Mercy Street was bumping with energy this past Saturday as parents and mentors came together for a morning of fellowship. They played games together, received specific training, and enjoyed good conversation as they shared a meal with one another. The theme of the day was "It Takes A Village," and each person spent time considering the vital role they play in raising the children of our village here in West Dallas. It was a beautiful morning at Mercy Street.

One service we offered this Saturday that hasn't been available during most of our events was English to Spanish translation. This made it possible for a number of parents to participate who haven't previously been given the opportunity. The coolest part about it was that our Student Leaders were the translators! They wore headsets with microphones and spread themselves out so that each talk would be translated for all to hear. It was a joy to sit back and watch our students play such a vital role in the ministry taking place that morning.

Our Student Leaders are always eager for opportunities to serve. If you have any specific needs where you could utilize some volunteers, let us know and we'll be there with smiles. They run after service opportunities like most kids run to Six Flags, and you will be blessing them by giving them the chance to bless you!

It Takes a Village

Take a minute to reflect on some of the moments or experiences that influenced you the most growing up. I frequently do that when I'm running or on a road trip, and I'm always struck by two things: 1.) how much I have to be grateful for, and 2.) how many different people have invested in my life. No one person could have shared all the wisdom I needed to eventually mature into a (relatively) responsible adult. I needed my parents, teachers, coaches, writers, speakers, friends, counselors, and a number of other sources of wisdom in my life. Even still, I was a slow learner who chose to make a teacher out of mistakes, rather than listening to the role models who had a vested interest in my well-being.

The point is that it takes a crowd of people sharing the same message to our kids in order to ensure the message goes through loud and clear. Our prayer at Mercy Street is that mentors and parents will work closely together to have a positive impact on our students. If parents and mentors are on the same page, emphasizing the same message, with the same heart, then our students are more prone to allow the wisdom to seep into their souls.

On January 14, from 9am-12, we will have a joint event at Mercy Street to bring parents and mentors together: it will be our first mentor training coupled with our parent appreciation luncheon. Our hope is that mentors will attend the entire event with their student's parent(s), for a time of learning, relationship building, and honoring our parents. We believe this is essential in truly making an impact on our students and we look forward to seeing all of you there. Lunch will be provided so come hungry, and come ready to learn from one another as you begin nurturing your friendships with others who think the world of your student!