My Internship

This semester has totally been way different than what I expected! After 7 semesters of working my butt off with heavy course loads and hours of homework... I am so excited to be where I am now.
This semester I am doing a full time internship at Debra Corn Agency, a foster care and adoption agency. I work 34 hours a week, Tuesday - Friday. (I have a 3 hour seminar on Mondays with the other Social Work seniors in my class. We talk about our internships, debrief experiences, and share stories to learn together.) I'm working as an intern case manager. I have been there since January 10 and at this point I've just been shadowing other case workers while they do home visits, supervised visits, and private time; I go to court, probation check-ins, and doctors appointments; and I also sit in on staff meetings, trainings, and consultations. Last Friday I was given my caseload and slowly I will begin to take over responsibility for those cases. I am terribly nervous and extremely excited.

Already I have learned so much. Some of the exposures I have had have shocked me. It's the kind of things you read about in social work journals but rarely experience in life. The past 4 years of studying social work have certainly confirmed how sheltered I was as a child. Sometimes I ask myself how I can help people through problems with which I cannot relate, but it's the love and empathy of Christ that make it achievable. With patience and dedication, as I relate to people, I will understand their situations more and find ways to help them. And now, the greatest confirmation I am receiving is that this is God's will for my life. I am meant to be a social worker. I have gifts and talents that can (and will) be used to reach out to these at-risk kids in their most vulnerable state. I may not be able to solve all of life's problems, but if I can even make one day brighter for a child, I would consider that an important use of my time and efforts. Though my hope is that my effort will last longer than the day and set them on a life course trajectory of joy, hope, and success - becoming what they are in their greatest potential by moving past the degrading life experiences they face.

After only two weeks I am already emotionally overwhelmed. I've realized the hardest task in social work is to maintain my composer with clients and to separate myself from their problems and not carry their burdens home with me as emotional baggage. I continue to think about the kids, their stories, and our interactions, hours after I am home. Their stories break my heart. I cannot imagine being a social worker and not a Christian because I know I would ask myself "How could a loving God allow this to happen?". These kids do not deserve the crap they face and yet they suffer way more than anyone, especially a child, ever should. But, Christ is giving me the hope to look past present sufferings, the strength to focus on my tasks, and the love to reach out to these kids when they seem unlovable.

Needless to repeat again for fear of sounding insincere, but - I love my job! The kids have won a special place in my heart. My co-workers there area also amazing! I have the best time with them! God is so awesome for working out this placement just for me! I couldn't have dreamed of a blessing this big. The best part is that I know He is using this to prepare me for even greater things!

2010

2010 was a good year, better than others in many ways, however it wasn't without its trials and difficulties. Looking back, some trials have been resolved while others are still growing. But, I can say, with confidence, that with Christ's power I (and my family) are strong enough to make it through whatever is thrown our way. With our focus on Christ, He will give us the perseverance, whether we know the reason or not. But, as the year draws to a close, I am going to list my reasons to celebrate. Some of these aren't necessarily blessings, but lessons to learn from or events that won't be forgotten.

Game night for New Years Eve with my church family

"Girl's only" spring break in Texas ~ Mom, Jewel & Bethany

Simon had to be put to sleep

Junior year was the hardest semester ever... but I got a 4.0!

Little Mallory was born and Leah turned two (my nieces)

Developed some awesome, new friendships

Ministered in the Philippines for a second time for almost 2 months

Met and fell in love with my best friend

Relationship with my King grew in strength and depth, better than I'd ever imagined

7th year as a Junior Bible Camp counselor

Sold my mustang

Dear friend Christina Ramsey died of heatstroke

My mac crashed (takes talent to crash a mac)

Grandma is healthier and stronger and we've spent lots of quality time together

Strep throat and Mono

Committee chair for young adults in Indiana North District

Internship at Carey Services with 3 guys with developmental disabilities

Lost my job

Led the girl's Bible study for Youth group, to be continued this coming semester

Second semester in a row with a 4.0 gpa

Christmas while Jewel was away in Cambodia

Jewel and Titus are engaged

Experienced a 3.8 earthquake, which surprisingly woke me up

Applied to one of two desired grad schools, Robert's Wesleyan (IUPUI in the coming days)

Spent New Years with two of my youth group girls, Hannah & Malia Neumann

My verses for 2011:
Romans 10: 13-15 "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" How then can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news."

Acts 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household."

Isaiah 61:1-3 "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort al who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

Grad School Applications

Goal number one for break before the New Year arrives?
Apply to two grad schools - IUPUI and Robert's Wesleyan

The first week of break I got two emails from grad schools
The first came from Asbury University:

The second from Dominican University:

And I said "HA! You've gotta be kidding me? The first week of break and they're at it already!?!?" It made it much worse that those emails came from schools I'm not even applying to! Then I promised myself I'd work on the applications the next week... this week... So after writing a little here and there I was almost finished with the first one. I got online to finish it (Robert's Wesleyan) this evening and got this message on their website.

Isn't that just perfect!

Christmas Break

Christmas break finally arrived.

It started with a social work Christmas party
I love these people <3>

My friend Bonaventure Dusabimana graduated.
Jewel and I met his family at Bob Evan's to celebrate.

Family Christmas with the Ache's (mom's side)

Grandma, mom & I partnered to make the meal.

And Jewel's Christmas with Jeff & Joni, Leah & Mallory
Dad always gets us a matching gift.

These pajama pants sure beat the BRIGHT yellow fleeces we got one year!

I won the "World's Largest Stocking" in a drawing.

It was full of 10 year old boy toys, so I donated it to the Salvation Army.

Snow, snow & more snow

Jewel left for Cambodia on Tuesday afternoon.

After 36 hours of travel she'll arrive Thursday (1:30am our time).

Please pray for her as she's on her way now.

Lots of quality skype time with my sweet Wayne

Up & Coming:
Christmas Eve with Jeff, Joni, Leah & Mallory, then off to the "Reed Gathering"
Christmas day with Dad, Mom & Grandma
Speaking at youth group next Wednesday
Spending time in Indy with Joni & the girls
And... and... that's all the plans for now :)

I'm writing this blog as a break from writing research papers and autobiographical statements, and gathering reference letters and transcripts to apply for grad schools. My goal over break is to apply to two grad schools - Roberts Wesleyan College (Rochester, NY) and IUPUI (Indianapolis). RWC is my first choice and IUPUI is my back-up plan. Really, it is no fun, blah.

Oh, and early Merry Christmas!