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The robot car leader left to look for his students a couple of hours ahead of time, to remind them of the morning activities. At that point, hardly a soul was to be found, windows still dark and even the dogs laying still across the front door steps. He took another trip around the 'hood an hour beforehand, another attempt to pique curiosity. Thomas Edison has been credited with saying something along the lines of success is "one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration." But he also is quoted as saying, "Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits." Clearly Edison anticipated what Tim's Saturday mornings might look like.

Eventually a group of boys, though not necessarily the boys whom we expected, showed up at our gate. And for a while they poked around with the robotics car, and connected wires and willed it forward and back. It all went by much too quickly. We act surprised when boys are distracted by other boys, as if it were something new. We forget quickly, don't we, all the ways boys turn their attention from one thing to another. And so, the robotics project soon turned to a game of dominoes, followed in quick procession to lunch.

We don't yet have a grill, so my kitchen became a short-order diner, though hamburgers the only item on the menu. I fried up a dozen patties, the grease splattering my sturdy cook top. We offered the usual fixings, lettuce and tomato and onion and mustard and ketchup. Only minutes later, we returned to the kitchen for the bottle of hot sauce and the jar of mayonnaise, the staples of Mexican condiments. Instead of potato chips, we served Takis and chili chicharrones. The boys drained a 2 liter bottle of coke and started in on the grapefruit soda, besides.

We shared the meal with the boys and about 5000 flies who lingered long after the boys did. Right now, everything seems to be a Work in Progress- creating a rhythm to our days, establishing routines, remembering to close up holes that let flies into the house now that the days are cooler and doors can stay open... But our prayer is that we will serve this place well, that we will be able to grow and nurture relationships, and share and show our Jesus through it all.

In Psalm 27, David concluded,
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord
    in the land of the living!
Wait for the Lord;
    be strong, and let your heart take courage;
    wait for the Lord!
Certainly we know that David, too, was known to hustle while he would wait. Perhaps we are in good company.