P.S. I'll add more photos later
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Some Photos!!
This post is all about photos!! (especially for you Jessica)
my sisters and me
the guys who live across the street and teach me Spanish everyday
pretty view, my site is far below
mcdonalds!! im excited to have this nearby whenever I'm in an American mood
D.R. provinces..."states"
down the hill to my barrio we go
the rio bridge
my don in his colmado...I'm not sure why Dominicans don't smile in pics becuase he is one of the most genuine and nicest people I've ever met.
P.S. I'll add more photos later
P.S. I'll add more photos later
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Updates Part 2
So the luz is still here, and my familia aqui has graciously allowed me to continue to use their computer...so we shall continue with the updates. I'm currently in my site so I'll give a little backdrop on that.
We actually found out our tentative site placements 3 weeks ago after the YD team, our Manager, PC Vol Leader, and Extreme Needs Specialists interviewed more than half of us a second time. I was one of the people who was reinterviewed which I was thankful for because I don't even remember what I said in the first one. The second time around, I was much more open to whatever placement they had in mind, as long as I didn't have to take a motoconcho (I'm listening Mom!) Anyways, on Monday we got our official site placements. I know that community based training allowed me to see the total beauty of the Dominican Republic and gave me the confidence to realize that this experience would be amazing regardless of where I went. Additionally they only gave us tentative sites because they ahve always had someone who decided that this experience was not for them and they choose to go home. So far no one in our entire group has said that... We came into the country with 32 and we are still 32 =)
Entonces I've only been in my site 2 days and I already know that this is the perfect place for me. (Someone remind me that I typd this when I go through the ebb and flow of the PC Volunteer experience.) I was placed in an Extreme Needs Site which means that the PC DR YFCD [program has defined the youth in this community as some of the msot at risk in country because of several factors they may encounter in their community]. When I first got to my site it reminded me of D.C and the stark contrasts within the city. There are some beautiful parts of D.C. where everything is beautiful (streets, houses, etc. and I saw that here because I live on the outskirts of a city) and when you go just a little farther within D.C. you get a totally different experience...poverty can smack you in the face. That is what happened to me here. Then I went to the community center where I will spend the next 2 years of my life working alongside jovenes. Its a beautifully built and very new structure that is designed to be a huge resource to this community. I'm so excited to learn more about this community and initiate projects that they feel they need, and prayerfully when I leave, numerous juventud leaders will step up and continue the projects. There are so many opportunities to do exactly what I'm skilled in and passionate about. (more on all of this 3 months from now) Hats off to Peeace Corps YD team, they really did find me the perfect placement. City life but with a campo/family style feel working with youth who need this the most. This is exactly the experience I came here to get.
Now my family here is also amazing. I really prayed for a family as amazing as the family I had in CBT (who by the way still call me everyday) and I believe I have exactly that within my host family in my site. Thanks to my sister for taking pictures of us through facebook chat and putting them up so you can go look and see them. Their family is huge and everyone is so lovely and caring. Everywhere I go in this communtiy, I have an aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, brother, sister. It is an amazing feeling...they hav FIVE generations of the same family living here...its breathtaking really. They have truly embraced me, calling me their daughter, sister, cousin, etc. I feel so loved and warm here, just like how I felt in community based training. While I know its very early on, and the honeymoon season has not even started, I have an amazing feeling about this. Gracias a Dios!!
I have not really said that much about other trainees in my group, and that is not because they are not very special to me. I have developed some amazing freindships that I had hoped for but didn't necessarily expect. It is wonderful to have a amazing core group of friends/family within Peace Corps to share this experience with...all of the triumphs and disasters, and know that they support and love me. My friend Rachelle told me that I would develop friendships that would last a lifetime, I haven't even been here 3 months and I already know that to be true. Its wonderful to have a support network in country because I truly want all of my friends that I started with here to finish the journey with me.
But let me not get too far ahead of myself. We go back to training next Monday and prayerfully, all 32 of us will swear in next Wednesday and officially become Peace Corps volunteers. And then the next part fo this adventure begins. I'll try to post another blog before that happens thats more reflection focused on the past 2 months...si Dios quiere =)
We actually found out our tentative site placements 3 weeks ago after the YD team, our Manager, PC Vol Leader, and Extreme Needs Specialists interviewed more than half of us a second time. I was one of the people who was reinterviewed which I was thankful for because I don't even remember what I said in the first one. The second time around, I was much more open to whatever placement they had in mind, as long as I didn't have to take a motoconcho (I'm listening Mom!) Anyways, on Monday we got our official site placements. I know that community based training allowed me to see the total beauty of the Dominican Republic and gave me the confidence to realize that this experience would be amazing regardless of where I went. Additionally they only gave us tentative sites because they ahve always had someone who decided that this experience was not for them and they choose to go home. So far no one in our entire group has said that... We came into the country with 32 and we are still 32 =)
Entonces I've only been in my site 2 days and I already know that this is the perfect place for me. (Someone remind me that I typd this when I go through the ebb and flow of the PC Volunteer experience.) I was placed in an Extreme Needs Site which means that the PC DR YFCD [program has defined the youth in this community as some of the msot at risk in country because of several factors they may encounter in their community]. When I first got to my site it reminded me of D.C and the stark contrasts within the city. There are some beautiful parts of D.C. where everything is beautiful (streets, houses, etc. and I saw that here because I live on the outskirts of a city) and when you go just a little farther within D.C. you get a totally different experience...poverty can smack you in the face. That is what happened to me here. Then I went to the community center where I will spend the next 2 years of my life working alongside jovenes. Its a beautifully built and very new structure that is designed to be a huge resource to this community. I'm so excited to learn more about this community and initiate projects that they feel they need, and prayerfully when I leave, numerous juventud leaders will step up and continue the projects. There are so many opportunities to do exactly what I'm skilled in and passionate about. (more on all of this 3 months from now) Hats off to Peeace Corps YD team, they really did find me the perfect placement. City life but with a campo/family style feel working with youth who need this the most. This is exactly the experience I came here to get.
Now my family here is also amazing. I really prayed for a family as amazing as the family I had in CBT (who by the way still call me everyday) and I believe I have exactly that within my host family in my site. Thanks to my sister for taking pictures of us through facebook chat and putting them up so you can go look and see them. Their family is huge and everyone is so lovely and caring. Everywhere I go in this communtiy, I have an aunt, uncle, cousin, niece, brother, sister. It is an amazing feeling...they hav FIVE generations of the same family living here...its breathtaking really. They have truly embraced me, calling me their daughter, sister, cousin, etc. I feel so loved and warm here, just like how I felt in community based training. While I know its very early on, and the honeymoon season has not even started, I have an amazing feeling about this. Gracias a Dios!!
I have not really said that much about other trainees in my group, and that is not because they are not very special to me. I have developed some amazing freindships that I had hoped for but didn't necessarily expect. It is wonderful to have a amazing core group of friends/family within Peace Corps to share this experience with...all of the triumphs and disasters, and know that they support and love me. My friend Rachelle told me that I would develop friendships that would last a lifetime, I haven't even been here 3 months and I already know that to be true. Its wonderful to have a support network in country because I truly want all of my friends that I started with here to finish the journey with me.
But let me not get too far ahead of myself. We go back to training next Monday and prayerfully, all 32 of us will swear in next Wednesday and officially become Peace Corps volunteers. And then the next part fo this adventure begins. I'll try to post another blog before that happens thats more reflection focused on the past 2 months...si Dios quiere =)
Updates
The luz may go at any point so I'll try to touch on as many things as quickly as possible. Last week we finished community based training. CBT is when we go into a community, live there for 5 weeks, and learn more about our technical area. For youth development, we work with a group of youth to implement a service learning project, or some kind of talent show at the end of the 5 weeks. We created a community diagnostic, interviewed people in the community, and created a FODA. From that we identified an activity that would be beneficial to the community and youth. All while having training from 8-5 which included learning about specific youth development D.R. initiatives and projects and intensive Spanish. We also lived with a new host family (mine included a mom dad sister and brother, and my grandmother, grandfather, and great grandmother lived downstairs.I was surrounded by a lot of family and I've often said that if I lived in Nigeria, I imagine I would have a similar experience with a lot of love =)
It was by far the best experience I've had in the Dominican Republic. I had a great trainer, the best youth group team (much love to Hilary, Malika, and Sean) and I had the most amazing and loving host family. To top it off my Spanish teacher was amazing and another wonderful Spanish teacher lived downstairs with my abuela so I hung out with her all the time! Words cannot even describe how much working with youth in Monte Plata, learning Spanish with my host family, laughing and drinking cafe with my grandmother, just talking meant to me. The whole experience intensified/confirmed my belief that God has given me this opportunity for this moment in my life. I have much more to say, expecially now that I am in my site, but I will post little by little to ensure you to get to read at least some of it.
It was by far the best experience I've had in the Dominican Republic. I had a great trainer, the best youth group team (much love to Hilary, Malika, and Sean) and I had the most amazing and loving host family. To top it off my Spanish teacher was amazing and another wonderful Spanish teacher lived downstairs with my abuela so I hung out with her all the time! Words cannot even describe how much working with youth in Monte Plata, learning Spanish with my host family, laughing and drinking cafe with my grandmother, just talking meant to me. The whole experience intensified/confirmed my belief that God has given me this opportunity for this moment in my life. I have much more to say, expecially now that I am in my site, but I will post little by little to ensure you to get to read at least some of it.
Saturday, October 1, 2011
If You ever wanted to send me anything
Hello lovely people
IF you ever wanted to send me anything... This is what I would love to get. Please send me an email though so I don't get too much of one thing. Thank you for thinking of me and please please send a letter or a picture to accompany your gifts because thats the stuff that makes my heart smile.
IF you ever wanted to send me anything... This is what I would love to get. Please send me an email though so I don't get too much of one thing. Thank you for thinking of me and please please send a letter or a picture to accompany your gifts because thats the stuff that makes my heart smile.
Deordorant (dove purple or blue) Biore face wash Crest whitening toothpaste clean mint Dove soap Rubbing alcohol Stickers Construction paper Hand sanitizer Bath and body works lip gloss (mint) Cheap fun nail polish Nail polish remover Cotton balls Pedicure kit Baby wipes Hard candy jolly ranchers Head phones (the expensive over ear $30 ones so that it will last more than a week) Glue Glitter Coloring books Spanish/English children's books Rice krispie treats Cookies and cream reduced fat chewy bars Spanish alphebet laminated World map in espanol Cotton round premiums purple from target Pencils Small pencil sharpener Highlighters UNO cards Regular playing cards Scrabble espanol Credit to buy stuff on iTunes Qtips Monopoly Credit to buy books for my kindle Flashcards Lined paper Spanish letter flashcards Sheet protectors Index cards More durable sandals Nalgene water bottle I'll post another blog with my site placement info soon!! |
Friday, September 23, 2011
It's been a Month!!
By this point we should all realize that I'm pretty bad with blogging, and I cannot promise to get better within the next month. I am laptopless for the next month and one of my friends here is graciously letting me use hers to type out this blog (and prep for a session I am doing) I've also gotten 3 bug bites in the last 2 minutes so consider this love fam and friends.
I've been in the D.R. for over a month now and even though I am training (and technically not really settled) I am settling into life abroad. Slowly but surely I am understanding more of the language and working really hard to speak more and more daily. I've started to develop really positive friendships with other trainees and its nice to have really cool people to share this training experience. I am also taking time daily to reflect on lessons learned, cultural cues, and questions/things I need to work on for the next day. I definitely live hour by hour, day by day...its hard to plan or think farther than that. Also, now that I'm learning Spanish I realize that I will become pretty bad in 2 languages so apologies in advance for really weird tense usage and any Spanglish that might be thrown in here.
Now for some specifics... I am sure you are wondering about what my everyday life is like and some of the emotions I've been experiencing. I'll try to share as much as I can but we all know I'm pretty private and this is a very public space. Send me an email if you have any specific questions...and I love to hear about what is going in on you life so that is an added benefit.
I spent 3 weeks in Santo Domingo in core training where everyone in my group (there are 32 of us) went to training everyday from 8-5pm for Spanish and other pertinent info like transportation in the D.R. and staying healthy. I have been in our CBT (community based training site) for 2 weeks. So I am with 13 other youth development volunteers for this training. We are in a new site for youth development CBT so we are laying the groundwork so that future groups have positive experiences in this location. I absolutely LOVE it here...many people in my group wish that we could just have this site. It is a little urban, but it is not the hustle, flow, and noise that is Santo Domingo. It is more tranquilo and there is a family vibe here that I really dig. We are in the mountains too in a pretty pueblo. I feel more at peace here so the Spanish studying/development has really picked up in a positive way.
Who do I share life with right now. I live with a host mom, dad, brother (13), sister (just turned 12), and I believe an extended relation (she is about 20). They live on the 2nd floor. I have a grandmother, grandfather, (mom's parents) great grandmother, and one of our Spanish teachers (who is becoming one of my absolute favorite people to talk to) live there. My host family is amazing. They are patient, kind, and they have welcomed me into their family. They share everything with me and they are interested in the life I lived in the States. They are thoughtful, inclusive, and funny which has been an absolute dream. I really will be sad to leave them so please rest asssured that I am being well taken care of here. It is so nice to have extended family downstairs because I sit and have cafe with my grandmother (she converted me by giving me a cup and standing beside me til I drank it) playing scrabble with my host sister and my Spanish teacher, playing dominoes with my host brother and dad, and this weekend they are taking me and my youth group team to the beach. Yep pretty amazing! It feels like what life would have been like if I lived in Nigeria so close to my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I love the vibe and thankful to be able to experience it.
My group...We are a pretty diverse group which I am thankful for. People in my group come from all across the country, and have very different backgrounds. I appreciate all that I've learned about them and I am interested in learning more about their experiences with youth and in life because I know it will just enhance my volunteer experience. We are a pretty chill group, we don't ask a lot of questions, but everyone is thoughtful and reflective in their own way. Some of us had a second interview with our boss who came into our cbt site for the day. In a week, we will find out where and what kind of site we are going to spend the next 2 years of our lives. Exciting, unnerving, scary, and relieving all at the same time. I'll hopefully be able to post again soon after that.
My everyday.... I've started waking up around 7 to work out with some of the girls in my group. Its been a great opportunity to reflect in the morning and release some stress. I have to work out early because it is super super hot here right now. Then I get ready for training and for breakfast I usually have mangoes (yum) or boiled eggs and boiled plantains. Then I have 4 hours of Spanish or technical training and the opposite in the afternoon after lunch. Technical training covers how to do a community diagnostic of the community, how to work with gender initiatives, and other projects within PCDR YFCD (Peace Corps Dominican Republic Youth, Families and Community Development) Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and it is always rice, some kind of meat, and beans. It is also always very good and reminds of Nigerian food so that is a comfort =) After our afternoon session I am either studying Spanish, hanging with my host family, working with my youth group team or having a youth group meeting. (We were split into 4 groups to work with 4 different youth groups so that we can plan and execute a project with them before we leave. It is practice for when we get to our sites and an insight into Dominican youth.) My days are pretty long but I never feel exhausted, I think I am still on a high from this opportunity.
The youth here are curious, creative, bright, fun, and they love dinamicas... Being at cbt has helped me realize that no matter where I end up in country, I am going to have an amazing, challenging, humbling, and thoughtful experience with the youth in my community.
Well this is all I have in me for today. By this point, I've gotten 5 more bug bites so enough is enough. So remember I am healthy, safe, in high spirits, and I would love letters/mail/treats from you guys. My next blog will include what I need. Hasta luego and thanks for reading amigos!
I've been in the D.R. for over a month now and even though I am training (and technically not really settled) I am settling into life abroad. Slowly but surely I am understanding more of the language and working really hard to speak more and more daily. I've started to develop really positive friendships with other trainees and its nice to have really cool people to share this training experience. I am also taking time daily to reflect on lessons learned, cultural cues, and questions/things I need to work on for the next day. I definitely live hour by hour, day by day...its hard to plan or think farther than that. Also, now that I'm learning Spanish I realize that I will become pretty bad in 2 languages so apologies in advance for really weird tense usage and any Spanglish that might be thrown in here.
Now for some specifics... I am sure you are wondering about what my everyday life is like and some of the emotions I've been experiencing. I'll try to share as much as I can but we all know I'm pretty private and this is a very public space. Send me an email if you have any specific questions...and I love to hear about what is going in on you life so that is an added benefit.
I spent 3 weeks in Santo Domingo in core training where everyone in my group (there are 32 of us) went to training everyday from 8-5pm for Spanish and other pertinent info like transportation in the D.R. and staying healthy. I have been in our CBT (community based training site) for 2 weeks. So I am with 13 other youth development volunteers for this training. We are in a new site for youth development CBT so we are laying the groundwork so that future groups have positive experiences in this location. I absolutely LOVE it here...many people in my group wish that we could just have this site. It is a little urban, but it is not the hustle, flow, and noise that is Santo Domingo. It is more tranquilo and there is a family vibe here that I really dig. We are in the mountains too in a pretty pueblo. I feel more at peace here so the Spanish studying/development has really picked up in a positive way.
Who do I share life with right now. I live with a host mom, dad, brother (13), sister (just turned 12), and I believe an extended relation (she is about 20). They live on the 2nd floor. I have a grandmother, grandfather, (mom's parents) great grandmother, and one of our Spanish teachers (who is becoming one of my absolute favorite people to talk to) live there. My host family is amazing. They are patient, kind, and they have welcomed me into their family. They share everything with me and they are interested in the life I lived in the States. They are thoughtful, inclusive, and funny which has been an absolute dream. I really will be sad to leave them so please rest asssured that I am being well taken care of here. It is so nice to have extended family downstairs because I sit and have cafe with my grandmother (she converted me by giving me a cup and standing beside me til I drank it) playing scrabble with my host sister and my Spanish teacher, playing dominoes with my host brother and dad, and this weekend they are taking me and my youth group team to the beach. Yep pretty amazing! It feels like what life would have been like if I lived in Nigeria so close to my grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I love the vibe and thankful to be able to experience it.
My group...We are a pretty diverse group which I am thankful for. People in my group come from all across the country, and have very different backgrounds. I appreciate all that I've learned about them and I am interested in learning more about their experiences with youth and in life because I know it will just enhance my volunteer experience. We are a pretty chill group, we don't ask a lot of questions, but everyone is thoughtful and reflective in their own way. Some of us had a second interview with our boss who came into our cbt site for the day. In a week, we will find out where and what kind of site we are going to spend the next 2 years of our lives. Exciting, unnerving, scary, and relieving all at the same time. I'll hopefully be able to post again soon after that.
My everyday.... I've started waking up around 7 to work out with some of the girls in my group. Its been a great opportunity to reflect in the morning and release some stress. I have to work out early because it is super super hot here right now. Then I get ready for training and for breakfast I usually have mangoes (yum) or boiled eggs and boiled plantains. Then I have 4 hours of Spanish or technical training and the opposite in the afternoon after lunch. Technical training covers how to do a community diagnostic of the community, how to work with gender initiatives, and other projects within PCDR YFCD (Peace Corps Dominican Republic Youth, Families and Community Development) Lunch is the biggest meal of the day and it is always rice, some kind of meat, and beans. It is also always very good and reminds of Nigerian food so that is a comfort =) After our afternoon session I am either studying Spanish, hanging with my host family, working with my youth group team or having a youth group meeting. (We were split into 4 groups to work with 4 different youth groups so that we can plan and execute a project with them before we leave. It is practice for when we get to our sites and an insight into Dominican youth.) My days are pretty long but I never feel exhausted, I think I am still on a high from this opportunity.
The youth here are curious, creative, bright, fun, and they love dinamicas... Being at cbt has helped me realize that no matter where I end up in country, I am going to have an amazing, challenging, humbling, and thoughtful experience with the youth in my community.
Well this is all I have in me for today. By this point, I've gotten 5 more bug bites so enough is enough. So remember I am healthy, safe, in high spirits, and I would love letters/mail/treats from you guys. My next blog will include what I need. Hasta luego and thanks for reading amigos!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
A Week into my Adventure!!...27 Months to Go
This will be a short post because I am tired but it is my first post since I touched down in the Dominican Republic a week ago!! I am really excited to be here. Im also typing from a Spanish keyboard so no judgments please. The training team is pretty awesome, my host family is extremely understanding (of my lack of Spanish skills), and there are a lot of amazing people (that Ive already started to connect with) in my training group... there are 32 of us total.
well since its day 7 here goes the top 7 things I{ve learned so far in my 7 days here
7.) I will probably eat rice chicken (or some unknown meat) and beans (although I need to get used to the beans part) everyday while Im here...and if you know me you know that sounds great to me (Soy Nigeriana)
6.) 6 passengers in a 1992 corolla is the norm...and Im not even ready to discuss the guaguas
5.) when there is a death....the community really comes together to support...(Yes Ive already had to witness this unfortunately) but I appreciate the community bond in the barrios
4.) I have to ride a motoconho...think motorcycle...other wise PC volunteers could not get to 60% of the sites....wow!!
3.) Dominicans come in all shades and sizes. Here I am frequently mistaken for a Dominican woman and called morena linda until I open my mouth and say no entiendo (aye caramba!!)
2.) bucket showers!! I may be a pro already!!
1.) Youth everywhere inspire me and the D.R. is no exeption. Truly humbled to get to meet and live among some amazing youth down here. I cannot wait to become a volunteer!!
ps if you want to send me a letter...and you should I need words of encouragement...updates on your life...and gatorade packets (orange, fruit punch, or lemon lime) childrens books (in english and spanish) and an icebreaker book and some chewy bars cookies and creme. Send anything in a padded envelope...no boxes I cannot afford to pay to pick it up. I hear that if you write Vaya Con Dios on it, it may not get tampered wth...Ill let you know when I get my uirst package if thats true.
send to Peace Corps
My name, PCT
Av Bolivar 451, Gazcue
Apartado 1412
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Okay I promise a more indepth...thoughtful post sometime soon. good night loves
well since its day 7 here goes the top 7 things I{ve learned so far in my 7 days here
7.) I will probably eat rice chicken (or some unknown meat) and beans (although I need to get used to the beans part) everyday while Im here...and if you know me you know that sounds great to me (Soy Nigeriana)
6.) 6 passengers in a 1992 corolla is the norm...and Im not even ready to discuss the guaguas
5.) when there is a death....the community really comes together to support...(Yes Ive already had to witness this unfortunately) but I appreciate the community bond in the barrios
4.) I have to ride a motoconho...think motorcycle...other wise PC volunteers could not get to 60% of the sites....wow!!
3.) Dominicans come in all shades and sizes. Here I am frequently mistaken for a Dominican woman and called morena linda until I open my mouth and say no entiendo (aye caramba!!)
2.) bucket showers!! I may be a pro already!!
1.) Youth everywhere inspire me and the D.R. is no exeption. Truly humbled to get to meet and live among some amazing youth down here. I cannot wait to become a volunteer!!
ps if you want to send me a letter...and you should I need words of encouragement...updates on your life...and gatorade packets (orange, fruit punch, or lemon lime) childrens books (in english and spanish) and an icebreaker book and some chewy bars cookies and creme. Send anything in a padded envelope...no boxes I cannot afford to pay to pick it up. I hear that if you write Vaya Con Dios on it, it may not get tampered wth...Ill let you know when I get my uirst package if thats true.
send to Peace Corps
My name, PCT
Av Bolivar 451, Gazcue
Apartado 1412
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Okay I promise a more indepth...thoughtful post sometime soon. good night loves
Monday, August 1, 2011
16 days left...
Well I am busy wrapping up life in the U.S. I've switched my blog over from applicants to D.R., I'm almost done purchasing items for my trip, and my going away party is on Saturday. I didn't get to see a lot of my favorite people, but I'm excited for who I've seen, will see, as well as those who will visit me in the D.R. (smile). Plus you can always send me a handwritten letter, I'll def appreciate those!
2011 has been a whirlwind journey so far of outstanding accomplishments, bittersweet disappointments, and a beautiful ongoing struggle to discover my truths. In an effort to not become overly emotional about all that I'll leave behind and the adventure that awaits me in the Dominican Republic... I have a bunch of quotes below that frame my thinking and will keep me grounded as I transition. Enjoy. PS I'll post the list of things I'm taking to the D.R. soon
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
Be strong!
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift. -M. Babcock
We are not here to play, to dream, to drift;
We have hard work to do and loads to lift;
Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift. -M. Babcock
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined. -Henry David Thoreau
You must not lost faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty. -Gandhi
Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. -Mother Teresa
If you have come to help me you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together. -Aboriginal activists
I don't pretend to know anything... But I know I love seeing people become their best selves. -Me
"When my world shakes, heaven still stands"-from my AP Ashley
All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. -Martin Luther King Jr.
If you want to feel proud of yourself, then do good. Take action that will make you proud. Black or white, don't make excuses, don't blame anyone, and if you really want to feel proud, then do something to help someone else. -Oseola McCarty
We learn wisdom from failure much more than success. We often discover what we will do, by finding out what we will not do.
Samuel Smiles
Samuel Smiles
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart. -Nelson Mandela
A Virtuous Woman uses her time wisely. She does not spend time dwelling on those things that do not please the Lord. -taken from Angel B.
Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent. -MLK Jr.
There is always the danger that we may just do the work for the sake of the work. This is where the respect and the love and the devotion come in - that we do it to God, to Christ, and that's why we try to do it as beautifully as possible. -Mother Teresa
I dreamt that I could paint you with words, but there were no colors bright enough, black or white enough…they didn’t mean enough — Mos Def
Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. -Mother Teresa
All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible.
T.E. Lawrence
T.E. Lawrence
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.-Nelson Mandela
Give yourself fully to the adventure of today. Walk boldly along the path of Life, relying on your ever present Companion. You have every reason to be confident because My Presence accompanies you all the days of your life - and …onward into eternity. Do not give into your fear or worry, those robbers of abundant living. Trust Me enough to face problems as they come, rather than trying to anticipate them. Fix your eyes on Me, the Author and Perfecter of your faith, and many difficulties in the road ahead will vanish before you reach them. Whenever you start to feel afraid remember that I am holding your right hand. Nothing can separate you from My Presence.
I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.-MLK Jr.
Never underestimate the inspirational power of your own journey. When people see you changing your life, they may be moved to follow your lead.
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