Chatter

I started mentoring Larrishelle three years ago with Mercy Street.

The word mentoring, or using the words mentor or mentee, is kind of funny to me. It might be because they are very formal words, and I am not a formal person. Or maybe because they make me feel like I should have a head of gray hair and mounds of wisdom to impart. Honestly, I don’t have either. (And hopefully never will have gray hair thanks to the beautiful invention of hair color.)

Deciding to jump into the mentoring process was a big step for me. I don’t like to do things half-heartedly, and when I commit, I like to give 100%. The kids that live in West Dallas have enough flaky people in their lives. They want and need a consistent presence. They don’t need another person who will walk out of their lives when the going gets tough or when it’s not convenient or just because it is hard.

Mentoring is a process.

I have to be honest that I am not a process-lovin’ person nor do I long for the “journey” that so many of you people out there passionately explore (unless it involves travel — then I am in!). I don’t even own proper “journey” shoes. I own flip-flops.

I see a need.

I meet it.

I move on.

I look for the end of the road and how problems can be solved quickly and effectively. Sometimes this happens in life but most of the time it doesn’t. However, God is in the process. Our lives are a process, a journey. We don’t get perfect overnight.

And this is how it has been with my Larrishelle.

After three years, she still may be failing some of her classes.

She might have gotten suspended several times in school this year.

BUT…

She is talking more and asking questions about life, about Jesus, about how I deal with things. And she is sharing more of what is going on in her life. In the last few months, we have had a lot of good times and good conversations. I get to share how I have dealt with issues in my life, and I get to counsel her on how to deal with things in her life as best I can. I get to be that person I hope she will turn to no matter what. I get to be Jesus to her and show her unconditional love, encourage her to grow and live and be who she is created to be. Sometimes it is a burden, sometimes I don’t want to go hang with her, sometimes I don’t have answers, and sometimes I just want to be selfish and live my own life. Sometimes I just want to curl up in my blanket and have my own issues each day and not worry about hers.

But I am reminded that Jesus calls us to reach out to those in need. He wants us to be his hands and feet. Not just to help people so we can check it off on our good list and get an extra jewel in heaven. No, this is his heart, his passion, and his mission: that all may come to know him in a greater way. And when we help those like Larrishelle — those who think that the only dependable things in the world are the U.S. Post Office and Hot Cheetos^® — he uses that to transform us even more into his own image.

Though I am “mentoring” Larrishelle, she is teaching me so much more than I am teaching her. (What I did not expect was to grow in my dance moves also. While I never claimed to be Michael Jackson, I feel like I do have some moves. Larrishelle always just shakes her head and laughs at my white girl moves. She keeps me humble. But as I tell her loudly over her laughter, it doesn’t matter if you can dance, just that you dance anyway.)

Please pray about becoming a mentor. Pray about who your Larrishelle will be. There are so many kids waiting just to hang out with someone cool like you. It turns out you don’t even need the proper shoes, and you might even learn how to dance better.

Backpacks for Mercy Street

IBC has the opportunity to be a part of Mercy Street’s Back to School Backpack Giveaway. If you would like to participate on August 21, please contact Jen at mercystreet@irvingbible.org.