An Update From Emily

Another week has gone by in the magnolia state! We are increasingly becoming accustomed to the slower pace of southern life and to the community atmosphere in our area. Though we daily play Johnny's game of "if we had one night in Portland what would we do," I truly am in my element working with these amazing kids. We are slowly feeling more acceptance from the local junior interns and staff that we work with, the guys especially are starting to really attach to johnny. He taught the kids a three part round song in chapel that they decided would be our closing song at the end of the year performance. Johnny has also made four square the hottest trend, attracting long lines of kids and counselors for competitive games under the hot sun. Our week was packed with swimming, dance practice (Johnny's favorite time to shine), a zoo train ride, field trip to the movies, and three different ball games (including church softball where we lost 12 to 13, a campers little league baseball game, and another date night watching our minor league team the Mississippi Braves lose). It was firework night last night at the Braves game so we rushed out to lay in the parking lot directly under the explosions, hearing shells drop all around us. We then made our first much anticipated visit to The Waffle House where we feasted on waffles, hash browns, eggs, toast and grits, all for six dollars. It was a humorously eerie experience when johnny complimented our efficient backwoods waitress and she proudly stated she had been there for over 8 years, and also when I overheard a fellow patron being asked how she was doing she replied "well it's been downhill so far." We'll definitely be back to to the waffle house.
It's looking like I may do a year of Americorps here in West Jackson. The opportunity has arose to be full time in a Jackson public elementary school doing one on one tutoring and working with an after school program. The public schools in our area are almost 100% black and they see creating more diversity as a positive influence for the children. The need for tutoring is vast and there is a chance I could be placed in one of the poorest performing schools just blocks from where we live. I love the idea of working in my community with local children, and earning a scholarship for school upon completion. I could also work with the Perkins Center Summer Program next summer as part of my Americorps service. Johnny could then afford to be a full-time year long volunteer intern for the Perkins organization if I am making a little money. I would need to start August first which doesn't leave much time to decide.
We have been led this far and look forward to see what unfolds next.
Thanks for Reading!

Emily