Love that Passes On
This week at Love City we had our final out of town volunteer group working with us. Fifteen students and three adults from ECC, a church in a town outside of Dayton, Ohio stayed on campus and did life with us for an entire week. They helped us make camp lunches, paint at the school, and make t-shirts. They also got to live life with us as we celebrated multiple Mighty Oak birthdays at the park and spent time playing basketball, dodgeball, volleyball, and just hanging out. It was a beautiful week with lots of Love shown.
We had been planning this week with ECC for 8 months. With everything in place and prepared we were excited as the week approach. Then, a week before they were to arrive, I got a text message. It said that one of their students that was coming used prosthetic legs, but due to recent complications, would need to be using a wheelchair for the trip. They were asking whether our facilities were wheelchair accessible. I had to tell them that unfortunately our buildings do have a lot of stairs in them and not all the areas have wheelchair access. I was disappointed because I assumed that would discourage the student from coming and enjoying the trip that they had been anticipating. Fortunately, I was wrong.
ECC Volunteers helping work on a new Mighty Oak Mural
When they arrived and unloaded from their 15 passenger van, their leader Josh approached me and told me about Jemma. Despite having to use her wheelchair for the time being, Josh said Jemma was adamant on coming on the trip. The first day, we brought Jemma some equipment that she could use from her wheelchair. After using it for a few minutes, she put it down and got out of her chair. She sat on the sidewalk, pulling weeds from the curb, walking on her hands to move along the sidewalk and pull weeds all along the curb. It was the same story every day, Jemma doing whatever she needed to do to help us Love and beautify our community.
Jemma and other members of ECC painting the front of the school
As the week went on, I got to know Jemma better. She had been adopted from China when she was young, and had her legs amputated above the knees. I was even more amazed to learn she had two other siblings on the trip, both of them also adopted, one from Ethiopia and one from Columbus, Ohio. She actually had 9 other siblings, 3 were her mothers biological children and the other 6 were adopted from all across the world.
Jemma’s mother always wanted many children. I couldn’t help but think how her mother’s Love had been passed down to Jemma. Her mother’s Love shown through continuous growth of family and wanting to Love more and more was passed to Jemma, and so when Jemma was faced with a decision to remain in Eaton in comfort, or to go and Love neighbors 3 hours away, there was nothing that could keep her from Loving. And so, Love passed from one generation, to another, until it was shared with our community. Our team couldn’t help to be inspired by Jemma’s Love, and the Love of her whole team as they worked to help our community and support Jemma however she needed. Now, my biggest hope is that one day I am told a story about one of our student’s at Mighty Oak who felt Loved at our school, and went on to do whatever it took to pass that Love to another community.
Ethan
Karaoke Tonight 5-7 PM!!!
The Fish Fry is back open today from 11 am- 7 pm with Karaoke starting at 5! Come join us for a great time.
4th Annual Westonia Water Wars!
It’s back! The largest water balloon fight in the west! Tuesday evening July 25 from 5-7. Come join us as we turn Westonia into a family friendly water park. In addition to the water balloon fight we will have a huge inflatable water slide, water slip n slide, ice cream, sno cones, cotton candy, and much more!
If you are interested in volunteering or to find out more information about supplies needed please email: info@lovecityinc.org or call (502) 272-078.