Chicago seems like it was so long ago. I guess in reality it was only 2.5 months ago, but so much has happened since then. After graduation on May 8th and spending a week in Allerton in with my family (and Joe was home, too!!), I packed up my little car and moved to Minnesota to job hunt! Why Minnesota, you ask? Well, for one, Austin is from Minnesota. :) And most of the people I know from Minnesota have been pretty dang awesome (Esther, Chey, Sara, Toenies). Plus, I read on MSNBC that Minneapolis was the best city for "young professionals" to move to. Because I still want to be in or near a medium-sized city, it seemed like a good fit. Finally, and very importanty, Austin's family offered to let me stay with them while I job hunt/ apartment hunt.
So, I moved to Minnesota in mid-May. I am very thankful and amazed at how quickly things worked out. After lots of job applications, hours working on my resume, and several interviews, I landed a job I love and that utilizes my social work and psychology education. I am a Mental Health Advocate at a group home for adults with Severe and Persistent Mental Illnesses (SPMI). Some of the diagnoses of our clients include Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and PTSD. I have 12 clients on my caseload, but when I am at work, I am in charge of a building with 22 residents. Some of the residents are able to go out into the community and hold jobs; others are not and spend most of their time on the property. My job responsibilities include administering medication, writing referrals for appointments, making appointments for the residents, monitoring and progress noting their mental health status, being a listening ear, handling conflict when it arises, and working with ILS workers to make sure the residents are getting the best care we can offer. I have a great schedule; I work 4, 10 hr. days; 4 days on and 4 days off. Though it makes for a lack of consistency, I love it! Though 10 hours sounds like a lot, it goes by super fast and at the end of the day I still have things I could do.
I also love the 4 days off in a row. I spent one set up at a lake with Austin and his family on vacation. We went fishing, kayaking, tubing, and hiking. I also spent 4 days down in Allerton with my family. On my last 4 days off, my family came up to the cities and we went to the Mall of America. Then I took Austin to Star Wars in Concert.
One other exciting thing going on: yesterday I signed a lease for my first post-college apartment. I have a nice studio in Little Canada, just north of St. Paul. It is in a quiet area, only 17 minutes from work. I move in August 1st. In the mean time, I am still staying with Austin's relatives, which has been a good experience.
Now you are updated on my life. :)
I hope you are doing well. Have a great day!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Social Work Journal
For my social work seminar, we had to write a reflection paper on the topic "the city as the context for faith and learning." What follows is the reflection I wrote, which summarizes many of the things I have learned and thought about during my time in Chicago. Just thought I would share it. :) I'll post another update on what I have been up to the last couple of weeks later on this weekend. Enjoy!
Lessons in Social Work in a Windy City Classroom
When most people think of a classroom, the images that come to mind may include desks, a white board, lectures, note taking, and possibly, naps. But, according to dictionary.com, a classroom is “any place where one learns or gains experience.” With this definition, my suspicions are confirmed: this semester, Chicago is my classroom. I am the student and the people I meet on the street, the other tenants in my building, the clients and staff at my internship site, the CS staff, and even the people on the subway are my teachers.
During my undergraduate education as a social work major, I remember learning about the six core values of the social work profession, as laid out by the NASW: the importance of human relationships, service, social justice, integrity, competence, and the dignity and worth of people. But I have learned more about these values in the last month of city living than during my entire three and half years in a traditional college classroom setting.
The first value is the importance of human relationships. Being in Chicago, I find it amazing that a person can pass by literally hundreds of people on their commute to work without really having a meaningful interaction with anyone. It is very easy to get lost in the busy-ness of city life and to neglect relationships. Remarkably, it is possible to be in a crowded subway and yet be totally alone. During my short time in the city, I have learned that even when surrounded by people, I must be intentional with relationship-building because we all need each other. I need the people who run the CTA, the lady checking me out at Jewel, and the individuals who clean the kitchen at my internship site. We are all interconnected and should value our relationships, whether they are casual friendships or professional alliances.
The second social work value I have been learning about in Chicago is the dignity and worth of people. There are two men who are outside of Walgreens almost every day selling the Streetwise magazine. Their names are Andres and Sean. For the first couple of weeks I lived here, I walked by them every day without even acknowledging them. I feared making eye contact because I knew they would ask for money and I do not have a lot to give. But one day I talked to them. I learned their names, asked them about their day, and gave them some Valentine’s Day candy. Come to find out, they are not scary guys; in fact, they seem quite nice. Though I do not know their stories yet, I would love to learn them and I plan on stopping by and saying hi to them more often. After all, they are human beings who deserve dignity, respect, and Valentine’s Day candy. Just like every other person I pass throughout my busy day. Even if I cannot help them much financially, I can be a blessing to them by acknowledging them as the treasures they are—human beings created in the image of God.
This leads right into the next social work value I have been contemplating in a fresh way in my new city classroom: social justice. I find it interesting that on the “El” I see people from all walks of life; some men have business suits and briefcases, while others carry their belongings in a garbage bag and look like they have experienced more than their fair share of troubles in life. Sometimes I wonder where social justice is, or if it really exists for some people. I wonder what it would look like if all of the resources of the city were redistributed equally to all people. How would it change the futures of the children I see walking down the sidewalk? How would it impact the rates of crime? What would it to for Andres? What kind of city would Chicago be?
I am also learning a great deal about service. I am given many opportunities to serve during my average day. I get to serve the clients and staff at my internship site by helping with daily tasks such as loading the dishwasher, organizing files, and folding laundry. I serve the kids by listening to them when they want to talk and helping them resolve conflict. I can serve people on the subway by giving up my seat when someone else needs to sit down more than I do. Then I can come back to my apartment and can serve my roommate by cooking dinner or taking out the trash. In a city of almost 3 million, there are dozens of ways to serve people every day. The key is to keep my eyes open and take action when I identify those opportunities.
The fifth value I learned during my undergrad studies in social work was competence. I enjoy the fact that I have the opportunity to put my social work knowledge and skills into practice. I feel so blessed for the education I received and believe that it prepared me well for a career in social work. But I am also learning that in many ways, experience is the best teacher and real life situations require more competence and common sense than just book smarts.
Finally, as I continue my internship, I am reminded of the importance of integrity, the final core social work value. In one of the best movies of all times, Spiderman’s uncle tells him that “with great power comes great responsibility.” I know that by working with children in a residential setting, my actions and example will impact them. I must always make sure that I am modeling behavior and character that overflows with integrity.
For me, the city truly has been a context for faith and learning. Reading textbooks and listening to professors have their place in the sphere of education. But to truly learn, one must get out of the four walls of the classroom and claim all of life as their classroom, every person as their teacher, and every second an opportunity to learn.
Lessons in Social Work in a Windy City Classroom
When most people think of a classroom, the images that come to mind may include desks, a white board, lectures, note taking, and possibly, naps. But, according to dictionary.com, a classroom is “any place where one learns or gains experience.” With this definition, my suspicions are confirmed: this semester, Chicago is my classroom. I am the student and the people I meet on the street, the other tenants in my building, the clients and staff at my internship site, the CS staff, and even the people on the subway are my teachers.
During my undergraduate education as a social work major, I remember learning about the six core values of the social work profession, as laid out by the NASW: the importance of human relationships, service, social justice, integrity, competence, and the dignity and worth of people. But I have learned more about these values in the last month of city living than during my entire three and half years in a traditional college classroom setting.
The first value is the importance of human relationships. Being in Chicago, I find it amazing that a person can pass by literally hundreds of people on their commute to work without really having a meaningful interaction with anyone. It is very easy to get lost in the busy-ness of city life and to neglect relationships. Remarkably, it is possible to be in a crowded subway and yet be totally alone. During my short time in the city, I have learned that even when surrounded by people, I must be intentional with relationship-building because we all need each other. I need the people who run the CTA, the lady checking me out at Jewel, and the individuals who clean the kitchen at my internship site. We are all interconnected and should value our relationships, whether they are casual friendships or professional alliances.
The second social work value I have been learning about in Chicago is the dignity and worth of people. There are two men who are outside of Walgreens almost every day selling the Streetwise magazine. Their names are Andres and Sean. For the first couple of weeks I lived here, I walked by them every day without even acknowledging them. I feared making eye contact because I knew they would ask for money and I do not have a lot to give. But one day I talked to them. I learned their names, asked them about their day, and gave them some Valentine’s Day candy. Come to find out, they are not scary guys; in fact, they seem quite nice. Though I do not know their stories yet, I would love to learn them and I plan on stopping by and saying hi to them more often. After all, they are human beings who deserve dignity, respect, and Valentine’s Day candy. Just like every other person I pass throughout my busy day. Even if I cannot help them much financially, I can be a blessing to them by acknowledging them as the treasures they are—human beings created in the image of God.
This leads right into the next social work value I have been contemplating in a fresh way in my new city classroom: social justice. I find it interesting that on the “El” I see people from all walks of life; some men have business suits and briefcases, while others carry their belongings in a garbage bag and look like they have experienced more than their fair share of troubles in life. Sometimes I wonder where social justice is, or if it really exists for some people. I wonder what it would look like if all of the resources of the city were redistributed equally to all people. How would it change the futures of the children I see walking down the sidewalk? How would it impact the rates of crime? What would it to for Andres? What kind of city would Chicago be?
I am also learning a great deal about service. I am given many opportunities to serve during my average day. I get to serve the clients and staff at my internship site by helping with daily tasks such as loading the dishwasher, organizing files, and folding laundry. I serve the kids by listening to them when they want to talk and helping them resolve conflict. I can serve people on the subway by giving up my seat when someone else needs to sit down more than I do. Then I can come back to my apartment and can serve my roommate by cooking dinner or taking out the trash. In a city of almost 3 million, there are dozens of ways to serve people every day. The key is to keep my eyes open and take action when I identify those opportunities.
The fifth value I learned during my undergrad studies in social work was competence. I enjoy the fact that I have the opportunity to put my social work knowledge and skills into practice. I feel so blessed for the education I received and believe that it prepared me well for a career in social work. But I am also learning that in many ways, experience is the best teacher and real life situations require more competence and common sense than just book smarts.
Finally, as I continue my internship, I am reminded of the importance of integrity, the final core social work value. In one of the best movies of all times, Spiderman’s uncle tells him that “with great power comes great responsibility.” I know that by working with children in a residential setting, my actions and example will impact them. I must always make sure that I am modeling behavior and character that overflows with integrity.
For me, the city truly has been a context for faith and learning. Reading textbooks and listening to professors have their place in the sphere of education. But to truly learn, one must get out of the four walls of the classroom and claim all of life as their classroom, every person as their teacher, and every second an opportunity to learn.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Tigers, Picasso, and everything in between
Happy New Year! No, I am not two months late. I am talking about the Chinese New Year! Last Sunday was the first day of the Year of the Tiger. To celebrate, I went to the Chinese New Year Parade in Chinatown with Sara and two other friends. I posted pics on Facebook. It was fun. There were a ton of people there and some rather interesting floats and costumes. Afterwards, we went to a Chinese gift shop and then ate at a Chinese restaurant. I ate a whole plate of peanut noodles with chopsticks! I was quite excited about my accomplishment; I have never been successful with chopsticks before.
Thursday night for our art event we went to the Art Institute's modern wing. I am not a big fan of modern art, but had an enjoyable time nonetheless. I saw a lot of Picasso's work. I plan on going back to see some of the other art later this week, since it is free all of February.
Last night there was a progressive dinner here at the apartment building. Three apartments made appetizers, three made main dishes, and four made desserts. They had a variety of good food and it was nice not to have to cook. :)
My internship has been going well. Getting up at 5:30 doesn't even phase me anymore. I am working 3 morning shifts a week and one evening shift, so I get some variety. This past week I was able to sit in on a staffing meeting for one of the clients with the case manager, therapist, foster parent, unit supervisor, and DCFS worker. That was interesting. I also got to accompany a couple of clients to appointments around town. This week was a little stressful, too, with some of the kids. They require a lot of patience. While I do enjoy the work and look forward to going in each day, I have not been convinced that this is the kind of work I want to pursue after graduation. I miss working with the elderly. I guess I have only been here for a few weeks, so perhaps I will change my mind in a month. :) It just kind of freaks me out that in <11 weeks I will be a college grad and still don't know what I want to do yet...
Thursday night for our art event we went to the Art Institute's modern wing. I am not a big fan of modern art, but had an enjoyable time nonetheless. I saw a lot of Picasso's work. I plan on going back to see some of the other art later this week, since it is free all of February.
Last night there was a progressive dinner here at the apartment building. Three apartments made appetizers, three made main dishes, and four made desserts. They had a variety of good food and it was nice not to have to cook. :)
My internship has been going well. Getting up at 5:30 doesn't even phase me anymore. I am working 3 morning shifts a week and one evening shift, so I get some variety. This past week I was able to sit in on a staffing meeting for one of the clients with the case manager, therapist, foster parent, unit supervisor, and DCFS worker. That was interesting. I also got to accompany a couple of clients to appointments around town. This week was a little stressful, too, with some of the kids. They require a lot of patience. While I do enjoy the work and look forward to going in each day, I have not been convinced that this is the kind of work I want to pursue after graduation. I miss working with the elderly. I guess I have only been here for a few weeks, so perhaps I will change my mind in a month. :) It just kind of freaks me out that in <11 weeks I will be a college grad and still don't know what I want to do yet...
I have missed my friends at Dordt a lot this week. It's been hard to connect with the other students here, mainly because of all of our different schedules and interests and stuff. It is easy to get lost in the big city. I am trying to get connected at a small group at Park (the church I am attending) but it hasn't happened yet. I guess that could be something you could pray about.
I get to visit my cousin next weekend! She lives a couple of hours southwest and I get to take the train down there. :) It will be so good to see them all again. I think that is all for now. Until next week...
Saturday, February 13, 2010
More Adventures in Chi-town
With TCI training behind me, I am finally working full shifts on the unit with the kids! On Monday and Friday I worked the morning shift (7-3:30). Waking up at 5:30 wasn't as bad as I feared; I almost enjoyed getting up that early (key word: almost); must be my dad's blood in me. The shifts went well; yesterday I was able to spend some 1:1 time with a couple of the kids. Now that I have been around for a couple of weeks and know the routine for the most part, I feel like my role has shifted more from observer to staff, which I am very happy about. In fact, yesterday one of the clients, who was slightly frustrated when I redirected him from what he was not supposed to be doing, commented, "Man, you are starting to sound like a staff!" I took it as a compliment. The kids are great; I am really enjoying getting to know each of them as individuals. I meet with my supervisor weekly to discuss how things are going and what else I would like to do during my time at Rice. One of the things I am doing is focusing on one kid each week, getting to know that particular kid, and doing 1:1 activities with him. I am super excited about this. :)
On Tuesday I had one last day of orientation; this time it was at the main Children's Home + Aid office (CHA is the head organization over Rice). We learned all about the history of the organization, other services that are offered, professional boundaries, and employee benefits. Most of it was rather interesting.
I had my first social work seminar and Values and Vocations classes this week. I have a feeling both with be beneficial, academically and personally. There are 5 other social work majors and an instructor in my social work seminar. Each Monday night we meet to discuss things that are going on at our particular sights, as well as other social-worky (I made up that word) stuff. In the Values and Vocations class we will be discussing the relationship between personal calling and social conscience using "insights from modern psychology, scripture, liberation theology, and the mystical traditions of the world" (quote from syllabus). I look forward to the class readings and discussions.
On Thursday night we had our first art event. Chicago Semester students had the opportunity at the beginning of the semester to sign up and pay a very cheap price for weekly art events, which I did. This week we attended two performances at the Goodman Theatre. They were both one acts on the topic of loss and reflection. I cannot honestly say I enjoyed the event this week, but it was kind of a cool experience.
Last night, one of the CS students won a party at a dueling piano bar called "Howl at the Moon" and invited all of the CS students. It was fun to hang out with the other CS students and enjoy the entertainment, free food, and cheap drinks. I ended my Friday night watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" with Sara. I must say, it is quite funny. If you looking for a light, unique movie that is good for both kids and adults, I would recommend it. :)
For the rest of the weekend, I must complete my Learning Contract (contract between me, my supervisor at Rice, and my field instructor on the things I want to do during my internship) and other homework for classes. I hope to do some exploring as well and attend the Chinese New Years Parade in Chinatown tomorrow. :)
Have a great weekend. :)
On Tuesday I had one last day of orientation; this time it was at the main Children's Home + Aid office (CHA is the head organization over Rice). We learned all about the history of the organization, other services that are offered, professional boundaries, and employee benefits. Most of it was rather interesting.
I had my first social work seminar and Values and Vocations classes this week. I have a feeling both with be beneficial, academically and personally. There are 5 other social work majors and an instructor in my social work seminar. Each Monday night we meet to discuss things that are going on at our particular sights, as well as other social-worky (I made up that word) stuff. In the Values and Vocations class we will be discussing the relationship between personal calling and social conscience using "insights from modern psychology, scripture, liberation theology, and the mystical traditions of the world" (quote from syllabus). I look forward to the class readings and discussions.
On Thursday night we had our first art event. Chicago Semester students had the opportunity at the beginning of the semester to sign up and pay a very cheap price for weekly art events, which I did. This week we attended two performances at the Goodman Theatre. They were both one acts on the topic of loss and reflection. I cannot honestly say I enjoyed the event this week, but it was kind of a cool experience.
Last night, one of the CS students won a party at a dueling piano bar called "Howl at the Moon" and invited all of the CS students. It was fun to hang out with the other CS students and enjoy the entertainment, free food, and cheap drinks. I ended my Friday night watching "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" with Sara. I must say, it is quite funny. If you looking for a light, unique movie that is good for both kids and adults, I would recommend it. :)
For the rest of the weekend, I must complete my Learning Contract (contract between me, my supervisor at Rice, and my field instructor on the things I want to do during my internship) and other homework for classes. I hope to do some exploring as well and attend the Chinese New Years Parade in Chinatown tomorrow. :)
Have a great weekend. :)
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Week one of February
Each morning as I ride the "el" to work, with my travel coffee cup in one hand and the daily Chicago newspaper --the "Redeye"-- in the other, I find myself feeling very adult-ish. :) It is kind of weird, but I am really enjoying it. :)
All week at work I did the TCI training that I described in my last post. It ended up being rather enjoyable; the instructor and other students managed to make a 30 hour training go by very quickly. Many of the things we learned were a review of things I had learned previously in some of my social work classes (particularly Fundamentals of Social Work... thanks Prof. Olson if you are reading this!) while some were new skills that will come in handy not only in this job, but in other parts of life as well. Basically it was on listening skills, handling conflict and crises, and helping the kids learn coping skills to prevent crisis situations. We also learned a variety of restraints, but I will not be using those skills during my time at Rice since I am just an intern (which I am OK with). All of that said, we had our test on Friday and I passed. :) I am officially TCI certified, which may come in handy for future social work jobs as well as my time at Rice.
I did not have a lot of free time during the week due to the readings we had to do outside of our class times and the journaling I must do after each day of work. I spent most of my evenings at the apartment with my roommate, Sara.
However, yesterday (Saturday), we did get out and explore the city a bit! :) We went down to Millenium Park, saw the "Bean," and did some shopping. I put some of the pictures up on Facebook and will have the rest up as soon as Facebook lets me (it's been weird). We also enjoyed listening to some musicians in the subway. I love riding the "el" (short for "elevated train," though some of the trains also go underground).
This morning I attended Park Community Church, which I think I will be returning to. I enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, the worship time, and the message, which was both convicting and thought-provoking.
Tomorrow I will have my first 7-3 shift on the unit, which means I will be up around 5:30 AM!! I am sure I will adjust. Coffee is my friend. :D Tomorrow evening I have my first social work seminar, which is a part of the Chicago Semester program. I am excited to get to know the other students in my group.
That's all I have for now.
Have a blessed week! :)
All week at work I did the TCI training that I described in my last post. It ended up being rather enjoyable; the instructor and other students managed to make a 30 hour training go by very quickly. Many of the things we learned were a review of things I had learned previously in some of my social work classes (particularly Fundamentals of Social Work... thanks Prof. Olson if you are reading this!) while some were new skills that will come in handy not only in this job, but in other parts of life as well. Basically it was on listening skills, handling conflict and crises, and helping the kids learn coping skills to prevent crisis situations. We also learned a variety of restraints, but I will not be using those skills during my time at Rice since I am just an intern (which I am OK with). All of that said, we had our test on Friday and I passed. :) I am officially TCI certified, which may come in handy for future social work jobs as well as my time at Rice.
I did not have a lot of free time during the week due to the readings we had to do outside of our class times and the journaling I must do after each day of work. I spent most of my evenings at the apartment with my roommate, Sara.
However, yesterday (Saturday), we did get out and explore the city a bit! :) We went down to Millenium Park, saw the "Bean," and did some shopping. I put some of the pictures up on Facebook and will have the rest up as soon as Facebook lets me (it's been weird). We also enjoyed listening to some musicians in the subway. I love riding the "el" (short for "elevated train," though some of the trains also go underground).
This morning I attended Park Community Church, which I think I will be returning to. I enjoyed the welcoming atmosphere, the worship time, and the message, which was both convicting and thought-provoking.
Tomorrow I will have my first 7-3 shift on the unit, which means I will be up around 5:30 AM!! I am sure I will adjust. Coffee is my friend. :D Tomorrow evening I have my first social work seminar, which is a part of the Chicago Semester program. I am excited to get to know the other students in my group.
That's all I have for now.
Have a blessed week! :)
Sunday, January 31, 2010
First Week in Chi-town!
What a week it has been! Monday through Wednesday were full of orientation stuff-- meeting other students and the CS staff and having classes on city safety, public transporation, roommates, and internships. Thursday and Friday were my first two days at Rice. :) After a tour of the facility, I learned more about the programs and services offered, met the staff, and spent some time on the unit getting to know the boys. There are 5 units at Rice and I will primarily be working on the unit for 10-13 year old boys. There are 9 boys on the unit. All of the kids have some type of mental illness or severe behavior problems, so I can already tell that this is going to be a challenging internship and that I am going to learn a lot. I am very much looking forward to it and am excited to learn and grow. I already like the kids and the staff I will be working with. Much of my time will be spent directly on the unit with the boys, but I will also be sitting in on group therapy, including art therapy. This coming week I will be taking Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training, which will involve learning about how to de-escalate situations when a kid is having a crisis and how to safely restrain a kid who is out of control. Hopefully it is training that I will not have to use very often.
Yesterday I finally moved into my apartment! :) I am living in a studio apartment in the Gold Coast area with one roommate. It feels good to be settled in and no longer have to live out of a suitcase. The apartment is very cozy; our closet is bigger than our kitchen and our beds fold into the wall! :) I really like where we are at--the CTA and many stores and restaurants are within walking distance and my roommate is great! It is going to be a great semester...
Yesterday I finally moved into my apartment! :) I am living in a studio apartment in the Gold Coast area with one roommate. It feels good to be settled in and no longer have to live out of a suitcase. The apartment is very cozy; our closet is bigger than our kitchen and our beds fold into the wall! :) I really like where we are at--the CTA and many stores and restaurants are within walking distance and my roommate is great! It is going to be a great semester...
Monday, January 25, 2010
The beginning of a new adventure...
As a senior in high school, I was on my first college campus visit at a strange reformed school in the middle of a cornfield in northwest Iowa. I remember meeting with the head of the social work department and learning all about the program and why I should attend the Dutch school. During the meeting, I asked the man: "Are there any off-campus programs in a big city?" He told me that, in fact, the school does send students to Chicago each semester to learn and work and grow. I told myself at that time that if I chose that school, I would do the Chicago Semester.
Here I am, a little over four years later, laying in my hotel bed in Chicago after my first lond day of orientation for the 2010 spring semester of the Chicago Semester Program! :D I can't believe it is finally here! It seems like it was just a few months ago that I sat in the social work pod for the first time, learning about Dordt; but at the same time, it feels like it was lifetimes ago.
All that said, my first day in Chi-town has been long and fun, full of new people and experiences. My parents drove me here on Sunday because I had some appointments this morning for my internship. Orientation started this afternoon. I have already used the CTA several times, walked down the Magnificent Mile, eaten awesome ethnic food (Middle Eastern--really good!), and been solicited for money. I love the diversity and busyness that I have seen already.
Tomorrow is another big day of orientation stuff. The biggest thing is that we will figure out who we are living with and where. We are currently staying at a hotel and will move into our apartments on Saturday. There are 88 students participating in the program, from 12 different schools (13 students from Dordt). Wednesday we will visit our apartments, sign our leases, and finish up orientation. I start my internship on Thursday! I am very excited!
That is all for now. I will try to keep this thing updated, at least weekly. Love and Prayers.
Here I am, a little over four years later, laying in my hotel bed in Chicago after my first lond day of orientation for the 2010 spring semester of the Chicago Semester Program! :D I can't believe it is finally here! It seems like it was just a few months ago that I sat in the social work pod for the first time, learning about Dordt; but at the same time, it feels like it was lifetimes ago.
All that said, my first day in Chi-town has been long and fun, full of new people and experiences. My parents drove me here on Sunday because I had some appointments this morning for my internship. Orientation started this afternoon. I have already used the CTA several times, walked down the Magnificent Mile, eaten awesome ethnic food (Middle Eastern--really good!), and been solicited for money. I love the diversity and busyness that I have seen already.
Tomorrow is another big day of orientation stuff. The biggest thing is that we will figure out who we are living with and where. We are currently staying at a hotel and will move into our apartments on Saturday. There are 88 students participating in the program, from 12 different schools (13 students from Dordt). Wednesday we will visit our apartments, sign our leases, and finish up orientation. I start my internship on Thursday! I am very excited!
That is all for now. I will try to keep this thing updated, at least weekly. Love and Prayers.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Yes, an update...
I have recently had a couple of people ask if I was ever going to update my blog again, so I figured it was about time that I did so. It has been a couple of months, after all.
Senior year has been good. I know that seems like such a simple, nondescriptive word for last 3 1/2 months of my life, but it really is the best adjective for it. Good. I have really enjoyed my classes, which are all in the social work/sociology/psychology areas. The workload is not as heavy as last year, and I find the materials to all be quite interesting. One exciting thing in regards to acadamia: I had the opportunity to go to Indianapolis with one of the social work professors and two other students for the North American Association of Christians in Social Work Conference back in October. It was awesome! The workshops were great and very though-provoking. Most of them had to do with integrating faith and the social work profession. I learned a lot about a variety of topics and had a ton of fun.
Another exciting thing happened in October... my brother, who is in the Army and is currently stationed in South Korea, surprised us all with a visit! :) We had no idea he was coming; he literally showed up on the doorstep. He was back for about 2 weeks and spent a few days with me up at Dordt. It was great to see him again. He only has a couple of months left over there, and then he moves to Georgia (the state, not the country). I am just glad he will be on this side of the world again!
The rest of my family is doing well. Not a whole lot new with them. My sister is in high school now. Crazy. Dad still enjoys preaching, driving the bus, and feeding people. Mom somehow puts up with both Hannah and Dad and keeps things in order at home. :) She also continues to homeschool Hannah.
I only have two and half weeks left at Dordt. I can hardly believe it and am not exactly sure how I feel about it. Part of me is very excited. I am really looking forward to Chicago next semester (by the way, I am working at Rice Children's Center, a residential treatment center for children with behavioral and emotional problems... I am so excited!) yet I am also dreading saying goodbye to people. I do not want to leave my roommates or my other friends. And I am really sad about leaving the nursing home that I work at. I love the residents. Plus I have an amazing church home here. Despite the pig smell and the flatness of it, I have somehow come to love Sioux Center. Perhaps I will stay in the Siouxland area after graduation; I am not sure yet. Part of my heart is still in Denver, though, too, and Alaska, for that matter. I have thought about going onto grad school right after Dordt, where I would probably study geriatrics (working with the elderly) but I think I am ready to be done with school for a while. Still waiting for God's leading on that one. For now, I am doing my best to focus on the present, enjoying the time I have left at Dordt and trying to get all of my end-of-the-year projects done. ;)
Even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, I pray that we are able to continue to count our blessings. We have so many. Love and Prayers.
Senior year has been good. I know that seems like such a simple, nondescriptive word for last 3 1/2 months of my life, but it really is the best adjective for it. Good. I have really enjoyed my classes, which are all in the social work/sociology/psychology areas. The workload is not as heavy as last year, and I find the materials to all be quite interesting. One exciting thing in regards to acadamia: I had the opportunity to go to Indianapolis with one of the social work professors and two other students for the North American Association of Christians in Social Work Conference back in October. It was awesome! The workshops were great and very though-provoking. Most of them had to do with integrating faith and the social work profession. I learned a lot about a variety of topics and had a ton of fun.
Another exciting thing happened in October... my brother, who is in the Army and is currently stationed in South Korea, surprised us all with a visit! :) We had no idea he was coming; he literally showed up on the doorstep. He was back for about 2 weeks and spent a few days with me up at Dordt. It was great to see him again. He only has a couple of months left over there, and then he moves to Georgia (the state, not the country). I am just glad he will be on this side of the world again!
The rest of my family is doing well. Not a whole lot new with them. My sister is in high school now. Crazy. Dad still enjoys preaching, driving the bus, and feeding people. Mom somehow puts up with both Hannah and Dad and keeps things in order at home. :) She also continues to homeschool Hannah.
I only have two and half weeks left at Dordt. I can hardly believe it and am not exactly sure how I feel about it. Part of me is very excited. I am really looking forward to Chicago next semester (by the way, I am working at Rice Children's Center, a residential treatment center for children with behavioral and emotional problems... I am so excited!) yet I am also dreading saying goodbye to people. I do not want to leave my roommates or my other friends. And I am really sad about leaving the nursing home that I work at. I love the residents. Plus I have an amazing church home here. Despite the pig smell and the flatness of it, I have somehow come to love Sioux Center. Perhaps I will stay in the Siouxland area after graduation; I am not sure yet. Part of my heart is still in Denver, though, too, and Alaska, for that matter. I have thought about going onto grad school right after Dordt, where I would probably study geriatrics (working with the elderly) but I think I am ready to be done with school for a while. Still waiting for God's leading on that one. For now, I am doing my best to focus on the present, enjoying the time I have left at Dordt and trying to get all of my end-of-the-year projects done. ;)
Even though Thanksgiving has come and gone, I pray that we are able to continue to count our blessings. We have so many. Love and Prayers.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
The Question
I am two days into my senior year at Dordt and I have already begun to hear the question, “Do you know what you want to do when you graduate in May?” To be honest, the idea of looking for a job and leaving Dordt scares me. While I think I am ready to be done with school and begin work, I do not know what I want to do yet. I am not sure what population I want to work with or even which state I will move to.
Here is the biggest issue: I am not sure I want to do “professional” social work. When I began college, I chose social work because I love people and want to serve them. More than anything, I want to live out my faith and share Christ’s love and hope with those who are hurting. I feel like social work is the most practical way I can live out my faith and follow God’s commands to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27) and “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.” (Micah 6:8) (Not that you can’t do those things in other careers; you certainly can. I just felt that this was the field I personally could best live them out.) The very core values of social work fit perfectly with what Scripture call us to: service, social justice, dignity and worth of human beings, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.
That being said, I am terrified of having the “stigma” of being a professional. Next semester, I will be doing the “Professional Semester” in Chicago. Though I am excited about it, I am also not looking forward to it. I don’t necessarily want to act (and dress) like a professional. But more than that, I also do not want the relationships I have with the people I serve to be “I am the professional and you are the client.” So I took four years of college and will have a degree—big whoop. I don’t want people to think I think I am somehow better than them because of that. Of course, I am thankful for the knowledge I have learned and the education I have received, I just am not sure how to use it in a way that does not cause a division between me and the people I work with.
This summer I really learned that what I want to do with my life is incarnational ministry—living among those I serve and being on their level. I remember how some of the family advocates at Joshua Station would talk in frustration about the way some of the social workers acted towards the residents. It seems like many of the social workers viewed the residents more like cases to be handled than beautiful, individual human beings with stories and strengths and families. My biggest fear in social work is that I will begin to see human beings—created in the image of God—as cases to be handled.
If, as a Christian, I am called to “walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6), how do I do that as a professional? Jesus was not a professional in a place of power (though He had immeasurable power as God’s Son); rather, he served and loved the people around Him in a very humble way. He ate with them, got dirty with them, and died with them. He did not have a 9-5 schedule and certain professional boundaries with the people. He did not dress in slacks and nice shirts and make appointments and refer to the people as “cases.” His service and love was a lifestyle, not a career. I guess that is what I am getting at. I don’t want social work to be my career; I want it to be my lifestyle. I do not want it to be a 9-5 job, I want it to be a 24/7 job. I don’t want to be professional; I want to be passionate.
So where will I be in 9 months? Only God knows. What do I want to do when I grow up? Love my God and serve the people He puts in my life. As for the details, I will trust God and wait.
Here is the biggest issue: I am not sure I want to do “professional” social work. When I began college, I chose social work because I love people and want to serve them. More than anything, I want to live out my faith and share Christ’s love and hope with those who are hurting. I feel like social work is the most practical way I can live out my faith and follow God’s commands to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27) and “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.” (Micah 6:8) (Not that you can’t do those things in other careers; you certainly can. I just felt that this was the field I personally could best live them out.) The very core values of social work fit perfectly with what Scripture call us to: service, social justice, dignity and worth of human beings, importance of human relationships, integrity, and competence.
That being said, I am terrified of having the “stigma” of being a professional. Next semester, I will be doing the “Professional Semester” in Chicago. Though I am excited about it, I am also not looking forward to it. I don’t necessarily want to act (and dress) like a professional. But more than that, I also do not want the relationships I have with the people I serve to be “I am the professional and you are the client.” So I took four years of college and will have a degree—big whoop. I don’t want people to think I think I am somehow better than them because of that. Of course, I am thankful for the knowledge I have learned and the education I have received, I just am not sure how to use it in a way that does not cause a division between me and the people I work with.
This summer I really learned that what I want to do with my life is incarnational ministry—living among those I serve and being on their level. I remember how some of the family advocates at Joshua Station would talk in frustration about the way some of the social workers acted towards the residents. It seems like many of the social workers viewed the residents more like cases to be handled than beautiful, individual human beings with stories and strengths and families. My biggest fear in social work is that I will begin to see human beings—created in the image of God—as cases to be handled.
If, as a Christian, I am called to “walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6), how do I do that as a professional? Jesus was not a professional in a place of power (though He had immeasurable power as God’s Son); rather, he served and loved the people around Him in a very humble way. He ate with them, got dirty with them, and died with them. He did not have a 9-5 schedule and certain professional boundaries with the people. He did not dress in slacks and nice shirts and make appointments and refer to the people as “cases.” His service and love was a lifestyle, not a career. I guess that is what I am getting at. I don’t want social work to be my career; I want it to be my lifestyle. I do not want it to be a 9-5 job, I want it to be a 24/7 job. I don’t want to be professional; I want to be passionate.
So where will I be in 9 months? Only God knows. What do I want to do when I grow up? Love my God and serve the people He puts in my life. As for the details, I will trust God and wait.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Summer Book List
When I was not working at Joshua Station, going to classes, exploring the city, and hanging out with the other interns this summer, I was reading! Here is the list of all of the books I read this summer or am in the process of reading. If you are looking for a good book, I recommend one of the following: (my top three recommendations have *s next to them)
With Justice for All--John Perkins
Prayer of Jabez--Bruce Wilkinson
Butterfly in Brazil--Glenn Packiam
Just Courage—Gary Haugen
*Crazy Love--Francis Chan
In the Name of Jesus—Henri Nouwen
The Enneagram Made Easy--Renee Baron and Elizabeth Wagele
The Work of His Hands—Ken Gire
*Windows of the Soul—Ken Gire
To Own a Dragon—Donald Miller
SexGod—Rob Bell
Jesus for President—Shane Claiborne
Mother Teresa: Her Essential Wisdom—Carol Kelly-Gangi
Skin Game—Caroline Kettlewell
*The Noticer--Andy Andrew
With Justice for All--John Perkins
Prayer of Jabez--Bruce Wilkinson
Butterfly in Brazil--Glenn Packiam
Just Courage—Gary Haugen
*Crazy Love--Francis Chan
In the Name of Jesus—Henri Nouwen
The Enneagram Made Easy--Renee Baron and Elizabeth Wagele
The Work of His Hands—Ken Gire
*Windows of the Soul—Ken Gire
To Own a Dragon—Donald Miller
SexGod—Rob Bell
Jesus for President—Shane Claiborne
Mother Teresa: Her Essential Wisdom—Carol Kelly-Gangi
Skin Game—Caroline Kettlewell
*The Noticer--Andy Andrew
Between Chapters
I have now been back home for about 2 weeks. I left Denver with so many great memories and amazing new friends. I learned and grew a lot. I am not sure I could ever really put into words on a silly blog all of the things I experienced and felt over my two months in Denver, but here are a few of the big lessons I learned this summer:
*I learned the importance of knowing a person's story. Every single person has a story to tell. One of the ways I learned this was by doing interviews at Joshua Station for families who were interested in the program. Each person had a different story with pain, joys, strengths, and weaknesses. You cannot judge a person until you know their story and where they come from. Another way I learned the importance of story: one of the things all of us interns did over the summer was to share our life stories with each other. I have never experienced a group of people being so vulnerable with each other before. Why can't we all be more vulnerable and authentic with each other? By listening to each of the other interns' stories and by sharing by own, I learned just how connected we all are and at the same time, learned to appreciate diversity in personalities and experiences even more than I did before.
*I learned to live the mystery and not try to find all of the answers. So often, we search for answers to the question of "why?" We try to explain God and life and things that are really beyond our comprehension. In one of our classes in particular (Street Psalms) we talked a lot about lamenting the brokenness in the world. We don't have all of the answers and never will. In fact, the more we study the Bible and learn about the issues in the world, we just come up with more questions. The solution is to simply live the mystery and trust a God whom we can never fully comprehend.
*I learned the importance of soul care, which is especially important in ministry to prevent burn out. In our class, Leading from Within, we learned tools we can use to care for our souls and be healthy individuals. One of the tools was taking an Artist Date (basically a date by yourself, doing something you love, like making something, watching a movie, or taking a walk. The possibilities are endless). We also learned the importance of journaling, solitude and silence. In addition, we learned spiritual practicies such as Centering Prayer and Lecto Divina. (Google them to learn more...it would take me too long to explain them here, but they are great!)
I will blog more as I do more processing and journaling. Now I am trying to shift gears as I prepare for my Senior year at Dordt. To think: 9 months from now I will be done with my college career and looking for a full time job. Crazy. Exciting. Scary.
All I can do is live the mystery and take the hand of my God who has led me this far.
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*I learned the importance of knowing a person's story. Every single person has a story to tell. One of the ways I learned this was by doing interviews at Joshua Station for families who were interested in the program. Each person had a different story with pain, joys, strengths, and weaknesses. You cannot judge a person until you know their story and where they come from. Another way I learned the importance of story: one of the things all of us interns did over the summer was to share our life stories with each other. I have never experienced a group of people being so vulnerable with each other before. Why can't we all be more vulnerable and authentic with each other? By listening to each of the other interns' stories and by sharing by own, I learned just how connected we all are and at the same time, learned to appreciate diversity in personalities and experiences even more than I did before.
*I learned to live the mystery and not try to find all of the answers. So often, we search for answers to the question of "why?" We try to explain God and life and things that are really beyond our comprehension. In one of our classes in particular (Street Psalms) we talked a lot about lamenting the brokenness in the world. We don't have all of the answers and never will. In fact, the more we study the Bible and learn about the issues in the world, we just come up with more questions. The solution is to simply live the mystery and trust a God whom we can never fully comprehend.
*I learned the importance of soul care, which is especially important in ministry to prevent burn out. In our class, Leading from Within, we learned tools we can use to care for our souls and be healthy individuals. One of the tools was taking an Artist Date (basically a date by yourself, doing something you love, like making something, watching a movie, or taking a walk. The possibilities are endless). We also learned the importance of journaling, solitude and silence. In addition, we learned spiritual practicies such as Centering Prayer and Lecto Divina. (Google them to learn more...it would take me too long to explain them here, but they are great!)
I will blog more as I do more processing and journaling. Now I am trying to shift gears as I prepare for my Senior year at Dordt. To think: 9 months from now I will be done with my college career and looking for a full time job. Crazy. Exciting. Scary.
All I can do is live the mystery and take the hand of my God who has led me this far.
They say that pictures speak more than a thousand words, so here are a few photos of some of my favorite people and memories from Denver:
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Picture Captions:
1: Me, Bella, and Lizzy (a couple of Joshua Station kids) at Arts in da Hood day camp, where I helped the last week I was in Denver
2: Alex, Bella, Lizzy
3: Me with my friend and mentor, Rebakah
4: Me, Hannah, and Gina at Estes Park
5: Gina, Connie, Me, and Hannah at the Botanical Gardens
6: Downtown Denver from the air
7: All ten interns with the DUS director, Greg
8: Jenny and I on our helicopter ride
9: Me and Penny, the director of Joshua Station
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Summer is Coming to a Close
A lot has happened in the last couple of weeks. There have been some amazing high points and some very sad low points.
High points include the opportunities I have had to build relationships with the families at Joshua Station and with the other interns and staff. This week I am helping out at a day camp for kids called Arts in the Hood. On Monday I drove a few of our JS kids. It was fun to hang out with them and watch them interact with the other kids at the camp. I am going again on Wednesday and Thursday. Another highlight from the last couple of weeks was going on a helicopter ride over the city. There is a man in Denver who owns/flies a helicopter and takes people from different ministries over the city to pray for the city. It was amazing. All of us interns got to go. Seeing the city and people from above was a reminder of how small we are, and how much more amazing that makes the fact that God loves each of us individually and has a plan for us.
The last few days have been really hard here at Joshua Station. On Sunday, one of the JS kids, an 8 year old boy named John, was killed when he road his bike onto a busy road and was hit by a taxi. The whole community has been in shock and mourning. John was such a funny kid, with lots of energy. I worked with him a little bit at kid's club and saw him around JS all of the time. Tonight we did a memorial thing at Kid's Club, so the kids had space to grieve. We talked about death and favorite memories of John. Then the kids made cards for his parents. Finally, we let a bunch of balloons go outside and said goodbye to John. The whole thing really sucks and doesn't make any sense. Please pray for John's parents, Pam and John Sr., as well as the JS community (especially the kids).
A lot more has happened in the last couple of weeks, but my mind is kind of fuzzy right now. I will try to fill in the blanks later. This week has really been a time of closure and goodbyes. I am really going to miss the people here. I have talked to the director about coming back next year. We'll see where God leads.
High points include the opportunities I have had to build relationships with the families at Joshua Station and with the other interns and staff. This week I am helping out at a day camp for kids called Arts in the Hood. On Monday I drove a few of our JS kids. It was fun to hang out with them and watch them interact with the other kids at the camp. I am going again on Wednesday and Thursday. Another highlight from the last couple of weeks was going on a helicopter ride over the city. There is a man in Denver who owns/flies a helicopter and takes people from different ministries over the city to pray for the city. It was amazing. All of us interns got to go. Seeing the city and people from above was a reminder of how small we are, and how much more amazing that makes the fact that God loves each of us individually and has a plan for us.
The last few days have been really hard here at Joshua Station. On Sunday, one of the JS kids, an 8 year old boy named John, was killed when he road his bike onto a busy road and was hit by a taxi. The whole community has been in shock and mourning. John was such a funny kid, with lots of energy. I worked with him a little bit at kid's club and saw him around JS all of the time. Tonight we did a memorial thing at Kid's Club, so the kids had space to grieve. We talked about death and favorite memories of John. Then the kids made cards for his parents. Finally, we let a bunch of balloons go outside and said goodbye to John. The whole thing really sucks and doesn't make any sense. Please pray for John's parents, Pam and John Sr., as well as the JS community (especially the kids).
A lot more has happened in the last couple of weeks, but my mind is kind of fuzzy right now. I will try to fill in the blanks later. This week has really been a time of closure and goodbyes. I am really going to miss the people here. I have talked to the director about coming back next year. We'll see where God leads.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
When did June turn into July??!!
I guess it has been a couple of weeks since I have posted an update. The last couple of weeks have been amazing. Again, for the sake of organization, I will go by categories…
Internship: I have not been working at JAMLAC too much the last couple of weeks; I have spent most of my time at Joshua Station. I have continued to attend the staff meetings and the Family Advocacy meetings. Last week, I helped clean out and organize the supply closet, which, if you know me, is right up my alley, since I love organizing things. I also have been doing a lot of research and calling around to find a Spanish translator to work with our family advocates, as well as someone who can teach the advocates Spanish. We have a couple of families here who primarily speak Spanish and a family moving in that only speaks Spanish and it is hard for the advocates to really assist those families with a language barrier. One thing I have decided this summer is that I really want/need to learn Spanish; it would definitely come in handy.
One additional thing about my internship that has been awesome: I have been able to spend a lot of time with my mentor, Rebekah, who is the administrative assistant at JS. At the beginning of the summer, each of us interns was assigned a mentor to meet with on a weekly basis and walk with this summer. I am fortunate in that I get to see my mentor throughout the week, since she also works at JS. Rebekah has been such a blessing to me. She is very encouraging and fun to be with.
Classes: I really do wish this was a semester program. (They are planning on turning it into one in the future.) Each class is crammed with so much information to process. I am continuing to learn a lot about challenges in urban America and how Christians should respond. I am also learning a lot about myself and the importance of soul care. I will expand more on this concept in a later blog. I have a feeling this post is already going to be ridiculously long.
Mom’s Visit: My mom came to visit me over the 4th of July weekend! She arrived the night of the 2nd and left on the 6th. I was able to take her to some of my favorite places around Denver. We also attended an Arts Festival and spent some time in Downtown Denver. On the 4th, we went down to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The park is beautiful with amazing rock formations. We hiked around a bit and took some cool pictures. We then spent the rest of the afternoon in a small town near Colorado Springs called Manitou Springs. Sort of a hippy town, Manitou Springs has a ton of unique little shops and restaurants. This was one of the best 4th of July’s I have ever had. It was so nice to spend some time with my mom, even though the visit was short.
Retreat: On Wednesday, all of we interns and the DUS director, Greg, went on a retreat up in the mountains. It was amazing. We were in a cabin with no running water or electricity, surrounded by trees and mountains. And the cabin had a woodstove! I am convinced that there is no greater smell in the world than waking up to the smell of a wood stove. The location reminded me so much of Alaska. We had some really good bonding times together. We also learned and practiced the spiritual exercises of Centering Prayer and Lecto Divina. On Thursday, we spent much of the day in silence and solitude. I was able to walk around in the beautiful forest by myself and do a lot of reflecting, reading, and praying. It was nice to spend some time with God in the silence with no distractions. I feel like one of the things He is teaching me this summer is to slow down and really listen to what He is trying to teach me in the world and people around me. During our solitude time, I also had the chance to watch and feed some chipmunks. They were so cute and I almost had one eating out of my hand. (Probably not smart, I know, but whatever.) Thursday night we all went to visit a little town called South Park (it has nothing to do with the cartoon). It is basically set up like a mountain town from the 1800s, with lots of cool buildings and houses to walk through including an old-style blacksmith’s shop, general store, saloon, and bank. It was so cool! Afterwards, we all went out to eat. Friday morning we hiked up a mountain; it was gorgeous. The mountains were spectacular and the ground was covered in wildflowers. It boggles my mind how someone can look at the beauty of the Earth and believe it all happened by chance. After spending a relaxing afternoon at the cabin, we came back to Denver Friday night. The whole retreat was such a blessing.
Prayer Requests/Praises: First of all, my sister arrived safely in Haiti! My parents received a letter from her last week and it sounds like she is doing well and experiencing a lot already. I am so proud of her for being there and I know this will be a time of growth and maturing for her.
Please continue to be in prayer for Carlos and his wife, Diane. (I mentioned them in my last post.) Diane is now out of the hospital, which is a miracle, but they have to amputate her foot due to the infection. Continue to pray for her health and peace for them both.
My car was finally fixed and is no longer overheating! Praise God! Hopefully it will not have any more issues this summer…
You can also be in prayer for the new families we have at Joshua Station. Pray that they might adjust well and really flourish here.
I’ll end with a quote I received during my retreat, which I have found to be very true:
“God has never changed for He always remains the same. But since we’re never fully capable of knowing who God is, what He chooses to reveal to us is always changing. And as result, changes what we know about Him, often offensively changing who we thought He was.”
Internship: I have not been working at JAMLAC too much the last couple of weeks; I have spent most of my time at Joshua Station. I have continued to attend the staff meetings and the Family Advocacy meetings. Last week, I helped clean out and organize the supply closet, which, if you know me, is right up my alley, since I love organizing things. I also have been doing a lot of research and calling around to find a Spanish translator to work with our family advocates, as well as someone who can teach the advocates Spanish. We have a couple of families here who primarily speak Spanish and a family moving in that only speaks Spanish and it is hard for the advocates to really assist those families with a language barrier. One thing I have decided this summer is that I really want/need to learn Spanish; it would definitely come in handy.
One additional thing about my internship that has been awesome: I have been able to spend a lot of time with my mentor, Rebekah, who is the administrative assistant at JS. At the beginning of the summer, each of us interns was assigned a mentor to meet with on a weekly basis and walk with this summer. I am fortunate in that I get to see my mentor throughout the week, since she also works at JS. Rebekah has been such a blessing to me. She is very encouraging and fun to be with.
Classes: I really do wish this was a semester program. (They are planning on turning it into one in the future.) Each class is crammed with so much information to process. I am continuing to learn a lot about challenges in urban America and how Christians should respond. I am also learning a lot about myself and the importance of soul care. I will expand more on this concept in a later blog. I have a feeling this post is already going to be ridiculously long.
Mom’s Visit: My mom came to visit me over the 4th of July weekend! She arrived the night of the 2nd and left on the 6th. I was able to take her to some of my favorite places around Denver. We also attended an Arts Festival and spent some time in Downtown Denver. On the 4th, we went down to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs. The park is beautiful with amazing rock formations. We hiked around a bit and took some cool pictures. We then spent the rest of the afternoon in a small town near Colorado Springs called Manitou Springs. Sort of a hippy town, Manitou Springs has a ton of unique little shops and restaurants. This was one of the best 4th of July’s I have ever had. It was so nice to spend some time with my mom, even though the visit was short.
Retreat: On Wednesday, all of we interns and the DUS director, Greg, went on a retreat up in the mountains. It was amazing. We were in a cabin with no running water or electricity, surrounded by trees and mountains. And the cabin had a woodstove! I am convinced that there is no greater smell in the world than waking up to the smell of a wood stove. The location reminded me so much of Alaska. We had some really good bonding times together. We also learned and practiced the spiritual exercises of Centering Prayer and Lecto Divina. On Thursday, we spent much of the day in silence and solitude. I was able to walk around in the beautiful forest by myself and do a lot of reflecting, reading, and praying. It was nice to spend some time with God in the silence with no distractions. I feel like one of the things He is teaching me this summer is to slow down and really listen to what He is trying to teach me in the world and people around me. During our solitude time, I also had the chance to watch and feed some chipmunks. They were so cute and I almost had one eating out of my hand. (Probably not smart, I know, but whatever.) Thursday night we all went to visit a little town called South Park (it has nothing to do with the cartoon). It is basically set up like a mountain town from the 1800s, with lots of cool buildings and houses to walk through including an old-style blacksmith’s shop, general store, saloon, and bank. It was so cool! Afterwards, we all went out to eat. Friday morning we hiked up a mountain; it was gorgeous. The mountains were spectacular and the ground was covered in wildflowers. It boggles my mind how someone can look at the beauty of the Earth and believe it all happened by chance. After spending a relaxing afternoon at the cabin, we came back to Denver Friday night. The whole retreat was such a blessing.
Prayer Requests/Praises: First of all, my sister arrived safely in Haiti! My parents received a letter from her last week and it sounds like she is doing well and experiencing a lot already. I am so proud of her for being there and I know this will be a time of growth and maturing for her.
Please continue to be in prayer for Carlos and his wife, Diane. (I mentioned them in my last post.) Diane is now out of the hospital, which is a miracle, but they have to amputate her foot due to the infection. Continue to pray for her health and peace for them both.
My car was finally fixed and is no longer overheating! Praise God! Hopefully it will not have any more issues this summer…
You can also be in prayer for the new families we have at Joshua Station. Pray that they might adjust well and really flourish here.
I’ll end with a quote I received during my retreat, which I have found to be very true:
“God has never changed for He always remains the same. But since we’re never fully capable of knowing who God is, what He chooses to reveal to us is always changing. And as result, changes what we know about Him, often offensively changing who we thought He was.”
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Another week come and gone...
Another week has come and gone. So much has happened this week; I hardly know where to begin updating you. I guess I will just go by categories:
Internship: Last week at Joshua Station was very similar to the week before. I helped out with some filing at JAMLAC. On Wednesday, I got to go to court with one of the attorneys and a client he was representing regarding her ex-husband’s parenting time with their son. It was different from what I expected. The court room was very small and the only people there were the judge, the two parties, her attorney, me, and two other people. It was interesting to see our justice system in action.
At Joshua Station, we are continuing to do interviews to figure out which families will be moving into the empty apartments. All of the stories of the potential residents are so different and sad. Some of the people who are homeless have made bad decisions in the past that have led them to their current situation. But many of the people who come to us simply have experienced unfortunate circumstances that were beyond their control. Becoming homeless is really something that could happen to any of us. We are all just a pink slip away or an eviction notice away from ending up in the shoes of the people at JS. The people here are normal people, just like you and me. It has been humbling to get to know them and their stories.
One of the things that has really been a blessing with working at JS is the chance I have to attend the MileHigh staff meetings every Tuesday morning. We are currently going through a book by Ruby Payne, who has written several books on poverty and societal issues. The book is called What Every Church Member Should Know About Poverty and talks a lot about hidden class rules and values. Her stuff is very controversial and we have had some really good conversation about how to best work with the poor.
Classes: The classes this past week were so good. In my Friday class, Street Psalms, we talked about how we read the Bible and barriers that keep us from really encountering the Word. Barriers include hyper-personalism, domestification, reductionism, isolationism, heroism, moralism, and dualism. It was very helpful for me to be able to recognize these barriers in my personal Bible reading time.
In the Monday class, Leading from Within, we finished going through the book In the Name of Jesus (great read—I recommend it for all Christian leaders) and had a Jesuit priest come talk to us about Ignatius spirituality. The topic is not something I was very familiar with, but it was good to learn about. On Monday after class, one of our teachers led us on a walk around Denver and told us about gentrification and how Denver has been changing over the last few decades. Gentrification, for those of you who don’t know (because I didn’t know before yesterday) is when people with money renovate a run-down, impoverished part of town, increasing the land value. The result is that many impoverished people are displaced to the outskirts of town because they cannot afford to live where they used to. This has happened a lot in Denver and it is difficult to know how to respond to the problem. One of the things that has been difficult for me here in Denver and in many of my social work classes in the past 3 years has been the realization that many of the problems in society are big, complex, and really do not have easy answers. This can be frustrating for me, as I am a fixer and like to see hope in every situation and work towards a solution.
Weekend: On Frid
ay night, I and three of the other interns drove up past Boulder to Nederland, CO, where we went hiking and camping. We went for a short hike on Friday, then set up our tent and made hot dogs and s’mores over a fire. Saturday morning, after eating breakfast at a ne
at little café, we went 
hiking again. We went way up a mountain, until we were tromping through snow. It was gorgeous—lots of mountains, streams, waterfalls, and trees. Though I love the city, I am a nature girl at heart and it was so refreshing to be out in the woods again. The weather was perfect, too; it didn’t start raining until we were heading home. On the way back, we stopped in Boulder, which is a really cool town with a lot of unique shops. The weekend was refreshing and just what I needed.
Overall: As you can probably tell by what I have been writing, this summer has given me a lot to think about. I have been stretched, challenged, and at times, frustrated. But I have also been so blessed by the relationships I have built and the awesome experiences I have had. It is going to be really hard to go back to Dordt for another semester of classes. But… next spring I get another amazing opportunity… I get to do my senior internship in Chicago! I just received my official acceptance letter! I am super excited!
Prayer Requests: First off, I ask that you pray for my sister, as she has completed her “boot camp” training at Teen Missions and is now in Haiti. She was able to call home the other day and was sounding quite homesick. Please pray for her as she experiences new, challenging situations in a foreign country.
Also, please be in prayer for Carlos, one of the staff members at MileHigh Ministries. His wife is extremely sick and is in intensive care at the hospital. She has a strep infection, which has been very damaging because she does not have a functioning spleen to fight off the infection. Please pray for complete healing for her and comfort for her and Carlos.
Finally, my car is having issues again. It overheated again tonight and I will have to call the mechanic again tomorrow. I am hoping it is something that is easy to fix again.
Thank you for your prayers and support. God Bless.
Internship: Last week at Joshua Station was very similar to the week before. I helped out with some filing at JAMLAC. On Wednesday, I got to go to court with one of the attorneys and a client he was representing regarding her ex-husband’s parenting time with their son. It was different from what I expected. The court room was very small and the only people there were the judge, the two parties, her attorney, me, and two other people. It was interesting to see our justice system in action.
At Joshua Station, we are continuing to do interviews to figure out which families will be moving into the empty apartments. All of the stories of the potential residents are so different and sad. Some of the people who are homeless have made bad decisions in the past that have led them to their current situation. But many of the people who come to us simply have experienced unfortunate circumstances that were beyond their control. Becoming homeless is really something that could happen to any of us. We are all just a pink slip away or an eviction notice away from ending up in the shoes of the people at JS. The people here are normal people, just like you and me. It has been humbling to get to know them and their stories.
One of the things that has really been a blessing with working at JS is the chance I have to attend the MileHigh staff meetings every Tuesday morning. We are currently going through a book by Ruby Payne, who has written several books on poverty and societal issues. The book is called What Every Church Member Should Know About Poverty and talks a lot about hidden class rules and values. Her stuff is very controversial and we have had some really good conversation about how to best work with the poor.
Classes: The classes this past week were so good. In my Friday class, Street Psalms, we talked about how we read the Bible and barriers that keep us from really encountering the Word. Barriers include hyper-personalism, domestification, reductionism, isolationism, heroism, moralism, and dualism. It was very helpful for me to be able to recognize these barriers in my personal Bible reading time.
In the Monday class, Leading from Within, we finished going through the book In the Name of Jesus (great read—I recommend it for all Christian leaders) and had a Jesuit priest come talk to us about Ignatius spirituality. The topic is not something I was very familiar with, but it was good to learn about. On Monday after class, one of our teachers led us on a walk around Denver and told us about gentrification and how Denver has been changing over the last few decades. Gentrification, for those of you who don’t know (because I didn’t know before yesterday) is when people with money renovate a run-down, impoverished part of town, increasing the land value. The result is that many impoverished people are displaced to the outskirts of town because they cannot afford to live where they used to. This has happened a lot in Denver and it is difficult to know how to respond to the problem. One of the things that has been difficult for me here in Denver and in many of my social work classes in the past 3 years has been the realization that many of the problems in society are big, complex, and really do not have easy answers. This can be frustrating for me, as I am a fixer and like to see hope in every situation and work towards a solution.
Weekend: On Frid
ay night, I and three of the other interns drove up past Boulder to Nederland, CO, where we went hiking and camping. We went for a short hike on Friday, then set up our tent and made hot dogs and s’mores over a fire. Saturday morning, after eating breakfast at a ne
at little café, we went 
hiking again. We went way up a mountain, until we were tromping through snow. It was gorgeous—lots of mountains, streams, waterfalls, and trees. Though I love the city, I am a nature girl at heart and it was so refreshing to be out in the woods again. The weather was perfect, too; it didn’t start raining until we were heading home. On the way back, we stopped in Boulder, which is a really cool town with a lot of unique shops. The weekend was refreshing and just what I needed.Overall: As you can probably tell by what I have been writing, this summer has given me a lot to think about. I have been stretched, challenged, and at times, frustrated. But I have also been so blessed by the relationships I have built and the awesome experiences I have had. It is going to be really hard to go back to Dordt for another semester of classes. But… next spring I get another amazing opportunity… I get to do my senior internship in Chicago! I just received my official acceptance letter! I am super excited!
Prayer Requests: First off, I ask that you pray for my sister, as she has completed her “boot camp” training at Teen Missions and is now in Haiti. She was able to call home the other day and was sounding quite homesick. Please pray for her as she experiences new, challenging situations in a foreign country.
Also, please be in prayer for Carlos, one of the staff members at MileHigh Ministries. His wife is extremely sick and is in intensive care at the hospital. She has a strep infection, which has been very damaging because she does not have a functioning spleen to fight off the infection. Please pray for complete healing for her and comfort for her and Carlos.
Finally, my car is having issues again. It overheated again tonight and I will have to call the mechanic again tomorrow. I am hoping it is something that is easy to fix again.
Thank you for your prayers and support. God Bless.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Newsletters, Kids, Baseball, and Funnel Clouds!
What a week! It has been full of challenges, storms, fun, busyness, relaxation, and learning! I don't even know where to start....
I guess I will start with telling you about my internship. This was the week of newsletters. Both at JAMLAC and Joshua Station, they were sending out their quarterly newsletters/support letters. Much of my time in the office was spent helping prepare those. I also had the opportunity to sit in on a Family Advocacy meeting. I was able to learn a little more about some of the families who are here and how the Advocates are empowering them to meet their goals.
I really enjoyed the evening activities this week. Tuesday night I went to the Women's Fellowship. A group of ladies from a local church came to hang out with the women and we all made scarves. Wednesday night was Teen Night. We took some of the kids to a local skatepark. It was fun. :) I made it down one of the (little) hills on a scooter without killing myself! :D There were also a couple of nights this week where I just went and hung out with some of the kids informally. I finally feel like I am getting to know some of them and am building relationships with them. They are amazing kids. What's really amazing about them is that they are growing and flourishing despite the difficult situations many of them have come from.
Thursday was an orientation day at Joshua Station. A couple of weeks ago we had 3 families graduate, so we now have 3 rooms to fill. On orientation day, homeless families can come, learn about the program, and fill out applications. We had over 40 people come and a couple of dozen kids! It's sad that so many people are looking for a place to live. Next week the staff will interview potential residents and then we will have a meeting to decide who will move in. You can pray that God will give the staff wisdom as they make the decision.
Classes last week were really tough, but good. On Friday we talked about lament. We watched a couple of videos and talked about the brokennes in the world. We looked at some of the Psalms and how David cried out to God. It was especially hard because on Wednesday, I found out that two little kids I knew from Alaska- ages 6 and 9- were killed in a house fire. Sometimes God does not make sense and sometimes I can't help but ask "why?" even though I know in my heart that He is in control... I guess I am learning how to lament while still trusting God.
In my Monday class we are learning about leadership. We are reading a great book called In the Name of Jesus. We have also been learning about the Ennegram and learning about our different personalities and the strengths God has given us. You can find out your type at http://www.9types.com/ if you are interested. :D I am a #2....
This weekend was fun. On Friday a bunch of us interns hung out at a cool coffee shop called Stella's. We played the game Loaded Questions. Lots of fun. :) Saturday I went to a Puerto Rican Festival with some friends in the afternoon. It was alright... kind of small and not a lot to do. In the evening we went to a Rocky's baseball game. Apparently someone donated a bunch of tickets to Mile High, so a bunch of the staff and interns got to go. It was my first professional baseball game.
Today (Sunday) was stormy. I was actually out for a walk in the rain when I was warned to get inside because we were under a tornado warning. I walked back quickly, but stopped for a second to watch a funnel cloud come down, then go back up. It was awesome, yet scary and eery. What a reminder of how utterly small and powerless we are and how amazing and powerful and worthy of fear our God is. Amazing. Tonight I had the privilege of going to church and hanging out with some awesome people from Dry Bones, an organization that reaches out to homeless teenagers. Both the volunteers and the kids/young adults they reach are awesome.
One last thing: my car is fixed! :D When I first called around about it, I was told it would cost me several hundred dollars and/or that it might be dead for good. BUT... God worked it out and the people at Joshua Station connected me with a great mechanic who was able to get a used part and fix it for very cheap! Yay! It is running great now!
So this post is ridiculouly long. Sorry! I am sure I am missing some things, though. I am so blessed to be here and am learning a lot. May God bless you wherever you are.
Love and Prayers, Britt
I guess I will start with telling you about my internship. This was the week of newsletters. Both at JAMLAC and Joshua Station, they were sending out their quarterly newsletters/support letters. Much of my time in the office was spent helping prepare those. I also had the opportunity to sit in on a Family Advocacy meeting. I was able to learn a little more about some of the families who are here and how the Advocates are empowering them to meet their goals.
I really enjoyed the evening activities this week. Tuesday night I went to the Women's Fellowship. A group of ladies from a local church came to hang out with the women and we all made scarves. Wednesday night was Teen Night. We took some of the kids to a local skatepark. It was fun. :) I made it down one of the (little) hills on a scooter without killing myself! :D There were also a couple of nights this week where I just went and hung out with some of the kids informally. I finally feel like I am getting to know some of them and am building relationships with them. They are amazing kids. What's really amazing about them is that they are growing and flourishing despite the difficult situations many of them have come from.
Thursday was an orientation day at Joshua Station. A couple of weeks ago we had 3 families graduate, so we now have 3 rooms to fill. On orientation day, homeless families can come, learn about the program, and fill out applications. We had over 40 people come and a couple of dozen kids! It's sad that so many people are looking for a place to live. Next week the staff will interview potential residents and then we will have a meeting to decide who will move in. You can pray that God will give the staff wisdom as they make the decision.
Classes last week were really tough, but good. On Friday we talked about lament. We watched a couple of videos and talked about the brokennes in the world. We looked at some of the Psalms and how David cried out to God. It was especially hard because on Wednesday, I found out that two little kids I knew from Alaska- ages 6 and 9- were killed in a house fire. Sometimes God does not make sense and sometimes I can't help but ask "why?" even though I know in my heart that He is in control... I guess I am learning how to lament while still trusting God.
In my Monday class we are learning about leadership. We are reading a great book called In the Name of Jesus. We have also been learning about the Ennegram and learning about our different personalities and the strengths God has given us. You can find out your type at http://www.9types.com/ if you are interested. :D I am a #2....
This weekend was fun. On Friday a bunch of us interns hung out at a cool coffee shop called Stella's. We played the game Loaded Questions. Lots of fun. :) Saturday I went to a Puerto Rican Festival with some friends in the afternoon. It was alright... kind of small and not a lot to do. In the evening we went to a Rocky's baseball game. Apparently someone donated a bunch of tickets to Mile High, so a bunch of the staff and interns got to go. It was my first professional baseball game.
Today (Sunday) was stormy. I was actually out for a walk in the rain when I was warned to get inside because we were under a tornado warning. I walked back quickly, but stopped for a second to watch a funnel cloud come down, then go back up. It was awesome, yet scary and eery. What a reminder of how utterly small and powerless we are and how amazing and powerful and worthy of fear our God is. Amazing. Tonight I had the privilege of going to church and hanging out with some awesome people from Dry Bones, an organization that reaches out to homeless teenagers. Both the volunteers and the kids/young adults they reach are awesome.
One last thing: my car is fixed! :D When I first called around about it, I was told it would cost me several hundred dollars and/or that it might be dead for good. BUT... God worked it out and the people at Joshua Station connected me with a great mechanic who was able to get a used part and fix it for very cheap! Yay! It is running great now!
So this post is ridiculouly long. Sorry! I am sure I am missing some things, though. I am so blessed to be here and am learning a lot. May God bless you wherever you are.
Love and Prayers, Britt
Sunday, June 7, 2009
City Life
It's weird to think that I have only been in Denver for one week. In some ways, it has gone by super fast, but on the other hand I feel like I have been here and known the people here forever. The city is great; I love the diversity, busyness, culture, and even the traffic.
I am doing my internship Tuesday through Thursday. Part of the time I work at JAMLAC, which stands for Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic. JAMLAC is the legal part of MileHigh Ministries that offers free/ low cost legal advocacy and counseling to people who are poor and cannot afford it. This week I basically just helped sort files and do paperwork stuff. At Joshua Station, I helped sort through some things that were donated for the families and I helped with their night activities. It has been great to get to know the families who live here. A lot of the kids remind of some of the kids from Alaska, so I pretty much love them already. :)
On Friday and Monday mornings all of us interns come together for classes. Friday was our first one. We talked about how we view Jesus and how our view of Him determines our ministry. It was very thought provoking and I am super excited about the class.
The weekend was a lot of fun. Saturday was a free admission day to the Denver Art Museum, so we all went there for a while. They have a pretty diverse collection of art there. Saturday was also Denver's "People's Fair," which was basically like a mini state fair. There were a lot of booths from local businesses and organizations, door prizes, food, and live bands. It was fun to walk around. Saturday night we all went to a Fray concert. Apparently, Greg, the director of the program, has connections and was able to get us in for free. It was a lot of fun, even though I do not know a lot of the Fray's music (basically just stuff that is played on the radio). We ended Saturday night by going out to Chili's. I have really enjoyed getting to know the other interns. We are all so different and it is so cool to think that God brought us all together this summer for His purpose.
Today I had the privilege of visiting two churches. Both of them were awesome. The one I went to this morning was called Pathways and the one I went to tonight was called The Scum of the Earth. I think both of them have websites if you want to find out more about them. Both had good messages, good worship, and authentic people.
I think one of the things I love most about Denver is how honest and authentic the people are. Today I was waiting at the bus stop (public transportation is interesting, let me tell ya!) and had a conversation with a women from Georgia. She just started telling me about her life and her family. That's just how people are in Denver, from what I have experienced so far- open and friendly. It's awesome!
I do have a couple of prayer requests. The first is for my sister, Hannah, who left yesterday for her summer missions trip to Haiti. Pray that God would use her in an awesome way and that she would not get too homesick. Also, my car is having some serious issues. It overheated and started leaking radiator fluid all over the place. I am hoping to have it looked at tomorrow, but it doesn't look good.
Thanks for your prayers and support! Have a beautiful day! :)
I am doing my internship Tuesday through Thursday. Part of the time I work at JAMLAC, which stands for Justice and Mercy Legal Aid Clinic. JAMLAC is the legal part of MileHigh Ministries that offers free/ low cost legal advocacy and counseling to people who are poor and cannot afford it. This week I basically just helped sort files and do paperwork stuff. At Joshua Station, I helped sort through some things that were donated for the families and I helped with their night activities. It has been great to get to know the families who live here. A lot of the kids remind of some of the kids from Alaska, so I pretty much love them already. :)
On Friday and Monday mornings all of us interns come together for classes. Friday was our first one. We talked about how we view Jesus and how our view of Him determines our ministry. It was very thought provoking and I am super excited about the class.
The weekend was a lot of fun. Saturday was a free admission day to the Denver Art Museum, so we all went there for a while. They have a pretty diverse collection of art there. Saturday was also Denver's "People's Fair," which was basically like a mini state fair. There were a lot of booths from local businesses and organizations, door prizes, food, and live bands. It was fun to walk around. Saturday night we all went to a Fray concert. Apparently, Greg, the director of the program, has connections and was able to get us in for free. It was a lot of fun, even though I do not know a lot of the Fray's music (basically just stuff that is played on the radio). We ended Saturday night by going out to Chili's. I have really enjoyed getting to know the other interns. We are all so different and it is so cool to think that God brought us all together this summer for His purpose.
Today I had the privilege of visiting two churches. Both of them were awesome. The one I went to this morning was called Pathways and the one I went to tonight was called The Scum of the Earth. I think both of them have websites if you want to find out more about them. Both had good messages, good worship, and authentic people.
I think one of the things I love most about Denver is how honest and authentic the people are. Today I was waiting at the bus stop (public transportation is interesting, let me tell ya!) and had a conversation with a women from Georgia. She just started telling me about her life and her family. That's just how people are in Denver, from what I have experienced so far- open and friendly. It's awesome!
I do have a couple of prayer requests. The first is for my sister, Hannah, who left yesterday for her summer missions trip to Haiti. Pray that God would use her in an awesome way and that she would not get too homesick. Also, my car is having some serious issues. It overheated and started leaking radiator fluid all over the place. I am hoping to have it looked at tomorrow, but it doesn't look good.
Thanks for your prayers and support! Have a beautiful day! :)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
First Day in Denver
I made it to Denver! I left home yesterday (June 1st) at 7:00am. After driving almost 700 miles, I made it to Colorado! The drive was pretty much uneventful, until the end. About 1 1/2 hours outside of Denver, I stopped in a town to get dinner and pick up a couple of things from Walmart. After stopping at a couple of stoplights, the "check gauges" light came on my dashboard. I looked down and realized that my car was overheating. Fortunately, I was right across the street from Walmart, so I was able to run in and get some coolant. Then, as I was trying to figure out where to pour the coolant, another car pulled up next to me and out stepped... a car mechanic! :) It was such a God thing. Not only was he able to show me where to pour the coolant, he was also able to point out that my fan needs to be looked at. Fortunately, the coolant did the trick and I made it to Denver! When I arrived, I unpacked and met the other interns. There are 8 other girls working at different agencies around the city.
The place I am living, Joshua Station, used to be a motel, so I am sharing a motel-style room with one other intern. It's a nice place, but it will take some time to get used to the busy road right next to our window. :)
This morning all of us interns went to the Mile High Ministry staff meeting. We had a devotional/prayer time and learned about some of the programs that Joshua Station offers the residents. Most of the afternoon was spent on orientation stuff. We learned about different churches/events/places in Denver and how to use public transportation system. We are going to have a lot of freedom on the weekends to explore the city. I am very excited! Even though I have my car here, I am only allowed to use it on the weekends so that I can experience the transportation the people in Denver use on a regular basis.
Tonight I helped out with the Kid's Club, which I will help with every week while I am here. It was great to meet some of the kids and hang out with them. Tomorrow will be my first full-day at my internship. So far I really like the city and look forward to building relationships with the people here and learning about urban ministry.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support!
Britt
The place I am living, Joshua Station, used to be a motel, so I am sharing a motel-style room with one other intern. It's a nice place, but it will take some time to get used to the busy road right next to our window. :)
This morning all of us interns went to the Mile High Ministry staff meeting. We had a devotional/prayer time and learned about some of the programs that Joshua Station offers the residents. Most of the afternoon was spent on orientation stuff. We learned about different churches/events/places in Denver and how to use public transportation system. We are going to have a lot of freedom on the weekends to explore the city. I am very excited! Even though I have my car here, I am only allowed to use it on the weekends so that I can experience the transportation the people in Denver use on a regular basis.
Tonight I helped out with the Kid's Club, which I will help with every week while I am here. It was great to meet some of the kids and hang out with them. Tomorrow will be my first full-day at my internship. So far I really like the city and look forward to building relationships with the people here and learning about urban ministry.
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support!
Britt
Thursday, May 14, 2009
End of Junior Year at Dordt
Hello Friends!
I kind of forgot that I started this blog. It is amazing how quickly time goes by. I am beginning to understand the saying that I have always heard older people say and never believed: time goes by faster the older you get. It's so true.
It's hard to believe, but I just finished my junior year at Dordt College. I can now say I am a senior in college :D So weird... This last semester was probably the busiest I have had yet, but it was also one of the best. I took 6 classes (18 credits)--3 were social work classes, 3 were electives. I also continued working at a nursing home as an activities assistant. I love my job! The residents are so sweet and full of funny stories and great wisdom. We should all pay more attention to the elderly. I also continued to be very involved in my college home church, Christ Community Church. I have the privilege of helping out with the Jr. High youth group on Wednesday nights. The students are awesome! They are so full of energy and life; I love hanging out with them. I also continued with some volunteering this year and was the president of two clubs on campus: the sign language club and the social work club. As I said, it was a very busy semester, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything I was involved in.
I am currently home for a couple of weeks. It is great to spend some time with my family. Mom and Dad are actually going to be empty nesters this summer. Joe is in the Army and is stationed in South Korea, Hannah is going on a Teen Missions trip to Haiti, and in less than 3 weeks, I will be leaving for Denver, CO!
I will be participating in the Denver Urban Semester (www.denverurbansemester.org) through Milehigh Ministries. I am one of 10 young adults who will be spending 9 weeks in Denver to serve, learn, and grow. I will be working at Joshua Station, a transformational housing program for women and children who are homeless. Along with the internship, I will be taking classes on Christian leadership and ministering to the poor. I am super excited about this unique opportunity. I am very interested in working in an urban environment and am very thankful that God has given me this opportunity. I am excited about what He is going to teach me through this experience.
I am hoping to update this thing on a regular basis once I get to Denver (maybe once a week?). I figure it is probably the easiest way to keep everyone up to date on how things are going and what God is doing in my life.
I hope and pray that you are all doing well and would love to hear from you soon! :)
Have a beautiful day
Britt
I kind of forgot that I started this blog. It is amazing how quickly time goes by. I am beginning to understand the saying that I have always heard older people say and never believed: time goes by faster the older you get. It's so true.
It's hard to believe, but I just finished my junior year at Dordt College. I can now say I am a senior in college :D So weird... This last semester was probably the busiest I have had yet, but it was also one of the best. I took 6 classes (18 credits)--3 were social work classes, 3 were electives. I also continued working at a nursing home as an activities assistant. I love my job! The residents are so sweet and full of funny stories and great wisdom. We should all pay more attention to the elderly. I also continued to be very involved in my college home church, Christ Community Church. I have the privilege of helping out with the Jr. High youth group on Wednesday nights. The students are awesome! They are so full of energy and life; I love hanging out with them. I also continued with some volunteering this year and was the president of two clubs on campus: the sign language club and the social work club. As I said, it was a very busy semester, but I thoroughly enjoyed everything I was involved in.
I am currently home for a couple of weeks. It is great to spend some time with my family. Mom and Dad are actually going to be empty nesters this summer. Joe is in the Army and is stationed in South Korea, Hannah is going on a Teen Missions trip to Haiti, and in less than 3 weeks, I will be leaving for Denver, CO!
I will be participating in the Denver Urban Semester (www.denverurbansemester.org) through Milehigh Ministries. I am one of 10 young adults who will be spending 9 weeks in Denver to serve, learn, and grow. I will be working at Joshua Station, a transformational housing program for women and children who are homeless. Along with the internship, I will be taking classes on Christian leadership and ministering to the poor. I am super excited about this unique opportunity. I am very interested in working in an urban environment and am very thankful that God has given me this opportunity. I am excited about what He is going to teach me through this experience.
I am hoping to update this thing on a regular basis once I get to Denver (maybe once a week?). I figure it is probably the easiest way to keep everyone up to date on how things are going and what God is doing in my life.
I hope and pray that you are all doing well and would love to hear from you soon! :)
Have a beautiful day
Britt
Monday, July 21, 2008
Lessons form a trash compactor
Last night my family and I went to see the movie Wall-E. I loved it-- not necessarily for the quality or plot, but for all of the lessons it teaches about humans. One of the biggest lessons it teaches is about the need we all have for companionship and community. Wall-E was lonely; he longed for contact and friendship. The humans in the movie reminded me a lot of people in America. We often hide behind our computer screens and other forms of digital communication without really connecting with those around us. In the process, we miss the beauty in the world around us and the joy of true relationships. As the saying goes, no human is an island. God created us for community and relationships. Donald Miller, in his books Blue Like Jazz and Searching For God Knows What, talks a lot about this topic. I do not have the books with me right now, I would share some quotes. They are excellent books, though, and I will share more about them in the future.
Another thing I learned from Wall-E is the complexity and beauty of human communication. Throughout the movie, there was hardly any talking. However, everyone in the theatre understood what was going on by picking up on the emotions and observing the actions of the characters. I recently learned that human communication is 93% body language, facial expression, and tone of voice. The way God wired us is amazing! There is no way we could have evolved considering the complexity of our forms of communication. How often do we take things like that for granted.
More to come.
Have a beautiful day.
~Britt~
Another thing I learned from Wall-E is the complexity and beauty of human communication. Throughout the movie, there was hardly any talking. However, everyone in the theatre understood what was going on by picking up on the emotions and observing the actions of the characters. I recently learned that human communication is 93% body language, facial expression, and tone of voice. The way God wired us is amazing! There is no way we could have evolved considering the complexity of our forms of communication. How often do we take things like that for granted.
More to come.
Have a beautiful day.
~Britt~
Saturday, June 14, 2008
First Post
So I have never had a blog before. I'm new at this sort of thing. But I wanted a place where I could share the things that God is teaching me and post thoughts and questions. I don't really have anything to say right now, I just wanted to figure out how this things works.
Have a beautiful day.
~Britt~
Have a beautiful day.
~Britt~
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