Christmas Gifts

Here at Urban Youth Outreach we give away presents to every child we know for Christmas. These gifts are donated from different churches, organizations, & other ministries. This year one of my friends from my small group at Parkview Christian Church in Orland Park, Illinois is giving a present to one of the boys, Kerri a 17 year old boy in the ministry, one of the regulars. She was asking me what he wanted for Christmas so I decided to just ask him so he can get something that he wanted or needed. So the next time I was at Urban Youth I decided to ask Kerri what he wanted. I asked him multiple times & he never could think of anything he wanted. I then asked why he didn't know, I mean it was an easy question. He replied "Nobody's ever asked me what I wanted for Christmas." This literally broke my heart into pieces. He always such a smile, and just something that makes all the people around him brighten. & yet he has nothing. That was simply beautiful to me.

Where My Heart Is- Thanksgiving Dinner

Yana, 4 yrs.

Today we had a thanksgiving dinner at Urban Youth Outreach for the adults && youth of Englewood. We got enough food to feed 200 people. We fed 350. As I think back it was just another of God's beautiful miracles. He fed 5,000 with just the bare minimum. && He fed the people of Englewood even though we had the bare minimum. As I saw the kids waiting upstairs to get they're food, asking every 2 minutes when they can go downstairs && eat, My heart just broke. Most had never had a real Thanksgiving Dinner. When I finally told them they were able to go downstairs they raced down the stairs to see the beautiful dinner are caterer prepared for these kids. I am constantly being reminded of the grace of God & how thankful I am for these kids & all that they are & all that they teach me. This truly is where my heart is & I wouldn't trade anything for a minute.