...the river has crested here near the arch, but it is still far enough from our house that we will not be affected. But there are lots of people who are being affected and we continue to get rain here in the midwest!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
FLOODS!
For all of those who are wondering...we are not under water here in North St. Louis! However, there are a lot of areas near us that are being affected by the flood. On Saturday evening Andrew and I went downtown to the arch, which is right next to the Mississippi, and this is what we saw...
...the river has crested here near the arch, but it is still far enough from our house that we will not be affected. But there are lots of people who are being affected and we continue to get rain here in the midwest!
...the river has crested here near the arch, but it is still far enough from our house that we will not be affected. But there are lots of people who are being affected and we continue to get rain here in the midwest!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Summer is Here!
We are well into our second week of our Summer Program! What a week and a half it has been! We have already worked with over 30 kids and are close to maxing out our student to leader ratio every day! This has never happened so quickly in any of our programs.
Teaching a bible lesson in our backyard.
We run Backyard Bible Club each Monday-Thursday from 1-3pm, rotating locations between all three of our staff houses. Then from 4-6pm each day we run club at our ministry center. Then, Fridays give us an opportunity to take kids on field trips who have earned enough points through attendance and good behavior. Our first swim field trip was cancelled due to rain, but we improvised and took the few kids who had earned it to the movies and had a wonderful time. Our first neighborhood cookout was also canceled due to rain, but we are praying for good weather this week so that the field trip and cookout at our house will not be cancelled.
Singing our "Keep it REAL" rap up at the ministry center.
We believe that God has great things planned for this summer! Please pray with us for God to work mightily in the hearts of the kids who come to our program!
Teaching a bible lesson in our backyard.
We run Backyard Bible Club each Monday-Thursday from 1-3pm, rotating locations between all three of our staff houses. Then from 4-6pm each day we run club at our ministry center. Then, Fridays give us an opportunity to take kids on field trips who have earned enough points through attendance and good behavior. Our first swim field trip was cancelled due to rain, but we improvised and took the few kids who had earned it to the movies and had a wonderful time. Our first neighborhood cookout was also canceled due to rain, but we are praying for good weather this week so that the field trip and cookout at our house will not be cancelled.
Singing our "Keep it REAL" rap up at the ministry center.
We believe that God has great things planned for this summer! Please pray with us for God to work mightily in the hearts of the kids who come to our program!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
June Update
June 1, 2008
Dear Family and Friends,
It is not at all unusual for Andrew and me to be solicited for drugs in our neighborhood. Recently we went on a walk to get some much needed exercise and were flagged down by a guy in a red sedan who was eager to offer us his services. “Oh, no thanks,” we replied, waiting until he had driven off to laugh about how frequently this occurs. Only minutes later a cop car drove by us for the third time as he kept an eye on our course throughout the neighborhood. We waved to him, hoping our friendly faces would convince him we were up to nothing nefarious.
Another time when local police were concerned about our presence they pulled over in front of our house and asked, “Do you live here?” And yet another time they asked warily, “Do you know what this neighborhood is about?” referring to the rampant drug activity (of which they initially thought we were a part). To each question our answer was yes, we do live here and we are not naïve about some of the things that go on in our neighborhood.
The fact is that being white in our community comes along with several assumptions on the part of those who do not know us: we are either here for drugs or here to give hand outs, as several local organizations are known to do. We are here for neither. It can be funny and also frustrating to constantly come up against these assumptions, but it always leaves the door open for further conversation. If we are not here for drugs and we are not here to just give hand outs…then what are we here for?
Not unlike the assumption of some in our community that we are here for drugs, people from the outside looking in often assume that the drugs and violence and crime are why we are here. We are not here because of the drugs and violence and crime, we are here in spite of these things to speak a message of love and healing to people whom God cares about. The police officer who asked us if we knew what this neighborhood is about, however well intentioned he was, at the moment, had a very limited view of this community. God has a plan for the people of North St. Louis and we must all look past skin color and drug deals and violence to see what God is orchestrating for this community, for all of us, as participants in His plan of redemption.
We are so excited when we have new people to wave to as we take our walks, but even more exciting is when we have the opportunity to share with them why we are here—whether they are a new neighbor, a drug dealer, or a local police officer. Along with asking “do you live here” on that one occasion, that particular officer asked a few why questions as well. Andrew’s response was that God called us to live here and serve the community. Almost in disbelief the officer shook his head and said, “It must’ve been God who called you here.” Indeed it was and it truly is exciting to be sharing in a part of His plans for North St. Louis. Please continue to pray for our community and for our ability to be bold witnesses of the love of Christ to our neighbors.
For His Kingdom, Andrew and Adria Medlen
Dear Family and Friends,
It is not at all unusual for Andrew and me to be solicited for drugs in our neighborhood. Recently we went on a walk to get some much needed exercise and were flagged down by a guy in a red sedan who was eager to offer us his services. “Oh, no thanks,” we replied, waiting until he had driven off to laugh about how frequently this occurs. Only minutes later a cop car drove by us for the third time as he kept an eye on our course throughout the neighborhood. We waved to him, hoping our friendly faces would convince him we were up to nothing nefarious.
Another time when local police were concerned about our presence they pulled over in front of our house and asked, “Do you live here?” And yet another time they asked warily, “Do you know what this neighborhood is about?” referring to the rampant drug activity (of which they initially thought we were a part). To each question our answer was yes, we do live here and we are not naïve about some of the things that go on in our neighborhood.
The fact is that being white in our community comes along with several assumptions on the part of those who do not know us: we are either here for drugs or here to give hand outs, as several local organizations are known to do. We are here for neither. It can be funny and also frustrating to constantly come up against these assumptions, but it always leaves the door open for further conversation. If we are not here for drugs and we are not here to just give hand outs…then what are we here for?
Not unlike the assumption of some in our community that we are here for drugs, people from the outside looking in often assume that the drugs and violence and crime are why we are here. We are not here because of the drugs and violence and crime, we are here in spite of these things to speak a message of love and healing to people whom God cares about. The police officer who asked us if we knew what this neighborhood is about, however well intentioned he was, at the moment, had a very limited view of this community. God has a plan for the people of North St. Louis and we must all look past skin color and drug deals and violence to see what God is orchestrating for this community, for all of us, as participants in His plan of redemption.
We are so excited when we have new people to wave to as we take our walks, but even more exciting is when we have the opportunity to share with them why we are here—whether they are a new neighbor, a drug dealer, or a local police officer. Along with asking “do you live here” on that one occasion, that particular officer asked a few why questions as well. Andrew’s response was that God called us to live here and serve the community. Almost in disbelief the officer shook his head and said, “It must’ve been God who called you here.” Indeed it was and it truly is exciting to be sharing in a part of His plans for North St. Louis. Please continue to pray for our community and for our ability to be bold witnesses of the love of Christ to our neighbors.
For His Kingdom, Andrew and Adria Medlen
Monday, June 9, 2008
A New Medlen
For those of you who know me (Adria), you will be quite shocked by the news that we have a new family member. His name is Studebaker. He is a dog. An outside dog.
Medlen Family Reunion
There was fun had by all...
motorcycle rides & crazy hats
...the Medlen Family Reunion of 2008!
motorcycle rides & crazy hats
hiking & piggy back rides
fun nieces & grandpa on a tree swing
family time
camping & tractor rides
crazy hair & beautiful scenery
...the Medlen Family Reunion of 2008! Wednesday, May 28, 2008
A "Lost Cause"
His eyes were no longer a shield to his soul and I could see him. He’s a short kid but he seemed almost tiny as he stood in front of me with eyes that spoke more of fear and uncertainty than gritty bravado. His face, which was usually set with rectangular force, appeared as full as a toddler’s, as he uncharacteristically and politely pleaded entrance into the barbeque. My first inclination was to turn him away; this wasn’t a barbeque for all the local kids, and besides, he had seemed through with us for quite some time. But as I talked to him on the steps of World Impact about summer and paintballing, my eyes stung and my chest ached at what a child he is. This kid wears the label “Lost Cause” around his neck every day like a weight—his circumstances having thrust him into very adult things; his choices having given him a bad reputation in the neighborhood. A heavy burden for a young boy to bear.
Not wanting to miss a moment of his childhood, I invited him in for a plate of food. Walking down the street his minus five foot frame glares large confidence, but here, walking beside me down the hall, was a timid boy. I tried my best to do with my words what I could not do with my arms and envelop him in a strong and loving embrace. This kid has a history with World Impact, but I wanted him to know he was still welcome here. When we reached the line of food I expected him to grab his food and leave, but Andrew and I almost had to coax him down the line, adding cookies and chicken wings to his unassuming claim of one hot dog and a tiny puddle of pork and beans.
He didn’t respond to the words that kept tumbling out of our mouths. All the while he continued to look lost and timid but we didn’t stop. We loaded his plate and filled his ears and when there seemed nothing else we could get for him Andrew accompanied him on his way outside.
I am almost certain that the next time I see him in the neighborhood he will feign ignorance of me. He will probably be frustratingly brash and be in the company of other “tough” young men. But whether or not he knows it, I see him, because we shared a moment of his childhood, and I pray that even as he stuffs that experience so that he can survive in a man’s world, his heart will remember a safe place and loving words. I pray that he will have for a moment experienced something akin to freedom before he walked back out under the bondage of his label. I pray that this child’s heart comes to know that in Christ he is neither lost, nor a lost cause.
Not wanting to miss a moment of his childhood, I invited him in for a plate of food. Walking down the street his minus five foot frame glares large confidence, but here, walking beside me down the hall, was a timid boy. I tried my best to do with my words what I could not do with my arms and envelop him in a strong and loving embrace. This kid has a history with World Impact, but I wanted him to know he was still welcome here. When we reached the line of food I expected him to grab his food and leave, but Andrew and I almost had to coax him down the line, adding cookies and chicken wings to his unassuming claim of one hot dog and a tiny puddle of pork and beans.
He didn’t respond to the words that kept tumbling out of our mouths. All the while he continued to look lost and timid but we didn’t stop. We loaded his plate and filled his ears and when there seemed nothing else we could get for him Andrew accompanied him on his way outside.
I am almost certain that the next time I see him in the neighborhood he will feign ignorance of me. He will probably be frustratingly brash and be in the company of other “tough” young men. But whether or not he knows it, I see him, because we shared a moment of his childhood, and I pray that even as he stuffs that experience so that he can survive in a man’s world, his heart will remember a safe place and loving words. I pray that he will have for a moment experienced something akin to freedom before he walked back out under the bondage of his label. I pray that this child’s heart comes to know that in Christ he is neither lost, nor a lost cause.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Meet Ja'Marion
Isn't he cute?
I'm (Adria) only a little partial, seeing as I was there when he first made his entrance into this world. I like to believe we have a special connection now; although, in reality, the connection is all on my end of the relationship at this point. But I sure do like to believe that his 2 1/2 month old self is especially fond of me, innately knowing I have a special connection with him :).
I'm (Adria) only a little partial, seeing as I was there when he first made his entrance into this world. I like to believe we have a special connection now; although, in reality, the connection is all on my end of the relationship at this point. But I sure do like to believe that his 2 1/2 month old self is especially fond of me, innately knowing I have a special connection with him :).I've been so proud of Laniecha. For a 15-year-old in 9th grade she has found a new level of determination as a mother. This doesn't mean it isn't hard. It's very hard and she's already had moments where she 
feels like giving up. Graduating the 9th grade is a challenge when you are up all night with a baby and have no one to watch him when you need to study. But, she also has a desire to work towards a better life for her and her baby. We've got to get through 9th grad first! Please continue to pray for Laniecha and Ja'Marion as they have a long and difficult road ahead of them!
feels like giving up. Graduating the 9th grade is a challenge when you are up all night with a baby and have no one to watch him when you need to study. But, she also has a desire to work towards a better life for her and her baby. We've got to get through 9th grad first! Please continue to pray for Laniecha and Ja'Marion as they have a long and difficult road ahead of them!
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