Too Old for Camp, Young Enough for Saving
At the Barbecue on Thursday (6/25) I introduced myself to three young teenage girls between ages 12 and 14, just on the edge of danger: not yet immersed but flirting with the evils around them. I played hand games with them and kept them away from the boys most of the evening. They didn’t seemed to object to my interfering with their flirting and jumped at the offer to come help me make bread the following Tuesday.
Jeanette and I picked them up on Tuesday, and together we made yeast bread (for my birthday dinner) and banana muffins (for camp). They were fascinated by the mushrooming little yeasts, and delightfully disgusted by the frozen slimy bananas, “you sure this ain’t slugs?!!”
Jeanette led some good conversation about prayer, and what they wanted (to go to college and become a teacher), and what might keep them from getting what they wanted (“keep hanging out with bad influences”, according to one). They asked when they could come over and do it again, and we agreed for Thursday (7/2). They also want to help out with camp, which could be an awesome way to connect them to us more.
If they’re going to be saved from teen pregnancy, they’re going to have to put us in their quality worlds, and soon. It’s a choice between how we’re doing it and how their mothers, sisters, aunts and grandmothers have done it. Come Lord!