Joel's Place: Live and Unplugged: 10 years

Friday, October 17, 2014

10 years

     Where were you 10 years ago? What was your life like then? How have you changed in the past decade?

     Kelli and I were talking recently and she said that she had this realization: Joel's Place will have influence on the lives of these kids for 10 years, sometimes more. 10 years of a safe, affirming environment. 10 years of free meals. 10 years of lessons and concerts and events and parties. 10 years of mentoring. The potential for transformation is enormous.

     Where was I 10 years ago? I was still in Fairbanks but I that was before my 9 year old girl and that was before my 2 year old girl. That was before I had even heard of autism, much less analyzed what kind of impact it would have on the life of our family. That was before I worked at Joel's Place, before I worked at Sears, before I worked as a youth pastor at 1st Presbyterian. I was working two jobs with InterVarsity and Northland Wood during the day and doing what I could to help out around the house in every other spare minute that I could find. There was not much money and even less sleep to be found around the Menaker house. We were a couple of years into planting the ministry at UAF and I was dreaming about being a campus minister for the next 20 years. I had no idea...of so many things that were to come.

     In the past ten years I have learned how to laugh and have fun; how to have authentic conversations and authentic faith; how to lead instead of dictate; how to let go of despair and cynicism; how to speak in public and write in private; how to listen without judgement and advise without a desperate neediness; how to build a plan; how to hope; how to suffer with grace...and how to braid hair. It's not a bad list.

     Just imagine how the life of a young person can change in 10 years. Imagine the difference between a 10 year old boy and a 20 year old man. Imagine he has had an entire support network investing in him and building him up for a decade instead of being abandoned and left to his own devices. Imagine all the thousands of pounds of food he will have eaten that have kept his mind sharp and his body growing. Imagine the hours that he will have devoted to his body, developing his strength and his skills and his confidence. Imagine what new passions he might have discovered...maybe an instrument, maybe a field of study, maybe a profession or a hobby.

     10 years is a long time for anyone, but for a teenager in those formative years? Pure gold.

     Thanks for supporting Joel's Place as we play this long game with these amazing kids.

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Giving

If you would like to become a financial partner with us and support the work of Joel's Place, here's how:

1.) To make an online donation:

2.)Mail us a check at P.O. Box 83584, Fairbanks, AK 99708

Or

3.)Call our front desk at 452-2621 with your credit card information. Our official hours are Mon- Fri, 12pm-6pm , but there is usually someone by the phones from 8am on.

And

4.) You can link your Fred Meyer Rewards card to Joel's Place at this link. Every purchase on your card increases the Fred Meyer Foundation's annual donations to our organization.

Thank you for your encouragement and support.

From the Staff

Leah Byam, Program Assistant

On Sunday after Church a group of us went to Subway to eat lunch. When we get in line it's very busy, so we wait patiently in line. As I'm waiting in line I see CS, a young man who has been coming to Joel's Place for a very long time. He's working behind the counter. He's assertive, polite, taking peoples orders, and going on to the next costumer giving them kindness and the same professional service. As I watch him from afar my eye's tear up. I know his past. I've walked with him on so many journeys. I love this kid so much, I am so so so proud of him. As I get closer he see's me and his face lights up. We were able to talk. He tells me that he just graduated with his high school degree, that he's still saving up, he will be going to Hawaii as planned in September to work. I was able to tell him, How proud I am of Him, and I meant it in every sense of the word.