Joy Board...

 
 
Our friend Matthew Rogie suggested we have a Joy Board for students and volunteers to post what gave them Joy today or what they are Grateful for. When the board is full I will relocate all the post its to a poster board and hang them on the wall so when things get tough they can look at all they have accomplished. So they can remember why they shouldn't give up. Why they are on this journey.

What gave me JOY today?
Team teaching our first students with the lovely (and brave) Cheryl Lauer at Hope Academy and meeting a brand new homework coach introduced by the faithful and sure Jake Zauche . Sadly I forgot to take a picture of our class because I was too busy having fun doing what I love (so...not really sad). ‪#‎hope‬ is ‪#‎hopeacademy‬ ‪#‎loveis‬ ‪#‎youknowyouareateacherwhen‬ ‪#‎youwillteachwhatyouaregiven‬
May 29, 2015











Joy is contagious.... yesterday's Joy Board asked "what makes you joyful?" Students at Hope Academy answered "getting another chance to redeem myself", "being back in school", "looking forward to a bright future." June 3, 2015











Hope is...a second chance. #joyboard #joyis #hopeis #loveis #choosecompassion #hopeacademy — with Brian Flood at Hope Academy. June 10, 2015











 Brian and Heather Flood are full time missionaries in downtown Savannah. They are the founders and directors of Hope Academy in Savannah, GA. Hope exists to partner with adults in their adult education needs and to help them discover and achieve their life purpose.
To learn more about Hope Academy or how you can impact downtown Savannah one life at a time contact Brian Flood at bflood56@outlook.com.

Visit their Facebook page or to donate and Share Hope with a Student go to their Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/hopeacademysav .

Love is listening and laughing....

Hanging out with our homeless student who was difficult to understand a month ago but after a month of visiting and having conversations he is speaking more clearly and has a lot to say about life. He is teaching us from scripture right now. Reminds me of all those stories of Jesus "just" spending time with people. Love is listening and laughing with people.

Originally published on Facebook June 3, 2015
(These mini blog posts are my attempt to chronicle our journey.)


Brian and Heather Flood are full time missionaries in downtown Savannah. They are the founders and directors of Hope Academy in Savannah, GA. Hope exists to partner with adults in their adult education needs and to help them discover and achieve their life purpose.To learn more about Hope Academy or how you can impact downtown Savannah one life at a time contact Brian Flood at bflood56@outlook.com.

Visit their Facebook page or to donate and Share Hope with a Student go to their Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/hopeacademysav .

Hope is a second chance

Hope is....witnessing someone face obstacles, that keep most in similar circumstances trapped, continue to take steps towards a transformed life.

Today our homeless student met us at church and worshipped with us. Afterwards he went forward to receive prayer and to become a member because he wants to be plugged into the Body of Christ and serve others.

He has been applying for jobs all over downtown (and getting to them with the bike donated for him- please thank your friend LeAnn and tell her it's being used well).

We see a lot of different types of people at Hope Academy and one of the qualities we observe that increases the chance of escaping poverty is showing up. Our friend shows up to every appointment we make, every class, every coaching session, and every interview. As one coach commented he has the 'want to'. 

 We have also observed the importance of the well placed 'break' or second chance that results in opportunities like a job that lead to a transformed life.

Please pray for him to continue to be filled with courage, boldness and faith to persevere every day. He has experienced many blessings the last couple of weeks including from the hands of my Facebook friends and family. Thanks for sharing hope with us! ‪#‎hopeis‬

Originally published on Facebook on June 7, 2015



Brian and Heather Flood are full time missionaries in downtown Savannah. They are the founders and directors of Hope Academy in Savannah, GA. Hope exists to partner with adults in their adult education needs and to help them discover and achieve their life purpose.To learn more about Hope Academy or how you can impact downtown Savannah one life at a time contact Brian Flood at bflood56@outlook.com.

Visit their Facebook page or to donate and Share Hope with a Student go to their Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/hopeacademysav .

Hope is never too late

We've been working. A lot. Usually 6 days a week.

So when Brian said he was going to a work day at the Whitefield Center** this past Saturday I was reluctant about him going. I thought he should rest but we agreed it was important to go.

While there Brian met a retired man named Max* who lives in a nearby senior assisted living community served by the Whitefield Center. Max used to be a construction worker but now is unable to do the fine motor skills work due to arthritis. He shared with Brian how he dropped out of high school at 16 to provide for his family and how he wished he could earn his GED.

As the day progressed he opened up to Brian about the biggest challenge he faces. Max can't read. He watches the joy his wife receives when she reads books but he can't experience it himself. This proud man opened up to Brian and became visibly moved as he humbled himself and shared his struggle. Brian encouraged him and said we could find him a coach who could teach him to read.

Max's eyes filled with tears and asked why. Brian shared simply, God loves us. We love God and because of that we share His love with others. He told Max there would be a day when Mack would be encouraging the younger students at Hope to not give up on pursuing their purpose.

Please pray for Max as he starts his journey, for a volunteer reading coach to come forward and for Max to find his God given purpose.

Originally published on Facebook June 17th, 2015.


Brian and Heather Flood are full time missionaries in downtown Savannah. They are the founders and directors of Hope Academy in Savannah, GA. Hope exists to partner with adults in their adult education needs and to help them discover and achieve their life purpose.
To learn more about Hope Academy or how you can impact downtown Savannah one life at a time contact Brian Flood at bflood56@outlook.com.

Visit their Facebook page or to donate and Share Hope with a Student go to their Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/hopeacademysav .

*name changed
**The Whitefield Foundation and Center hosts Hope Academy
‪#‎hopeis‬ ‪#‎loveis‬ ‪#‎showingup‬ ‪#‎choosecompassion‬ ‪#‎hopeacademy‬ ‪#‎nevertoolate‬

Hope deferred...

Last time I talked about the two qualities imperative to conquering the mountains in front of us and two women who have both the 'want to' and the 'show up'.

But what happens when one of those is missing?

Today we had 5 no shows; people who had appointments to see how we might help them on their journey as well as students who didn't come to class.

We've learned that is to be expected and aren't generally discouraged when potential students don't make their appointments. Showing up to that first interview is a litmus test of sorts. It indicates someone wants it enough to deal with inconvenience, discomfort or difficulty. If they show up we have hope they will go the distance.

But what happens when someone has a deep 'want to' but can't manage the 'show up'?

What if you have big dreams but your one chance to earn some money keeps you from going to GED classes or getting help from your homework coach?

What if you have the potential to not just get your GED but be the first one in your family to go to college yet your family can't or won't support your efforts?

What if you are surrounded by people who believe in you, cheer you on but your kid gets sick or you're too exhausted from working the minimum wage job that barely pays your rent to make it to class?

How do you not get discouraged? How do you not give up?

I found myself trying to give a deeply motivated student encouragement to not give up. I told her we're here for her and, "I know this is a tough balancing act but I believe in you and your potential to achieve your goals."

Photo by Rebecca Flood 2015

Determined she said, "I want to accomplish this dream."

"I know you can, don't get discouraged," I coached hoping my words helped.

So how do you do it? When it feels like the world is against you at every turn? How do you keep your 'want to' when you can't show up? How do you not lose to discouragement?

She told me how, "I won't when I have God."

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. Psalm 13:12

Brian and Heather Flood are full time missionaries in downtown Savannah. They are the founders and directors of Hope Academy in Savannah, GA. Hope exists to partner with adults in their adult education needs and to help them discover and achieve their life purpose.

To learn more about Hope Academy or how you can impact downtown Savannah one life at a time contact Brian Flood at bflood56@outlook.com.

Visit their Facebook page or to donate and Share Hope with a Student go to their Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/hopeacademysav .

Mountain Climbers

"You ladies inspire me."

We were standing together in the parking lot after class feeling the heat of the day when I said it and they stopped in their tracks.

Rachael* is 8 months pregnant and had walked in the heat from the bus stop several city blocks away to get to her GED class at Hope Academy. She lives with her boyfriend in assisted housing with one of her two children waiting for her third to arrive any day now. She rides two busses, then several blocks and up a winding flight of stairs to get to her class and her coaching sessions with us every week. She's usually out of breath and hungry when she arrives but has a perpetual smile on her face. She hopes to one day have a career in social work helping children because people helped her.

Kimmy* is in her mid 30s and just celebrated with her husband and daughters their oldest graduate from high school. She works full time at two jobs as a security guard and comes to class after working down the street at the health department. It was there she heard about Hope from a stranger who came in for services and mentioned they were going for an interview to see about getting their GED. She called us right away because she wants her GED before her second child graduates school and dreams of helping the elderly as a CNA instead of as a security guard at her other job in a nursing home. Her work schedule prevents her from getting coaching right now but her oldest daughter has been helping her with her homework and she arrives early every week to her English class at Hope.

"You ladies inspire me."

Kimmy cocked her head to the side and said incredulously, "Why? You already have your piece of paper!" She gave me that mom look that said 'are you kidding me'? Rachael looked shocked.

These women are mountain climbers. Serious mountain climbers but without the training and equipment experienced climbers would need before they tackled the toughest climb.

Kimmy and Rachael look at their mountain and where others have called it Fear they call it Get Out of My Way! They show up. They keep going when the work gets hard. When they don't know what they are doing. When people in their life say, "why are you going to that class again" or "why don't you stay home today- it's raining out." When their bodies are tired and their stomachs are empty.

Kimmy is determined and says, "Oh, I'm getting my GED!" the same way I tell my kids "Don't you even think about not doing what I said!" She looks at that mountain and something inside of her gets rock hard. Angry even. She tells that mountain, "Get out of my way!"

Their mountains may look different than mine but we all face mountains that try to intimidate us. They lie to us and tell us there is no way over it.

Kimmy and Rachael are teaching me what you do with a mountain like that. 

You tell it to get out of your way and keep climbing.

*Names have been changed to protect student's privacy.

Brian and Heather Flood are full time missionaries in downtown Savannah. They are the founders and directors of Hope Academy in Savannah, GA. Hope exists to partner with adults in their adult education needs and to help them discover and achieve their life purpose.

To learn more about Hope Academy or how you can impact downtown Savannah one life at a time contact Brian Flood at bflood56@outlook.com.

Visit their Facebook page or to donate and Share Hope with a Student go to their Go Fund Me page, www.gofundme.com/hopeacademysav .