First impressions.

                     My first encounter with the girls was today. it went great, and i'm actually amazed of how great it went. I was extremely nervous at first. As soon as I walked in to the home, I felt like everyone was staring at me. My mentor, Chamlee introduced me to all of the girls. As soon as I was introduced, it was like I had been friends with them for a while. They all greeted me with a handshake and a smile, except for one. After this, Chamlee gave me a tour of the cottage, and  then it was time for dinner.

            " Line up and wash your hands!" was what I was instructed to do. When we lined up the team leader, one of the girls, went through dining room expectations. Each girl down the line went through the expectations and someone prayed. Then it was time to eat! Dinner was probally my least favorite part of the night. WE had beef and beans, and just weird stuff. I didn;t get a lot on my plate at first, and someone made the comment "Is that all you're going to eat?" so I felt like I had to get more. I ate beside the youngest  member of the home, a 12 year old little girl. she was precious. She asked what my favorite hobbies were, and we share the same favorite color, Green!  Anyway,

            After dinner a young girl, the age of 13 gave me a tour of the cottages. It was nothing like I expected. It was cozy and like a home. I liked it, a lot. I loved getting to know the girls. 

              One of the girls, I can not remember her name, writes poetry. When I went in her room, she had it on notebook paper posted on her walls. Heres some of what I saw: 

                                       "Am I really that bad of a person?" 

                                        "What did I do to deserve this?" 

                                                   "Why did all this happen to me?" 

This really made me hurt. I wanted to reach out and hug her and let know know she IS loved. I was deeply impacted tonight, and realize that I have a burning passion for these girls. I can't wait to to back.

"FC"- family conference- where a cottage of girls get togeather and discuss topics. Todays topic was Passion. We all went around telling each other what we were passionate about. It was amazing. I loved it as well. 

Hanging out with the girls: I was siting on the lawn chair talking with two girls. One is 15 years old and has a 27 year old boyfriend, named Jeff, who has 4 different babies. She is recent to the home. some of her comments : 

"I'm not used to living in a 'home-home" I've lived in a trailer all my life." 

"food stamps, is home me and my mama get by" 

I hurt for this girl. She told me horror stories about being arrested. I wanted to cry for her. 

Piercings!: EVERYONE has a piercing. A nose piercing to be exact. And some of the girls want to pierce my nose (: hmmmm. Administration prob wont agree with that!

My first impression of the hoe and the girls went better than expected. I loved it, and can't wait to go back. I found out that this, is my passion.