What God did in Southeast Rome

Southeast Rome is our second Kids Extreme.  I can't say that I have a lot of first-hand experience in Southeast Rome, so to better hear the stories, talk to one of the persevering teachers there.
To begin, I'd like to tell the story of how Southeast Rome Kids Extreme came to be. During the summer of 2011 I e-mailed Justin Brooks, children's pastor of WRBC to ask about a VBS.  When Justin heard about Kids Extreme, he told me that he was interested in starting a back yard Bible club, but that he didn't have the volunteers.  I had already wanted to start a second one, due to the fact that we had an excess of volunteers at West End sometimes the year before.  I believe that God orchestrated  the partnership between WRBC and BCM. That's the body of Christ working as one: the church sending a bus and providing a location, and the college kids giving their time.
Southeast Rome and West End were like night and day.  In an area of mostly government housing, Southeast Rome Kids Extreme ran about 40 high energy, attention-seeking kids. Instead of playing outside, we rented the Fielder community center.  Having a bus to pick up the kids was a gift, as it allowed more kids to come and eliminated the safety concerns we have at West End.
I would like to introduce a few heroes of Southeast Rome.
1. The people who came first semester and then came back and stuck it out second semester: Hannah Hughes, Annah Hobbs, Hunter West, Alex Hunter, Lauren Daniel, and Kari Chambers.
2. The people who came to West End last year and volunteered to go to Southeast this year: Richard Hyde, and Derek Hale!
3. And the people who sacrificed BOTH Monday and Tuesday afternoons: Derek Hale (Derek is one of the most dependable people I know) and Emilee Bobo (Emilee is a prepared teacher and a great leader), along with Maegan Wallin and Anthony Dyches.
4. Lastly, the people that prayed.  It was a joy to pray for your Southeast Kids.  Not only did it feel great to cast the burden of this ministry towards Heaven, but it was also entertaining to list your kids by name.

Southeast Rome was a challenge, but it was wonderful.  Some days were discouraging, the teachers coming into the caf feeling tired and like there had been no progress.  Other times there were bright spots and encouraging moments, times when you saw a connection being made in the mind of a child. Sometimes we plant seeds, and nothing comes above the ground until we're long gone.  My prayer for Southeast Rome is that we stay, that we keep going back, that the kids learn to trust us, and that they believe the promises we tell them come from the Bible are true.