As of this last week I (Deidre) am officially an employee of Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services. I will be working as a Teacher's Assistant at the organizations high school. Optimist High School (OHS) is a non-public school that offer specialized education to youth within one of its many programs as well as a select few referred to the school by LA Unified School district or other local districts.
As a TA I will be in a classroom with 12 students and two other teachers. OHS demands that it holds a 4-1 student teacher ratio at all times. At times I will simply be assisting students as they work through their self-study items and at other times I will be teaching my own class. That is all I really know right now. I spent the last week learning how to de-escalate aggressive situation without using any force, or touch for that matter (we are a strictly hands off organization), but my school training does not begin until Tuesday, Sept. 5th (two days before students return).
I cannot express how excited I am at this opportunity. All the students I will be working with are either neglected, abused and/or what's considered "at-risk". These are the students my heart breaks for, the ones I was put on this earth to love and I am so excited that I finally get to do it. Just earlier this week I was reading in Acts where Paul recounts his conversion before his accusers. He tells them of how Jesus instructed him to seek out Ananias that he might know his "assignment." I have found my assignment. It is to love and encourage these students. I believe that God has given me a very specific call - a call to give hope to children in hopeless situation, to believe in the ones many have given up on, and to help them reach their fullest potential, wildest dreams and hopeful equip them to lead self-sufficient lives.
Unfortunately, I will not get to do this full time quite yet. Due to financials, I asked for a part-time position so that I can still wait tables part-time. Being that it is a non-profit organization that demands such a high student teacher ratio, salaries are not too great. But by God's divine plan they just happened to have a part-time position (for a minute there it didn't look like they would). So I will be teaching half the day and serving pizza the other half. Oh the life! :)
The plan is to support raise soon. Cami's job pays half time and he is to raise the other half of his pay. Once we have raised what we need, I will be able to leave the restaurant industry and give myself fully to teaching. But until then, I believe this will be a good transition, allowing me opportunity to fulfill my "assignment", while still leaving space for me fulfill my higher calling of loving my husband well. I know that my wifely duties are about to increase now that he has begun his masters and will have less free time for household duties.
As you can see, many changes are in the works, and yet more are still to come. In addition to all the above it looks like we will be moving also. Both of our teaching jobs are rather close to one another and about 25 miles away from where we currently live and on the other side of downtown LA. So in the next month we will not only have started two new jobs and begun Cami's masters work, we will also be moving, quickly followed by the third brother's wedding in three months.
I am ready for the day when all the dust settles and normal, regular, even mundane life begins. . . but then, what's the fun in that ;)
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
School...
Let's see, where do I start....
This week has been an interesting one. This is my (Cami's) second week teaching in the school, and every day this week has been a new record for the amount of discipline that has been handed out in my classroom. Thus far, today has, by a long shot, been the worst. A boy was caught cheating, then cussed out the TA, then refused to do what he was told or go where he was supposed to go. Then, another boy got caught trying to steal markers from the classroom so that he could go sniff them latter. On top of that, my pencil holders full of pens and pencils disappeared today. Rough day.
Interestingly enough I found out today as well that one of the boys in the program (a 15 year old with a 2 month old son) has a hit out on his life, and had a rival gang member threaten to kill him at this upcoming Saturday's church outreach. As this guy, "John" we'll call him, was telling me about his gang and how proud he was to be part of it I couldn't help but feel really sad for him. This is his life. Not only that, but he is proud to be a gang member. This isn't a kid that wouldn't fit in anywhere else either, he's an intelligent, handsome, friendly guy that's quick to befriend others and be the mature one in the group. Breaks my heart.
Pray that, in His infinite mercy, God would grant me the wisdom to respond to kids that cheat. It was difficult not to fly off the handle with that boy today, something about cheating makes me feel taken advantage of...
Also, that I would have words to say in conversations about gangs that would show these kids the love and acceptance of Christ in a way that doesn't turn them off, or perpetuate the perception of Christ as a weeny and Christianity for suckers.
This week has been an interesting one. This is my (Cami's) second week teaching in the school, and every day this week has been a new record for the amount of discipline that has been handed out in my classroom. Thus far, today has, by a long shot, been the worst. A boy was caught cheating, then cussed out the TA, then refused to do what he was told or go where he was supposed to go. Then, another boy got caught trying to steal markers from the classroom so that he could go sniff them latter. On top of that, my pencil holders full of pens and pencils disappeared today. Rough day.
Interestingly enough I found out today as well that one of the boys in the program (a 15 year old with a 2 month old son) has a hit out on his life, and had a rival gang member threaten to kill him at this upcoming Saturday's church outreach. As this guy, "John" we'll call him, was telling me about his gang and how proud he was to be part of it I couldn't help but feel really sad for him. This is his life. Not only that, but he is proud to be a gang member. This isn't a kid that wouldn't fit in anywhere else either, he's an intelligent, handsome, friendly guy that's quick to befriend others and be the mature one in the group. Breaks my heart.
Pray that, in His infinite mercy, God would grant me the wisdom to respond to kids that cheat. It was difficult not to fly off the handle with that boy today, something about cheating makes me feel taken advantage of...
Also, that I would have words to say in conversations about gangs that would show these kids the love and acceptance of Christ in a way that doesn't turn them off, or perpetuate the perception of Christ as a weeny and Christianity for suckers.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Some changes...
I apologize for the large span of time between this and the last informative post on this site. For a while it felt like nothing was happening in our lives, and now, all the sudden, it seems that nothing is the same.
As I am writing this I am in Prescott, Arizona, having just finished my graduate school orientation at Prescott College. I am currently equal parts terrified and excited to get started. Terrified because one of the other current students was telling us that in order to get her work done she would sleep from 12am -1am, then wake up and work till morning when she went off to work. Excited because this is a program that I get to design and follow my passions and study only things that I am interested in.
Other recent changes include:
Deidre getting a new job at Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services. She starts as a Teacher's Assistant on Sept. 5th. I'll let her tell you more about it when she gets a chance.
2 weeks ago I started teaching in the residential boys classroom at the Dream Center Academy. The boys are a bit of a handful, but I've discovered that I thrive on challenges, and LOVE having a job that keeps me on my toes. After years of working jobs just to pay the bills it is refreshing to have a job that is meaningful and stretching for me.
Along with both of our job changes our economic status has shifted as well. We are technically considered half-time missionaries at this point, as the position at the Dream Center is only paid half time, with the understanding that the rest will come from support. This has been (yet another) step of faith for Deidre and me, as we have already started working these jobs without the funding lined up. We just know that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing and that the Lord will take care of the rest.
Having said that, we are looking for a smaller apartment closer to our work in order to save on both rent and gas money. The idea of moving is not really appealing to either of us, but the shrinking budget makes cheaper cost of living a necessity. If you have any interest in supporting us let us know! We find ourselves in dire need of both prayer and financial support.
We will keep you updated as our lives progress in the coming months. It is good to be living in the reality that the Lord gives us the desires of our hearts, and that He actively leads us to where He has for us. Deidre and I both would never have imagined ourselves here a year ago, but we know that this is where we are supposed to be.
Thank you all for supporting us as we go.
As I am writing this I am in Prescott, Arizona, having just finished my graduate school orientation at Prescott College. I am currently equal parts terrified and excited to get started. Terrified because one of the other current students was telling us that in order to get her work done she would sleep from 12am -1am, then wake up and work till morning when she went off to work. Excited because this is a program that I get to design and follow my passions and study only things that I am interested in.
Other recent changes include:
Deidre getting a new job at Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services. She starts as a Teacher's Assistant on Sept. 5th. I'll let her tell you more about it when she gets a chance.
2 weeks ago I started teaching in the residential boys classroom at the Dream Center Academy. The boys are a bit of a handful, but I've discovered that I thrive on challenges, and LOVE having a job that keeps me on my toes. After years of working jobs just to pay the bills it is refreshing to have a job that is meaningful and stretching for me.
Along with both of our job changes our economic status has shifted as well. We are technically considered half-time missionaries at this point, as the position at the Dream Center is only paid half time, with the understanding that the rest will come from support. This has been (yet another) step of faith for Deidre and me, as we have already started working these jobs without the funding lined up. We just know that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing and that the Lord will take care of the rest.
Having said that, we are looking for a smaller apartment closer to our work in order to save on both rent and gas money. The idea of moving is not really appealing to either of us, but the shrinking budget makes cheaper cost of living a necessity. If you have any interest in supporting us let us know! We find ourselves in dire need of both prayer and financial support.
We will keep you updated as our lives progress in the coming months. It is good to be living in the reality that the Lord gives us the desires of our hearts, and that He actively leads us to where He has for us. Deidre and I both would never have imagined ourselves here a year ago, but we know that this is where we are supposed to be.
Thank you all for supporting us as we go.
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