STAND AND DELIVER . . . A Day in an Urban High School

"I don't smoke pot everyday anymore" .. . These were the words from a High School sophomore. I visited an DISD High School yesterday to speak to two classes of sophomores to motivate them to stay in school and make good choices. This student was moved by my story of my own use of drugs as a teenager. He and I connected and I hope somehow I made a difference in his life. I have been approved to be a volunteer in this High School and I intend to get involved because they really need help.

I was appalled at the condition of the school and the programs. DISD now only graduates 40% of its Hispanic freshman. This school I visited is overwhelmingly Hispanic, its also popular in news reports of the teen killer drug, "Cheese". . . a slang name for heroine. The students were friendly and many of them smiled at me but the emptiness and depressive state of the school was deafening. TAKS scores were out that day and the tension was high. This school has been on probation before and it looks like it might return to that status. As many as 50 seniors of 250 could end up failing the TAKS. For these seniors that are about to graduate it means failure. They won't get their diploma and for most they will give up. I went to meet the principal but he was not there, I hear he is rarely at the school . . . MIA. The counselors are not much better. Its a few teachers that are holding down the fort for the sake of the students. . . Who will stand?

Compare this 40 % statistics to the 90%+ of Plano High Schools. Why such a huge disparity? Obviously such issues are very complicated but the fact remains that we are allowing this to occur. It broke my heart to know that these students are destined to very limited lives. Worse is that they don't even have access to the gospel. Over 90% of immigrants from Latin America do not have a clear understanding of saving faith. Their kids are much worse. So who will go to these schools and be a light and salt. Who will divest themselves of their resources to help these students? Who will share the loving message of Jesus? Who will Deliver?

All it takes is ONE! There is one Christian young lady that is now an English teacher at this High School. I watched her firmly instruct her students and she would not let them push her around but at the same time every word, look and action was filled with encouragement and love. I was blown away how she could be so firm and so patient. The students can't leave her class without feeling like someone believes in them. This teacher is not Hispanic and is not from the neighborhood. She is a Plano High School graduate and could have found a teaching job in the comfort of the suburbs. Instead, she intentionally chose to work at DISD with the hope of landing in a school like this. I applaud this missionary and pray for more.

What can we do?
1. Pray
2. Speak out against these kind of injustices to our ruling officials, school officials. Racism is real in Dallas, speak against it.
3. Adopt a student or school and volunteer, its easy to get involved
4. Get your church to adopt a local school.
5. Leave your job and join the ranks of the front lines of missions

Great Quote from Stand and Deliver
"There will be no free rides, no excuses. You already have two strikes against you: your name and your complexion. Because of those two strikes, there are some people in this world who will assume that you know less than you do"

I have a SON

I always wanted a second child but it seemed to me like time had ran out an God had just not wanted me to have one. After seeking several avenues we wondered why God had not open up doors for us to have another child. We had spoken to adoption agencies and three different young ladies that were considering giving their baby to us for adoption. Doors closed again and again. I had honestly prayed to God many times, not the normal prayer like "God give me child" but more on the "what are you doing God?" kind of prayer. Don't get me wrong, I was not in dispair but I was losing hope.
"Search me God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts" - David

Then the phone call came on a Sunday afternoon from a good friend, he said, "our teen daughter that is 8 months pregnant has prayed alot and has decided that she wants you and Jen to adopt her baby". Whoa! What the . . .Why . . . when . . you name it, all the questions rushed in my mind as my heart began to pump at a incredibly fast pace, kind of like when I get up to get the remote from the TV. I could not believe this. . .is this is? Is this His plan? 8 Months pregnant? No way! That means we only have one month to prepare all the legal and medical stuff plus then our home, baby room, etc. . . "Lord I call to you; come quickly to me, Hear my voice when I call you" - David

After days of prayer and seeking counsel from family and friends, we agreed that it was the Lord's will. Oh crap! (in our household crap is not a foul word but feel free to judge me, I don't care)The next six weeks are a blur . . . I have not been so stressed to get so much done in a very long time. Within three weeks we completed our home study for adoption and had the basics to receive a baby. We began to get excited but it was tempered by so many stresses of getting ready. I have to admit that I need to figure out how to be excited in the midst of great stress. . . not there yet. "Count it pure joy when you face many trials" - James

One more thing . . . the baby is a BOY! We never planned for a son though I always wanted one. We were thinking of two girls orginially so all our stuff is pink. Who cares . . .a SON! I have to admit that I was thrilled to imagine another male in our family. I think of camping, fishing, sports, basketball, baseball, karate, hunting, guy stuff and more guy stuff. Not that I won't do many of those things with Bailey, I plan on it. But there is a special thing about doing them with your son. "God gave His only begotten SON"! - John

On the day the baby was due we got the call, about 1 am. The doctors said the baby would probably come late but not our son. He came on the day appointed and he shall be called, "Micah Gabriel Benavides". For almost a month we looked at over 500 boy names and could not agree until the name, "Micah" came on our lips. Bailey picked it out of our top three names. Micah means, "Who is like our God". Of course Micah is was an awesome prophet who penned these words, "What does God require of you oh man? But to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Micah was born on April 23, 2008 weighing 6 lbs 10 oz. He is beautiful! Kimmie the birth mom and Logan the birth dad were amazing. They were so united and so loving to us. Our families bonded and we knew that this was a "God" thing. I don't want to decieve by ignoring the facts that adoption is not easy, especially for the birth parents. There is much grief, doubt and pain. But there is also great peace and joy knowing that you are in His will and doing the best for this child. May the Lord always bless Kimmie and Logan for their sacrifice and obedience. We will always be thankful for the gift that God gave us through them.

Today is Micah's three week B-day . . . Thank God for His wisdom. What are you anxious about? Not married? Don't have kids? Don't have the right job yet? Whatever it is remember our story and this:
"Don't be anxious about anything but instead take it up to God in prayer" - Paul