"Vanessa, get your child!"

Ishynae: "Vanessa, get your child!"

Me: "STOP! COME ON, LET'S GO!"

Tomorrow marks 4 years that I've been with ICI.  Four years. FOUR YEARS. That means that I've officially seen my first "class" graduate.  Of course, throughout the years, I've met kids in between grades.  But let me tell you a little bit about my journey.

Me with my two kids. <3

Ramon and I (he's off in college now. brb, crying)

My junior year at Moody (now 2 years ago), I was put in charge of the sophomore class.  The sophomores that year consisted of 20 boys and 3 girls, then changed to just boys.  So there I was.. another Moody student and I who tried to keep 20 sophomore boys calm, and at the very least attentive to a bible lesson. That entire school year was THE. HARDEST. YEAR. OF. MY. LIFE.  Every Friday I would come back to Moody crying because of sadness, anger, just frustrated, or exhausted.. many times probably all of the above.  I didn't like them. I definitely didn't love them. It took a huge toll on me, physically even.  The kids that were in other groups weren't getting kicked out, but my boys were.  Every week, the same kids getting kicked out. Every week, the same battle. 

But then conviction got me. 

How are these kids going to listen if you have no relationship with them? 

Liz: the one who trusts me with these students. Thanks for everything. AND FOR DRESSING UP FOR MY PARTY.

All they know about me is that I'm some lady whom they tower over, that I expect them to listen to "some bible story", that I tell them "Be quiet.. put your phone away.. Stop that. Don't say that!" Why would they listen to me? 

I need a relationship with them. 

This kid calls me "grandma".

  So I tried. I took them to play basketball. I took them out to eat.  It took a LONG time to get somewhere.  Even still to this day, I already know that these boys won't pour out their hearts.  

So what have I learned in the 4 years that I've been there? 

It's not that they don't like me, it's that they're posing.. I think..

I need the Gospel: During that junior year, I kept thinking, "WHY AREN'T THESE KIDS LISTENING TO THIS?!" I would get upset.  Then at some point, I kind of pulled a Jonah was like, "God, these kids don't care about you.. why even keep going?"  LOL I THOUGHT.  This "3 strikes, you're out" discipline reminded me.. God doesn't do that with us. If that were the case, I wouldn't be here 4 years into the hardest ministry writing this. I was reminded of God's grace and forgiveness.  If God doesn't cast us away after the third strike, and continues to love us, then I can do the same (ICI kids, if you're reading this, don't get it twisted, I'll still kick you out.. luv u tho).  When the kids would blatently disrespect me or another leader, it pushed me to prayer to love them.  Forgiveness, boy. Wow. Not only that, but I need to be in the Word to do anything.  "Apart from me you can do nothing". Boy have I seen that.  

My daughter.

This world is so cruel: Of course, we can read headlines about our city and how many people get shot every weekend.  But sit and listen to the life of a teen.  Many students would be in danger getting out of school.  One family even moved because the family was sick of the danger.  I remember the first time a girl told me her story.  I was instantly filled with such a rage. It burned SO DEEP. "See, I just can't understand how you guys can sit here and say that God is a loving God and that he cares about me when.. (insert details)". Not just the outright horrendous things that happen to the kids, but the mentality that society indoctrinates them with.  I remember having a conversation (while eating tacos of course) with 3 kids about relationships.  "Sex is a competition, Vanessa." "I was going to make her get an abortion."  Turns out, he didn't know what abortion was.  It really is a "I'ma do me and get my own" mentality.

One of my favorite pictures, <3

Genuine love vs. assigned love: This is the part I'm still working on.  I've seen people be fake around my kids.  Don't do that. Don't be fake. They already have lies hitting them from every corner.  It hurts me so much.  Not only because I love my kids, but because I know that the kids can see it. They can sniff it out a mile away.  What kind of picture are you setting for the church?  At times I pleaded to the Lord to send laborers, but then my pride kicked in and I didn't want to entrust my kids to anyone else.  When I say that I'm still working on it,  I mean that I'm still working on expressing it in a positive way, rather than in anger.  But when you see someone who genuinely loves the kids.. oh man. You see the joy in their eyes when that person walks in.  You get to hear the conversations.  They connect in such a beautiful way.

BRB CRYING

Press on: When people ask me about what I do, I think my answer is initially confusing.  "It's the most frustrating, annoying, difficult, most beautiful thing."  That kinda sums it up, right leaders? 😂God has strengthened, chisiled, matured, and broke me these past couple years.  Every Friday night and days in between, He allows me to return to them, them to me, and allows me the prividlege of being used by Him.  Maybe not one kid has gotten saved "with me", but I know that God's Word does not go void.  I know that He has called me to be faithful, and I hope that I have been.  May I continue in this ministry, whether it be at ICI, church, at a school someday, or wherever he has me. 

Idk why I thought I was going to get a nice, put-together-picture.

"Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21

CURRENTLY CRYING.

An Open Letter to the Chicago/Inner City Haters

{Before I start, this post is in no way officially associated 

with Moody, Pray Chicago, ICI, or any other churches/organizations mentioned here.}

Dear people:

If you have seen any of my recent Facebook posts/shares, I have posted/shared many things about false views/ignorant opinions from people about Chicago/inner cities, even blacks.  These false views/ignorant opinions not only frustrate me, hurt me, but they AREN'T TRUE.

To say that "There are no teenagers in this city!" "If I move somewhere else, I can walk to target and not get shot! Yeah, there's no safe place in Chicago." is so hurtful on so many levels.  To say that "black folk don't care about the violence in Chicago" is not true, hurtful, ignorant and disrespectful.  Like, you literally don't know what you're talking about.  There are organizations upon organizations that work with violence on the streets.  There are churches upon churches that work with these teenagers.  There are PEOPLE UPON PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE CITY FOR THIS EXACT REASON.  THERE ARE FAMILIES UPON FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED FIRST HAND BY THE VIOLENCE. 
Let me tell you something: I work at one of those organizations. I work with 30-50 teens at an organization called Inner City Impact.  I've been working there for 3 years.  I was in charge of 20 sophomore boys, and so for you to tell me that there are no teenagers in this city, is to say that these precious lives are meaningless, and
non-existent.

I go to a church that is involved in our Logan Square community, hosts an annual urban bible camp for Chicago youth ministries.  I have been affected by the violence in Chicago. A had a friend who was a victim of a drive-by in uptown.  

And I'm not the only one. There are organizations like GRIP, who reaches out to the fatherless.  

There are churches like Reborn, who do prayer walks, and pray for students on their first day of school. 

There is a whole couple blocks dedicated to giving Christian, accessable healthcare in the Lawndale area, by the Lawndale Christian Health Center.

 .
But you wouldn't know, would you? You wouldn't know about these organizations, you wouldn't know about these churches.  You wouldn't know about these people and families that are praying and pleading on their knees for this city.  Why? Because you're not from here. You are too stuck in your comfortable life.  You're stuck in your dorm, campus, suburb, small town to see what's going on here.  But mostly, YOU'RE NOT FROM HERE. 


So last night (September 7th, 2016) Pray Chicago was held at Moody, in the auditorium. Pray Chicago is exactly what it sounds like: a city wide prayer gathering, attended by churches from the South Side, to churches from Evanston and Naperville.  We all gathered together to pray for the city in every aspect: politics, education, church unity, ministries, healthcare, and of course the violence here.  At the event, I was looking around to see if I knew people and to see how many Moody students were there.  Obviously, still paying attention at the event.

When the event was done, it hit me: there was not that many Moody students there.  I saw very few, and the ones that I did see, most were international students.  Of course, I may not have seen many other ones, with all the people there.  When I walked out of the auditorium, there were many students, almost oblivious to this big event sitting in the commons, sitting in Culby 1, chatting in the plaza.  I became angry, bitter, heartbroken.  How are you going to talk about this city, as if it has no hope, as if God is not working, as if churches are not praying, as if tears are not being shed, as if hearts are not being broken? Then once you have the opportunity to do something about it, in a way that is BEYOND convenient for you: didn't have to go to Solheim, didn't have to go to PCM, didn't have to go across the street, or even to the gas station! All you had to do was to go to the auditorium. But that would require you to humble yourself, take back everything you've said, thought, and acted upon. You're not going to do that, are you?

Okay, now that I'm calm, let me summarize: 

Don't just sit there and talk. Don't hide behind your screen and criticise. Don't say ignorant comments. 

GO.  GO out and ask people their stories.  

GO get involved in some of these places. 

MEET some of these people.  

GET OUT.  

HAVE DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.   

A Bit of Everything pt. 2

I haven't posted anything on here in almost a year....literally. 

So this post is to not only "update" all my followers ;) , but also to ask ya'll for prayer. 

So here it goes...

Over the past year, there have been a lot of changes in my life.  

1. I got a car! It was a surprise from my parents on Thanksgiving weekend.  It has been SUCH A HUGE HELP. ANNNDDD they got it while I was beginning my time of "interum high school program director" at ICI.. (I'll talk about that later). 
2. I got a boyfriend. He came in the mail ;).  Just kidding, obviously. 
3. I began my third year of school.. It's been rough.. BUT THE END IS IN SIGHT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!
4. I've been put in charge of the sophomore class at ICI, which is composed of 20 boys and 3 girls.. ha.. ha... *wipes sweat from forehead*.
5. I switched jobs, from Sports Authority to Starbucks.
6. OHH. I officially switched the congregation in which I meet with on Sundays, I now go to Armitage Baptist Church. 

 Ohkay... now.. where to start....

   On July 5th, 2015 (I believe), I had announced to my old church that I was going to be attending ABC.  I made the switch because I truly feel that God is calling me into ministry there, and He has grown me SO much at ABC.  Should God decide to allow me to be a full-time staff member at ICI, I would bring kids (as I have) to ABC with me, not only as their ICI leader, but as a part of the youth staff there.  

    It's been such a blast being a youth leader at ABC. I would say that I've enjoyed it more so recently than in the beginning.  I feel that the girls that I help lead in discussion groups are really becoming closer and are starting to be more specific in their answers to questions instead of being vague. 

      Before October, my parents and my (now) boyfriend.... I wouldn't necessarily say that they didn't approve of me being at ICI, or how I saw myself being on staff there, but  I guess they just.. didn't understand the ministry and how it worked.  So I invited them to the annual ICI banquet.  I PRAISE THE LORD because that was just what all of us needed.  We had all gotten into different difficult conversations about how I felt like I wasn't getting their full support and was scared that I would not have it once the time came.  After the banquet, when me and my boyfriend got in the car, he said, "Okay, I get it... I'm glad you're at ICI." Besides the fact that I cried and melted at that, I was so thankful.  During Thanksgiving, my parents were in a conversation about missions with my aunt and her kids.  My parents were going on about ICI, and what the ministry does, what my plans are, "Yeah, she's going to be a missionary through ICI." Again, I almost cried because I wasn't the one bringing it up, and the great things they were saying about the ministry. My aunt and her family got on board with ICI, it was just great.    

      A second aspect of my time at ICI is how difficult this school year has been.  There has been a lot of behavioral problems this school year, it's been nuts.  There were many nights when I would come home crying, frustrated, sad, confused, etc., etc.  I would wonder what God was doing, even if He was doing anything.  How long would God continue to allow these issues to go on? There were a couple times where I even broke down in front of the students about how I was so heart broken by their behavior.  Thankfully, today things are so different.  I feel that most of the students now, see that even through their behavior, ICI staff are different.  They'll stick with you, even during your difficult behavior, haha.  Last week, one of the boys admitted to me that he had been lying.  HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT?! I honestly love this group.  I think about them all day, everyday.  And praise the Lord, they know that and have started to respect me more and even listen to me more.  One boy in speicifc, I've noticed that whenever I am going in on the implications and meaning of the Gospel, there is a look on his face that he wants it.  But through his life, you see Romans 1 in the flesh, haha.  

TOPIC SWITCH

 Those of you who know me well, know that I have "endless energy", haha.  I remember my parents and leaders telling me, "Vanessa, you need to slow down.  You're going to get burnt out." "PSHHHHHH, no I won't.  I need people to have energy.  I'll get burnt out if I'm not with people!" "Vanessa, YOU REALLY NEED TO SLOW DOWN. You need to learn how to say no." "I'm not gonna say no! This thing needs me!"  

   ANNNDD....of course, they were right. As of.. basically this month.. Here I am.. officially declaring I am burnt out. 

I, Vanessa (Middle name) Alas, AM BURNT OUT. 

• Why makes me think that? 
• Here are my symptoms: drastic lack of energy, bad attitude, constantly tired even with normal amount of sleep.  Even with things that I love, like being at ICI, work, being with people.. I just don't... have the same energy. I'm just doneeeeeeee. [Important side note: please don't read this and run think, "Oh no, we need to get everyone involved and get her help."  Although you can get others to help, get others to pray for me and check up on me.  I don't need pills, or a psychiatrist.  I JUST NEED PRAYER AND SUPPORT.]  

• WHY am I tired?
• I feel like it's a couple different reasons... 
• Foundationally, I have not spent time with the Lord in months.  I can do "ministry" all day, every day- but ask me to "Be still" and read and meditate on the Word, and I'll suddenly be tired. 
• I'm REALLY, REALLY, REAALLLYY behind in my school work.. actually not really THAT behind.. but it feels like it. Not to mention i have like 2-3 weeks left, and I have to keep up with the current assignments + past due.. BRUH. And I'm at the point where, if someone tries to get me to do my homework, I get angry. 
• I'm thinking about a lot.  Whether it be my group at ICI, family stuff, my relationship, etc. It's an emotional, and now physical strain.  

Soooooo, 

pray for me y'all.