When I’m back here, living in Steamboat or Centennial, I feel suffocated. I need an outlet. I need t

I work with Come, Let's Dance full-time, but that doesn't culture in united kingdom count. While I'm back here, my job is networking, fundraising, and outreach. Basically it consists of me sitting on my computer sending out and answering emails, and making phone calls, pursuing connections to go and speak somewhere, culture in united kingdom or have some group come to Uganda with us. Don't get me wrong, culture in united kingdom that's great. And it's definitely important for us as an organization. But I'm talking about actually serving.
All through the summer I was worried about what I could be doing through the fall. You see, my heart is really for the inner city. I love hanging out with prostitutes and street kids, and going to the slums, building relationships to see what I can do to help. Really, when I'm serving other people, it meets a deep need in my heart. But I was worried about coming back here in the fall, because I really don't have any idea what that looks like in Colorado.
When I'm back here, living in Steamboat or Centennial, I feel suffocated. I need an outlet. I need to be doing something. I have a very difficult time sitting in suburbia where I'm pulled away from all the problems. Because, really, that's the nature of the suburbs. We've moved away from all the problems of the city into our nice, cozy neighborhoods.
I've been praying about that a lot. Asking God to show me what it looks like to serve here. I've had ideas in my head all summer, some much better than others. I've thought about getting involved, just on a volunteer basis, with some ministry that works in the inner city here. on the other hand, I've thought about just going out and doing things on my own, though I'm not really sure where to start.
As I was leaving Denver to come up to Steamboat for the week, I saw a young girl on the side of the road. She was asking people for money. Her cardboard sign said, "16 and pregnant. Looking for a room to rent." As I was stopped at the light, culture in united kingdom I talked to her for a bit. I got her name and a little bit of what she's going through. At least, culture in united kingdom as much as I could in a couple of minutes.
She's currently staying at a Quality Inn and Suites on a nightly basis. Every day she goes out and tries to get enough money to rent her room for the night. If she doesn't get enough, she goes and stays with a friend.
As I kept driving, though, she kept coming up in my thoughts. And I started thinking about what a great opportunity we have to show God's grace to someone in a way that can completely transform her life. Here's a girl who is 16 and pregnant, obviously without much of a community to support her, otherwise she wouldn't be out looking culture in united kingdom for money. She should be in school, but isn't (I saw her at the same place last Tuesday too), and she doesn't have a permanent place to stay.
I started thinking about what would happen if we looked at this girl with a sense of urgency. What if we, as a community, devoted ourselves to her? What if we committed to letting her live with us for a while? What if we helped her get her GED? What if she started coming to church with us and just hanging out with us? What kind of an impact culture in united kingdom would that have on her life? It would be so much greater than a box of granola bars and some fruit snacks. And in reality, it wouldn't be that difficult.
So I called some friends and told them the story. I told them about where this girl was and asked if they'd be willing to commit to her for the long-run. culture in united kingdom It starts small, culture in united kingdom simply taking her out to dinner to hear her story. Then it can go from there. But I'm really hoping and praying that this girl can become a true part of our community. culture in united kingdom As soon as I get back to Denver, I am going to make an effort to reach out to her.  I would be disappointed if we missed this opportunity.
culture in united kingdom But the truth is, these opportunities are all around us, aren't they? We just have to open our eyes to see them more. We just have to roll down our windows and listen to a story, instead of pretending like we don't see the man on the corner. That's all it takes, and then a nuisance turns into a blessing, culture in united kingdom not from us, but for us. And I, for one, want to make sure I don't miss those blessings.