Keeping up with the ministry of Lee & Dana Trotter in the Prescott neighborhood in urban Kansas City, Kansas.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Average Day

This past month I have tried to back off of a lot of my ministry efforts to focus on getting my house painted.  This has been major crisis #2 of 3.   The ladder falling on the truck and the tree falling don't count.  I'll blog about crisis #3 in a few days.  Just an average day.  It has been a very tiring, lonely, and draining month for me.

The other day I met John.  John is a young man in 6th grade whose family moved into to our neighborhood recently.  They moved into Scott and Luke's community house after having no where to turn for housing.  Scott and Luke have a unique ministry providing housing for homeless families with children.  Anyway, Scott had an old bicycle that he gave to John.  It needed air in the tires.  He came by to get some air last Sunday and saw my back yard.  My back yard looks like a bicycle salvage yard which looks like a beautiful playground to a 12 year old boy.  "Can I get a better bike?"  I get asked that a lot.  Bigger and better is always a goal of any teenage boy.  I told John to come back the next day after 4:00.  "Can I bring my brother, he needs a bike."  I sent John home and planned to stop painting early and pick out a few bikes for them for our 4:00 meeting.  

No big deal.  Just an average day.  I help at least one person a day fix their bike.  I keep a bike pump on my front porch.  

So Monday comes and about 12:30, four boys come up to the house.  "Can we get our bikes now?"  I thought you were supposed to be in school?" "We missed the bus and didn't go."  I got down from my ladder, knowing full well that my afternoon was gone, not to mention a break for lunch.  

We picked out a few bikes to work on.  "I want this one."  "Can I get this one for my brother?"  "Hey Lee, my sister needs a bike."  "Do you have any more Mongooses?"  "Hey Lee."  Hey Lee"

I wondered how many brothers, sisters, and cousins were going to show up.  The answer was 8.  We worked on bikes until the school bus came by.  Then 4 or 5 more kids showed up who saw us working.  Also a man walking by brought his bike and one that belonged to a homeless guy that needed work.

We worked until about 6:30.  I missed soccer that evening and spent 2-3 hours each of the next few days working on their bikes. 

I suppose it was a much needed interruption.  Just an average day.

Friday, April 6, 2012

This song has been on my mind and heart this morning.  Have a Good Friday! 


Every Time It Rains
Resurrection Band - Rainbow's End © 1979


I been alone
Out on my own
Exchanging truth for a lie
Pleasure for pride
Hell on my side
Say what you please
This brought me to my knees

Jesus, You cried for me when I could weep no more
You died for me when I was dead in sin
You felt for me when I was numb within
You searched for me and brought me home again

Why do You love me, when I treat You so wrong?
I give you heartache an' You give me a song
I give You silence, cold and empty stares, but still I know You care
Wherever I run, You're there



Thursday, April 5, 2012

April Newsletter

It's been a busy but awesome month here in KCK.  Here is our monthly newsletter.  Have a blessed Easter.  






Be the Change.