Happenings at my school.

I work at (edited) High School.
Home of the Mighty (edited).

Last week one of my students was arrested for stealing over $10,000 worth of items from teachers and students.
That is a felony charge.

Last weekend a student from my school was shot in the neck and killed by his father.
His father came home drunk and was looking for a video game.
His son got up to get it for him, his father thought that he was going to hide it.
He shot him in the neck.
His mother cannot afford a funeral.
The student body is raising money for his funeral.

Two weeks ago 3 girls were found making out, naked on the bathroom floor.
During school.

This week, a student crutched into my room with a very broken foot.
I asked why he didn't have a cast on.
He said his family couldn't afford it and that as long as he didn't put pressure on it he would be OK.
He was a soccer player.

I have a student who falls asleep everyday in class.
I was annoyed.
I held him after class and asked him why.
He said that he worked the night shift because his dad was in jail and his mom needed help with bills.
How can I get mad at that?

I have a student who has two T-Shirts.
He wears one one week and the other the next.
He alternates weeks.

This morning during our "Halloween" Warm-Up I asked if Dracula was real.
A student said, "I thought Dracula was a dinosaur. Like a BIG one."

OK, so the last one is more funny than anything.

But seriously.

WHAT IN THE WORLD.

How am I supposed to affect these students?
How can I show God's love and plan?
I've never been beaten by my dad, I've never been shot by my dad, my family can afford to buy index cards for flashcards, my family can afford to fix a broken bone, my dad actually told me NOT to get a job during college so that I could focus on school.

How am I supposed to affect these kids when I have no idea what they are going through.
They have experienced more life than I ever want to.

How can I show them that there IS a God?
How can I show them that there is a God who LOVES them?

I feel so naive.
I feel so spoiled.
I feel so innocent.

Of COURSE I believe in God.
My life is perfect.
My family is perfect.
I don't have money issues.
I can afford healthy foods.
I can afford new clothes.

How can I show kids who have a COMPLETELY different life than I do that there is a God without them rolling their eyes at me and saying, "easy for you to say" ?

I desperately want to give them everything that I have.
Not because "I don't deserve it."
Because I WANT to.
Because I CAN.
Because I can afford another one.
Not just things.
I want to give love, assurance, safety, comfort, a hug.
NO, I do not think that it should be government mandated.
NO, I do not think that it is the government's job to take care of them.
It is a heart issue.

My life in Houston thus far.

My life in Houston thus far:

I did not want to move here.

I hate Houston.

Houston does not have my kind of "people."

Houston does not have my kind of activities.

Houston does not have my kind of weather.

Houston does not have my kind of food.

Houston does not have my kind of Christian.

Houston does not have my kind of thought-process.

Houston does not have my kind of life-style.

I put off moving here as long as I could.

I fought with God for 3 years.

Eventually, everything was taken from me and I had no choice but to move here.

Since moving here I have been called a hippie (which is derogatory here).

Since moving here I have (ignorantly) been accused of being an "Obama lover."

Since moving here I have been snubbed.

Since moving here I have lost one of my closest friends and fear that it's too gone to remedy.

Since moving here I have been made fun of.

Since moving here I have been ignored.

Since moving here I have been immediately written off.

Since moving here I have been lead on and hurt.

Since moving here I have found what it means to rely on God.

Since moving here I have found what true patience is.

Since moving here I have found what true peace is.

Since moving here I have found who I am.

Since moving here I have found what I enjoy doing, sans influence of others.

Since moving here I have seen God truly move in my life.

Since moving here I have seen what it is to have nothing and yet have everything.

Since moving here I have found what it means to truly trust in God.

Since moving here I have been tested.

Since moving here I have found a true, genuine friend.

Since moving here I have discovered what a true, encouraging, loving, God focused relationship with a male should look like.

Since moving here I have discovered how loving and all-forgiving family is.

Since moving here I have discovered how loving and all-forgiving God is.

God is good.

I still don't like Houston.

This is where God has me.

This is where God could most easily talk to me because I had nothing.

God is good.

Trust in Him.

The vegetarian hippie shot the symbol of peace...

and I liked it.

He shot more peace than I did, so it's OK.