Lee and Dana Trotter
Prescott Community
Outreach
October 2017
We just returned from attending the Christian Community Development Conference inspired and
ready to love our neighbors more than ever! I returned to a long to do list of getting ready for a
work day to replace some flooring at the church, a clothing give-away, and a Harvest Fest trunk or
treat event.
La Paz House is going well. The atmosphere has changed a little. When we opened up for the fall,
we started with some behavior issues. I planned a parents meeting to deal with it. We told the kids
that they were not allowed to come back to La Paz House unless their parent came to the meeting
and signed a behavior contract. We figure this will help us develop relationship with more of the
parents and help the kids be accountable for the way they act. The only problem was that with all
my efforts to send notes home with the kids, put a letter in their mailbox, and text most of them,
only one parent showed up to the meeting. I was disappointed, but not too surprised. Getting
anything going or organized has been much harder in urban areas than when we were ministering
in the suburbs. On to Plan B. The next day, when La Paz House was to open, I left the door locked
and sat in front to meet the kids and tell them they could not attend until I personally met with their
parent. Half a dozen moms came walking up the road with their youth to talk to me and fill out the
permission form. A few of my worst behaving kids have not been back, which is a little
disappointing, but in the long run probably best for La Paz House.
The atmosphere has changed to a
hang out with mostly junior high and high school boy. Things are calmer. We work on bikes and
skateboards. We have good and much deeper conversations about just about everything. We get
the chance to encourage and challenge the boys to e better. With the pressures on urban boys to get
into trouble, we are blessed to be able to hang out everyday with them.
Thank you for your support! We are seeing God slowly
change our neighborhood!
We love you,
Lee & Dana
Friday, October 20, 2017
September 2017 Newsletter
September 2017
I have often told you about our doorbell. It rings often with neighborhood kids needing their bikes fixed. We spend time patching tires, adjusting brakes, and replacing broken or bent parts. Dana usually has a Popsicle or cold water for them as we hang out and talk. I get about 2 visits per day; some days more. Those are the easy visits. I get a lot of other visits from neighbors on a fairly regular visit. They always want or need something. Some are looking for work. Some are asking for a “loan”, although I've never gotten paid back. My policy is if you don't pay me back, I consider it a onetime gift and they will not get any more. Some need me to fix something on their car or at their house. Some of them need a ride to work, hospital, sister's house or where ever. I usually am able to drop what I'm doing and help them.
One man Billy, showed up at church one morning. He was still high on meth. After church I drove him around to find him some help. After talking with him, I learned he was on parole, couldn't leave the county, could not be out on street, and could not stay in any of the shelters because he is a registered sex offender. I helped him that day, the next day got him into the hospital, and then got him into a rehab program in Salina. I bought him a bus ticket and sent him to Salina. He showed up a month later after not finishing the treatment program. I again helped him get food and clothes. He had a place to stay and was doing all right. A number of months went by after he ended up back in jail and won a few dollars at the casino and spent it on drugs. He was in trouble with parole and had nowhere to turn. He showed up on my front porch again. But this time he was different. He was clean and talked clearly. We had a long talk about putting his faith in God, is his responsibility in getting better, and how to get clean and rebuild his life. I spent the day getting him a new state id, some food and toiletries, getting a tv going where he was staying and getting him into a drug treatment program. By now, I was not sure that he would follow up or give up again but I have a hard time giving up on people. Pray for Billy.
I have not seen him and am not sure where he is or if he is following up on his new faith in God. Thank you for praying for us and supporting our ministry here. It is often frustrating and hard to measure if we are making a difference, but I believe we are! We appreciate you all!
We love you, Lee & Dana
I have often told you about our doorbell. It rings often with neighborhood kids needing their bikes fixed. We spend time patching tires, adjusting brakes, and replacing broken or bent parts. Dana usually has a Popsicle or cold water for them as we hang out and talk. I get about 2 visits per day; some days more. Those are the easy visits. I get a lot of other visits from neighbors on a fairly regular visit. They always want or need something. Some are looking for work. Some are asking for a “loan”, although I've never gotten paid back. My policy is if you don't pay me back, I consider it a onetime gift and they will not get any more. Some need me to fix something on their car or at their house. Some of them need a ride to work, hospital, sister's house or where ever. I usually am able to drop what I'm doing and help them.
One man Billy, showed up at church one morning. He was still high on meth. After church I drove him around to find him some help. After talking with him, I learned he was on parole, couldn't leave the county, could not be out on street, and could not stay in any of the shelters because he is a registered sex offender. I helped him that day, the next day got him into the hospital, and then got him into a rehab program in Salina. I bought him a bus ticket and sent him to Salina. He showed up a month later after not finishing the treatment program. I again helped him get food and clothes. He had a place to stay and was doing all right. A number of months went by after he ended up back in jail and won a few dollars at the casino and spent it on drugs. He was in trouble with parole and had nowhere to turn. He showed up on my front porch again. But this time he was different. He was clean and talked clearly. We had a long talk about putting his faith in God, is his responsibility in getting better, and how to get clean and rebuild his life. I spent the day getting him a new state id, some food and toiletries, getting a tv going where he was staying and getting him into a drug treatment program. By now, I was not sure that he would follow up or give up again but I have a hard time giving up on people. Pray for Billy.
I have not seen him and am not sure where he is or if he is following up on his new faith in God. Thank you for praying for us and supporting our ministry here. It is often frustrating and hard to measure if we are making a difference, but I believe we are! We appreciate you all!
We love you, Lee & Dana
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