Personal Narrative: My Time At The Drop-In Center

I was able to attend three church services at the Athens First United Methodist Church and gain insight on what it was like to be a weekly congregation member. While focusing on the members of the congregation and their mannerisms, the pastor and the way that the congregation was being addressed, and the overall routine of the service I was able to write-up the way that I felt and the things that I noticed while being present. I feel as if the Catholic and Methodist church are different and attending the mass was not something that I was used too. I was experiencing a different religion and church service. I felt like there was a sense of community at each service and I really liked the way that I personally felt welcome each time I went. I am not saying that the catholic church does not have a sense of community, maybe it is because Athens is a small town and members get to know each other very well or what but I felt a strong community vibe. I was able to focus in on the members specifically and the way that they interacted with one another and the pastor. Friendly, is the word that I would use to describe the members. Each person had a smile on their faces on entering and exiting the church. Reverend Robert McDowell did a wonderful job interacting and engaging with the congregation throughout the service. He wanted his people to listen and reflect on the words he was saying not just blankly listen to. Going to the Methodist church was an eye opening experience to me, realizing that going to church and being in college is not a bad thing. It takes up one hour of my time one day a week. This project made me realize the difference between religions and unfamiliar places and how it can be educational and exciting to

By the way of introduction, I am Aleem Punja's cousin and he suggested I reach out to you to explore possible opportunities at the Children's Aid Society of Toronto.

I remember being taken away from my mother at age seven. My brother was only a year old when we were separated. We were ripped away from her arms and placed in foster care. I can recall that day clear as a crystal. My throat felt constricted as I yelled out for my mother, my eyes were red and puffy from all the crying, my knees bruised because I refused to be taken away. From then out my life tumbled down. I could no longer protect my brother, I could not be there to wipe my mother’s tears away. I was alone and frightened. Now that I look back at my experiences in foster care it made me stronger. As of today I am more grounded, and able to go through life with a new lense. I got to experience foster care and am able to empathize with those who have gone through it as well.

At church, in addition to my participation in the worship services, I volunteered at our church’s soup kitchen, medical camps and elementary school for underprivileged children. These experiences opened my eyes to the deprivation of love and care in the world and a dire need of God’s grace for people at large so they could receive forgiveness, healing and restoration in their lives.

For many years, I have worked in ministry as a support ministry member. In 1993-1997, I served as Administrator at Beacon Light Full Gospel Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Darryl S. Bister. I was responsible for all of his appointments, drafting of documents, and overseer of additional staff members and responsible for the day to day operations. In 1997, I was called to Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church with my husband under Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr. I served in many capacities in this ministry from worship leader to Administrator to the Registrar for Greater St. Stephens School of Ministry. My husband along with our 3 children was then called to Denver, Colorado to serve at Heritage Christian Center under Bishop Dennis Leonard. We serve in that ministry

On 5/21/16 at approximately 2024 hours, Officer Acosta #0044 and I responded to Huntington Memorial Hospital, (HMH), for a report of a battery. The comments of the call stated, “IN ER RM #18, VIC IS 25 YO MALE ASSAULTED WED AT LA PINTO PARK BY UNK SUSP, ADV HE WAS HIT IN HEAD W/BAT AND HAS A PUNCTURE WOUND TO THE LIP. VICTIM IS EDGAR LARA DOB 10-02-90.”

I am passionate on helping people and making changes in others’ lives. Like I stated before, my mother had been trapped herself in the apologetic emotion for years. The mental burden had made her down. Therefore, I decided to help my mother get rid of the self-accusation, by using the knowledge I learned in the Human Services major. To illustrate, I was telling her that it was not her fault of divorce, and she was not showing me the negative image of a marriage. Instead, I admire her braveness of ending a marriage when it was necessary, especially in the time when people were stereotyping divorced women and at the place where people were being judgmental. Now, her self-blameless has been reduced, and she told me that she was not felt as guilty

I was fifteen years old when my mother invited me to help out with the local foster home. When I arrived at the foster home I began to cry in response to the young children that I saw. It was difficult for me to understand the children's emotions initially but throughout the day I learned the reason behind their joy. Most of the foster children were grateful for the little deeds that the volunteers performed for them because we showed that we cared about them. In all honesty many people take for granted the advantages they have for succeeding in life. The foster children that I've seen that day were limited because they did not have the physical and the emotional support of their families. I did not realized how blessed I was to have a loving

Reverend Reynolds spoke to the school a few years ago. I remember hugging him and thanking him the first time and doing the same this time around. I wanted to say more to him, but I couldn't articulate the words. I think his story is amazing, but unfortunately

We are certified specialists who know the addiction journey ourselves. Your comfort is our top priority.

My second clinic rotation is internal medicine and I’ve had many encounters, both with patients and colleagues, which have made me pause and reflect. One of those encounters, in particular, will still be on my mind long after I finish typing this reflective journal. The patient at the center of it all is a lady I’ll refer to from here on as “Mrs. Flowers.” Mrs. Flowers is an 81 year old female with dementia and diabetes. She arrived on our unit with a diabetic foot infection that had progressed from a simple toe ulcer to wet gangrene. Over the last 2-3 months, gangrenous changes encompassed the distal half of her left foot. During pre-rounds, our medical team unanimously agreed that we would contact surgery for a consult. At time, it was obvious

As I mentioned, event number one occurred this past summer when my church youth group traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, for a national Lutheran youth gathering. We departure on July 15th and arrived in New Orleans to meet and worship for a week with 25,000 other Lutheran youths from different states and across the world. Much had traveled from Germany, Hungary, and Canada. The lyrics ¨Every Sunday I see people filling in through those front doors, got a cross up on that steeple, yeah itś time to praise the Lord,” from The Saltwater Gospel by The Eli Young Band relates to my time in New Orleans, especially for a mass event at the Superdome, when 25,000 people came together. Each night, we would enjoy personal stories, skits, and songs about

My first Sunday at the church I was able to help lead mission Sunday. The church regularly set aside a Sunday each month were the youth would do a service project in the community. The Sunday I participated we worked at a community garden. My job during this time was not only cleaning and picking weeds but encouraging the youth. I learned a lot about keeping a team of youth organized and motivated. I had never witnessed a program similar to mission Sunday from any other

Burned bacon and eggs as thin as water, “worst breakfast mom makes better” Michael cried Mrs. Malison the foster “Mom” didn’t care though she slapped Michael and said “eat your food or you’ll sleep in the shed today.” Michael thought anything is better than his actual foster bedroom, its black, greasy walls, and rickety bed it was horrible. When Michael woke up from his nightmare of the first day at the foster home, when rubbing the sleep out of his eyes Michael walked down stairs to see Mrs. Malison shooting her AK- 47 at the bird nest and Mr. Malison laying on the coach drinking Bud Light and reading the newspaper from two weeks ago. Michael was now fourteen years old and was still being treated as a three year old, he wished he could leave this place for ever. When Michael was three years old his mom and Dad divorced and his Mom sent him to this foster home. The only thing he remembered that day was when his mom arrived at the foster home she

On 10/05/2016, I, Jeffrey Lee Albert, was working as a police officer for the Wichita State University Police Department, in Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas. At approximately 1614 hours I was dispatched to Grace Wilke to offer a ride for a student Eryn Noelle Miller to Comcair Crisis Center at 635 N Main, Wichita, KS 67203. I arrived at approximately 1627 hours at Grace Wilke and met with Amy Marie Barfield on the thrid floor. Barfield introduced me to Miller and I started my transport at approximately 1644 hours. We arrived at Comcair Crisis Center at approximately 1704 hours. I helped Miller get checked in and waited with her until staff were present. I left Comcair Crisis Center at approximately 1722 hours and returned to service at approximately