Wow. I can’t believe I’m home after two wonderful weeks in New Orleans. I was so happy to have been there with Indigenous Pitch. The team both weeks were so welcoming and loving. Indigenous Pitch is doing powerful things and I feel very blessed to have been a part of it.
Some memories from camp to share:
-I loved how proud of himself Jack was when I commended him on behaving better after separating himself from an older group that wasn’t the most respectful.
-The younger group being SO EXCITED to show Miss Kelly her Birthday dance.
- Seeing some of the boys act so gentleman-like.
-Trevon asking me, “Miss Theresa, are you okay? You look sad,” because he saw me sitting down.
-Anderson jumping up to find a red marker for a little girl, Zoe and I, just to be polite because he overheard Zoe say I should draw some red hearts on the picture I was drawing.
-Kennedi’s little smiling face peaking from behind the standing floor mat
-Teaching the older group tour jete’s in ballet class and then seeing some of the boys getting them, liking them, and practicing them later!
-Encouraging Angel to keep practicing her cartwheels and watching her get better and better at them!
-Some of the girls laughing at me because of how I pronounced New Orleans. ☺
Like Steph also posted in her blog- I’ve been thinking a lot about the children and hurting for them. I don’t know what life is like for them at home. It’s reminded me that more than anything else that I needed to love these children and all children. I can’t let my impatience or my fatigue get the best of me. All they deserve, all any of us deserve (as our theme the 2nd week, respect, taught us) is to be loved.
Multiple times throughout the trip I had déjà vu. I normally don’t pay much attention to things like that, but because it kept occurring it made me feel like I was supposed to be there. I was where I was supposed to be at the time I was supposed to be there. I had met part of God’s plan for my life.
Meeting Ms. Yvette was hands-down the highlight of my trip. Before going to New Orleans I did not know much about Hurricane Katrina or how people have been affected since. Hearing Yvette tell me her story was heartbreaking, yet captivating. As soon as we got home from dinner with her I wrote down everything I could remember from what she told me. I don’t want her story to be forgotten.
Thanks for reading!
-Theresa 