violence

In Sunday school we are studying Eve, and have been for a few weeks now. Today was planned to go on as normal but a different conversation arose. At the beginning of SS I always ask if the girls have anything to share. They almost always do and this morning was no exception. The only difference was that the girl sharing this morning wasn't a girl who is normally very talkative, but today she had a lot to tell. To sum it up, she told about how she and a couple of her siblings and mom were outside on their front steps and an argument between a man and his "baby's mother" and the new man she was with. It ended with a murder, which K witnessed. The other man was shot in the back of the head and back and K witnessed it all, telling me she was only about 5 or 6 houses down (remember our homes are all connected together so this isn't far at all). Unfortunately this is not uncommon, but it makes me sad to know that a child had to witness this kind of violence near what she calls home.

This led into a discussion of what these girls have grown up around and to a bunch of questions. Even after living here for over 4 years I am sometimes still amazed at what is *normal* for our kids. K seemed rather unaffected by witnessing a murder, although I know she really was deep down. I try to imagine the same SS class taking place down in Matthews at our home church. Things like this remind me of the differences and violence is one of them. These kids are exposed to levels of violence that SHOULD be unimaginable.

Please pray for our violent neighborhood. Just in the past week, not only has this happened but also a bank robbery that led to the murder of a police officer, at the Shoprite we shop at. 3 suspects involved, one killed in the battle, 2 arrested. This also all happened while I was driving right through it (not knowing) as it seemed every officer in Philly was chasing all around us. The boys and I were coming home from the YMCA. Also, there have been 2 murders on streets near us, Cambria and Jasper (in case you're familiar with the area). And as usual, there are parents abusing their children verbally, physically-- yelling, cursing and more-- right out on the streets. People are fighting, arguing and yelling almost constantly. I actually got nervous the other night coming home, which actually rarely happens to me. It just seems the violence is increasing lately and the warm weather always brings it out too. I am not living in fear by any means. It just creeps up for a moment.

Please pray for our city, for the city that has added a new nick name to it's list. Now not only are we known for being The City of Brotherly Love but also Killadelphia.