What is D.I.S.H.?

D.I.S.H. stands for Discipleship Involving Something Hands-on.  It is a mentoring program that meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.  The idea for D.I.S.H. came last year from a student asking if someone could teach him how to play the piano at church.  Ann Temkin sat down and began showing him.  Soon after that, I started praying about how we could make more of those opportunities available.  The Lord answered my prayer in D.I.S.H. 

Most of the students in our program have multiple siblings.  Due to the family dynamic, they are not often given undivided adult attention.  Also, the prices of extra-curricular activities like organized sports, art and music lessons, etc. are very high and largely out of reach.  D.I.S.H. gives them much needed adult attention and instruction in hobbies, sports, and creative expressions that they can enjoy for a lifetime and may not otherwise receive. 

The general concept is that each child participating in the Wednesday Night tutoring program is paired with an adult to learn something new.  At 6:15 (after their homework is completed) they sit down to dinner with their platter (adult mentor).  The pair eats dinner together, and then they are dismissed to go and D.I.S.H.  Each pair is working on learning a different skill, and they are given their own space to do so.  Because there is a one-on-one relationship, the pairs can decide to change directions as needed.  The students and adults were paired based on interests, personality, and prayer.  So far, the matches seem to be working beautifully. 

The hope for D.I.S.H. is that every child will have a chance to interact with an adult that loves Jesus and loves them.  This helps in building lasting relationships within the church body and with our Lord.  The skill they are learning is a fun way to engage and to learn something new and will hopefully lead to a lifelong desire to learn more and share with others.  Much of the Lord’s ministry on Earth was spent doing and learning everyday things.  This is discipleship the way that Jesus did it. 

Please be in prayer for our plates (kids) and our platters (adults).  Pray that the Holy Spirit will knit them together in a relationship that brings glory and honor to the Kingdom.

Here is a list of plates and platters and what they are learning together:

Kiara Anderson……………………………..Gail Hoke, stamping

K’Suan Anderson………………...Eric Clarke, sound, music, etc

Cesar Hernandez………………………….....Pete Haizlip, models

Manuel Herrera………………...Riley Schofield, driving/guitar

Erick Meza……………………..Marty Barrett, drawing/football

Anlly Pineda…………………………………Pat Miller, baking

Carlos Pineda….…………………………...Larry Miller, models/chess/?

Selena Pineda…………Michelle Bathmartin, friendship bracelets

Alfredo Ramirez………………………….Ann and Mort Temkin, painting

Fernando Ramirez……....Mike Mitchell, leatherworking

Jaquelin Ramirez……………………………..Cassie Mitchell, crafts

Juan Ramirez………………………………….Jimmy Carter, pool/poker

Oscar Vegas…………………………………...Bob Barrett, chess

Herson, Finn, (preschoolers)………Karen Bouchard+, gardening