In central Texas sits the largest military installation in the world. As Jesus has called us to "go unto the nations," living in Killeen/Ft. Hood has become just that. With 146 different nationalities and languages represented in the Killeen Independent School District, this town is unlike any other city in Texas. The nations have truly come unto us!
Short stay, big change
I met Jorge two years ago at Shoemaker High School. He was the obvious leader of the Latino group with whom he hung around. Jorge was born in Puerto Rico and moved to Killeen five years ago to live with his mother who works as a cook on Ft. Hood. Jorge does not know his father, nor does he care to.
Jorge was your typical "bad" kid, more concerned with what others thought about him and maintaining his reputation than his doing schoolwork or investing in his home life. I took Jorge to our fourth-annual Polar Bear Weekend — a Young Life weekend camp event — and Jesus changed his life. The police officer at Shoemaker asked me the following Monday where I had taken Jorge. "What did you do with him?" he said. "He’s a new kid!" How great is our God.
Jorge and I shared a great friendship and mentorship for two years. He left this past summer to go back to Puerto Rico. We do not get to keep kids very long in this community.
Boy crazy
Tabitha. If you mention her name at Harker Heights High School, every guy knows who she is.
Tabitha is supremely boy crazy and seeks out their attention in all the wrong ways. Tabitha's father is serving in Iraq right now. He will not be home for at least a year as he serves with the 1st Cavalry Division. She will spend Christmas without her father just like many of her peers whose parents are in the military.
Tabitha is popular, beautiful and she is one of more than 10,000 high school souls who need to know the real life-giver in a major way today.
We are always in need of money and leaders, prayer and lots and lots of love to give to these kids. As we look at hiring an additional staff member, my heart rejoices at the thought of a new batch of kids hearing the message as new workers desire to serve in central Texas!