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

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Hit a wall

"I was going at a great pace until I hit a wall."  If you are a runner or a cyclist, you surely can relate.  Everything seems to be going great and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, you are out of energy and it seems like you can't go on.

I hit this wall a week ago.  I'm sure you understand that ministry in the city can be hard.  We knew that when we signed up.  Most days I'm OK with that.  I have been running hard trying to keep peace among the neighborhood kids, help my son redo some stuff in his new house and trying to fix a car for Dana to replace the one that was stolen.  That day, I had just got the new engine in and it wouldn't turn.  It was bound up on the torque converter somehow and needed to come back out. Perfect.  I started to pull it out and the lift bracket broke, dropping the engine.  Not cool.  I broke down.

Yep, I broke down.  God's man, called to bring the love of Jesus to this neighborhood, just couldn't handle it anymore.  Maybe it would be better to quit.  Maybe it would be better to get a "real" job.  Maybe I should be a pastor or some join ministry that is steady.  At least I'd have Pastor Appreciation month.  Poor, poor me.  Have you ever thrown a pity party and no one shows up?

After crying and shouting to God my favorite "I give up" statement, "Are you freakin kidding me?", I realized once again that I can't do this.  I realized that not only can I not do this; maybe I'm not the one who is suppose to do this.  It is so easy to do things in my own strength.  It is so easy to come across like, "It's cool, I got this."

Once again, my lesson was to learn to rely on God and not myself.  Will I ever learn?  The often misquoted, "I can do all things through Christ" verse comes into to play.  Paul's context was more life's circumstances than some superpower.  He could live in affluence and the good life, but he was saying that lately it wasn't like that.  He was in need and was outcast and even beaten.  He can "do all things" because of his trust in God.  Anyway, things have calmed down and are looking a lot brighter.  Ministry is going well, Josiah is moved in, and the car that was my breaking point is now running and we love it.

Apparently I can't do this, but that's OK.
God, please be my strength.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

October Newsletter


 Prescott Community Outreach
Lee and Dana Trotter
Making life better for our neighbors
October 2013

La Paz House

Ministry in the city has its ups and downs.  Last week I was hanging out with a few of my junior high kids.  We were talking about usual stuff; friends, parents, school, which can be a little depressing at times.  One of the boys was thumbing through a Bible Story coloring book and asked me why Jesus had to die.  I explained it to him.  I explained that because of sin, we could not have a relationship with God and that Jesus died to pay for our sins so that believing in Him, we could have a restored relationship.  Next we talked about evolution, denominations, and what a Christian is.


It is impossible to plan moments like this.  They often come in the margins of what we do.  They come in conversations through relationships and often not in our programs. Helping with homework, fixing bicycles, and playing foosball is all worth it when we get the chance to not only share God’s love, but to discuss it with our neighbors!


New bikes!

 Chris, Caesar, and Luis on their new bikes!
I have given away, traded, and repaired many bikes this month.  These kids are hard on bikes.  They ride them hard. They leave them outside where they rust and often get stolen.  A lot of us don’t have garages since this neighborhood was built before cars were such of a huge part of our lifestyle.

               




Is it October already?  Definitely another busy month with plenty of projects to keep us busy in our spare time.  I suppose we all have a lot of yard work and things to do on our houses and vehicles before winter.  Like me, I bet you all have a pile of scrap bicycles in your backyard that need gone through.  The police recovered our car, but it is beyond repair.  I have been putting a new engine in another car to replace it.  Josiah and Kaiti have been living with us this past year and are moving out this month.  They purchased a home in Independence.  We are refinishing the floors and painting before they move in.

I am still trying to recruit more volunteers.  I have put some feelers out at some local colleges.  I am also considering moving bike club to Saturday morning so more volunteers can be involved.

Amaris adjusting her sister’s bike
Thank you all for your support.  We are blessed to be able to spend time with the kids in our neighborhood every day! 


La paz de Dios,                      

    Lee & Dana


_________________________________________________________________
Support gifts should be made out to “National Christian Foundation” and are fully tax deductible. We receive 99% of the funds you donate. Please designate
“Prescott Community Outreach Fund #935502” on the memo line.
Use the enclosed envelope or send to:

Prescott Community Outreach Fund #935502
c/o National Christian Foundation
706 North Lindenwood Drive
Olathe, KS 66062

Be the Change.