Open Doors!

What do all of these colleges have in common?
They have all graciously opened their doors to BLING!

Last year, one of the teen girls and I went to a college. And, it was her first time on a campus among students. She was welcomed by the students and decided that this was a place she would be interested in going. One of the campus leaders "adopted" her and offered to show her around and help her with her application when that time came!

It's amazing how God's people on these campuses extend their love and hugs...and their help and my beautiful girls get to experience things they never have before!

We are excited to be going to Moody this Thursday, North Park University next Friday, and Wheaton on the 2nd of December!

Get ready college campuses...
BLING is coming!

Interview with Helen

What does an average day in BLING TAP look like?
I  come in and  there are  lots of kids everywhere. I get my journal out and answer the questions that are there. When I am done with that miss nicki has something for us to do like make memory wire or make earrings. Then at 5:30 we go down stairs and prepare the dinner for the kids then clean up after them. Then come back up stairs and return to what we were  doing.

The skills I have learned at TAP is:
-How to use head pins, how to make memory wire bracelets, and use a jump ring.

-How to fax paperwork, how to serve dinner to little kids, and how to clean the tables and benches.

-How to be on time.

-How to interact with children.

The most difficult thing is:
Sometimes turning the wire…opening the jump ring and closing it.

The best thing is:

When I learn how to make different types of jewelry.

I feel I am growing as a person by ….

Learning new things and creating things I never create before. How have I grew in my personality is having a positive attitude towards each and everyone.  And also being patient.

BLING goes to CCDA!

Fortunate, blessed, and honored once again to be at the annual CCDA conference, I was encouraged to INNOVATE in ministry. I was also encouraged by speakers and fellow urban ministers that if you love and remain faithful, you are following the Jesus way. In a society that embraces numerical success and visible signs of rapid growth, it was beautiful and reviving to have a conference that is simply interested in supporting and inspiring the current workers to keep on keepin' on. 

People were encouraged by the BLING story, and I was encouraged by them.

-Nikki

The reason why I love bling is because I love to make earrings.Sometimes, I get confused.    
I first started Bling becuase. when I first started this,it was verry hard for me,and when I did it over agein I got it.
A day in the life of Jada.  First, I wake up, I brushed my teeth, and wash up and put my clothes on, and got my little brother up, and he got ready and got my big brother up, and he got ready and he take all DAY! and I get my  dad up. and he put his close on. and brush his teeth and we live out the houe about around 7:30.and we take my brother to school. and we go to school and my mom takes my dad to work. and we wait outside and time goes really fast like a persion  running from a dog
I get into ,my class and I got to do classwork.and it is really boaring and we go to math and science class. and we  stay in the class for about 1 hour and 30 min. and we  go to mt home class and put aerything down. and go to lunch and we eat for 20 min. and we go to our class and we do more work. and we go to our prep .and we go home and I come to newlife centers.

Words, Words, Words!

Engaging in a "Quote Project", one of our Bling Girls found this quote! "I like it, because it's true," said Maria.

Bling Girls collaborating on a project to come up with words to describe their pieces.

Interview with Teresa

About Camp
Q: Teresa, what have you been doing this summer?
A: Coming to summer program, staying up late, talking with my friends.


Q: What's the best thing about being out of school?
A: We get to have fun and not to work.

Q: What's your favorite new game you have learned at camp?
A: Ninja.

Q. You love cooking every Friday. You cook new foods from states you travel during the "Route 66", what's your favorite recipe you have cooked?
A. Toasted Ravioli

About Life
Q. Who is the person you look up to the most.
A. My mom.

Q. Why?
A. Because she teach me how to do things and she is a nice even though we don't have our dad no more.

Q. If you could take her anywhere where would you take her?
A. Mexico...she wants to go back to visit.

Q. What would you like to be when you grow up?
A.I will like to be a nurse of a lawyer.

About New Life
Q. If you had to describe the  staff here at New Life, what would you say?

Ms. Kelly is funny and fun to hang out with.

Ms. Nikki is fun and funny. She loveable n nice.

Johnny B is funny and he's a nice guy and he's fun to be around with.

*Written words from Teresa, unedited.

Summer 2011

New Life's Safe Haven Camp began on the 20th of June, and we have seen two busy weeks FILLED with kids. For the first time, we have had a middle school program with separate gender classrooms. At the beginning of the center we had only 9 registered! Now, there are 29 middle schoolers who regularly attend New Life.

16 attend have a boxing and basketball program that focuses on leadership and mentorship.
13 girls attend a program that is exploring the Route 66; running BLING; and developing a "team" mentality.

Exciting Stories to Come!