Quite a bit has happened since my last post- I have finally shed the feeling of "missing something" because I am no longer in school-which may sound strange but I assure you it is not. When UM started their classes and I remained going to work everyday I felt out of place and slightly lost. If you know me you know that in school I was always studying, reading, and doing school work. I could be found writing a paper just about any day of the week- and now this has all changed. I come home from work and I have no assignments, no required reading- no nothing. I have begun to realize how freeing this is- I have what seems to be infinite amounts of time to spend with friends, cooking, doing strange DIY projects I find on pinterest, among other things. In college I was used to not only being a student but also an RA and involved in other orgs on campus- I had no free time to myself. So this is a new feeling to say the least. This weekend I not only started a vegetable garden in my backyard but I refinished an old desk in my room. While this may not seem very exciting- its things like this I've always wanted to do but never had the opportunity.  

Now a little bit about what's going on at TML... 

This past week was filled with lots of prep for upcoming events. One in particular is Give Miami Day- this is a one-day event sponsored by the Miami Foundation, in which people in Miami (and outside Miami) are encouraged to donate to their favorite non-profit in Miami through the Miami Foundation website. The Miami Foundation will match a certain percentage of the funds raised for the top earning orgs. Last year TML placed in the top 20- this year we obviously are aiming to do better. While it may only be the beginning of September the need to begin reaching out and informing people of this day is important to reach our new goals.

I've also been working to prepare for the basic computer courses I will be teaching to adults in Overtown beginning Sept. 17th. I am so incredibly excited, yet nervous for this opportunity. I have put together a detailed lesson plan for each session and have had a great response from the community. I have had multiple community partners reaching out to me to sign up their clients and it appears I will have a full class. This has been very encouraging, but I can't help but to be intimidated at the thought that I may not be ready or qualified to teach this course- and I am worried I will not be able to teach them all they hope to learn. Hopefully, with some more preparation these worries can subside. 

I continue to be inspired by working at TML and by my coworkers who without knowing it challenge me to become more invested in my work. As I get to know more of the kids and their stories I have been moved in profound ways. I also have the blessing of living with two of my co-workers. This has not only made my transition easier, but seeing the dedication they have to the community of Overtown is truly an inspiration for me. 

By the way, if you are interested in learning more about Touching Miami with Love you can check us out at www.touchingmiamiwithlove.org - always hoping for more volunteers and generous donations of any kind

I'm finally beginning to feel settled in my new house and in my new position at TML. My role has been more clearly defined as a "Development Intern"- so I'll be working mostly with fundraising, volunteer development, and marketing. This includes things like soliciting donors, researching and writing grants, and assisting in the planning of some of our larger events like the "Back to Back" program I talked about last week.

As I sit here during my lunch break a few things come to mind. Someone texted me this verse from 1 Corinthians this morning:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

This verse really spoke to me because I believe this verse doesn't just refer to love in the romantic sense, but a love of others, a love of one's community. This position calls me to constantly rethink my motivation- I am not in this position simply to gain experience, or make money, or advance my career. I pursued this role out of a desire to invest in and love the community of Miami, and God's children. If I am to love the community of Overtown through my role, I should seek to love in this way.

Yesterday and today I've been working on creating promotional videos for some of the programs at TML including the youth program and summer camp. As I scanned through the photos choosing which ones to include in the videos I couldn't help but smile and feel overwhemingly happy at the love, joy, and preciousness of the children in our program.

Seriously, how can you not smile when you see these pictures? Looking at pictures like this and seeing the kids run in every day after school smiling, laughing, joking, and going crazy is what makes me excited for this year and motivates me to do everything I can to contribute to TML's work in anyway I can.

As a first time blogger I'm a bit unsure of how to begin, but I am starting this blog in order to share my experiences working at Touching Miami with Love for this upcoming year. TML is an organization that works in Overtown, a community in Miami with an extremely high poverty rate. The organization's main focus is its after school program that serves children from Kindergarten through High School. This program works to provide the children and youth with a safe space in order to foster spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

I first started working at TML last year as an intern during my last semester of my senior year at college- during my time there I was first of all completely inspired by the staff who worked there. Each individual possessed a passion for their job that I had never encountered previously. Everyone on staff was invested in being part of a greater change within the Overtown community. The effort each staff member put into building personal relationships with not only the students at TML, but also the parents amazed me. The love that exists within the walls of TML is contagious and will leave you wanting more. I first heard of my position when my supervisor, Angel, sent me the link for an open position for a year long intern, or what was called, the "Urban Immersion Fellowship". She asked if I was interested- and I knew I loved interning at TML, but I wasn't sure if this is what I was meant to do. I had applied to countless jobs, internships, and fellowships- yet at every turn I seemed to be pointed back to the position at TML. From bad interview experiences, to work environments I didn't like I began to realize, what God intended for me was there all along. Once I came to this realization I finally applied and expressed my desire to continue working at TML...and this has brought be here today. 

I officially moved to Miami this past Saturday and started work on Monday- so this week has been a bit of a whirlwind. Additionally, one of our first big events of the year, "Back to Back" was this past Tuesday. Back to Back is TML's back to school program that provides each student that attends TML's after school program with a backpack (of their choice) and a bag of supplies that correlates with their grade level. The parents pay $5.00 for each child because this creates a sense of empowerment in the parents that they are able to give their child the school supplies that they bought for them. Also, this money they pay is used to then buy the supplies that the classrooms/schools request such as tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizer, etc. These supplies are given to the schools on the parent's behalf so they can receive volunteer hours for these items.--The event was amazing. I feel grateful to have been a part of it- and to hopefully have assisted in the ways I was able. 

I still feel a bit lost and am still trying to discover my role and place at TML, but I am extremely hopeful for what this year holds. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to work along side such devoted and inspiring individuals and I feel excitement to gain experience in a field I am passionate about. I hope that I am able to contribute to the greater goals of TML and that my presence could have some positive impact- no matter how small. 

These are a couple pictures from the event "Back to Back"