1st Year Newsletter

 If you would like a PDF email of my newsletter, please e-mail me and I will send you one!

WYN Web Site

Westlawn Youth Network finally has a web site!

Check it out and let us know what you think.

High School Club

I have hidden your word in my heart...

As a staff we are very excited for our High School program this year.  Last year we tried a retreat based program but felt that it wasn't enough consistency for the teens.  This year we have decided to meet once a week for a time of fellowship, Bible study and prayer.  

This summer, we recognized a thirst in our teens to know more about the word of God and how it applies to their lives.  This was very encouraging for us as a staff and sparked a change in the High School program.  

Each week, we spend time playing games, eating snacks and being together.  Then, we dive into God's word and allow them the opportunity not only hear truth but to ask questions.  At the end of the evening we take the time for everyone (teens and staff) to speak their prayer requests and pray for them as a group.

I can't wait to see how the Lord works through this time!

 

DIVA Princess Party 2011

Last week was our 2nd annual DIVA Princess Opening Day Party.  Kristen and I were so excited to have 15 girls come.  This year we are not only having the regular program but we will be having a DIVA Leaders program for girls who stand out and want to learn on a more intense level! We are really excited about DIVA Leaders and excited for the coming year.

Kristen Explaining the Program to the Girls

Candy Buffet for Party Favors

Team Building Games

No More Homework Help!

This year we have decided NOT to do our Homework Help program.  Why?...you might ask.  That is CRAZY!...you might say.  Well let me tell you why.  

Westlawn Gospel Chapel and our Youth Center (and my house) are conveniently located across the street from Crown Community Academy.  For many years now, we have had a great relationship with Crown.  Shannon, one of our staff members has tutored there for almost 15 years and the teachers and principle promote our programs and believe in what we do.  

On Tuesdays and Thursdays last year we had our Homework Help program.  The kids would come right after school, we would help them with their homework and work on educational skills.  We believed the program to be a great success but at the end of the year when we asked ourselves "Are we doing what is most effective?"  Our answer was "No."

We came to the realization that though it helped the small group of kids that came to our program, we could have a wider reach and it would help more if we were actually IN the school. This way we would not only help the kids, but also help the teachers who spend all day in a classroom working with the kids.

This year we are happy to say that we as a staff have scheduled hours to go into the school to tutor, aide in the class room, and help supervise during lunch and recess.  (We will continue to have our Open Gym program this year where the kids are welcome to get help on their homework if they would like to.)

I began in the school this week and was already greatly blessed by my time there.  I have the pleasure of working with Mrs. H's 3rd grade class for 3 hours, 2 days a week.  She has already expressed to me how helpful it will be to her to have someone in the class to help her.  She is a WONDERFUL teacher and I am very excited to be spending time with her and her class this year! (Plus I am pretty sure I am going to learn some things along the way.)

View of Crown Community Academy from my front porch...yes I am that close.

I started going to Crown Academy to volunteer in a class room twice a week. Today I helped prepare the science lesson.

Fall Programs Start!

Well it has been a while since I have had a post. Sorry! But...our school year programs started last night with Jr. High Club.  Last year we had an average of about 12 kids attending. Last night we had 29 kids show up!  It was WAY more then we were expecting but we were SO EXCITED for the turn out!

Shannon talking introducing the program to the group

It was a great night! We had snacks, played minute to win it games, introduced the program and rules and had open gym time.  Normally we will have a lesson and small group time but last night was an introduction to the program.  Be Praying that the Jr. Highers continue to come and that we are able to have an effective ministry with them!

Minute-to-Win-It Game!

My Photography Web Site

As most of you probably can tell from the amount of pictures I put on my posts...

I LOVE PHOTOGRAPHY!!!

I do not consider myself to be a professional but I decided to put together a web site for people to look at the work I have done.  I hope you enjoy!

www.wix.com/amyjodawes/photography

Homework HELP!

Every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-4:00pm we have our Homework HELP! program.  The kids come over to the church after school and get their homework done first thing, that way they don't have to worry about it the rest of the night.  At Homework HELP! we as staff are there to answer questions and explain anything the kids are having a hard time understanding.  Though I tend to have a hard time with the math homework, it is a great program and I am even learning along with the kids!

Most days our student to adult ratio is 1/1 or 2/1.  The kids come in, eat a snack and then work on their homework until it is done.

Some of our kids really enjoy writing on the white board!  In order to help them keep focused, we try to incorporate different methods and ways for them to do their homework.  

One of our team members, Nelia, is really good at working with the younger kids.  She is very creative and finds fun exciting ways to keep the kids moving and interacting while learning!

If the kids are done with their homework before 3:30 then we have homework sheets or learning activities that we provide them.

If they are done with their homework at 3:30 they get to play games and color.

loved

This month has been kind of hard for me because I have been sick for about three weeks.  It has been rough because I have not been able to go to programs with our kids, or really do much of anything.  Though it has been a rough time God has been showing me a lot about how loved I am during this time.  I thought it appropriate to share this with you all seeing as it is Valentines day.

 

I tend to have a hard time letting other people take care of me and do things for me.  God has taught me a lesson about receiving love and care from others these past couple weeks.  There were so many people who called me to see if they could so anything for me and people who were praying for me.  I am reminded daily of not only how my family and friends love me but how God continually cares for me and loves me.

Below are just a couple of Valentine pictures I took and something from our church bulletin this week.

Cookie My House Mates Brought Me

Woke Up to a Rose and Home Made Chocolate Covered Strawberries This Morning

GOD'S VALENTINE TO US

For God so loVed the world,
  That He gAve              
His onLy       
...BegottEn          
SoN  
                         That whosoever
Believeth In Him     
   should Not perish
        But have Everlasting life.

Reconciliation Eyes

Reconciliation can to be a buzz word when it comes to urban ministry but I was reminded once again this past weekend of it's importance.  I am greatly blessed to be in ministry with a team of people who see reconciliation as BOTH being reconciled to God and to each other.  As a team we are continually striving to figure out what being reconciled to each other looks like especially when talking about race.

This weekend we has a guest group come, including my cousins Kory and Alison.  They got to see different parts of the city and ministries that go on here in Chicago, and most importantly they joined our continual conversation about race, privileged, justice and reconciliation.  It is amazing the things we do not see or even understand because we have not had to deal with them in our lives.  Please take a look at Alison's blog post about the weekend and see how God is working to continually reconcile ALL THINGS back to Him.