JoJo 12.4; The Secret Life of Samantha

Samantha's family lived in an old trailer. It had been in the family for 3 generations. Needless to say, it stunk! It had holes in the floor. The trailer was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. The plumbing often was torn up.

Samantha's mother's name was Jane. She did the best she could to make ends meet. Jane worked 3 jobs. None of them paid well, but her lack of education and lack of opportunity in a small town limited her options. Samantha's father died when she was 4-years-old. Jane had hooked up with several men, and they were all losers. One of them had abused Samantha. Fortunately, he moved to a different state. However, these horrific events caused Samantha to not trust adults, especially men. Samantha's Aunt Trudy lived next door--also in a very old trailer. Trudy, like Jane, worked 3 jobs. Since she had no kids of her own, Samantha was the apple of her eye. Trudy bought clothes for Samantha. They were often out of style or the wrong size, but they didn't stink. Due to the plumbing problems and no Laundry Mat in the vicinity, Samantha's clothes often stunk. This gave cause for the girls at school to tease her unmercifully. This began in first grade and it had continued through her present freshman year. Samantha estimated that someone had insulted, pushed, or bullied her in 90% of the days she had gone to school. One would think Samantha would avoid school because of this, but the two meals she received compliments of the government persuaded her to NEVER miss a day. Samantha always bathed--unless Jane couldn't afford the Water Bill, but her clothes were hardly ever washed properly. For this reason, Samantha often wore her coat all day---even if it were 90 degrees. This often resulted in a cold or some other minor sickness, so Samantha often went to school sickly. But, she needed that breakfast and lunch. Of course, she had learned to eat very fast so that she could avoid other students. That leads us to evening meals (or lack of). Jane bought what was on sale and expired items. Sometimes the food was so rotten, Samantha chose hunger. She would go to her room and write in her journal. Samantha was an excellent writer. As a matter of fact she was great in English classes. She had ALWAYS gotten an A in English. She did the minimum to pass the other classes. BTY, weekend meals were often nonexistent. This caused another problem. Samantha would scrape together all the coins she could find during the week, then on Saturdays, she hit the Grubb & Gas (local convenience/gas store). Here she would steal, mostly junk food, while buying one small item with the coins she had scavenged.

Meanwhile, at JoJo's house...
"I am about to bust from that lunch, Hon!" Dan managed to squeak out, while laying on the sofa with his belly hanging out.
JoJo quipped, "Mom, can we quit having steak? That's the third time this week!"
Alice was doing laundry in another room. She yelled back, "JoJo, remember kids are starving in Africa! Be grateful! Bedsides, we have half a cow in the freezer that we need to eat!"
Remi said, "I am thankful for all I have! I know a little boy named Sam. He don't have noooo food sometime. Me feel sorry for him...."
Immediately, Dan and JoJo were convicted.
Dan said, "Thanks Remi."
"For what, Papa?"
"For reminding me how fortunate we are. Plus, we need to help those kids in Africa. And maybe some kids in the United States of America."
"Oh, I see, Papa. Let's help em!"
JoJo knew who he needed to help--Samantha. But how??

Back at Samantha's trailer...
I wonder if JoJo could somehow help me with food?? Samantha wondered.

JoJo 12.3; Samantha Again

It had been three days since JoJo had apologized to Samantha. Plus, it had been three days since his friends ragged him for talking to Samantha. It was cold on that February day in 1976. JoJo waited in the lunchroom for the starting-school bell to ring. All of a sudden, Donald Dwarf--all 5'2" of him--jumped up and "whack" came down on almost top of JoJo's head with his class ring. Dwarf was so short that he made it only to the back top part of JoJo's head.

"HaHa, Freshman! Glad are you off of your waiver clause!" JoJo was now fresh meat for the Seniors once again, since it was the Second Semester.
"You, punk!" JoJo yelped at the Dwarf.
"Oh, little baby. Did I hit you too hard."
"Not at all. Too bad you are not tall enough to hit the top of my head!" JoJo knew the rule--don't get in a fight with one senior because that is equal to fighting all seniors. However, JoJo was ready to cold-cock Donald if he moved one step closer.
Donald sensing the imminent punch, turned around, waved his hand and continued his way down the hall.
That REALLY hurt, JoJo thought to himself. High school had so many problems! He wanted to make amends with Samantha--and she wouldn't let him. The fellers were making fun of JoJo when he talked to Samantha. And now, he was getting Wake-Up Calls from the Seniors again. On top of everything, he had a new schedule. There was the bell....

After a quick Homeroom, JoJo went to Science class. Mr. X. Plosion was his teacher. This man was way out there! He didn't talk---he yelled. And, he loved to call on students. This morning, he decided to pick on Tommy.
Plosion yells, "Mr. Wildfire!!"
"Yessir," Tommy screeched.
"Where is your homework?!"
"Uhhhh. I think my brother and I switched book bags or something. Cause I did EVERY problem."
"You're a LIAR, Wildfire!"
"Yessir...I forgot all about the homework..."
"No Problem! Unless you think After-school Detention is a problem, because you just received ONE day!!"
"No sir...no problem."
WOW, JoJo thought. Can I please go back to Jr High?!

Lunch finally arrived! JoJo made it to the lunchroom before his buddies. He carefully scoped out a place where no Upperclassmen sat. Lo & behold there was Samantha. She was at a table with another "outcast." JoJo walked straight to the table--on a mission.
"May I sit with y'all?"
Samantha responded, "Are you sure you want to do that JoJo?"
"Absolutely."
"Well then, grab some chair."
As JoJo sat, the other student got up and left.
"Guess he doesn't like your type, Ole Buddy."
JoJo thought, What type? Then he remembered all the bullying he and his friends had done. The merciless laughter. The belittling.
"I don't really blame him."
"Is this going to be Confession Time?"
"Well, maybe. I am just saying that I have been a punk to you and many people."
"And..."
"And! It has stopped for me!"
Samantha pushed further...What about your friends?"
"I can't speak for them."
"Fair enough."
JoJo took a bite of his hot dog, then he took a deep breath. "Do you think we could talk today?"
"I guess I did shut you down the other day. But, I do NOT want to hear about Jesus!"
"That's fine. We can talk about something else."
"Fine. You start."
JoJo could be feel the pressure. "How are your classes going?"
"I hate school. Next question."
"Do you have any hobbies?"
"I like music."
JoJo couldn't believe a civil comment came out of Samantha's mouth, but he was glad.
"Who's your favorite group?"
"The Stones."
"Cool."
Samantha decided to play along. "Who's your favorite group?"
"Foghat."
"Hmmm Didn't take you for a Foghat type a guy. Cool."
Samantha had a clock in her head for lunch, and it was blaring! This meant leave the cafeteria. She couldn't run the risk of being humiliated---again.
"JoJo, I need to run. See ya."
"OK, Samantha. See ya."
Just as Samantha was leaving, Tommy and the boys spotted her coming from JoJo's table. Thirty seconds later they invaded the table.
Tommy started, "She's not so bad."
JoJo knew he was in trouble. "What are you talking about, Tommy?" JoJo said Tommy loudly, mocking Plosion.
The guys laughed!
Tommy took "the punch" and countered with, "Your girlfriend is not so bad."
JoJo decided to play it off cool. "I agree."
All the guys let out, "Ooooooo."
JoJo decided to get up and leave. He could hear Tommy saying something followed by the fellas laughter. But, he really didn't care. He wanted to please God over men---boys in this case.

That night, Samantha wrote in her journal...
School was the same as always except for lunch. JoJo joined me at the risk of being teased by his friends. I really thinks he wants to be friends. But, I will not let my guard down. It could be a cruel joke. Still---Suicide is on pause.

JoJo 12.2; What About the Poor?

After Big Church, JoJo and his family ate lunch at his grandmother's house. Granny Cassie was a Big Lady, but her heart was as big as her physique. She often told JoJo about heroes of the Bible. She really repeated the ones in which the individual had OVERCOME. Granny Cassie loved the word OVERCOME! She had lived through the Depression and several wars. She had lost her husband, but never her faith. Some would say she was a lady of modest means. JoJo thought she was just "plain poor." As they ate lunch that day, it hit him----Granny Cassie is the happiest lady he have ever known. And, she is poor! Somehow the American Dream had been engrained in JoJo since Kindergarten. He was always thinking about his career--even when he was 5 years-old! Suddenly, JoJo had a new view of the meaning of success. It had nothing to do with money! As a matter of fact, he knew to be successful, all he needed to do was to GIVE freely---like the words of the song the choir sang that morning in Big Church.

JoJo wanted to be right with God.
JoJo wanted to be happy.
JoJo wanted to have peace.

Granny Cassie had all three. As much as he admired his father, he was often caught up in the world's problems and fretting over his business. He knew poor people had a lot of things rough, but maybe the fact that money did not stand in their way of God, was a good thing. A very good thing. He knew all poor people were not Christians, but he bet many really strong Christians were poor or had been poor. JoJo had no Biblical basis for this theory, but he was going to look into it immediately. Thoughts of Samantha flooded his mind! He knew the guys were going to rag him unmercifully if talked to her, but he had to.

When JoJo got home from Granny Cassie's late that Sunday afternoon, he prayed.
Lord, I am clueless on many things, but I know you want me to have a better attitude toward people I think of as poor. JoJo picked up his Bible, and turned to Mark. He read and scanned the first few chapters, then he stopped and read Mark 12:41-44 three times. It read...
41. Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. 42. Then a poor widow came and dropped in 2 small coins.
43. Jesus called his disciples to Him and said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. 44. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on."
JoJo thought, "WOW! This lady had great faith! Plus what seemed to be little was much! I don't have much, but I can help Samantha...But how??"

Monday mornings were always tough. JoJo was Not a morning person, and Mondays seemed like a different dimension! When he arrived at SHS, he didn't see any of his buddies. Lo and behold, there was Samantha. He knew this was no coincidence. He wanted to talk to her, but what would he say???

"Hi, Samantha."
"Hey, JoJo."
"Ummm. I just wanna say I am really sorry for the way I have treated you in the past. And, it won't happen again!"
Samantha remained silent for 11 seconds, then she spoke. "JoJo, you and your friends have hurt me bad. I don't know why you are saying this. Please don't let this be a cruel joke!"
"No way! This is not a joke. God helped me realize what a jerk I've been."
"Wait, you are one of those Jesus-Freaks. Aren't you?!"
JoJo thought for 6 seconds. "Yes, I am a Jesus-Freak."
"Well, get away from me. You are full of empty promises!"
"Samantha?!
"I said, 'Go!'"
JoJo decided the best thing to do was to go. As he walked away from Samantha, the guys were coming toward him.
"Hey buddy, got a new girlfriend," Tommy asked.
JoJo retorted, "Maybe."
The guys died laughing!!
JoJo prayed, "God, help!!!!!"

Twentieth-Year Anniversary of Bethany Home Visitations

What a JOY to know this month marks the twentieth year God has blessed the First United Methodist Church of Vidalia, GA with our Bethany Home (presently the Oaks at Bethany) Ministry! Our habit has been to visit once a month, although there have been some months we have missed. Also, there has been at least one occasion that the Home had mass sickness and we did a Prayer Walk outside the Home.

This quest began as a service provided by our Ninth & Tenth Grade Sunday School Class. Some time later, it was passed on to the Eleventh & Twelfth Grade Sunday School Class. Then, about 10 years ago-upon the arrival of Ashley Clift Sasser as our Youth Director-it became a part of the entire youth program.

Our ministry is driven by the Bible verse: James 1:27 (NLT)
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
We certainly minister to widows, but the spirit of the verse drives our ministry! Many residents are certainly like widows, while all are in need of a touch, a song, a conversation, or a prayer. And, that is precisely what we give them!

Over the past 20 years, there have been countless youth (estimate of well over 100), as well as adults, that have been a part of this ministry. The nursing home staff has been so accommodating and grateful for our visits. But, the stars are the residents themselves! We have made so many friends over the years. They have taught us many lessons. They have sung with us. They have allowed us to pray for them, and some have prayed for us. They laugh with us. They bless us. And some of the looks they give us when we're singing makes me LOL on the inside. It's funny how the purpose of our trips is to bless the residents, but we are always the bigger recipients! God is so good! I have probably been more aware of Him and felt a special closeness to Him in these visits more in this ministry than any other. It's just special.

Our times and formats have changed over the years. Our current tradition finds us going to the Home on one Sunday per month. Our 9:00 worship service has allowed us to go immediately after Sunday school. We eat lunch at Zaxby's prior to heading to the Oaks at Bethany. Once we arrive at the Home, we say a prayer under our special tree adjacent to the parking lot, then there is often a mad dash to the central porch complete with rocking chairs. Here, we take a pic, which is displayed on FB and Instagram. We get many encouraging "likes" and words on these sights. Once inside, we enter the cafeteria. The room is close to capacity with residents providing kind words and smiles--as well as the staff. Most of our group heads over to the piano. One or two of us visit at the tables. We sing several songs. We are never perfect, but we make a joyful (and worshipful) noise to the Lord, and He is among us! We often laugh, especially at ourselves. Not long ago, we were singing our little hearts out, and almost everyone had cleared out of the cafeteria! Ha! Good times! Upon the conclusion of our Cafe Concert, we visit individual rooms with more conversation, singing, and praying. Our youth AMAZE me with their sincerity, dedication, and sensitivity to the residents and God's Spirit!

We praise God for each special visit during these 20 years! All glory to our God!!!

JoJo 12.1; Big Church

Since JoJo was a little boy, his parents called Sunday Morning Worship: Big Church. It was not to be confused with Children's Church, Youth Worship or anything else. It was a very special time for his parents. An honored time. It became the same way for JoJo.

Now that he was in the Second Semester of High School---well, his Freshman year, but to JoJo, it was his high school career thus far---he searched to know God more deeply. He sensed a love for God--at times--that he hadn't known before. Often that love took place in Big Church. More than not this happened during songs. For some reason, God spoke to JoJo in these songs. It was a communication of the heart. Because of this, JoJo's priorities changed. His friends noticed it before he did. Sure, he was still the class clown, but he had a much more sensitive heart.

God was presently working on JoJo's heart toward poor people. Previously, JoJo would make fun of poor people. He turned up his nose at anyone not dressed as nicely as him---even though he certainly was not a "best dressed candidate." He and his friends mocked those less fortunate than them. There was one girl, Samantha, the guys teased so much that she cried. But, that's not the half of it! Sure, they saw her cry once, but she cried every night. God impressed on JoJo's heart how wrong this was. He realized on his own that nobody in the ninth grade had a job----or maybe that was God, too.

This all came to a head on Feb. 1, 1976. JoJo sat in Big Church with his friends. After all, he was in High School, so he couldn't sit with his parents...and certainly not with Remi! The sermon that day was entitled: "Give and Be Given".  The main text was from Luke 6:38, which was in red. JoJo knew that meant these were the words of Jesus.
"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full---pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back."
This sounded great to JoJo! He knew he didn't have much to give, but he would still give...some. JoJo listened and even took notes. Suddenly, he put his pen down. Pastor G News quoted another verse that was a little hard to swallow. It was Psalms 41:1.
"Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble."
JoJo thought about Samantha. and others. Why did he think he was better than poor people?
He knew the answer...He wasn't. As a freshman in high school, life can be rough. Besides the Wake-Up Calls, upperclassmen treat you like dirt. Well, JoJo wanted to be just one rung higher than somebody...anybody! He thought it was Samantha and others like her. Now, he knew he was a Pure Punk. JoJo knew he needed to repent right then! However, he began to complain to God about his problems and issues...

The next thing he knew, the Choir stood up to sing. JoJo sat up straight. This was his favorite part of Big Church. The anthem for Feb 1, 1976 at the Smallville United Methodist Church was
"Trust Me."
The line: Do you give freely like you trust Me or do you hold back your faith like your giving? hit JoJo hard! He realized that he was giving some because he did not have faith enough to give freely.
He stopped complaining to God.
He thanked God for everything He had given him...which was everything.
He repented of his attitude, his pathetic treatment of people, and his lack of trusting God.
He asked God to forgive him.
He asked God to help him.
He prayed for Samantha...