Things that El Paso has taught me (so far)

"Miss Jennifer, I drew a flower for you"

:)

One of the girls made this at the summer program. So adorable!

This picture makes me proud to say that I work with these people. We are definitely a fun group of goons!

View of El paso from Rim Road. Right before we hiked up Star Mountain

Wonderful stroll around Chamizal, right next to Juarez

Chamizal National Memorial

1. Dry heat >>>>>>> humid, midwest heat
2. The U.S.-Mexico border is only a fence, and is referred to as the fence. Never as "the border."
3. The culture down here is overly hospitable and very friendly
4. El Paso feels more like living in Mexico than in the United States
5. Undocumented vs. illegal... Undocumented is the way to go
6. "LLUEEEEEEVVVEE...." (That's more of an inside joke... but it means rain in Spanish :))
7. One word: colonias.
8. There is still so much beauty behind all of the sadness and struggles that exist within the poverty. The shelters, churches, organizations, services, and people who dedicate their lives in helping have really strengthened my faith in humanity.
9. Takis are the sh**
10. El Paso's (and maybe in other areas of Texas) traffic lights are horizontal
11. I actually really, really enjoy authentic Mexican food
12. ALL PEOPLE AND FAMILIES DESERVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE A BETTER LIFE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, IF THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT.
13. Most families and people who attempt to cross the fence do not want to necessarily come to the U.S. They flee for safety.
14. My new heroes are all Border Servant members! (Justin and Hannah, you two can do everything that is thrown your way - I admire you both very much!)
15. This doesn't necessarily have to do with El Paso, but White Sands in New Mexico is the most beautiful place I have ever seen/been to!
16. The best natural highs come from serving and helping others.
17. Hikes are the best forms of working out, as well as self-esteem boosts.
18. Praying on top of a mountain is my favorite way to pray.
19. Occasionally, children do not have the same last name as their parents. There are also siblings who have different last names from each other.
20. Anything involving water (swimming pools, water balloons, etc etc) are a BIG deal in this culture.
21. In this culture, people greet each other with a hug and a kiss on the cheek, always!
22. Being a program director is the most draining job I've ever taken. However, it is also incredibly rewarding and fun spending time with the kids!
23. Middle schoolers are actually pretty fun to work with :)
24. The youth refer to any man and woman in a teaching position as "Mister" and "Miss."
25. In families dealing with poverty, you will find 10 or more people living in one house.
26. Border Patrol can detain and place parent/guardians in a detention center without consulting with the kids.
27. People down here speak with so much passion and emotion behind their words. It's really beautiful to see.
28. Heat stroke is not fun to experience
29. Hot and spicy food is THE BEST!
30. Not saying that I actually believed this horrible stereotype, but for the sake of awareness and people who make judgements... PEOPLE WHO COME TO THE UNITED STATES FROM MEXICO ARE NOT LAZY!!! MOST WORK 3 OR MORE JOBS JUST TO SCRAPE BY. THIS STEREOTYPE AND ASSUMPTION NEEDS TO VANISH!
31. My allergies are nonexistent down here. Thank you Jesus.
32. There is a big difference between hearing theories of serving at the border and trying to stop poverty, vs. taking action and living out the theories.
33. There are sensors at the fence, so be careful where you step!
34. The violence in Juarez is not as awful as it is portrayed.
35. You truly find yourself when you live in a place that is completely unfamiliar.
36. El Paso is completely completely completely different from home.
37. Spanish is a beautiful language :)
38. Border Patrol can fire their gun if they feel like their life is in danger. However, they have not always chosen to fire at appropriate times.
39. Down here where it's always dry, houses have swamp coolers. They use water, and bring moisture into houses! Quite the opposite of the midwest.
40. People who are privileged in life need to stop complaining over the smallest things. Be thankful, for crying out loud. You have no idea how lucky you are.
41. I've always had faith that lives can be turned around through prayer and God. However, coming down here, and seeing families who have REALLY struggled and have had nothing but their love for God is incredible. They are all such happy people, filled with much joy and thanksgiving. That alone has strengthened my faith.
42. People say "y'all" down here to be gender neutral.
43. I'm actually not a very patriotic person...sorry 'bout it...
44. You have to literally be drinking your weight in water to keep hydrated.
45. Watermelon and lemonade are MUCH better down here, especially lemonade! I'm not sure what they put in...but it's not too sweet, not too sour, only too perfect and refreshing :)
46. Cockroaches are disgusting and make me itch. And people who put fake bugs in your shower are not funny. (cough cough - Justin - cough cough)
47. Tres leches cake, horchata, agua fresca, and pan dulce are my new favorite desserts. If you haven't had any of those before, please go live and try them all. You will not be sorry.
48. 85% of the population in El Paso is Latino.
49. Children are your best critics when learning how to speak Spanish.
50. Coming down to El Paso has been life changing, and I will for sure be crying when I have to leave. I've definitely found a new home away from home.

This list will only be expanding as I go into my last month down here.

Today was wonderful! My roommates and I went swimming for the afternoon, ate at Texas Roadhouse, and then went to Walmart. I still can't get over how pretty the city looks at night. This short week of work is going to feel amazing after this past week. If I don't write in this for awhile, have a great 4th of July weekend! :)

This picture will always stand out to me. We visited a family at the border a couple weekends ago. The little girl pictured attended Cristo Rey's after school program in the past. Her father was deported, so the whole family moved back to Mexico. She also knows Justin! This was such a cute but sad moment.

We did crayon scratch art on the first day of the summer program. One of the high schoolers made this. Too perfect, and another reason why I love my kids.

Juarez, Mexico

At the colonias

This isn't suppose to be my last time in El Paso

El Paso Zoo waterzone area...soaked. So fun!

S'mores via stovetop!

Out to dinner with Black Forest and Cristo Rey!

The title of this post seems to be a common theme of a typical day here in El Paso. It isn't something that I haven't really processed, mainly because I haven't had much time to even think that way. That is why this realization has left such a warm, thankful feeling.

Recently, I have felt pretty bombarded from work. I love my job, the kids, and that the program is able to provide a safe place for the kids who come. The kids seem to be enjoying themselves, and also seem to be getting along with each other and me. This week was chaotic because I felt like I had zero time for self-care. Although it has been worse this past week due to the kids attending vacation bible school, this job can be draining overall. Last night was wonderful in the sense that I did literally absolutely nothing but laundry :) I have been waking up at 7 a.m., and then the work days ended around 6:30 or 7 or sometimes later. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of moments of fun, but fun is way different than self-care. Self-care is crucial when you're a director of a program, and just any job/lifestyle in general. People are always approaching me left and right, and there is not a minute that goes by during the day when I'm not on spotlight. The main staff of the church is always looking for me and asking me questions about confirming all things related to the program. It is tough cookies being a director. It's tough, but very, very fun and rewarding! Lately I've been trying to stop, think, and live in the moment of what is actually going on. I have those moments when it's easier to do that than others, but it's something that I tried to work on during this past week.

One of those moments took place this past Thursday when we took the kids to the zoo. It started out as very stressful, but turned into yet another extremely memorable afternoon with everyone. First of all, there were about 55 people that I had to plan for. Well, let me tell you, that is not an easy number to work with. I've never planned a field trip before, let alone one for 55 people. It was definitely excellent experience and one of those moments when you just had to fake it until you make it. As you can imagine, packing and transporting all of those bodies to the zoo was the trickiest part. I really made an effort to sit down and carefully plan prior to the trip. At Cristo Rey, you just have to catch whatever is thrown and also be able to throw something back. When we all finally reached the zoo (after taking multiple vehicles), we had to then figure out where we were going to picnic it up. Luckily the zoo has a picnic location that is right next to the waterzone area. We gave every single kid lunch before we broke off into groups.

Justin and I were going to rotate taking groups. About that....totally didn't happen because his kids became very distracted and just wanted to stop and see every single animal along the way. After sitting for over an hour at the picnic bench in 106 (or 108...I can't remember) degrees, one of the middle schoolers came up to me and said in a super innocent voice, "Miss, you look warm and hot. Are you ok?" and I said "Yeah, I am actually very hot right now." Well, before I knew it, the little punk took his water cup and just splashed me! It felt soooo refreshing! I called him out, took my cup, and chased after him. He ran right into the waterzone, and I ran right in after him. We began to fill up our cups together and started splashing each other. It was so much fun!!! It was the first time that this middle school boy and me could actually let loose together. I didn't care that I was getting wet, perhaps causing a scene, or even being a bad example for Felipe (the middle school boy). We were having so much fun together, and for the first time this week I felt like I was being my goofy self with the kids. Before we knew it, every single kid joined in with us at the waterzone. We were all SOAKED and still wearing our clothes. Justin and Erin joined in the fun, which made it even better. Justin was especially goofy to watch because together we would gang up on certain kids and just splash them hardcore. I absolutely love those moments when I feel like I can let loose with the kids and just be silly, not their program director. It reminded me of last Thursday when we took the kids to the pool, and how much fun we all had together goofing around and enjoying ourselves. One of the kids told me at the zoo, "Wow Miss Jennifer, you're really fun when you're silly!" It was the best compliment I had heard all week.

One of my favorite parts about my time down here in El Paso has been the amazing people. I've had the privilege of meeting many wonderful individuals. As cheesy as this sounds, I honestly feel like my mind and heart expands significantly whenever a new person walks into my life. It doesn't matter how long I am with that person either. My time down here is very precious in the sense that I make sure to truly enjoy moments with the people I meet and am with. One woman who has greatly impacted my life down here is Carmen. Carmen is an older woman, and she lost her daughter this past February to some severe health complications. She is such a sweet, kind-hearted woman. There is a language barrier between us, unfortunately, and I really wish it didn't exist. I have all of these thoughts and meaningful conversations that I want to be able to share with her, and she has tried to tell me the same. She did, however, tell me in Spanish that she is going to miss me and all of the Border Servant people when we leave. It made my heart feel so sad hearing that. The feeling couldn't be more mutual! Carmen has done a great job at stepping in and acting as a mom during my visit. When I had pretty severe heat stroke, she took care of me, bought me 2 kinds of gatorade, made me soup (side note: it was delicious), and has done much more to make sure that our visit and living in the church is comfortable as possible. I hope to someday be able to converse a little bit more with her, and perhaps see her again later when I next visit. It's hard to explain, but there is something about Carmen that just automatically makes you love her.

Recently, I have also had the privilege of meeting and getting to know Pastor Rose Mary's oldest daughter, Ariella. She is only 14 years old, but acts/looks way mature. It's kind of mind-boggling with how mature she is. Ariella comes across as quiet, intense (not in a bad way), and serious at first, but once you get to know her and make her laugh she is one of the funniest/sweetest around. We had water balloons for the kids yesterday during the program. Ariella and I filled them up, and couldn't stop laughing at how we were failing miserably at filling them up. The balloon would either break, snap, or squirt water all over us. We ended up getting soaked just filling up the balloons. Freddy, one of the middle schoolers in the program, came inside and helped us. The three of us could not stop laughing at our horrible luck with those balloons. We put all of the balloons in this cooler on wheels to make it easier to carry. Ariella had the cooler, Freddy was holding his two water balloons, and I luckily had free hands. When we were crossing the street, the cooler tipped over and all of the balloons rolled out of the cooler! It was funny watching them roll out because they were all bouncing and just kept on going. Ariella and I just laughed at the ridiculousness. Freddy tried to stop the balloons by running in front of them. He was still holding his two balloons, and put his arms out in front and just proclaimed, "I got this, you guys!" Of course that didn't help the cause, and Ariella and me kept laughing at our superb luck. We were able to collect all of the balloons and put them back into the cooler. None of them popped or broke, luckily! (Ariella, if you're reading this, I'm so glad we've gotten to know each other and have talked more. You're so great!) The kids had fun with the water balloons. One of the high schoolers came up from behind and broke a balloon over my head. A couple other kids came up and threw them at me. Again, I was drenched. Water is a big thing for the kids down here. It's for sure cultural, and it's pretty awesome! :)

A border immersion group from Colorado Springs was visiting Cristo Rey this past week. Their church is called Black Forest. They were a really fun group! One of my favorite groups that have visited. This could be the fact that there were only 5 people total, so it was a more personable meeting. The girls who came were Aria, Kirsten, and Hannah. Rick and Karen were the two adult chaperones. Erika and I had a chance to talk with the group on a more personable level. The girls, Erika, and I stayed up making s'mores one night. Erika's excitement for making them over a gas stovetop was definitely appreciated :) Black Forest also helped out with the summer program, which was very nice of them. They taught the kids how to paint flowerpots and also plant seeds, had a bible study, and also chaperoned when we went to the zoo. Pastor Rose Mary and her whole family, Black Forest, Justin, Erika, Pat (the church secretary) and her family, Carme, and myself all went out to dinner on Black Forest's last night in El Paso. We all had a great time and enjoyed each other's company. Poor Erika had some type of reaction to a spice in one of the foods, but she didn't let it ruin her night! (Erika has an awesome personality that way). Erika, Justin, Ariella, Sharon (Pastor Rose Mary's middle daughter), Aria, Kirsten, Hannah, and I all sat at one end of the table. The rest of the adults sat on the other side. Our side definitely had a lot of laughs and great conversations. It was overall a really great group to spend the night with. Justin, Erika, Aria, Kirsten, Hannah, and I stayed up and made s'mores together after dinner. It was my favorite night of this past week!

At the summer program, parents take turns volunteering to bring snack for the kids. The best snack was delivered yesterday at work! This is literally what happened. Angeles (one of the sweet girls in the program) came up to me and said "Miss Jennifer, my mom brought the snack" and when I walked into the kitchen I see this giant pizza. Sonia (the mother) says to me with her accent, "For the kids, I bring rice and chicken nuggets. And for you and Erin, I bring pizza!" I was shocked! She actually bought Erin and me this pepperoni pizza! I said "Muchas gracias" I think so many times. Sonia then said, "You and Erin work hard, so I bring you pizza." Other than just this pizza incident, I think this happens pretty frequently in the culture down here. People are really nice about being hospitable and generous. It's not uncommon for people to be like, "Hey, I have all of this food, so I'm giving it to you." This has happened to us on multiple occasions, and we have received food items such as cake, rice and beans and other homemade Mexican dishes, fruit, vegetables, and now pizza. The other three can vouch for me when I say that this has never happened to any of us elsewhere.

After much thought and prayers, I have realized that coming down here has been one of the best, if not the best, things to ever happen. I can remember during busy senior year of college and thinking "I really need to do something that I'm not use to and be somewhere new," and it could not have worked out more perfectly. You always find yourself in the places you've never been to or imagined yourself ending up. However, that only means that you were meant to end up there. Sometimes I think back to how I was even during this last year of school, and the amount I've changed since then is immeasurable. The present has been the best thing to ever happen, and the future can only get better, right? I know within me that this isn't suppose to be the last time I'm in El Paso. Coming here has opened my eyes to so many issues, awarenesses, and culture shocks. It's an opportunity that I never imagined myself experiencing. I thank God everyday for the chance to have all of these moments, and I've been learning to see all of the good that is found in the darkest areas.

I have been heavily considering starting a life for myself down here. Everything about El Paso is so different from the midwest, but there are differences that I really enjoy. It's so good to put yourself in a situation that is new and unfamiliar. The unfamiliar is the most exciting because you have the ability to find a new self within the experiences. I care tremendously about the border issues now more than I did before. Prior to this trip, I heard many theories about border patrol, but never actually knew all of the logistics. It's been amazing learning about everything from people who have experienced various events that have a connection with border awareness. I truly hope that someday there will no longer be any divisions between cultures and countries. That is probably very idealistic thinking, but I have the right to think and feel that way. We are all entitled to our own opinions about issues and events. (I know my parents read this blog, so I just want to say that you both have done a great job at teaching me how to be open-minded and accepting of hearing BOTH sides of stories.) I actually met a middle school teacher last weekend at a barbecue, and he was able to tell me a little bit about the Texas school districts and what goes into the application process. I explained that I am trying to keep my options open, and he was very helpful with answering all of my questions and concerns. I don't know what will happen in the future, but it's nice to have some contact information from down here and be able to say that I have El Paso as an option. Overall, El Paso could not be treating me any better. Can't wait to see what is in store for this final month down here! :)

Some of the group at the El Paso Zoo (after we were drenched from the water)

Cristo Rey staff after all the water

My little buddy :)

Black Forest and Cristo Rey: Kirsten, Hannah, Ariella, Erika, me, Aria, Sharon, and Justin. The cool side of the table :)

Adventure to White Sands: Time of my life!

June 23, 2013 will always be known as one of the most memorable, fun, freeing, happiest days of 2013. It was a full moon that night, and I had the privilege of seeing this beautiful sight with beautiful people in the most beautiful place I have ever been to. Border Servant and a visiting border immersion group from Colorado took a trip to White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. It was probably the strongest natural high I have ever felt in my 22 years of life! White Sands is about 1.5 hours away from El Paso. We left here at around 5, and made it in the dinner time frame. Aside from White Sands itself, the road trip was also very much enjoyable and unforgettable!

I don't know about you, but I'm such a big fan of road trips. Especially when it's with a big, fun, amazing group. We all fit into the Colorado van and Rick drove us. Sitting on both sides of me were Erika and Justin, behind me was Erin, Felipe, and Lilly, and the girls from Colorado sat in the back. It was a great group of people to be traveling with! Pastor Rose Mary and her family drove separately in their car and met up with us there. Car rides are such a great bonding moment. Not to sound cheesy, but it's (mostly) true! Plus, with the Border Servant group, it is always a really fun time. We have thee most random conversations... I don't even... Over the course of 1.5 hrs, we all talked about the meaning of faith, great books, conjoined twins, horror movies, and our excitement to be at White Sands. During this time, Justin was also pulling my hair (because he is 7). I could not stop staring out the window and looking at the beauty. It is a different kind of beauty that I am use to due to the desert. However, my love and appreciation for the desert scene has grown significantly during this time in El Paso. I don't know how to explain it, but I'm always telling myself "This place is so beautiful" whenever we're out driving. I'm really trying to enjoy this time in the desert and the different view it brings.

When we reached White Sands, everyone just said in unison, "OH WOW!" or "THIS IS SO PRETTY!" or "OMG LOOK AT THOSE DUNES!" ...yeah, we're such newbies. Our excitement level is of a 5 yr old on Christmas Eve, but who can blame us? It was one of the coolest feelings to see nothing but white sand all around you, and dunes of various sizes. As we got further into White Sands, the driving path quickly became nothing but sand. Sand, blue sky, a gorgeous sunset, and picturesque clouds were the only thing in sight. A huge sense of peace came over me and I was instantly reaffirmed that this was going to be an amazing night-and it was all of those and much more! Sidenote: we saw a camel ride taking place. How great would that be to be on a camel in White Sands?

We found a place to park that was located in the Full Moon Activity section. It was already starting to become crowded, and those cool people wearing the vest and cones were directing traffic. As soon as we parked, we all hurried out of the van like kids. We instantly took off our sandals and felt the sand below us. It was so soft, smooth, and pretty. Erika and I decided to pitch in and carry the 5 gallon water cooler. Smart decision on our part. It was difficult carrying that thing up sand dunes. However, the whole time I was carrying the cooler I couldn't help but pay attention to how soft the sand was. It was the smoothest, softest, prettiest sand I had ever walked on and seen. We set the cooler down in our picnic spot, and, in unison, the whole group gave each other THE LOOK (you know, that look that you give your best friend when you have the same idea) and immediately ran, jumped, frolicked, skipped, etc around with merriment and a jump in our steps. We were just so happy and excited to be there! I don't even know how to explain. All around us people were happy, picnic'ing with their family and friends, taking pictures, jumping/sledding off sand dunes, and just having such a wonderful time. We definitely took pictures (all of which are on my facebook in some way) and were just loving life together! :) We each took turns sledding down the dunes. We then wanted to jump off dunes and then immediately attempted taking pictures. Let me tell you, jumping off a tall sand dune is one of the most liberating feelings in the world. Think about it. Below you there is just simple, harmless soft white sand. Above you there is the gorgeous sunset and picturesque sky. All around you are sand dunes as far as the eye can see. Last, but not least, on all sides of you there are your friends who you've been taking risks with the whole summer, and you all jump off a tall sand dune and take one more jump together. It was such a beautiful, memorable moment with my Border Servant friends.

After we had an intense and enjoyable time of jumping off the dunes, we all decided that it would be a good idea to eat dinner. We were so excited to be there that we had almost forgotten that we were starving, haha. We had a lovely picnic together. I looked all around me and couldn't help but think, "This is what it must feel like to just let go and really feel genuinely happy." The sun began to set, the band began to play more, and I sat, talked, ate, and just loved life right back at that moment. Justin, Lilly, and I sat in the sand and talked. Before we knew it, everyone all at once yelled in Spanish and English, "The moon!" Everyone where we were sitting turned around and ran over to look/take pictures of the moon. It was gorgeous! The moon almost looked bigger from White Sands, and I have no idea why I felt that way. It looked so distinct and brought a feeling of joy with its rising. Like a noob, we took pictures of the moon, and pictures of Justin pretending to eat the moon. Once the excitement of seeing the full moon had passed (it was awhile before it did pass, though), Lilly, Justin, and I went back to the picnic sight, enjoyed each other's company, and listened to the band. The band was pretty good! I never realized how much I love Hispanic/Latino/Mexican music before until that night. It's too catchy for its own good. The three of us decided to lay down on the sand, and it felt so right to do that. We were laying next to each other, and looking up at the stars. It was incredible how distinct the stars looked that night. They were so beautiful, chilling up there and bringing happy feelings with them. Justin turned to me and said in such a sincere tone, "The world is so beautiful." I couldn't help but answer him in the same sincere tone and say, "It really is." I stretched my arms out on all sides and just smiled. It was almost like a natural high came over me that hadn't been felt in a very long time. I don't believe I've ever felt as connected to the earth and my friends until that very moment. It was difficult for  me to stop smiling. I was so happy, and very much at peace.

Justin and Lilly left to go dance (because there was a "dance floor" in front of the stage. I wanted to join them badly, but I also didn't want to move from where I was and how I was feeling at that given time. Once I decided to sit up, I marched on over and danced with them. Justin and I danced together for a couple songs. It was fun, and he is coordinated and needs to give himself more credit (if you are reading this, that is the truth). He kept saying "I don't know what I'm doing," but he really did. I felt so happy dancing again, especially since I hadn't done so in forever and a day, AND that it was under the stars and a full moon. Plus, there is something special about dancing with a friend. You never forget it. We went back to the group after dancing to a couple of the songs, just to make sure that they hadn't left us yet. They all said that they wanted to stay longer, luckily. It was difficult for me to navigate myself back to the group in the dark. You have to get freakishly close to peoples' faces and be all awkward when approaching them...and then innocently walk away. Golden moment. Lilly and I sat and talked about how much fun we had that night, and about life in general. I went back to see what Erin and Erika were up to. Not to my surprise, they were burying Justin. They had made excellent progress too because when I arrived the only things that remained uncovered were his big, bony hip and his pointy, bony shoulder (no offense, of course :)). We all talked about how we would forget about him, and how he also looked like a dead body that was discovered from below. He really did look dead. It was great.

We decided to head back to El Paso when the Full Moon activities ended. It was about midnight when we left. The car ride back was quite the adventure. We were all awake and chatty for the first 15 minutes, and then we were all suddenly asleep. I asked Justin if he would let me rest my head on his shoulder (his bony, pointy shoulder) and he agreed. As soon as my head hit his shoulder I was basically out. Towards the end of the drive, I woke up with my head leaning awkwardly back on the seat. It was a little painful, but I kept it there because I was very tired at that point. Rick slammed on the brakes, and my head just flung forward as fast as it could and just smacked right into Justin's shoulder. Like I said, it is a bony shoulder, and my head hurt so bad! Haha. Justin just turned around and laughed and then asked if I was ok. I had the slight fear that his shoulder had given me a concussion...but it's all good now! :P

When we arrived back at the church, I went to the bathroom to change into PJs, and sand came out of all sorts of places. Places where sand shouldn't be, let's just say that. It was humorous though :) I fell asleep with a smile on my face and excitement in me. I felt such a natural high inside me the whole night, and my spirit automatically lifts whenever I look at the pictures. Our trip to White Sands was definitely an adventure. An unforgettable, happy, joyful, peaceful, beautiful adventure. I'm so thankful to have had a night like that, and to have shared it with my Border Servant family. I love you guys! Our next trips are going to be amazing together.

Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a dream: Happy (almost) One Month!

I've been living in El Paso for almost 1 month now, and so far it has been the most unforgettable journey of my life. I've been blessed with meeting truly outstanding friends, and the experiences we've been through together have made us even stronger friends. The kids who I work with put a smile on my face, love in my heart, and admiration for them all. The experiences (good and challenging) have made us all grow in ways that have never been presented to us before. The people we've met along this journey have left the deepest impression in my heart. And the simplistic lifestyle is one that I am always going to nurture and keep. All you need is love, compassion, and purpose inside of you; the clothes on your back; your feet and intuition for transportation; and beautiful people who keep your soul alive.

I am not going to write down every event or experience that has happened since I last wrote in this, but to continue off of the title of this blog, I have had way more moments that have left a sense of peace in me. These moments force me to stop and actually realize that I am making a difference over the summer, and that the people who I've met along the way have changed me in more ways than I can offer gratitude. Erika, your spritely, optimistic, "we can do it!," and smiley personality just lifts my spirit automatically! You are such a kind soul, and have a gentle heart, whether you realize it or not ;) I really hope to someday be more like you in ways of always looking at the good, even during the darkest days. Erin, gurl, you are such a hoot and bring so much peace with you. When you walk into the room you can just feel the atmosphere become more centered and peaceful. Your thoughtfulness to articulate what you want/need to say, peaceful state of mind, and ability to be serious and too silly for your own good should be something that everyone strives to obtain. You have the ability to make everyone laugh and feel like nothing can go wrong. (P.S. SAIL!) I know that I can always count on you for a good laugh and a chance for adventure! (because we're always getting lost together, haha!) Lilly, I admire you so much! Your need in searching for how the world works and communicates is just fabulous and beautiful. Searching for something is a sign of a true learner and colorful imagination. Your sense of humor is so enlightening and brings so much carefreeness to our lives. Plus, you could care less how others react to what your beliefs and morals are, which is so bold and fearless. Honestly, most people are still striving to be on your level of self-affirmation. I really hope to be like you in the way of always doing what is right for me and giving zero fudges of what others may think. Also, keep singing! Your voice is so BEAUTIFUL! Justin, I just love you and look up to you so much. You are truly one of a kind. You are super-human in that you can do EVERYTHING that's handed to you, and you have the ability to touch so many people's lives with your optimism and positive energy. You put others' needs and wants before your own, and are constantly trying to figure out how you can make someone's day better. You are silly, 7 years old at heart, sometimes a noob, and have really taught me that love can be transfered through hugs and positive energy. Thank you for always putting a smile on my face and my heart! You all have really made a big difference in my life, and I'm going to miss you more than words can say when our time is over here.

The experiences and moments that have been presented will also always stand out as something special. There have been many experiences that have challenged me in ways that have not been tested in the past. It's interesting, because occasionally I catch myself thinking, "I can't believe I'm in El Paso." If you were to ask any of my roommates, we would instantly say, "It's so different than the Midwest, but it's a good kind of different." The culture probably has a major part on the differences that are noticed. The border culture is unlike any other, and is overall an extremely relational one. People are much more family-oriented, and also have a very strong respect for the older generations. People down here are also more touchy in that you greet people with a hug and kiss on the cheek. I fee like that is something that is not commonly seen in the Midwest? Or maybe in just parts of the Midwest that I've lived. I am still in the process of learning Spanish, so we shall see how that resolves in the end. Fingers crossed that I will be able to actually understand more than 2 or 3 words mentioned in a conversation.

One of my most favorite memories from our time down in El Paso has been setting up a basketball hoop, eating tamales, and hearing immigration stories from a family who lives in the colonias. I mentioned what colonias were in a previous post. However, just to reiterate, colonias are settlements along that U.S.-Mexico border that originated as squatting-type grounds. The population of them grew pretty quickly during the 1980's when documented and undocumented immigrants settled in them. There is much poverty that inhabits the colonias, but also really profound beauty that I have not seen anywhere else. We visited a family made up of a mother who makes tamales for a living, 2 daughters, and 1 son. The father is absent and currently in jail. I am not going to write about this experience in much detail, because a lot of emotions were felt that cannot be explained into words. However, I will say that it was probably the most rewarding afternoon I have experienced. There are no words that can be used to describe the look of a child's face when they receive their first basketball hoop. It was even better that it was a group effort in making this family's day. Mostly the men of the group helped assemble the basketball hoop, and the women talked with the family and kids during this time. I had a terrific conversation with the oldest daughter who is in middle school. Middle school is already a pretty screwy time in a person's life to begin with, but having a lot of family decisions relying on your shoulder as a teenager would make it much more straining. When we were about to leave, the oldest daughter gave Erin one of her bracelets that she was wearing. Erin asked the girl if she was sure that she wanted to give it to her, and she said yes with a huge smile on her face. Erin then took off her cross necklace that she has worn everyday, and put it on the girl. It was a beautiful moment, and the girl looked so happy. I am really glad that I was there for that moment, and also got a picture of it taking place. When we were driving back to Cristo Rey from the colonias, I couldn't help but stare out the window and smile. It was such a rewarding, memorable, and wonderful afternoon. It made me think to myself "I feel like I'm living in a dream. This afternoon was too beautiful."

This evening, we are taking a road trip to White Sands National Monument. It is in Alamogordo, New Mexico, which is about 1.5 hrs from El Paso, according to Justin. We are going with the border immersion group that is here from Colorado. We will be heading out at 4:30 p.m. our time, and getting back at around 10:00 p.m. It is a full moon, so we are all very excited to see this view and experience White Sands together! We've heard a lot of talk about this place and can't believe this trip is already here! It feels like it was a long time ago when we were talking about going there. This month has just flown by tremendously fast. It really needs to slow down! Overall, trips and experiences like White Sands have been so memorable, especially with our group.

So Happy (almost) One Month, interns! It's been an amazing time. So excited to see how the rest of our time together unfolds!

Thursday Pool Days: THE BEST

So to put it nicely, I've really sucked at keeping this thing updated lately.

It probably seems obvious to say that a lot has happened since I last wrote in this. Luckily, I have a grand memory and can recall evrrything from erryday. I am sitting in the office and have just completed researching activities, typing up spreadsheets, making lists, emailing UTEP students who are interested in volunteering for the program, and laughing with Justin and Lilly. It's been a long, 13 hour day. I decided that this would be a perfect time to reflect more on what has happened and recall some moments that are truly unforgettable. Those memories and events that are not written down, due to the lack of updating, will always be stored in my heart/noggin, and I'd be more than happy to share them in person :)

I guess a good place to start would be to say that I have officially taken my job as the program director. This position has been quite nuts, and has taken up much more time than I was anticipating. It has been very fun, however, practicing a role where I am responsible in overseeing 40'ish (and then some) people. The kids are soooo great and cute. They give me energy all the time and, in general, make me love life and what I do at Cristo Rey. The program runs Tuesdays 12:30-5:30, Wednesdays 12:30-4:30, and Thursdays 11:45-4:30. That does not include the hours used for preparation, outside responsibilities, calling families, tutoring on Mondays, and meeting with the assistants and volunteers of the program. It's been a very challenging experience but has already provided much growth in how I think, oversee, speak, view communication, and other important aspects of the world. The program started on the 18th, and week 1 has been completed as of today! Yay! :) I know almost every child's name, know the names of all the assistants, and volunteers. I've definitely been using a lot of the skills and communication practices with the kids that I learned in my Ed classes. When you have to reach so many kids of various ages, you really have to be creative in how you go about doing that, and in a creative way! Today (Thursday) was probably my favorite day of the week thus far.

Every Thursday we go to the pool (or another field trip set up) at the Armijo Recreation Center. The pool is indoors, which is very nice with the weather. I was thinking that the pool was going to be the most hectic part. However, getting there was way more chaotic than anything! I had the assistants and volunteers arrive at Cristo Rey early to help make 75 sandwiches, pack up all the boxes of juice, bags of chips, fruit, etc. People were approaching me almost every minute from all different directions asking me questions, requesting me for help in something, and also asking me if they were doing everything correctly that was asked of them. It required me to think on my feet in a very fast-like manner. Once people kept coming to me, however, I had everything down with what I wanted to communicate with them. Even the main staff at the church approached me with all types of questions and requests. The important factor was to get to the pool on time. Thankfully we did, and in plenty of time! :)

The pool time itself was so much fun and the kids had such a blast. I had at least 3 kids per arm hanging on to me, wanting me to "flip" them, catch them from jumping from the sides of the pool, etc etc. Justin and I stuck together during much of the time as well because the kids wanted to play with both of us at the same time. Usually if I was alone, one of the kids would say, "Mees (Miss), find Justin so that we can play together!" It was very cute. Justin and I had a blast playing with the kids. I was splashed by multiple kids and Justin (who is basically 7 years old) throughout the afternoon. Justin, if you're reading this, thanks. I'm not sure what it is about the kids, but whenever they call me by "Mees (Miss) Jennifer" my heart just melts and I can't help but smile as they try to talk to me in their adorable, high-pitched voices. We played many games of "tag," hide and go seek, and hey let's splash and soak Jennifer as much as possible. There is also a slide at the pool, and periodically throughout the day kids would come up to me and ask me to go down the slide with them. Justin and I also went down a couple times together, and when we reached the bottom there were some of our kids clapping and cheering us on. It was so adorable! Justin and I would give piggyback rides to the kids, and Justin actually got in trouble for carrying the kids. When he told that to one of the kids, he just responded in his adorable voice, "OOO Meester! You got in trouble!" (P.S. Yeah way to be a good example, Justin)

Since we go to the pool every Thursday, that basically means that Justin, Erin, and me are going to have super buff arms by the end of the summer :) All it took was just lifting and dumping children, and having at least 3 per arm. Gosh, I just love the kids! I don't really know how to fully express how much fun I had with the kids this afternoon. Justin, Erin, and I all had a blast. We were all sunburn and wiped out by the end, but it definitely adds to the list of "most memorable afternoons of my life."

Haha, I'm not going to use names on here, but someone wins the prize for the best expression :)

These two together are trouble/funny

I just love her

Justin I love you!

It is also safe to say that my happiness level has significantly increased if every Thursday is going to be like today. :)

Mi aerodeslizador está lleno de anguilas. And I love this life.

The title of my blog post "My hovercraft is full of eels." In case anyone wanted to know. I happened to learn that today. Today at work Erin and I really sat down and disciplined ourselves to learn Spanish; looking up common phrases online, practicing conversing with families who have come in to register for the summer program, and also had Justin teach us how to conjugate verbs. I don't think I have felt a sense of excitement and happiness learning another language since ASL. Pastor Rose Mary has now started to speak Spanish phrases to us, and let us figure out what she's saying using context clues. The other staff members have started doing the same. It's almost like they had this planned. It's tough, but a very great learning experience! Un idioma nunca es suficiente (One language is never enough).  My goal for the summer is to be able to converse with the kids without having to ask, "Como se dice ... (insert word here) en espanol?" (How do you say... (insert word here) in Spanish?" Fingers crossed that this goal will be achieved!

I would like to take some time to write about my day yesterday. It was overall a funny, eventful, and joyous day. I can't say enough how much I enjoy working with Erin and Justin. They are both such lovely individuals and have made the days at Cristo Rey so happy and silly. It is so wonderful that I feel like I can be my true self around the BSC family for only knowing them for a brief period of time. Erin and Justin in particular have turned me into way more of a sassbasket than before, but have also really challenged me to become a better person and reevaluate my life and the direction I would really like it to progress towards. We have too much fun at work, and sometimes it doesn't feel like we're even working. There are those occasional moments when Erin and me (the newbies of Cristo Rey) think "Oh Sh** what are we doing here," but then we always figure it out together, and Justin is always there to laugh at our cluelessness...as well as offer us encouragement via hugs and his perky personality and phrases. For example, "Jennifer, laugh always." We took some staff pictures yesterday that are just absolute gems, and by gems I mean goofy. Erin also drove the church's giant van for the first time! The three of us drove to A-House to drop off some clothing donations. Afterwards, Rose Mary came to the church and we talked more about the program and coordinating planning. We ended the work day with a brief nap, and then mopped up the sanctuary and hallway.

After work, we had our community night, WHICH WAS HIKING! I was counting down the hours for the hike! Hannah, our boss, came over to Cristo Rey, and joined Erin, Erika, Lilly, Justin, and me for dinner. After dinner, the 6 of us headed out to Star Mountain for what was going to be the most beautiful hike we've ever experienced in the city. Star Mountain is located in downtown El Paso and it has its name because there is a star that lights up during sundown. The star resembles Texas. We drove to Rim Road where the mountain begins. We stopped real quick to take some pictures of the glorious view that Rim Road overlooks. It is a view that neither of us could ever get sick of seeing. Once we were all satisfied with the view, it was time to begin the hike up!

This hike was much easier than the last one. The mountain was not as steep. However, there were many lose rocks that overlapped the main stepping rocks. One bad step and, well, let's just say that you'd be the first one to the bottom. We were all overcome with such shock and happiness seeing the view that met us at the halfway point. We could see the mountains all around us, and the ones off in the distance near Mexico had THE MOST BEAUTIFUL sunset/colors/thunderstorm taking place that we could see. It was so stunning! I am still speechless thinking about how glorious it looked. It was wonderful how we all were so surprised by the beauty, and so much peace and happiness was felt inside that we could share that moment together. Here are some pictures of what we saw. The clouds drooping below was the rainfall. We later saw lightning! From a Christian point of view, that moment really reaffirmed to me that God's beauty is unlike any other.

We decided to continue to the top of the mountain, and by then it was pretty dark outside. Dark, but absolutely beautiful. The city was alive below us, the mountains were our conquering point, and the sky was radiating with such natural beauty. We also found the star on the mountain! It looked so cool up close, especially because we had only seen it from the city point of view.

Justin has the star on his t-shirt! He happened to be wearing that shirt for the hike, and was so excited to finally see it up close in person! "Dreams do come true, you guys!"

When we reached the top of the mountain, we all had our own resting places. We sat in silence and watched the beauty and city from below. It was so peaceful and felt almost like a dream.

While we were coming down the mountain, it was hard to leave that view and all of that peace that was felt while sitting on the mountain top in silence with my BSC family. Erika, Erin, Lilly, and I all admitted that this was one of the most beautiful places we've ever been to. It's hard to explain this, but I felt very much awake after that hike. I couldn't stop staring out the car window looking at the city, the mountains, and the sky. I also couldn't help but think "Man I am going to miss this place way more than I was expecting."

Hikes and community nights have quickly become one of my favorite parts of this trip. They have been so fun and memorable to experience with the BSC family as well. We have been spoiled and blessed to have these moments together. After the hike, I couldn't help but reflect about how much I've changed since coming to El Paso. This next rant relates to one change that I've noticed.

I have been really fortunate to always be surrounded by people who are constantly happy and smiling about how they're making a difference here in El Paso. Being with positivity and optimism is really refreshing and wonderful. Your attitude inevitably becomes the same, and continues to grow in that direction; finding the good in everything you see and experience. Don't get me wrong, there are definitely those moments when I think "Oh my gosh my job is so overwhelming," or, "Hmm, I wonder if it would be socially acceptable to just plop right on the floor here and take a nap?" Then, almost like perfect timing, someone does something crazy and goofy and I cannot help but smile and laugh. Sometimes until I cry, which is the best type of laughter! Wether it is Justin jumping up and down because he's like a 7 year old at heart and easily happy about everything (and then eventually gets me to his hyper level), or Amy telling one of her famous stories with her signature facial expressions... happiness is contagious down here!

This evening Erika, Erin, and me went to Sam's Chinese (funny name for a Chinese restaurant, but actually pretty good!). It was wonderful food and company! When I came back, I was pretty wiped out, but knew that I needed to clean up the office space as well as sort all of this paperwork that seems to always be piling up. Justin's family is here for a Border Immersion trip over the weekend, so we had the privilege of meeting them AND we get to come along for the trip. It will for sure be a fun time! His family is awesome and silly, just like him. I had a great talk with Justin and his sister Bella in the office, and then continued to organize. Erika then came in and we had another great heart-to-heart. Heart-to-heart conversations with these people are a very common occurrence, thankfully!

I am actually really looking forward to our border immersion time. We will be busy from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m tomorrow (Friday) to Sunday. But it will be a very rewarding time. Justin also solidified with us last night that we will be going to White Sands in Las Cruces, NM on June 23!!!!!!! You have no idea how stoked I am for this trip! For those of you who have never heard of White Sands... this is what it looks like...

Yes, those are sanddunes. Yes, we are going sledding down them. Yes, it's going to be a blast :) We have all been looking forward to this trip since we arrived in El Paso, so it is great to hear that a date has been solidified. Trips with BSC are nothing but unforgettable, bloody brilliant, and beautiful. I love this BSC life and serving the community more than I imagined possible. Te amo, El Paso!