Over the years, I've noticed that whatever journey
God has me on personally, He often has the DREAM Center on a parallel
journey and vice versa.
The recent parallel journey that I have been on is re-learning how to have fun. Over a year ago, after going through extreme burnout in the ministry, I met with a friend and mentor. I
asked if she had any advice on how to recover from burn out. Her words
of advice were simple, "RACHEL, YOU JUST NEED TO GO HAVE FUN!"
We were
only together for about an hour and in that small amount of time, she
said to me literally over twenty times, "RACHEL, JUST GO HAVE FUN!" After that coffee date, I kept hearing those words ring over and over in my ears, "RACHEL, GO HAVE FUN!"
It took several months for this truth to sink into my heart. I literally had to learn how to have fun all over again. But slowly, God began to teach me that He is the inventor of FUN.
He wanted me to be adventurous and not just adventurous in things
related to ministry. He wanted me to explore and discover NEW THINGS
that brought me personal enjoyment.
I began looking for new and fun activities that I could enjoy in my daily life. In my journey of re-learning how to have fun, I've been on birding field trips with the St. Louis Audubon Society (don't laugh, I know it's nerdy), volunteering at a dog shelter called Spencer Kennel and Rescue, urban camping in downtown Nashville (in a 1970's camper named Methuselah) with friends who were filming a documentary and swing dancing on a weekly basis with an organization called Lindy Hop St. Louis.
You might be thinking, "So, how does all of this relate to the DREAM Center?"
As I mentioned previously, often the direction God leads me in
personally is similar to His direction for the Dream Center and vice
versa.
I began to see how restorative and healing having fun was and how it could bring healing to East St. Louis too.
The city has been ravaged by oppression, crime and poverty. The dreams
of the young people have been crushed by the harsh realities of the
streets, their upbringing or a lifestyle that brings destruction.
Our
vision at the DREAM Center has always been to use recreation and
relationship as our main tools to reach the young people and provide a
way to keep them off the streets. But
as I began seeing the benefits of fun in my own life, I realized that
the young people in our care, need a BIG, HUGE DOSE OF FUN as well. Not just once a year, not even two times a month, but almost an overdose so to speak of fun, recreation, laughter, art, culture, music, dance, the list could go on and on.
These new types of programs would not be sustainable with our current infrastructure. So, for the past few months Janell and I have been spending a lot of time praying, researching and re-writing/clarifying the vision and mission of the DREAM Center.
We're in the very early stages of planning. It will take some time to get to where we want to go, but we're excited! And it all began with these simple words ringing in my ears.... "RACHEL, GO HAVE FUN!"
I don't
know what you're avenue of fun is, maybe it's building things with your
hands, maybe it's taking road trips, painting, playing a sport or
playing with your grand kids, but whatever it is, I'll pass along the same words that were spoken to me at such a pivotal moment in my life....
GO HAVE FUN!!!
It's
our faithful financial supporters who help us continue to move forward
in the work God has given us to do in East St. Louis. If you're not a financial supporter of the DREAM Center and would like to become one, donations can be made on our Secure On-line Giving Page by clicking the button below, by giving on our web site
OR by mailing a check to the address at the bottom of this email. We
are a 501 c3 tax exempt organization, so all donations are tax
deductible.
We're so honored to have you as an important part of the DREAM Center. We pinch ourselves regularly when we think about your generosity and friendship! We love you.
LOVING East St. Louis
Rachel and the DREAM Center Team
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