His GRACE [alone] is sufficient for me.
I can do all things [He has called me to] through Him who gives me strength.
These are my claims today after our first full 6 days in Monticello at Vera Lloyd. These formerly overly-quoted cliched verses have borne new meaning in my life.
Here's a recap of the last week:
Saturday morning we were graciously welcomed to campus by the campus director, his wife, the program director, and a whole house of boys ready to help us unload the truck. We were pleasantly surprised by the size and appearance of our personal apartment (attached to the home we'll be working in). We have room for visitors to come stay with us (hint, hint) and even have an extra bathroom!
Sunday morning we were invited to church with the campus director and his wife at Second Baptist of Monticello. It was a very warm and welcoming experience, for sure! Sunday morning was one of the (many) times this week I have realized just how much God has to teach us by bringing us down here. We have several churches we plan to visit in Monticello, but no matter where we land, the reality came to life before us of just how different church will be. Not only the worship, the people, the style, etc. but becoming participants with our main ministry being outside the church instead of being on staff. Everything's just...different.
We spent the bulk of the weekend (outside of visiting church) getting the essentials unpacked during which my wonderful husband put together 3 huge shelving units for me that have helped us feel very organized. (Thanks, sweetie!)
Bright and early Monday morning we initiated our time on staff at Vera Lloyd by beginning our two full weeks of training. We've been completely mentally drained by the amount of information we are processing each day. We've even had stuyding to do in the evenings. This week, we have (begun) learning the Family Teaching Model, which is the primary disciplinary and motivational system used on our campus. Through this training, we have realized we truly will be living out our title of family TEACHERS in so many ways. We will be doing teaching interactions with the kids throughout each day, helping them to learn positive social skills, academic skills, and life skills. We also have learned everything from meal preparation (and its accompanying paperwork) to running our household budget (and its accompanying paperwork) to all of the in's and out's of working with these girls (and its accompanying paperwork). We have gotten to spend time in some of the homes for our lunchtimes which has been helpful in bringing it all to life. We really feel like we are getting an entire college degree in two weeks as we sit through this training but we know a lot of it won't even click until we get in the home. It truly is overwhelming despite the great support of our fabulous supervisors, and we know it is putting us in the exact place God needs us to start our work at Barton (on our knees before Him).
Right in the middle of our training week, we were further welcomed with an all-campus barbeque. This was where we really got to interact with our girls for the first time. Right now, there are 6 girls living at the Barton Home (our house). We can have up to 8. There are two unrelated 8-year-old girls who are bundles of energy and who have already shared with us that they do not get along; they are both short-term girls (45 day stay). There is a 12-year-old girl, as well, who is long term and has been in the house for quite a while. Then, there are two 16-year-olds (both long-term) and a 17-year-old who we really connected with and percieve to be the "leader" in the house. The girls have been without a Family Teaching couple for about a month now. A great gal has stepped in to sub for the month ("Ms. A"), but it still takes a toll on the girls to not have as much structure and focus as when 2 Family Teachers are full-time in the home.
Our next week of training will primarily be in the homes (and acquiring some training certifications). By next Tuesday night, we will be conducting different affairs of the household while our supervisors are present as resources for us. I'm so glad we have each other, and I can already tell what an awesome thing it has been for us to come to do these crazy things together - because right now, we are all each other has...and we have to depend on each other like we never have...we have to trust one another completely. We're going to try and fail together...we're going to totally screw up together...and have to laugh about it later...and I know, eventually, we're going to finally "get it" together. The word on the street around here is that your entire first year is your training year. Thank goodness for that. I'm not a person that often feels speechless (haha, you know that) or at a loss, but again, God knew exactly what it would take to get me there, because just when I need words or a solution in all of the simulations we have done...I have stumbled through speechlessness. I have been at a complete loss. I love everyone here, though. Every single supervisor all the way up the chain has been a Family Teacher AT Vera Lloyd before. They have walked in our shoes....for many years....and have so much love, so much grace, so much support, so much wisdom, so much of exactly what we need. What a blessing.
July 10 is the BIG day. At 9pm that night, we conduct a shift change with the Alternate Family Teacher at Barton and take over the home for our first full week. That may seem several days away to you, but we can't believe how quickly it has come.
Prayer Pleas(e)
-Emotional/Mental/Physical Energy and Strength as we train and acquire the new skills needed to work with these girls
-That we will cling ONLY to the promises of the Lord and His call on our life
-The girls: that God will begin to prepare them for the BIG transition in about 1 week
-That we will have wisdom and discernment as we make plans for the DNA we will bring to the home
-Our overall adjustment to small town life in Monticello and eventually finding a church home
To Come Soon:
-(hopefully) Video Tour of the Apartment
-Update on our next week of training in the homes
-Updates on our girls
-(hopefully) video footage of Michael already slipping into a Southern accent (it's hilarious, and I am still accusing him of doing it on purpose)
Thanks so much for reading...and praying...We love and miss you all more than you will know!
I can do all things [He has called me to] through Him who gives me strength.
These are my claims today after our first full 6 days in Monticello at Vera Lloyd. These formerly overly-quoted cliched verses have borne new meaning in my life.
Here's a recap of the last week:
Saturday morning we were graciously welcomed to campus by the campus director, his wife, the program director, and a whole house of boys ready to help us unload the truck. We were pleasantly surprised by the size and appearance of our personal apartment (attached to the home we'll be working in). We have room for visitors to come stay with us (hint, hint) and even have an extra bathroom!
Sunday morning we were invited to church with the campus director and his wife at Second Baptist of Monticello. It was a very warm and welcoming experience, for sure! Sunday morning was one of the (many) times this week I have realized just how much God has to teach us by bringing us down here. We have several churches we plan to visit in Monticello, but no matter where we land, the reality came to life before us of just how different church will be. Not only the worship, the people, the style, etc. but becoming participants with our main ministry being outside the church instead of being on staff. Everything's just...different.
We spent the bulk of the weekend (outside of visiting church) getting the essentials unpacked during which my wonderful husband put together 3 huge shelving units for me that have helped us feel very organized. (Thanks, sweetie!)
Bright and early Monday morning we initiated our time on staff at Vera Lloyd by beginning our two full weeks of training. We've been completely mentally drained by the amount of information we are processing each day. We've even had stuyding to do in the evenings. This week, we have (begun) learning the Family Teaching Model, which is the primary disciplinary and motivational system used on our campus. Through this training, we have realized we truly will be living out our title of family TEACHERS in so many ways. We will be doing teaching interactions with the kids throughout each day, helping them to learn positive social skills, academic skills, and life skills. We also have learned everything from meal preparation (and its accompanying paperwork) to running our household budget (and its accompanying paperwork) to all of the in's and out's of working with these girls (and its accompanying paperwork). We have gotten to spend time in some of the homes for our lunchtimes which has been helpful in bringing it all to life. We really feel like we are getting an entire college degree in two weeks as we sit through this training but we know a lot of it won't even click until we get in the home. It truly is overwhelming despite the great support of our fabulous supervisors, and we know it is putting us in the exact place God needs us to start our work at Barton (on our knees before Him).
Right in the middle of our training week, we were further welcomed with an all-campus barbeque. This was where we really got to interact with our girls for the first time. Right now, there are 6 girls living at the Barton Home (our house). We can have up to 8. There are two unrelated 8-year-old girls who are bundles of energy and who have already shared with us that they do not get along; they are both short-term girls (45 day stay). There is a 12-year-old girl, as well, who is long term and has been in the house for quite a while. Then, there are two 16-year-olds (both long-term) and a 17-year-old who we really connected with and percieve to be the "leader" in the house. The girls have been without a Family Teaching couple for about a month now. A great gal has stepped in to sub for the month ("Ms. A"), but it still takes a toll on the girls to not have as much structure and focus as when 2 Family Teachers are full-time in the home.
Our next week of training will primarily be in the homes (and acquiring some training certifications). By next Tuesday night, we will be conducting different affairs of the household while our supervisors are present as resources for us. I'm so glad we have each other, and I can already tell what an awesome thing it has been for us to come to do these crazy things together - because right now, we are all each other has...and we have to depend on each other like we never have...we have to trust one another completely. We're going to try and fail together...we're going to totally screw up together...and have to laugh about it later...and I know, eventually, we're going to finally "get it" together. The word on the street around here is that your entire first year is your training year. Thank goodness for that. I'm not a person that often feels speechless (haha, you know that) or at a loss, but again, God knew exactly what it would take to get me there, because just when I need words or a solution in all of the simulations we have done...I have stumbled through speechlessness. I have been at a complete loss. I love everyone here, though. Every single supervisor all the way up the chain has been a Family Teacher AT Vera Lloyd before. They have walked in our shoes....for many years....and have so much love, so much grace, so much support, so much wisdom, so much of exactly what we need. What a blessing.
July 10 is the BIG day. At 9pm that night, we conduct a shift change with the Alternate Family Teacher at Barton and take over the home for our first full week. That may seem several days away to you, but we can't believe how quickly it has come.
Prayer Pleas(e)
-Emotional/Mental/Physical Energy and Strength as we train and acquire the new skills needed to work with these girls
-That we will cling ONLY to the promises of the Lord and His call on our life
-The girls: that God will begin to prepare them for the BIG transition in about 1 week
-That we will have wisdom and discernment as we make plans for the DNA we will bring to the home
-Our overall adjustment to small town life in Monticello and eventually finding a church home
To Come Soon:
-(hopefully) Video Tour of the Apartment
-Update on our next week of training in the homes
-Updates on our girls
-(hopefully) video footage of Michael already slipping into a Southern accent (it's hilarious, and I am still accusing him of doing it on purpose)
Thanks so much for reading...and praying...We love and miss you all more than you will know!
So beautifully transparent Betsy! Loved reading this, you capture the scene wonderfully. I look forward to reading more. You guys are going to do great! Love, Lydia
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