My Sad Excuse for a Blog

Once again, I'm neglecting my duty of keeping of keeping my blog updated. As much as I'd like to blog more, I seem to just forget a lot. I guess I could keep one of those sticky notes on the side of my computer with the word BLOG written in it. I have a feeling that might work considering I'm a visual person.

Anyways, here I am at the world's greatest internship, Project Transformation. This is now my third year at PT, my third year at Casa Linda, and my second year with youth. I love every minute of it and can't express how much I love my kids!

Today was a little hard for me. We did something called a privilege walk. All of the youth started on the half court line in our gym. Kim, one of the other youth interns, then read of different circumstances, such as having more than 20 books in the house, having both parents graduate from college, dealing with drugs or alcohol in your home, etc. If the youth had that experience, they would either take a step forward or back. In the end, all of the kids were pretty spread out across the floor. The ones that have lived very blessed, privileged lives were towards the front of the pack where those who, unfortunately, have lived a tougher life, were in the back. We had one girl absolutely break down crying. She is one of the greatest kids, but has low self-esteem, low confidence, seeks a lot of attention and doesn't really receive it. Angela, another youth intern, took her to talk away from the group. That was very hard for me to see. I love my kids with all of my heart and hate to see them in pain. The youth girl was eventually ok, but for the rest of the afternoon she was very reserved and drawn back. She obviously had an eye-opening experience, which was kind of what we were going for. We wanted the kids to see that they are very different and have grown up in different backgrounds. Some took it a little more serious than others, but it was still a great experience for them.

I thank God for these kids and for their growth through PT. I have seen so much growth in them that it just blows my mind. The other day in TAG (Talk About God) we talked a lot about prayer. We discussed how to pray, what the pray for, etc. At the end, we all gathered in a circle, held hands, and everybody prayed. I was shocked to hear some of them give a very sincere, heart-felt prayer. I was so happy to see God working in their lives!

There are only four more weeks of program and then Urban Camp, and I know that these kids still have a lot more growth to look forward to. I believe that God is really working through our youth team to bring them closer as a group and closer to God. I just pray that they are able to control their behavior so that they can make it Urban Camp, along with having an amazing summer.

I'll close in a short prayer:

Lord, I thank you for all of the kids in the PT program. I pray that they would look to you for strength and comfort. Allow them to be themselves this summer. Don't let them fall into the expectations of society or their friends. I ask that they would break out of their shell and mature in a positive way. God, I ask that you be with all of the interns as we continue to work with these kids. I pray that we would stay motivated and determined to transform their lives. I thank you for all that you have blessed us with. In your loving name I pray, Amen.

PT Round 3!

The wait is over. I'm going back to PT for the third time!!! I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty nervous about getting accepted, mainly because there would be more applications. Americorps finally allowed PT to extend there maximum amount of terms to four. But either way, I'm still going back!

PT has been a wonderful experience for me in my life. It's given me a lot more experience with kids. It's given me a better perspective of under served children. It's given me sooooooooooooo many new friends! I absolutely love what PT has given me through the past two summers.

Now, as I have the opportunity to go back for a third summer, I have to make this summer the best one yet. It will be hard to top the past two, but I think with the help of some other returners, we could make this one to never forget!

I LOVE PT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can I come back?

My last day of summer program at PT has ended. Wednesday was my last day as an intern at Casa Linda United Methodist Church. I have had such a wonderful experience with Project Transformation. I have grown so much in my emotional and spiritual attitude. I have loved working with all of these interns and will miss them deeply. At this point, I can't fathom going back to college or working anywhere else because PT has become such a natural lifestyle for me. I feel so comfortable at PT and know that I could do it for the rest of my life! Unfortunately, Americorps decided to shut us down at two terms. Grrrrrr!!!!!

Entering into my last day, I knew that it was going to be a little bit of mixed feelings for me. Last summer I worked with the Elementary so I knew most of the kids downstairs. As for this year, I'm working with the youth. At the end of the summer, there is a week long event called Urban Camp where all the youth are invited to join us for one last hoorah! Knowing this, I wasn't really that sad for the day because I knew I would see most of my youth the following week. Nothing really hit me until it was about time to leave and I saw my Elementary. So many had heads down, eyes full of tears. As we released them one last time, I got so many goodbye hugs but probably got the biggest hugs ever from some of my younger girls, Paola and Salem, two of the cutest girls at Casa Linda! Each gave me a huge hug and started sobbing like crazy. All I could do was hold them and tell them how much I was going to miss them. After each had their turn, they waited outside for their parents. All I could then think of was "What am I going to do without them?"

As I then started to clean up one last time, I started to reflect. I know that I have made my impact on my Casa Linda kids. I feel that the kids got to know me as a very positive, friendly, and goofy role model. I love my kids to death and wish the best for them. I know that I can't come back and work with them so I have to do what I have been told. I must understand that the seed has been planted and I must move on with my life and let that seed grow. It's going to be very hard for me to not be able to come back next summer, but I trust that the next interns will take great care of my kids. I will continue to pray for my kids and for the future interns. May God bless them all in their paths ahead!

Turning Point

Hard to say we're already done with PT! But alas, it is true, PT is now officially halfway over. We received our second paycheck yesterday and we are getting ready to start our three day weekend! Goodness, it seems like just yesterday I started program. Time certainly is flying!

So I'm reflecting back on my first half and this is what I'm coming up with:

1) Youth can definitely be a handful! I forgot how immature, rude, cocky, uncaring, and ridiculous they can be!!! Kinda makes me wonder how bad I was in junior high haha. Even though the youth are incredibly different than elementary kids, they are definitely a challenge. I enjoy this challenge with these kids. Every day they teach me something new. I've built some strong relationships with some of them already and there are still a select few that I really want to reach the inside of. I will say this though, pray for these kids. I was told of a problem one of our youth is having in their personal life and I'm really hoping that they can turn that around. We're trying very hard to reach them and be very caring and positive. Unfortunately, we can only get the youth through the day then they're back home where the problems probably originated. So keep them in your prayers...specifically for guidance.

2) My team is a lot different than last year. Last year we probably had about the closest thing to a perfect team I could have imagined. This summer, my team seems to be a little more diverse with attitudes and morals. I love my team to death, but I must admit, I'm struggling to stay patient and calm, especially during meetings. I don't want any kind of drama, so I'm working really hard not to let my emotions get to me. I would also ask for prayer for me though. I'm having another great experience and I want to make sure to avoid conflict at all cost.

So those are my two main concerns with the summer. I'm having a great time and pray that the rest of the summer goes smooth and steady! Before I know it, I'll be headed back to Kansas! Crazy, huh?

Project Transformation...Round 2!!!

That's right, I'm back in the big state of Texas again for the summer doing Project Transformation. I couldn't resist coming back for a second round! Last year, when I was down here in Dallas and Molly was up in Kansas doing her internship with Epic Church, it was pretty tough not being able to see her at all. I had told myself that if I was going to return to PT, I wanted to bring Molly along with me. So once it was time to start searching for summer jobs, I started talking about PT A LOT!!! She kept telling me, "O, we'll see" but that wasn't good enough for me! I stayed persistent with it and soon was able to convince her to apply! It was an even greater feeling when I heard her say "Yes, I'd love to accept the position!" on her phone interview! (I was eavesdropping in her living room while she was in her bedroom haha). So Molly is here too and having a great experience with her kids. It's nice to be able to take a walk after we're done for the day and share stories.

Ok, ok, before I start getting all mushy gushy talking about my wonderful girlfriend, I'll get back to my experience this year. I am back at Casa Linda for the summer (woohoo!!!!), but THIS time, I'm working with the youth! I know what you're thinking...Kyle will be needing a lot of prayer this summer. And you're right haha. Working with the youth is quite a bit different than the elementary. They're in that weird stage between kids and young adults and they don't really know what they're maturity level is. I can answer that....NONE!!!! Our kids are great, but good grief they need to learn how to behave...and listen...and follow directions...and keep their hands to themselves....ummm, I'll stop there. Anyway, it's a real challenge this year especially since I'm the only returning intern at my site, besides my site coordinator, Sheena.

I'll definitely take that prayer anytime. These kids will definitely be trying my patience throughout the summer and I'm really going to have to stay in control. God gave my the strength last summer with the elementary, so I'm counting on the same for this summer with the youth!

When was the last time I blogged?

Once again, I catch myself not blogging for quite a while. It's not because of business or anything, more that I kinda forget I have a blog haha. Well anyway, let's recap what's been going on lately.

I just finished my sophomore year at Southwestern a couple weeks ago. It's crazy to think that I've already spend two years at that place. And now I'm halfway done? No way! Is it possible to stay at college for the rest of my life? Hmmm, let me know if there's a way. I'm still on the route to be a PE teacher and that's going really well. I'm enjoying my classes and feel that I'm in the area I should be in. I love working with kids and feel that God has blessed me with that.

I'm now at "home", whatever that is, in Mulvane. Kinda stinks for me considering I know absolutely NOBODY in Mulvane besides Mom and Dad and all my friends are either in Leoti or busy somewhere else. This leaves me alone in this cruel, dark world full of pain and misery. Haha just kidding, it's not that bad. I normally find something to do to pass my time, like go on a walk with the parents, which is what I did tonight.

On the 28th, Molly, her best friend, Trista and I will be heading down to Dallas for Project Transformation. I did this last summer and absolutely loved it! When I got back, I talked it up pretty big to Molly and somehow persuaded her to apply. She then mentioned it to Trista and she also applied pretty quick. I'm really excited for this summer and I know that God is going to do some amazing things in our lives!

I'll try to do a better job of posting more frequently, but no guarentees. Until next time, this message was brought to you by Kyle Incorporated.

Not in Texas Anymore? Strange

Well, my time at PT has come to a close for the summer. I got back to Mulvane on Friday at about 5:30. Only had a 5 hour drive which was really nice because I was exhausted!!! Urban Camp completely took it out of me! I had a great time with our youth and older elementary playing football, swimming, worshiping, staying up late, and just enjoying each others presence. I was able to bond a little more with our youth which was nice since I only saw them every now and then during day camp. Camp was a blast and went by super fast! I didn't think a week could go by so fast! But it's nice to be back in Kansas once again. The weather feels nicer, I got to see my family again, and I even got to see Molly on Friday and Saturday! Awww, life is good. I get until the 22nd to relax at home until move in day. Wow, college is coming up fast! I'm looking forward to this year though. I feel that it will be another great experience for me. I do have one other anouncement, but I'm not sure if I'm able to post it yet. I need to make sure I have permission. So as of right now, let's just say that there's something new in my life right now :)

Coming to a close

Goodness, this is nuts! I'm getting ready to begin my last two weeks of PT! We are running the church service tomorrow, I have 3 days left of day camp with the kids, site cleanup day, the Celebration Banquet (end of the year banquet), then Urban Camp with the youth. It's gonna be a busy, yet very exciting last two weeks.

We had our last Friday experience yesterday, where we all came together for a instructions for the next couple weeks and for some reflection. The reflection part was pretty cool. We had a few different stations set up for us to go to and we had an hour to either use the stations, or just have some time for prayer. I went to the four stations, which were a couple of prayer stations, a station that had us write down how we saw our summer, and a station that had us illustrate how God had used us this summer. I felt that the station that allowed us to write about our summer was really cool. I began writing, and had a good full page worth of reflection. I read it over and realized how much I've grown over this past month. I feel that God really took me to PT for a reason. God has used me in so many ways with the kids and has helped me grow through it all as well. I guess in a way, you could say I'm becoming more "mature."

So as the last couple weeks take place, I just ask that you would pray that I be able to finish on a strong note. I have 3 days left with the kids, plus 5 days left with the youth. I'm definitely going to need strength and patience to get through it all. So here we go! The last two weeks!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Give Me Strength!!!

Alright, well this week was definitely a tough one. I got sick this past weekend with what started out as a day flu, but then turned into a bad cold that just completely DRAINED me. I didn't have any energy at all from Sunday until Wednesday. It was horrible! It also didn't help that my kids weren't on their best behavior during the week. Lucky for me, with the power of prayer, some extra sleep and some medicine, I was able to get my energy back for Thursday aka Messy Day. We had some interesting activities planned for the kids including a noodle relay, paint target practice, and bowls full of gross food that they reached into with blindfolds on. They really enjoyed it and so did we!

But what really got me through this week was God's strength. Tuesday, one of my teammates gave the morning devotion and he talked about needing to rely on God's strength instead of our own. A lot of us were sick so this devotion was perfect. He went on to speak of how when we are in situations like this when we are sick and tired and not wanting to work with the kids, we need to ask God for His strength to get us through day by day. I was listening pretty hard to this talk and thought to myself, "You know, Kodi is one hundred percent correct! That is exactly what I need to do to get through this week." So the past few nights, during my evening prayer, I would just ask God to give us all strength to get us through the next day. To help us not to rely on our own strenght, but on His. I asked for a healing touch over each and every one of us too.

The morning after I began praying for strength, I wasn't really too tired and when I got to the church, I felt like I would be able to get through the day with more energy than I had started with. Everyone else at the site was doing pretty well too! We seemed to all have our energy until the last kid left, and then we were exhausted. That was what we needed though, strength to get us through the day with our kids. God provided us with His strength, and we wouldn't have been able to get through these past few days without it. Amazing what the power of prayer can do, isn't it?

Summer Beginnings

Alright, so I finally decided to get on the same page as the family and start up a blog. Plus I thought it would be helpful for anyone wanting to keep up with me this summer. In case you don't know, I am working at Project Transformation in Dallas, Texas for the summer. Project Transformation is a non profit organization that helps underprivileged, inner city kids in their spiritual lives. Basically, we will be doing a summer long vacation Bible school with these kids. I feel very privileged to be able to help these kids out for the summer. I'm really looking forward to the challenge. I will try and post about once a week but no guarantees.