Wednesday, June 29, 2011

The Greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears

I've been thinking about why I do what I do.

My thoughts continued to return to this quote. It is from a book called East of Eden by John Stienbeck:

"The Greatest terror a child can have is that he is not loved, and rejection is the hell he fears. I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime, guilt - and there is the story of mankind. I think that if rejection could be amputated, the human would not be what he is. Maybe there would be fewer crazy people. I am sure in myself there would not be many jails. It is all there - the start, the beginning. One child, refused the love he craves, kicks the cat and hides his secret guilt; and another steals so that money will make him loved; and a third conquers the world - and always the guilt and revenge and more guilt."


There are so many people in this city that have felt the harsh sting of rejection. Some of the stories that I have recently heard are so heart wrenching that I wonder if I can ever have any influence. I really feel that I have been called here to stand by those who have been rejected, those who are still being rejected  today and to help stem the cycle of rejection, anger and guilt.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

A New Chapter...

Next week I begin the next part of my adventure, with nearly 50 interns arriving to work at the Urban Promise summer camps. This is particularly exciting for me as I have volunteered to go to a City called Trenton in New Jersey, where they are starting up a brand new summer camp this year. (Click here for more info on Trenton).

I will going there with my buddy Kumar and some other Interns. I feel that this will be a really fun time, but I also feel that this will be a time that I will be able to be challenged, and possibly help me grow.

This move will only be temporary, as I will be returning to Camden in August to start another Year Internship at the camp that I have been working at this.

I ask that you all continue to support me, that your keep me in your prayers. And if you feel called to support my work here in the USA financially,  then please go to https://www.servicenetwork.com/olg/upusa-f/Sponsor.asp and select my name from the drop down menu.

Monday, June 13, 2011

The only true disability is a crushed spirit

I know that this video is kinda long but it is incredibly inspirational to me and to the work that I am doing out in America.  If you don't have the time to watch it all then please watch from 14.38