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