Ima Witness

I love God. He continues to give me chance after chance. The Bible says that I have new mercies each day.

It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed...They are new every morning...Lamentations 3:22-23

At my church, we are encouraged to be witnesses for Jesus. We are to do as the disciples did and share the gospel with everyone. I haven't been good at doing that, so I made a new commitment to God to share His gospel. One of the young ladies in my class shared that she has a felony, but she needs a job. I told her that I was praying for her because with her record it would be difficult to get a job. I asked if she was saved and she told me she was and she said that she prays also. I encouraged her to keep looking because it can be difficult to find a job with a record, but it's not impossible.

Thank God she received His word!!

Following Directions

I have gotten good at following directions and instructions--of course there are some times when I "know what I'm doing" and I mess screw something up, but for the most part, following the order of something step by step is what I like to do so that I don't make a mistake. Because of this, I teach and instruct in steps. Step 1... Step 2... Step 3..., etc.

I was a little inquisitive when only 2 of my 6 students followed the steps, one at a time. Did I explain the assignment correctly and good enough? Did anyone read what I had type out as the instructions?

I'm not sure!?

So, I just let it be. We'll see how their assignments turn out on Tuesday because I don't teach again until Tuesday, Sept 6. The college will be closed for the next two days because of the Farm Progress Show. I'm happy, but I don't have any money and I need to do laundry. I NEED TO DO LAUNDRY, BADLY!!!

I have no clean clothes and I'm running out of underwear.

I did get a chance to clean yesterday. I cleaned the living room and I started on the kitchen. I finished cleaning out my refrigerator. Now I need to mop the floor and wipe down the cabinets.

After cleaning the kitchen, I'm gonna tackle my laundry. I'm not gonna be able to wash anything because I don't have money for the laundromat, but I will prepare my clothes which usually includes separating and putting stain cleaner and baking soda on the underarms of my shirts. I don't know why, but my regular detergent doesn't clean the deodorant off well and if I don't use baking soda, I get ugly yellow stains from my sweat on the underarms of my shirts.

After tackling my laundry, I'm gonna work on my closet. I have one closet where I have things shoved in there on the closet floor. I can't keep things that way.

This will be my cleaning regime this week. I hope to have the whole house clean by the time I go back to work on Monday.

Teaching GED

I started teaching an 8:30 GED class on Monday. It was a little rocky at first because I wasn't sure how exactly to teach the class. I mean, everyone in the class is at a different level, so how do you teach that?

The first day was testing. No problem. Pass out the test, use the two hours for them to complete the test. If they complete early, good, they can go home. It they take longer, we finish the next day.

But, the second day was when I needed to have a plan in place. Hmmm, what to do, what to do?

So, as I"m fumbling around showing student's their test scores and telling them where they needed to start, a former student of mine comes in. He was a little bossy, but I didn't mind because he let me know that the previous teacher had folders for each student with assignments for what they needed to do.

Hmmm, that sounds like a good idea. I got folders and ran with it. Then I began deciphering the test scores and learning all of the coded words and numbers. Instead of putting together an outline, I simply added the test scores to their folder and told them to use that as a guide of what to work on.

I'm gonna take some time this weekend to really go through information that they need to work on so they won't be bored to death. But, the first week was cool. Not all of my students showed up. Some showed up the first day and that's it. I need to maintain a good enrollment.

One of my goals is to have all of the students who have shown up, complete the 8 week class.

I Love Jesus!

God has been and is SSSOOOOOO good to me!!! I love Him for loving me!!

Stupid Overdraft Charges

I wrote 2 bad checks. I didn't mean to. I actually thought I had money to cover one of them, but I didn't and recently I haven't had any money so there have been overdraft after overdraft on my checking account and now I owe the bank $105. UGH!! That's in addition to my car note that is 18 days past due. GRRRRR!!!!!

Despite it all, I still THANK GOD!!! I did get my unemployment check today, so I can pay on it. But that means I have to pay my bank $350 which leaves me about $200 to live off of. OMG!!! The good news is that I will be getting money on my LINK card on Friday. I can't wait. I have food, but nothing good.


Thank God for public assistance!!

Motivation & Inspiration

I was blessed as a child. Yes, my family was poor, but I belong to what they called the "sanctified" church--Emmanuel Temple COGIC. There was a woman there who was a role model for me--Gladys Steptoe. She was over the youth choir, sunshine band, children's church and vacation bible school. If there was anything to do with the youth, she was over it. She also had a radio show--For Children Only, that my sister and I was apart of. She was a great inspiration to me and because of her, I wanted to work with young people. She made such a great impact on me that I am walking in her footsteps--working with youth, working with vacation bible school, etc.

She passed on Wednesday. I wanted to go to her funeral, but I wasn't able to because my car was not working properly, but she will greatly be missed.

I was just leaving a note on her obituary guestbook and I read some of the other notes. I almost cried when I read what my brother wrote, "I am the black child."

*tears in my eyes*

This was a poem she had him recite during some type of youth program. I loved hearing him read that poem.

I can remember reciting Langston Hughes "Mother to Son" during one of the programs she was putting on. She will never be forgotten!!! And I thank God that she was in my life to inspire me and motivate me!!


Mother to Son by Langston Hughes

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Stranded at Work

I volunteer at a Non Profit as a supervisor of a summer work program. We've hired 20 young people ages 16-19 to work from July to August 31. It's been a great learning experience for me. But at the end of the day, I'm tired and I want to GO HOME!!!

So why am I stranded???

Why won't my key turn in the ignition????

WHY, WHY, WHY???

I dont' have any money for car repairs. I don't even have money to catch the bus to the college tomorrow. I've been praying to God that my car will start, but it won't. Ugh!!!!

WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY???

I was done at work at 6pm and it is now 9pm. I don't want to leave my car because the windows are down and my sunroof is open. UGH.

I need a miracle. I NEED MY CAR TO START!!

*Post Script*

My car finally started, but it was after 9pm. I was so tired. It's now making some kind of rattling noise when I start it. Boohoo.

THANK GOD FOR MY NEW JOB

On July 23 I saw and ad for a part-time Adult Education teacher at the community college. The deadline to apply was July 25. On July 25 I emailed my resume and transcript to HR right before 5pm. The email didn't go through, so I mailed it to the HR director. It didn't go through. By then it was 5pm and the office was closed. I didn't have time to drive way out to the college to turn the paperwork in until about a week later on August 3. I explained that I tried to email it by the deadline and I forgot to print off the email delivery message that stated that it didn't go through. The secretary stated that she would turn it in and explain.

I thought getting that job was a long shot especially since I've gotten more rejection letters. So, imagine my surprise when I got a call from the college this morning. When the number came up on the caller ID I was a little baffled at first. Jenny, the director, who knows me from the time I worked there about 5 years ago simply asked me my availability. I told her that I was available anytime. She said ok and told me should would call me back.

I got a call back later in the afternoon asking if I can come in tomorrow to see my classroom.

YAY!!! I told her that I would be there at 8am. I also have to fill out HR paperwork, but I've got the job. I don't know when I start, but I'm excited!!!

THANK GOD!!

Young & Homeless

I was working late at the NP on Saturday and I received a phone call. "Ms. N****, this is Makela*, I need help!"

I asked her what she needed. She explained that she was homeless and she needed a place to stay.

This was a young lady that we hired for our summer work program. I told her that I would come to pick her up. When I got there the couple that had taken her in stated that they were clients of the Homeward Bound program. I told the man that I worked for HB. They said that she could stay there. I told her that I would take her to get something to wear. While taking her to Walmart, the man called and said that it would probably be best if she stayed with me. I guess he figured that since he was already a HB client, he didn't want to get into trouble for having someone stay with him which is against the rules. I told him that would be fine. I took the young girl to Walmart got her some necessities--underwear, socks, deodorant, soap, etc. I also bought an inflatable bed because she needed something to sleep on. I spent about $80. She stayed the night and we went to church the next day. She's been looking for a place to live, but because they haven't gotten paid, it was difficult. She also had some trouble at home and her mom put her out.

This young girl has had a troubled life--foster care, rape, molestation, 2 children and she's only 19, a boyfriend in jail....the cards are stacked against her. So, I just talked to her about giving her life to Christ and how God can heal her heart.

After church on Sunday, we went to the "Celebration," an annual street festival where they block off the entire downtown area. I was quite disappointed when she didn't show up at my place that night. I was also a little worried and I prayed for her safety.

The next day, she didn't show up for work. She didn't call either. Hmmm. Something was wrong. I said another prayer.

I was relieved when she showed up at 1pm, but disappointed at her excuse. "I needed to take my daughter to the doctor in Springfield, but my ride never showed up, so I didn't go." WHAT?? HUH??? She doesn't have custody of her daughter and just because somebody wanted you to ride with them doesn't mean that you need to go. She needed to work and not miss those hours.

So I talked to her about being responsible and how she needed her job. I told her that if she was working anywhere else, they would have fired her, but because i'm her supervisor and I know her situation, I didn't report it.

She said she understood. I also told her that I felt a little taken advantage of because I opened my door to her and spent money on her because she said she didn't have anything, but she didn't feel the need to call me to tell me she wasn't gonna be staying the night at my place. She again said that she understood and apologized.

More Rejection Letters

The case manager job sent me a rejection letter. Boohoo. I'm applying for a part-time Adult Ed instructor position at the community college. I'm also applying for a Student Assistance position at the alternative school and there is another position for a health education that I heard about on the TV. I"ll look it up and apply for that one.

Eating & Shopping

My church has a Women's Fellowship every month. This month we went to eat and shop in Tuscola, IL. The food at the Amishland Red Barn Buffet was wonderful. Then we went to the outlet mall to shop. The only money I had was the money to eat and a few dollars left over. So I went Bath and Body Works and there was a 75% off sale. I was able to get two of the triple moisture cream lotions for $3 each. I got Orange Sapphire and Lemon.

I was disappointed at the Ralph Lauren store. They had two racks that were sale items. Everything else was regular price. What happened to the outlet prices?

We also went to Zales. They had a wonderful sale. I LOVE this ring:

You can't really tell, but this ring is 4 carets. It was retailed for over $8000, but it was on sale for $5500. WOW. The diamonds were beautiful. There were so many diamonds that the ring was heavy. I loved it!!!