Leroy Barber's Blog
Lifestyle of Love / 02.19.10, 11:21 AM
The following story from Mission Year alum Emily Newlin is a great illustration of the kind of relationships – and the kind of growth – that your support makes possible. I hope you are encouraged by her experience as much as I have been. Thanks for all you do to keep our team members out there, loving their inner-city neighbors in the name of Jesus.
With Love,
Leroy Barber, President
Mission Year
When my teammates and I arrived in La Villita (Little Village), a Mexican neighborhood in Chicago, in September 2007, we were immediately welcomed into the Aldana family – 2 boys, 2 girls and their very sweet mother. The Aldana house was our refuge during our year. Still to this day, the Aldanas are our family.
My most significant relationship was with Sarai, the eldest daughter, who was a senior in high school at the time. We gushed together over Mr. Darcy from Pride & Prejudice, watched chick-flicks, spent time downtown, and talked about the future. Her life had always been spent in La Villita, but when it came to college, she wanted an adventure.
I told her about my alma mater, Southern Nazarene University, which is right outside of Oklahoma City. I shared with her about experiences and friends, and I told her to check out their website. Still, I was still surprised when she told me she wanted to go there. At first I was skeptical because the school was 13 hours from the Aldana home. But she asked for my help, and together we struggled through the application and financial aid processes. Then we waited.
Near the end of my Mission Year, I decided to move back to Oklahoma City. I knew that Sarai might still possibly go to SNU, but she was wrestling with leaving family and being completely on her own for the first time. Two weeks before I left, however, she told me that she was for sure enrolling. I could not believe it! I was going to have a little piece of Chicago with me in Oklahoma City!
Right away I called my cousin, who had just finished her freshmen year and was already buying new trimmings for a dorm room makeover for her second year. She gladly gave everything to Sarai that she needed to make her first dorm room cozy. My parents and grandparents pulled together funds and reserved a hotel room in OKC for Sarai’s mother and brothers that were driving her from Chicago and helping her move. It was so amazing to see my two families come together…and to see how excited everyone was!
When the day came for Sarai to move into the SNU dorms, I was right there…it was wonderful. I dragged them all over town, introducing them to everyone I knew and sharing my stories. It was one of the best days of my life (barely surpassed by the day before my wedding when I got a call from the Aldana brothers saying that they were waiting at the bus station in my hometown. They had come all the way from Chicago for my wedding…I could not believe it!).
Sarai soon found out what it was like to be on her own. She got her first job and was involved in clubs, running around with new friends, and working with professors to improve her grades. It was beautiful! Sarai was succeeding, and giving all the glory to God. And I got to be part of it. Since then, Sarai has transfered to The University of Illinois in Chicago and lives in the dorms there. It has been the right transition for her and her growth. I am so proud of her! I miss her, of course, but how great is it that she has a piece of my life in her heart forever, and I have a piece of hers in mine? That is what Mission Year is about, after all: living a lifestyle of love by sharing in life together.
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