My YouthWorks Summer: Week 7
This is the eighth of ten blogging installments from my life-changing summer in Milwaukee. In this recap I review my seventh week of programming. Be sure to check out my postscript thoughts at the end! A logical place for such thoughts.
If you’ve missed any of previous recaps, flash back to Week 0. Also, check out what a camera crew produced when they visited our site during Week 9.
It’s fair to say that Week 6 was my toughest week of programming thus far — tougher even than Week 1 when we hardly knew what we were doing half the time. So I was a little apprehensive going into Week 7. But it couldn’t possibly get any harder, right?
Week 7 was definitely a refreshing week with some incredible new youth. I sensed a deeper connection with the students this week, and that made my soul glad. I just love these passionate kids that roll in each week; I wish I’d possessed their passion at their age.
I visited one of the nursing homes this week and got to reconnect with one of the residents I hadn’t seen since Week 1 or 2. That made me happy — though I wonder if she even remembered me. They were having an ice cream social while an accordionist played “The Pennsylvania Polka.”
Groundhog Day, anyone?
My weekend got off to a nice, wealthy start when I went glow bowling with my fellow staff and some community and church members. At the beginning, we were told that if the magical orange pin was ever randomly set as the lead pin — and we bowled a strike — we could spin a money wheel and win whatever prize it landed on.
Well, wouldn’t you know it…
On one of my rolls, after I’d already released the ball, I noticed the lead pin was orange. And wouldn’t you know, my ball crashed straight into it — strike.
Money wheel time.
I spun and won $2. Hot dog.
But just wait.
A few turns later, I saw that same orange pin staring back at me again. I laughed and said there’s no way —
Yup. Another strike.
The room went nuts as I strutted back up to the wheel like a seasoned professional. This time?
$50.
Yes, I walked away from glow bowling with $52. WHAT.
I never win anything like that. And maybe it’s silly, but moments like that feel like little nudges from God — reminders to hang in there just a little longer. That He sees me. That He’s got my back.
Our YouthWorks endgame is becoming more and more real with each passing day. We’re collecting post-summer evaluations, filling out transition packets for next year’s team, and slowly preparing to wrap this whole thing up.
It’s crazy. We’re really winding down.
I realize this post had almost nothing to do with my actual YouthWorks week — but hey, some variety is good.
To be continued…
TMZ
PS: Ah, glow bowling — my favorite. I still can’t believe I won $52 with two perfectly timed strikes and two lucky spins. Little blessings like that stand out among all the non-YouthWorks moments in Milwaukee.
Week 6 was rough, but I daresay the final three weeks — starting with Week 7 — were the best stretch of the entire summer.
And seeing that nursing home resident again? That was a gift.
Gosh, I miss Milwaukee.
