Email: Mary Hartman

Hello to you all from Hollywood,

I am doing well. The week of Halloween was rough emotionally, but I am blessed in having a good support system here. Halloween night had us hosting our first neighborhood event. We chose to host a fall festival for the neighborhood kids. In the two and half hours we had about 20 kids.

One young boy stands out in particular. He has not come previously and he never told me his name. As he was dressed up as Robin, I called him such all night. He was running around, I decided to chase him. I didn't know what I was getting into. Robin had me chase him for a good 30 minutes. He then decided it was time to play the actual stations we had set up. He would participate in the station then continually look around to see where I was. After each station, he came and showed me what he had won or made. One station was spider Oreos. This young boy of 4 made me at least five different spider oreos.

As the time neared for him to leave, he decided it was time to give me a hug. I was touched deeply. I had met this young child less than an hour before, and he was giving me a hug and asking to come back. I gave his parents a flyer with our events in December. I still do not know this young boy's name, but he has touched my heart. I was reminded of the innocence of children. We are called as Christians to come to God with the absolute trust that young Robin showed me. He saw me and immediately saw a friend. It is my hope and prayer that my personal worldview would be that of this young man.

I would also like to share of another story. I spend four days a week serving a local agency called My Friend's Place, which is a drop-in day center for homeless youth. Here I met Mike. Mike is 21 and an amazing young man. He works the graveyard shift with a local security company, and he is also trying to work a second job. He struggles with his self-image and his view of the world. He has the hope of becoming a police officer, but is having trouble finding money to pay for the academy. He has had a hard life through the choices of others. He is frustrated at the system that seems to constantly take away what little he gains.

Yet in Mike, I see and hear hope. He fails to give into that despair but rather seeks ways to transform that into positive energy. He has made it a personal challenge to not fit the stereotype, but rather to overcome it. He is respectfully not quiet. He is honest and open. He is working to improve the man he is, both psychologically and economically. Through conversations with him, I have been able to help identify some goals for the next six months or so to begin achieving his dream of becoming a police officer. Some are simple things, like finding an academy close by. Others are much more daunting, such as getting funding for the academy, the necessary permits, and other fees.

Even when the odds are against Mike, he turns to his faith, trusting God's provision. I am sharing all this as I am challenged by Mike's example on many levels. I am encouraged as I see him pursuing the best for himself, and not listening to those who say “you can't.” I have the privilege of working with Mike and other youth similar to him everyday. Thank you so much for your support. It is because of you, that I have the privilege of helping Mike and others.

In Christ,