April 2014 Newsletter

When a family moves (PCS-Permanent Change of Station) to the Third Infantry Division, there’s a stigma that follows the move to this southeastern Army installation. Our location has been quoted as the Army’s leader in suicides, DUIs, divorce and deployments for soldiers and their families. The pace of life here is unfathomable and hard to explain except that many call it the “Marne Express,” either you ride the train or the train will run over you. I can’t agree more that the tempo of this location is surreal; continual field training exercises away from families, training exercises for 30-60 days away from Georgia across the country, deployment schedules to war and anything in between that keeps the soldiers busy with the ‘battle rhythm.’

Kyle (black t-shirt with green popsicle) cooling off from
the long day of competition in the neighborhood.

Let me first introduce you to Kyle (name changed for privacy). He is the classic rugged, athletic and rowdy middle school boy who also is a big bully on his bus, the playground in the neighborhood and in his school. He’s a huge trouble maker and runs with the group of kids that most parents try to keep their kids from hanging out with them. I first was introduced to Kyle when Club threw together a neighborhood outreach event at Hunter last summer with flag football and kickball, and we fed all the kids tons of hotdogs – and what kid doesn’t like free food!?! That day, I got to experience who Kyle was in his own surroundings. Kyle competes hard. He loves to bend, more like break, all the rules whenever possible. He wins at all costs, no matter the situation.

Kyle (green t-shirt) plahying a game of wax
museum one evening at Hunter Club.

A week ago, I was finishing putting the final touches on prep work before our students at Hunter started showing up to Club that night. To my surprise, I noticed Kyle walking toward the parking lot – 45 minutes before Club began. This wasn’t the first time Kyle has shown up considerably early, so I pressed into what God had in store for his hanging out ahead of time. Most people see Kyle as the bully and troublemaker all the time in his daily life, but I get to see something deeper, something about his own story. Recently he shared with me how his folks are going through a divorce and all the while his father is deployed to war overseas, fighting for our country.  One of the things I noticed about Kyle lately was all the new stuff he’d been bringing or wearing to Club. This evening was no different. Kyle had a set of headphones on his head, easily worth $300 or more and a ‘backup pair’ in his bag he carried worth another $200. We got to talking about where things were in his life and I asked him how he was handling things with his parents pending divorce. “I’m doing alright,” he stated, “but my sister, I’m not sure she’s handling it so well.” In that moment I shared with him about my divorce and how the pain really hurt badly and stated that it is alright to be honest when things are not going alright around home. Finally, I asked him why he comes so early to Club. “I like to come early and hang out,” he unashamedly stated to me.

Another student who is shining star to our continually-growing Hunter group of youth is a bright-eyed 6^th grade girl named Cloe (name changed for privacy). Every time Cloe shows up, she runs to me and gives me a huge hug,  smiling ear to ear, ready to share what she’s been doing lately. Cloe is yet another youth (among many) who chose to walk to Hunter Club every week. She’s a die-hard for the group and loves to participate in any game we provide throughout the night.

Cloe (front sticking her tongue out) with one of the biggest groups
of teens we've seen at Hunter ever. 

It was on an evening when I noticed her overall posture and demeanor were different than any other time I’d experienced. Cloe was more withdrawn and her mood wasn’t the best. I took a moment to ask her what was up and she replied “Mr. Phil, my parents are getting a divorce and my dad tells me it’s all my fault.” Soon tears were flowing.  She was broken from all the pressure on her shoulders with what her parents were going through, let alone her own feelings with all of this. In that moment I shared with her how our own parents will sometimes say things the wrong way, but they still want the best for us. I was able to share with her it was not her fault and that she is cared for and loved by God, even in this tumultuous time. Not too long after our dialogue with one another, I continued to check in with Cloe about the situation and show care to her. Some weeks she would be better and sometimes she’d be downtrodden. No matter the case, she still came to Club – the place where she knew she was being heard when nobody at home would listen.

Life in the military is tough for adults, but even tougher for our military teens as Kyle and Cloe have uncovered for me personally at Hunter Army Airfield. Both of these amazing teens come to Club knowing they are loved and cared for each week regardless of what baggage hangs on their shoulders. They come to a place they see as a refuge away from their home, school and daily lives. As we celebrate nationally the “month of the military child,” please join us in prayer especially as we reach so many military teens that need to experience God’s love not only spoken, but LIVED to them.