By Lesli Grandy
When I began working at Building Hope seven years ago, our staff consisted of four women. Three of us were young, white ladies and Mrs. Irene, well she's Mrs. Irene and needs no further explanation. Back then we mostly served elementary students and some very memorable kids who had the misfortune of breaking the law and being in the court system. We were passionate about what we were doing and had all the enthusiasm of twenty year olds setting out to change the world! I had a Bible verse that rang in my heart over and over again every day
To give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, for the display of His righteousness. Isaiah 61:3
Every time I thought of the kids we were serving, I thought of this verse. The elementary kids we were working with daily were like young saplings that God had planted in our care. I could picture them planted beside a river and knew that they were going to grow into strong and tall oaks that would glorify God with their actions and words.
The ensuing seven years can only be described as a journey. Our staff is more diverse and we have many more kids and programs at the center. One thing remains the same though. God is still planting kids in our care and we are seeing them grow into
oaks of righteousness!
There is absolutely nothing that warms my heart more than to walk through Building Hope and see the kids that came to us in early elementary school as middle and high school students now. They are AMAZING! I can hardly believe their manners, their willingness to help, the way that they mentor the younger kids, and the way they love God in a culture that begs them to do the opposite.
As we begin this journey of blogging, we hope to share the stories we get to experience, the ways that God moves in our lives, and the Love of God that challenges us regularly.
