Homesick a bit...i miss everyone!

It's Friday afternoon and it's 107 degrees outside!! When I got home from work at 5, Jonathan was mowing the backyard which was great because that means I don't have to!! :) I mowed the front 2 days ago, and I will be watering the grass tonite. (we can only water the lawn on Wed., Fri. and Sun.) So Jon arrived last nite at around 6:45pm from the Fresno airport. He's a Goshen grad and lived there most of his life...He knows Jenna (his twin sister Julia who I met 2 years ago at a peace conference in Bluffton was Jenna's good friend growing up I guess? Is this true Jenna?) and it was fun to see how many Goshen friends we have in common. It's weird sharing my room now with someone else since I was there alone for a week!

I think we are going to go to the Tower District tonite and scope it out. It is the "alternative/eclectic/artsy" part of Fresno. There are a lot of old theatres and things like that. I believe one of the local drama programs is putting on the musical Chicago right now. That would fun to go to. It looks like the three of us are going to get along really well. We'll just have to see how Danielle (the snake lady) fits in. We're all a bit nervous. I'm sure it will all work out though!

Yesterday it hit me that I really miss family and friends from back home and my friends in North Carolina. I've been doing my best to keep in touch, but when I can talk, it seems no one else can. that gets frustrating when i just need someone familiar to vent to or just to talk and remind me of my life back home, how things are going. Sad i can't fly in for the birthday party ion Berne!! :( if only we had a money tree here...haha! I just thought I would let everyone know I do miss you all very much. Today was very hard at work as I was looking online (facebook) at pictures of my friends who i've left and seeing how much fun they are having without me and how I would have been part of that fun 3 months ago...it was kind of depressing...ok, REALLY sad:( I just have to keep adjusting to my life here and find where I fit in. Talking to Mom, Dad, Blake, Rileigh and Gracie was great 2 days ago, but again, made me ache for 1916 Lakewood Ave., Lima, OHIO! Christmas isnt that far away right?! HAHA! well, I think this will be it for this entry...hopefully some pictures will come later to accompany...love you all.

Jor

ps: one of my friends from Black Mountain, NC put this picture of me on Facebook and I thought I should post it here...I just think it is SO funny!! THe hat was made by a friend there for someone else as a gift and i thought it was awesome! it is suppose to represent a cupcake...


Here's some pix of Jenna and I with some Bluffton friends a couple days before I left for Fresno...

Welcome to the Sunny State...no joke!

They say California is the Sunny State. Well...they were not joking! Here in Fresno it has been in the upper 90's and lower 100's consistently for the first 7 days I've been here. Not a drop of rain, not a cloud in sight. Yup, that's Fresno. It's gorgeous everyday, but waiting for the bus just for 15 minutes i feel like an egg on a skillet! :) The house has three vehicles, but only 1 of them has automatic transmission. Kelsey gets that car since public transportation doesn't make it to her placement and it goes right past mine. The only problem is Fresno's public transportation is known as the worst in the country...well, maybe not that bad, but it's not very efficient. So i wait b/w 10-20 min. for the bus to come (its never on time) and then it takes about 40-55 min. on the bus before I get to Fresno Pacific and the same on the way home. On the positive side, I get to "people watch", (there are some crazy people that ride the bus!) and read.
My job is going really well. I can tell i am going to enjoy it very much. It will be a full load, and there will be stressful days, but I am already learning so much!! Clare Ann Ruth-Heffelbower (the director of COSA; AKA my boss.) is amazing. I love working with her, and just getting to know her. (which is good because right now we share a teeny tiny office until we move to a new "building" and I will actually have my own office!) The whole CPACS (Center for Peace and Conflict Studies) office is great. The faculty and staff are very warm and friendly. Some have already offered to have me over for lunch or dinner soon!
Speaking of work...I have already been to 4 "circles" which include 3-7 volunteers and 1 "core member." The core member is the name for the sex offender so we make a point not to use the term offender. This program (COSA) is not a rehabilitation program. It is a circle that creates relationships b/w community members and the Core Member. It is a way to help the core member reenter the community when they don't have any other form of support system. But wile we are a support system, the circle is there to create accountability just as much as support. Out 2 "mantras" if you will are: 1. NO MORE VICTIMS and 2. NO ONE IS DISPOSABLE.
Hopefully this gave you a little more insight into my position as COSA's Program Assistant and a kind of basic explanation of what we do. Hopefully as the year unfolds and I write more blogs, I will explain my position and the actual Circles of Support and Accountability. (COSA)
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The house/unit that i live in is in a nice community close to many families that attend Mennonite Community Church. (the church i will be attending) It is 1 floor with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. (1 walk in shower that's very small...my head almost touches the ceiling! and a bath with no shower head.) I will be sharing my room with Jonathan Gingerich while Kelsey and Daniella get their own rooms. Kelsey and i are the only 2 living here until Jon arrives on Thursday and Daniella the next week. I finally finished "decorating" my room...meaning i have all my pictures and posters up.

well...more in the coming days and weeks!! miss you all!

Peace and MUCH LOVE,
Jordan