My first blog post. Honestly, I don't know how I feel about it. I thought I was done with this kind of stuff once Xanga died. A lot of people have been messaging me on facebook asking me about my summer and if I have a blog...
So here I go...
I won't be a committed blogger since my only free time is 2 hours once a week and half of a weekend. Regardless, I don't have the skills of a writer and this will clearly be me spilling my emotions of my filled summer. Bare with me on my numerous typo's and my bad use of...words.
This summer...
man oh man. It is hard to believe I have been out of Ohio for a month now. The community I have been able to be apart of in Warrensburg, New York has been nothing less than amazing. I have never been to a place that I feel so instantly at home- well besides home. Everyone in town knows about YouthWorks and even us. Seriously an elderly lady we met said "Oh, you must be Laurie. Someone told me about the girl with the nose ring this year!" We haven't had to make dinner once because everyone just invites us into their home for dinner. Everyone is so warm and friendly. There is so much love in this community. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the community that is formed in this town. The town itself is absolutely breathtaking as well. A quaint little town with mountains surrounding everywhere. Breathtaking...it truly is.
BUT as pretty as main street and the Hudson river that flows next to it is, it really is completely poverty stricken right behind it. There is so much need in the community. I believe that is why they are so welcoming. Not because they want our help because they are in need for love. If that makes any sense.
The details...
We are staying at an episcopal church that was made in 1864. Stone building with beautiful stain glass windows! The church is mostly....well aged congregation but they are our mothers for the summer! Father Cornelius lives next door to the church and is always at the church. Though I am quickly judged by Father Cornelius for my no drinking rule we still find a common ground with our similar interest with the city of Pittsburgh!
God is really working in me and strengthening my beliefs. My team is made up of 3 other people whose beliefs are very different from mine. Through this God has been able to teach me what values are important to me. God has been so good. It's hard to believe I'm teaching a sermon every night to teenagers. I would have no problem teaching a bible story to preschoolers but teenagers that's a whole new story. I am stoked for what God has planned though. I was originally hired as kids club staff for the summer. 2 days before I found out my placement, YouthWorks called me to switch to Program staff. I did. God has a plan for me. There is a reason I'm in program role instead.
Currently...
I am sitting in a local coffee shop in Rutland, Vermont. I have been here for the past week working at their site for their first week of programming. It has been nothing less than amazing. The teens this week are wonderful! Yesterday I was able to visit Camp Thorpe. Camp Thorpe is a summer camp for mentally handicapped individuals of all ages. Man, I left a piece of my heart there. Amazing. When we were having our staff meeting last night I just lost it. I have known for sometime now that this is what God wants me to do with my life. The past year I have felt like this could just be my fallback if I don't get a job I like better. I believe me visiting Camp Thorpe was God's way of saying "stop getting distracted. I want you to do this!" It amazes me how God gets you on track without being aware you have strayed.
I have also been able to work along side an older man named Milt. He is 75 years old and is an adult leader on this trip. We spent the day building trails at Pine Hill park. He told me his life story. I told him mine. He now tells all of the staff that "I'm his favorite". What a character!
There are so many more details to write and so much I am leaving out but a blog post can't express the way my heart feels at the moment.
All I know is...God is good. Love conqures all. I am blessed beyond belief.
Ciao,
Laurie
