Flying Termites Are Worse Than Flying Monkeys

Okay, I know it has been about a week since I last blogged. Let me start off by apologizing, but my friends have been here and it has been an amazing week. The other two groups have been amazing too! Along with my UPC group, we had a group of "rag tags" from Marion, South Carolina, and a group from Virgina.


The group from SC has been amazing this week. They have taught me a whole lot about what my strengths are, and they have really affirmed for me that this is where I'm supposed to be and do. They had one man, who is special needs and he is my new best friend! Just such a blessing to see that all the experience I've had working in mom's classroom and growing up in such a great school district that blends regular and special education together. Knowing that everyone has a function in society and can work through anything. This man is an assistant scout master, a deacon at his church, just an amazing person, and I can only hope that I can be half the person he is in my life time! This group also planned out my life for me, having me stay with them while I go back to school to get my teaching cert. It is great! I'm definitely going to go visit them the next chance that I get.







Having open invites to people's homes and church communities is such a great reward for this job. To know that I am welcome where ever I go is amazing. And I'll get a chance to see the country. The people God has put in my life this week are exactly who I needed to be around!









The VA group jumped in with open arms to be flexible, and took care of their own, even through illnesses and termites.

Yes, I said termites. Monday night we had a lovely experience of the whole city/region being swarmed by small flying termites, and one of the men's rooms was completely infested. So much so, that I had to get every one's stuff out, put them in another room for the night, and Anna my AmeriCorps NCCC leader and I sprayed the whole room until we were coughing though the protective gear. It was an adventure to say the least. They were also crawling all over me for hours! It was gross. I'm bummed I didn't get a picture of it to show all y'all, but I went into leader mode and took care of the issue at hand first and foremost. At least my priorities are in the right place.

I'm looking forward to a smaller week next week. It will give me a chance to catch up on some of the computer work I need to get done. It has been a little on the chaotic side this week, but only one major incident I have one volunteer who is so dehydrated that his team took him to the hospital this morning. I hope he is alright. He has been such a blessing to me this week. He connected me with a woman by the name of Barbra Major, and she has a lot of connections in this city and is willing to hook me up with a group of people my age, and she said, if I want it she could find me a job in community advocacy. And that would be a cool experience to gain. She is also a very godly woman and knows the importance of prayer, and all that is important in deciding if we are to go anywhere else. I'm excited that some connections are being made. It is what New Orleans is all about. And I really do love it down here, even if there are poisonous snakes and spiders, and flying swarming termites!

Mom, your mother's day card is in the mail today! Sorry it is late. But I'll call you too!