My Week at Falcon Children's Home
Shew! It's been a while.
As many of you know I spent last week, Monday-Friday, at Falcon Children's Home. In order to complete the last level of the Duke Of Edinburgh Award that I've been working to achieve for the last 3 years, I had to do a residential project. I've been around Falcon, NC my whole life. Naturally that was the first place that came to my mind. My family has been affiliated with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church for decades. I've always had an enormous amount of respect for the work that FCH does, but you never can truly appreciate something until you experience it. I wrote 14 pages in a journal in 4 days. I'll be sharing parts of what I wrote during the week too. So, my spill begins.
I arrived Monday around noon. I felt ready, confident, and excited to feel some independence! The minute my mom hugged me bye all of that flew out the window, and I knew right then, this was going to be a LONG week. At the same time, I was so happy to be there. My mission was to be an encouragement, to be a friend, and to pour out my love. I felt like I had so much to offer, and I just simply couldn't wait to share! Before I laid my head down to sleep that night a young girl, 14, voluntarily shared her reasons for being at the Children's Home. Y'all...talk about "taken back". I didn't have any clue what to say other than how sorry I was. All I could offer her was a hug and an open ear. After dinner with one of the cottages I went back to the building I was staying in, up to my room, shut the door and locked it, threw myself into my pillows, and sobbed. For hours. I sort of set myself up for failure by going back to my room so soon and having all that time alone to think so much...well, too much. It felt as though my heart got heavier by the minute. I felt so alone in that room, and I felt guilty for missing my family when some of the kids there are lucky to see a family member once a month. I felt helpless. How could I possibly do or say anything to reassure this girl of God's plan? I was feeling every emotion, it seemed, all at once. Eventually exhaustion took over and I fell asleep. Day 1, check.
Tuesday I started my day with a staff devotion that was so encouraging, and what I needed to hear. As I sat in the conference room waiting for everyone to come in and to get started with the devotion I did my usual morning routine of googling bible verses to help me with my current situation. I ran across 2 Timothy 1:7 and it says, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." Um, how perfect?! My whole attitude changed and my strength increased, right there, right then. I spent the rest of my day working in the office, and assisting with some classes at the school. Around 4:00 pm I went over to King Home, where I spent all of my evenings while I was in Falcon. It's an all girls cottage with girls ranging from 13-17. Let me tell you, those girls are a hilarious. I laughed till I cried when we were together. This is where it gets real, REAL fast. As soon as I stepped foot in King Home Tuesday afternoon it started pouring down rain. It was nearly sideways the wind was blowing so bad. I sat down on the couch to see a tornado in Stedman on the television. I immediately started texting every friend I had that lived that way to check on them. A few minutes passed by when one of the house parents, Rachel, told us all to quickly get in the office and shut the door. This is where 2 Timothy 1:7 comes into play. If you know me you know my hate of tornados. So here I am, in a room with strangers, a solid 30 minutes away from my family, with a tornado a mile away heading for us, trying my hardest not to lose it. Talk about nervous. In that moment I realized it was just me and God. No mom or dad to depend on, no family, nobody and nothing. For the very first time in my life I truly put all of my trust and dependance in The Lord. I've been taught to do so my whole life. I've heard it over and over, but it took being put in a serious situation with no other option for me to TOTALLY depend on God. I had no choice. It's sad that it took something like this to teach me this lesson, but God has a way of working things out. Let me tell you, there's no better feeling than giving your stress to God. Completely. I stared at the radar on my phone for what felt like forever waiting for us to get out of the "red". Did I mention we watched Frozen while we waited for it to pass? ;) Eventually we went to pick up dinner and the storm passed. Day 2, check.
Wednesday! Jessica & I went to Fuquay Varina Middle School to pick up a project that an 8th grade class had put together. They all made pillows for each person at FCH. It was awesome to see a teacher instilling the habit of giving back into her students. I'm so glad there are people in the world who still care about such things! The rest of the day was spent doing my usual routine; classes at the school, and my evening at King Home. Thankfully the storms stayed away! My verse today was James 1:3, "Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
This was some of what I wrote in my journal on Thursday:
"I'm brain dead, but this day has been incredible. We went to the chapel with the students for national day of prayer and had a great time together. I'm really growing to love the girls in King Home. We all had a blast last night. It's my last night here and I'd be lying if I told you I was too sad about that, but I'm SO grateful for this time I've had here. I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life. I'm really getting the hang of things. I'm praying that as I'm thrown back into my "norm" when I leave here that my heart will remain dependent on Christ alone as I have this week. My independence has grown it's wings and has now begun to soar. There's been something so rewarding about facing this alone and putting the faith I so frequently refer to in action. I'm learning a lot of humility but the greatest lesson I've learned is to be grateful for the wonderful life I've been blessed with. I have had a massive moving take place in my heart, and my gratitude for the blessing I've been given has increased. I'm excited to apply these lesson to my life every day and become a better young woman."
Friday I woke up in the best mood, knowing that in a few short hours my mama was coming to get me! This girl was in some dying need of Bojangles ;) I spent my morning, and some of my afternoon, learning a tremendous lesson of humility as I was assigned "dishwasher" in the kitchen that day at lunch. Honestly, wash 70 middle school and high schoolers (and teachers) dishes, throw away their trash, and tell me you don't feel humble. I was feeling it for sure! I continued my usual day at the school assisting with classes. Then came the goodbyes. I know before I said I wasn't going to be sad, but I was. I had become attached to the girls in King Home, and my heart hurt a little hearing them holler at me as I was driving away after the big hugs I got. They all left such a sweet mark on my heart. I've thought about each of them everyday since.
The week was truly indescribable and trying to put my experience into words is difficult. To describe the change that took place in my heart feels nearly impossible. To say I was out of my comfort zone is the absolute truth. I'm a girl used to spending every single day with my family, but this has taught me a good lesson about independence. It's taught me that I can handle more than I thought. I have a new respect for my parents and the lessons and values they've instilled in me. My gratitude for God's blessings has been renewed. My eyes have been opened, and my heart is still to this day busting at the seams. I have everything I need, and so much more. That's something not many people can say. I love Falcon Children's Home and I appreciate all the more everything they do to better kids lives, and give them the hope they need. My dear friends, life is short. Seek the opportunity to serve others and better yourself with each and every day.
As many of you know I spent last week, Monday-Friday, at Falcon Children's Home. In order to complete the last level of the Duke Of Edinburgh Award that I've been working to achieve for the last 3 years, I had to do a residential project. I've been around Falcon, NC my whole life. Naturally that was the first place that came to my mind. My family has been affiliated with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church for decades. I've always had an enormous amount of respect for the work that FCH does, but you never can truly appreciate something until you experience it. I wrote 14 pages in a journal in 4 days. I'll be sharing parts of what I wrote during the week too. So, my spill begins.
I arrived Monday around noon. I felt ready, confident, and excited to feel some independence! The minute my mom hugged me bye all of that flew out the window, and I knew right then, this was going to be a LONG week. At the same time, I was so happy to be there. My mission was to be an encouragement, to be a friend, and to pour out my love. I felt like I had so much to offer, and I just simply couldn't wait to share! Before I laid my head down to sleep that night a young girl, 14, voluntarily shared her reasons for being at the Children's Home. Y'all...talk about "taken back". I didn't have any clue what to say other than how sorry I was. All I could offer her was a hug and an open ear. After dinner with one of the cottages I went back to the building I was staying in, up to my room, shut the door and locked it, threw myself into my pillows, and sobbed. For hours. I sort of set myself up for failure by going back to my room so soon and having all that time alone to think so much...well, too much. It felt as though my heart got heavier by the minute. I felt so alone in that room, and I felt guilty for missing my family when some of the kids there are lucky to see a family member once a month. I felt helpless. How could I possibly do or say anything to reassure this girl of God's plan? I was feeling every emotion, it seemed, all at once. Eventually exhaustion took over and I fell asleep. Day 1, check.
Tuesday I started my day with a staff devotion that was so encouraging, and what I needed to hear. As I sat in the conference room waiting for everyone to come in and to get started with the devotion I did my usual morning routine of googling bible verses to help me with my current situation. I ran across 2 Timothy 1:7 and it says, "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." Um, how perfect?! My whole attitude changed and my strength increased, right there, right then. I spent the rest of my day working in the office, and assisting with some classes at the school. Around 4:00 pm I went over to King Home, where I spent all of my evenings while I was in Falcon. It's an all girls cottage with girls ranging from 13-17. Let me tell you, those girls are a hilarious. I laughed till I cried when we were together. This is where it gets real, REAL fast. As soon as I stepped foot in King Home Tuesday afternoon it started pouring down rain. It was nearly sideways the wind was blowing so bad. I sat down on the couch to see a tornado in Stedman on the television. I immediately started texting every friend I had that lived that way to check on them. A few minutes passed by when one of the house parents, Rachel, told us all to quickly get in the office and shut the door. This is where 2 Timothy 1:7 comes into play. If you know me you know my hate of tornados. So here I am, in a room with strangers, a solid 30 minutes away from my family, with a tornado a mile away heading for us, trying my hardest not to lose it. Talk about nervous. In that moment I realized it was just me and God. No mom or dad to depend on, no family, nobody and nothing. For the very first time in my life I truly put all of my trust and dependance in The Lord. I've been taught to do so my whole life. I've heard it over and over, but it took being put in a serious situation with no other option for me to TOTALLY depend on God. I had no choice. It's sad that it took something like this to teach me this lesson, but God has a way of working things out. Let me tell you, there's no better feeling than giving your stress to God. Completely. I stared at the radar on my phone for what felt like forever waiting for us to get out of the "red". Did I mention we watched Frozen while we waited for it to pass? ;) Eventually we went to pick up dinner and the storm passed. Day 2, check.
Wednesday! Jessica & I went to Fuquay Varina Middle School to pick up a project that an 8th grade class had put together. They all made pillows for each person at FCH. It was awesome to see a teacher instilling the habit of giving back into her students. I'm so glad there are people in the world who still care about such things! The rest of the day was spent doing my usual routine; classes at the school, and my evening at King Home. Thankfully the storms stayed away! My verse today was James 1:3, "Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."
This was some of what I wrote in my journal on Thursday:
"I'm brain dead, but this day has been incredible. We went to the chapel with the students for national day of prayer and had a great time together. I'm really growing to love the girls in King Home. We all had a blast last night. It's my last night here and I'd be lying if I told you I was too sad about that, but I'm SO grateful for this time I've had here. I will cherish this experience for the rest of my life. I'm really getting the hang of things. I'm praying that as I'm thrown back into my "norm" when I leave here that my heart will remain dependent on Christ alone as I have this week. My independence has grown it's wings and has now begun to soar. There's been something so rewarding about facing this alone and putting the faith I so frequently refer to in action. I'm learning a lot of humility but the greatest lesson I've learned is to be grateful for the wonderful life I've been blessed with. I have had a massive moving take place in my heart, and my gratitude for the blessing I've been given has increased. I'm excited to apply these lesson to my life every day and become a better young woman."
Friday I woke up in the best mood, knowing that in a few short hours my mama was coming to get me! This girl was in some dying need of Bojangles ;) I spent my morning, and some of my afternoon, learning a tremendous lesson of humility as I was assigned "dishwasher" in the kitchen that day at lunch. Honestly, wash 70 middle school and high schoolers (and teachers) dishes, throw away their trash, and tell me you don't feel humble. I was feeling it for sure! I continued my usual day at the school assisting with classes. Then came the goodbyes. I know before I said I wasn't going to be sad, but I was. I had become attached to the girls in King Home, and my heart hurt a little hearing them holler at me as I was driving away after the big hugs I got. They all left such a sweet mark on my heart. I've thought about each of them everyday since.
The week was truly indescribable and trying to put my experience into words is difficult. To describe the change that took place in my heart feels nearly impossible. To say I was out of my comfort zone is the absolute truth. I'm a girl used to spending every single day with my family, but this has taught me a good lesson about independence. It's taught me that I can handle more than I thought. I have a new respect for my parents and the lessons and values they've instilled in me. My gratitude for God's blessings has been renewed. My eyes have been opened, and my heart is still to this day busting at the seams. I have everything I need, and so much more. That's something not many people can say. I love Falcon Children's Home and I appreciate all the more everything they do to better kids lives, and give them the hope they need. My dear friends, life is short. Seek the opportunity to serve others and better yourself with each and every day.
So proud of you, Emma! You have such a servant's heart and are doing the most wonderful things!
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