This is a story of a beginning, not an end! From the day Joy met little Rose, she knew she wanted to tutor and mentor her, but she did not know the magnitude of blessings she would end up imparting into Rose’s life, nor did she realize how much Rose would enrich her own life.

Joy and her Whiz Kids partner volunteered to take Rose home after a tutoring session because on that day, Joy was assigned to tutor little Rose. As they read and played the Whiz Kids board games, Joy noticed Rose needed a lot of love and care. When Joy and her tutoring partner took Rose home after their tutoring session, they saw the conditions Rose lived in. Joy was distraught and knew she had to help! Rose lived with her mother and brother in a trailer home without water or any cleanliness. The only father figure Rose and her brother had was in and out of prison. Joy eventually became Rose’s permanent tutor and mentor. Over time she noticed Rose’s beautiful heart and capacity to care for her mother and brother. Although Rose was only 8 years old, she had become the selfless caretaker for her mother and brother. Any time Rose won a prize through Whiz Kids, she always exclaimed, “This is for my mom,” or “This is for my brother.” Joy also noticed Rose did not have much interaction with other children, and only felt safe at her grandmother’s house. Joy and Rose started to form a bond, and Rose grew to be comfortable with Joy. Joy and her husband started to get involved a step further than Whiz Kids. They bought Rose new clothes and food and took Rose and her brother to the Omniplex, the Zoo and the movies. Eventually, Joy and her church were able to install a hot water heater in Rose’s family’s trailer! Joy and her husband even got to take Rose and her brother Christmas shopping! They were able to bless Rose’s brother in the process because Rose always wanted her brother to come too. They were a package deal!

Joy started to notice in time that Rose was becoming more self-confident, and she was learning how to have a friend and be a friend. She has started to notice her worth in Christ, and she is learning basic moral principles. Rose’s brother is now in Whiz Kids learning the same principles. Rose said that both children adore Whiz Kids, and they would come every day to Whiz Kids if they could.

Rose and her brother’s father and his wife have started taking them both to LifeChurch in South Oklahoma City every Saturday night, and Rose and her brother love it! They do not want to leave church now! Joy said that now Rose asks to read stories about Jesus in their tutoring sessions! Joy said that through Whiz Kids and Life Church South campus, now there is hope for Rose and her brother to grow into successful, well-educated, mature Christians!