It seems kind of bad that I am already counting down the total number of classes before I can graduate. Last week I finished my first class. Although at times it was boring, I really enjoyed the information that I learned. My favorite lecture was on adaptive technologies. It was fun to hear about all the free things available that I could see helping the kids in Kazakhstan. The whole way through the lecture I kept thinking of specific kids and how certain types of technology would allow them to have a fuller life. I am going to take one class this fall in order to gage the amount of work required for one class. I am looking forward to it, since one of the more interesting lecturers from my last class will by my professor.
Both of our delegations returned home safely. It has been fun to hear about their time in Kazakhstan. This week has been a bit crazy with a lot of meetings at work. I am looking forward to seeing how we implement some of the concepts we have been talking about.
This morning my mother came out of her bedroom to find me sitting on the couch in the living room. Since there was a light behind my head, she had a hard time figuring out who was in her living room working on a computer. Her reaction was priceless. This is only the third time we have succeeded in surprising mom. I will spend today and tomorrow with them before heading back to Muncie. I'm looking forward to hanging out here.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
More Changes
It seems like this has been a year or two of change. I am currently at another set of crossroads in my life. As you know, I have started grad school courses. Although I'm not sure yet if I like having to do the homework and prepare for tests, I am really enjoying what I am learning.
Even more exciting to me right now is the opportunity I have to work full-time for Interlink starting in August. I will continue taking one class, while I spend my days in the Muncie office. I look forward to the ways that I can continue to be a help to the work taking place in Kazakhstan. It will also be really refreshing not to be jumping between three different part-time jobs. It also looks like I will be able to travel to Kazakhstan for a couple weeks in September. I had just resigned myself to the fact that this would be the first year in 8 years that I would not return to Kazakhstan when my boss approached me with this opportunity.
I just mailed a newsletter that goes into a lot more detail about my more immediate future. If you did not receive one and would like to, please contact me and I will get one in the mail. I have also updated the sidebar on my blog to show the funds I will need to raise in order for this to all be possible. I can't wait to see how things takes shape.
Even more exciting to me right now is the opportunity I have to work full-time for Interlink starting in August. I will continue taking one class, while I spend my days in the Muncie office. I look forward to the ways that I can continue to be a help to the work taking place in Kazakhstan. It will also be really refreshing not to be jumping between three different part-time jobs. It also looks like I will be able to travel to Kazakhstan for a couple weeks in September. I had just resigned myself to the fact that this would be the first year in 8 years that I would not return to Kazakhstan when my boss approached me with this opportunity.
I just mailed a newsletter that goes into a lot more detail about my more immediate future. If you did not receive one and would like to, please contact me and I will get one in the mail. I have also updated the sidebar on my blog to show the funds I will need to raise in order for this to all be possible. I can't wait to see how things takes shape.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Summer Fun!
I had a great time at SERVE. My group was such a fun group. We worked really well together. The culmination of the week was something called the "Party in the Parking Lot." All the youth help put on a carnival-type event in the parking lot. There were inflatable games, food, live entertainment, and all sorts of other free fun. This year our group was in charge of inflatable games. This included putting the games away in record time. A storm appeared quickly and we had to clean up about 10 different inflatable games (with several other groups) in about 20 minutes. It was fun to see everyone pull together all week and accomplish so much good in our city.
My favorite project was building a short rock wall to accent a park area that we worked on. It was fun to try to fit the rocks together like a puzzle. Below are some pictures of my team.
My first graduate class is going well so far. I survived my first test and paper. Also, God has provided places for me to stay this summer. It is fun to see how God continues to provide for my every need.
My favorite project was building a short rock wall to accent a park area that we worked on. It was fun to try to fit the rocks together like a puzzle. Below are some pictures of my team.
My first graduate class is going well so far. I survived my first test and paper. Also, God has provided places for me to stay this summer. It is fun to see how God continues to provide for my every need.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Graduate School
Once I catch you all up on life here, I won't be posting every day. :) I will try to post at least every other week though. I'll also work on sharing some entertaining stories from life in Muncie. I do start SERVE on Monday, so I probably won't be updating next week.
Earlier this week I wrote that I will be starting graduate school. I will actually be starting classes on the 21st of June for a Master's in Special Ed. I am really excited about this. I have wanted to gain more experience in this area ever since my student teaching, but it has never seemed like the right time. Some of you may remember that three summer ago I helped with a camp for children with Cerebral Palsy. Since then, my heart has continued to break for these children that are often shunned by society. Before I left Kazakhstan, some of the mothers shared their desires for their children to receive quality education. My mind continues to go back to that request. During the spring I did some research about graduate degrees at Ball State and found one that will fit my desire to work with children like these in the future. I have no idea what God has for my future, but I sense that the next step is getting a degree that would equip me to work with these children in the future.
I am both looking forward to and a bit anxious about my first class. I'm not sure I am really ready to start studying again, but I guess I will have to. Hopefully, I can remember how to read a textbook. The entire degree is online, which allows for a lot of flexibility in my schedule. I will take one course this summer and then determine the work load I will be able to maintain in the fall. I can't wait to see where this all leads.
Earlier this week I wrote that I will be starting graduate school. I will actually be starting classes on the 21st of June for a Master's in Special Ed. I am really excited about this. I have wanted to gain more experience in this area ever since my student teaching, but it has never seemed like the right time. Some of you may remember that three summer ago I helped with a camp for children with Cerebral Palsy. Since then, my heart has continued to break for these children that are often shunned by society. Before I left Kazakhstan, some of the mothers shared their desires for their children to receive quality education. My mind continues to go back to that request. During the spring I did some research about graduate degrees at Ball State and found one that will fit my desire to work with children like these in the future. I have no idea what God has for my future, but I sense that the next step is getting a degree that would equip me to work with these children in the future.
I am both looking forward to and a bit anxious about my first class. I'm not sure I am really ready to start studying again, but I guess I will have to. Hopefully, I can remember how to read a textbook. The entire degree is online, which allows for a lot of flexibility in my schedule. I will take one course this summer and then determine the work load I will be able to maintain in the fall. I can't wait to see where this all leads.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Memories
Today I had the joy of spending some time with four of the youth that I worked with back before going to Kazakhstan. Several of them just graduated from high school and are moving on to University. It was so fun to have the group back together and catch up on life and share memories of the past. I look forward to seeing the choices that they will all make with their futures.
Starting Sunday I will be making some new memories with a new group of youth. Last year I helped with something called SERVE for the first time. Over 200 children and youth participate on teams that go out and serve the community. I had such a good time last year and am looking forward to the memories that will be made this year. My co-leader is the same one that I had last year and we will be working at the same location. We begin Monday morning and don't finish until Friday night (including spending the nights).
We will be doing yard work, cleaning up a neighborhood park, swimming with children from a community center, and many other things. I look forward to getting to know everyone in our group better. I know we will spend a lot of our time laughing as we work hard to serve our community.
Today also marked the packing party for the first delegation that I have officially helped prepare to go to Kazakhstan. They leave on Saturday and will be gone two weeks. Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything important. :) Although my heart breaks not to be returning this summer, I look forward to the memories that will be made here.
Starting Sunday I will be making some new memories with a new group of youth. Last year I helped with something called SERVE for the first time. Over 200 children and youth participate on teams that go out and serve the community. I had such a good time last year and am looking forward to the memories that will be made this year. My co-leader is the same one that I had last year and we will be working at the same location. We begin Monday morning and don't finish until Friday night (including spending the nights).
We will be doing yard work, cleaning up a neighborhood park, swimming with children from a community center, and many other things. I look forward to getting to know everyone in our group better. I know we will spend a lot of our time laughing as we work hard to serve our community.
Today also marked the packing party for the first delegation that I have officially helped prepare to go to Kazakhstan. They leave on Saturday and will be gone two weeks. Hopefully I haven't forgotten anything important. :) Although my heart breaks not to be returning this summer, I look forward to the memories that will be made here.
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