Off to Mars

As I walk up to the garage, Nathan and a robotics coach are sorting Mars Rover parts. In case you missed it, Perseverance, the fifth Mars Rover, landed on Mars February 18th, 2021. NASA’s Jet Propulsion (JPL) has created an open source, smaller version of the Mars Rover and Nathan was sorting parts in preparation for BCM high school robotics students to begin building their own rover this summer.

Nathan, when not sorting Mars Rover parts, is finishing up his sophomore year at Tide Academy in Menlo Park. He has been a part of BCM robotics programs since 5th grade and has loved the transition from Lego robotics to FRC (First Robotics Competition). “It was exciting to switch – it was way more amazing and fun to actually build our own robot with metal parts, to learn how to use new tools, safety, electronics, watts, power. Engineering a robot was really fun.”

Nathan is part of the electronics team for EPA Robotics (FRC Team 8048), with other teammates focusing on building the frame, programming and other areas. “I work on the brain of the robot, the main circuit board, making sure everything is connected properly.” Nathan hadn’t learned about electronics in school, but he thoroughly enjoyed learning from his coaches and now sees some of his knowledge connecting to his physics class in school.

Andy Tan, one of the EPA Robotics coaches, was also sorting Mars Rover parts when I walked up to the garage on Friday evening. Back in 2015, Andy was at a Pi Day party hosted by a co-worker and heard about BCM’s robotics program. He’s been coaching ever since, and like Nathan, has enjoyed the transition from coaching Lego robotics to now coaching FRC. Andy, who has a degree in electrical engineering, has liked teaching the students about the electrical components, since that is not something they are learning in school.

“I’ve seen the students learn and grow in many ways. They’ve learned to manage their emotions better during competitions. Instead of getting upset when things don’t go well, they’ve learned to focus on how to fix the problem. I’ve also seen Nathan and the other students grow as they’ve stepped up to lead their own meetings, self-organizing, managing discussion and asking questions.”

Overcoming the challenges of Covid has been a great source of accomplishment for the team. At the beginning, it was unclear how everything would run since robotics is such a hands-on activity, but the students were able to meet virtually and work on small robots at home. It was difficult to overcome Zoom fatigue and join robotics virtually on Friday

night after being online all week for school, but the students have persevered and 100% of them are still actively involved in the program. The team recently participated in two challenges through FRC and won two rookie awards, one for the Game Design Challenge and their 2020 robot design. They were also prominently displayed in the Bay Area FRC Awards Show.

As Nathan heads into the summer, he’s excited to build the Mars Rover since he enjoyed building Connie (their FRC robot) so much.

“I’m proud of the robot we built. It was fun to tell my friends that I got to go to NASA to work on our robot; they didn’t believe me at first. I like learning about new things, and I’m considering a career in computer science or maybe becoming a doctor. I’m excited to recruit more students. I recently invited some other high school students and I hope they join.”

Discouragement and Persistence

Not all stories of God at work are finished or wrapped up nicely with pretty paper and a shiny bow. Today we want to share one of our works in progress, a space where we see glimpses of God, but have not yet seen the full picture. At Bayshore Christian Ministries, we seek to be attentive to the needs of our students and community, and to respond by adjusting current offerings or creating new programs. Mindful Kids came about in just that way, as we noticed that students had reduced time with caring adults as a result of distance learning. Mindful Kids is BCM’s pilot social emotional program that has been in development over the past five months. Priscilla Welsh has been coordinating this pilot program, along with the support of a volunteer team, and we are grateful for their persistence and innovative, flexible spirits as they launch this start-up offering at BCM.

Priscilla reflects, “This journey has brought about a lot of discouragement of not being able to fill a need we see in the youth in our community. Throughout this process God has been faithful through the ups and downs. The Lord has reminded me that He is moving in ways we don't always expect.”

Several months ago, after we articulated the vision, received funding from a local church partner and hired Priscilla, we recruited high-school aged mentors, primarily through a partnership with The King’s Academy in Sunnyvale. The mentors learned more about the East Palo Alto community and developed their skills in working with younger students. They were now ready to have students join the program.

At first, we looked to school leaders, partners from other ministries, past volunteers, and other connections to help us recruit students for the program. Unfortunately, only a few individuals responded to our emails. Those who responded to these emails were excited about this program and happy to promote to other families. After weeks of reaching out to our community we only had three students signed up, yet we had nine mentors ready to serve. Launching with an even number of mentors to students was our goal but in March our first mentoring session convened. Thankfully, we found a great match between one of the mentors and a sweet nine-year-old. Each week rich conversations are taking place between student and mentor.

The other volunteers were invited to assist with recruiting students in new ways. Two of the volunteers stepped up in a social media and flyer recruitment plan. These volunteers came up with graphics while the other volunteer worked on strategies to catch students' attention. These recent efforts resulted in a group of families that want to be a part of BCM and we are working to find a perfect spot for all of these children at BCM. We are also regularly posting mindfulness activities on our social media channels.

Looking back on the past few months, Priscilla comments, “It has proven to be a challenging balance of trying to provide for a need that we see facing the students while acknowledging the reality that it may be a support parents aren't aware their child could strongly benefit from. In the beginning, I saw my role as bringing on as many students as possible, but as the months continued, God showed me He can move in ways we don't expect. Over time, I saw that investing in my volunteer team was where God wanted me to spend my time."

"Mindful Kids is a seed that is growing, and I believe in the right timing God will bring the right kids to our program.”

Please pray for BCM’s ministry as we continue to innovate and patiently follow God’s guidance. We are excited and ready for new students to come join us in His timing!

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

The Treasure of Education

Rachel, like many parents (especially during the pandemic), is a skilled multitasker. During the interview for this write-up, she was also simultaneously doing chores and collecting a batch of cupcakes. That said, Rachel was still fully engaged in telling her story, her family’s story and her experience with BCM.

She was born in Hawaii, and spent her schooling years in the US. As a child, she recalls her family thinking very highly of education. Rachel particularly treasured it for herself, but was raised in an environment where it wasn’t as easily accessible. More practical matters often took precedence. In a family of nine children, it was also difficult to chart her own path. Now that she has her own family of six children, her experience growing up strongly informs her own philosophy as a mother:

“I’m juggling a 100 things at once, FOR SURE. I don’t know how I do it with all the kids, I just feel like… it’s a mother’s instinct, I don’t want my kids to ever feel neglected. I don’t want them to ever say, ‘Oh ma, I never got that when I was young.’ I don’t blame my parents for anything; we had nothing and my parents worked every day. But it’s important to me now to give them every opportunity because I want to get them to a better place. I missed out on college, and I want them to go experience it.”

When it comes to BCM, Rachel’s children also take after her ability to multitask. Rachel is encouraged by her children’s ability to benefit from BCM’s tutors and programs despite the pandemic, and despite the technological issues they’ve experienced at home during the early days of lockdown. Rachel spoke particularly of her second grader, who sometimes attends multiple BCM events in one day.

“She’s shy, but when she had Zoom conversations with her tutor… the way she presented herself, she spoke so well with her tutor and she’s only a second grader! I’m struck by how comfortable she was with her tutors. She listens to what she’s told, she hears, and she repeats."

Most of the time, her kids say, “Mama, I’ll just do one.” But her second grader sometimes has one Zoom call after another with BCM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Rachel told her, “I don’t want you to be frustrated by doing so much. But she’s fine! They love BCM and I enjoy seeing what the tutors have done with the children. Which is why I teach my children to be respectful; I do not tolerate disrespecting teachers.”

Besides taking advantage of the tutoring programs at BCM to help her four children improve in their academic work (some have earned merit awards since), her children also enjoy going to BCM to take advantage of the good snacks, and to have fun. Living in lockdown within a house of six children and four adults has been challenging, and Rachel values being able to use the outdoor play area at BCM, including the walking path, and go on bike rides (with the bikes that some folks at BCM were able to help Rachel acquire). Rachel tries to get them out as much as possible, rather than staying indoors to watch TV.

When asked if she sees God at work in BCM, Rachel expresses yet another emphatic FOR SURE.

“He’s not just there, he’s everywhere! We’re Catholic, and I came from a very strong religious background. My husband, too. There are times when I feel so bad that I don’t actively act as a Catholic, but I sit back and I see it at BCM. They’re showing us that God is there. Having them at BCM is a beautiful thing. I’m thinking about everything BCM has given me and it’s all from Him. I have nothing to offer, I wish I can give back in ways like money for everything BCM has done for me. I wish there were more such opportunities out there, I wish I had you guys when I was younger. God is shining his light on everyone there at BCM and helping every single family.”