P.s. Here are some pictures of Philly.
http://picasaweb.google.com/rebekahwelchster/20081010Philly2#
http://picasaweb.google.com/rebekahwelchster/20080926Philly1#
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
cold.
Today was my first really, really cold day here in Philadelphia. The paper said that the high was going to be in the 40's and it was raining with high winds. I responded to this by layering on tons of clothes. I had long underwear, jeans, sweater, hat, scarf, and my awesome waterproof coat that my dad instructed that I buy. The coat by the way was awesome, it kept me warm on my walk. I also wore my rain boots that my sister found me. Until today I was never completely sold on the idea of rain boots. I had seen too many girls in college wearing them with shorts just because they were cute. Today I am a huge fan of rain boots.
Friday, October 24, 2008
.....
Last night I was overwhelmed with how blessed I am. I can read. I have taken this little part of my life for granted for so long. Last night my housemate Lu and I starting our literacy training at Philadelphia's own Center For Literacy. This is a legit organization that basis everything they do around the learners needs and desires. No one learner has the same curriculum. They bring in things that want to read or things they want to learn how to do.
My learner is 24 and a beautiful young lady. She is really shy and has always worked with her mom at a day care. She has struggled with dyslexia her entire life and has found creative ways to get around not reading. When I met her Wednesday night she had with her a copy of the Drivers Manual for the state of Pennsylvania. She wants to learn how to read better but her primary goal is getting a driver's licence. She has taken the test before but has never passed it. Our main goal every week will be to improve her reading, but above that will be the goal of getting her a drivers licence. I am really excited about getting to spend my year with her.
Other highlights of the week.
1. Hearing a really awesome sermon at church Sunday about fasting.
2. Hearing some gross, creepy, personal details of senior citizen's lives at the senior smile program.
3. Getting to celebrate Averie's birthday and hear about Hamlet opening.
4. Crocheting something that resembles a hat.
5. Walking around in the cold weather.
6. Getting to serve lunch and wear a hair net at Little Sisters of the Poor. Also getting to go to mass there and talk to Teresa.
7. Talking to my supervisor Lola about how crazy the people at Senior Smiles are.
8. My housemates and I receiving a refrigerator full of fruits and vegetables through our food sharing program.
9. Kids at Cornerstone Christian Academy.
10. Newsletter writing.
11. Sabbath.
I hope everyone is having a great week!
Rebekah
Friday, October 17, 2008
Lady?
I just looked at my about me section on the side of this blog and realized that I refereed to myself as a lady. That is kinda weird. hmmm. Maybe a girl or a woman, but a lady? Anyway.
Today all I can think to write about is how everyday this week as I have walked the 15 blocks to my morning service sites I have run into this one guy that carries around about four small plastic tanks that have baby turtles in them. Everyday he walks around Woodland Avenue trying to sell these crazy tanks full of baby turtles. I almost always want to buy one. They are pretty cute.
This week has been good. I am trying to think of some highlights to share.
Saturday I visited a catholic nursing home in our neighborhood called little sisters of the poor. It was awesome. I almost immediately signed my life over to work with the sisters there. One woman, Sister Veronica, was especially helpful in showing me how beautiful loving the poor can be.
Sunday we went to church and might have heard a song that mentioned Barack Obama alongside Jesus. It’s still up for debate.
Monday I sat and talked with some older ladies in my neighborhood about the good old days when milk was delivered to their houses. They also talked about the joys of owning more than three cats.
Tuesday I had the pleasure of having to physically hold down a kindergartner who refused to go to time out. Two words. Derrick and Eric. Identical twins whose parents are from Liberia. This is important to know because when they speak nothing really makes sense. It is a combination of Liberian and a slight speech impediment.
Wednesday my housemate Lu and I finished our training for the Center for Literacy, which means that next week I will start working with a learner in my neighborhood to help out with reading.
Thursday I got to help this awesome lady named Lucille write a resume. It was the best part of my day. I also scanned about 60 pictures into a computer and then glued them onto a piece of cardboard. Not the best part of my day, but not bad either.
Today has been good. I woke up drank a cup of tea and slowly read the newspaper. I got to talk to my Dad in Africa and Brooke in France. I have been sitting in the library and I am about to go to chick-fil-a. God is good.
rebekah
Today all I can think to write about is how everyday this week as I have walked the 15 blocks to my morning service sites I have run into this one guy that carries around about four small plastic tanks that have baby turtles in them. Everyday he walks around Woodland Avenue trying to sell these crazy tanks full of baby turtles. I almost always want to buy one. They are pretty cute.
This week has been good. I am trying to think of some highlights to share.
Saturday I visited a catholic nursing home in our neighborhood called little sisters of the poor. It was awesome. I almost immediately signed my life over to work with the sisters there. One woman, Sister Veronica, was especially helpful in showing me how beautiful loving the poor can be.
Sunday we went to church and might have heard a song that mentioned Barack Obama alongside Jesus. It’s still up for debate.
Monday I sat and talked with some older ladies in my neighborhood about the good old days when milk was delivered to their houses. They also talked about the joys of owning more than three cats.
Tuesday I had the pleasure of having to physically hold down a kindergartner who refused to go to time out. Two words. Derrick and Eric. Identical twins whose parents are from Liberia. This is important to know because when they speak nothing really makes sense. It is a combination of Liberian and a slight speech impediment.
Wednesday my housemate Lu and I finished our training for the Center for Literacy, which means that next week I will start working with a learner in my neighborhood to help out with reading.
Thursday I got to help this awesome lady named Lucille write a resume. It was the best part of my day. I also scanned about 60 pictures into a computer and then glued them onto a piece of cardboard. Not the best part of my day, but not bad either.
Today has been good. I woke up drank a cup of tea and slowly read the newspaper. I got to talk to my Dad in Africa and Brooke in France. I have been sitting in the library and I am about to go to chick-fil-a. God is good.
rebekah
Friday, October 10, 2008
bingo and bagels
Today is Sabbath. That means it is a full day when I get to relax and chill. It started this morning really well. I woke up later than usual and stumbled downstairs. Some of my roommates were up and had already had a devotional together. I fell into a chair, read the paper leisurely, and drank a cup of tea. I was sitting with Lu and Amy just enjoying each others presence laughing and eating chocolate when we suddenly heard a disturbing squeaking noise. We have had a mice problem for a few weeks so we just assumed that the circus of mice had set up a party in our kitchen and were having a good time. Lu went into the kitchen and discovered that a baby mouse had gotten stuck in one of the glue traps we set up in the kitchen. Up unto this point the glue traps we set up had been unsuccessful in the area of catching and killing mice but today one mouse finally succumbed to the temptation of the month old trail mix sprinkled all over a bed of toxic glue. Lu was very emotional about the baby mouse that was squeaking with all that was in it. She rushed out the front door and tried to free it by pushing it off the glue with a spoon. Nothing worked. Lu overcome with emotion decided that if she were in the mouse’s position that she would want to be taken out of her misery instead of starving to death. She then proceeded to kill the mouse. So that is how my morning started. With death. But it has been good since then
Last night all the Philly area teams got together for training. We talked about our love languages. I discovered I am not so much a fan of physical touch. I tested as strong in words of affirmation and acts of service. I was not too surprised. I do take it pretty personally when people don’t do the dishes or pick of their crap. It was good.
This week was good as well. My neighborhood has really started to feel like home. My housemates are really starting to feel like family. It’s a good shift though. I already feel like these people are rooted deep into my life after being with them only a month.
I played bingo with senior citizens this week at the senior program from catholic social services. They were hilarious. I had to call out the bingo numbers and they really could not hear me and were very concerned that I was calling the wrong numbers or playing favorites. I also accidently spilled all the bingo balls all over the floor and interrupted a heated round. They were ok with this but not ok with the fact that we hadn’t brought lottery tickets for their birthdays or bagels and cream cheese for them to eat.
I have not talked a lot about our church yet and there are several reasons for this. One is that I still don’t know exactly what to say. I am working out a lot of things in me. I am learning a lot about how differently people see and love God. Stay tuned for more thoughts on that.
Something else beautiful happened today. My housemates and I have stumbled upon this group of about eight adults with special needs that live in a care home across from the library. These are beautiful people and I really love spending time with them. There is one lady who I first met as Rhonda but who sometimes asks to be called Tina. She also told me that the she wrote a Beyonce song, and she is a great dancer. This morning I had to go to the library to pick up some books I had ordered and I ran across Rhonda/Tina. She was so excited to see me and I was really excited to see her as well. She walked with me to the trolley stop and showed me her pocketbook (this means purse for those of you who come from my part of the country) that had lots of funny wonderful stuff in it. When the trolley pulled up she gave me a kiss on the check and we parted ways. It was a wonderful to start the morning.
Peace until next Sabbath
rebekah
Last night all the Philly area teams got together for training. We talked about our love languages. I discovered I am not so much a fan of physical touch. I tested as strong in words of affirmation and acts of service. I was not too surprised. I do take it pretty personally when people don’t do the dishes or pick of their crap. It was good.
This week was good as well. My neighborhood has really started to feel like home. My housemates are really starting to feel like family. It’s a good shift though. I already feel like these people are rooted deep into my life after being with them only a month.
I played bingo with senior citizens this week at the senior program from catholic social services. They were hilarious. I had to call out the bingo numbers and they really could not hear me and were very concerned that I was calling the wrong numbers or playing favorites. I also accidently spilled all the bingo balls all over the floor and interrupted a heated round. They were ok with this but not ok with the fact that we hadn’t brought lottery tickets for their birthdays or bagels and cream cheese for them to eat.
I have not talked a lot about our church yet and there are several reasons for this. One is that I still don’t know exactly what to say. I am working out a lot of things in me. I am learning a lot about how differently people see and love God. Stay tuned for more thoughts on that.
Something else beautiful happened today. My housemates and I have stumbled upon this group of about eight adults with special needs that live in a care home across from the library. These are beautiful people and I really love spending time with them. There is one lady who I first met as Rhonda but who sometimes asks to be called Tina. She also told me that the she wrote a Beyonce song, and she is a great dancer. This morning I had to go to the library to pick up some books I had ordered and I ran across Rhonda/Tina. She was so excited to see me and I was really excited to see her as well. She walked with me to the trolley stop and showed me her pocketbook (this means purse for those of you who come from my part of the country) that had lots of funny wonderful stuff in it. When the trolley pulled up she gave me a kiss on the check and we parted ways. It was a wonderful to start the morning.
Peace until next Sabbath
rebekah
Friday, October 3, 2008
frozen hams and henri nouwen
Today marks the one month mark of my journey here in Philly. It seems crazy to think that I have really been here that long. It has been incredibly good though. I already feel like I am a completely different person than the one that left Amarillo, TX not to long ago.
This week I started my community service to the SW Philly neighborhood. I am actually volunteering three different places. On Mondays I will work with Sister Rita and Sister Jean teaching immigrants English. These nuns are pretty much amazing. They have lived in SW Philly for around 20 years and have such beautiful hearts. They have a small office that they operate a food pantry out of. In the office was a pretty impressive looking fax machine/copier. Sister Rita quickly informed me not to be impressed that she had no idea how to work it. Oh sweet nuns.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I will work at Catholic Social Services. The two ladies I will work the closest with names are Fran and Lola. I will be working with their senior citizen’s program called, “senior smiles”. I think I am going to suggest that they change the name. Not really, but the thought has crossed my mind. I already got to do lots of research for information to give the seniors on who to vote for and where to get free flu shots. I am sure I will be very good at bingo before the year is over.
Thursdays I will go to Southwest Community Development Corporation. This is a huge resource for the people in Southwest Philly. They can get help with house and utility payments, and take GED classes. I will be working specifically with their job placement program. I will help people who come in apply for jobs and write resumes, which I am really excited about. SWCDC also shares an office with The Globe, a local newspaper in our area. They informed me that they want to publish an article about my roommates and I. Which could have the possibility to be really hilarious, I will keep everyone informed.
Quick random updates on life off Chester Ave
· My housemates and I received two hams, 12 ears of corn, and a box of tasty cakes (the northern equivalent of Little Debbie) from a friend yesterday.
· I am currently working on a 500 piece 3D puzzle of THE WORLD. I saw the puzzle the first day we moved in and I resisted working on until this week.
· We have several mice in our house. Several. We set up about 12 traps yesterday. Gross.
· I have really cool neighbors that can cook really good Jamaican food.
· If you want dreadlocks, it is not necessary to stop washing or brushing your hair for several weeks (something one of my roommates found out this week).
· Henri Nouwen has some pretty profound words about belovedness.
· The girls I live with really like sugar, skip-bo, and skateboards (not really, but it seemed to fit)
· We have decided that America and Great Brittan are equal in their level of evilness through means imperialism.
· I have been told that I should pretend like I am at a football game when I am at church.
I guess that is it for now. I would love to talk to anyone on Fridays (my Sabbath). So just call me up. I will leave you with a quote from Nouwen on what I am learning a lot about right now all courtesy of our great city director Caz.
“This experience was and in many ways, is still the most important experience of my new life, because it forced me to rediscover my true identity. These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self-the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things- and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments.”
Only love,
rebekah
This week I started my community service to the SW Philly neighborhood. I am actually volunteering three different places. On Mondays I will work with Sister Rita and Sister Jean teaching immigrants English. These nuns are pretty much amazing. They have lived in SW Philly for around 20 years and have such beautiful hearts. They have a small office that they operate a food pantry out of. In the office was a pretty impressive looking fax machine/copier. Sister Rita quickly informed me not to be impressed that she had no idea how to work it. Oh sweet nuns.
On Tuesday and Wednesday I will work at Catholic Social Services. The two ladies I will work the closest with names are Fran and Lola. I will be working with their senior citizen’s program called, “senior smiles”. I think I am going to suggest that they change the name. Not really, but the thought has crossed my mind. I already got to do lots of research for information to give the seniors on who to vote for and where to get free flu shots. I am sure I will be very good at bingo before the year is over.
Thursdays I will go to Southwest Community Development Corporation. This is a huge resource for the people in Southwest Philly. They can get help with house and utility payments, and take GED classes. I will be working specifically with their job placement program. I will help people who come in apply for jobs and write resumes, which I am really excited about. SWCDC also shares an office with The Globe, a local newspaper in our area. They informed me that they want to publish an article about my roommates and I. Which could have the possibility to be really hilarious, I will keep everyone informed.
Quick random updates on life off Chester Ave
· My housemates and I received two hams, 12 ears of corn, and a box of tasty cakes (the northern equivalent of Little Debbie) from a friend yesterday.
· I am currently working on a 500 piece 3D puzzle of THE WORLD. I saw the puzzle the first day we moved in and I resisted working on until this week.
· We have several mice in our house. Several. We set up about 12 traps yesterday. Gross.
· I have really cool neighbors that can cook really good Jamaican food.
· If you want dreadlocks, it is not necessary to stop washing or brushing your hair for several weeks (something one of my roommates found out this week).
· Henri Nouwen has some pretty profound words about belovedness.
· The girls I live with really like sugar, skip-bo, and skateboards (not really, but it seemed to fit)
· We have decided that America and Great Brittan are equal in their level of evilness through means imperialism.
· I have been told that I should pretend like I am at a football game when I am at church.
I guess that is it for now. I would love to talk to anyone on Fridays (my Sabbath). So just call me up. I will leave you with a quote from Nouwen on what I am learning a lot about right now all courtesy of our great city director Caz.
“This experience was and in many ways, is still the most important experience of my new life, because it forced me to rediscover my true identity. These broken, wounded, and completely unpretentious people forced me to let go of my relevant self-the self that can do things, show things, prove things, build things- and forced me to reclaim that unadorned self in which I am completely vulnerable, open to receive and give love regardless of any accomplishments.”
Only love,
rebekah
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