Hope Park

Roger and Jeri began the pilgrimage to “Here” with a sense of calling to serve whenever and wherever we are invited. After sharing this sense of calling with friends last week, they said, “Why don’t you come to Hope Park next Sunday afternoon, then, and help us? We will be teaching children to make prayer flags.” Neither of us had any experience with prayer flags, but sensing an invitation to serve, the reply had to be “Yes, we will.”

It turns out that an ecumenically-sponsored fall fair had been planned for Sunday afternoon, November 12, at Hope Park in Eastpoint, Florida. Volunteers worked together to provide a safe, fun time for the community’s kids. They cooked hot dogs and burgers. They played live music. There was a cake walk, and yes, there were materials for decorating and flying prayer flags. The children played games, ate the food prepared for them, and talked among themselves. They ran, chased, and shot hoops. Most of the children made prayer flags, which surprised us. A girl named Carla helped to thread the flags onto a clothesline that we hoisted into the wind. Here are a few of the God-messages that waved over Hope Park yesterday evening, then:

“I love Jesus.”

“Peace to all people.”

“Teach me not to be mean.”

“Praise God!”