Impacting youth

I ended up going into the office today to attend the power lunch mentor training. It was good to hear more about what the power lunch program is about and who the mentors and facilitators work with however, while I was sitting in and listening to the presentation, a few things kept running through my mind, which were, 1. There are a lot of things that I have never had to go through that some of the students that are worked with may have or are going through, 2. The power lunch program is doing great things in the schools that they work in, 3. God wants to work through those that are working with the students and are mentors and role models to them, 4. There are things to be learned from everyone that we come into contact with, and 5. God has a plan and will allow things to work out according to His plan and may turn our expectations and plans away.

1. While listening to the presentation, I quickly realized that I am not in tune with the “younger generations” music, culture, etc. There are a lot of things that I am not aware of and quiet frankly, I am just blinded to things going on since it’s different than who I am or what I am used to and may never have had to deal with thins where I grew up.  I grew up in a small town, was involved with extra-curriculum activities, and had parents that were there for me. The students that we are working with in the power lunch program may not have the same experiences and opportunities that I have had. And that leaves me wondering how much of an influence will I be able to have on the students if I work with them since we are from different backgrounds and experiences?

2. The power lunch program is touching many students and having an impact in many students’ lives. Through the program, they are able to have someone that they can look up to. The program is meant to help reduce truancy rates, disciplinary issues, etc.

3. God is building up people that have a passion and want to impact the student’s lives. There are 3 organizations working in the schools and they are in need of mentors that can be looked up to so that the ratio can be more like 1 mentor to every 4 or 5 students rather than it being 1 facilitator to 20-30 students. This is hard to do since there are so many students and only one facilitator but if there are more mentors then we will be able to impact more lives of students and truly listen to them one-on-one rather than becoming overwhelmed and swamped with 20-30 students. It becomes more meaningful if the ratios are smaller since then you can build true and meaningful relationships with the students and build trust with them as well.

4. Sometimes I feel like adults can think that younger people don’t know much and that we can’t learn anything form them however, that is not the case. People are experts of their own lives and know what it is that they are dealing with and going through. We can’t know what someone is going through or dealing with unless we are taking the time to listen to them, build authentic relationships with them, and walk along side them. We need to truly listen and be attentive and take the opportunities to learn from the students and from everyone we are around. It can sometimes be surprising what is learned when we just listen and go into things acting like we don’t know everything, since we don’t know everything.

5. Things may not turn out as expected but God has a plan. So, we had planned on 20 people attending the training today and we ended up with 7 people (5 that are already working with DLF or the 3 organizations that work on power lunches and 2 people that have not done the power lunch program before but interested in becoming mentors.) So, God changed our plan but brought 2 people that seem to be dedicated and very interested in the program and mentoring / impacting the lives of the students that are worked with in the schools through the power lunch program.

So, that was today and a little about the power lunch program and what’s going on with the youth leadership movement. If you want more information then go to the DLF website (one of the links on the right  sidebar) or message me if you want to know more about what I am or will be doing.