A Brand New Bike:)

Oh Boy I feel like a small child because I just got a present...it's a brand new bike! You might be thinking that I have completely lost it, but you must understand why I am so excited. Well here are the reasons:

1. I have been walking all over Urbana, and it would be VERY helpful to have a bike to make those trips to Walgreens, the bank, to work, the library and the coffee shop a little quicker.

2. The bus is helpful and I am catching on fast to all the routes, but sometimes you just need some Tylenol from Walgreens and its quicker to ride your bike.

3. I haven't had a new bike in years! Actually I don't even have a bike at home because my parents sold it at a yard sale.

4. It will be a great way to exercise (and it is mostly flat here)!

So that is why I am so excited to be a proud new owner of a bike that my agency so graciously bought for me to help me get around. Actually a church wants to support me, so our financial VP is going to tell them they can help pay for my bike! I love all this connectionalism in the United Methodist Church.

I also went to the Library today, for my second trip there. I still am completely in love with that place. I got some new DVD's, this time Season 1 of CSI: NY and Reign Over Me. Then I got 3 books:

Eleanor vs. Ike - I have always been intrigued by Eleanor Roosevelt, and even though this is a fictional book I thought it might be a good read.

Palestinian Walks- On the back cover Anthony Lewis says that, "This book describes the unique Palestinian landscape, one that looked like a scene from the Bible - and describes what has been done to it by aggressive Israeli settlement and American failure" And since I have been very interested in Palestine and Israel since our training I thought I would read this.

Give Me Shelter - Stories about children who seek asylum - I checked this book out from the children's section in the library. I am looking for books to read to the older kids/teens that have short inspiring stories. I thought many of the kids could relate to children from foreign countries seeking asylum. Many of the kids I work with are seeking asylum from their homes, their foster homes, the "system", abuse, neglect, etc...If you have any suggestions of books for kids let me know! Our kids/Teens are 9-19, and we are looking for not just christian books, but stories that inspire.

A coffee shop and a beautiful campus

I gave in yesterday and bought a University of Illinois t-shirt. I just could not be in such a spirited college community without jumping on the bandwagon.

To the left is a picture of the Main Quad on the campus, it is GORGEOUS! Yesterday I headed down to campus around 6 because I had a bible study at The Wesley Church at 8. I am glad I came early because I was able to sit on the Quad for a little bit and read. There was a concert going on at the Union so I
even got some free entertainment.

This is the Engineering Quad, which is also really beautiful. Engineering is a huge major here and people come from all over the world to this university for that.

I also went to a wonderful coffee shop, called Espresso Royale and got some dinner, read for a little bit, and then got some coffee to go. I will definitely be back there!


This is the Illini Union which is really awesome inside and its really cool that it is such an old building. There is also a coffee shop in there and lots of places to sit outside. This is at the South end of the Quad.










This is the Auditorium on campus and it just looks gorgeous at night with the lights. This is at the north end of the Quad.











And I just could not, not post the statue of Lincoln. I mean I am living in the Land of Lincoln!

Anyways, I had a good night because I was able to get down to the campus and it is just a really fun area with lots to do. Then I went to the "Grad meet and Greet" and it was a nice time of talking and fellowship with like-minded people. I will definitely be going back next week. Well I should get going I have to meet the Cunningham Board today!

Prayers are needed

I feel that there just needs to be a lot of prayer right now. For all the kids I work with, all the staff and teachers due to school starting tomorrow. Also the teens and my friends that are missionaries in Philly really need a lot of prayer right now, so I would appreciate some prayers for them. I would also like to lift up prayers for my friends that are starting teaching for the first time this year. Also for my friends that are still in college, prayers for them to enjoy their year and also work hard. For my younger brother, Page, that he will really enjoy college and embrace it. And then prayers for me that I will be able to find some good friends here in Urbana. I am going to a young adult bible study tonight and I hope that I will really enjoy it, or be able to find another place to be involved.

Things are going really good, just still trying to get all settled into working at Cunningham. There are lots of steps we have to get through before I can work with the kids by myself. So I could use some prayers of patience.

Where I work

So I thought I would do an entry on where I actually work. I found out today I really will not be able to post any pictures of the kids on here unless I get written permission. Some of our kids do not want anyone to know they are at Cunningham, and so we have to respect that right. I will definitely take pictures of different things we set up for in Chapel, and the area, but the kids pics will be slim. Yet I will be posting any songs they might write, and fun things they say.

To the left is a picture of the Spiritual Life Center, which is where my office is housed along with 1 of the Vice Presidents, our United Methodist Liason, and a few others. Also it is where our Chapel is, which I will post some
pictures of soon. The whole building is decorated with artwork from the kids, its really wonderful.

This picture is of the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) which is where around 40 of our kids live. There are around 8-10 in each unit. The units are called Jedi, New Hope, Cornerstone and Goodman. This is where I will be reading to the kids at
night sometimes. And it is also where we do some of our groups on Sundays.

This is the Girls Group Home, where some of our older girls live and some of them have part time jobs. This is still on campus so they are close to all the activities. We also do groups here.



This is the Boys Group Home and this is off campus. Same with the girls, some of them do have part time jobs and are our older kids. And groups are done here as well.

I just thought y'all might want to know were I work. There is more on the campus but these are the main places I will be spending my time at.

The Old Turtle

I am not really sure how to express the sheer joy I am feeling right now. I almost came to tears during our first chapel tonight, tears of joy & just being overwhelmed that is. I was overwhelmed at how the kids I will be working with come from such broken homes and lives yet they still make the choice to follow God and come to Chapel to learn more about Him. I was amazed at this in Philly too, but I am becoming even more amazed at this.

When I got there tonight I got to meet the girls that are in the Girls Choir. They were singing, "The Heart of Worship", "Humble They Self", and "Amazing Grace". They just have such beautiful voices, and even though there were a few arguments you could just tell how much they wanted to praise God through singing.
Chaplain and I read the book, Old Turtle to the kids last night in a more dramatic way. This book promotes a deeper understanding of the earth and our relationship with all the beings who inhabit it. The kids really seemed to enjoy it. It fit well into our night theme of "Jazz". We had a jazz pianist come in and play for the kids. Chaplain talked about how each person playing in a jazz ensemble adds a little to the full sound of the song, so then it can sound whole and wonderful.

I met a lot of the kids and it was nice to see who I will be working with, one kid said, "So are you going to start reading to us soon??", and I said, "Yes, I am really excited too", and he said, "So am I". That just made my day:)

Thai food, Labyrinths, and a walk

I must say, yesterday was a good day. Training was much better and it was newer information that I had not learned before so I found it interesting. We learned a lot more restraints and I am glad I will know how to safely help the kids and protect myself if it comes to that. Training was not my major highlight of the day though. It definitely was the Thai food...

You might be thinking, seriously Brooke, the highlight of your day was the Thai food??? Let me explain. After morning training my boss asking me if I wanted to go run some errands with her and she would buy me some lunch. I couldn't turn that offer down, plus I had nothing to do for 2 hours. So off we went to first pick up her son and take him to work and then go eat. I thought this would just be a normal little journey but it turned out to be quite lovely. The Chaplain's son suffers from effects of FAS (fetal alcohol syndrome), he is adopted and apparently his mother drank some during the pregnancy. He has some rather severe brain damage but from outward appearance you would never even know there was something wrong with him. Apparently he was excited to meet me, and I had heard a lot about him already and was happy to meet him too. I am excited to get to know C (I will use abbreviations for people and kids I don't feel comfortable with giving out their names yet) he seems like a great person.

After that we started talking about Labyrinth's because she asked me if I had ever done one. I told her about the one in NYC we did and how I really enjoyed that and had thought about asking to build one here at Cunningham. She then informed me that in fact they made a portable one last year! So I am excited to see it soon. Plus she told me there is one here in Urbana not too far away. It is in the picture above! I have really wanted to do another labyrinth and so this made me really excited!

Then to make the day even better, we went and had Thai food (which I love) at this Thai place in downtown Urbana. It made me think of NYC and we just had a great conversation together.

I had some good conversations with some friends last night, had a nice walk to walgreens, and just felt a lot better about the next 2 years. It might not seem like much, but it was a good day for me:)

And now it begins...

Well today was my first day of work. I am kind of at a loss for words so far of what to post to everyone...I am journaling a lot but its not very coherent to anyone but me. All week I have training for Therapeutic Intervention Training & other areas I have to train in before I can completely start working with the kids. Yet, Wednesday night we have chapel and I am really excited to meet the kids and really get some reality to what this job will entail. I LOVE my boss, she is wonderful and I am so thankful to have someone so caring and helpful to get me started in this job. I feel like I am going to learn so much from her and from others at Cunningham over the next 2 years. Overall things are going great, I am excited about the next 2 years. I just haven't had much time to process it all.

I have arrived in Urbana...

I have a lot to say but I am rather exhausted so I will write more tomorrow, or it might have to wait till Sunday when my family leaves. But for now here are some pictures..Here is a virtual tour of my apartment! You enter and there is hallway that you walk through and right on your left is the bathroom, then straight ahead is my bedroom, also in the hallway on the right is a HUGE closet. Then in my room, I have a nice dresser and nightstand, plus a queen bed and a large closet. After that you exit my room and go left into the rather large living room, where there is a couch, tv/stand, computer desk, and 2 end tables. Then you enter into the kitchen/eat-in and there is a cute table with 4 chairs, currently some nice fresh flowers my boss left for me, and then the kitchen which has everything I need! I really like the apartment and am starting to make it my own. Tomorrow we are going to get some more picture frames so I can put them up, but I already have some art work on the walls and some of my pictures.

I also got to see my office today! And where I will be working...pictures will come soon of that, I just didn't have the camera with me today. Let's just say, be excited to be WOWed! I miss you all and thanks for the prayers and support already. I am slightly overwhelmed right now but I am glad to have my family here to keep me sane right now!

Writer's Block...

I leave tomorrow to head out on our journey to the midwest. We will leave bright and early tomorrow and spend the night on the way, since it is a 12 hour drive. Then Friday we will arrive around lunch time in Urbana!!! All my stuff should be moved in by then and my UPS boxes should have arrived.

This is a picture of "Downtown Urbana", it made me super excited when I saw it online. Not sure what part of it I am really seeing but I kind of like the small town feel of this part of Urbana. I have always loved small towns as long as there was a lot to do! (And it seems like I found just the right place to go live for the next 2 years!) I will post some of my own pictures ASAP once I get there, so you can all see for yourselves the wonderful place I will be living.

I haven't posted in awhile because I have pretty much been at a loss for words the past 2 weeks while I have been home from NYC. I thought if I started writing I wouldn't be able to stop, but I couldn't ever get the courage to start writing. If you know me I am a very big journaler, I love to write in my journal and I actually filled up 2 journals just while I was in Philly last summer. I deep down want to write a book one day. But I was a little worried that if I wrote down how training impacted me, it would mean I would have to say goodbye to that section of my life and admit it was over. It would mean that I would not see my wonderful fellow US-2's for a whole year for most of them. It would also mean I really had to start living out all the things I felt my ignorance had been shattered on. Also it meant the clock was ticking and I would be moving VERY VERY soon.

I thought I was alone in all that for a good 1.5 weeks. Then 2 things happened, a good friend from Philly came for an unexpected visit & I went to Charlotte on Sunday/Monday and my eyes were opened to a few things...

1. Trish came to NC for an unexpected trip, but I was the lucky one because I got to see her! Our time together was short because she has to catch a plane back north, but it was some much needed time. It was good for me to see her because she has been the biggest inspiration to me for wanting to become a missionary. Also the reason I am going into this US-2 program is also because of my experience in Philly last summer. My heart was broken for the people in that community and I will never be able to shake that. Even though my ministry will not be in Philly the next 2 years, I realized I can minister from a far. Just by being a friend to Trish, to listen to the hard times, and just to be there to joke with when things are good or bad. I love her so much and can't even imagine how my life would be if I had never met her and lived with her last summer.

2. I got to see Greg (my fellow US-2 from NC who is going to Baltimore and knows so many of the important people in my life, Brad, Kelly, Daniel, Frank & Carisa, etc...) We had a wonderful time catching up a little and also sharing about how we have felt the last 2 weeks. We realized we BOTH had not been able to write in our journals (he is also an avid journal writer). We pretty much came to the same conclusions of why, but it was good because we both really hadn't taken the time to figure out why we couldn't write. It was also nice to hear that he has had similar feelings since we got back about missing everyone. It is good to know we are not alone in all of this. It was much needed for me to see apart of our US-2 community and be reassured we would always be there for each other in the next 2 years. Thanks Greg!

3. I got to spend some wonderful time with 3 of my FAVORITE people, Kelly McRell, Daniel Corpening, and Kara Brown. I cannot tell you how influential these 3 people have been in my life over the last few years.

I will start with Kelly: she is just such a joy in my life and can always make me laugh, she wants to save the world and has the passion to do so, she embraces everyone and is such a seeker for God, I love the talks we have, and I am so glad she knows she can come to me with struggles and joys and I can do the same for her, she has grown so much this summer and I have never been more proud of her than I was this weekend! I needed to see her, and when we left she prayed for me and for the next 2 years. I was overwhelmed at the moment and teared up. I hope she knows I was praying just as much for her. Love you Kel!

Next, the wonderful Daniel, or his nickname D-Corp: Daniel just got back from a summer in Swaziland, Africa and I was just so excited to see him! Daniel went on my first college mission trip to the Gulf Coast and I will never forget when he played Sweet Home Alabama as we drove through Alabama. Daniel is truly one of a kind and an amazing man of God. He has a servants heart and cares so much for everyone he encounters. I have had some amazing experiences with Daniel and have seen him grow so much through the years. He is the "spiritual mentor" person for the Wesley Foundation this year and I am so thankful that is his position because he has always been there for me to challenge me and support me and I know he will do just that with every leader this year. I loved hearing a little about his trip, and I thank him for listening to my stories from training. When he hugged me goodbye, I almost lost it, but it was tears of happiness as well, just a sense of being so blessed to have such amazing friends that will be there to support me throughout the next 2 years. And I can still support them as well! Thanks Daniel, I love you secret pal:)

And last BUT not least, the AMAZING Downtown Kara Brown: Where do I even begin...Kara has been an inspiration for me for oh so long. She also went on the mission trip to the Gulf with me and that is where our friendship began. I like to refer to her as my "Social Justice Friend". If anyone is passionate about social justice it is her. We would always discuss our "plans for the future" and they all involved various ways of saving the world. She biked across the US last year to raise money for Cancer research, she is crazy, but wonderful! I was so glad to see her and talk about social justice for hours! I want her to just move to Urbana with me! I am going to miss our times together so much, but I know she is just a phone call away. Kara you are forever an inspiration to me!

So after those 3 things...I woke up the next morning at Kelly's house and I just felt so at peace about everything. I was not as nervous anymore to move 12 hours away from home and start a job I have no idea how to do. I could feel the support (not that it wasn't there before) surrounding me from my friends I saw and also from so many more. I just needed that reassurance for some reason. And now I can write again.

Here is a song I have already sent one friend, but I would like to dedicate this to all my good friends...thank you for your support, I love you all.

Here is the link, and below the lyrics. I will write again from Urbana! I am ready for this adventure!

Brett Dennen - By and By

listen close, as close as I am to you ike the bell of liberty, I'll ring a sound that's true and days go by and seasons too in time our love may digress with the words we can renew

oh, i'll tell you that I I love you by and by I don't know if I'd survive without a friend like you in my life

and I know words can be the worst to pervey how it is I feel for you, it's hard for me to say but if we keep it simple, I think it's better that way tingled words tend to lead my messages astray

oh, i'll tell you that I I love you by and by I don't know if I'd survive without a friend like you in my life

this web we weave holds us hand in hand and if we loosen our grips we may weaken these strands so lets reinforce our love and let it echo through the land and if we don't we may find ourselves washed up with the sand

oh, i'll tell you that I I love you by and byI don't know if I'd survivewithout a friend like you in my life

Liberation

"If you are coming to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you are
coming because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work
together."

The Lovely Alycia Capone shared this quote with us during training and it just really stuck with me..and at the end of training we realized it was something that had stuck with most of us. We actually are going to have it on the back of our US-2 T-shirts! This quote I feel is a beautiful representation of our connectedness as humans. Our liberation is bound up in each others, and we will not be liberated until we are all liberated. I think if we look at everything we do with that idea in mind we could achieve so much more. There are so many things that I have become passionate about in the last year and I feel like we must work together to make any of it change. I am at a loss of words right now...I am usually a big journal writer and I haven't touched it since I got back from NYC. I must have writers block. These are the only thoughts I have written since I got back...

Overwelmed, lonely, worn out, at a loss for words
I need to make a break from the past, but be intentional about not forgetting it
I must fully embrace my new communities
I did this 4 years ago - moved to a new place where I knew no one, and started over...I can do it again...I am stronger and more independent now. I have people holding me accountable, people fully supporting me.

BUT this is all going to be Me and God in the end...a Ragamuffin Follower and a Radical God...this should be one heck of a ride.

This is my new adventure with God. He has equipped me for this, but it won't be easy. He's already changed me a lot and I haven't even left yet.

The Wesleyan Prayer has been all I have really been praying over and over lately...this part:

Let me be full, let me be empty
Let me have all things, let me have nothing
I freely and heartily yield all things to they pleasure and disposal.

I think that is all I can pray right now. It is how I feel, I don't really know how else to describe it.

Being Commissioned...

Here is my picture of my being commissioned. (if you can't tell I am 2nd from the left) I'm still trying to process the fact I am a missionary and what the 2 years will hold. I know this is the right thing for me and I am very thankful I answered the call. I will blog more on that later.

I have been trying to compile a list of books and resources that I would like to have. You should all definitely check out some of these resources as well. You can see them on the left under my wish list of books and dvd's and also on some blog postings in the future.

On http://www.missionresourcecenter.org/ there are a few things I would like:

1. Who's at the Table? 2009 Program Book
2. A subscription to Response Magazine either 1 or 2 years and here is the website to get it, RESPONSE
3. From Palestine to Seattle Study Guide and Book
4. Global Praise 1 CD