need to doubt myself or any situations because I have family and friends who are there for me. I will never be alone in my time of need because God has never forsaken me and he never will. I think I've been placed at Urban not just to be a positive role model for the children, but it has also brought me closer to God. I enjoy what I do everyday from getting to run outside with children to bringing a smile to there face after they've been crying. It's my joy in life and I hope I can keep making a difference in childrens lives for the rest of my life. - Josh

A kind of chill week :)

2010-07-25T22:25:00.000-05:00

This week was very different from any other: we had 3 groups come in instead of 1, we went to the park, and Friday was dentist day (no kids camp!) The kids seemed to be on a special high because boy were they rowdy!! But thankfully none of us lost our cool. On thurday we went to Woodlawn park but before that Northside church of christ helped our kids make some AWESOME games/toys: there was a racket made out of PVC pipe and rubberbands (so cool), a bean filled glove yo-yo ( i know, long description), a sandbag hacky sack and ........(drum roll, please) a human car wash!!! That was soooo cool to see ( I hope someone posted pictures of it); they had attached a hose to a bunch of PVC pipes that they formed to look like a carwash, complete with sponges and moving appartus'. It was just the coolest little invention. Anyway the park had it's ups (smiling faces, sweaty kids, happy times) and downs (the poor scared ducks that some of our kids kind of chased and terrorized; sorry duckies!) We had a great time :)
Posted by Candice Johnson

Fortmaking

2010-07-24T23:32:00.001-05:00

Just wanted to post some pictures of the Urban kids' smiling faces! Props to Josh for having the energy to help the kids build forts out of mats on Thursday, even after we spent the whole day at Woodlawn Park with the kids!

The finished product, with a roof and everything. There were like 6 kids crammed into that little fort!

I was amazed by how much they enjoyed this.

A bigger fort they could all fit into.

Yay!

~Bets

The Joys of the Outdoors!

2010-07-21T21:42:00.002-05:00

Although the San Antonio humidity and overwhelming heat often make us leaders partially dread the 2-3 hours we spend outside every day, it is a huge joy to watch the kids play together and even play with them. It is SO HARD to get the kids off of the playground when playtime is over!

I absolutely loved watching these 8 kids work together to figure out how to pile up on the slide and scream with joy at how hard it was to not fall off!

Our little ones especially love playing tag.

Clarissa (5 years old) usually swings until her arms are about to fall off from exhaustion!

Another snapshot of the kids scurrying down the slide during tag.

Outside time is so fun for the kids, and I sincerely hope they never lose their innocent love for games like tag and the simple joys of swinging high on a swing!

~Bets

Mr. James

2010-07-21T20:51:00.000-05:00

My dear Mr. James is one of those people who can make you want to scream out loud irrationally all the while making you think and begrudingly smile. He has one of the most pure servant hearts that I've seen in a looooong time. He always has a positive attitude, a smile on his face, an encouraging word, and a dance (no matter how off beat) in his step. I know that I can count on him to keep the children feeling happy, safe, encouraged and loved. We have a relationship that even though it may sometimes be volatile it is genuine and I treasure it. But out of all of this, my favorite thing about James is his love for the Lord; even though he may be sarcastic, he bases everything he says and does off the Word of God. He remembers to give God the glory in everything that he does and that is all the God requires. To you Mr. white and creamy I say, "and all the girls say, He's pretty fly for a white guy!" Love ya, man :)
Posted by Candice Johnson

Jules

2010-07-20T15:35:00.001-05:00

What can I say about Julia? She's a lot of fun and the kids absolutely LOVE her. One thing i really appreciate about her is that she is really forthcoming and blunt about her mistakes which is rather refreshing when one works with children all day, lol. Julia is always the first one outside in the morning, cereal bowl in hand to watch the kids who want to play outside. I also really appreciate that she has no tolerance for unnecessary tears from the children because all of that crying can get really irritating sometimes. All in all I'm really glad I got a chance to get to know Julia and see her interact with all of the children here at Urban.

Peace out < Alex

Hello Mrs. Kreuger's Management Class!

2010-07-20T13:29:00.005-05:00

This is an example of what a blog might look like. Kid's Connection at Urban Connection is a blog that builds community among employees, as well as advertise to the public some things that are going on in the Lincoln Height's Courts. The blog also allows for a place where employees can express creativity and write reflections on the previous week's activities. For example, today we took a "boys only" field trip to the police academy. As you can imagine, all the boys wanted to be a police officer afterwards. Check out the rest of the blog after class to find out some of the amazing things happening in one of the nation's poorest zip codes!

YO CANDICE!

2010-07-19T16:10:00.003-05:00

YO CANDICE! She's a real cool cat. She's got a lot of this, and a lot of that. We all think that she's real neat. So come check out my sweet new beat. She's always fly, even on the jet plane. Always on time, never in the traffic lane. She cracks the whip, when Jorge's bad, and holds him like a baby when he's sad. She sweeps, mops, and hands out food,and she'll "slap ya in the mouth" if you're rude. She'll blow up your vocab, when you blab, don't try and spell, its just a drab. She's got the power. You know the, soOOULL POWER! Don't mess with her Satan, she'll pray you out, and leave us on the floor, all fallin' out. She talks like a boss, walks like a boss, better count the cost, before you get all cross. All in all, she's ridiculously awesome, stay around her too long, and you can't help but blossom. The End.

So that's my rap for my good friend Candice and pretty much the expanse of my creativity. Candice is one of those people that I love having next to me in such challenging arenas like children's programs. She is trustworthy, hardworking, and focused on the task at hand. She is direct and honest about things she likes and dislikes, which is a rare, but needed trait in leaders. She has a consistent, genuine, care and love for the children. Being around her continually makes me a better man, and that is the type of godly woman, like all the urban women, that I enjoy working with. Candice, may God bless you and keep you!

Lindsey-Smalls!!

2010-07-19T09:31:00.004-05:00

I feel like singing about my pal, Lindsey, so here goes nothing..lol.

*clears throat*

L- is for the way you LOOK at me.....o_O
I- is for the INCREDIBLE person I see...
N- is very, very NICE and extraordinary...
S- is SO much more than anyone could adore...
and....
E- is EVERYTHING you mean to me...
Y- is something to describe YOU, as what I seeeee, and it is Ahhhhh-MAZING!!

All of us in Urban can make...
Take my heart but please don't break it..
cause' LINDSEY was made for me and YOU!!!

*awkward moment taken..and observed* o_O LOL!

Lindsey!!!

Words cannot explain what you mean to Urban and how much me as well as the other team members appreciate all you do while you're here. I often notice how great you interact with the children here, and love having fun and being a kid again while playing. I thank you for all you do, and I want to let you know that it never goes unnoticed. :)

I'm Precious Nwigwe, and as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and SOOOUUUUULLLLLLLLLL!!

Jah Bless!

Alex :)

2010-07-18T23:38:00.001-05:00

One of my co-workers Alex has been doing an exceptional job lately. I've noticed many positive qualities she has; a big one for example is her compassion for each individual child. We always have kids falling down, getting bumps and bruises, and here comes Alex ready to patch up their scrapes. Not only does she take care of their physical needs, she also is very good when our kids have emotional issues. She is always mindful of how she speaks to each child, and is very wise when consoling them. I really appreciate Alex and all of the wonderful assests she brings to our team of Americorps. Props to you Alex and keep up the awesome work!! - Julia

Eliza-Bets!!!!

2010-07-18T22:19:00.002-05:00

During my time here at Urban I've been privileged to be surrounded by so many wonderful people. I've had numerous jobs, but this is the first one I can truly say that I love! Not only do I love what I do, but I love the people I work with. One of those people is Miss Elizabeth A.K.A Bets. Whoever created the saying "there's no I in team" had Bets in mind. She's a great example of how one should go over and beyond their call of duty. When there's down time she always finds something to do. Anything from decorating our bulletin boards to putting up colorful dots along the borders of the walls to brighten up the room. Her creativity has brought life to the Urban facility. Bet's smile alone can brighten any ones' day. The love of God continuously shines through her, and I know that it's genuine. Although she's one of the younger team members she stands out as a great leader. I'm blessed to have her be apart of my life!!!!:) Be blessed and prosperous....
-K.Smith

Sabrina!

2010-07-18T22:04:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you about my friend Sabrina. She is a wonderful person who's usually pretty organized, way more than me anyway. She's jokes around at times which is cool. She is in charge of lunch with Bets and I thinks they both do an outstanding job at it. This past friday though, while in between snacktime and our next activity there wasn't anything for me to do with the kids. So I decided to play Thumbs up Seven up, but there was only one problem I didn't remember how to play the game. Sabrina to the rescue! She swooped in and saved the day not only was the game played properly I also had alot of fun. Thank you Sabrina for being there when I needed you. You rock. Josh

Precious Nwigwe

2010-07-18T19:28:00.001-05:00

Precious our urban after hours step teacher did an awesome job on Friday teaching the kids new steps. Not only is Precious amazing at teaching our kids at urban different steps, but she is also really good at teaching the kids new card games in the morning before we get started with our day. In our ten and up group Precious has done an awesome job with our two older girls at Urban Connection being able to confide in her with the things they are struggling with in their lives. I can really tell these girls really trust Precious and look up to her, and it is awesome to see that. This summer has been incredible and I am so thankful for each team member I have had the privledge to work with. Countinue to pray for each of us and the plans God has for us for the rest of the summer. Gig em and God Bless,Lindsey Hawkins

One of My Great Coworkers, Kisha!

2010-07-17T15:14:00.000-05:00

In the midst of energetic and rambunctious kids causing havoc to any preconceived notions of having an organized and fully orderly day at work, she stands out as one who isn’t fazed by the chaos. Having learned to take things as they come and not stress over events not going as planned, she has almost completely perfected doing what is necessary to ensure that Urban lives up to its motto of loving each and every kid fully and completely. I think of her as the ultimate caretaker. She loves on the kids with a wisdom that I hope to be able to develop. Her commitment to Urban goes beyond the normal hours of 8:30-3:30, Monday through Friday, as she has helped coordinate and chaperone various weekend camps this summer. Her name is Kisha Smith, and I’m so proud to be able to call her my coworker and my friend!

~Bets

Mr. Josh

2010-07-16T18:20:00.007-05:00

This week we were assigned to chose someone from our team and write about them, I choose Josh. Honestly, before we were even given this assignment I didn't really pay much attention to what the others in my group were really doing for Urban. Over this week I have seen first hand how great my team really is. Josh among the others, has an extraordinary personality, he doesn't mind to lend a helping hand. Josh is consistent with the children and also fair to each one of them. He is a friend to the kids, a motivator, and a leader, but also knows when he needs to step up and take control. What I admire the most about him is that he never stresses over any little thing, and he always has a positive attitude, also he keep his personal life and work life separated. He's encouraging and funny, and although he may not know it he has helped me see that being clam, relaxed, and at ease at times is not always a bad thing. I'm proud that I have the opportunity to work with him along the other members in my team, because he has tought me many things. So Thank You Josh! ;)

UC LIVE :)

2010-07-11T22:44:00.001-05:00

This week was filled with lots of ups (my group finally behaving!!) and unforunately some downs (suspensions). But even with all of the drama that is always to come with working at Urban, there was light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a cookout/talent show called UC LIVE! Lindsey, james and I had stayed afterwards for the cookout so that we could see all the kids and their hard work...man I wish I had brought my personal camera for that, but thankfully lindsey got some pics! Anywho, the kids were so fantastic and they were so happy it seriously brought tears to my eyes to see them laughing and singing and dancing for their parents with the BIGGEST smiles on their faces! I mean they were just overjoyed and those moments are where I realized that all of the drama and stress and frustration that can come from this job seems to disappear when I see those kids happy, laughing and healthy :) And oh my goodnes my 8 and 9 year olds brought down the house with their performance of Baby by Justin Bieber...they had smooth moves (some taken from MJ, of course) they were just so confident and wonderful! I was just so proud. Being with these kids has taught me to be appreciative of the life that God has blessed me with but also to share in the good times when all of us truly feel blessed. Posted by candice johnson

Our Amazing Kids at the Talent Show!!!

2010-07-11T20:09:00.004-05:00

I was so proud of our 8 and 9 year olds as they performed baby by Justin Bieber. They did such an awesome job, here is a small video clip of it.

Here is another video of our awesome kids performing a song they learned throughout the week with the Kentucky group.

Adam and Jaden perform Karate Kid and they

did such an amazing job!

Gig em and God Bless, Lindsey Hawkins

The Blessing of Serving Hearts

2010-07-11T17:37:00.003-05:00

Do you believe that those we bless are often times the ones we least expect to? A lot of times we don't even know when or where it happens. Previously, I was feeling drained and certainly more pessimistic than normal. A lot of this was due to poor resting habits, stress, and an unspoken tension among the team. However, God gave me an opportunity to see some of my own flaws and bad tendencies that I have been allowing to slip into my character over the past couple of weeks and a new spark to finish strong this summer.

Much of these realizations were from having some new Christ-centered laborers, visiting all the way from Kentucky, along side of our Americorps team. Seeing their heart for the children and an amazing spirit of inclusion put the much needed spark back into my summer. It was their enthusiasm, not their criticism, that spurred me to pick myself up and continue laboring for kingdom victories. They were not afraid to come along side of you and get their hands dirty and always invited you to join in on their home cooked meals, which were amazing. After the kids left one day, we had an outdoor gallon challenge that, after walking inside and coming back to milk that had been heated up on the asphalt, gave me a new perspective on Revelation 3:16 - So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. I know that the Kentucky team's focus wasn't on me but it's amazing what an enthusiastic heart to serve can do to bless those around it. I know that I am a man of many flaws but I hope that someday I also will be characterized by a passionate serving heart that spurs on other Christ-centered laborers. Shine on!

Kentucky Fried Style...

2010-07-09T17:17:00.000-05:00

This week here at Urban the group very well known around these parts as "Kentucky" came to show our kids a very great time, as they planned out several activities and games, and a great bible lesson each and everyday. The kids really seemed to enjoy learning new stories and songs, as well as I did. I enjoyed watching many of the kids faces light up with excitment with all the stories that were told...from the inside the boat, to the window. Also, the outdoor games were very fun as well, from "Mr. Wolf what time is it?" to "Mingle", and one of my favorites "Knock Out!" (even though I didn't win) All in all, every moment was a great experience!! I can't wait for more fun and excitment that is coming our way!

God Bless,

-Precious Nwigwe
"Do Not Stress...Do Your Best...and God Does The Rest!"

What Will They Do Next?

2010-07-09T15:34:00.004-05:00

4-5 year olds have a different but exciting idea towards life. Their imaginations run wild all throughout the day. Its very hard to try and guess what they might say or even do next. Everyone of these kids can bring a smile to my face in may ways. The things they come up with are so ridiculous that you can't help but laugh because it tends to be extremely funny! They are the most adorable kids I've met. Throughout this week the kids have gotten to do many different activities, and make many different art crafts. They also learned new songs along with that moves that go with them. I personally think that the kids really enjoyed dancing and singing the most, they tended to get lose and go with the flow!

The Rambunctious but Altogether Lovable Fours and Fives

2010-07-06T21:17:00.001-05:00

It's hard to find the words to describe my feelings about the 4 and 5 year olds that Sabrina, Kisha, and I have had the opportunity to lead and spend our time with at Urban. The kids are precious. While it's almost impossible to get most of them to sit still for longer than 30 seconds, they have such an inexpressible joy and passion for life that it's also impossible not to love them. We often find ourselves laughing very hard about the hilarious sayings, imaginations, and actions of these young children. A few of the kids have such wild and altogether entertaining imaginations that it's hard to bring myself to tell them to forget their imaginative ideas for the time being and focus on the task at hand. Here are some pictures of some of the darlings that I have the blessing to spend my days with this summer!

A group shot of about half of the little "Indians" we had running around one day.

Eduardo, the most imaginative little boy I have ever met. Here, he's posing as he's "frozen" while playing freeze tag.

John John, David, Diego, and Jacob having a blast with Lance, one of the leaders from the Springtown group from last week.

The playground is definitely this age's favorite hangout spot. Here, Amore is posing at the top of the slide!

Joshua and David, two brothers who love each other to death and have the sweetest smiles!

God bless!

~Bets

Hurt Left Unhealed

2010-07-06T16:49:00.004-05:00

Heart break was the theme for what I was experiencing last week at urban. On Tuesday, I found out that one of the sweetest girls in my group of 6&7 year olds tried to jump out of a moving car and also attempted to "seriously" attacked her sister. She was then enrolled in the psychiatric ward at a nearby hospital and studied for a while. I was broken over the news. She is one of those kids that melts your heart and rarely gives you any problems. I later found out that she was on medication during the day to keep her calm and due to some "home" problems, she was experiencing a lot of anger.
This same week, I sat outside with a 13 year old girl talking about how angry and short tempered she was at another girl and that it all stemmed from her dad being murdered a few years before. For 45 minutes, with her face streaming in tears of frustration, we talked about having self-control, the consequences of anger, and the healing power of God. I knew that God was the only one that could take her pain away and draw her off of the bad path she is headed down, but she spoke of God as being the one who allowed her father to die. All I could say was that an angry man with a gun killed her dad, not God, and that I truly believe that there is a better and bigger plan for her than the things she is doing currently. My heart was heavy with sorrow for each of the girls, but these are just two stories of the many here at the Lincoln Heights Courts. There is so much pain lurking behind the cute faces here at urban and it is a shame that they all have to be young children. Why does the world overlook things that are going on here, good and bad? Why don't ALL the people of God turn their deafened ears towards the cries of these children and to all the pain left unhealed. I know that I was oblivious to it all once, but if you have ears to hear, let them hear. We can no longer hide behind the "that's not my calling" smokescreen, or "I don't have time" excuse. Jesus speaks of them in them in such a direct way that you would have to be a pharisee to hide from it.
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" 2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me. 6But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8 If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. 10"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. 12 "What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? 13And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. 14In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
So Jesus is passionately seeking after all the little ones in San Antonio, but the question is, "Are we?" Are we seeking to be God's guiding and healing hands and feet or are we just being kept in the pockets of our own selfishness like too much change that clangs around in some annoying repetitive fashion.