Peace Games... practice

There was a block party in North Minneapolis tonight called Peace Games... apparently it is one of three going on this summer. My church asked for volunteers to help at various activities that were provided.
I happened to get there late, only a few minutes, but everything was up and going already. I found Ellen and she directed me to the "Crafts and FacePainting" table. How convenient. :)
The tools were not what I would have preferred, but it only goes to show that it doesn't have to be perfect. I'm just too much of a perfectionist in my art. I guess it was a hit though, because I sat there for two hours straight painting butterflies and flowers and the occasional baseball or basketball. I didn't have an "example chart" and after a day of work I just couldn't think of anything more creative. Anything else wouldn't really work anyways, I didn't have the luxury of small brushes to do details... like I said though, it really didn't matter.

On the way home I thought of how just three hours previous I was seriously debating whether to go or not. It was mostly because I knew I'd be late and hadn't had dinner and was really tired, but I knew I wanted to enjoy the beautiful weather and I also had committed to it.
I forgot about all that stuff when I sat down and started painting butterflies on little tyke after little tyke.
About mid-way through there were a bunch of teenage girls that came over and wanted these different guys names on their arms. Like... D'Angelo and D-Man and D-Mob.... As I was doing this a number of things raced through my head. Was it just teenagers being goofy girls, or was it more? I have no idea... it was just the way they tounge-n-cheek'd between each other.
I'm a white suburbanite for sure, so I'm the last one to really think I know what's going on in their lives, prime example of this:
One of the girls had a baby bjorn strapped to her (or the equivalent to), and I automatically assumed the baby was hers! It was her nephew, he was just two months old and this girl couldn't have been more than 15years old herself. It really reminded me of Belize, the kids just come out of the woodwork, and everyone is related to someone else.

I'm so glad I made the decision to do this! I even met a woman who recognized me from a year and a half ago when I told a piece of my story at church on a communion sunday. She was volunteering at the same table doing crafts. Usually when someone at church says they recognize me I'll say I work with the youth and leave it at that, but I felt compelled to share about that time I shared.

Thanks Lord, for a time of going out of my normal tasks of the day and putting to use my talents right here in Minneapolis. I pray as you begin to speak to me about my steps after YWAM, that the things I am doing now would build for later.