Sunday, August 30, 2009
I 'heart' good things..
I have just completed what is for me each year one of the busiest weeks of my life. Our amazing new Freshmen are here and moved in officially beginning their classes. Anyway-- before they all get here there are just a few things that I always must do....well, first of all house them....we are right now right at just over the 500 incomings students....and with the returning students we are talking about housing about 1300 people....so...that has been something that I have been working on for awhile....I love this time of year- it is a wonderfu time for me to meet our new young "family" members and do all I can to make this transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible for all. But believe it or not that isn't what has been keeping me busy...I am busy because I have 9 wonderful Residence Hall Supervisors that I work with, take care of and go to bat for....and we do our training before any of our students arrive....it is a blessing and sometimes stressful...but wonderful to remind them that they have a great job...a great opportunity to make a difference for young adults.....we work on our training and planning for a full day....and it mostly takes every minute of it....but it is good and enjoyable....and I am thankful for them- there is not one of them that does this job for the money- and yes, they could all do other things- but they see this as their own ministry- being a mentor and a friend- a confidant and a parent away from home. I have also just completed about 4 days....worth of training with some of the best people I know. I get the opportunity to work with and train and teach our 34 Resident Assistants......we spend lots of time together...get to know each other-- learn about each other.....praying together......thinking and planning and working on all the ideas we hope to accomplish....I spend tons of time talking to them.....telling them about what a great great job they have-- what a joy it can be to them and to others if they will use it....we go through extensive training and planning and find a bit of time for some fun....but these young people.....they are nothing short of amazing! They are special and they care about those they work with....they have to deal with some pretty serious stuff that goes on in the halls and yet they do it with a good attitude and a spirit of service....what a joy! I know this because- I see it or hear about it everyday. I grow to love these students each year....because of all that they do.....during one of the recent training days I sat and listened as they told what their purpose was- as they shared things like: to be a servant, to make a difference, to love those that have no one to love them, and yes, to represent Christ... and then we prayed together.....I sat and wept as I thought about the way God sends things to us at just the right time...when we are hurting or upset we look around and God has sent something wonderful......He is good. The earliest I left work during this training was 9 pm and I love that we are getting so much done-- the gift of these young people that I have been blessed with....the good things.....WOW. I can't begin to describe it. I watch the faces of these young adults and I see their passion for what they do....it gives me a feeling that I can only describe as good. I think this must be how God's heart must feel when he sees the good things that we strive to do-the feeling I have about these young people is so strong- so joyful- so overwhelming and I want to spend my life giving that feeling to my Father. These are good things... and I 'heart good things.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Just 3 calls and a question
Somedays are just tough…i do not know why I let these days get to me- I have most of my life, looked very positively at things and at people-trusting and believing that people are Great…but as I said somedays are just tough. This past Thursday had been one of those days— I had been prayerfully wondering where the good was-:) Work was tough- my co-worker and friend was sick-I had about 25 thank you notes to write and had not completed ANY of them, and to top it all off- I had emotionally eaten twice in the same week…and this makes me so unhappy with me. Ok…basically it was a bad day-
Well, it was about 4:00 and the day was winding down- I was working on some things with my amazing student worker, Kate- when I got a phone call from one of my dorm supervisors- she sounded a bit upset and after I listened a bit- I realized that there was yelling in the background. She told me that there was a young woman who was being treated unfairly by her roommate…..I do not get this situation alot..but occasionally this happens and we work through it—lots of talking and lots of discussion and a prayer for and with each other- and things are usually fine. This time the upperclassmen roommate was being very hard on her newly acquired freshman roomie- not only was she being pretty harsh to her- she also had the suitemates of the room being pretty tough on her as well. It was harsh— the upperclassman suddenly wanted a private room and the younger girl- did NOT get it….the young girl was crying and saying, “What did I do wrong? Why don’t you like me?” Those of you who know me- know that I am a VERY emotional person- crying in worship, at commercials, at movies, at people….. so this- well this just broke my heart. I tried to talk to the older girl- I told her that if she wanted a private room- I would give her one- but that I would move her. She was very upset over this and started yelling again….it was pretty evident she wasn’t going to listen. I finally had the opportunity to talk to the young freshman student- I told her not to cry- that I promise I will take care of her and if she will just hang on and trust me- I will make things right for her. I told her that I did not want her living in the suite she was in and that I wanted her to let me do better for her! She calmed down a bit and then she started crying again- she told me that she couldn’t move- her mom and auntie and grandma had worked so hard to set up her room so pretty and that they lived in Memphis and she couldn’t ask them to come back….or tell them that she was moving all they worked so hard on. Wow, what an amazing attitude- what a heart. I asked her if she would mind if I called her mom and talked to her- she said no and immediately gave me the number…adding-I talked to her, she is REALLLY mad. I hung up the phone and literally said a prayer before calling this mom. I was crying by the time she answered- not sure why- maybe I just needed a good cry, maybe I was a little fearful of my words, but mostly because I knew what this mom must be thinking about her sweet child dealing with this and how far away she felt! I spoke with the mom and told her that I wanted to call and let her know that I wanted to move her child- I told her that no one ever deserved the treatment she was dealing with and that I was going to take care of the young girls who put her child through this- in a manner that they might learn a lesson… I also told her that I was going to take her daughter under my wing and love her and make sure she found the love for FH that I had found…. The mom said- do I need to come there and I told her that I would take care of everything and if she wanted to come she could but that I would make things good for her sweet little girl. I also mentioned that I would handle helping her child move-she thanked me A TON and then hung up the phone- I immediately called the little girl back and told her we were moving…..to wait there and in a bit there would be some people there to help her. She said she would wait. I felt a little sick— I knew that it was supper time on campus and that most of my dearest student friends were busy with interface stuff….but I made 3 calls— 3 — told them the smallest bit of info— basically, there is a girl I need to move- she has not been having a great experience- and she is scared-I would love it if you could go over and help move her and show her how great FH people CAN be. They all answered with ok but not sure if I can get anyone else to help…. everyone is pretty busy. I told them that was ok- we could all handle it. I had a bit more to do in paperwork for the move and made a call to the new roomie- who was so excited to be finally getting a roommate. :) It took me about 25 minutes and then I headed over to the dorm- she was leaving- As I made my way to the second floor- I could hear noise— lots of noise-oh well, it is a dorm….I opened the door and made my way to the girls room— I took a peek inside and there they were— literally 23 people!!! 23 people…surrounding this young girl- with love and laughter and a desire to help. I couldn’t really contain my feelings and I teared up— I again realized the greatness of this place that blesses my life and so many others everyday. I watched as the whole process took place and saw this young girl feel the joy of friends and the peace of God through these servants… it was beautiful. I know this is a long way to get here…but- 3 calls and a question and a life is nurtured, touched, changed. I am blessed.
Well, it was about 4:00 and the day was winding down- I was working on some things with my amazing student worker, Kate- when I got a phone call from one of my dorm supervisors- she sounded a bit upset and after I listened a bit- I realized that there was yelling in the background. She told me that there was a young woman who was being treated unfairly by her roommate…..I do not get this situation alot..but occasionally this happens and we work through it—lots of talking and lots of discussion and a prayer for and with each other- and things are usually fine. This time the upperclassmen roommate was being very hard on her newly acquired freshman roomie- not only was she being pretty harsh to her- she also had the suitemates of the room being pretty tough on her as well. It was harsh— the upperclassman suddenly wanted a private room and the younger girl- did NOT get it….the young girl was crying and saying, “What did I do wrong? Why don’t you like me?” Those of you who know me- know that I am a VERY emotional person- crying in worship, at commercials, at movies, at people….. so this- well this just broke my heart. I tried to talk to the older girl- I told her that if she wanted a private room- I would give her one- but that I would move her. She was very upset over this and started yelling again….it was pretty evident she wasn’t going to listen. I finally had the opportunity to talk to the young freshman student- I told her not to cry- that I promise I will take care of her and if she will just hang on and trust me- I will make things right for her. I told her that I did not want her living in the suite she was in and that I wanted her to let me do better for her! She calmed down a bit and then she started crying again- she told me that she couldn’t move- her mom and auntie and grandma had worked so hard to set up her room so pretty and that they lived in Memphis and she couldn’t ask them to come back….or tell them that she was moving all they worked so hard on. Wow, what an amazing attitude- what a heart. I asked her if she would mind if I called her mom and talked to her- she said no and immediately gave me the number…adding-I talked to her, she is REALLLY mad. I hung up the phone and literally said a prayer before calling this mom. I was crying by the time she answered- not sure why- maybe I just needed a good cry, maybe I was a little fearful of my words, but mostly because I knew what this mom must be thinking about her sweet child dealing with this and how far away she felt! I spoke with the mom and told her that I wanted to call and let her know that I wanted to move her child- I told her that no one ever deserved the treatment she was dealing with and that I was going to take care of the young girls who put her child through this- in a manner that they might learn a lesson… I also told her that I was going to take her daughter under my wing and love her and make sure she found the love for FH that I had found…. The mom said- do I need to come there and I told her that I would take care of everything and if she wanted to come she could but that I would make things good for her sweet little girl. I also mentioned that I would handle helping her child move-she thanked me A TON and then hung up the phone- I immediately called the little girl back and told her we were moving…..to wait there and in a bit there would be some people there to help her. She said she would wait. I felt a little sick— I knew that it was supper time on campus and that most of my dearest student friends were busy with interface stuff….but I made 3 calls— 3 — told them the smallest bit of info— basically, there is a girl I need to move- she has not been having a great experience- and she is scared-I would love it if you could go over and help move her and show her how great FH people CAN be. They all answered with ok but not sure if I can get anyone else to help…. everyone is pretty busy. I told them that was ok- we could all handle it. I had a bit more to do in paperwork for the move and made a call to the new roomie- who was so excited to be finally getting a roommate. :) It took me about 25 minutes and then I headed over to the dorm- she was leaving- As I made my way to the second floor- I could hear noise— lots of noise-oh well, it is a dorm….I opened the door and made my way to the girls room— I took a peek inside and there they were— literally 23 people!!! 23 people…surrounding this young girl- with love and laughter and a desire to help. I couldn’t really contain my feelings and I teared up— I again realized the greatness of this place that blesses my life and so many others everyday. I watched as the whole process took place and saw this young girl feel the joy of friends and the peace of God through these servants… it was beautiful. I know this is a long way to get here…but- 3 calls and a question and a life is nurtured, touched, changed. I am blessed.
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