NEWS FROM THE VALLEY VIEW HEIGHTS NEIGHBORHOOD

Today (Saturday) my boys and I went into the Valley View Heights Neighborhood to cut some lawns, cut down some overhanging bushes and trees for some families who need the help. I was hoping we might have a few volunteers show up today, but we will keep trying! But a great day nonetheless. First, anytime my kids do some physical labor--its a good thing! :)


We worked on a single mom's house first on Rodeo Center--a lady I met last Saturday. We cut down a bunch of way over hung tree branches in her back yard. We couldn't finish it all because I needed more advanced equipment for some of it--but we made a dent in it. She seemed encouraged, so that was encouraging to me. Then we mowed a lawn on to one of the flower streets, and while the boys were mowing, I was able to make friends with a family whose been living there for a few years. The man is disabled, but he and his wife keep a pretty nice yard and have some benches on their front drive way--making it an appealing place to sit and congregate. Their two kids were very sweet! After making friends with this couple and listening to their thoughts about the needs of the neighborhood and their street--they introduced me to a man down the street who appears to be somewhat of a leader on that street. He agreed to be our crime watch chair person for the street--and the family whose lawn we mowed--agreed to host the first crime watch meeting in their drive way! I AM VERY EXCITED AT THIS POINT! I got to have some prayer time with these families and it was a beautiful moment!


I met a few more neighbors--and found out from everyone, that there have been a lot of break ins lately in that neighborhood. They did all say that the Mesquite Police makes regular runs down their street. Which to me proves, that no matter how active our police are--we need citizens involved and proactive in watching what is going on and keeping regular communication with each other and the police departments.


Each of the families I met with, are all doing the best they can and all want their children to grow up in a safe and joyful place. We all certainly want that!


So I will be getting back with these families over the next week to try and set up our first crime watch meeting and try to work some with the gentleman who is going to be the crime watch leader for that street. This Thursday evening, I am taking a walk through the neighborhood with Stan Pickett, the city councilman who has Valley View Heights in his district--and we are going to go around and visit with neighbors and encourage and thank those neighbors who are doing a good job taking care of their properties. We won't be able to thank everyone who deserves a thanks in one night--but we will make a start! I so appreciate Councilman Pickett for his willingness to encourage his constituents in this neighborhood--a neighborhood that is one of the many important and special places around our great city! Every citizen and every resident--be they in a home or an apartment or a trailer or even if they live in one of the week to week motels over off of Hwy 80--ARE IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT TO GOD!

Please be praying for all the families in the Valley View Heights Neighborhood! Please pray for the Nehemiah Mesquite Mission!

Bruce