Mock Disaster Training

During my summer employment at Gentz and involvement the mentoring program, I had the opportunity to be involved with the Youth Connection Career Academy. They are a nonprofit that helps Detroit public school youth with career training, academic program involvement and service projects to prevent youth violence and delinquency. This organization is also the one who placed the kids at our company to be mentored.

During the summer program, the kids go through what is called cert training. They learn lifesaving emergency procedures and at the end are qualified to be first responders if there is a calamity or disasterous event. The final part of their training is called the "mock disaster" and is sponsored by the department of homeland security. The kids are invited to what they think is a rally to hear a speaker and graduate from their program, only for a dramatized disaster to take place without their prior knowledge. They are asked to use their newly learned skills on how to respond. Some of the kids know what is happening and participate in their roles, others are taken by surprise. They did a great job!!!








If you would like to see the rest of the pictures, click here: TYC Mock Disaster

Forgiveness Done Right

I heard an amazing story today and I thought I would share it with you. It's about forgiveness.

I was inspired and touched by this story. I hope I can relay what an impactful story this really is.

Many years ago, my friend Jim was married and had three children. His wife, pregnant with their fourth child went into labor and delivered a baby girl. After she was delivered, the doctor took her into the next room, cleaned her up. He then approached Jim, asking him if he was the father and introduced Jim to this beautiful baby girl. Something in Jim's heart checked and he just knew for some unknown reason he wasn't the father of the baby girl his wife just delivered.

He went through the motions and prayed about his paternity of the child. As he prayed, he felt as if the Lord was telling him to forgive and say nothing. A year later, a DNA test was performed and his suspicions were proven - he was not the biological father of this child. But God kept reminding Him to be obedient and forgive. This was very, very difficult at times. Jim loved the Lord with all his heart and it was all that he could do to forgive his wife and love this baby girl as his own. But he did and the little girl never knew the difference. She still does not know.

God helped Jim and he and his daughter had a very close relationship. She grew to be a beautiful woman and daddy's girl. She ended up being more like him than any of her brothers and sisters. She not only looks up to her Daddy who was her best friend, but has a passion for Jesus just like him. She loves the Lord with all of her heart. She has since married and moved out of state. She calls or sends him text messages daily. Yesterday he got a text from her that said "Me without you is like a fat man without his cake".

Forgiveness serves a greater purpose than just us.
It impacts the lives of everyone all around us.

Seek First His Kingdom

I received word last week that my Mentoring project is coming to an end early due to the economy and my hours were drastically cut. This comes as a surprise, but no surprise. The project was not permanent, and although there were promising leads that it would lead to a long term commitment - it didn't happen. I'm a little disappointed. In some ways, I feel as if I'm starting back at square one. But in other ways I know I've grown and this growth is going to help me with my future.

My first and foremost job is found in scripture ....

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Matthew 6:33