Hunting Park Christian Academy

This year I am so blessed to be able to work at Hunting Park Christian Academy (HPCA).

HPCA's mission is to provide a quality, affordable, Christian education that celebrates a diverse community and leads children to know and serve the Lord. They serve approximately 200 children (pre-k- 8th grade) who are primarily at-risk children who also come from low income families. HPCA maintains a very low tuition and has a great scholarship program so quality and Christian education can be available to the poor in their community. 

As found on their website, the HPCA community is in great need of education:

The high school drop out rate is 53.4%, and only 3.3% of community members have a college degree.  According to the neighborhood middle school's report card, only 6.5% of the students graduating 8th grade in 2003 were proficient in math and 18.6% were proficient in reading. The 19140 zip code has the highest rate of domestic violence in the city, and the third highest rate of murders. In addition, drugs and prostitution have taken over the neighborhood park, making it unsafe for children.

At HPCA, I work for the Director of Development. I help with all things donor, contribution, receipt, fundraising, event, organizing, planning, newsletter, and administrative related. I love it.

Waiting at the bus stop

I made a new friend. Well I guess he is sort-of a friend.

Every morning at 7:30am I walk to the bus stop down the street to catch the 4 bus north.
I often have to wait anywhere from 5-15 minutes.  But there is no need to worry about me getting bored while I wait.  Everyday, a squirrel (who I have started calling Oscar) entertains me.

Oscar drops acorns on my head. Everyday. Without fail.

While some mornings may be harder than others, Oscar always seems to bring a smile to my face as I often think: this is real life; this is great.

The little moments are often the greatest ones.

------------------------------
Prayer

• Half of our house (Mitch, Mary, Dave & Me) got sick this week and we all seem pretty exhausted. 
• As we all get more familiar with our service sites, I pray that we learn how to be proactive in learning and helping 
• I have some friends and family who are either sick, unhealthy, stressed out, or exhausted. And I just pray for healing and rest and a supportive community of friends.
• I pray that I will actively look for God as I go about my days. 

My Family

My team and I just finished our first week working at each of our service sites! It was a busy week. It was a new week. But is was also a good week. 

Our team is becoming more like family as Philly is starting to become more like home. It is crazy to think we have only been here for 3 weeks; it seems like months. 

I linked a few of my housemates blogs in the sidebar --->
so if you want to find out more about our awesome north Philly adventures, check them out!

----------------------
Prayer

• for rest 
• for healthy food choices as we go grocery shopping and cook meals
• for areas of commonality with our neighbors that will lead to blessed and easy conversations. We do not always want to be viewed as the new young white neighbors; we want to just be friends.  

Touring the City; SEPTA day.

Last week we spent a day getting comfortable with public transportation and got to visit a bunch of different places around the city. 

Here are a few pictures from the day! 

Liberty Bell

Benjamin Franklin Bridge (to New Jersey)

City Hall

Art Museum/ Rocky Statue 

Basically we are really awesome. 

--------------------------

Prayer

• We all start work at our service sites on Monday, so prayer for calm nerves and good first impressions would be greatly appreciated.
• Also prayer for safety and a good sense of direction so that we do not get lost as we travel alone on public transportation for the first time. 
• Constant prayer for us as a community as we continue to learn how to relate to one another.
• Prayer for our neighborhood and church as we try to integrate ourselves into their existing communities. 
• Prayer for rest. 

North Philly!

I am now a resident of North Philly!!

My team and I moved into our apartment on the third floor of a ministry site (Teen Haven) last friday, and we already feel like close family. 

We have all bonded well and each day I get more and more excited for what the year will bring. 

This past week (as well as next week) we have had orientation and training.  And during our free time we go out and try to meet our neighbors.  Today we even got to navigate the public transportation systems as we try to learn more about our new home. For the next 5 weeks we will all be on a technology fast (sans Friday's).  While at times it may seem hard, I am excited for the opportunities this fast will provide for our team as we aim to be fully present here in Philadelphia. 

I will be starting at my service site on the 17th and while I am a bit nervous, I am also really excited. 

--------------
prayer
- for continued team bonding
- for our neighborhood
- for Hunting Park Christian Academy (my service site)
- for rest

Mission Year!

I'm going to Philadelphia for a year!! 


I leave August 31st and could not be more excited. 


-------------
Prayer

• for team dynamics
• for flexibility as I adapt to a very different lifestyle
• for boldness as I seek to share all the God has done in my life as I serve those around me
• for the local people I will interact with and build relationships with

Where to next?

Recently I have been praying over what God wants for me and where and if I should go somewhere this spring.

I am trying to be open.

I am trying to be honest.

I am trying to be bold. And patient.

I am praying over applying to go to Peru, inner city LA, or inner city Chicago for this spring.

Join the adventure.