Bahamas

     Have you ever thought about how much Jesus loves you? Think about the fact that God became human so that he could live among us and be the perfect example of living life through love, grace and sacrifice. The grace and love of Jesus is like no other. I have never experienced this grace and this love through a group of people like I have with my group of fellow gap year students.
     Recently the crew and I took a short term mission trip to Eluthera; an island on the Bahamas. We were working for Camp Bahamas, (a summer camp for the local kids) doing manual labor around the camp site, preparing it for the summer. During our trip to the Bahamas, we were faced with many obstacles within the work around the camp, and the group itself. I won't go into much detail, but our people had a tough time. It is expected that after something happens within a small group like this, sides would be taken and friendships would be ruined. Like I said, I have never experienced the grace and love of Jesus through a group of people like I did during this trip with the Kivu Gap Year students and staff.
     I am reminded constantly today about how much God really loves us. I mean, he REALLY loves us. God became human. God became human so that he could live and walk among his people, being the perfect example of life. No, we will never live up to those standards. No we will never fully live perfect lives. That does not mean we can not try. During my time in the Bahamas and on this Christmas day, I am thankful for the love and grace that I see through the way that Jesus entered this world and through the way that my fellow gap year students show Christ's love and grace to one another.

Place Bridge Academy

     Honestly, I should have been blogging more about my students at Place Bridge Academy. My whole blog should be about these kids. I can not express the love that I have for these children, that school, and the teachers that I have had the opportunity to work with. I have talked about Bouchra, the Muslim friend that Molly and I made at the beginning of the semester, but there are so many more names you all do not know about.
     In my morning classes, working with fourth and fifth graders, I got to know five teachers, including Bouchra. Mr. Leela, and Mrs. Mathoka are two of the teachers that I had the joy of really getting to work with and getting to know. Leela is from Nepal, and has the biggest heart and smile that I have ever seen. Mrs. Mathoka has the warmest hugs, and is one of the best math teachers that I have witnessed. Leela works with the students in the computer lab, helping them with their Imagine Learning program that teaches them English and how to read. I don't think I have ever seen Leela not smiling...The kids LOVE his big heart and his funny humor. He can make anyone laugh no matter what kind of day you are having. Mrs. Mathoka loves nothing more than to see her students succeed on a math problem. She puts forth all of her efforts and pours her whole heart into these children. The teachers at Place Bridge Academy know no end when it comes to working hard for their kids. In the afternoons, I am working in a first grade class for Mrs. Taggart. This is a class filled with twenty-six six to seven year olds, and I have never met a teacher that puts so much effort into making sure her students succeed. Mrs. Taggart is so good with these refugee children, and loves them with everything she has. Mrs. Dia is the paraprofessional in this class, and is also now one of my dearest friends. Dia is hilarious, so loving, loud, and beautiful. She loves the students, Mrs. Taggart, and I very well. Mrs. Dia has two children that are students at Place Bridge, and they are both just like their mother. I have had such an amazing time working with these people and learning from their joy, love, and cultural wisdom. I am looking forward to the day I get to see them again. Thank you teachers and Place Bridge for an incredible experience these past three months, I love you all very much.

     Now for the students...I really can't talk about them without crying, just because of how great of a job they do loving me. Every morning I am greeted in the cafeteria with big smiles, rosy cheeks, and warm hugs. All with different colors of skin and different accents saying "good morning Ms. Katie!!". I am telling you, people; the children at Place Bridge are some incredible individuals. Just sitting here writing this blog, I am starting to tear up...My fourth and fifth graders are all so smart. Each and everyone of them are so gifted individually in many different ways. One of my students didn't know a word or number in English my first week there. Now he has the highest scores on math tests, and is reading at a level higher than most. Another student was too scared to be partners with anyone during math games. I worked with her for several weeks and was able to see how smart she truly is. In my first grade class, I have a student that reads at levels some of my older students don't quite read at yet. Others can write better than me, and some have beautiful artistic abilities. One little boy would give me a hug every time he was given the chance to. I love him and his hugs. I love my students, and I love Place Bridge Academy. For all of you that came into my life when I walked into that school for the first time on September 10th, thank you. Thank you so much for the incredible experience I had working with each and everyone of you. I love you all and I am going to miss you all dearly.

This is Bouchra! (sorry I don't know why its turned)

In my first grade class: Volonika(left) and Dilson(right)

This is Mrs. Dia 

You Won't Believe it

     Recently, I took a trip to visit the University of Arkansas. I mentioned that in my three sentence long post the other week, but what I failed to mention was the experience I had on the plane ride home.
     For starters, a main reason why I decided gap year before college was so that I could (hopefully) discover what there is a need for in this world, what my passions are, and then somehow combine the two, ultimately to figure out what I am supposed to do with my life. Why go to college straight out of high school and waste thousands of dollars switching majors for two years? I also know nothing about myself, but that is another topic.
     I was the last to bored my plane, and of course, I was stuck in a middle seat. I sat in between an old man and a young woman. The old man kind of smelled, but he had the sweetest smile. The young woman had bright, red, curly hair. The kind that just goes everywhere and is completely out of control, but somehow looks cool on a select group of people. I would say she falls into the category of the few. Not long after I had shoved my backpack under the seat in front of me and felt as comfortable as one who, might I add, is ALL LEGS, can get in an airplane seat, I noticed the young woman's tattoo that sat comfortably(unlike me)on her forearm. The tattoo was simple. A little home. The lines were perfectly straight, the roof wasn't crooked and the foundation looked stable. I told her I liked the tattoo, I thought it was neat and different. I don't think I have seen a tattoo of a little house before. I asked the woman what the meaning was behind her tattoo. She was quick to answer that "the tattoo represents a stable home, and a stable environment." She said quietly. "I have worked in homeless shelters for most of my life and even ran a couple on my own. I just think the importances behind growing up in a stable home, and growing up in a stable environment have been lost". I could not have agreed more. Living in the city, and in the middle of everything, I have witnessed this a lot. I told her I was living in Denver, and how it is notorious for it's homeless population. She said she was aware and that she was actually on her way there for a job interview, "it has always been my dream to live in Denver and work with the homeless there". I asked if her interview was for one of the many homeless shelters, but to my surprise, it was not. "A few years after I was working in my third shelter,  my boss asked if I would interview a kid that was taken out of his home due to experiencing abuse and growing up in violent situations. I was the only one working at the shelter that had studied Social Work and had then proceeded to get my masters afterwards. So basically, I was the only one qualified. I told them 'why not', but little did I know that my experience with this kid would spark a strong passion for child advocacy, and that is what I have been doing ever since then". The woman went on to explain the meaning of what she does, and how not only does she interview the children, and listens to their sides of the stories, but she then becomes someone that looks after the kid. She becomes their voice in court. These children have never really grown up with an opportunity to have their own voice. This woman provides just that for these kids. She stands up for them. They know that she is on their side. They know that they have a friend.
     I sat in my seat for the rest of the plane ride, thinking about everything the woman had just told me. To be honest, I didn't know that this was a job. I love kids, and it has always been a hope of mine to work with them one day. I have seen a lot of children, already, that don't have the ability to speak up for themselves, receive any basic needs, or even feel loved every day. I hate that there are children who are not able to stand up for themselves because they are fearful of what might happen to them. That being said, I still had no idea that Child Advocacy was a job.
     As the flight was drawing near to an end, I tapped the woman's arm to tell her that I was really interested in what she did, and that I really did not know it could be a job. She then told me "oh there is a HUGE NEED for people to work as child advocates. No one really realizes how many kids there are that end up living in abusive situations for eighteen years(until they are able to leave)and fall into the scene of drugs, alcohol, and jail because all they have ever known is that violence fixes everything".
     I chose gap year to discover what there was a need for, what my passions are, and then a way to put the two together. If I had not decided to do gap year, sure, maybe I would have heard about Child Advocacy eventually, but I am not sure how long down the road it would have been.
     So there it is people, I think I might have found something that I could do and love. Can you believe it?

Lisa and Stan Take Denver

Lisa and Stan came to visit me this weekend for parents weekend and we had a blast! Here are a few of the many adventures we went on....

 took a pic with some local zombie killers

 ate at Ted's Montana Grill

got some yummy donuts from Voodoo Donuts

I had a blast with you mom and dad! Thanks for letting me show you my city. (Lisa and Stan sitting on my couch in my (REALLY CLEAN) house).

This Title Might be Longer than the Actual Blogpost It's self.

     I have good news. I visited a college and it wasn't that bad....I said it. College just might be ok!




    I think this realization was so much for me that this is all that I have to say this week.





     Booyah

Joy!

     Joy. Ever since the eleventh grade, this simple word has meant a great deal to me and the reason why I know and love Jesus. I discovered that the simplicity in this word is only found in the fact that it is easy to spell, not in the complex meaning behind those three letters. For me, joy may mean something completely different than what it means for some of you. Joy is something that I have to continually ask God for everyday, it is not something that I am just naturally given, although I do believe that some are given the gift of being naturally joyful. If I forget to ask the Lord for joy in the morning, there is usually a rough day waiting ahead of me... Joy means that I find happiness through knowing that I have the Holy Spirit in me, helping me feel that joy. It's knowing that what I am doing, is for God's kingdom. It's seeing Christ in the small things.
     Living in Denver Colorado, I have discovered joy in many places. Places that I never really thought about finding joy in. I have joy at Place Bridge when one of my students finally understands the math problem that has given them so much trouble, or when they remember the sounds of all the letters in the alphabet. I have joy in dancing up and down sixteenth street mall to the music playing through my headphones with my friend hannah. I find joy in sitting and listening to the street performers at night, and getting to talk to them and know them in between songs.
     God has shown me so many things to be joyful about in just the two weeks that I have lived here. Denver is an interesting city. But I find so much joy in this city. This post is short but a little complex, so apologize if it does not make sense, but it's funny because that's how I see the word Joy.

A Whole Bunch of Stuff

    

     It has been a crazy week….I have learned so much and have done so many new and different things tin this one week than I think I have ever done or learned in one full year. It’s also been a hard week. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs with my internship, people, getting enough sleep, and learning to manage my time and money. My internship at Place Bridge Academy started out pretty rough. I felt like I wash’t needed there. I’ve never worked with children in a school setting. It has always been on a basketball court, a soccer field, or a fun babysitting job where my love for children has grown. Also, I have NEVER imagined myself growing up and becoming a teacher…school just isn't my thing. So my first day at PB was interesting, trying to find the balance between fun, loving Katie and Miss Katie, the teacher. I hated it. Honestly, I left my internship in tears that day, just so fearful that it was going to be a long miserable three months of sitting in a classroom teaching for eight hours a day, three days a week. 

That next day was full of fear of getting up and having to go to my internship. But, my second day at Place Bridge was nothing like the first. Immediately after I arrived at the school, one of my co-teachers asked if I would be willing to help her teach English that day. I quickly said yes because I was longing to be apart of something, and to feel needed. So Mrs. Bouchra and I pulled to of our students to help them with English. Fatma and Abdul ar e two of the fourth graders in my joint class of fourth and fifth grade students that I help out in the mornings. Both Fatma and Abdul are from the middle east and are what the school calls “newcomers”. This means that they have just recently moved to America and have just been enrolled at the school. This also means that they have yet to learn English. Can you imagine being taken out of the comforts of your home and your surroundings, and being thrown in a completely different country with all new people, sights, smells, and languages? Imagine no one being able to understand you, and for you to not have the ability to understand anyone around you. That’s how Fatma and Abdul felt when they were thrown into a new school in a completely different country.   But these two kids have been working so hard with their English. Bouchra tells me that they both practice their alphabet flash cards every night, and that they improve more and more every day. “It’s amazing how quickly they pick up on the English language”, Bouchra said the other day, “these kids have the desire and ability to learn English as quickly as possible”. 

These children also have one of the best teachers to help them learn. Bouchra is a young, Muslim teacher from Morocco who has one of the biggest hearts known to man…Not only does she love these children so much, but she desires success for them more than anything. It’s amazing to watch her go through the flashcards with Fatma and Abdul and to see her excitement when they remember a letter and the correct sound it makes. Bouchra and I have quickly become friends. She invited me to her house after on Thursday to have tea with her. She knows that I love studying cultures and she figured it would be a great way to learn about her own. Bouchra taught molly and I all about the Moroccan Muslim culture, fed us homemade bread, tea cake, and green tea. She shared stories of growing up in Morocco, her travel experiences to America, and how she met her husband. I learned more about her culture and the Muslim faith during those couple of hours spent with Bouchra compared to anytime spent in class. 

I apologize for the super long post this week, too much just happend in the past seven days to not share. Thank you all for the prayers, texts, and phone calls! 

Feet

      I'm sitting in a Chinese restaurant in Denver Colorado. This is my first time to be alone in two weeks. All day I couldn't stop thinking about how I wanted so badly to have alone time so that I could sit and write in my journal about all of my complaints. When I got here and finally was able to sit down, breathe and think to myself, I ran into some what of an issue. I couldn't think of anything to say. I couldn't come up with the words to write for all of my complaints. This is my first time alone in two weeks, surly I should have something to say? That's when I actually realized that the first time alone in two weeks means first alone time with JESUS in two weeks. 

     

    I sat in the Chinese restaurant and prayed. I asked for forgiveness that I had been too busy to read my bible or even pray to Him recently. Romans 10:15 was immediately put on my mind. I just started reading my Bible, and I have been reading John, but I had heard something about Romans 10:15 so I wanted to look it up and felt like the Lord wanted me to. "And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”. Feet. Eww. I hate feet...I think they are nasty, dirty, and should be covered constantly. My feet are tired. They have been in stinky shoes all day. That's not at all how Christ sees these feet. These Feet are called "beautiful". Good news is brought by beautiful feet. 

     God has chosen to send these feet into a school full of children and culture. The Denver Place Bridge Academy is a K through 12th grade public school for refugee children. Over forty countries and sixty languages are represented at this school. That is a lot of feet. My feet have been chosen to work in a kindergarten class, as I will be teaching English. My prayer is that my feet will cease to be just dirty, smelly feet. My prayer is that my feet will be called beautiful. My prayer is that I will be able to preach the good news in this school that my feet and I have been sent to. 

What the Heck are we Doing

As day six roles around, it's hard to believe that our gap year has only just started. It feels as though these people have been apart of my life for years now, and i only met them a few short days ago. these first couple of weeks are spent getting to know the other students and leaders as well as taking a few classes; basically going over all the logistical crap that no one wants to talk about, but we all know we have to...We play different sports everyday and games that help us "bond". Tomorrow we're going backpacking. That will be cool cause I have never really been backpacking and I wanted to do a gap year that would force me to do things that were out of my comfort zone, so here we go.

Not gonna lie...the first couple of days, i questioned whether or not this was the right decision. "Crap. What the heck am i doing here?", i thought. I was sure that i was supposed to be at college and that i had just screwed myself over. HA. plot twist: God quickly reminded me of all of the stuff i went through the past couple of years to get to this place and of all the people i met who pointed me to gap year. Seeing pictures of friends in colleg
e and the gals in their sororities definitely made me question my decision. BUT i know for a fact my fellow gap year friends will be the friends that i keep for the rest of my life. I have definitely made the right decision.

At the end of next week, our group will split. Some of the team will go to Philadelphia while the rest of us will travel to Denver. Honestly, that kind of sucks because of how close both groups have gotten. But, it will be a really cool growing experience for everyone as we enter the real world. We all have internships that we are responsible for getting to on time on our own and in our own way. I will be working for the Denver Place Bridge Academy, assistant teaching in a kindergarten class. As we move into the "adult" part of our lives, pray for us...Please. Well, that's really all I have to say.