how old do i look? + summer with citadel

my parents came to visit this weekend. we went to birch run prime outlet yesterday and found a fantastic sale at the gap clearance store (75% off the lowest ticketed price! best deals: a dress and a dress shirt for $1.75 each). but the most shocking thing of the day aside from some of the bargains was getting hit on twice by 13-year-old boys in completely separate incidents.

the first time i was just walking between stores at birch run, minding my own business. then along came three teenage boys on bikes. they were 13 or 14 years old at the most. one started riding alongside me on the walkway and said hi while his friends rode on the pavement. i glanced over at him, gave him a half smile and kept right on walking. he fell back for a bit and then he pulled ahead and started doing tricks on his bike. after awhile he and his friends just rode off and i was like "what just happened?"

then later in the evening i was at walmart alone in the toy section, looking at transportation themed puzzles. again, i was minding my own business when out of nowhere these two teenage boys show up. they could not have been more than 14 (maybe 15) years old. as they approached they cleared their throats loudly and while they walked by one guy introduced himself. i stared at him for a second, debating whether or not to ask him how old he was, but then thought better of it and just said "i'm sharon" and let him walk on by.

what is going on? do i seriously look like i'm 12? ridiculous. maybe a haircut will make me look older. my parents thought the whole thing was funny when i told them and i actually find it rather amusing myself.

anyway, mom and dad left this morning. i was disappointed they couldn't stay for citadel service but they had to be back in toronto by mid afternoon. today was the start of revival. there's a vacant lot a couple of blocks from the church and we set up a huge tent, chairs and sound equipment and had outdoor service. pastor carey's preaching is loud and he made sure people in the neighbourhood could hear him. we will hold evening services for the next three days beginning at 7:14 in reference to the same chapter and verse from 2 chronicles: "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then i will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land".

other citadel ministries this summer include "urban camping" every other week which involves setting up tents in lots near known drug houses in the community. the men of the church camp out overnight, barbecue, sing and pray in efforts to shut down the drug trafficking. the first one of the summer was this past friday. next saturday night the women are doing a prostitute outreach. we're walking down one of the main streets in detroit doing a prayer walk, distributing water to women on the street, talking with them and letting them know about citadel. back to school rally is near the end of august. it's kinda like jaffray's carnival with games, music and food, but they also give out several hundred backpacks containing school supplies, they sell school uniforms at a fraction of their actual cost and they set up a health clinic (thanks to the many med students at citadel). they also have a job fair, which i have been put in charge of this summer. haven't done anything like this in a couple of years, so i'm nervous. much prayer is going into this!