First Day Jitters

Tomorrow is the first day of work with kids!

We are meeting all of our kids tomorrow and get to start loving on them and their families. 

Showing them the love of Christ and developing relationships with them.

This place is beginning to change me in so many ways.
I'm excited to see how God continues to use it to minister to me; the place, the people, the community, the other girls. 

One of my favorite things to come out of serving the Lord, is to see and feel how He serves and ministers to me. 

Until later...

:-)

Update and Pics from Tahoe!

Let me just say, that I will never get tired of taking pictures of this place!

 It is gorgeous. I love the landscape, I love the trees, the rivers, the Lake. It is all wonderful and I am so happy to be here. 

The other missionaries are a wonderful group of girls and we have already had many great laughs and conversations. 

This past week has been about getting to know each other and going through orientation to familiarize ourselves with the program. We will begin school and have kids on this coming Monday! 

I will be helping out in both the preschool and with the Kindergartners. 

I'm very excited, because I will get to know many of the kids as I will be floating around helping. 

We get to do a lot of fun things with them as well, like go on hikes and go to the beach at the Lake. 

Fun times are ahead! 

I can't wait to share more with you guys! 

Enjoy these few pictures!

:-) 

Heading To Tahoe City, California

In my last post (which I feel was forever ago), I announced that I was accepted as a semester missionary with the North American Mission Board (NAMB). I am very excited for this opportunity to travel and serve the Lord in Tahoe City, California. 

I will be serving at First Baptist Church Lake Tahoe as a preschool teacher in their Preschool for children ages 3-5. They also have a before and after school program for kindergartners through sixth grade children. The church also has various programs throughout the month for parents like My Morning Out and Parent's Night Out, where parents can drop off their kids for childcare and have time for themselves. The church is also involved in ski ministry, where they have church on the slopes, although this is only a spring semester ministry. 

Between both the Preschool and the School Program there will be about 90-100 children a day. Me along with the other semester missionaries will lead Bible stories, learning activities, crafts, educational centers, and games. Most the families who have children in the programs are not Christians. However, in the past these families have become more involved with FBC Lake Tahoe and some have come to have a relationship with Christ. 

The full-time population of Tahoe City is actually really small. While yearly they will have close to 9 million visitors. Tahoe City is the home of Lake Tahoe, the eighth deepest lake in the world. Most of the Lake resides in California, while the rest lies in Nevada. Lots of people come to Tahoe in the summer and winter for the Lake and the great skiing. 

Tahoe City is about 4 hours from San Francisco, 5 hours from Yosemite National Park, and an hour away from Reno, Nevada. 

I will be flying out to Tahoe on August 14th and returning home on December 22nd. 

I am so excited for this opportunity and to be in California. This is the farthest that I have lived and served from home so far, which makes it a little daunting. But, I am ready to be there, meet the people, and meet the kids. Not to mention to be in beautiful Tahoe City! Below is a picture of Lake Tahoe. 

I can't wait to share this journey with you guys!
I hope you will continue reading to learn more about the ministry and everyone involved. 

:-) 

Just a Quick Note

Hey everyone!

I know I haven't done my next post on "peace" yet, of the fruits of the Spirit. But, it is coming soon!

During the middle of this week I had my Bible Study and now this weekend I am visiting family in Memphis.

And I also have exciting news to share with you. I have mentioned it a little in a few earlier posts.

I have applied and been chosen to be a Semester Missionary with the North American Mission Board! I will be gone from August to December of this year and will be serving in Lake Tahoe, California!

I am very excited for this opportunity and for what the Lord is going to do. I can't wait to write another post and tell you more about it.

Stay tuned!

:-)

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -- Romans 5:13

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Two years ago I was doing an internship in Mobile, Alabama.

Last summer, I was a summer missionary with NAMB in New Orleans, Louisiana. 

This summer?

Resting, relaxing, and spending time with friends. 

Oh, and there is work. 

This summer I am graduated, done with classes, and not out in the mission field. 

(Well, besides Tuscaloosa being my summer mission field, I mean me not out in another state or city.) 

The only things I have done have been spending time with friends, going to the lake, sleeping, reading, watching Netflix, sleeping, working out (another post for another time), and working 3 hours a day at my part-time job. 

Seeing as I'm a big advocate for using my summers for the Lord, it is weird not being anywhere doing that. 

However, I really feel like this moratorium is going to be good for me. 

When graduation first ended, I really didn't know what I was going to do with myself. I hadn't planned on going anywhere and I didn't feel the Lord calling me to go anywhere. I just took it a day at a time. 

Then, a few days after graduation, I just became tired. All of a sudden it seemed like the past five years caught up with me and I just became overwhelmed with this feeling of tiredness, both physically and spiritually. 

A lot has happened to me during my five years in college. 

New friends. Classes. Tests and Finals. Mission Trips. New Church. Bible Study. Work. No Work. Changing Majors. Summer Internships. Weddings. Birthdays. Car Wreck. Fights. Lost Friendships. Restored Friendships. Late Nights. Tornado. Summer Missionary Job. Road Trips. 

More School. More Work. 

Graduation. 

So when friends and family asked me what I was going to do now that I was graduated and I answered with "sleep", I really was not kidding. 

The weight of five years was lifted and I just collapsed. 

I loved college. Absolutely LOVED it. These past five years were definitely the best years I have had so far and contain memories that I will always remember and treasure! 

I want this summer to be a continuation of that and I want to keep adding to that memory box, but I also want this summer to be about the Lord restoring me. I want to rest in the Lord and seek Him daily as He leads me on the next step in my journey. I learned so much in college and now I want to reflect on the things I learned and apply them more than ever. Now is the time that I need this wisdom the most! Life is going to change so very drastically in the "real" world and coming years. 

It's both thrilling and scary at the same time. For as much as I want to know the future and what is going to happen, I know there is no way for me to know. All I can do is wait and trust in the Lord as He reveals His plan to me. As hard as it is some days, I am more than willing to just wait right now. 

There are days when I terribly miss NOLA and Mobile and the people and kids that I met in those places, but I very thankful for the time that I had with them and the things that the Lord showed and taught me there.  Those places ministered and blessed me in more ways than I could have ever done for them. 

I am very thankful to the Lord for that. That He saw it as good to have me there. 

I am also thankful for this "free" time that I have. Knowing that the Lord has planned to keep me here in Tuscaloosa this summer is exciting in its own way. I am thankful for the next two months that I get to be with my church family here, because I know that I am not done learning from them.  I feel the Lord has something good planned. I feel He knows that I need these next two months to prepare for the months that come after. 

Because starting August, the "free" time is over. 

A new journey is starting. 

A journey that definitely takes me far from Alabama, farther than I have been before.

(Still in the United States though.) 

Stay tuned, because I'm excited to see what the Lord is going to do

and I can't wait to share with you guys. 

:-) 

Tie-dying with Preschoolers

When you tie-dye with preschoolers...

Hands will get stained.

Tables will get messy. 

Kids may get paint on t-shirts.

Floors will get stained. 

Kid's hands may get stained. 

Yep. 

We had a day where we tie-dyed with the preschoolers. 

Needless to say, it was quite an adventure 

and 

definitely messy.

It was a spray type tie-dye, so it was somewhat easier for them.

Yet, it still managed to get everywhere.

Us.

Them.

Tables.

Floors.

T-shirts. 

I am excited to see what they are going to look like! 

The kids were very excited about getting to make them! 

:-) 

New Orleans Update!

We are in Week 6 of the summer 

and 

this week we started our Hero who is going to be our Hero for the rest of the summer:

Jesus! 

(Our other heroes we have done were: Abraham, Moses, Daniel, David, Esther. We also talked about Joseph and Issac, but those five each got a whole week.)

As a reminder, I am a counselor for the SUN group and co-leader for crafts and Spanish. 

My Sun group is doing well! For the most part they listen well and will answer questions when asked. But, like all four and five year olds, their attention span can be very short. 

There are two boys in particular, K. and D., who can be very rowdy and hard to handle sometimes. At times, they will not listen and will do things to disrupt the rest of the class, just to get off task. 

It is hard, because I do not like yelling or punishing, but after awhile, consequences have to back up the actions.

One thing that I love about the Sun group is that they are memorizing Scripture! 

:-) 

One girl in particular, B., she is like my Scripture quoting queen! 

She is usually the first to memorize the verse of the week and also one of the first to volunteer to recite it. 

But, as a group, they are doing really well with it! 

I ask them regularly if they remember any of our other verses from the summer 

and 

between the twelve of them, they can remember them all! 

It makes my heart very happy to know that they are getting those and remembering it! 

Here are the verses that we have learned: 

"Abraham believed God's promises." -- Genesis 15:6

"Jesus said, 'If you love Me, you will obey Me.'"-- John 14:15

"I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength." -- Philippians 4:13
"I always speak the truth and refuse to tell a lie." -- Proverbs 8:7

"Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, for God is with you, wherever you go." -- Joshua 1:9

"For God loved the world so much, that He gave His only Son. So, whoever believes in Him, will never die, but live forever." -- John 3:16

(We have changed some words or picked a version that would be easier for them to know and understand.)

While, I am talking about Bible verses, we were learning our verse for this week (John 3:16) and when I got done reading it with the kids, one little boy, A., asks me this:"What does that mean? Live forever?" I was totally taken aback and seemingly unprepared to answer it. But, we talked through it and he seemed to understand. I told him that when we believe in God, we would always be with Him, even after we died. I was very unprepared for that when He asked. I can only thank God that I was able to stumble over some words and help him understand on a level that was good for his age.

Even at 22, my mind does not grasp the concept of eternity. It blows my mind to think about time in eternity form, that we will reign with God forever! 

We have had some interesting moments in the past couple of weeks. 

We have had bathroom accidents, trouble going to sleep at nap time, one incident of throw up, hitting, pushing, falling and scraping. 

The past couple of days the pool that we go and swim at every day hasn't been an option. A pump for the pool got struck by lightening and they are having to get it fixed. 

The first day we didn't have pool time, we went to a park on campus and let the kids run through the sprinklers. Sounds like an awesome idea, except for the fact that apparently there were ants everywhere! So, many of the kids got bitten and some had bad reactions. Needless to say, we aren't going back to the park any time soon. 

Today, since the pool is still out, we went to the gym and they got to play all sorts of fun and different games that we haven't gotten to play yet. 

I pray that that pool is working again soon though, because nothing wears them out and makes them tired and ready for nap time like the pool! 

Today, while I was letting the boys use the bathroom before laying down, I was going around and saying who would be first, second, and so forth. Well, A., the same little boy from the story above, looked at me and said,"Well, do you know that really, whoever is first will be last and the last person will be first?" 

I thought it was so funny, I was like wow!

It gave me a chuckle. 

:-) 

Speaking of nap time, it can be one of my favorite times or my least. 

Especially after swimming, it can be hard. 

Repeating over and over things like: 

"Put your wet clothes in the bag."

"Put on your underwear, please."

"Stop running around."

"Sit on your cot only." 

"Put on your underwear." 

"Be quiet, it is time to go to sleep."

"Put on your underwear!"

But, once they are all laying down and finally asleep (for what seems like an eternity later), it is peaceful 

and

we actually get a moment to breathe. 

One of my favorite things to do though, when I am in the room with them while they are asleep, is to pray over them. 

I pray for them and their parents, for how things might be when they go home. 

I pray for their future and for the things they may encounter. 

I pray for them as they are in camp this summer and that they will remember the things that we are teaching them

and 

begin to learn that there is a God who is looking over them. 

Days at camp can most certainly be long and hard. 

Many days, I come home exhausted, with no energy.

Some days I am frustrated. 

But, I wouldn't stop doing this for anything.

The bad days definitely do not outnumber the laughs, the Bible verses learned, the songs sang, hugs given, Spanish words learned, high fives, and smiling faces.

This is definitely a great job to have.

I am so thankful and blessed that God saw it good to put me here. 

I do miss my family, friends, and Tuscaloosa, but

I am so happy to be in New Orleans. 

:-) 

Now, I hope you enjoy these pictures! 

Favorite Moments From This Week

Just thought I would share with ya'll some of my favorite moments from this week.

Most deal with camp 

and 

some are moments with other staffers. 

I loved one conversation I had with a girl who I asked if her parents were missionaries. She responded with yes they are and so am I! I was like yes, you certainly are. Then, she also told me that she wants to go to Africa and Chile one day to tell the people there about Jesus. 

Me too L., me too. 

Another moment is one that I had with the same little girl above, L. We were working on a craft (making crowns) and I heard her singing. What was she singing? Mighty to Save. 

Needless to say that I joined in! 

:-) 

There is one moment that I didn't enjoy, but later turned memorable. 

It involves a little boy, T. He is so great and has definitely become my buddy these past few days. 

Well, yesterday was the first day that I had to get on to him. 

I saw him hit another boy, just in play, but still. 

It happened right in front of me and I was told him, no sir! We do not hit our friends. You need to say sorry and not to hit again. 

Well, he did apologize and then he walked off to a chair by himself. 

I looked over at him and I see him starting to cry. 

I. Felt. Awful. 

I did not want to get on to him, but I also know that all the kids need to be treated the same. 

He didn't cry for long and went back to playing. 

I called him over and told him that I was sorry for yelling at him, but I needed him to know that it is not right for us to hit friends. He said he understood and I asked him if he could forgive me. 

He shook his head no. 

I was like okay, knowing that most likely he would change his mind. 

I let him go play and went to go pick up some toys and clean a little 

and 

when I stood up, T. came running over to me and gave me a big hug! 

My buddy was back. 

:-) 

I also enjoyed that while I was outside, the same boy above, T., wanted me to help him as he hung from the play place. Our play place doesn't have monkey bars, but the kids discovered today that they could make something like it, by just hanging from one part of the play place and crossing over.

Well, I was helping T. cross over the makeshift monkey bars and then lift him down because he didn't want to jump down and then I had walked away to do something. He came running up to me, wanting me to follow him back to the play place. But, I was busy doing something then. T. told me that he just wasn't going to show me if I didn't come right then. So, I went with him and he told me to watch him. 

I watched as he climbed up and shimmied across the "monkey bars" and let go falling to ground and landing on his feet.

All by himself! 

I was very proud! haha

I gave him a high five 

and 

then he showed me again how he could do it.

All by himself. 

That above story just shows me a little bit of how I am going to watch these children change over the summer.

A lot of change happens in these years (4&5)

and 

it is exciting to see what is going to take place.

They are going to grow so much. 

I also love that I can pinpoint some of my Child Development knowledge in these kids. 

Looks like I am learning something during class! Ha!

Another favorite moment from camp happened when I was leaving work and walking back to my dorm. 

The children that were still there were outside playing on the playground 

and

I was walking past the fence. 

I got into the parking lot next to the playground and I heard a kid say, hey that is Ms. Jessica!

I turned around and some of the kids were yelling at me! 

They were telling me bye and that they would see me on Monday! 

It was very awesome.

Definitely a favorite moment. 

Another favorite moment that is not in camp, but is instead with Staffers! 

There is Camp Nola Kidz staff and then MissionLab staff. 

We have gone to the movies with them and gone to eat with them, but 

this past week has been like bonding week for us all. 

We have gone to church and worship during the week with them. 

Wednesday was one of our staff member's birthday, so we all went to eat and MissionLab came with us. 

Thursday was the birthday of a staffer from MissionLab so we had fun with that.

Today we are planning on going to play Laser Tag with them

and 

it is also another staffer's, from MissionLab, birthday.
So, we are going to eat for his birthday. 

It has been great getting to know them and hang out with them.

They are so much fun and it is great that we all have this bond going on. 

Okay, well I think those of most of my favorite moments from this past week. 

I know I have many more, but these are the ones that I could remember right now.

Week 3 of Camp went by really fast 

and

I am really tired! 

:-) 

Like a Child

This past week, I feel like God has been wanting me to pay attention to the mind of a child. 

They are so creative, funny, unafraid of some things and afraid of others, imaginative, 

passionate, temperamental, demanding and loving. 

They are untouched by the world in so many ways, but some have seen things far beyond their years.

I constantly want to keep them the innocent 4 and 5 year olds that they are, but I know that eventually

 (and that may come sooner than I wish)

they will no longer just see what is on the playground.

They will grow up and learn all the things that are going on in this world.

They will know what I know and maybe even more.

They will see that the world is filled with evil, lurking all around them. 

Trying it's best to get a hold of them.

Trying to tear them away from the innocence that they know now.

They will see the death, the violence, the racism and discrimination, the sex, drugs, alcohol, and money.

They will see everything that I don't want them to see.

I love how at this age they are unconcerned with the color of people's skin.
To them, they are all the same.

I want so badly to shelter them from the evil that is out to steal, kill, and destroy.

I know that, for right now, I am only here for a summer.
I will only be with them for 8 more weeks.

What happens after?
Only the Lord knows.

I pray earnestly that He will protect them in all their many situations.
I am confident that He will.

I pray that all of them will come to know the Lord and have a saving, personal relationship with Him.

I pray that the seeds planted in their young lives this summer will continue to be tended to
and that one day, they will say yes to the Savior and let Him be their King.

I know that work done for the Lord is never in vain
and that His Word is faithful and true.

I know that He saves lives
and
changes hearts.

I know that He loves the little children.
That He loves all of us.
That He wants a relationship with all of us, even though some choose to say no.

My Jesus saves.

I know that these children are no different.
And I am praying for them, that one day,
 they will say yes to Lord
that is calling them to do great things.

I pray that we can be like little children.
That we can look beyond the differences of our skin, language, or culture
and just see the person in front of us.
I pray that we will not pass anyone by because of the way they are or how they look,
but instead that we will see through the lens of Christ.
We will see their heart
and tell them about Jesus.
I pray that we continuously plant and nourish seeds.
I pray that we never lose faith that our God can do great and mighty things.
I pray that we remember that He is still changing lives
and
that He won't relent.

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said, 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this is my name welcomes me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea." 
-- Matthew 18:1-6

Camp NOLA Kidz in Pictures!

Here are some shots that I have taken from camp so far! 

Enjoy!

:-)

Nap time!

Listening to Mrs. Debbie tell a Bible story!

Me and Bailey with our "crowns"

Kennedy, he like's trains!

 Mason!

 Lea!

We had a police officer come talk to us!

Tia!

Larry!

Madison B.!

Amari!

Dandre!

JC!

Jaionne! 

Life Here at Camp Nola Kidz

Hey Everyone!!

Life here at Camp Nola has been crazy busy for the past couple of weeks, so I have not been able to get on here and write a post.

We are into our second week of camp right now and things are going great!
I'm not sure how many kids we have had in the Pre-K camp, but I know that it is around 30.
The other part of the camp that is all the older kids, they have had many more, with close to or over 100 children.

I have around 10 campers in my group!
We are the Yellow or the Sun group!
They are absolutely precious and I love them, however they can most certainly be a handful.

I had this notion in my head at the beginning of camp that most of the kids were in some way associated with the seminary, because we have camp here on campus. Then, I quickly remembered that that is not true. Only a handful of kids have parents that are either students or professors. The rest are here from the community or have attended the preschool throughout the actual school year. So, the kids that are coming to our camp truly do see many different things and have different lives. They are true inner city kids, living just a few blocks from downtown New Orleans. Who knows what these kids experience when they go home. They look like they are well taken care of, but we of course don't know. Most are dropped off by parents and some are dropped off by grandparents.

A big number of the children are also ADD or ADHD. This in fact changes the way that we have to do some things with them. Whether in the way we teach, discipline, or just talk to. It can be hard. It has been hard. Definitely a new challenge for me. It is also easily frustrating, which stinks because you know that it isn't their fault! Especially at the age of 4 and 5 it also has to be hard for them as well. They also have so much energy! I wonder where it all comes from! There is just so much! haha It can be hard to transition them from one activity to another. Some days it is awful, while other days it is very easy and they are so into everything that we do!

I have two main prayer requests for right now. One, that I will be able to teach, discipline, and be a friend to these children in the way that they need it. They are all different so it can be challenging, but so important I believe. Second, that I will have more than enough energy to keep up with the kids. About every day my 30 minute break time is spent taking a nap in my bed. I want to be able to keep up with the children and be fun all day, not just in the middle of the afternoon, but also in the morning when I am tired and at the end of the day when I am getting tired or may be frustrated with something that is happening.

A great thing can take place at this camp this summer. I pray that everyone here or associated with camp will be completely overwhelmed by the Spirit of the Lord and that a great revival will happen. That children, parents and even the people of New Orleans will see the one, true God and accept Him as their Savior.
I pray that we put aside our own ambitions and dreams and start truly living on fire for Christ.
That in everything we do, He will be seen.
I pray that through everything we do, the Gospel will be seen.
I pray this for everyone and myself.

Lord, be my all consuming fire.  

New Orleans Update!

Hey Everyone!

First, I just wanted to say thank you to the encouragement and prayers that ya'll have been pouring out on those last two posts.

I really appreciate it! 

Although it has been a hard 8 months, it has also been very good. 

God has been showing my His sovereignty and His protection through it all. 

So, thank you! 

:-) 

I have been in New Orleans for a week now! 

Staff training was this past week and is now over! 

We have this weekend and then the kids start coming on Monday!! 

I am very excited for this summer to truly begin with the kids coming to camp! 

This past week we have been doing team-building with the other staffers, learning fun camp songs (that have been in my head continuously!), learning games, and going over the curriculum for this summer!

Originally, I was going to work with the older kids camp. 

Which is the kids who have completed kindergarten through 8th or 9th grade.

Now, I have been switched to working with the Pre-K camp! 

Which is the 4s and 5-year-olds. 

It is going to be a switch and different, but I am excited for it.

At first I was a little bummed because I really wanted to work with the older kids.

But, at the beginning of the summer, I told them that I wouldn't mind being switched and that I could help wherever needed. 

So, I'm trying to not be bummed, but be excited in working with the smaller kids. I have already meet some of them and they are very fun! haha

I will still be a counselor for a group of kids, but they will rotate throughout the day to do the different activities, so I will not always be with them because I also teach and help with the rotations they are going to!

I will be helping with the crafts and with teaching them Spanish!

Both of which are very fun! haha

Although, it has been like two years since I have taken Spanish, but I figured that the basics would come back to me as we started teaching the little ones! 

:-) 

Throughout the day the kids will go to bible story time, crafts, recreation, swimming, and special guests on Fridays! 

It is set up a lot like a Vacation Bible School, just all summer and every day! 

I am loving being in New Orleans! 

I love the atmosphere of the city 

and of course

the amazing food! 

I have been to some great places so far! 

One of my goals for this summer is to go to places that are local.

I have done the typical, cliche New Orleans things many times before. 

So, now it is time to experience other places that are just as great! 

One of the girls working here this summer also worked the camp last year.

So, she has taken us to some of the places they went to last summer.

There are also many locals of New Orleans, the city or the seminary, or from another area of Louisiana.
We have a great number of people who can take us to some great places! 

:-) 

Here are some pics (courteous of the internet) of the places that we have been so far!