January 2008
ashleycummins@gmail.com
One by one the kids jumped off the school bus. I gathered them up and herded them into the mission. We halted at the door as I scrambled for the right key, kids knocking up against me fighting to be first. With the turn of the handle we burst into the room. Kids ran to the computers, fought over sharpening pencils, hid in the bathroom and pulled out construction paper. All the kids but Kevin. He came in, tossed his back pack on the table and sat down. In front of him was a dry erase board with the verse John 3:16 written on it.
"Ashley!" He called out motioning me to come over. "What's this mean?" He says pointing at the board.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son..." I begin to read aloud.
"Haysoos! Right? That's Spanish for Jesus." Kevin interjected.
"Umhum, that's right Kevin." I responded.
"What's those numbers mean? John three six what?"
"Three sixteen. John was the author and three sixteen is the verse number in the Bible."
"You mean this book?" He picked up a Bible that I just happened to get out earlier that day.
"Yeah! This one. Here, let me show you how to look it up. Tell me when you see the name John." I held the Bible with one hand and flipped from the back. The pages ruffled under my thumb.
"STOP!" Kevin yelped excitedly.
"OK, now look for a big three." I encouraged him to search the page.
"Found it." His finger smudged the page.
"OK. Now look for a tiny sixteen."
His eyes scanned the scriptures. "Right here." He pointed with one finger then pushed up his sliding glasses.
"Read it to me."
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, Jesus, that whoever believed in Him shall not perish." He read slowly, sounding out each word.
"'Perish' means die." I explained. "God loves you so much that he died for you so you could live in heaven."
"Died for me?" Kevin asked pointing a finger towards his heart. Pray that Kevin will make a commitment to Christ soon!
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