thats gonna leave a mark

picture this. 19 hard as teenagers. semi circle. small room. dim lights. finally quiet. finally seated. first 5 minutes of club.. good so far.. amazing actually. too good to be true. then picture this. me running in front of them to the laptop to do the powerpoint... a chair goes flying across the floor.. i run rite into its path.. as im running, i try avoiding the chair, instead, it becomes a part of my chest.. fall to my knees.. still in a fully forward motion. trip and actually fall into the chair, which sends me lunging about 5 feet forward.. only to be stopped by a knee cap to my cheek and a chair that im now twisted up in a heap with, in front of all these students. silence. stunned silence.

i sit there.. expecting all these kids to fully have no mercy.. cuz if i saw something like that.. i cudn't help but laugh.. instead.. i hear.. oh my gosh.. is she ok? thats not funny.. oh wow.. someone go help here, and then there about 12 pairs of hands trying to help me and these lads everywhere full of nothing but mercy and concern.i just burst out laughing. stand up. still silent.. now, have their full attention.. 19 pairs of eyes on me. or maybe it was my swollen cheek´and bleeding elbows.. but still...

now.. you have to understand.. these kids give no mercy.. you trip. they point and laugh. you do anything stupid.. they point and laugh loudly. the culture is merciless. you screw up.. you are made to feel like an idiot.. and here i go and literally face dive in to the floor and a chair and a knee, and actually do this in about a 10 foot area, and use the whole space to fall.. and theres nothing but, silence and concern..

so i get up... still 19 sets of eyes on me.. and i laugh.. i tell them im going to be ok.. and that its ok to laugh.. and i would have laughed if i saw that.. cuz, i cant really describle it, but it actually was the funniest looking, most awkward fall, most long lasting fall.. i have ever seen...

so they start just bursting out laughing.. and all of a sudden.. i am a legend. nothing but respect all nite.. nothing but utter respect the entire nite.. i would walk into a room.. cheers and clapping.. gave us something to joke about all nite with them.. cuz i have no shame and can make fun of myself.. and the guys were so protective of me and were ready to fight and scrap it out for me, if someone started slaggin me (making fun of me) or if someone made a comment, they would defend me to the death.. bless them.. they had such obvious and real concern.. and the whole nite, i would walk into a situation that was a bit messy and they actually listened.. it was amazing actually.. like normally, the teens will make fun of you and do it so much, until usually it ends up breaking most people.. they take ppl to their limit.. and now.. they didnt have to.. i made fun of myself and made a fool of myself in front of them.. and now im in.. now theyll defend me.. stick up for me. listen to me.. its pretty backwards.. but.. welcome to ireland..

me breaking my face on their knee caps in front of them.. was just the thing that earned my respect from them.. oddly enough, huh? cudn't have planned a better thing to happen.. ah.. how ridiculous.. but how.. truely amazing.. funny, huh? welcome to me..

so.. thanks for your prayers.. the night actually was soo good.. God is moving, and is working.. and i know He didnt make that happen, but i am so glad He can use whatever to break down walls.. many walls were broken all nite with these teens.. actually, a basketball got kicked and ended up crakin a girl in the face.. rite in the same place my bruise was.. so that brought us all together again... so wierd, huh?.. ah... im ridiculous.. but hey.. whatever works..

if only i had a video camera tho.. becuz it was actually the funniest thing you probably have ever seen. just picture it.. cuz it was freakin hilarious.. anyways.. keep praying for these kids.. i love them... and God is in love with them.. thanks.. gotta go nurse my wound now.. God bless