Adventures in Tutoring

These last 10 weeks, Kitty, Caitlyn, Aaron, and I have been tutoring at the City Rescue Mission in downtown Oklahoma City.

City Rescue Mission (CRM) is a "relief shelter to meet the needs of the homeless by both providing services that fill immediate physical needs (showers, food, clothing, a night's rest, etc.) and offering longer-term, assistance programs that give members the "confidence and knowledge to become productive members of [the] community".

I think the four of us would agree that the kids that we have had the opportunity to love on at CRM have challenged us more than we initially expected. Quite frankly, they are undisciplined, defiant, and significantly behind in school. Honestly, when I first thought about tutoring at a homeless shelter, I painted a rosy, self-glorifying picture of us teaching these pitiful children to read while they sat dormantly on a rug, taking every word we spoke. Such is not the case. God calls us to serve, but as they say, "nobody ever said it was going to be easy".

So here are some of each of our more interesting experiences thus far. I hope that these make you laugh but also stir in you a desire to pray for these hurting kids and admittedly, our patience while working with them.

Experience #1-"The Poker" and I.

Day 1 at CRM. J. walks in, smiling, and moseys my way. I introduce myself and ask if he has any homework. Rather than taking out his folder from his backpack, he removes a pencil and begins to poke me incessantly. Being that it's the first day and I want to make a good impression, I tickle him and affectionately nickname him "The Poker". Thoroughly enjoying his new nickname, he spends the majority of the day poking me and no homework was done. I think, "Oh well, he will forget about it by Wednesday and we will actually be able to get some homework done". Day 2 at CRM. "The Poker" walks in and walks over to me. I was wrong, he has not forgotten. Poke, poke, poke, poke...we still don't get any homework done. Day 3 at CRM Poke. Poke. Poke. Are you seeing a pattern? Needless to say, "The Poker" has certainly lived up to his nickname. We're approaching week 11 and have yet to crack a book together.

Experience #2-Kitty's Cling-On

Kitty works really well with the kids. So well, in fact, that they never want to let her go. Literally. From the moment G. laid on eyes on Kitty, she jumped into her arms and has remained there ever since. She refuses to do her homework, all she wants to do is snuggle Kitty. One day, it took us an extra 15 minutes to leave because G. wouldn't let go. The head tutor man (not quite sure his title) had to PEEL her off in order for us to leave.

Experience #3-Caitlyn's World

All who know Caitlyn know her way of filling an entire room with joy. Caitlyn's joy is quite contagious, particularly with the kids. One day, I look over to find two of the kids who are absolute ENEMIES playing in complete harmony with one another. I then discover that it's Caitlyn who has orchestrated this miracle by creating a virtual world for the three of them to play in. I had to laugh as I heard her yell, "good defeats evil, once again!"

Experience #4-The Stabbing Incident

A few days ago, Miss. G. (Kitty's Cling-On), walked in with a scowl and began to climb (yes! literally climb!) on the windows of the tutoring room. I start to walk over to get her down but notice that Aaron has beat me to the punch. As Aaron attempts to PEEL G. off the wall, she freaks out and slaps him across the face. Now attempting to calm her, Aaron reaches for her arms; however, she's much to quick and takes her pencil and stabs him in the hand and drew blood! After summoning her mother to settle her down, G. was allowed back into the room, though her sassy attitude remained all day.

Experience #5-HIV

More than an experience, this was the moment that tutoring homeless children became real for me. Several weeks ago, one of our favorite kids informed Aaron that him and his sister are HIV positive. On the drive home, our hearts broke for C. and K. After some brief research, we learned that HIV is the onset of AIDS. People with AIDS live ON AVERAGE for only 23 years after infection.


If you are the praying type: PRAY, PRAY, PRAY, for these kids and their families! If you are the monetary-donating type: please email me at alexandrianoel@ou.edu to find out more details on how you can give to the CRM kids through my sorority's fundraising initiative. And if you are the action type: come with us to love on these kids. They will change your life!


"Open your mouth for the dumb, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy." Prov. 31:8

"The truth about it is, whether we is rich or poor or somethin in between, this earth ain't no final restin place. So in a way, we is all homeless--just workin our way toward home." -Denver Moore