Fun in the South Bronx

Todd and I were able to get away to New York recently, and we participated in an amazing, life changing experience. 

a bit of history:  While discussing with one of our church friends about our past experiences in New York and our love for the city, we found out that she used to be a summer missionary intern at a church plant in the Bronx.  She explained how they offer summer sport camps to the children in the community for free and that she was headed there for a basketball camp.  She invited us along, but we had already booked our summer trip for a different week.  boo.  So – we emailed the director and let him know we wanted to visit with him about what he does, and to learn more about the ministry and it turns out they were putting on a tennis camp the week we would be there.  So – we helped!

Graffiti 2 is the name of the ministry.  We arrived to help them on the first day of their camp.  They set up at the local playground and the kids were lined up waiting to get in.  They are limited in the number they can accept due to space and equipment limitations.  So – it is first come first served.

    

Let me just tell you – I was amazed.  Graffiti 2 was well organized and truly love their community.  As each child came through the registration line – they were asked if they had eaten breakfast that morning.  If not, they were given food right then to fuel them for the day.  They were each given a shirt to wear at the camp and then sent on to their groups to learn the fundamentals of tennis and to learn how God Loves Us All.  Every day they come through the line and are asked the same thing.  Also – at the end of each day they are given a ‘snack pack’ with a drink, fruit snacks, peanut butter crackers and a granola bar.  Every. Day. Also – at the end of this camp, they were sent home with a tennis racket and a container of balls.  All free to the children, all donated by people who feel called to serve children who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity to participate in a camp such as this, or the opportunity to learn about the Lord.

     

There was a verse of the week and each child was given a copy of the verse on a little fish that they were encouraged to carry with them to learn.

     

We fell in love with each of those kids.  What began as a quest to find out more about the ministry turned into a love for the community in the South Bronx and a return trip the next day to help with camp.  We completely pushed our vacation plans to the side and spent another day at the camp.  (all photos were taken the second day)  When we left the second day, knowing we weren’t able to come back because we were leaving the city – I cried.  Not just cried, but boo-hoo ugly cried.  We are making plans to return, including our three oldest, to help out again.  It was such a blessing and the kids were amazing.  I have a soft spot for any child and I just want to hold, love , protect and love on them some more.  This is what it is all about.

Love God. Love Others.

A