volunteers of america

I wonder if my few readers have given up on me...but nonetheless I shall give you an update!

I've started to settle in to life Sioux Falls. I think it's finally hitting me I'm not just here on vacation but that I live here. However, the suitcases that are currently my closets aren't helping the case. I'm living at my sister's for now but hope to be in my house in the next few weeks. I just keep reminding myself I'm glad to be here. I have some of the most incredible friends that have helped me remember what it's like to be 25 again!

I started working with the Volunteers of America. We are not volunteers, so the name seems to be a bit misleading. But, it is such a perfect fit for me. They call themselves a church and remind me so much of the place I left and loved for three years. I'm working at the Bowden Youth Center in the kids summer camps for June and July. This means my days are filled with Uno, tetherball, walks downtown and trips to the swimming pool. Doesn't get much better than that right! The kids are precious and remind me daily how grateful I am for the experience I had in Detroit. Can't pull too many fast ones on me! They are every color of the rainbow and voice of the sea (Avalon...right Donny? :) which is new for me and fun to experience. I learned Karundi swear words on about day two- which is right about on par when working with kids. But, they are beautiful, and precious and loved by the Creator and I hope to love on them and teach them as they are so deserving.

Starting in July a new and unexpected grant will allow the Bowden to expand so I will be running this camp in a few weeks. It is specifically for refugee children from the Family Immersion Center school in Sioux Falls. I'm excited for this new challenge, and excited to meet more families in Sioux Falls. We'll be studying Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs based solely on the rich themes and vocabulary (...not for my fascination with this darling children's movie...)

Wednesday starts Under God's Canopy with the other part of my life here....look for that update soon!! (And, I promise some pictures...getting a little boring I know!)

Love