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.