what a wonderful weekend

hey hey hey!  so the block party was fantastic!  there were an incredible amount of people who attended, somewhere around 700-800 if i would guestimate.  it seemed like the whole neighborhood showed up, food was provided, fun fun was too.  i personally was in charge of monitering the blow up castle that the kids jumped in….referred to as the “moonwalk”.  i had a great time interacting with a constant flow of kids, some younger, some older, but  i must say that it was a little bit challenging trying to maintain control.  overall, it was a sweet experience (i love park programs anyways, ever since i helped put one on during barnabas when we were in philly), and we unveiled a “peace garden” at the park where we hosted the party.  it is a beautiful array of flowers and signs with some pretty cool quotes and verses on them.  the pathway in the garden makes a peace sign, and the purpose is to promote peace within the community.

i have been thinking a lot about perception of a community, and it is interesting to see how the area that i am in looks deceptively nice.  granted, there are parts close by that aren’t the greatest in the world, but generally, the houses look nice, there aren’t any bars on the windows of the buildings/houses (which really surprised me), and it seems decently calm.  what happens in the community, however, is a different story.  several gangs are present in the immediate area around the project, shootings occur, and not too long ago, just up the street, the biggest drug bust in the history of western PA happened.  but it is still phenomenal to see relationships fostering, friendships being made, and lives being poured into.  God is distinctly at work here, and i am stoked to see everythign that happens this summer.

i have been able to travel around pittsburgh a little bit, and it is beautiful!  it’s nice just to get around the city, and not stay in one spot the entire time…the project kind of becomes a desert land on the weekends as a lot of the staff go home to attend to various things.  it’s all good though!  i am excited about the people that i am meeting here, and God is already teaching me many lessons through them.

keep praying as i go through orientation.  i have 2 more weeks until camp starts, and there is a lot to learn during that time.  i can’t help but think that this tug on my heart for the city is here to stay.  everything is so very exciting!

ben

“only time will tell if violins will swell”