17 to 18...The picture becomes clearer.

I do not quite know how I deserve the grace I felt tonight. We had a good dinner, food was bought, 44 cases of water stacked at the front porch, we are ready to do our best tomorrow. Last year, for fun we put a kid in the hot seat, and several of the dads asked stupid or silly questions, and we got to see the smiles and learn a little bit about each new student. Caroline "Rubangakene" was picked first this year, and as we were preparing silly questions it was interrupted. Mr. Tim Milford, Biloxi dad all-star, had just driven 10 hours, almost all of it through rain by himself to join our team. The students who know Mr. Milford and have spent several of these weeks with him over the years rose to their feet and greeted him. How can you not love him, he greets each job with a smile and each new person with a warm laugh. He and his wonderful wife, Rita are simply selfless. but this is a story about 17 year olds.--------------------------------------------------------------------------- After we made plans and made lunches for tomorrow, a bunch of old men and good friends went were old men go --to the front porch and rocking chairs. We soon decided to get back to silly questions and we called Taylor "Spin" to join us on the porch for questions. Hayley "Beanie" not trusting the humor of Mr. Magee or her dad, joined her outside for moral support. The silly questions ended and we soon got into serious questions about helping people. People not just on the margins, but way past the margins. How do you fight the unwinnable fight? When that unwinnable fight is a real person, doing their best just to survive. I spent a month in Uganda last year with Hayley and really was amazed at all that she did, I introduced my Uganda friends and my favorite country to her. But here she was talking about our world and a woman she had met with an awful wound and a troubled mind. We just sat and listened. Listened to a kid (not really a kid anymore) tell us about how she processed her own doubts and how she was troubled that she could not do more. Beanie started this trip as a pint-size sophomore and has been sharing kindness with us ever since. It was neat the Taylor got to hear all of this and take it in and then tell us a little bit about herself. On this wonderful porch, we welcomed a 17 year old into our community. I cannot wait to see what she will do. I am so proud of her already and the trip has not even started.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taylor and Hayley left us and we cajoled Kamryn into joining us. Kamryn "5-speed" brought Liza "Small boat" as her muscle. They were apprehensive as they wandered out having no idea that the entire mood had changed into just talking. These two chose to pass up Graduation parties, concerts, and swimming pools so they could return to Biloxi. They chose to spend another week doing their best for our friends on the Gulf Coast. Maybe it was Sam and Megan or Mary Grace or one of the other superstars who helped them last year. But here these two were and we listened again. It was just a joy to talk about running, and Russia, and a grandfather who had just passed. They were and are amazing, but there is a polish to their words and a realness to their kindness that is a little different than a 17 year old. And here is where the grace happens. Taking all of this in...all of the love and support that they received from parents and grandparents and teachers and....two 18 year olds ready for college, ready for this week with an eagerness and love that made a pleasant night on a Biloxi rocking chair an amazing night. Parents when you are reading this-->Thank you. I know John and Marci Kuehner and it makes perfect sense how Hayley became Hayley, but hearing her words made us all listen. And made us all very proud. I get to spend the next week watching silly 17 year olds become compassionate and determined 18 year olds ... willing to do anything for anybody, learning to make a community that God himself would recognize. ----------------------------------------------- 10 hours is a long time in a car, and as I finish the first post, 26 amazing people are in bed and a song from the long trip rattles in my head. Five for fighting is singing "If God made you, he is in love with me." The "you" tonight was Hayley (who has been 18 for several trips) and Taylor and Kamryn and Liza but it could have easily been Tim Milford, or Maggie, or Gretchen or Megan. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Goodnight, John Magee