Interview with John Villa and Ray Orozco:
James: Hi Fellas! Thanks for taking the time to get together today. John and I had a conversation about the Peppertree RV Park Homework House the other day and I felt the Lord telling me to sit down and do a quick interview with you two so you could share some of the excitement and praise reports.
I put together a few questions to ask you and I'm hoping this will give our readers some information about the ministry and give our Lord some glory!
Q: Tell me, what is the Homework House?
John: The Homework House is a tutoring program we offer through POH at the Peppertree RV Park. The actual facility is an RV that has been gutted and converted to a classroom. Additionally we added a covered patio to expand the facility to provide a safe learning environment for students from the RV park to get help with their homework.
Q: How many students attend the Homework House for after school assistance?
John: Well, this school year, we have about 40 students ranging all the way from pre-schoolers to High Schoolers. And for our Fall session we're running an incentive program that encourages students to regularly attend the after school sessions to seek assistance with academics. At the end of the program (Nov 10th) we'll be rewarding 25 of the students by taking them to the Wild Animal Park in SD with passes that were donated to Pouring Out Hope.
James: That sounds like an enriching opportunity for these students and probably most of them may have never been there.
Q: How many days a week is POH ministering to these students through the Homework House?
Ray: Right now the Homework House is open on Monday's and Wednesday's but let me tell you, these students are waiting at the door of the facility when we arrive @ 4:30pm. Another exciting growth in this ministry is that Generations Church from Menifee will be facilitating Wednesday Nights tutoring program so that is allowing POH to add another day, Thursday, to the calendar. So we'll be looking for more volunteer's to help as we expand out to Thursday.
Q: Can one of you share your favorite memory or experience from the Homework House?
Ray: When we first started there was this one student (he still attends today) who would come everyday we were there but didn't want to do any homework or study material. It was funny because I'd sit down with him everytime and talk and try to encourage him by giving him words to spell verbally or asking him to spell words on paper. There were a few other instructors that would do the same. The student finally decided to participate and is now very involved with seeking and getting assistance with their homework. But as this was taking place over the course of several weeks I kept asking myself why this student kept coming, then I realized, this facility was something like they've never had before. A safe-haven to come and be encouraged and loved unconditionally, like kids should be.
James: Wow! Praise God!
Q: So tell me, what are some of the greatest needs for these students?
John: Well obviously some of them have the material needs such as paper, pens, school clothes/shoes, and we have summer programs that help them earn those items. But more than that these students need what Ray was talking about, the unconditional love, the encouragement, mentoring, spiritual influence. We (POH and its volunteers) believe we're ministering HOPE to students who by the world's standards have no hope.
James: I can feel the passion and heart you both have for this ministry. One last question before we close.
Q: How can someone get involved with this ministry?
John: Well I'm convinced that there is nothing more valuable to the Lord Jesus Christ than the heart of a volunteer and, well, I love them too! (laughs) But seriously, this ministry is growing and every week more students come seeking assistance. As Ray mentioned we're starting another night of ministry on Thursday nights so we're seeking volunteers to come out on those nights to help. But just as important we need individuals who are willing to contribute monetary support for the program to help pay for rent on the facility we use to minister through.
James: What an exciting ministry that's encouraging and bringing hope to the lives of these young students. Praise God for you two and all the volunteer's and contributors!
If your interested in getting involved with this Ministry you can contact Ray Orozco @ 951.334.1138 or John Villa @ 909.518.9093
0 comments:
Post a Comment