The power of prayer...

 Hi Aim Family,

I hope you are all well! Exhausted? Sure. Eyeing the light at the end of the school year tunnel? Maybe. But you newcomers just wait til the third day of summer break when your kids start asking when does school start again lol.  

I told the eagles four short personal stories this morning. I would like to briefly share them with you. 

Story 1 came from when my family was in Mostar, Bosnia (see a few of Aim's future founding eagles in the picture below).

Mostar is a city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, known for its iconic Stari Most (Old Bridge), built in the 16th century by the Ottomans. The bridge symbolized the connection between the diverse ethnic groups in the region.

During the Bosnian War (1992-1995), Mostar was heavily damaged, and the Old Bridge was destroyed in 1993. The conflict involved Croats (mainly Christian) and Bosniaks (mainly Muslim), leading to severe ethnic tensions and violence. The bridge was reconstructed and reopened in 2004, symbolizing reconciliation and the city's resilience.

The memory from Mostar that I can recall most vividly to this day involved the Islamic call to prayer (adhan) which was broadcast from the minarets of mosques through loudspeakers (as I'm sure many of you know this is a common practice in Muslim communities to call the faithful to prayer five times a day). As my family was eating a delicious local dish from Mostar ćevapi (small grilled minced meat sausages, typically made from a mix of beef and lamb and served with somun which is a type of flatbread) the prayers came on the loudspeakers.

I don't speak Arabic so I couldn't understand what they were saying. I am a Christian so I have different beliefs about God as well. But yet an undeniable calm settled over the whole city that my whole family recognized. 

Story 2 comes from my time in Jamaica. I served a mission there for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Jamaica's history is marked by colonization and slavery. The island was originally inhabited by the indigenous Taíno people. In 1494, Christopher Columbus claimed Jamaica for Spain. In 1655, the British seized control, establishing a plantation economy based on sugar, coffee, and slavery. The enslaved Africans endured brutal conditions until slavery was abolished in 1834. Post-emancipation, Jamaica struggled with economic disparities and social unrest. The country gained independence from Britain in 1962 but has faced challenges like political violence, crime, and economic instability.The two years I was there, it was the murder capital of the world. I actually moved there right after coming home from starting a super small business teaching Koreans english so I thought I was prepared for another culture shock. Oh...young naive Lance. 

You may find it interesting though that one of the things that shocked me most about Jamaica was the nationwide acceptance of prayer. No matter when or where. It was common practice to see prayers in school, in the workplace, on the street corner, in the middle of a news program on TV at night...Everywhere! They in large part attribute this to their torrid past. They as an entire nation have felt the need to rely on a higher power. 

I didn't take many pictures from my time there, but found a few gems.

And this pic is actually from a 6-month stint in the Bahamas. This was at the dedication of the first chapel on the island of Grand Bahama. 

Story 3 came from my time teaching at Northwestern Middle School as a corps member of  Teach For America. During a time of deep pain within the local community, my principal offered a prayer. Crazy enough, his job was on the line. The superintendent at the time had both eyes on our school and was looking for a reason to shut it down. Offering a prayer in a public school was just the excuse he needed. But my principal was a man of great faith and offered it nonetheless. And a grieving community in our school auditorium, filled with diverse beliefs and backgrounds, all removed their hats, bowed their heads and united their faith in prayer. (My principal was fired soon after--despite improving our schools test scores more than any other leader in several years). 

Unbeknownst to me at the time, my classroom motto, taped in green letters at the front of the classroom, helped me learn some things that prepared me to start Aim all these years later. 

Story 4 came from yesterday at Aim. Over the break, I got a call from our landlord who said that the police had been doing their regular patrols of the area and found our back door had been shattered. The eagles walked into their beloved school Monday morning to this (minus the glass).

That began what became a very peculiar day. The whole energy of the school was off. Something didn't feel right. In our afternoon launch, I asked the eagles if they agreed or disagreed that something didn't feel right. Almost everyone stood up. They said things like "there is a weird tension in the air" and the "school feels heavy". I could feel it too.

So...we came together and I said a prayer for our school. I can only be honest about what happened next, but I don't know what else to call it other than a little miracle. The entire mood of the school improved immediately. The heaviness of the air was gone and the room seemed lighter. Everything felt back to normal and we dove into an epic afternoon of Odyssey without any further setbacks. 

I will refrain from sharing any other experiences of a more personal nature, but suffice it to say, the experiences above have shaped my beliefs about prayer. And I believe that in order to keep Aim the sacred space that it has become, we are going to need help from a higher power. While the world may be falling apart around us, I know that Aim can be a safe haven for our children. But I am convinced we cannot do it alone. 

To that end, I have felt compelled to put time on the schedule each morning and afternoon to have a school prayer. This morning, the first prayer of this new phase for Aim was offered by one of our youngest eagles who immediately volunteered when I asked. She said a simple beautiful prayer that went as nearly as I can remember something like this. "God, please keep us safe today. Help us on our hero's journey. To be the best version of ourselves. And to learn. In the name of the Son, Amen." 

Aim's community has become very diverse in many ways. We may agree and disagree on many important issues--including spiritual matters. Aim is not going to be a religious school and will forever remain a safe space for everyone regardless of their beliefs. But at the end of the day, like my former principal--a good friend and one of the most courageous leaders I have ever known--I must do what I feel is right. 

I hope that this community I so dearly love can unite our faith for these young heroes to help them prepare to change the world.