I've written often about the Root Cellar, an inner city mission in Lewiston, Mne.  This outreach in the heart of a primarily African neighborhood is very close to my heart and the heart of God.  Working pmostly with immigrantd and refugees, they provide everything from English classes to skiing trips, and once a year my students go up and do a show for their after school program. 

But it's so much more than a show.  Our students hang out with their kids before the show and do everything from shooting hoops to riding bikes to making crafts together.  This year we were especially blessed in that their teen group was part of our time together, along with their elementary school kids who we normally play with when we go.  I had a chance to meet a young man- 20 something- who recently arrived from China and knew almost no English.  But he wanted to learn how to juggle, so we worked on it and he began to get it.  Amber shot baskets with a boy who just received a basketball from the Root Cellar for good behavior.  And best of all, my friend Abdul was there.  He had not been to any of the more recent shows, and it was great to see him again.  He's now in high school, and has gotten very tall.

Once these connections were made, there was no breaking them once the show started.  Root Cellar kids cheered for their 'favorite' WCA kids, and a couple of the littlest ones snuggled up with Chloe when she didn't have to be on stage.  Another little girl sat with Emily and painted her nails between routines.

The best part, though, was very unexpected.  Due to the high Muslim population, I let the Root Cellar staff tell me how far I can take the Gospel message.  Like all missionaries, they need to know their people, and not go too fast.  One doctrine on Islam is that the ressurection was a hoax.  Some times I've been told to focus just on the parables of Jesus, other times I can include miracles, too.  Occaisionally, the cross, but never before has the RC staff felt that the Resurrection could be taught.  Until now.  This was all the more special as the show was  just days before Easter.

Ironically, LOL doesn't have a routine specifically about the resurrection this year, although it is alluded too, of course.  But God provided.  Just days earlier, my friend, Byron, had made me a new illusion.  While this is not my primary way I plan to use it, it worked nicely as a way to teach the resurrection.  

This show will go down as one of most meaningful of this school year, nd one of the most important in all our times going to the Root Cellar.