For this update we will focus on two items — our mentoring initiative and the relocation of our friend Willie.
Mentoring Update:
These past months, during spring semester, we have been working with a small group of young adults who are in community college. Our plan was to mentor them while they in turn mentored and tutored younger children in the neighborhood. In exchange, they receive scholarship money to help buy college books. We believe that the hope of neighborhoods is when the youth become leaders in their own neighborhoods, passing on to the next generation what they are learning.
Once a week (sometimes twice) the young adult mentors attend one of our tutoring sites to help the younger ones with school. Last week, one mentor was delighted to see how much progress Danny had made since they have started working together. Just as important, these young adults are role models for the younger ones, modeling good choices for their future.
Once a month we (InnerCHANGE staff) meet with them as a group for capacity building — training for tutoring and also spiritual input. We have had wonderful times together. The scheduled time is two hours, but they usually stay late into the night to talk with us, often with questions about spiritual things, trying to understand what it means to follow God. One young woman has made a decision to follow Christ, and two are very close to that. As we finish the semester, we will give each of them a copy of Don Postema’s “Space for God” to help them keep growing. Two of them will be moving into a discipleship house run by our friends at the local Evangelical Free Church. All of them hope to keep tutoring.
Willie’s Relocation:
Relocation is costly, as anyone who has moved knows. But relocation from prison to life on the outside is not only costly but presents unique challenges. On March 31, our friend Willie was released from Avenal State Prison. He was given $200.00. If John had not picked him up, he would have been put on a Greyhound bus and sent to LA. The Greyhound station is next to skid row, so this is where he would have landed.
We have known Willie for 10 years, since John’s first summer in LA when Willie was living on the streets and John did Bible studies with him at the local bus stop. A lot has happened in 10 years, too long to go into here, but Willie has grown a lot in the past years. He has demonstrated a commitment to sobriety, is looking for a church home, and is sharing his faith with others.
But where do you live and how do you find work if you have no references for housing or jobs??
With the help of faith partners and family, were able to help Will find a room. At $182.00 a week, it is no bargain, but the best that is available without references. He is grateful for a temporary job for two months that pays $7.00 an hour, cleaning up after a construction crew. John has supported his desire to try to start a small business selling things on ebay to supplement his low pay. Will is especially interested in selling Christian CDs, so if you have any you would like to donate, please send them to our P.O. Box.
Thank you for all the ways you have provided for us. We are enjoying the privilege of extending demonstrations of love and words of faith without immediate financial burdens. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
Peace and Grace,
John and Jude Tiersma Watson
InnerCHANGE LA
Box 17367
Los Angeles, CA 90017
jtiersmawatson@crmnet.org
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