PTM Field Trip Pictures

These are pictures from our field trips to Centennial Park and Fifth-Third bank a few weeks ago. Field trips were quite a treat this summer, and we really enjoyed them!

Photo scavenger hunt: find a plane

Taking a break from our scavenger hunt

Photo scavenger hunt: make a star
Ready to make our trip into the Fifth-Third Banking world!
Eager to answer questions at the bank
Admiring the view from the very tall Fifth-Third bank building

Week 6

This past week was my final week at PTM, and I couldn't be more upset. I hate to "leave" all of the children I've come to love and care for - even though I know I'll be returning for their after school program! The past week was a "PTM Bonus Week". We had a group of 30 VBS children from First Presbyterian Church come and "buddy up" with 30 special PTM children. The goal of the week: work on reading skills and have fun! The adult volunteers ran the reading classes, so my fellow worker (George) and I did games outside. On Monday we had a fun game of kickball, Tuesday we had a water balloon toss, Wednesday we played a HOT game of soccer, Thursday we took a felid trip to the pool, and Friday we played capture the flag with water balloons. Each day brought new excitement and enjoyment. The kids had such a fun time at bonus week, as well as myself. I especially enjoyed not having to plan a curriculum for the week, but having the opportunity to just play with the kids.

Another point I loved about the bonus week was watching the two completely different groups of children come together and form friendships almost instantly. Every morning we sang a song called "Diverse City" which talked about how God made each of us different and how He wants us to grow in fellowship with each other. I truly enjoyed seeing both groups get along.

Bonus week was a perfect last week, filled with lots of fun, yet heart-breaking goodbyes. Working at PTM taught me countless lessons this summer that will (God-willing) stick with me throughout my life. One of my most important lessons, I believe, was learning self-confidence in my decisions. Many times I don't have the courage to make decisions without double-checking, but having so much responsibility put me in a position where it was necessary to make decisions on my own. I also witnessed God's work this summer and His spirit in so many children. I only hope that their example of unconditional love towards me will translate to my life. I couldn't be more thankful for a perfect summer!

PS - I'll upload pictures from our field trips to Centennial park and the bank!

Y.E.S. Pics!

The first three were taken at the St. Luke's Y.E.S. center, and the last one is a group shot at Camp Sycamore Creek.

Final Weeks at YES

I've unfortunately gotten very behind on my posts, so this installment will cover Weeks 4, 5, and 6 of my time at St. Luke's Y.E.S.

Week 4

I had such an awesome time during my second week at the St. Luke's Y.E.S. center, and I cherished every single day. The highlight of the week, though, was most definitely the unforgettable kickball tournament. Every Friday, the high school kids at Y.E.S. as well of the staff divide into appointed teams to play three kickball games. According to me, my team was definitely the best because of the awesome sportsmanship of my teammates; according to our record, however, we were the worst. While we regularly lost both of our tournament games each week, my team never failed to encourage each other, giving high fives for both home runs as well as strikeouts. We brought our usual encouragement and optimism to Week 4's Friday tournament and used it to accomplish a seemingly impossible feat - we won BOTH of our games!! On top of that, the first team we played had previously been undefeated. I was both overjoyed and honored to be a part of such wonderful underdog victories.

Week 5

Much of this time was spent preparing for camp which would take place the week after. I had fun asking the Y.E.S. camp "old-timers" what their favorite part about camp was. My skating friend Passion, for example, reveled in explaining the adventures she had last year. She told me about how difficult it was for her to pluck up the courage to ride on the Giant Swing and fly on the Zip Line. I found that her story related perfectly to the camp's theme this year: No Guts, No Glory. At camp, we would be using stories from the Book of Judges to show the kids that faith in Jesus brings both hardship and salvation. The end of Week 5 was sad for me because Friday was the last day I saw many of the littlest campers. Children younger than those entering the 2nd Grade were not allowed to attend camp yet, so I would not get to see them the next week. I finished work that Friday with a heart both heavy from saying good-bye to several of my new friends and excited about the week to come.

Week 6

This was my all-time favorite week of Turner Fellowship and was definitely a life-changing experience! On Sunday afternoon my parents dropped me off at the Y.E.S. center where all the counselors were meeting to pack and leave for Camp Sycamore Creek in Joelton. I was assigned to be a cabin leader of six 2nd through 4th Grade girls along with two other counselors I met that Sunday named Meagan and Kacey. These women are two of the nicest people I have ever met, and I am glad to call them friends now. The girls in our cabin were just as wonderful. I had an amazing time getting to know them better. My favorite Cabin Nine memory was helping the girls come up with a skit to perform for the rest of the camp. Within a half-hour they had created a truly hilarious and sweet performance. The girls pretended to be a rap group made up of celebrities such as Selena Gomez and Willow Smith; after beat-boxing and dancing their hearts out, the youngest little girl named MacKenzie would begin to sing a hymn with the others subsequently joining in. I had an amazing time hanging out with the kids of other cabins as well. During free times I regularly volunteered to monitor the playground area, and one day a new friend of mine named Annabelle asked me to push her on the tire swing. I enjoyed seeing how much fun she was having laughing and twirling higher and higher on the swing. Annabelle was apparently impressed by my tire swing pushing skills so much that I later heard her tell her friends on the playground that she refused to be pushed on the tire swing unless she was spun the "Mary Katherine Way."
The best part of camp came on Thursday. That morning, we all crowded into the Y.E.S. buses and traveled to a local church to witness five campers and one counselor be baptized. It was all I could do to keep from weeping for joy as I watched each person be dunked into the holy water; I have never witnessed anything so monumental and radiating with goodness.

My last day at Y.E.S. camp was incredibly bittersweet for me. While I was happy to be seeing my family again and take a nice, long post-camp nap, it was very difficult to part with people with whom I have grown so close. I am extremely thankful for my Turner Fellowship experience and the wonderful relationship I have begun with the St. Luke's Y.E.S. center. I feel that God calls me to continue my service there so I am eager to return to Y.E.S. next summer.

Week 5

Last week was my 5th week at PTM and the last week of their summer program. It was a bittersweet last few days with all the kids. I savored as much time as I could and treasured all the hugs and drawings that the kids gave me. They also gave me a "farewell Audrey" time in the morning at worship. The kids talked about how they loved me and how much they'll miss me. Their words warmed my heart and I hope I never forget their kind thoughts and prayers.

Last week was also my first week without Zach helping me. It was a little different and difficult but by the second or third day we had adjusted. We didn't go on any field trips but we did some fun activities around PTM for problem solving.

We also had the community supper last Friday. All of the children's families were invited, but there was a low turn out (which Chan said is to be expected). We ate BBQ and played baseball and sidewalk chalk. I also got to meet many of the kids family for the first time which was nice. It was a great way to end yet another wonderful week.

This week is a break week, but the next week is PTM Bonus week (30 kids get to come back for half days) and I am really looking forward to it. Until then, I hope everyone else has had just as amazing experience as me. God truly did bless me this summer and I couldn't be more thankful!

Week 6 at MOBC

Last week was my sixth week at Martha O'Bryan Center. I have three more days next week to make up for the days I took off for college visits, and I can't believe that I'll be done after that! It has been such a blessing to be a part of these children's lives and to work with such wonderful people. I'm definitely going to miss the kids when I stop working.

Most of the kids are heading off to kindergarten in early August, and I am so excited for them! All they talk about is how they can't wait until they go to kindergarten, but I can tell that a few of them are nervous. It's weird because the kids are having the same feelings about kindergarten as I am about college; so, I'm doing my best to reassure them since I can since what they're going through.

Friday was my birthday, and I also worked for the first part of the day. During the kids' lunch time, Ms. Marvetta and Mr. John (the teachers I work with) sent me out of the room to get some Pine-Sol. When I returned, all of the lights were out, and everyone was gone. As I stepped into the room, Marvetta, John, and all of the kids jumped out and yelled "Surprise!" John handed me a cheesecake, and Marvetta gave me a card that all of the kids had signed (some with a little help). Then, they all sang "Happy Birthday" to me. I could not stop smiling! It means so much to me that they would take the time to do that for my birthday. I love my kids, and I love the people I work with. Going back to visit everyone is not even an option, it's a must!

Week 4

This past week was my 4th week at PTM. I returned from a 2 week vacation and was overjoyed with the love that I received when the kids walked in the door my first day back. It was so great to see their faces again and to hear all that went on when I was gone. Many of the students couldn't believe that I went to the beach and "slept over" there. I felt so blessed returning.

This past week at PTM was filled with two special field trips. On Wednesday I planned a photo scavenger hunt to Centennial. Zach took 3 boys and I took 8 girls to run around the park in search for our list of items including: ducks, the Parthanon, the train, a Frisbee game, making a pyramid, the model plane, and much more. The group of girls that I took were so great and really enjoyed our day in the park. Unfortunately, the girls lost to the boys team. However, afterwards, the girls took our left over lunch bread and we fed the ducks. Overall, it was an awesome day!

Our second feild trip was to the bank. We took twelve 4/5th grade boys and girls to visit the Fifth-Third bank downtown. Unlike Centennial Park, we were blessed with cool air conditioning. Our tour guides (Ms. Tracee and Ms. Buffy) also treated us to pizza! After a nice lunch Ms. Tracee taught the kids how to write a check and balance their "check book". We started out with a good amount of money, but the kids learned that mortgages, utilities, food, and other bills cost money. As we talked about balancing our check books, and watched our money slowly dwindle, many of the kids talked about getting money from food stamps or the women getting child support. It's so strange to me the 4/5th graders mind would jump to food stamps and child support - thinking it is a given. As I looked round the room I prayed that when they grew up, none of them would ever have to be in a situation where they were in need of food stamps or child support. After our lesson from Ms. Tracee, Ms. Buffy took us on a tour of the bank. We even got to see the vault. After our field trip, Elizabeth told us she wanted to be a banker. I hope that she pursues the dream.



All in all, another awesome week at PTM. I also finished my grant to Lifeway this past week. PTM has applied 5 times for it already, but I hope the 6th time is the charm! I can't believe how much this place has already impacted me. I feel my faith growing as I witness so much love from children who not only don't have as much material things as me, but haven't grown up in a home with supportive parents. Every time I see a child perform a kind deed or receive a hug from them it reminds me of Christ's love for us.

Week 5 at MOBC

I just completed my fifth week at the Martha O'Bryan Center, and I wish time would stop flying by! It's hard to express just how grateful I am for having received the Turner Fellowship and being place at the Martha O'Bryan Center. There are no words to describe how much I love the kids I teach or the people I work with. They are truly a blessing to me.

We had a bit of a scare on Tuesday. We were out on the playground, and a man with a gun walked by on the other side of the fence. Ms. Marvetta, the teacher I work with, was the one who saw the gun, and she quickly told us to get the kids inside. All of the children were confused and kept asking me what was going on. I didn't want to scare them, so, I told them that it was just too hot for us to be outside. The sad part is, most of the kids are used to hearing shootings going on outside of their houses. I worry about these kids so much. This week, I had a sudden realization, even though it seems pretty obvious now. Martha O'Bryan Center is in a neighborhood that is full of gang members. We're in the Bloods' territory specifically, and it's terrible that some of the kids I teach might get sucked into gang life. I pray that they will escape that life and grow up safe and happy.

Week 5 at BC

This last week was I believe my 5th week at Bethlehem Center - it all flies by so I find myself not being able to keep the weeks straight! I have continued work in the GED program and the Shopping Bag. Five items have sold on the ebay account for much more than they would have sold at the store, and it makes the women who work at the thrift store very happy because they enjoy being able to help Bethlehem Center in this way.

My time with the kids has been the best this week! On Thursday, Bethlehem Center hosted "Olympic Day" which it does every year. For Olympic Day, several other non-profit organizations bring their kids over for the day to compete in games and sports, and there is an overall winner at the end. This is to promote sportsmanship and inter-community relationships. Oh, and it's a blast, too! The kids were so excited because everyone got to participate in at least one event, and they received t-shirts and ate a lot of junk food! In the end, Bethlehem Centers won the overall event, which was so exciting! The kids had so much fun, and that was my favorite part - watching them enjoy themselves and work together as a team. Everyone who came to Olympic Day enjoyed it and left with smiles on their faces, including me!

Week 3

Last week (Week 3), I transferred to the Youth Encouragement Services center at St. Luke's Community House where fellow TF Christine works. On my first day, I was a little nervous about being the new person again, but my fears quickly vanished. Within five minutes of walking into the center's gymnasium that Tuesday, Mr. Estes's (my supervisor) youngest son Johnny ran up to me and give me a big hug. I was both comforted and inspired by the love he showed me, a complete stranger to him at the time. Johnny as well as all the other children and staff at St. Luke's have been incredibly welcoming, and I am having an awesome time there. I enjoy every part of my day at camp, but I have to say that my favorite activity is Reading Buddies. Almost every morning at around ten o'clock a group of campers goes to the Learning Lab to read with Y.E.S. staff members or volunteers. I really enjoy being a Reading Buddy because I feel that it is a wonderful way to use my love for books to be both a helper and friend to the kids. Today, for example, I had a great time reading Sleeping Beauty with a little girl named Kyla and talking about Disney Princess movies with her.

Y.E.S. takes the campers on field trips ever week, and last Friday we all went to the Centennial Sportsplex to go ice skating. Since I had never been ice skating before and being the most un-athletic person on the planet, I had to cling to the wall of the rink while making my way around. Several of the campers had also never been skating, and it was fun to share the experience of that new adventure with them. One of my fellow skating novices was my new friend Passion. After Christine and Erin Ford showed her some skating basics, she glided over to me and insisted that the two of us go skating. We had such a good time trying not to fall down together, and Passion shared with me some of her newly acquired skating tips. Tomorrow we are taking the campers on a field trip to the Frist Center. I can't wait to have even more fun with the kids there!

Week 4 at Bethlehem Center

In the previous post, I said I was supposed to start week three the other week. Well, I had actually already completed my third week, and now am on my fourth week. Just got a little time confused!
My fourth week was last week (as I am now on the fifth) and I loved returning to see all the kids after I hadn't seen them for a week. It was very strange, because it seemed like nothing had changed and I was slipping immediately back into my role with them. It was great! The kids have been preparing for Olympic Day, which is coming up this Wednesday, and several other non-profits are bringing their kids over to Bethlehem Center for an annual competition between the organizations. The kids are getting so competitive!

My work in the GED program has been essentially the same, but I have been working with the same people for several weeks now and they have actually greatly improved their reading skills. At the beginning of the summer, it was a struggle for them to read aloud one passage, but now they actually come up to me and ask if they can read to me, instead of my coercing them into taking a reading session. I hope they can get their GEDs soon!

As for my work in the Shopping Bag, I am forming great bonds with the women who work in the store, especially Heather. There is a lot of down time in which Heather and I just sit and talk, and she has told me her amazing testimony and shared a lot of her life story which me. It astounded me when she was so trusting of me, and I felt so blessed because of her faith. Heather has been talking to me a lot about faith and God, and every question I ask her is rooted in the bible. My daily talks with Heather have been steadily reassuring me in my faith. I am so blessed to have met her this summer.

Week 4 at MOBC

Last week was my fourth week at the Martha O'Bryan Center, and it feels like I've been working there for so much longer (in a good way)! The people at MOBC have welcomed me with open arms, and I really love the people that I get to work with every day. I've learned so much about all the difficulties and rewards of teaching, and it is really helping me decide what I want to do with the rest of my life.

My kids manage to brighten my day every single time I see them. In the class I work with, there are many kids that have very difficult situations at home, and they have many behavioral issues because of the environments they are growing up in. When I go to work, I get to see the kids relax in what they know is a safe place. I do my best to show all of the kids the love and support they need in order to fully grow because they might not receive that kind of love in their homes. I genuinely care for all of my kids, and I can't describe how happy it makes me when I walk in the door, hear "Miss Alex!," and have kids run up to hug me.

I am so blessed to have received the Turner Fellowship, and I am even more blessed to have been placed at the Martha O'Bryan Center. When the Turner Fellowship ends, I plan on going back to MOBC and visiting everyone at least once a week. Probably more than that!

Week 3 at MOBC

Last week was my third week at Martha O'Bryan Center, and I love it more and more each day! Monday-Thursday, I worked in the classroom with my kids, and then, on Friday, I worked in the food bank. I absolutely love being with the kids, and I feel so blessed that I get to be a part of their lives. This past week, the kids started to listen to me more, and I feel like they have begun to respect me more. This is experience is great, not only because I've gotten to meet so many wonderful people and kids, but also because I'm beginning to discover if I have what it takes to become a teacher. Working in the food bank Friday really opened my eyes to how big of an impoverished area I am working in. There were many, many families that had to come get food, and a lot of the families consisted of 10 or 11 people. It also shocked me how ungrateful some of these people were of the services that Martha O'Bryan provides them. Many complained about minor things, instead of realizing how great it is that Martha O'Bryan Center is there to help them.

This week, one of the women who works in the classroom where I work left because she was moving to Georgia. It was really hard to say goodbye to her, and I was amazed to see how close I have become to the people that I work with. The kids got really upset when they heard that she wasn't going to come back, and they kept asking me if I was going to leave too. I told them that I wouldn't be there this week because I was going on vacation but that I would be back next week. One boy, Tyreese, got really upset and held onto me when he heard. Today was their first day at school without seeing me. I'm really worried that the kids will feel like I've abandoned them, and I keep thinking about them while on vacation. I pray that they stay safe and know that I will be back soon.

Week 3

Today, I was supposed to start my third week at Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, but I am taking this week off to go to Hilton Head with my family and several of my friends. I was astonished with how much I missed my Bethlehem Center family when I didn't go to work this morning! I miss the children, especially, and can't wait to return next Monday.

Last week was amazing - I grew much closer to the others working at Bethlehem Center and was blessed when several of them shared their life stories with me. They are caring enough to want to pass on these stories because they told me that they don't want me to make their same mistakes.

I worked all week in the thrift store after I worked in the GED program (before going to the Summer Discovery program) and three other girls who are actually campers at the Summer Jam program (for the older kids) have started coming in to work with me every day. Mrs. Heather had the four of us trying on the clothes and "modeling" them so they could advertise better to the teen community. It was so much fun! I also set up and have been posting items on The Shopping Bag's ebay account, and even set up a Groupon account for the store. The Shopping Bag is now officially online, and it is a very exciting process for the women who work in the store.

Finally, my day has continued to end at the children's Summer Discovery program, and I find myself leaving later and later each day. We have been playing more organized games, such as Kickball and Capture the Flag, and every time I become the target, which is so much fun when the kids are having a good time. Friday was "circus" day for the toddlers, so my kids got to participate in their circus. One of the other councilors, David, dressed as a clown and gave everyone face-paint and temporary tattoos - the kids had a blast! And of course, they were very hyper all day because of all the sugar they ate. It made for an awesome end of the week! When I had to say good-bye on Friday, it was sad because I knew that I wouldn't be there this week, but it's okay because I will be coming back.

Week 3

Third week at PTM and loving it! What an awesome and easy-going week it's been. This week for my curriculum, I put together a "Business Project" lesson plan. I created a worksheet called "Creating My Own Business" in which the kids paired up and created their own fake business. They came up with a name, contact information, working hours, a slogan, and products and prices. I loved seeing the excitement that the students had in this project. I was somewhat surprised since I was apprehensive at first as to how interested the children would be, but their creativity thrived. We had several different companies including a pet shop, several car shops, clothing stores, restaurants, and even a Hollywood themed mall. We also went into the computer lab and created logos for the companies. The children were so excited to pick out pictures from google images and come up with their own design. Today we presented their creations and picked four winner (two boys and two girls) to film a commercial for their "business" next week. Unfortunately I won't be there since I'll be on vacation, but I can't wait to see their finished projects when I return!

This week Chan delegated a few more responsibilities to me concerning the non-profit organization. On Monday I wrote the blog for the PTM website and summarized the field trip we took to Thistle Famrs this past Friday. I also began work on a grant that I'm writing for PTM. I'm doing a grant for Lifeway Christian Store and continue to pray that it will come through. To complete the grant application I have been learning quite a bit about the funding of a non-profit organization and the sort of "behind the scenes" type of stuff. I'm not very good with the financial aspects, but I'm trying.

That pretty much sums up the week (I'm trying to shorten these blogs). All in all, another fantastic week with PTM! I love all of the kids so so so much! Everyday our friendships continue to grow and I love them more and more. I'm truly going to miss them while I'm on vacation and although it'll be relaxing, I can't wait to see them when I get back!

Week 2 at YES

This was my second week of working at the Lindsley Youth Encouragement Center. Since M-FUGE did not come this week, I was able to become more accustomed to typical days at the camp. I have also gotten to know the campers better. For example, I have learned that many of the kids absolutely love the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. On Tuesday, two of my fellow counselors and I allowed the younger campers to play on the center's Wii. The kids chose to play a game I'd never heard of called "Michael Jackson,the Experience." It was so fun dancing with them to hits like "Thriller" and discovering that they know basically all the lyrics to every Michael Jackson song by heart. One of the boys was such a Michael fan that he wore a glove on his hand whenever he danced to a song! I also learned that the little girls really enjoy doing people's hair, especially mine! Before it was their turn to play on the Wii, several of them crowded around my head and began to style my hair in cute little braids. I really enjoy small group times such as this because they allow me to really get to know more about the amazing kids at YES.

As mentioned in my last post, the kids enjoy playing basketball before camp officially starts. One of these athletes is my friend George. I truly admire his passion for the game and his incredible sportsmanship. Whenever I shoot hoops with him, he exclaims "All right!!" with the most adorable grin if I make a basket (which is rare) and always retrieves my basketball if it has gone astray. While I have learned more about many of the YES kids through more structured camp activities such as game time, I have really gotten to know George while hanging out on the basketball court. While we play, we talk about school, his love of Spongebob Squarepants, and the fun things we're doing outside of camp. It was awesome to see his eyes light up when he talked about the camping trip he took with his uncle last weekend and how he got to roast marshmallows. George's stories remind me of how the seemingly little experiences in life such as making s'mores or playing basketball with a new friend can become the best memories.

Final random thought: In the gymnasium there is a dedication plaque. Below the building dedication is Proverbs 22:6 - "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." It amazes me how perfectly this verse matches the mission of YES. I am so grateful to witness and contribute to the center's uplifting influence on the children. As I get to know the kids better, I continuously see this influence's success.

Week 2 at Bethlehem Center of Nashville

I am well into my second week here at Bethlehem Center, and I have become much more involved and emotionally attached to this wonderful place. I am continuing to work with Ms. Jaynie in the adult GED program and I have met one wonderful woman who comes to me everyday and just asks that I work on her reading skills and vocabulary. We sit and read stories together and answer questions about them, and when we are done she is so thankful for the help that it makes me feel blessed to be the one to get to work with her! This GED program is truly trying to help these people give themselves a better life, and I am proud to be apart of it.

Now, in the afternoons from 12:30 to 2:00, I have been assigned to The Shopping Bag, which is the thrift store affiliated with Bethlehem Center. It relies solely on donations, and all profits go directly towards Bethlehem Center so as to improve other programs, such as child care and adult education. I have been working with Heather, the manager of The Shopping Bag, to set up an Ebay account for the store, and we have been listing different items in the hopes of making more of a profit to help Bethlehem Center. I also work in the back, sorting and ironing clothes so that they are ready to be sold. After only working there for several days, one of the women, Mrs. Sarah, smiled at me and told me "Girl, you're already apart of the family" - and they have been treating me as such. I love the relationships I am forming with these wonderful people!

Finally, at the end of my day, from 2:00 until 3:30 (though I always leave much later than that because I am enjoying myself too much), I continue to work with the children. It amazes me to be able to put names with all of the faces, and to be able to have a personal relationship with the individual children. They smile and wave as I walk into the gym, and it fills me with so much joy that I know I wouldn't want to be anywhere else for this summer. We play games inside or outside, and mostly the kids beg me to play basketball with them, or race them. I am tired at the end of the day, but it is always worth it. The kids bring me so much joy just by getting to see them having fun every day in an environment where they feel comfortable. It is truly a blessing to be working at Bethlehem Centers of Nashville.

Week 3

My third week at Habitat was a lot like the first two. Monday through Friday, we worked in our "cave" on flyers and advertisements. Things move fast at Habitat for Humanity, so they really benefit from our extra hands. Scott and I do a lot of tasks that need to be done, but no one here really has time to do. For example, in May there was a golf tournament for sponsors, and on Thursday Scott and I put photos from the event in picture frames and shipped them out to the respective sponsors.

On Friday we went to the HomeStore and began to work on inventory once again. Donations are brought into the HomeStore every day, so the inventory keeps changing. Everyone should come and check out the HomeStore. There are some really great deals on furniture and other home related items.

This week is a big one, as the quarterly newsletter needs to be ready to be sent out by next week. After this week, I will be taking a three week break to go to India, Singapore, and Thailand to meet family.

Weeks 1 and 2

At the Salvation Army, I have really enjoyed working with the kids each day. The first week of camp was a little bit of an adjustment period just because of having to learn what the kids like to do and each ones name. It is amazing to see how each kid is so different yet so many come from similar backgrounds. The kids we work with range from ages 6-13 with 4 different groups with each group having two ages respectively.

Each day is relatively similar. I arrive at work around 8:45 each morning and leave around 4. The day begins with an informational session at 9 for the kids. I was put in charge of the competitive sports aspect of the camp in the rotation. It is similar to the PE of any school. I begin my day working with the 6 and 7 year old kids. These kids are so energetic to start the day and I have noticed that they really just enjoy any sort of competition. Next group rotation, the 12-13 year old group comes in. Most of these kids LOVE to play basketball and soon, a full game of basketball or "gotcha" breaks out. The next period I have the 10-11 group and this group is composed of mostly girls who like to either play volleyball or tether ball. Then i have a 30 minute lunch break at 12 and after lunch comes the 8-9 year old group. This group really does love competition and sometimes the competition gets to heated and the I am forced to put the kids in time out or send them to Carlos.

My favorite part of the day is free time from 3-4 because it is during this time that I can play with the kids of all age groups together. It is good to teach the older kids to play with the younger kids as well.

So far I have really enjoyed this experience and look forward to the rest of the summer!!


James

Week 2

Second week at PTM and I'm wiped out! This past week we have done our summer JAM (Jesus and me) program from 6-8 in the evening, so I've spent all day at PTM this week. But I can't say that I haven't love every second of it! JAM, held in a park down the road from PTM, is a time for worship, games, bible stories, snacks, crafts, and FUN! After my regular work day at PTM, I head over to the park and set up for JAM - tents, tables, sound system, and anything else that needs to be done. Around 5:30 the kids start arriving and the fun begins. Once everyone is there, we worship as a whole with upbeat hip hop songs that have been stuck in my head all week. Then we split into crews (four crews for each grade level), about 16 crews total (we have about 150+ kids at summer JAM every night). Most all of my PTM summer camp students come to JAM, but JAM is open to the entire community, so there are plenty that I don't know. Each crew then rotates through the four stations (crafts, snack/dinner, games, and bible skits). About 7:30 we round back up for closing worship. I loved JAM, since it was a time for play and fun. Hearing the kids sing and seeing them jump around to the music reminds me how blessed I am to be apart of this program.

Along with JAM, I continue to teach my problem solving class. Along with my 3rd grade girls and my 4/5th boys and girls, I now teach 3rd grade boys too. Our curriculum grows and I continue to try and brainstorm on exciting ways to tie in leadership, team building, and problem solving. The kids especially enjoyed a game we did this week called Mission Impossible. Zach and I set up a room with string coming from each wall (acting as lasers). The kids then had to guide their blindfolded classmate through the strings without touching them. We laughed as many students completely ran through the strings. On Friday, we took a field trip to Thistle Farms with our 4/5th graders, which I organized last week. Thistle Farms is a half way house for women who have been abused, been in jail, been on the streets, etc, where they get back on their feet and work by making organic bath/body products. We heard two of the women's stories and even got a tour of how they make their products. The kids showed such an interest in the women's stories and asked great questions such as what advice could you give, were you teased when you were younger, and what hopes do you have. I was so proud of their behavior and look forward to more field trips!

This second week has also allowed the kids and I to form a greater bond. Like Mary Katherine, PTM works with M-FUGE. We get a new set of about 15 mission trip volunteers each week from around the south that help take the children from class to class - we call them "shepherds". When new volunteers arrive weekly, and the volunteers that the kids became close with the previous week are gone, the kids are wary. They continue to ask if I'm leaving with the volunteers and it joys me to see their happiness when I tell them I'm staying the entire summer. The kids and I have become attached to each other and I hate leaving work every afternoon.

Although the majority of my work is very rewarding, it isn't like that all the time. Many of the older boys and girls have behavior issues and disciplining is necessary. On Friday on our field trip, two boys got into a huge fist fight and it fell on me to resolve the issue. I hate seeing any of the children sad or angry. The girls also had problems with some new classmates this week. We had a new student join us this week and a group of about 4 girls picked on her. I hope that they accept this sweet new student and learn that talking about other people hurts just as much as a punch. We did an exercise where the entire group of 4/5th girls had to find 5 things they all had in common, which opened some of their eyes that they aren't as different from each other as it seems. I loved hearing that one of their 5 things in common was that they all loved God.

Overall its been a great second week! I can't explain how much I love each one of these kids, especially the ones in my class. Each day we become closer and I feel so completely blessed to share friendships with these children. I can't wait to go back to work next week!

Week 1 at YES

I have just completed my first week of working at the Youth Encouragement Services' Lindsley Center. During the summer, YES runs a toddler daycare program as well as a summer camp for grade school children. I work as a counselor at the latter.

Here is a glimpse of my typical day at YES: At around 8:30 in the morning, I arrive at YES, sign in, and say hello to Mr. Elliot, my supervisor. I am so lucky to have him as a boss because he is friendly, down-to-earth, and displays an awesome passion for his work. For the next several hours, I monitor the gym while the arriving kids begin to play. To my delight, the campers are obsessed with the basketball game "Gotcha," my all-time favorite PE/Extended Care activity from Lower School. My fellow counselors and I have such a fun time playing this with the kids. At 10:00 I help lead worship songs in the auditorium and then Mr. Elliot or his assistant counselor gives a devotional. After this, the kids are divided into three age groups and are sent to participate in various activities. I am usually assigned to help lead activities for the youngest children whose ages range from around four to eight. Our activity for Monday was arts and crafts. My fellow counselor Jereka and I drew pictures of the kids with sidewalk chalk and later we helped the kids make pictures with foam decorations. I help serve lunch at around 12:00, continue the pre-lunch activity afterwards, and then the counselors and I hand out snacks. Beginning at 3:00, the kids begin to leave for home, and I leave at 4:00.

My first week at YES was especially memorable because a mission trip group called M-FUGE visited us Tuesday through Friday. This team was composed of around twenty teenagers and chaperones from across the country who traveled to Nashville this week to pursue God's work. During their visit, M-FUGE led worship time for the kids every afternoon, led games, and performed puppet shows. All the YES counselors were assigned to help with various M-FUGE activities, and I assisted the mission team by preparing the arts and crafts projects they brought with them. On M-FUGE's last day with YES, we all took the kids on a field trip to Centennial Park. I had such wonderful fun with my new YES and M-FUGE friends there when we played catch, Connect Four, and parachute games (M-FUGE brought a giant, colorful parachute for the children to play with). When we said good-bye to the mission team, I felt sorry for them because they would not have the chance to spend more time with the amazing kids at YES; unlike me, they wouldn't be coming back to the Lindsley Center on Monday. This revelation reminded me of the devotional Antoine, Mr. Elliott's assistant counselor, gave on Monday. He reminded the kids of the blessings they receive daily such as food, clothing, and love which others in the world lack, and then he encouraged them to be grateful always. Personally, I am incredibly thankful that I have five more weeks to spend at YES. The campers and counselors act as one big family, and they have graciously welcomed me in as a new member. I can't wait to continue my work at YES and write all about it here!

Week 2

This week was my second week at Martha O'Bryan Center (I am taking Thursday and Friday off for college visits). I worked with the kids all this week, and I have already begun to care deeply for them. I work in the classroom for the 3-5 year olds, and their innocence and imagination brings me so much joy. Often, I worry about their safety and future because of the environment that they are growing up in. I just hope that I can be a positive, loving influence on their lives.

I love the people that I am working with in the Early Learning Center. They genuinely care about the kids, and they have welcomed me with open arms into their classrooms. The teachers are so happy for the extra help, and I am so thankful that I was place at Martha O'Bryan Center because they truly appreciate and need the extra pair of hands.

I have been considering getting a degree in education when I go to college, and this experience is helping me to realize all aspects of teaching. I have learned the good, the bad, and that there is much I need to work on. I have trouble being strict with the kids because I want to keep them happy all of the time. However, the other teachers have taught me that being strict is necessary in order to properly teach these children.

I've been told that I will be working in the Early Learning Center for most of my time at Martha O'Bryan Center, and I could not be any happier! I will also be working with the adult education program, and I am excited to become a part of that as well. I am so thankful and blessed to have been chosen to be a part of this, and I can already see and feel my life being changed. I just hope that I can positively change others lives like this experience has changed mine.

First Week at Bethlehem Center of Nashville

This is my first full week working as an intern at the Bethlehem Center of Nashville (I worked Thursday and Friday of the previous week). I have been here for such a short time, but already it has opened my eyes to a whole new culture and way of life. Every morning, I work in the GED program with Mrs. Jaynie helping teenage to middle-aged adults learn the necessary skills in order to pass their GED test.

The first day, I worked with a man from Mexico who struggled on his reading section of his test. He missed several questions, but going back and re-reading the passage with him, it turns out his main problem was simple vocabulary words. When our two hour tutoring session was over, the man was so grateful. I realized how privileged I am to have the exceptional education that I have received through Franklin Road Academy, and I am particularly thankful to God for giving me this education so that I may turn around and help others.

The second half of my day is spent in the “Summer Discovery” program which is basically the 6-11 year old child care program at Bethlehem Center. There are about 28 kids there a day, and my job as a counselor is basically to play with them and make sure they are safe and happy. It is so rewarding when I walk in the gym and receive hugs from all of the children. Slowly, I am learning their names – I don’t have them all yet!

I have not been at Bethlehem Center long enough to see a significant change in the children, but I am so excited to spend the rest of my summer with these kids – they’re great! I love spending my afternoons at Discovery, and am very hopeful for the rest of the summer.

Scott and Aditya's Photo Blog

This is a joint blog by Aditya Thawardas and Scott Looney. We will take you through an average day as an intern at Habitat for Humanity.

We arrive at around 9:00 every morning.

This is usually where we work. It's a computer supply closet transformed into a workplace. We've nicknamed it "The Cave."

Scott is currently working on a grant.

Aditya is creating an 8x3 foot banner for the front of the building to announce that the offices will soon be relocating.

A lot of Aditya's day is spent making advertisements and merchandise for Habitat, like the examples above.

We tend to get pretty hungry when we're working hard.

A lot of our day is filled with simple office tasks, like copying documents and compiling facts.

Sometimes, we get a cubicle to work in. Here, Scott is working on employee manuals.

Across the street from the Habitat offices lies the HomeStore, which sells new and used home-related items to the public to fund houses.

We go to the HomeStore almost every day, and we always make sure to look both ways before crossing the street.

Every Friday we work the full day in the HomeStore. Here we are helping with inventory.

Be sure to become a fan of Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity on Facebook, a page both of us have been working on.

Week 1

This week was my first week working with the Martha O'Bryan Center (MOBC), and I absolutely loved it! Monday and Tuesday I worked in the Early Learning Center with the kids which was an eye-opening experience. A three year old named Melvin started cussing, and it made me realize just how different of an environment these kids are raised in. Nevertheless, every time I see the kids, they brighten my day with their hugs and smiles.
Miss Martha's Ice Cream Crankin' is this Sunday, and it's one of the biggest events that MOBC puts on all year. So, I helped get ready for that Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. I put together tote bags, cash boxes, and whatever else needed to be done. Everyone in the office was so appreciative of my help and were extremely nice. I'm also helping out with the Crankin' this Sunday and can't wait to be a part of the event that raises so much money every year.
I'm told that this summer I will continue to work in the Early Learning Center, and I will also help tutor the GED students and work in the food bank. I can't wait to learn about all of the aspects of MOBC and help out in any way that I can!

Week 1

Woo! First week of Turner Fellowship. I have been working with Preston Taylor Ministries (PTM) for the past week with Zach. Chan, our contact person, has dealt us quite a bit of responsibilities. Zach and I teach a problem solving class for PTM's summer program for children K-5th grade. We teach about 8 3rd grade girls and about 16 4/5th grade boys and girls. Chan has placed the 4/5th boys and girls into our hands - Zach responsible for the boys, and I for the girls. I'm constructing a curriculum for the 6 weeks that I'll be working at PTM with these girls. We have done activities such as music appreciation, hula hoop passes, and my personal favorite so far, a blindfolded cone game. I have even planned a field trip for the kids next week to visit Thistle Farms, which I'm super excited about. The responsibilities that I have with PTM are sometimes overwhelming, but with each day, I become more comfortable and confident in the children and my curriculum. I continue to learn and brainstorm for new and creative ways to engage the children in problem solving, team building, and leadership.

Chan has asked us to specifically to instill leadership values into these young children's minds. Zach and I held leadership elections today for the girls and boys. We will have 3 boys and 3 girls on a leadership committee. The committee will have important responsibilties at PTM (picking up trash) and even meet with Chan, Zach, and me plan and discuss ideas for the class. I LOVED seeing the girls step up and distinguish themselves as leaders. I ended up having 4 girls presenting speeches today and was so proud to see them share their hopes with their classmates. I can't wait to see what happens with this group.

On a typical day, I arrive and have an hour to prepare for the day and/or plan for the coming week. Then, the children arrive and I get to play with the kids outside and play games inside. I love seeing all the little kids that I don't get to teach during this time. We then circle around and have worship with all 80 or so kids enrolled in the PTM summer camp. Then the kids are dismissed and I teach my 3rd grade girls and help Zach with the 4/5th boys. After that, I eat lunch and then have planning time. Then I teach my 4/5th girls. I have one more planning time, which has recently been replaced with working with the girls on their speeches for the election. After my last class we have closing time when we pass out awards to the kids. After about half of the kids go home I have an enrichment hour with the other half. So far, I have taught crafts, tennis, fitness, and today, we went to the YMCA. This is one of my favorite parts of the day since we have so much fun with the kids. After the enrichment kids go home, Zach and I either stay to talk with Chan or head home.

Even though its only been a week, I am totally in love with PTM. The staff is so welcoming and helpful and the kids are so loving. It's been a bit challenging with all my responsibilities, but as I said, I continue to learn. It's heartbreaking to know that the children I work with have unstable homes and haven't grown up in a home where they have everything they want and need like I have. I can only pray that I am making a difference in these kids' lives in the short time I have with them this summer. I can't say how much all the kids at PTM have already grown on me and I can't imagine how much more I am going to fall in love with them. I am especially looking forward to helping out with the evening JAM (Jesus and me) evening camp next week. Until then, I hope all my other fellows are having as much fun as I am and am praying that God changes our lives this summer.

First Week

I, like Scott, have been working at Nashville Area Habitat for Humanity. The first week has been very interesting. I have been matched with Mrs. Stinson in the marketing department of Habitat, and it seems that I will be working in marketing all summer.

We started the week with a "communications audit". In other words, every media piece that goes to the public was examined, and the staff decided whether each was still useful. I think this was a great way to get me started in the marketing department of Habitat, and set up a full summer of editing and improving these documents.

The last dedication of houses for the summer is this weekend. Sadly, I won't be able to make it due to my SAT, but Mrs. Stinson allowed me to create the dedication program that will be given to all who attend. I was very grateful that she allowed me to take on such an important task, which included designing ads that will be used in future programs.

At the end of the week, Scott and I worked on assembling some light fixtures at the HomeStore. We also began inventory.

In the coming week, I will be tasked of creating some t-shirts and other apparel to start selling at builds. It really enjoyed my first week at Habitat, and I'm looking forward to the weeks ahead.