JoJo 4.4; Summertime!

JoJo finished his seventh grade year...finally! He was so glad to get out of prison---that is what he called school. He always burned his notebooks on the last day of school---as soon as he got home. It was a tradition! When the ceremony was over, he could really start summer!

He loved several things about summer. He decided to list them out.
1. Sleeping late; 2. Playing baseball for the SRD (Smallville Rec. Department); 3. Hanging out with chicks; 4. Going swimming; 5. NO HOMEWORK; 6. Watching tons of television; 7. Family Vacation; 8. Going fishing; 9. Having fun with the Boys; 10. Visiting Aunt Sue---out in the country.

Sometimes, Dan ruined his day with a list of silly chores. Can't a guy be a kid? JoJo always thought.  JoJo hated trimming the hedges more than anything. Last summer, he invaded a wasp nest. He got stung three times before he knew what hit him. Alice was panicky when she saw him swell up, but Dan rubbed some ointment on the bites. It took about 2 or 3 days before the swelling went down. Then there were the snakes. Moccasins to be exact. He had run up on at least one every summer since he was nine. Each time JoJo saw one, he became progressively more frightened of moccasins

This summer, JoJo decided he would seek God. He wasn't sure exactly what that meant, but he knew that the something missing from his life was God. Little did JoJo know that his father prayed the prayer: God, Help JoJo to seek you, almost every night. Dan prayed this over JoJo's sister, too. Dan knew Remi was a little young, but he allowed God to choose when to move in her life.

Dan suggested JoJo try UMYF, the Youth Fellowship at the church they attended. Surprisingly enough, JoJo decided to begin the first Sunday of summer. He really enjoyed UMYF! Mr. Faith was the leader, and he made JoJo feel welcome. Many people had shunned JoJo over the years. He knew they kinda had a right to, because he caused a lot of trouble. The kids at church did not seem to judge him either. Many of them talked about having hangups, and how they were glad they had been forgiven through Jesus' blood. That freaked JoJo ought! He wasn't sure the meaning of Forgiveness through Jesus' blood, but he was going to try his hardest to find out.

The band decided to take the summer off, and that was fine with JoJo. The band was going really well, but it was a lot of hard work! He wanted some Go Easy time.

As usual, he talked on the phone for hours each day. Much of the time was with Cindy. He couldn't believe he finally had a long lasting relationship. Nine Weeks! Their conversations were typical early-teen talk. Much to do about nothing; music; television; movies; and gossip. JoJo and Tommy had talked almost every day since they were eleven. This trend continued. The two topics they added to the typical early-teen girl/boy talk were other girls beside their girlfriends and lots of sports. In the middle of one of their conversations, JoJo invited Tommy to go to UMYF with him. Tommy agreed to go.

The next Sunday, June 17th, JoJo asked his dad to swing by Tommy's house on the way to UMYF. Dan almost wrecked!
He said, "A Wildfire is going to church?!"
"Dad, don't judge the Wildfires."
Dan tried to sidestep JoJo's comment..."I'm just saying, the Wildfires usually make fun of Christians and Church."
JoJo hit back with a wise response, "People can change, Dad!"
"Yes, they can, Son. Especially when God changes them!"

As the boys went into the church, Dan prayed, "O Gracious Father, JoJo is right ! You can change people. Forgive me for my judgmental attitude. I pray that you work through Mr. Faith tonight.. Reach every young person at UMYF this night!"