Kindergarten-Boogers, Untied Shoes and Being a Mom

It's been way too long since I last posted. 

I'm officially a kindergarten teacher.
I'm officially a certified bus driver.
Apparently God finds some humour in these things and the way my life has turned out.

Life on the Rez got really serious the last three weeks.  I'm done with two solid weeks of teaching my twenty students.  Honestly it feels like I've been "playing school" as my mom's put it.  But, now it's time to teach my little ones how to read.  Crazy.  I always hated relearning phonics in college and now I have to teach it.  Not one of my favorite scenarios.

Since I'm teaching in a private school, my kids are all on a 30 day trial.  The first week I had to tell one of my students that he couldn't come next week.  His behavior was out of control even though his academics were sound.  Talk about a rough first Friday of the school year.  Although he gave me and the aides a lot of trouble, I couldn't help but like him.  I cried when I put him on the bus.  The next Monday I had a new student to replace him.

Every day I'm learning about the kind of kindergarten teacher I want to be.  These kids have absolutely no manners.  They poke, pinch, and give each other rattlesnake burns.  They can't tie their shoes.  They ask to go to the bathroom every five minutes.  I know that I'm not going to teach this grade forever.  But, I can't help but love being a mom to them--holding their hand on the way to Religion/Lakota class or to PE, opening their milk for them at lunch, tying their shoes, stuffing their folders, or making sure that they have an extra set of clothes just in case they have an "accident".  For some reason right now, I know that God put me in the "magical kingdom" of a classroom.  Although I may not be able to see through the intense reading curriculum, I know my kids will come so far by May. 

What He has given me in challenges at school, He made up for it in my friends here.  They are very supportive and that's all I can ask for. When Claire and I finally make it out of our classrooms, we bake cookies while talking in weird accents.  Anna tries to dance on me while we cook.  Kevin and I end up wrestling when we get too frustrated with school work.  Liz makes up random lies that we can only tell she's lying when she bursts out into contagious laughter.  Tim and Maria always have a meal going when I come in at six each day from school.  Shannon talks about her days in med school and stories of the ER. Plus there are too many stories to count.  Some how we make up a huge family that just seems to work in our volunteer program.  These people challenge me to be the real Abby, not the one my college friends knew.  Thank God for these people and kids in my life.  Every day makes me glad I'm here.

Sometimes I still wonder what teaching in Indiana would have been like.  Every time I think that though, I know how grateful I am for this experience.  Hopefully I'm being the woman of God that I'm meant to be.  Even if it involves little five year olds....
God Works.

First Encounter

Our last week was filled with laughter, jokes, a failed CDL bus test (for some) and more volunteer love than I could have ever dreamed.  We all mesh so well that I know God has some A-MAZ-ING plans for Red Cloud and Our Lady of Lourdes this school year.  I thought you all would love to have a description of my new friends here in SoDak so here we go:

 imagine a three girl part harmony going on in the background hehe :)

Claire-3rd grade teacher at RC, from St. Louis but went to school in Kansas, says the most hilarious things you never know what comment will come out of her mouth, isn't afraid to be herself and that's what I love about her the most

Anna- substitute at the high school, is very talented musically and has one of the kindest hearts I know, she also hates soup

Mickey-my kindergarten aide at RC, went to school at Santa Clara and from Northern California, loves soccer and will help coach one of the soccer teams here, does funny voice overs and has a fun personality

Liz-college advisor and alumni relations at the high school, big personality, pretty much grew up on the Rez because her parents met here, has so much to offer to this community and loves to experience everything

Kevin- K through 8 PE/health teacher, was a Jesuit novice for a year and a kindergarten aide for half that time at RC, former camp counselor, very chill personality and has some serious dance skills

Andrew-high school English teacher, born in Omaha Nebraska, loves sports, very fun to banter with back and forth

Those were the few of us newer (minus Liz since this is her second year) newbies in the Red Cloud community.  We went with our sister school companions (what we refer to as OLL) out to a pub in Gordon, NE which is about forty five minutes south of here. The volunteers also call it a border town.  It was a small town pub that have cowboys at the bar itself.  Yes, good old cowboy hat and boot wearin' men.  I made the mistake of asking the bartender about his huge Western belt buckle.  He went on about it and wouldn't leave our group alone.  He then started talking about how crazy it gets in Gordon at the first and fifteen of the month since that's when the Lakota community get their paychecks/food stamps.  That's when I knew this would become a part of my life-discussions with arrogant people like him who don't know the Rez culture.  Although alcoholism is a huge problem in this area, that doesn't mean people should generalize like that.  It's something I'll have to get used to and learn to hold my tongue better.

Tomorrow, a bunch of us get another stab at the CDL (bus driving) written test up in Rapid City.  I feel a lot more confident then last time and managed to get some solid sleep too, thank goodness.  We'll see how it goes.  Prayers would be greatly appreciated :)

On the Rez at long Last

A couple days ago my parents and I made the seventeen hour voyage to my new home, the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  I met four of the other volunteers (Claire, Liz, Anna, Greg) and settled into my new home.  This morning I got to see my classroom.  It is flipping HUGE!  It's seriously the old gym, has a massive supply closet that's three times as big as my room in Valpo, and has it's own library.  Talk about epic!  When I went in, I couldn't believe that it's my class.  Twenty little Lakota Sioux children will walk in that door in less than a month.  I'm a bit overwhelmed at the large supply amount which the old kindergarten teacher left behind.  My rents and I managed to move all of the furniture around to make the phonics, math, play, and social science "centers".  I couldn't even begin to think about all of the actual decorating until they repaint part of my room anyway.

After dinner, I had to say goodbye to my mom and dad.  It was harder for my mom then I expected. I was really proud of her for not crying, but I could tell in the hug that she gave me.  We are very close and since I'm the youngest that makes it worse for her in a way.  From what they said, both are extremely glad that we drove out together.  My mom and dad definitely understand the Rez life a whole lot better.  They feel safer leaving me out in this area and know what more to expect.

I absolutely love SoDak so far.  The weather changes are intense but so fun to watch.  Yesterday it was sunny and then all the sudden golf ball sized hail fell from the heavens.  Last year when I went to Nebraska, I had a funny feeling that it was where I belonged.  Look at me know, right on the SoDak/NE border.  My life has changed so much since last summer. Well, even from the Fall.  I'm a better and stronger me then I've ever been.  After alot of praying, I've decided to use the counseling services at the school.  I don't want to get back into my old habits and in a place like this it could happen all too quickly.

The Trust Bead

My last week at camp was filled with humitity, laughter, triumps, tears, and hugs.  Yesterday was the best day at camp I've ever had. Our team won Color Wars.  CW is a week long battle between five teams with competition and laughter.  Since our team won, Mike Lang (the assistant Lake Village director) asked for one of the counselors from our team to come up and to sign the unifying shield.  We elected the Pathfinder cord, Ben, to go up.  As Ben starting walking, Mike said that I should come up and sign it.  He told the whole village it was my last week and that I would be missed.  I was in shock.  Never ever have I felt so valued at camp as a counselor.  It finally clicked that I did what I came to do this summer:  I've made a difference on the kids and the village as a whole. :)

I gave my heart to God this summer.  He has taught me so much and proved that He indeed has a sense of humour.  My time at Camp Tecumseh isn't over.  Somehow I know God will bring me back there next summer in some shape or form.  In Summer 2009, I chose to work on trusting God to do His will.  My life was turned upside down and although there was pain, He has shown me just how much He will give in return.  It's a beautiful thing.  God has placed so many new friends in my life.  Nothing has ever felt this right.  I'm not nervous about moving out to SoDak anymore.  I know that I'm on God's path and in Him, I'm enough.

Apple Carmel Pops at the Bottom of the Trunk

Week 5- Best Cabin of My Life

Last week was the best I've ever had at Camp Tecumseh.  Our cabin full of ten Warrior girls clicked so well that I couldn't convince them to blend with other cabins during lunch or trading post time.  Both my partner Mariah and I had so much fun.  Let's just say on Sunday, I laughed more than I did all of our Pathfinder week.  We all knew it would be a magical week after that.  All of our girls were awkward, silly, and clumsy.  This combination made us all closer and bare so much of our hearts that week.

Here are some of my favorite memories in list form, again:

1.  Someone spilled their juice, water, or milk during every single meal that week. 
2.  Doing a Trust Hike after being rained out from another activity and getting to see a huge beaver in the process.
3.  Bonding so well with the pair of twins that they came back to visit us three different times on Checkout Day.  They couldn't handle the thought of leaving us behind.
4.  Getting princess kiddie celebration tablecloth, paper plates, and paper cups for lunch because we love our kids so much.
5.  Seeing my friend Rob jam out on his guitar during chapel.
6.  Having Olivia, one of the twins, always come up to me to hold hand while we walked from place to place.
7.  Seeing these ten girls bond more than I've ever seen in my three years as a counselor.  I guarantee they will ALL be counselors when they become old enough.
8.  Being ambushed by a whole family of raccoons while on the Mohave porch.
9.  Mariah drooling when she got excited during mail time/meals.
10.  My kids thinking I went out on the porch at night to talk to myself.
11.  My old partner Slick came to visit during Campfire and laughing/cringing during Alligator

One last week....

Rock the Boat

Week 4-Pathfinder Week

15 out of the 20 Lake Village cabins became Pathfinders this past week.  This meant that my cabin housed ten 14 year olds.  I had five out of the ten at some point in the last two years.  They each were great individually, but when you put them all together it turned into a week long catfight.  Even though I know that I'm in the Warrior unit (12-13 year olds) for a reason at camp, this was the time to experience something new and be out of my element.  I'm thankful that I could finally do activities with my close friends in the Pfinder unit.  Although it was a stressful and demanding week, I grew stronger as a person and counselor.  Only two more weeks at my favorite place on earth but I plan on soaking up as much Camp T. as possible!
Highlights from the week:

1.  Playing the epic game of Empire and getting third place
2.  Finally getting to eat a hobo dinner
4.  Getting a care package from one of my Week 2 campers
3. Making a connection with a old camper about her fight with depression
4.  Doing a combined devotion with Paiute cabin and my friend Cassy
5.  Getting all of my parent letters done before Friday night
6.  Wearing the pink Pfinder shirt
7.  Playing with a bulldog on Saturday morning
8.  Having a failed sleepout at the Suspension Bridge
9.  Getting to bring Josh, Cassy and Ray Ray home with me this weekend
10.  Spending four hours at the beach yesterday

This is the second to last time that I'll be at home for a long time.  As we drove through Valpo, I realized how much this place meant to me.  Maybe I can bring a little bit of home and camp out with me to the Rez :)  Only 2.5 more weeks until I'm out in SoDak!

Shoot, watch out where that pig is aiming

Week 3 Roses

-Seeing eleven campers from my Summer 2009 Wyandot cabin
-Having three of those in my clinics and getting daily hugs from them
-One child told me that he remembers me from a cookout last year.  Apparently I got mad because the boys wouldn't help and i said that Zach was just bitter because he hadn't gone through puberty yet.  I distinctly remember it and still find it funny
-Having a hour long tearful talk with one of two of my best camp friends, Cassy and Marie
-Making decoupaged notes for the new counselors to help them get through the week
-Doing a devotion on "beauty" at the Firefly Hill by the Lake and it has to be my favorite by far
-Tom Elliot saying I'm doing a great job and giving me the extra encouragement I needed to get through the week
-Catching a firefly with one hand during Closing Campfire
-One of my old camp friends, Kassi Huey surprise me while I'm pulling kids down from the RV Zip Line
-Wrestling with my Day Camp staff, Jillian, as our girls try to steal Zebra Cakes from their snack boxes
-Planning to make triangle friendship bracelets with the other two Tri Delts in Lake Village
-Seeing my partner grow so much from Week 1
-An epic heat lightning storm on Thursday night at Purdue's pedestrian crossing

Let's end on a camper quote:

"Do you use hair dye to cover your gray hairs?" -Sara, Week 3 Mohave Cabin