Goodbye Guadalajara!

What a journey the past six weeks have been! There have been exciting times, frustrating times, happy and sad times, but through all, I can say that I have learned much and thoroughly enjoyed this unforgettable experience.

One thing that has truly inspired me during my time here is how the teachers at ASFG really do seek to do more than just teach their students-- they seek to turn them into individuals and great leaders. I know this was a constant topic of conversation in many of my classes at ASU, but to see it truly put into action has been a great learning experience for me. Here is an example: Last week three 2nd graders got up at our weekly flag assembly and shared the following message with their student body... Two of the girls, on their own time, had been reading "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortensen. They were very inspired by it and knew that there must be something they could do to help the education system in the Middle East. So they approached their teacher with the idea of a class project. Their teacher loved their idea so much that she encouraged them to go talk to the principal, and thus was born their school-wide (Pre-school thru 12th grade) campaign, called "Pesos for Peace". They have challenged every student in the school to give at least one peso in the next three weeks, and daily collect and count the money. As of this past week, they had already collected over 1500 pesos and are still going around to talk to classes about why what they are doing is so important. These are true leaders, and true leaders are never born without someone (maybe a teacher) to help them develop leadership skills. All I can really say to this is "WOW!"

Another huge thing that I have learned about teaching while here is how to integrate well. Throughout my time at ASU, this was something professors always urged us to do, but many of them also assumed that we already knew how to created a well integrated lesson. I would agree that this is very important, but this isnt something I had ever really learned how to do well. I was taking shots in the dark and hoping for the best. Because the studenst at ASFG receive 1/2 the instructional day in English and the other 1/2 in Spanish, a teacher's instructional time is greatly decreased, thus making it that much more important to integrate subject matter and to do it well. Spending time in an environment where integration is not just something that is good if it happens, but a necessity, has helped me to understand how to integrate subject matter well, as well as how much more valuable instruction can be when subjects are integrated. My teacher, Ms. Ivette, has a been teacher to learn from, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to spend six weeks learning from such a devoted and skilled professional.


My teacher, Ms. Ivette, and I

Although working with second language learners did provide a bit of a challenge at times, it was also lots of fun to see them learning, understanding new concepts, and taking in so much new knowledge and vocabulary like a sponge. Also, it was very difficult for to work a group of students from affluent homes, as that is not where my passion lies. Sometimes discipline was very difficult with this particular group of students, and at times I felt completely defeated, as they made it very obvious that they were used to being in charge and had no intentions of listening to the gringa who had only come into their lives for such a short period of time. However, it was interesting to see that, just as with many experiences I have had in the US, the ones who resisted discipline the most, were also the ones who were the saddest on my last day.





Overall, my experience outside of school was fabulous! I really enjoyed learning about Mexican culture and trying to immerse myself into it during my time in this huge city. I was very lucky to get to travel around some, as well as being a part of several true Mexican traditions such as the traditional Mexican fiesta, mariachi bands, and the Corrida del Toros (Running of the Bulls). And although the Health Departments in the US would surely not approve of many of the places I ate, I thorougly enjoyed getting to eat traditional Mexican cuisine daily. This included anything from fresh made quesadillas, tortas ahogadas, chilaquiles, and enchiladas, to a big ol' scoop of refried beans from the pot that had been sitting on the stove going on four days.

I would trade this experience for nothing else in the world, and cant wait to apply the things I have learned into my life as a teacher and professional, as I start my own journey of impacting children and creating leaders daily.


A beautiful view of the sunset on my trip to Zacatecas!

Adios Amigos!

Ole, Ole!

This week has been really great! If you read my last update, you know that I was writing from a small town named Zacatecas, where I spent a short break that I had. The rest of my time there was just as much fun as the first part. In fact, I think I would have stayed forever if I could have! One night, I even got to go to the Lighting of the Christmas Tree celebration in the town square. It was very neat to how the whole town came together for this one event which, I didnt realize until I got back to the hostel, lasted about 3 hours!



On Sunday, when I returned to GDL, I got to do another thing that I have been dying to do... I got to go the Corrida del Toros (Running of the Bulls)! Even more interesting, this one showcased child toreros. Although some things were a little different, such as the children not beign allowed to actually kill the bull like usual, this was the last event of the season and I still feel that it was a great cultural experience. It was very stressful to sit there and watch people so close to such a dangerous animal, but it was also lots of fun to hear the shouts of "Ole!" all around and to take in what a huge part of Mexican culture this event is. I loved every minute of it!







This week at school has been good, although you can tell the students know the holiday season is quickly approaching. They are starting to go crazy, and being an international school, students and their families are beginning to take trips to visit family and friends in many different countries. It is also very interesting to see the wide variety of holidays celebrated by students around the school, and to hear about the family traditions. While I am here, my teacher has wanted to go ahead and study the traditions of Christmas with our class, since she wants the students to learn about Christmas traditions in the United States. Earlier this week, we did a lesson using "The Night Before Christmas" by C.C. Moore, a very traditional story. I have also been teaching a lot of math lately. We just started a unit on addition with regrouping. This has been really fun to teach so far and the students seems to be understanding it pretty well.



I cant believe that in just 7 short days, I will be on my way back to NC. My time here is flown by so quickly and it is hard to think that I only have four days left with my class. I know the next week is going to fly by!

Nos vemos! See you later!

ZACATECAS!!

Wow! It has been a very crazy week here in Guadalajara and at The American School. One thing I have loved about ASFG is that they make sure to educate the students in both the American and Mexican culture and to give them quality educational experiences to help them understand each one. That said, this short school week was one of those that is wasted in terms of teaching time. On Monday, we had our weekly Flag Assembly along with a special presentation on the Mexican Revolution by the 4th graders. On Tuesday, we had an earthquake drill which took quite a long time to get through. Wednesday was a short day for the students, complete with a classroom Thanksgiving feast! Our students made pilgrim hatrs and wore them to the feast. They really enjoyed learning about the history and traditions of Thanksgiving throughout the week and it was lots of fun to be able to help teach them these things!





Last weekend turned out to be quite an interesting one. I wont bore you with all the details, but I will tell you that my adventures in the nearby town of Tonala and downtown Guadalajara involved asking for directions to a certain place and being sent to the exact opposite end of the city, almost getting in trouble with the military for taking pictures of a building I wasnt supposed to be taking pictures of (standing in the middle of a public park... and there were NO SIGNS!), and a crazy lady on the city bus claiming to have a knife. At the ArtFest I saw some absolutely fabulous art! I was very impressed by the quality of the art that the students had produced and the number of people from the community that came. I am very happy that I got to experience the ArtFest, as it is such a huge part of the culture of the school.



Right now, I am actually writing from a small town called Zacatecas and it is very cold here! I decided to come to Zacatecas to spend my two day break from school after some of my own research, plus a recommendation from my brother. I had heard many good things about the town and they were all true. I am loving it here! When I first arrived at the hostal I am staying at, I began talking with the owner and she remembered my brother and sister in law from a few months ago when they came through the area. That was very cool! So far, I have been to several museums and to an old mine. The mine, which is no longer in use, was the workplace of many slaves, child and adult, for many centruries-- up until the 1970´s. Its main product was silver, although some quartz can be found. I have also been to the top of a great big hill by teleferico (cable car) called Cerro de la Bufa. Zacatecas was one of the first cities in the world to have this service available to its citizens and it has some amazing views! This famed hill is supposedly where Pancho Villa fought and defeated a large army. I am very glad I came here and am sad to have to leave tomorrow.


Just a few of the 3000 masks inside this amazing museum! (There are 7000 more masks in storage. WOW!)


A look at the mine as we start the descent to the 4th of the 7 floors.

Its hard to believe that I have so little time left in Mexico. I cant wait to see what adventures the next week and a half bring though!

Hello Hello From Mexico!!!

Hello again from Guadalajara!

I am still having a fabulous time here in Mexico and I am learning a lot!

I am continuing to teach lots of Guided Reading Groups in my class, as well as other math and reading lessons. This past week I taught a lesson on honeybees and then we made honeybee puppets out of paper bags. The students loved their puppets!



Also, last week we got to do Reading Buddies with a fourth grade class. It was amazing to see how much the kids loved reading with the older students. It was also really fun to hear the 4th graders giving the first graders reading tips!



Each year around this time, ASFG holds an ArtFest, in which the school displays student work, alongside the work of professional artists. Then, they have an auction and sell the artwork. I am excited to experience this and see all the artwork around the schoolgrounds. In addition, the students get to attend special art presentations all week long. So far, my class has been to a puppet show and another play.

Although Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Mexico, ASFG gives its students and staff a Thanksgiving break due to its affiliation with the US and the number of staff members that come from the US. So next week will be a very short week and we have all sorts of Thanksgiving lessons and festivities planned to teach the students about the holiday. I can't wait to see how it all turns out!

This past weekend was a long weekend for Mexico. Schools were closed Monday to celebrate the Mexican Revolution. So, I got to travel with my new friend, Clancy, and Danna, the teacher she lives with. We traveled about 4 hours south on a bus to a smaller town named Morelia. It was a beautiful colonial town. We spent some time walking around and exploring and had a great time! However, Morelia didnt give us quite the small town environment we had hoped for, so we decided to continue another hour south to an even smaller town named Patzcuaro. We absolutely loved it there! There were small shops and markets everywhere there, and the cobblestone streets were a nice touch too. I even made some pretty good bargains with the shop owners. We didnt want to leave!


The cathedral in the zocalo of Morelia. It took over a century to build!


A beautiful view of the street in Patzcuaro


Me hanging out with some leftover Day of the Dead decorations in Patzcuaro!!

I had hoped to continue travelling with Clancy while we are both in Guadalajara, but on Monday when we returned, Clancy had to go to the hospital. She has the dengue. I am still healthy, and I am hoping it stays that way.

One thing that I have to get used to here is that Guadalajara is not a very friendly city. Having traveled to many other destinations in Latin America, I am very used to everyone being friendly and treating you like family, no matter how much of a stranger you are. This is not the case here though and it makes for a very strange environment. It is a strange feeling to be in Latin America and to say that people aree not friendly.

Also, the weather here is crazy! In fact, it reminds me of Boone. Being that Guadalajara is the highlands of Mexico, it is very cold in the mornings, and then it is very hot in the afternoons. In fact, during the first days that I was here, it got down to about 4 derees Celsius every morning. That's not too cold for us, but for the Mexicans it's freezing! Its so funny to see everyone walking aroudn with their winter coats on. It's a good thing I brought my jacket!

Cant wait for the ArtFest this weekend!

Nos vemos amigos!

Saludos from Mexico!!

Hello again!
This past week has been great and full of adventure!

I am, however, completely surrounded by lots of disease and sickness. An outbreak of head lice is finally on the decline at ASFG. However, the dengue is starting to go rampant in the city, and the flu is a problem too. Teachers at the school have had to create a contingency plan in the case that schools have to close... which is highly likely. The Mexican Government has said that they will under no circumstances close schools, but apparently whenever they say they will not do something, that really means they are going to do it. It's only a matter of time, and most believe that it will happen in the next few weeks.

I am starting to do a little more teaching now and I am really enjoying my school and my students. This past week I continued to Guided Reading Lessons almost everyday, as well as teaching a math lesson on ordinal numbers. One thing I really like about the American School is how low stress it is compared to schools in the States. The teachers and students are held to high standards, but the school day itself is not quite so daunting. Students at ASFG, a unviersity prep and bilingual school, actually receive 14 years of education before graduating, as well as the option of preschool beforehand. Students must complete Pre 1st Grade before they go to 1st. The math curriculum is followed per normal, but the reading and language curriculum for 1st grade students in the states is split between Pre-1st and 1st, allowing more time for English Language Acquisition to take place effectively. So, although I am teaching 1st graders, they are the age of my 2nd graders at Fox Road! My daily schedule includes about 2.5 hours of teaching time in the morning. The students have a Special and two recesses. At 12:30, the Spanish teacher comes and teaches for the rest of the day, allowing the classroom teacher some extra time to plan and get things done. The students are all very intelligent and I love seeing the work that they do. One of the things I love the most about being here is coming to school each day and hearing the beautiful sound of English and Spanish being spoken in the same room. It is music to my ears!

Last week, we began a unit on insects, and one day was focused on ladybugs. This was lots of fun and reminded me of my time at Fox Road ES, since my cooperating teacher's favorite animal was a ladybug and has her room decorated with them! Here are a few pictures of my beautiful children and their ladybug creations.






Look at this clever continuation of "The Grouchy Ladybug" by Eric Carle that one of my students wrote!

I usually really enjoy travelling alone. However, this past weekend, I tried to travel around a little, and quickly discovered that it was going to be much more difficult than I had anticipated. On Sunday, I first rode the bus dowtown, walked and walked trying to find the right bus station. Once I finally found it, I took a bus to San Juan Chapala, Ajijic, and Chapala- three very small towns about an hour from Guadalajara. These town are all on the edge of Lake Chapala. The lake was beautiful! They also had some absolutely gourgeous colonial churches in the zocalos/ city centers. The towns were really pretty, also. However, the normally adventurous Maria was a little too scared to go exploring and get too far off the beaten path as a lone female traveler.


Lake Chapala from the town of San Juan Cosala


The beautiful church in the zocalo of Ajijic


A view of the street in Chapala

Lucky for me, I have met two really nice people in the past few days. One girl, Sofia, lives with me. She is a Mexican student studying at the university. Hopefully she will be able to show me around some. Also, yesterday I met another girl, Clancy, who just arrived in Guadalajara from Canada on Sunday night. She will be working at ASFG doing something similar to myself for the next month. We exchanged contact info and hop to be travel buddies while we are both here. I was super excited to meet Clancy! Hopefully we will have had some great adventures togther before the next time I write!

Hasta la semana proxima!! Til next week!!

A Mountaineer in Mexico!

Goodbye North Carolina!

Hello Guadalajara!

Things are going really well so far and I am liking it here, although I must admit that my time here has already been one adventure after the next. When I first arrived at my host home, Antonio, my host "father", asked me if I wanted to go to a party with him. This was at 12 pm. We got home at 8. Welcome to Mexican social life! I was very excited as this was a true Mexican fiesta. First, there was a mariachi band, then a belly dancer, and finally a banda, which played all night long while people danced and sang. There was also tons and tons of food-- peanuts, lots of meat, quesadillas, taquitos, beans, and lots of really yummy salsas. There was also lots of piña coladas, horchata, and agua de jamaica (hibiscus). That was Saturday.

What did I do on Sunday? I went to another party! This one began at 10 am and lasted until 8 pm. Lotas and lots of food and music were present once again. However, one of the foods we had at this party was menudo-- a soup of broth that has just about every pig part that someone in the United States wouldnt dare eat. It was interesting to say the least! At this party we played many hands of poker, as well as a game called Loteria. The fellowship and food was lots of fun to experience. Unfortunately, it was not an appropriate time to take pictures at either of these parties, although I would have LOVED to have had some. (I was able to sneak a few on Saturday, although they are not very good.)

On Monday, school was not in session, per a last minute decision by the Secretary of Education to give students a day to celebrate Day of the Dead. Although, this holiday is a dying tradition in some of the larger cities, it has been neat to see some of the altars people have set up outside their homes as I rode around town. Also, At ASFG, some of the students created two huge altares de muertos that were absolutely gorgeous, and people are still selling their leftover pan de muertos and sugar skulls on the streets.

Also, on Monday Antonio took me to figure out how to take the city bus to shool each day. It seemed really easy and I was pretty excited about getting to experience a huge part of the Latino culture in my everday life... until Tuesday morning came!

On Tuesday morning, I arrived at the bus stop a little before 7. I had to be at school between 730 and 8. Most of the buses come every 5 minutes or so... mine didnt. Ruta 24 only comes every 30 minutes. Also, if youve ever ridden a city bus in Central or South America, you know that there is always room for one more. Well, there is room for more in Guadalajara too... until the doors cant close anymore. So I waited, and the bus passed. I waited some more, and the bus passed again. And two more times this happened. I had been waitingfor almost two hours at this point, with a group of two other women and a man in the same situation. Each time we raced to the bus doors together, hoping to be one of the two or three that made it on. Finally, the man went and bought for us all to share, as we were headed in the same general direction. No, my mother would not approve, but I finally made it to school nonetheless.

There is tons more I could write about, but I´ll stop there for now!

I hope to be able to write about school and some of my experiences there next week. I have already started being in charge of some of the transition times in the classroom, and I have also taught some Guided Reading lessons. Also, once I have my credentials to enter the school, instead of wearing a visitor pass everyday, I will be able to take some pictures of the campus and the students!

(I would post more pictures, but this computer is being stubborn. Look at the ASU International Student Teaching Blog for more: http://blogs.rcoe.appstate.edu/projects/intstudteach_f09 )

Time Flies...

Sorry that I havent written in awhile... last week was so much busier than I ever anticipated that it could be. Let me just say, though, that God has been doing some really awesome stuff and I am so excited that I got to be a part of it this summer. I have loved being the leader of the 3rd and 4th graders over the past few weeks even though it has been very stressful at times. I have grown to love those kids in a way that I thought would never be possible and it has been so wonderful to see God working in their lives and changing them throughout the summer. I could write for hours and hours about the many ways I have seen this, but I just want to share with you one short example for now. I am sure more will come as I process all that God has allowed me to experience this summer.



Let's go back to the first few weeks of camp when Miss Maria was only known as the Lunch Lady and the Field Trip Lady... not as the leader of the Dolphins group. Each morning as the kids came into camp and got their breakfast, I always made to take time to have a short conversation with each child, hoping that this would help me build relationships with them even though I wasnt going to be around the kids very much. As relationships grew, many friendships were formed, trust was built, and some kids even let me them a hug before I handed their breakfast over. However, this was not the case with a young lady from the Dolphin group named Wilniya. Wilniya has lived a very difficult life thus far, and has a very hardened heart and personality. So on several occassions throughout the first three and a half weeks of camp, I would greet Wilniya with a pat on the back and say, "Good morning Wilniya! How are you today?" And each time, she would jerk her shoulder and in her raspy voice respond, "Don't touch me!" Sometimes I really began to think that there was no hope for this little. She was defiant and disrespectful in every way possible. When I became the Dolphins leader, things didnt get any better. She refused to do anything I asked and tried her hardest to make me lose my cool with her. If I got anywhere near her she would start yelling at me to get away from her and to quit following her around trying to get her in trouble. I was so frustrated with Wilniya. Im not sure words can even express how frustrated I was. I tried to let her know that I loved her very much just like all of the other children. That was hard to do though. Then, one day, I felt something squeezing me so hard around the waist that I could hardly breathe. I looked down and who was it? Wilniya. I think I just about went into shock when I saw her! This happened again several more times. Her behavior also began to really improve. She still had her days every now and then, but she really began to become a different child. One day during the last week of camp, she came up to me during breakfast and began to help me serve the other children. I simply couldnt believe what I was seeing: a once defiant and seemingly hopeless child who began to transfrm into a very sweet and respectful child full of hope. This wasnt just any hope my friends. I am convinced that God is doing huge things in Wilniya's life. He is forming her into a beautiful woman of God full of the hope that only He can offer. And I got to see and be a microscopic part of the process!

This past weekend I went on a trip with the TML Youth to Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay. We had a great time and it was so wonderful to get to spend some one on one time with them outside of the camp setting. They are an outstanding group of teens who are really learning what it means to live for Christ every day and becoming motivated to do their best in all that they do. I should mention that while in the park, I rode a roller coaster called the Sheikra, which goes 200 feet up in the air and has two 90 degree angle drops. So much fun! Before we left, one of the prayed a prayer which I thought was so simple, yet so profound... it has stuck with me ever since I heard it:

Dear God,
Thank you for waking us up today. Thank you for putting food on our table. Help keep us safe today. In Jesus' Name We Pray, Amen.

I am so sad yet so excited that I will be heading home tomorrow. I have loved Miami and Overtown. I also know that God has some awesome things in store for me this coming semester. I cant wait to find out what they are.

Please continue to pray for all of my fellow student missionaries as they finish out the summer and return to their college campuses to continue their ministry there.
Please continue to pray for the people of Overtown and for TML as they share the love of Christ with this needy community.

Get Up! Get Up! Get Your Praise On!

Hello there friends! Its been awhile since I have been able to update.

The past week has been quite an adventure. Things are finally starting to settle back down a little after the shooting in Overtown, but this tragedy definitely took its toll on our children. Immediately after this event, there was a marked difference in their behavior. There still is, and I am afraid that this is something that these kids will continue to deal with for quite awhile. Although it is hard to have that extra bit of patience, grace, and compassion sometimes, I have learned a lot from the experience of having to dig way down deep and rely on God to find the strength to deal with this situation. I began to think though... It was so hard for me to give even a little extra patience and compassion to these children who needed it so badly. But each one of us IS that child to God. We are the ones who need the "extra patience and compassion" from God. No matter how much extra we need from God, He never ever runs out of patience and compassion for His children. If we are truly to be like Christ, oru patience and compassion toward others should never run out. We should have a never ending supply of it, overflowing out of our hearts for others.

So as I said before this week has been filled with adventure and it's funny how things happens sometimes. Here's the story... On Monday last week I was filling out my mid summer evaluation. One of the questions was, If you could change one thing about your experience what would you change? My response was something to this effect: "I wish I could spend a little more time with the kids at camp." As the saying goes... You get what you ask for. The next day, one of our interns had to return home suddenly. Because I am the only person who is trained to run the food service, I had to continue my old job, as well as taking on the job of being the leader of the 3rd and 4th Grade group of campers. To those of you who I asked to pray, Thank you so much! Your prayers were definitely felt. This group of campers, who have a reputation of being the worst behaved group at camp, was as angelic as anyone could have asked them to be for the entire week. There is only one word I can think of to describe this: miraculous! Last week could have been so disastrous, hectic, and stressful for me. But instead, I was able to handle all of my jobs without going completely crazy. All I can say is, GOD IS AWESOME!! So now I have 20 absolutely beautiful children to take care of for the remainder of the summer... and I am PUMPED about it!

God is really working in the children and teenagers of Overtown right now. He is daily increasing their hunger for the Word and their passion and desire to worship Him through song. Last week, our Music time had a bit of a HipHop/Gospel feel to it. The kids learned dances and lyrics to the music and were given CD's with all the music at the end of the week. This past weekend when I had the chance to take some kids on a special outing, that CD was all they wanted to listen to. Not only did they remember the dances and lyris they had learned, they also knew which songs corresponded to which track numbers. My favorite song says this... Get up! Get up! Get your praise on! You got a reason to lift up your hands! Hearing my kids sing this song over and over and over again made me smile the biggest smile you have ever seen made my heart feel the warmest its ever been. I Cant even begin to explain the feeling to you. It was music to my ears, and I know, without a doubt, that God was overjoyed to hear those little voices singing joyfully!

A few other side notes about this past week:

--I got to take four awesome kids to some Marlins games over the weekend. We got 17th row seats behind home plate and reserved parking! We treated them really special and had a great time!!
--I am really excited that I got to write a thousand + dollar check last Thursday on our field trip to the Seaquarium!
--I cant believe that my time in Miami is almost up. Sad day.
--I am taking a day trip to Key West this Saturday. Wooo!
--In case you havent heard, I went out on a boat last Saturday. I got 3rd degree sunburns from head to toe (literally), despite the fact I put on SPF 50 suncreen 3x. I was so burnt that I couldnt even walk without limping. Ouch.
--Sorry I am such a slacker and dont put up pictures on here. Honestly, I dont know how to and am too lazy to try to figure it out. Maybe if I find some motivation in the next few days, I will put up some super cute videos for you to see. :) Get excited!!

Please pray for:

--My team and I as we continue our ministry in Overtown
--A smooth transition for me as I continue to juggle two job positions at camp
--My fellow summer missions friends who are also getting ready to come back to NC
--the TML staff who will remain after we have gone back home

Grace and Peace.

Joy Comes in the Morning

Words to describe this past week: rough, emotionally draining, sad, crazy, fun, awesome, awful, wonderful, devastating... REALLY??

Here is a short summary of the happenings:

On Monday morning, my team and I all got up, eager to start a new week with our kids. As I was driving the six of us to work, I noticed that there were police cars and crime scene tape ahead. We took a detour and wondered what in the world might have happened. The crime scene was about 5-6 blocks in area. We prayed. Not too long after that, the news came. Some folks had shot up a birthday party the night before. Twelve people were injured, but everyone seemed to be doing okay based on preliminary reports. Then, one victim died on Wednesday-- a 21 year female.

The week continued on and things started to get better... until this morning. The second shooting victim died.

(http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/breaking-news/story/1135777.html) He was a popular kid in the neighborhood, the boyfriend of an active TML teen, a star football player at the local high school. How much worse could things get?

Many of the teens who help run our day camp ended up going home for the day. The news was too much for them to swallow... too much for anyone to swallow. Many of the teens were at the party. Some were still there when the shooting happened. They are shaken. They are upset. They realize that any of the injured or dead just as easily could have been them.

This week has been a hard one for our kids, as well. Behavior problems and discipline issues were at an all time record high... during a week when my patience was already running low.

Its hard to make sense out of a tragedy like this. Its hard to make sense of it especially when it hits so close to home. Its hard to make sense of it when you look both to the left and straight ahead, and all you see is crime scene tape and people loooking on trying to figure out what just happened in their neighborhood.

Some people say that this is nothing new for Overtown. That everyone is used to stuff like this happening in the inner city. True. They are used to it, but that doesnt make it any easier to deal with. That doesnt make it any easier to lose a friend, a neighbor, a family member.

Thats why I am here though. I am here to be extra patient with children and teenagers, even when I dont think I have any patience left in me. I am here to give extra love to children and teenagers, even when I dont think I have any love left in me. I am here to encourage, support, and be the caring, kind, and compassionate face of Christ to the hurting, the grieving ,and the broken who surround. I am here to hurt, grieve, and be broken right along side those who are experiencing those emotions. And when someone rejoices or celebrates, I will rejoice and celebrate right along with them.

This is what the body of Christ does. We rejoice with one another in the good times, and we grieve with one another in the hard times.

Now is a time for grieving. But wait! Lets not forget... "Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS. I will say it again. Rejoice!"

So in the coming days, we will be grieving alongside the community of Overtown, but also ministering to and supporting them, reminding them that "joy will come in the morning", and reminding them of the healing power that can be found in Jesus Christ.

Please pray for the myself and the other TML staff members as we seek out an appropriate response to the events of this past week, and do our best to be Christ for those around us during a tough time.

(Still LOVING it here!!)

Grace and Peace.

Life in the Hood

Welcome to Overtown.

Here's a link where you read about last night's adventure in Overtown. It happened one block away from the TML building where we have camp. Three whole blocks are still surrounded by crime scene tape.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/breaking-news/story/1129143.html

Pray for Overtown and TML.

And Justice for All?

Hello friends! I hope this finds you well. I am loving Miami and I am loving what I am doing! I truly believe that God has me right where He wants me for the summer, and although things aren't always easy, I am finding myself to be always filled to overflowing with the love of God. I just wanted to share with you, a conversation I had with a sixth grader at camp yesterday. I can't seem to get it off my mind.

This past week I was blessed by some wonderful help each morning as I did my daily breakfast duty. Her name was Angie. Yesterday morning, as I served breakfast, one of my favorite (oops! Youre not supposed to have those!) campers and children of God, Titi, came up and stood in between us with his hands wrapped around our shoulders. We carried on some casual "Hows the weather?" type conversation with him for a few minutes and then Angie began to ask Titi something about the shirt he had on. Since I was trying so diligently to make my tally marks at just the right angle to please the feds (not kidding. they care.) I tuned the conversation out for a few minutes, content knowing that Titi was being given the attention he deserved. Upon reentering the conversation this is what I hear...

Angie: You know what happens when you go the swamp dont ya?
Titi: (shaking head) Nope.
Me: You get eaten by a gator?!?
Titi: You knows what happens when you come to Overtown?
(Angie and I throw out all kinds of answers trying to find the right one. Fail.)
Me: Oh Titi! Is this some kind of silly riddle youre telling us?
Titi: You get shot.

You get shot? To some this answer may seem exxagerated and shocking, but others know full well that this answer is the all too common reality of life for Titi and the other children of Overtown, Enderly Park in Charlotte, Waco Texas, East St, Louis Illinois, and the other unnnamed inner city areas and pockets of poverty that are becoming all too common right in our own backyards. Please dont tell me that allowing children, teenagers, or any other person for that matter, to live under these conditions is just. Where is the "justice for all" that America has promised. I dont see it. If allowing these children and their families to continue in the cycle of poverty that they were born into or found themsleves wrapped up in is just, then I wonder what "unjust" conditions look like. And whats worse? Our federal government cares more about whether I follow the crazy rules of their food service program (see previous post) than they do about actually giving people the empowering assistance that they need to get back on their feet.

This is why Touching Miami with Love, Mission Waco, Hyaets, the CAC, and many other unnamed ministries and charirable organizations exist- to share with others the love of Christ and the freedom that can be found in that unimaginable love, and to loosen the chains of injustice that plague our society in order to be able to better share the freedom that can be found in Jesus Christ with those around us. We cant simply sit back, say that we support a certain ministry, and expect them to bear our portion of the workload for us. We ALL have to do our part. Until then, injustice will remain a part of our country and world, and the name of Jesus Christ will continue to be unheard of in the marginalized parts of the Earth.

Complacency is NOT an option.

(This post probably seems a little incomplete... because it is! Another post will follow which explores the Christian response to the poor and what the Bible says about this issue. This is something that I have been thinking on a lot lately, and hope my thoughts have raised some questions in you mind, as well.)

Please pray for:

--the people of Overtown

--people who live in poverty all over the world

--TML and other ministries who work to advocate for and empower the poor.

Grace and Peace.

That's Just Ridiculous...

Hello all!

I am having a fabulous time down here in Miami. We have now completed three days of camp and although it has been a VERY stressful three days, I have enjoyed every minute of it. I have enjoyed some of those minutes moreso than others, but I have enjoyed them all to some extent.

So now that I am have been doing my job for awhile, here's what I do...

One of my primary jobs is to take care of the lunch and breakfasts that the children receive each day through a federal program. A community is eligible to receive this free lunch program if over half of the students in the area receive free/reduced lunch during the school year. Well... in Overtown, EVERY student gets free lunch at school. Wow. Thats an astounding statistic. So we all know that federal programs have ridiculous rules... we just dont ever know how ridiculous they are until we are thet ones that have to follow them. This past Thursday I had to attend a 2 hour training session in order to be able to serve the food to the children. 2 HOURS?!?!? I didnt realize that serving food was that complicated. Really? So here are just a few of the ridiculous rules with which I am forced to comply each morning at 8:30 am and 11:30 am, and my interpretations:
1. The food servicer may not begin until the time posted on your application and may not end until the time posted on your application. This means that if start serving breakfast at 8:28, our food service will be discontinued for a week. INTERPRETATION: We dont care if you have a hungry child that shows up late for camp. We care more about you following our rules than we do about the well being of a child.
2. Every child must be served every component of a meal. They may not take part of a meal and leave the other part at the serving area. We dont really care whether or not they want the carton of milk. They are gonna take because we say they are. Non compliance in this rule will result in the discontinuation of your food service for one week.
3. Because of "budget cuts", no child may receive a second serving of food. Even if there is leftover food, no one can eat it... not even the 20 hungry people that are too old to receive the lunch. Non compliance with this rule will result in the discontinuation of your food service for one week. INTERPRETATION: We enjoy watching you waste food every day. What we enjoy even more, though, is watching those children come up to you and ask for another peach, and then you telling them no even though there are still 44 peaches in the box. Dont let the food go to a good cause. Let it sit in your refrigerator and rot.

Besides those crazy rules, I must stand at the end of the serving line, verify that each component of the meal is there, and literally mark a box each time a child comes through the line.

Another part of my job is coordinating field trips. Last week, I was calling to confirm them all... have I ever mentioned how much I hate talking on the phone? ha. I called one place, and after I explained why I was calling, the woman said that we had no reservation there. WHAT do mean we have NO RESERVATION? You should also know that this wasnt the only place where I called and this happened.

So, as you can see, much of my job is behind the scenes, office type work. I must admit that it is very depressing that I do not get to spend much time with the kids here, and its really easy to get down about that... Here I am sitting in the office while my fellow interns are having fun playing with their group of kids. I realize, though, that this camp could not go on if there were no one to do the jobs that I do. The kids wouldn't have food and and they wouldn't get to go somewhere special every Thursday. Someone has to do it. Why should I think that I am too good to do the jobs that no one else wants to do. Several years ago, I would have told you that I had a servant's heart. Lately, I dont think that has been so true in my life. I pray that this experience will help me to regain the servant's heart that I once had, and that ance again, I would be just as happy to be behind the scenes as I am to be on stage. At first I didnt think my job was that important... now I am finding that it is so important and I and finding more and more joy in doing it every single day... even on the days when our lunch delivery guy doesnt show up until 1.5 hours after our serving time.

Just think though... at the end of the day, what could be more fulfilling than to know that you helped to provide 2 nourishing meals to a hungry child who may not have had food otherwise and that you helped give a child what may be the only opportunity they have ever had to exeprience life outside of the streets of Overtown? Who am I to say that these jobs are simply menial, unimportant tasks? My eyes tell me otherwise. My eyes tell me that every single time I look at one of those children, I am looking at the image of God. That's pretty sweet! Getting to see 80 little images of God around me every single day. What greater joy could there be in life?!?!?!

On a side note, our mission team from Oxford Baptist Church has been super fun to hang out with this week... we got to go on a duck tour of Miami with them on Saturday... we have been to South Beach/Ocean Ave/Lincoln Road several times already (Hint: Going at night probably isnt a very good idea. It is not rated PG 13. It is not rated R... I will leave the rest to your imagination.)

There is much more I would love to sharewith you all and reflect upon pretty soon on here, and hope to be able to do that in the near future. However, we start working at 730 and end at 5, and there is no internet at our living quarters. I'll do my best!! As for now, I am off to our first Community Cookout. Then tomorrow is field trip day... ChuckECheese here I come!!!!

Please continue to pray for:
- rest, strength, patience
- unity and community among our team
- that our mission teams would be changed through their experience at TML
- that we would see Jesus Christ in our 80 campers every day
- that our 80 campers would see Jesus Christ in us every day
- my fellow summer missions friends all over the world

Grace and Peace :)

Ohhhh Miami!!

Hello friends! I am finally here in Miami and I am having a blast so far!! However, please know that my Internet access and free time to get on the Internet whenever I do have free time are both extremely sparse. So, I wont be able to update you all as often as I had hoped, but I will do my best to give an update when the opportunity arises.

So far, my team and I are having an awesome time getting to know one another and immersing ourselves into the culture of Miami and Overtown. Although Overtown is a part of Miami, the culture is so different that it seems like two completely different places. If you've ever wanted to go to Puerto Rico but dont want to cross an ocean to get there, Miami is your place. I am pretty sure I wouldnt know the difference if no one had told me. The people are extremely friendly, the weather is very tropical, and there are many Spanish signs around the city. On the other hand, Overtown is a predominantly African American neighborhood. (I have already used my Spanish on several occassions though!!!)

My team and I have been determining what each of our roles will be throughout the summer over the past few days. Because of how many of us there are, as well as a sudden decision by one of our interns not to join us this summer, I have actually taken on the role of Assistant Camp Director instead of being in charge of one of the age groups. I am not exactly sure of everything that entails yet, but I know that God has prepared me specially for whatever may be in store for me. It should be a great challenge and I am looking forward to it!

On Sunday, Amanda, Colby, and I went to the Christ Fellowship Dowtown Mission and shared breakfast, supper, and worship with the homeless. It was a great experience! Rather than volunteering and helping to serve, we simply sat with the people, talked with them, and did everything they did. I met some really great folks and I hope to be able to go back and share that time with them again. As I sat and observed the things around me, I began to think about what I had challenged myself to this summer- seeing Christ in those that I meet. One man I met, Benjamin, really helped me begin to put this concept into practice. He told me about his life on the streets and how he had made several trips through jail in his life. But he also told me about how he had finally discovered that violence and drugs were not the way to solve his life's problems. Ever since he discovered that, he has stayed true to his vow to not ever return down that path, and has also made it his job to help his fellow friends to discover this as well. As he listened to those around him talking about fights they had been involved in, he questioned them and talked to them about why they felt it necessary to fight and tried to help them find another way to resolve their problems. I found this to be very admirable, and I feel that I was truly able to see Christ in Benjamin through hearing his story and seeing the impact he has on those around him. It was really interesting for me to compare this church with Church Under the Bridge. Of course there are positives and negatives you can find in everything, but I feel that seeing these two ministries is helping me to better grasp onto my own ideas and thoughts about ministry to the poor and homeless, as well in reflecting on what Jesus has to say about this topic.

It has also been exciting to visit some of the places around Miami where I may have the opportunity to visit frequently. My team and I have been able to start some awesome conversations with cashiers we have met in stores. Whenever we start talking to these people, it is like they have just been waiting for someone to talk to--someone to listen to them-- someone to act interested in who they are. I hope that we are able to go back to those places and continue those relationships even though we will be so busy with summer camp during the day.

Today, a church came and had a Summer Kick-Off Party for the neighborhood. There was nail painting, face painting, crafts, cookie decorating, basketball, and lots of energy in the air. It was awesome to see everyone interacting and playing together just like they had known one another all their lives. I am excited to see this energy carried over into Summer Camp every week this summer.

A few important side notes:

1. I have already located Pollo Tropical. I am looking forward to a taste of Puerto Rico!

2. People's Drug in Overtown has some sick nasty soul food!

Please pray for: the mission teams that are coming to Overtown to run Summer Camp, the children who will be attending Summer Camp, that God would open doors for us to share his love all over Overtown and Miami.

Grace and Peace.

Seeing and Being?

Many of you may be wondering about the title I have given my blog, "Seeing and Being". The following post is my rambling thoughts about this topic and my focus/goal for my summer in Miami. Hopefully, it makes sense!! :)

This title simply refers to God's command for each and every one of us as we live life daily. I think that all God commands of us in the Scriptures could be summed in two simple statements: 1) Look for Jesus Christ in all things by which you are surrounded. 2) Be Jesus Christ for all of those by which you are surrounded. Just think... Wouldn't the world be a much more peaceful place if everyone lived by these principles? I certainly think so.

This is a theme that I have been thinking about for quite some time. It enters my mind occassionally, and it re-enetered my mind as we talked about this very principle at our Orientation session in Birmingham, AL last week.

Here's the issue. It's really easy for us, as Christians, to focus a lot on being Christ for others. We talk about it all of the time. I mean, isn't this essentially the main or underlying theme for many of the Bible Studies we attend? The concept is nothing new for us. There has not ever been a mission trip I have attended where I haven't heard the "You are here to represent Christ." sermon. I don't want to give the impression that this is a bad thing. It's not! It is crucially important that we be reminded of this as often as possible.

However, I would like to pose a question. We, as humans, are creatures of habit. We learn things from someone modeling them for us. Doesn't a young child spend much time mimicking his parents and the people around him? And isn't the same true in our daily Christian walk? How can we be Christ for someone if we haven't ever seen Christ in someone else? How are we supposed to be Christ for someone if we haven't ever taken the time to observe what is around us and find Christ in his very own marvelous creations? We could just open up our Bible and read about the nature of Christ and what it looks like, as well as what fruits should be present in our lives in order to be Christ for another person. In fact, we should do this... a lot! After all, Christ is the most perfect example we have to follow. But doesn't a real, physical illustration- something that you can see- make everything that much more real for us? Doesn't it help a concept that you've read about or talked about become that much more real to you? Although Christ may present himself in different ways through each person that He has created, I believe that I can learn from others, even though Christ in them will look drastically different from Christ in me.

This is something I am going to challenge myself to do this summer. I would like to challenge you, wherever you are, to do it as well:
Take some time and try to focus on SEEING Christ in those by which you are surrounded. Don't just talk about it. Really do it!

I dont want to become so focused on BEING Christ for those around me, that I forget to look for Him. I hope that this will: 1) Help me begin to live seeing Christ in others at all times. 2) Become a better example of Christ around me.

Here are the lyrics to the song "Face of Christ" by Chris Rice. They are sure to make you think.

He shares a room outside with a dozen other guys
And the only roof he knows is that sometimes starry sky
A tattered sleeping bag on a concrete slab is his bed
And it's too cold to talk tonight
So I just sit with him instead and think

(Chorus)
How did I find myself in a better place
I can't look down on the frown on the other guy's face.
Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing
With the face of Christ

After sixteen years in a cold, gray prison yard
Somehow his heart is soft, but keeping simple faith is hard
He lays his Bible open on the table next to me
And as I hear his humble prayer
I feel his longing to be free someday

(Chorus)

See you had no choice which day you would be born
Or the color of your skin, or what planet you'd be on
Would your mind be strong, would your eyes be blue or brown
Whether daddy would be rich, or if momma stuck around at all

So if you find yourself in a better place
You can't look down on the frown on the other guy's face
You gotta stoop down low, look him square in the eye
And get a funny feeling, 'cause you might be dealing ...

How did I find myself in a better place
I can't look down on the frown on the other guy's face
'Cause when I stoop down low, look him square in the eye
I get a funny feeling, I just might be dealing
With the face of Christ

Please continue to pray for the community of Overtown and the people that I will be working with. Pray that I would be able to see Christ in them, and that I would be able to be Christ for them. Also, please continue to pray for the students that God has placed all over the world this summer (a short list can be found at the bottom of my first post!!).

Grace and Peace!

MIAMI, FL!!!

I must warn you... Im not much of a blogger. I decided to start this blog upon the requests of like 2, 598, 356 people to do so. I also started it so that I would have a way to process the things I experience this summer. I promise to do my best to keep it updated frequently. Now, on to more important things!



One of the passions that God has given me is a passion for the poor and marginalized people of society. I first began to discover this passion as I watched my brothers minister to the people of places like East St. Louis, IL and Hamtramck, MI. However, it wasnt until I spent a summer at MissionWaco in Waco, TX that this passion truly started becoming my own. It was Waco that I learned, firsthand, what it feels like to be poor. I also learned how much the Bible says about loving and serving the poor, as well as how to be an advocate for the poor in my own community. After serving at MissionWaco, I just couldnt get that experience out of my head. Three years later, I still cant. I think about how it has impacted my life and the way I choose to live it every single day.



So now, three years later, God has presented me with the opportunity to serve in Miami, FL for the summer with Touching Miami with Love. I will be doing urban ministries in a neighborhood called Overtown (This community has a very interesting history. I reccommend that you research it if this type of thing interests you.), which is a predominantly African American community. My primary job will be to help run a children's day camp for children living in drug-infested and otherwise unsafe households. I will be working alongside my six teammates: Bo, Colby, Amanda, Molly, Rebecca, and Joy. I am very excited that God has given me this opportunity and I cant wait to serve alongside this group of folks as we attempt to love on some kids and a community in need with the never ending love of Jesus Christ with which we are overflowing. I ask that you pray daily for myself and my team, the beautiful people whose paths we will cross everyday, and that God would give us a spirit of courage, humility, and unconditional love as we seek to listen God's still small voice in all that we do.

In closing, I am very excited to be just a small part of how God is using college students to make an eternal diference around the world this summer. I am stealing this idea from a few of my friends and placing a list of friends and fellow servants here for you to see. Please pray for these people daily:

Lauren Allen- Boone, NC
Gwen Arsenault- Newfoundland, Canada
Bruce Bentley- Los Angeles, California
Andrew Blakeley-NC and Canada
Nathan Bost-Malaysia
Thomas Chavez-Los Angeles, California
Randall Dameron- All over NC
Mandy Henderson-Kenya
Lyndsey Herring- Alaska
Megan Keith-Sanford, NC
Josh Littlejohn-Los Angeles, California
Amanda Mitchell- NC and Canada
Kelsey Morris-Los Angeles, California
Storm Stewart- Los Angeles, California
Luke Summey-Los Angeles, California
Katherine Wiggins- Johannesburg, South Africa
Rebekah Street- Perry County, AL
Amber Myers- Perry County, AL
Carson Foushee- Uganda
Abby Pratt- Uganda
Anna- Uganda